News – Page 2203 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Clark County’s St. Jacob’s well

info2019-02-26T09:26:26-06:00February 26th, 2019|

It is 84-feet wide, but at 58-feet deep it is not bottomless and there are no blind fish swimming in its depths. It is reported while St. Jacob of Nisibis Mesopotamia was on a pilgrimage to find Noah’s Ark, he rested near the top of Mt. Qardu. In his sleep an angel placed a piece of the Ark close to him and woke him. At the spot where he rested, a sacred spring with healing powers emerged. It is fitting that St. Jacob’s Well in Clark County 15 miles south of Minneola is named for him. It sits in the Little [...]

Bel Aire expanding Woodlawn, asking for public input

info2019-02-26T09:24:29-06:00February 26th, 2019|

A big construction project is in the works for Woodlawn north of Wichita. The city of Bel Aire is looking to expand Woodlawn between 37th to 45th streets. It knows what it plans to do for the first stretch from 37th to the railroad tracks, but it's looking for public comment about the next stretch up to 45th Street. "We typically go out on this furthest North drive," said Julie Breault, Heartland Animal Hospital manager. For the past 18 years, Breault said she's watched the traffic outgrow this stretch of Woodlawn in front of her practice. "As you can see, the [...]

City of Topeka adopts Housing First approach to homelessness

info2019-02-26T09:23:01-06:00February 26th, 2019|

More than a dozen people Monday received vouchers for housing after the city of Topeka changed course and began embracing the Housing First model. The approach, first conceived around 1990, connects those experiencing homelessness to housing without preconditions. Along with several people, most of whom have been living outside, Nichole Deal filled out paperwork for the Shelter Plus Care program on Monday. “What do we put for address?” she asked. Deal has been living unsheltered for three years. “I left a domestic violence relationship,” she said, “and lost everything. I didn’t have a support team.” The Topekan said living outside was [...]

Great Bend Chamber gives Legacy Award to Great Bend Recreation Commission

info2019-02-26T09:21:35-06:00February 26th, 2019|

Children and families are the cornerstone of any growing community, and no organization has worked harder at improving Great Bend’s quality of life than the Great Bend Recreation Commission. It is for that reason that the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development awarded The Great Bend Rec with the 2018 Legacy Award during their Annual Meeting & Banquet on February 23, 2019. In 2018, the Great Bend Recreation Commission enrolled more than 6,969 residents in recreation programs plus another 645 non-residents for a total of 7,614 people participating throughout the year. When you count all the individual programs they [...]

Finney, Scott counties to receive rural roads funding

info2019-02-26T09:20:17-06:00February 26th, 2019|

Projects in 16 Kansas counties, including Finney and Scott counties, will receive a combined approximately $4.5 million in funding to improve safety on rural roads as part of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s High Risk Rural Roads program. Finney county is receiving a $362,000 for systemic work to include upgrading signage on all 65 mph, off-system roads in the county. Scott County is receiving $134,000 for systemic work that will include upgrading signage on all major collectors in the southwest quarter of the county. Counties sent in applications for the program, with projects selected earlier this month. The funds are for [...]

Regulator: Return tax savings to Kansas gas customers

info2019-02-26T09:18:36-06:00February 26th, 2019|

Kansas regulators have ordered Kansas Gas Service to return more than $17.9 million in tax savings to its customers. The Kansas Corporation Commission said in a news release Monday that its order will mean a one-time bill credit of $22.78 for residential customers. The agency says the savings are the result of a federal law that reduced the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent in January of last year. The Commission had required utilities to track and keep separate savings from the tax cut pending its review. Kansas Gas Service had asked to keep the savings to offset [...]

Ford County spends more than $100,000 litigating voting access case

info2019-02-26T09:18:14-06:00February 26th, 2019|

Ford County spent more than $100,000 fighting a three-month long voting access lawsuit. The county paid the Hinkle Law Firm $100,936 in legal fees and services, according to a document obtained through an open records request. Ford County Clerk Debbie Cox was sued in October after relocating Dodge City’s sole polling site outside city limits ahead of the November midterm election. The cost to open a new site varies depending on factors like equipment and setup. Harvey County estimated expenses around $5,000 while Saline County reported costs at nearly $22,000. (Read more: Local - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

County officials investigating factors behind uptick in number of women booked in Johnson County jail

info2019-02-26T09:15:20-06:00February 26th, 2019|

No one can fully explain the reasons yet, but there’s a troubling trend afoot at the Johnson County jail. For the first time in recent memory, women are being booked into detention in increasing numbers, causing a disproportionate spike in the female population. They are staying longer, too, according to statistics kept by the county department of corrections. “It’s one of those things I wish I could explain but I can’t,” said Sheriff Calvin Hayden. But in the coming weeks, county officials are going to dive into those statistics and look for an answer. (Read more: Prairie Village Post - Neighborhood [...]

Johnson County home appraisal values rise again; see how much today

info2019-02-26T09:14:10-06:00February 26th, 2019|

The one time of year has come when Johnson Countians don’t want to see their home values go up — county appraisal time. The county will send out appraisal notices on Monday to 198,000 property owners, The Kansas City Star reports. Homeowners also can see their 2019 appraisals online on Monday. The new appraised value will be higher for more than 90 percent of homes in Johnson County, according to The Star, but the increase won’t be as large as the double-digit-percentage jumps experienced last year. Attribute it to a residential real estate market that remains robust, but that has cooled [...]

Hays Regional Airport gets new manager

info2019-02-26T09:12:53-06:00February 26th, 2019|

Jamie Salter has been named the new manager of city-owned Hays Regional Airport by City Manager Toby Dougherty. An employee with the city of Hays for 11 years, Salter took over as airport manager on Sunday. Salter has a Bachelor of Science degree from Fort Hays State University. She worked for the city for more than 11 years. A press release from the city’s Human Resources Director Erin Giebler said Salter has previously provided administrative support for the airport. “Mrs. Salter has 11 years of experience with the City of Hays,” Dougherty said. “She is well-versed in airport operations and regulatory [...]