News – Page 2280 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

After a rough patch due to former director stealing funds, Lyon County Commissioners hear positive report on Senior Center

info2018-12-03T12:50:40-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

Emporia Senior Center Board President Karen Hartenbower gave Lyon County Commissioners a brief update on how things are running at the center Thursday morning. Hartenbower said the center had been treading water over the last year. Lannie Lyman, former director of the Emporia Senior Center, was charged with stealing more than $100,000 between May 2014 - Sept. 2017 from the organization in July. Hartenbower said Ian Boyd was recently hired as the new director of the Emporia Senior Center, and things are starting to improve. “He’s been with us three-and-a-half months and he’s doing really well because, for a year we [...]

Judicial center to get beefed up security in Labette County

info2018-12-03T07:37:32-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

Later this month, the Labette County Judicial Center in Parsons will undergo a security upgrade in the court clerk’s office, Labette County commissioners heard Friday. Bullet-resistant glass will be added the week of Dec. 17 and the front counters and cabinets replaced to accommodate the heavy material. An existing security door will be moved as part of the upgrade. Advantage Computer of Iola submitted a quote for the work, $37,920. Court Clerk Terri Thurman said she contacted local contractors and none expressed interest in doing the work. Advantage is the computer vendor used by court offices. Now, the clerk’s office is [...]

Hallmark inspired by Ark City fire truck

info2018-12-03T12:54:09-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

A former getaway car used in a bank robbery in the early 1930s is now a Hallmark Christmas ornament. The 1932 Buick Rag Top was set on fire by the robbers and later purchased by the City of Arkansas City and refurbished as a fire truck. After several years of fire service, the truck was retired from the Ark City Fire Department fleet and today it serves as a showpiece for the department. For years it has appeared in special events, including the Arkalalah parade. “Hallmark contacted us in January 2017,” said City Manager Nick Hernandez, who said Hallmark contacted the [...]

Shawnee County residents can now text 911 during an emergency

info2018-12-03T06:53:54-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

Shawnee County residents can now text 911 if there is an emergency, although an official said voice calls remain the top choice. The new NextGen 911 system was installed earlier this week at the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center. Melanie Bergers, director of the Emergency Communications Center, said the new system will provide a lot of benefits to residents and dispatchers. The new system gives people calling 911 the ability to send a text message to 911 as long as the sender has a data plan and the cellphone isn’t in roaming status. Bergers said the system can be [...]

Manhattan levee awarded $18.4 million in federal funds for improvements

info2018-12-03T06:52:16-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has notified the City of Manhattan that $18.4 million is being awarded in fiscal year 2019 to fund improvements to Manhattan’s levee system. The total cost of the project will be approximately $26 million and city officials will have several options to cover the remaining $7.5 million. The levee system provides fortification to 1,600 acres of land, 7,600 residents and protects a total economic impact estimated at $1.2 billion. The project intends to raise the levee along the Big Blue River from the intersection of Casement Road and Hayes Drive, south to the confluence of [...]

Crawford County Commission discusses horse operation

info2018-12-03T06:50:58-06:00December 3rd, 2018|

The Crawford County Commission hosted a work session on Tuesday to discuss a horse rescue operation located in a largely residential area on E 20th St. in Pittsburg. Tensions ran high as Rich Rhuems, a resident near the horse rescue operation owned by Dani Menghini and Jennifer Girth, addressed the commission regarding what Rhuems said are inappropriate conditions for horses, as well as excessive trash on the property. Commissioner Carl Wood was a vocal opponent of maintaining the status quo. He said he’s been hearing complaints about the operation’s property for four years. Zoning Administrator Troy Graham said he’d driven by [...]

City of Topeka, Shawnee County to work to use tax foreclosure to help revitalize neighborhoods

info2018-11-30T09:42:53-06:00November 30th, 2018|

Shawnee County and Topeka's city government are partnering to use the county's tax foreclosure process to help revitalize neighborhoods in decline, County Commissioners Shelly Buhler and Bob Archer learned Thursday. Megan Barrett, office manager for county counselor Jim Crowl, spoke about the effort at that morning's meeting, where Commission Chairman Kevin Cook was absent. Barrett said the county and city are teaming up in conjunction with the Momentum 2022 economic development ... (Read more: Topeka Capital-Journal)

Douglas County considers whether to charge nonprofits to use fairgrounds

info2018-11-30T09:25:10-06:00November 30th, 2018|

The Douglas County Commission agreed Wednesday to put off a decision on whether to start charging some nonprofits to use the county fairgrounds, citing confusion about what types of organizations the new language would affect. Under the current fee structure, youth organizations and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status are allowed to use the fairgrounds for free. The proposed changes to the fee structure would still allow county nonprofit youth groups free use of the fairgrounds, said Jill Jolicoeur, assistant to the county administrator. However, nonprofits with state 501(c)(3) certification would be asked to rent the grounds or facilities at a discounted [...]

Emporia once again discussing biodiesel plant

info2018-11-30T07:47:00-06:00November 30th, 2018|

City officials expressed interest in allowing a little more time for the completion of a biodiesel plant in Emporia. Renewable Energy Group Executive Director of Corporate Affairs Scott Hedderich accompanied Regional Development Association President Kent Heermann to a study session of the Emporia City Commission Wednesday morning to discuss potentially renewing an old agreement between the RDA and Renewable Energy Group. The agreement concerns a biodiesel plant, something that had been discussed publicly by the RDA as far back as 2007, when the plant was first broached as a possibility. If the commission were to sign off on it, it would [...]

STAR bond project for American Royal being modified

info2018-11-30T07:44:40-06:00November 30th, 2018|

The Unified Government is modifying the STAR bond project for the American Royal because the state will not approve it as it was originally written, according to UG officials. Unified Government Administrator Doug Bach told the UG Commission Thursday night that the acting secretary of commerce would not approve the local share being held back for the sales tax revenue (STAR) bond project for the American Royal, outside of the Plaza at the Speedway area contained in the district. “We were going through the final stages of putting the plan together when we received some comments from the acting secretary of [...]