Behind the scenes of Topeka Civic Theatre’s playreading committee

During a typical season at Topeka Civic Theatre, 275 nights out of the year, a production takes place on one of the theater’s stages.

The plays and musicals that debut at TCT can make an audience laugh, cry, scare or think. No one has to second-guess that the actors evoking those emotions from the audience put in long hours to make the production a memorable one.

But a particular group of volunteers, made of up 13 individuals, spends countless hours before a new season premieres making decisions about which productions they think will bring an audience to the theater.

Ranson Financial2020-01-12T18:17:02-06:00January 12, 2020|News|

Auburn residents hope to see interchange project move forward

People in Auburn could be getting an easier and quicker way to reach a major highway. A study was done by the Kansas Turnpike Authority and Auburn city officials to see if adding an interchange on I-335/KTA was possible.

Supporters say it would provide better access for people in Auburn. The discussion about adding the interchange first started around 14 years ago. A similar study was done in 2006, but the project didn’t move forward because it wouldn’t bring any net revenue to the area. But, city leaders didn’t give up on the possibility and recently asked for a new study to be done to account for new and anticipated growth.

(Read more: KSNT News)

Ranson Financial2020-01-12T18:13:06-06:00January 12, 2020|News|

Bourbon County to ask for continuation of hard surface roads sales tax

Bourbon County Commissioners are gearing up to promote the continuance of a 1-cent county-wide retail sales tax.

The sales tax currently in place funds hard-surface roads projects and expires at the end of the year. If passed, this would be the third time the tax has been placed on the ballot with each sales tax in effect 10 years each time.

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

Ranson Financial2020-01-12T18:51:47-06:00January 12, 2020|News|

Laid off Spirit workers to receive help

Spirit announced they’re laying off roughly 15 percent of their workforce in Wichita Friday morning, leaving several people looking for jobs.

Now, the question looms, what’s next for them?

“Under a warn notice, they will still get 60 days of pay,” Keith Lawing said, CEO and president of the Workforce Alliance of south central Kansas. “Then they will be looking to possibly apply for unemployment insurance they will be eligible for that.”

Lawing said the layoffs are temporary, giving the employees the chance to be rehired. To do so, they would have to wait and see when the production of 737 MAX would start again since they cited the uncertainty in that production as a major reason for the layoffs. If they want to leave the industry they can go elsewhere and Lawing said the Workforce Center in Wichita can help with that.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2020-01-12T18:06:42-06:00January 12, 2020|News|

One of the hottest housing markets in Johnson County fears losing ‘small-town feel’

The last eight years have been good to 66-year-old, violet haired Riedhart, who runs the breakfast and lunch spot with a few family members. And they’ve been good to De Soto, population 6,443. From her restaurant in the two-block downtown, she’s witnessed an influx of new residents, homes and businesses to the town nestled between Kansas 10 highway and the Kansas River in northwest Johnson County.

De Soto is quickly becoming a larger player in the wider boom story that has defined the county. The city’s population is growing. New homes are going up all around town. And housing prices have soared — outpacing the rate of growth in all other parts of the Kansas City metro.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ranson Financial2020-01-12T19:02:08-06:00January 12, 2020|News|

Franklin County set for economic boom

Franklin County is on the cusp for an economic boom, the new Franklin County Development Council executive director said.

Paul Bean, who has been on the job since November, said everything is in place to attract outside businesses and for current businesses to consider expansion.

“People feel really good about Ottawa and Franklin County from the outside looking in,” Bean said. “They think we are in a great position and things are going to happen. A lot of people are envious to where we are at today. We have so many positive things going on. You have to have your foundation of a quality community, good workforce, good health care and good education. We have all that stuff. We are very blessed. We are a fortunate community. I would put Ottawa and the county up against any place. It is a phenomenal opportunity.”

(Read more: News – The Ottawa Herald)

Ranson Financial2020-01-12T17:55:36-06:00January 12, 2020|News|

Grant to assist with Egerton’s 207th Street railroad overpass received

Edgerton received grant money for a railroad overpass along 207th Street.

The Johnson County Board of Commissioners approved a $1 million County Assistance Road System, or CARS, grant to Edgerton for an overpass along 207th Street at Co-Op Road.

“We are in the final stages of design and property acquisition for the project,” said Beth Linn, city administrator. “We anticipate this project will go out to bid in the coming weeks to secure a contractor for construction. We plan to start the project in this spring with substantial completion by the end of 2020. Likely due to the magnitude of the construction project there will be some work still in 2021. “

The post Grant to assist with Egerton’s 207th Street railroad overpass received appeared first on Gardner News.

(Read more: Gardner News)

Ranson Financial2020-01-12T17:52:58-06:00January 12, 2020|News|

Riley County approves cost share for water line re-alignment study

Riley County commissioners gave consensus to share the cost of a re-alignment study for Marlatt Avenue with the City of Manhattan.

City Assistant Director of Public Works Randy DeWitt and City Engineer Brian Johnson say they are preparing a RFQ for the design of a major water line to the water tower on Marlatt. With the pending re-alignment, the city is uncertain where to construct the water line.

“What this provides for us is an opportunity to collaborate with the county, not so much for the water line project specifically. When we design this water line it seems appropriate to work with Riley County to see what this alignment looks like,” DeWitt said.

Johnson says one of the main benefits for the county will be more direct access to Riley County High School. Those residents will no longer have to take Kimball to get there.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Ranson Financial2020-01-12T17:45:59-06:00January 12, 2020|News|

Harvey County firefighters creating task force to battle wildfires

Firefighters in Harvey County are fired up about a new task force. It’s called the Harvey County Wild Land Task Force.

A brush fire just south of Halstead Tuesday took crews about an hour to get under control. The Halstead fire chief said they had to rely on help from other counties. It’s an example he said of how a wild fire task force could lower response time.

“If we would have had the complete task force set up we wouldn’t have had to have asked and the times would have been compressed quite a bit probably saved us about 20 minutes,” said Halstead Fire Chief Jim VanSchaick.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2020-01-12T18:18:25-06:00January 10, 2020|News|

Pittsburg brightening downtown with murals

The city of Pittsburg is seeing some changes.

…

Recently demolition in downtown Pittsburg has been a sight for sore eyes. The former Mike’s New and Used location was recently demolished because it was unsafe.

Just down the street, Artist Bryan Lewandowski is painting a mural on the side of a building to bring some vibrancy back to the area.

“We enjoy looking at all the different colors and advertisements and what’s going on and seeing the artists to their thing.”

Bryan Lewandowski, Artist, said, “I know there’s a lot of diversity and a lot of people that are always trying to push for something a little more colorful and this is a big way to kind of symbolize that diversity that’s kind of growing right now and I think the last 10 years it’s been kind of booming.”

Ranson Financial2020-01-10T07:05:55-06:00January 10, 2020|News|