Voting begins for $143.5 million Hays school bond

Early voting began Monday on a school bond in Hays. The bond totals $143.5 million. With it, USD 489 hopes to renovate two elementary schools, renovate the current middle school into a new elementary, construct a new high school and move the middle school to the high school. One older elementary school and administration center would be closed. “I’m expecting a big turnout and that is just because there’s been a lot of push for this bond issue. There’s been a lot of things in the news, signs all over our town so you know I’m expecting a big turnout,” said Ellis County Clerk/Election Official Bobbi Dreiling.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-04-26T23:26:30-05:00April 26, 2022|News|

Dodge City named Most Charming Small Town in Kansas

In its 150th year since it was established, the city of Dodge City was named the Most Charming Small Town in Kansas by the travel website Trips to Discover. “Once considered to be the wildest town in the Wild West, with a cast of colorful characters, including gamblers, cowboys, and prostitutes, Dodge City offers plenty of historic charms,” author K.C. Dermody wrote about the small community in southwest Kansas. “Boot Hill Museum focuses on its heritage with entertaining historical exhibits, and there are trolley tours of historic sites, along with mock gunfights complete with costumed cowboys. Grabbing a drink in one of the saloons is a great way to soak up the atmosphere,” said Dermody.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-04-26T23:20:06-05:00April 26, 2022|News|

Wichita’s City Council: Leave TIF district policy as is for transparency sake

During a workshop meeting Tuesday, Wichita’s City Council explored potential changes to the criteria for tax increment financing districts — an economic development tool that captures the incremental increases in property taxes within a district’s boundaries to cover certain costs of private development. The strongest message delivered Tuesday by three members of the Council, though, was to leave it be. I like the TIF language as is,” Council member Brandon Johnson said during the meeting. “… The proposed one I get, but I just know that other taxpayers really want to see final effort and everything’s been exhausted.”
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Ranson Financial2022-04-26T23:17:45-05:00April 26, 2022|News|

Does the ‘Future of Work’ Open a New Growth Horizon for Small Towns?

With the changing shape of remote and hybrid workplaces, and the continuing spread of high-speed internet access in rural areas, new options are opening up for bringing small-scale jobs and companies to towns all over the map. More specifically, with $65 billion for improvements to rural high-speed internet access in President Biden’s infrastructure plan, the potential for a renaissance and reinvention of small towns looms large. Leveraging that potential in a way that creates sustainable growth, will take a multi-dimensional approach.
Source: KLC Journal

Ranson Financial2022-04-27T07:03:31-05:00April 26, 2022|News|

Overland Park city workers rescue 11 ducklings caught in spillway at South Lake Park

Friday afternoon rescuing a troop of ducklings that had gotten into some trouble during a swim lesson at South Lake Park. A total of 11 of the fluffy little creatures accidentally swam into an overflow spillway in the park’s lake, basically a 20-foot hole. “The spillway has a kind of gate cover so that obviously no one can fall in there, but the ducks were able to swim through there,” said Mike Burton, Overland Park parks project coordinator.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-04-27T07:05:39-05:00April 26, 2022|News|

Accessibility updates to Pittsburg City Hall

Much needed change is coming to Pittsburg City Hall. Construction will be soon underway to improve the accessibility of City Hall. These changes include new steps and a new ramp in front of the building. The main entrance to City Hall is closed. Residents can use the east and west entrances to enter City Hall as needed. “All the departments, you can still get up to the front desk in City Hall to do any business you need to conduct as regular through either the west side or the east side of the building,” said Matt Bacon, Director of Public Works Pittsburg KS.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2022-04-26T23:05:47-05:00April 26, 2022|News|

Johnson County public transit may fall under county control once again

Four months after committing to several major changes that will expand public transit, Johnson County commissioners are now considering dropping out of a management agreement with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to run its services. Background: The interlocal agreement, in which KCATA manages contracts of the entities that run the county transit system, has been in place for seven years. The change was proposed so the county can keep a closer eye on several pilot projects that will begin to be phased in next month, according to a staff memo. But the county system will remain a part of KCATA’s RideKC brand and system, and riders will not notice any change, the memo said.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-04-26T23:02:16-05:00April 26, 2022|News|

Kansas school districts anticipate growing shortfalls in special education funding

A creeping budget shortfall, that’s the situation described for Kansas school districts trying to figure out how to make up state funding shortfalls for special education. The issue has been in conflict for more than a decade and has been brought up once again as lawmakers mull over the matter in Topeka, Kansas. The situation, however, is also being talked about locally as local school districts look at their budgets and try to figure out the ebb and flow of finances for the next few years. At a recent meeting of the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education, district officials laid out how special education funding, or SPED funding, has become a bigger divot year-to-year.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF

Ranson Financial2022-04-26T22:58:21-05:00April 26, 2022|News|

U.S. News ranks KCK high school best in Kansas, among top 50 in nation

A Kansas City, Kansas high school has once again been ranked No. 1 by U.S. News as the best high school in the state of Kansas, Kansas City-area, as well as one of the top in the nation. Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences was ranked by U.S. News as the number one high school in Kansas and ranked 32 in the nation. The U.S. News Best High Schools rankings include data on nearly 24,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Nearly 18,000 schools were ranked on six factors based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF

Ranson Financial2022-04-26T22:56:25-05:00April 26, 2022|News|

Inman USD 448 bond issue for new sports complex up for vote

New sports facilities and improved drainage at Inman High School are up for vote next week for a bond project for Inman USD 448. The special election on Tuesday, May 3 will feature a bond project worth $5 million that will include the construction of new baseball, softball and football fields – all with natural grass – and a new track around the football field. The construction will also include drainage improvements in the vicinity of the athletic complex. … This is not the first time Inman has pushed for new sports facilities. Three years ago, voters rejected a proposed $8.6 million bond issue to help improve sports facilities. Friesen said the school board has talked about improving facilities “for a number of years.”
Source: Hutch News

Ranson Financial2022-04-26T07:15:53-05:00April 26, 2022|News|