Northwest Bypass Could Energize West Wichita, If It’s Ever Built

A massive highway project has the potential to transform much of west Wichita. The Northwest Bypass would extend K-96 from near 45th and Maize Road to Kellogg, just east of Goddard. The question is: Will it ever be built? The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has been buying property for the project since 2006 but only has acquired a third of the needed right-of-way. The problem so far? It’s pretty obvious. “The biggest thing right now is funding,” said Sedgwick County Commissioner David Dennis, who represents west Wichita and west Sedgwick County.
Source: KMUW

Ranson Financial2021-06-21T07:43:41-05:00June 21, 2021|News|

Wheat harvest in Kansas looking terrific

Farmers across Kansas have something to be thankful for: initial reports show that the wheat harvest may be the best in recent years. A much-needed yield and factors such as sunshine, well-timed rains and great growing temperatures have helped farmers put food on your table and theirs. The weather, while almost unbearable to many, lately, has been perfect for this year’s Kansas wheat harvest. Instead of a harvest taking weeks, it’s taking half the time. Shawn Becker is a third-generation farmer from Wellington who is smiling bright this harvest season. “(The weather) is ideal with cutting wheat,” he said. “The ground is dry, your machines have to fight less when you’re not fighting mud. (I’m) day three into it, and a little over halfway done.”
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2021-06-21T00:30:56-05:00June 21, 2021|News|

KC, OKC got Topgolf for nothing but Wichita offered millions; project study had flaws

The city of Wichita is moving forward with a $10.2 million subsidy for a Topgolf sports attraction and neighboring development — but other cities in the region didn’t pay anything to land the golf-themed business and there’s a glaring error in the economic study that justified the project. Oklahoma City and Overland Park officials told The Eagle they didn’t spend any public money to get Topgolf, a popular sports entertainment company owned by publicly traded golfing behemoth Callaway Golf Co., a company currently valued at $5.9 billion. “We gave them no incentives, no reimbursement,” said Sean Reilly, a spokesman for Overland Park city government. “Topgolf did not receive any incentives from the city,” said Joanna McSpadden, Oklahoma City’s economic development program manager. “That’s the idea, right? We don’t have to incentivize everything, we can have some growth on the private dime, too.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-06-21T07:44:29-05:00June 21, 2021|News|

Grant helps to fund Winfield ambulance

The City of Winfield approved the $151,000 purchase of a new ambulance at its regular meeting, which was held in special session on Thursday. The ambulance will be funded in part through a matching USDA Rural Development grant award of $125,000. Smaller in design, the ambulance approved is a customized Ford 350 Transit. “This will be our first van-based ambulance,” City Manager Taggart Wall said. “It is a great way to test the waters and determine what type of vehicle works best for the patient and our staff in different situations.” Wall said that the investment represents the continued goal to update the fleet of ambulances that the city acquired from the former hospital-based Winfield Area EMS.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2021-06-21T00:11:49-05:00June 21, 2021|News|

Plan would restore rail service to big swath of the Midwest

Proponents of expanding passenger rail service through Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas hope an anticipated influx of federal infrastructure funding will get the the long-discussed route off the ground. The project, which is among 39 new routes that Amtrak has proposed, calls for extending the Heartland Flyer. The train now travels south from Oklahoma City in the morning and returns in the evening, with an afternoon layover in Fort Worth, Texas. With the expansion, one daily trip would start and end farther north in Newton in the early morning, traveling over tracks owned by BNSF, the largest U.S. railroad. From Newton, travelers could catch Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, which travels between Chicago and Los Angeles, passing through Kansas City, Mo., along the way.
Source: Derby Informer | Area

Ranson Financial2021-06-21T00:07:56-05:00June 21, 2021|News|

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Plans to Build New Factory in Tonganoxie to Help Meet Growing Demand for its Pet Food

Hill’s Pet Nutrition announced their intent to invest more than $250 million to build a new factory in Leavenworth County in their home state of Kansas to help meet the growing demand for their #1 vet recommended Hill’s pet nutrition. “Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s decision to invest $250 million in Kansas and bring 80 new jobs to Tonganoxie is further proof that Kansas’ Animal Health Corridor can out-compete any region in the world for these industry investments and jobs,” Governor said. “With our central location, talented workforce and reputation as a global leader in animal health and science, our partnership with Hill’s is a no-brainer.” “Hill’s Pet Nutrition is excited to be growing our roots in. We’ve been part of the community for almost 80 years and this new facility will help us to meet our mission of enriching and lengthening the special relationships between people and their pets by providing our high quality nutrition,” said Jesper Nordengaard, President of Hill’s Pet Nutrition…
Source: Atchison Globe Now

Ranson Financial2021-06-21T07:47:53-05:00June 21, 2021|News|

Riley County clerk: More budget announcements published equals more money spent

The Riley County clerk says a new state law intended to help people understand where their tax dollars go will in turn cost taxpayers more money to implement. Riley County and Manhattan city government officials met for a joint meeting Thursday to discuss the potential “unintended consequences” of the passage of Senate Bill 13. The bill, approved by Kansas lawmakers this past session, establishes new requirements for public notices and hearings to alert residents if a municipal entity’s budget might surpass what’s called the “revenue neutral rate” for a local property tax levy. Riley County clerk Rich Vargo said the new legislation, which takes effect next year, is meant to inform people of how their tax dollars will be used, and to spur them to attend budget hearings for local agencies to “express their opinions on what they want funded and what they don’t want funded.”
Source: themercury.com

Ranson Financial2021-06-21T07:48:45-05:00June 20, 2021|News|

National arts grant will give downtown Wichita businesses some creative curb appeal

A new placemaking initiative in Wichita funded by a national grant will help give a few downtown businesses a little more curb appeal. In a partnership with the city, Downtown Wichita was one of 63 recipients of a $75,000 Our Town Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The funding will support a new initiative called the Front Porch Project, which will pair local artists with business owners to come up with a creative outdoor extension of their storefronts.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Ranson Financial2021-06-21T07:48:51-05:00June 20, 2021|News|

Kansas officer critically hurt, suspect dead after shootout

A Kansas police officer is in critical condition and the person who fired at officers is dead after a shootout in Wichita, authorities said. Two police officers were checking on the welfare of a 32-year-old woman and her 13-year-old daughter at a home in south Wichita around 10:15 p.m. Saturday when the shooting began. Police said the woman reported having a physical fight with her boyfriend before officers arrived, but she thought the man had left. Wichita Deputy Police Chief Jose Salcido said officers found the man, 28-year-old Tyler Hodge, hiding in a shed in the backyard with a rifle. Body camera footage released Sunday showed Hodge ignoring officers’ commands to put the gun down before he stood up and opened fire. One of the officers was hit several times and was rushed to a hospital. He remained in critical but stable condition Sunday.
Source: KOAMKOAM

Ranson Financial2021-06-20T23:49:42-05:00June 20, 2021|News|

Lecompton has a long and rich history. A new mural titled ‘Resilience’ depicts the town’s story and significance.

The town of Lecompton is known for its rich history. Founded in 1854, the town was originally named Bald Eagle and became Kansas’ territorial capital 11 years later. The small town is known as being “the birthplace of the Civil War, where slavery began to die.” Lecompton’s history is now represented through a new mural painted on the south wall of the former Lecompton High School gym. The mural, created by artist Rick Wright, depicts a landscape with a bald eagle emerging from the clouds. On each side of the eagle are buildings and wagons and below is the phrase “Populi Voce Nata,” which means “Born by the voice of the people.” The mural, which has been named “Resilience,” was a project funded by Lecompton Community Pride. Paul Bahnmaier, president of the Lecompton Historical Society, said the group raised more than $13,000 for the project through donations.
Source: CJonline.com.

Ranson Financial2021-06-19T07:52:38-05:00June 18, 2021|News|