News – Page 2315 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Under the surface: the fight for water rights in central Kansas

info2018-10-24T10:20:46-05:00October 24th, 2018|

On the surface, it looks like there is plenty of water to go around in parts of Stafford and Pratt counties, especially with recent rains flooding an area known as the Rattlesnake River Basin. But farmers and ranchers who have lived in the area are getting ready to fight for their rights to use water far under the ground, threatened by a complaint from federally-controlled Quivira Wildlife National Refuge. Concerned about federal laws taking away state rights to regulate water use, a group of Stafford County area residents has joined forces to form the non-profit “Rattlesnake Basin Cause.” They are focused [...]

Oak Park Mall isn’t like other malls — it’s not dying. Here’s what its future holds

info2018-10-24T10:19:34-05:00October 24th, 2018|

When American fashion designer Rachel Roy was looking for a place to open her first pop-up this fall, she picked Overland Park’s Oak Park Mall for its “vibrancy.” Alchemy Bath Co. in Lawrence also opened its first storefront there this year, hoping the “traffic and exposure” would raise the profile of the home-based business. And Cupcakin Bakery did so well as a holiday pop-up, it opened a permanent location and added an event space for children’s parties. Heading into the holidays, mall vacancies nationally hit 9.1 percent in the third quarter from 8.6 percent in the second quarter, the largest one-quarter [...]

Topeka to once again be ‘Topikachu’ for one day

info2018-10-24T06:58:52-05:00October 24th, 2018|

Topeka on Saturday will again be known as “Topikachu” for a day. Mayor Michelle De La Isla read a proclamation at Tuesday evening’s City Council meeting announcing the temporary move, which will take effect on a day when Nintendo will provide the public a free preview opportunity to play two new Pokémon games for the Nintendo Switch. The “Pokémon Let’s Go Road Trip” experience will be offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the Topeka Zoo at Gage Park. Festivities planned for Saturday at the zoo are welcome news “for nerds like me who play Pokémon [...]

New life for Great Mall of the Plains property

info2018-10-24T06:57:47-05:00October 24th, 2018|

Two years after the Great Mall of the Great Plains in Olathe succumbed to the wrecking ball, a Salt Lake City-based company has unveiled a $271 million mixed-use project that will replace the retail behemoth with offices, restaurants, apartments and a 4,000-seat arena and ice hockey center. Woodbury Corporation on Tuesday announced plans for the project, to be called Mentum, adding that it is under contract to buy the 100-acre site at Interstate 35 and 151st Street from current owners VanTrust Real Estate LLC. The developers said the project would include 250,000 square feet of entertainment, retail and restaurant space, two [...]

Downtown Salina overhead structures could go from four to two

info2018-10-24T06:54:15-05:00October 24th, 2018|

A compromise on how many overhead structures to be installed in downtown Salina was discussed during Monday’s city commission meeting. Commissioner Joe Hay Jr. proposed that the anticipated four overhead structures be cut down to two with one being placed at the intersection of North Santa Fe and Ash Street and the other near the First Bank Kansas on South Santa Fe. Hay, who likes the overhead structures, said the suggestion came after speaking with many individuals during the Oct. 10 Downtown Streetscape Progress Party. “I went on a walk with some of them and we discussed the different perspectives,” he [...]

Pair of Reno County county residents request commission impose moratorium on wind development

info2018-10-24T06:49:19-05:00October 24th, 2018|

Two Reno County women, one living within the zoned portion of the county and one outside, appealed to the Reno County Commission Tuesday to impose a six-month moratorium on development of wind farms in the county. The Commission last week sent the issue of a proposed countywide zoning layer for certain commercial uses, including wind farms, back to the Reno County Planning Commission to draft a proposal. While recognizing it would take 3 to 6 months to get new zoning in place, however, officials declined in the meantime to put a moratorium on development. “The planning commission indicated there is a [...]

People of Caney, Kansas, Mostly Glad To Have The Federal Goverment Come Clean Things Up

info2018-10-23T11:33:32-05:00October 23rd, 2018|

The federal government recently tore up Debbie and Tony Morrison’s front yard in the small southeast Kansas town of Caney. And the two are happy about it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency came in, scraped away contaminated dirt, replaced it with clean soil and spread sod on top. “It actually looks very good,” Morrison said. “After they put the new grass in, they came down and they faithfully watered and cared for it continually until they felt like it had taken hold.” The Morrisons and hundreds of other Caney residents were living on contaminated lots — the legacy of two lead [...]

City of Hutchinson and community groups bring Strong Towns’ president to town to speak at historic Fox Theater

info2018-10-23T10:54:31-05:00October 23rd, 2018|

In an effort to spark a new dialogue about how Hutchinson and Reno County should grow and what it will take to sustain that growth, the public is invited to a “Curbside Chat” on Oct. 23 with Strong Towns President Charles Marohn. The city of Hutchinson, Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, Hutch Rec, Young Professionals of Reno County and Hutchinson Community Foundation will welcome Marohn from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Fox Theatre, 18 E. First Ave. The final 20 minutes of the presentation will include a public question-and-answer session with Marohn. Strong Towns is a media organization leading [...]

New rules imposed for Shawnee County Civil Service Board

info2018-10-23T10:50:53-05:00October 23rd, 2018|

The three-member board that decides promotions in the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office must now interview applicants for those at least twice a year. That requirement was among revised rules for the Shawnee County Civil Service Board that County Commissioners Kevin Cook, Shelly Buhler and Bob Archer voted 3-0 to approve Monday. Sheriff’s Maj. Jay Simecka thanked those involved afterward for their “engagement, decisiveness and response action” in getting the rules revised, which he described as being “a truly collaborative effort.” The county’s Civil Service Board — which consists of Aaron Mays, Gary Ross and Matthew McGivern — seeks to ensure Shawnee [...]

Health officials to hold groundwater contamination meeting in Haysville

info2018-10-23T10:49:13-05:00October 23rd, 2018|

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment plans to hold a public meeting in Haysville to address groundwater contamination. The agency's Dry Cleaner Remediation Program's public availability session will be held at 6 p.m. today at the Haysville High School Gymnasium at 1975 West Grand Avenue. It is expected to last two hours. The groundwater contamination is attributed to the American Cleaners site located at 412 West Grand. The KDHE says it will provide information regarding the status of the site, current investigative and remedial plans and future plans for the site. (Read more: KAKE - News)