News – Page 2372 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Hutch seeks to improve rental inspection program

info2018-09-05T08:26:32-05:00September 5th, 2018|

The Hutchinson City Council decided to continue a controversial rental property inspection program for another year while waiving the fees charged to landlords and ordering a restructuring of the policies. Council members on Tuesday heard from a handful of landlords, most of whom called the 2015 Rental Registration and Inspection program unfair. The council voted unanimously to have the city’s Housing Commission study ways to improve the program, which was meant to protect renters. But the landlords said it was often used as a way for residents who don’t pay rent or were facing eviction to retaliate against property owners. The [...]

Shawnee County Treasurer Larry Mah says state, not county, charges online vehicle registration fee

info2018-09-05T08:23:22-05:00September 5th, 2018|

The Shawnee County Treasurer’s Office charges no fee to renew motor vehicle registrations online, but the state of Kansas does, says county Treasurer Larry Mah. He spoke in response to concerns expressed by Topeka Capital-Journal readers after the newspaper published an article about fees associated with the registration process. Mah had said in a Topeka Capital-Journal article published Saturday that while his office charges a $3 facility fee to people who renew their registrations at its office or annex, it assesses no such fees to those who renew those registrations by mail or online. Mah shared that information in response to [...]

Chanute utilities director ‘unicorn’ remembered by friends, co-workers

info2018-09-05T07:49:29-05:00September 5th, 2018|

Friends and co-workers reacted Tuesday to the death of Chanute Utilities Director Larry Gates. Gates passed away early Friday after a brief illness. Chanute City Manager Jeff Cantrell recalled Gates as rock-solid, confident in his work, compassionate and someone who would give the shirt off his back. “The loss is a shock to our organization,” Cantrell said. Although he did not give details, he said officials knew about 30 days ago that Gates had serious health issues. Cantrell said even while undergoing treatment, Gates kept involved with city services through texts and emails. “Larry was my boss, my mentor,” retired utilities [...]

Parsons OKs loan, small grant for Domino’s

info2018-09-05T07:45:38-05:00September 5th, 2018|

Domino’s Pizza could open in Parsons as early as February, the future owner told city commissioners Tuesday. The Parsons City Commission approved a $115,000 loan for Pizza Properties LLC for the future Domino’s carry-out and delivery restaurant that will be built east of the new Dollar Tree, 2105 Main. The 20-year loan with 4.25 percent interest will come from a revolving loan fund created by three contributions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and city funding. The commissioners also approved a $5,000 retail recruitment incentive grant to Pizza Properties. Emily Elwell, who owns Pizza Properties with her husband, Dan, [...]

Carbondale celebrates coming of fall at annual festival Saturday

info2018-09-05T07:43:51-05:00September 5th, 2018|

Carbondale is gearing up for its annual fall festival, returning this year to the second Saturday in September. The 2018 Carbondale Fall Festival is this Saturday, Sept 8. All activities will be in the new side of City Park., with vendors, a car show on Kansas Avenue, special parade for youth, variety of bounce houses, slides, and obstacle courses appropriate for toddlers to adults. Farmers market vendors will have a bonus sale opportunity at the festival, along with assorted foods and crafts. The Osage County Sheriff’s Office will have an information table and gifts for children and adults. The Carbondale Lions [...]

Belleville is looking a lot better

info2018-09-04T16:47:41-05:00September 4th, 2018|

The appearance of residential areas in Belleville are improving. After getting off to a rocky, contentious start the North Central Regional Planning Commission as the determining agency for nuisance abatement in Republic County’s largest city has turned in a “thumbs up” assessment. “If you have not driven around you really need to,” Carol Torkelson of the NCRPC told members of the Belleville City Council last week. “You will see amazing thing. People really do have pride in their properties.” Read more: Belleville Telescope.

Flooding closes south side of Pratt

info2018-09-04T10:38:19-05:00September 4th, 2018|

Torrential rains Sept 3 dumped from six to over eight inches of rain across the county causing heavy flooding on the Ninnescah River pushing water over the banks and causing numerous road closures especially in the Pratt area. Parks and the Pratt County Veteran's Memorial Lake were filled to overflowing. Several families in low lying areas had to be rescued. (Read more: News - PrattTribune - Pratt, KS)

Smoky Hill Museum in Salina hosts presentation to focus on ancient site of Etzanoa

info2018-09-04T10:02:09-05:00September 4th, 2018|

Etzanoa. For centuries it lay buried beneath the Kansas soil, holding its secrets and waiting. It waits no more. Join Dr. Donald Blakeslee as he discusses this exciting archeological discovery. This free presentation is hosted by the Smoky Hill Museum on Thursday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. To accommodate a larger crowd, the presentation will be held at the First United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall, 122 N Eighth St., just across Iron Avenue from the museum. Spaniards called it the Great Settlement, while a native name for the town was Etzanoa. This ancient settlement in southern Kansas was home to more than 20,000 [...]

Shawnee Mission looking to make gun locks available for pick up at schools

info2018-09-04T09:59:03-05:00September 4th, 2018|

As part of its continuing efforts to provide the safest and most secure learning environments possible, the Shawnee Mission School District’s police department is mounting an effort to promote gun safety within the homes of students. Giving an update on the department’s current strategy and tactics to the board of education this week, Director of Safety and Security John Douglass said that staff will be working with schools to promote a “culture of safety” that extends beyond the school building. Part of that push will be encouraging parents to lock gun cabinets in their homes and otherwise secure weapons. The district [...]

City of Topeka considers raising sales tax to aid Cyrus Hotel investment

info2018-09-04T09:55:48-05:00September 4th, 2018|

Topeka’s governing body, which two years ago authorized a 1 percent extra sales tax upon purchases made at downtown Topeka’s Cyrus Hotel, on Tuesday will consider raising that to 2 percent. A proposal to make that move is among items on the agenda when that body, consisting of the nine city council members and Mayor Michelle De La Isla, meets at 6 p.m. in its chambers at 214 S.E. 8th. The city’s governing body plans to hear public comments and consider raising the special sales tax imposed to aid development of the $30 million Cyrus Hotel and restaurant property, which remains [...]