Grow Hays project aims to build starter homes

Grow Hays, the nonprofit economic development agency for Ellis County, is working on a project to build 18 affordably priced houses in town over the next 24 to 36 months.

The homes would ease what Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams says is a serious shortage of starter homes in Hays.

If all the parts of the project come together, the houses, on the east side of town, would be priced from $175,000 to $225,000, Williams said, using a program launched by the state of Kansas in 2014 called Rural Housing Incentive Districts.

(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

Ranson Financial2019-11-14T19:40:40-06:00November 14, 2019|News|

League of Kansas Municipalities honors Merriam for grant programs aimed at economic development

The Kansas League of Municipalities last month gave the city of Merriam its Inspire-Create-Innovate Community Award in recognition of efforts to engage residents through three specific programs.
Merriam undertook three grant programs aimed at improving economic development: the exterior home improvement grant, the block party grant and the neighborhood island grant.
“Our residents have really taken advantage of the three grant programs we started last year to help spur economic development in Merriam,” said Mayor Ken Sissom. “It’s exciting and an honor to see these grant programs recognized at the state level.”
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)

Ranson Financial2019-11-14T20:43:15-06:00November 14, 2019|News|

Voters strongly endorse county sales tax renewal

Miami County Commissioner Rob Roberts called the five-year renewal of the county’s quarter-cent sales tax a great success.

It’s easy to see why.

Not only did the county have the support of the Paola, Osawatomie, Louisburg, and Spring Hill city governments, it also had the support of 70.4 percent of the voters who went to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 5, to cast ballots in the general election. The renewal received 2,259 “yes” votes and 947 “no” votes.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Ranson Financial2019-11-14T17:42:17-06:00November 14, 2019|News|

Wichita to operate the first electric buses in Kansas

Wichita will add the state’s first electric buses to its public transit fleet in hopes of saving hundreds of thousands of dollars and reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

The first bus is expected to hit the road this month, while an additional 10 should come into service next year, KCUR reported. The city’s transit director, Mike Tann, won a $2 million grant and purchased four new electric buses from ProTerra.

(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)

Ranson Financial2019-11-14T17:40:28-06:00November 14, 2019|News|

Local foundation awards more than $209K in grants to nonprofits

The Hutchinson Community Foundation announced and handed out the 2019 Fund for Hutchinson grant awards Thursday morning. The event was held at the Crystal Ballroom at The Burt.

Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber President Debra Teufel accepts an award Thursday morning.

Established in 1990, the foundation’s founding board of directors wanted a permanent resource for the changing needs of Reno County. $3.7 million has been awarded to more than 170 area organizations and agencies from this fund.

This year, 25 organizations providing a wide variety of services and programs in Reno County will collectively receive $209,985.

“We’re really excited to have the opportunity to hand out over $205,000 in grants to help make this community greater,” Sarah Blake, program associate, said. “It’s been a wonderful experience to get to do it here in the Crystal Ballroom, to get to show the community members how we can invest in our community and make it an even more special place.”

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Ranson Financial2019-11-14T20:40:12-06:00November 14, 2019|News|

Douglas County Commission approves permit for rural event space

A rural Douglas County family now has the authority to build and operate an event center on their land, despite some neighbors voicing opposition to their plans.

The Douglas County Commission unanimously approved issuing a conditional use permit to Eugene George and his family to build the event center on the family’s 80-acre property on 1500 Road, about half a mile north of North 900 Road.

Once built, the 7,920-square-foot event center would be operated from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. It would allow for a total occupancy of 375 guests.

The commission previously considered awarding the permit in August, but voted to defer the request until a later date after several neighbors of the property voiced concerns, such as that the event space would create noise in the rural setting. Some neighbors again spoke out against the family’s plans during the commission’s meeting on Wednesday.

(Read more: LJWorld.com.)

Ranson Financial2019-11-14T20:55:45-06:00November 14, 2019|News|

With assurance Overland Park won’t turn into Las Vegas, city OKs huge light display

Putting fears aside about Overland Park losing its suburban feel, the planning commission this week greenlighted massive, moving digital displays on top of four office buildings, the first such permanent project to come to the city.

Developer Kenneth Block wants to permanently display artwork on digital boards that wrap around the top of buildings at CityPlace, near U.S. 69 and College Boulevard. The art would be animated in multicolored LED lights.

But getting approval to do so has been a lengthy process. Over the past few months, city officials have debated the differences between art and advertising. Some have been concerned that bright, moving lights would drastically change the look of the Kansas City suburb. That fear continues to pop up as the city considers more requests for electronic signs.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ranson Financial2019-11-13T21:00:39-06:00November 13, 2019|News|

Pit bull dogs win by a nose in Dighton

The final votes on a pit bull dog ballot in the city of Dighton showed the vote to allow the dogs passed by a nose.

There were 135 votes to abolish the city’s prohibition against possessing a pit bull dog in the city, and 128 votes against ending the ban.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-11-13T21:00:20-06:00November 13, 2019|News|

‘Lifesaving work’: Wichita police talk person off busy highway bridge

Wichita police responded to a call of a person on a bridge near Kellogg and I-135 on Tuesday morning.

Parts of the interchange were affected and one ramp was shut down for a short while.

Officers eventually were able to guide the person off the bridge at around 11 a.m. Soon after Wichita police Chief Gordon Ramsay called their actions “lifesaving work” on Twitter and Facebook.

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2019-11-13T20:59:49-06:00November 13, 2019|News|

Wichita’s new baseball team will be called Wind Surge

After months of teasing and municipal anticipation, Wichita’s new baseball team has its name, the Wichita Wind Surge.

“It’s a perfect name, I think it’s very fitting,” said Mayor Jeff Longwell, who led the effort to bring the team to Wichita.

The team, who finished their last season in New Orleans as the Baby Cakes earlier this year, will be the anchor tenant of the new $75 million baseball park that the city is building on the site of the former Lawrence-Dumont Stadium at Maple and McLean.

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2019-11-13T20:44:10-06:00November 13, 2019|News|