News – Page 486 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Kansas Tourism Triumphs with Four Marketing Awards, Highlighting Excellence in Destination Promotion

info2024-03-11T14:06:22-05:00March 11th, 2024|

North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) recently announced that Kansas Tourism received four awards in the 32nd Annual NATJA Awards Competition. The competition honors the best of the best in travel journalism, photography and destination marketing organizations. This recognition underscores Kansas Tourism’s dedication to innovative destination marketing and its commitment to showcasing the state as a premier travel destination. “Kansas Tourism’s award-winning efforts in inspiring travelers to explore our state are pivotal to our image and growth,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Every visitor represents a potential resident or business connection, and elevating Kansas as an attractive destination [...]

Towanda water loss totals $114,000

info2024-03-11T14:03:31-05:00March 11th, 2024|

The City of Towanda announced in early 2024 that a large leak had been found in the city with suspicions of leaching water since June 2022. During a City Council meeting in February, the council disclosed that the leak was losing 50,000 gallons of water per day, every day since its inception, which is unclear. The City Administrator/City Clerk Andy Newbrey estimated that nearly 20 million gallons of water have been lost to date, totaling $114,000. The question many residents have raised is why wasn’t the leak caught sooner? “As far as my perspective goes, I don’t have experience with what the water [...]

Emporia City Commission advances plans for Community Improvement District

info2024-03-11T13:59:56-05:00March 11th, 2024|

The City of Emporia approved a resolution to establish a public hearing that would potentially create a community improvement district at the Emporia West Plaza during a Wednesday meeting of the city commission. The CID would impose an additional 2% sales tax for the stores located at 1312 Industrial Rd., including Tractor Supply Co., Dollar General, Rent-A-Center, Boost Mobile, Ichiban Asian Bistro, Metro by T-Mobile, Taekwondo, Oriental Massage, and House of Ma Restaurant, and the upcoming El Rio Bravo Supermarket. Special Projects Director Tayler Wash said the CID would include improvements of parking facilities, infrastructure improvements, landscaping, lighting, utilities and more. [...]

McCook, Goodland LEOs get help from communities capturing stray cattle

info2024-03-11T13:55:24-05:00March 11th, 2024|

Rural towns are known for doing things their own way, and catching stray cattle is no different. Police departments in both McCook, Nebraska, and Goodland, Kansas, made Facebook posts about cattle that were making their ways throughout town. In Goodland, the police department said it was involved in "the lowest-speed chase ever," in pursuit of a runaway calf. They attempted to keep the calf off the road, but it was "determined" to get to McDonald's for a Happy Meal. Unfortunately, the calf didn't have any money (moo-lah, one might say) and moved onto a field to the east. Goodland police said Josh Dorn, along [...]

National League of Cities Launches New Mapping Resource to Support Transit Planning in Municipalities

info2024-03-11T13:53:44-05:00March 11th, 2024|

The National League of Cities (NLC) has released a new resource, the Civic Mapping Initiative, to help local governments and transit planners identify opportunities for improving public transit access to critical civic infrastructure and resources. The Civic Mapping Initiative offers easily navigable maps that allow local policymakers to measure the proximity of local transit stops to public services such as Head Start centers and community colleges so that access can be improved where needed. “Improving access to public transit can help build more equitable communities by opening new doors for residents and changing people’s lives,” NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony [...]

‘We’re tired of this’: Sedgwick County homeowners are seeing an increase in home valuations

info2024-03-11T13:46:41-05:00March 11th, 2024|

Home valuations are arriving in mailboxes across Sedgwick County. Nearly 150,000 people will see an average increase of 10%, meaning they'll pay more in property taxes. Sedgwick County Commissioner Ryan Baty says there's a bill being debated in Topeka for a property tax lid, and the county is working on adjusting its upcoming budget to provide some relief to homeowners. "I think that people in this community, we've met a threshold, so there's a lot of conversations happening about how do we relieve pressure," said Baty. Baty says after seeing a similar situation in 2023, he believes there are services currently paid for [...]

Wichita leaders heading to D.C. to push for money for local projects

info2024-03-11T13:36:07-05:00March 11th, 2024|

The Wichita mayor and city council are heading to Washington, D.C., for meetings next week. The road trip is a way to meet face-to-face with lawmakers to push for money for big projects. On the list is money to work on flood mitigation, federal monies to improve Kellogg, and another push to get Amtrack to stop in Wichita. Wichita is getting close to having Amtrak from Texas and Oklahoma stop in Wichita, and the mayor and council will meet with railroad and federal executives to make another push to get Wichita on the list. But the trip is also a chance to [...]

Neosho County commissioner offers to help Galesburg fire with locating funding

info2024-03-11T13:35:03-05:00March 11th, 2024|

Neosho County Commissioner Nicholas Galemore offered to assist Galesburg Fire Chief John Lilburn in finding a funding source for the volunteer fire department. At last week’s meeting in Erie, Lilburn approached the commission with a request of funds for the Galesburg Fire Department. The city of Galesburg, Centerville and Ladore townships have invested approximately $74,000 since September 2023 toward the purchase of new trucks and firefighting equipment, which has depleted each entity’s reserves, Lilburn said in a letter he distributed to commissioners. Thus, more funding is needed for what Lilburn referred to as the department’s critical needs: a firefighting skid; AED [...]

Sedgwick County commissioners talking about sales tax increase

info2024-03-11T13:34:07-05:00March 11th, 2024|

With property values increasing over the past few years, Sedgwick County commissioners are talking about the idea of a one-cent sales tax increase that would be dedicated totally to property tax relief. The idea is being proposed by Commissioner David Dennis, after a report from the County Appraiser’s office showing that residential property values are going up by an average of ten percent this year. Dennis said it’s time for commissioners to look at other ways to fund government and provide services without relying so much on property taxes. The county already has a one-cent sales tax for street and bridge improvements, so [...]

Shawnee County wants to replace your Callery Pear tree with healthier, native species

info2024-03-11T13:32:49-05:00March 11th, 2024|

We're nearing the time of year when flowers and leaves start to bloom, however, you may not want all of them sticking around. The Callery Pear, or Bradford Pear tree is one of the most invasive plants in Kansas. That's why Shawnee County Parks and Recreation is partnering with Deep Roots and the Evergy Green Team to swap yours out. "It's just a tough plant, they can germinate easily and they're pretty tough to get rid of," Park District Manager Tom Hammer said. "It helps to get some more diversity species, diversity out there. Some of the trees they're offering on this buy [...]