News – Page 627 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Celebrating Heritage: Arvonia hosts history preservation tour

info2023-09-11T10:43:01-05:00September 11th, 2023|

A busload of tourists converged on tiny Arvonia, Kansas, on Labor Day, ready to learn about the historic Welsh settlement and efforts to restore and preserve local heritage. More than 30 people participated in the tour, a supplemental excursion offered through the North American Festival of Wales, held in Lincoln, Nebraska, the previous week. Arvonia Historical Preservation Society board members and volunteers prepared the restored Township Hall for lunch with wooden tables and benches, decorated with daffodils and small Welsh flags. Displays of local maps and platts, correspondence, newspaper articles, school records and other documents and pictures were set up around [...]

Kelly touts budding economic development as boon for state

info2023-09-11T10:40:02-05:00September 11th, 2023|

With a number of economic initiatives propelling Kansas forward, Gov. Laura Kelly believes the State of Kansas is taking monumental steps to invigorate its economy and foster industry growth in the Emporia area. Kelly, who spoke to The Gazette this week, emphasized that this achievement is a direct outcome of the state’s strategic plan for economic development. This comprehensive plan, instated under her administration, provides a modern roadmap for growth — a departure from the outdated strategies that had hindered Kansas’ economic progress for decades. Source: Emporia Gazette

Claflin Fire District receives donation from Anheuser-Busch

info2023-09-11T10:35:33-05:00September 11th, 2023|

Claflin Fire District No. 1 has received a grant from Anheuser-Busch through the Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters program. Drinking water is used directly for firefighter comfort and safety. The grant included a case of powdered electrolyte replacement additive and 98 cases of canned drinking water, which is loaded to coolers on each truck and helps firefighters stay hydrated on fire calls. Source: Great Bend Tribune

Amid housing fight, Prairie Village residents confused by judge’s contradictory rulings

info2023-09-11T10:34:29-05:00September 11th, 2023|

PV United, a group opposed to proposals to increase affordable housing in Prairie Village, circulated three petitions that would change the city's government and zoning rules. A judge this week gave an oral ruling on which petitions could appear on the ballot in November, but later contradicted that decision in her written ruling. Source: KCUR

Wichita city council to vote on short term rental regulations next week

info2023-09-11T10:31:59-05:00September 11th, 2023|

If you ask Patricia Hileman why she and her family moved to the college hill neighborhood of Wichita 14 years ago, its a fairly simple answer. "I just like old houses and I love the trees that come with old houses and the community.” When she moved in, short term rentals like Airbnb were not really wide scale in Wichita. However since then more and more have popped up. She doesn't oppose people having short term rentals but said, "I love having relationships with neighbors, and short term rentals, you don't build relationships, they're not going to be here, right?" Source: [...]

Overland Park Arboretum will open $22M visitor center this weekend

info2023-09-11T10:29:28-05:00September 11th, 2023|

After years of planning, the new $22.7 million visitors center at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens will open to the public this weekend. Named after a major donor to the project, Janet Long, the LongHouse Visitors Center will be the new entrance to the 300-acre arboretum. When guests enter the 21,000-square-foot building, they’ll find floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the gardens, ponds and natural scenery. The new center includes a gift shop, space for exhibits, meeting rooms and a café, as well as various rental spaces that can be used for weddings and community events. Source: Kansas [...]

Russell under mandatory water usage reduction

info2023-09-11T10:26:45-05:00September 11th, 2023|

The City of Russell on Saturday called for a mandatory reduction in water usage. A news release from the city says Big Creek is one of the city's two water sources and has stopped flowing over the lowhead dam immediately downstream from the city's intake structure. This development caused the city to move to a Stage 2 Water Warning. Here are the following mandatory water conservation measures for the use of potable water from the City’s municipal water supply system: Source: KSN-TV

At least 71 Kansas public schools have 4-day week schedules this year. Here’s where

info2023-09-11T10:25:14-05:00September 11th, 2023|

More Kansas public school students than ever are attending classes only four days per week. Data from the Kansas State Department of Education lists 71 public schools with four-day weeks this year, up from 69 schools last year and just 56 the year before. These schools are located in 31 different school districts, mostly located in the southern and western portions of the state. New to the list this year is the West Elk school district, where two schools are adopting 4-day schedules for the first time. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Police, code enforcement shut down an illegal animal rescue in Parsons

info2023-09-11T10:23:48-05:00September 11th, 2023|

Parsons Police Department and the city’s code enforcement officer have shut down an illegal animal rescue in Parsons. Community Service Officer Ricky Thompson has been conducting an investigation into the well-being and treatment of dogs in the 500 block of North 25th Street in Parsons. He learned about a potential illegal number of dogs in the area. While investigating Thompson met with the homeowner who had claimed to be running a nonprofit animal rescue. Thompson gathered details of the apparent business and contacted City Attorney Ross Albertini and the city Code Enforcement Officer Tyeler Riggs. Thompson and Albertini reviewed pictures of [...]

JoCo election office says it’s too late for Prairie Village petitions

info2023-09-11T10:21:56-05:00September 11th, 2023|

It’s too late for any of the Prairie Village petitions to make it onto the Nov. 7 ballot, says the county election office. In a statement issued Friday evening regarding the three resident-led petitions, Johnson County Election Commissioner Fred Sherman said it was too late to add any additional items on the upcoming general election ballot. The statement came as the legal case over the petitions’ fate remains unresolved. The city and the group of residents pushing the petitions were still waiting Friday to receive a final ruling from Johnson County District Court Judge Rhonda Mason, who is deciding whether any of the [...]