News – Page 445 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

The city of Burden cleans up after serious wind damage

info2024-05-09T12:52:21-05:00May 9th, 2024|

Burden, Kansas is in clean up mode on Tuesday following high winds that caused thousands of dollars worth of damage and debris. In fact, some of the damage was so severe that a local high school took it upon themselves to send out some of their students to help the community. “The wind, I’ve never heard wind like that in my life,” said Rey Kehr, Burden resident. Kehr is dealing with the aftermath of Monday's severe weather. His lawn is now littered with tree limbs. County officials estimate winds reached 80 miles per hour during the storm; and the damage is [...]

Ellsworth delays opening of splash pads

info2024-05-09T12:50:33-05:00May 9th, 2024|

The City of Ellsworth is delaying the opening of its splash pads. Ellsworth is currently under a voluntary water watch due to drought conditions. The voluntary watch has been in place since last year. The city is postponing opening the splash pads until at least May 13 so they can have a discussion with the city council about current drought conditions. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows Ellsworth County and much of the state is in a severe drought. However, that is based on data as of April 30 and doesn't include recent rainfall. Source: KSN-TV

Caldwell celebrates its Chisholm Trail history

info2024-05-09T12:49:49-05:00May 9th, 2024|

The town of Caldwell celebrated its legendary history over the weekend with the Caldwell Chisholm Trail Festival. The town proudly calls itself the Border Queen as it is so close to the Oklahoma state line. It also is where the Chisholm Trail entered Kansas. In the late 1800s, cowboys drove two million cattle along the trail from Texas to railroad towns in Kansas. The festival this weekend included a cattle drive. One participant said he is grateful to be able to reenact history. "We always want to try to remember where we came from and what got us to where we are today, so [...]

Photo album-inspired arch in Garden City reflects an artist’s gratitude and community’s history

info2024-05-09T12:49:07-05:00May 9th, 2024|

In Garden City — the rural heart of the high plains — stands “El Arco,” a 14-foot-tall sculpture erected in 2023. You can find the artwork on 8th Street, in Garden City’s historic downtown, across from Central Cup Coffee House. Clad in a yellow-orange ombre of ceramic tiles printed with a “photo album” of the city that helped mold the artist — Armando Minjárez Monárrez — the sculpture both reflects the life of the artist and our own lives and times. It suggests both the opportunities and restrictions of 2020s rural America, and most of all a very American tale of cobbling [...]

KCK voters soundly reject district’s $420 million plan to improve, build new schools

info2024-05-09T12:47:54-05:00May 9th, 2024|

Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a request to issue $420 million in bonds for capital projects in Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, sending district officials back to the drawing board on a plan to address the challenges of dated school buildings. Roughly 8% of registered voters participated in the single-issue special election over the fate of the district’s proposal, according to unofficial results from the Wyandotte County Election Office. The measure received support from 42% of voters as 58% cast ballots against. There were 5,071 ballots cast, with 2,136 supporters and 2,935 opponents. The plan before voters called for three elementary and [...]

It’s illegal to let these 19 ‘noxious weeds’ grow in your yard in Kansas and Missouri

info2024-05-09T12:46:46-05:00May 9th, 2024|

With summer on the way, many Kansas Citians are heading out to work the earth in yards, farms and community gardens around the metro. But as they contribute to the region’s strong agricultural tradition, some residents may find aggressive plants threatening to overtake the natural biodiversity of the local ecosystem. These plants, called “noxious weeds,” are at the center of an ongoing battle to maintain ecosystems in the Midwest. And local officials advise killing these plants on sight. “Noxious weeds are one of the greatest threats to the Kansas environment,” writes the Kansas Department of Agriculture. “They displace native plant species, [...]

Several fire departments respond to fire near Cheney Reservoir

info2024-05-09T12:45:18-05:00May 9th, 2024|

Several fire departments responded to a fire southeast of Cheney Reservoir Tuesday evening. The report of a building fire came in at 5:25 p.m. near the intersection of West 21st Street North and North 391st Street West. Cheney Fire said the first units to respond found a building fully engulfed in flames. They pulled a water line when the roof started to collapse. There were issues with electrical on the back of the building, Cheney Fire said. Because there were no fire hydrants in the area, crews brought 1,000-gallon tankers to get as much water on the scene as they could. Responding fire [...]

Douglas County Commission approves strategic plan to end homelessness, discusses supportive housing

info2024-05-09T12:43:57-05:00May 9th, 2024|

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday voted to approve the joint city-county strategic plan to end homelessness and heard an update on supportive housing plans and projects. The strategic plan, “A Place for Everyone,” breaks the issues into five focus areas: Equity and Inclusion; Affordable Housing; Supportive Housing; Systems; and Emergency Shelter. Staff members first presented the draft plan to the county commission in March 2023. The commissions had a joint meeting in January to hear updates on the plan’s progress. The plan includes an estimate of about $267.77 million for the five-year plan — that breaks down into about $218.3 million for [...]

Lawrence City Commission will no longer broadcast public comment, which will be near ends of meetings

info2024-05-09T12:42:26-05:00May 9th, 2024|

Lawrence city commissioners approved most proposed changes to public comment procedures, including no longer broadcasting general public comment live. Commissioners hear public comment on specific agenda items they’re considering, but people may also address the commission about any topics “germane” to city business that aren’t on the agenda during the general public comment period — which has been near the beginning of meetings for years. Commissioners voted to: (1) Move general public comment almost to the end of the meetings, but not the very end. Frequent commenter Chris Flowers told the commission that people often make points in general public comment that commissioners [...]

Pottawatomie County officials provide update on Westmoreland tornado cleanup

info2024-05-09T12:38:05-05:00May 9th, 2024|

Pottawatomie County officials provided an update Wednesday on the recovery effort in Westmoreland following last week’s tornado. Public Information Officer Becky Ryan spoke about the county’s new landfill and recycling policy for those in Westmoreland. Ryan says residents can take their recycling to other nearby counties if needed, such as Nemaha and Riley County. Ryan also explains what residents can do with additional storm debris. The response from surrounding communities has been described as “overwhelming” by local officials. Ryan says that the county is pretty well set on items available for those in need and that the community center remains open for [...]