Mission launches new Adopt a Park program with Girl Scout Troop #942

The City of Mission recently launched a new program for volunteer groups to help keep the city’s parks clean and safe. Director of Parks and Recreation Penn Almoney said the goal of the program is to offer “exposure to one of Mission’s greatest resources: its outdoor parks.”

“Anytime you see more people at a park, it kind of gives you that sense of safety and connection within the community,” Almoney said. “Our ultimate goal is to foster community through this program and try to connect people.”

Volunteer groups, such as youth groups or local non-profits, can reach out to the parks and recreation department about which park the group would like to adopt and the process moves forward from there, Almoney said. Then beautification projects are discussed and outlined, and the groups commit to completing projects at least six times within one year.

Ranson Financial2019-10-27T20:01:44-05:00October 27, 2019|News|

Holcomb shelves plans to research, build indoor pool

After several months of preliminary research, the Holcomb USD 363 Board of Education voted unanimously last week to not move forward with early plans to potentially build an indoor swimming facility near district schools.

USD 363 superintendent Scott Myers updated board members on the project last Monday, reviewing a public forum the district held about the project in September and some additional findings about the project.

Myers was interested in “next steps,” he said in a memo in the board’s meeting packet, and suggested members opt to hold another community meeting, decide on a funding mechanism for the project or decide to halt further progress. After a discussion, the board chose to set aside the project for the time being.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Ranson Financial2019-10-27T19:59:27-05:00October 27, 2019|News|

City approves 3.75 million in bonds

Gardner City Council approved $3.75 million in bonds to finance several projects in the city during a meeting Oct. 22.
The bonds, which include $1,140,000 in tax exempt general obligation temporary notes, $2,350,000 in taxable general obligation temporary notes and $2,600,000 in general obligation bonds, will be put up for sale on Nov. 18.

The bonds will fund infrastructure improvements at the 188th street special benefit district known as the Plaza South Development project. “The notes for this project are anticipated to be tax exempt,” said Mathew Wolff, finance director.

The funds will also be used to fund infrastructure development for the Waverly Plaza public road and waterline special benefit district. The project includes the acquisition of right of way and other improvements that will serve the upcoming Waverly Plaza development project. Wolff said the notes for the project are anticipated to be taxable.

(Read more: Gardner News)

Ranson Financial2019-10-27T19:57:39-05:00October 27, 2019|News|

Salina economy gets boost from new business landing near airport

A new business is expected to bring dozens of jobs to Salina in the short term, but officials say 1 Vision Aviation could eventually bring hundreds of jobs to the region. The business from Iowa cut the ribbon at a new maintenance facility Friday.

1 Vision set up its new facility in an old military hangar near the Salina Airport. The company will perform maintenance on aircraft ranging from regional jets up to Boeing 737s, and Delta Airlines is their first customer. US Senator Jerry Moran said he expects it to be a boost to the regional economy.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2019-10-27T19:51:11-05:00October 27, 2019|News|

Farmers in central Kansas will not lose water in 2020

“Augmentation’s the only way to solve this problem,” says Farmer, Darrell Wood.

Wood is talking about the water problem in central Kansas. For years, he says a fight over water rights between farmers and the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge has wreaked havoc.

“The demands for that water are significant and there’s always more demand than there is water,” says U.S. Senator Jerry Moran.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2019-10-27T19:50:00-05:00October 27, 2019|News|

Derby community celebrates 150 years of history

Dozens of people gathered at Madison Avenue Central Park Thursday night to celebrate as the city turned 150 years old.

“I’ve seen this town grow, I worked for the police department here, and now I run the chamber, so I’ve seen a lot of growth in our community,” said Chamber of Commerce President Mark Staats.

The celebration featured food from local restaurants, silent and live auctions, and birthday themed performances throughout the night.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2019-10-27T19:47:58-05:00October 27, 2019|News|

Sunshine plays a role in powering up Olathe West High School

Dighton residents and dog owners Becca and Mike Warta asked for a change in a Dighton city ordinance banning pit bull dogs and dogs with those characteristics and the city council voted to seek public opinion by putting a question on the ballot, according to Dighton city clerk Chelle Anderson.

The Nov. 5 election question is:

Should the City of Dighton’s Ordinance prohibiting the possession of the Pit Bull Dog; Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed; the American Pit Bull Terrier Breed or the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed of dog or any combination thereof be abolished?

After the election, the Dighton City Council will return to the issue. It isn’t mandated to change or retain the ordinance, based on the election outcome, Anderson said.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ranson Financial2019-10-27T20:37:52-05:00October 27, 2019|News|

Kansas sees growing need for sports officials

There is a growing need for sports officials across the state of Kansas and the Kansas State High School Activities Association is urging people to consider signing up.

Players and coaches put in a lot of time preparing for their games but a lack of officials in Kansas has led to instances when games have had to be canceled or rescheduled because they can’t find an official.

“We see some creative scheduling and maybe playing at times that are not the prime time…because there’s simply not enough officials on a given night,” explained Bill Faflick, Executive Director of the KSHSAA.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2019-10-27T20:34:35-05:00October 26, 2019|News|

In light of racist graffiti, Douglas County to explore adding murals to underpasses in southern Lawrence

When Lawrence resident Cheryl Lester recently walked on a pathway to the Baker Wetlands Trail in southern Lawrence, she noticed graffiti markings on an underpass that were racist and anti-Semitic.

In response, Lester asked Douglas County to not only remove the markings, but consider adding some sort of public art over them to “turn that ugliness into something beautiful,” County Commissioner Nancy Thellman said.

The county might do just that. During their meeting on Wednesday, county commissioners directed staff to research the feasibility of installing murals on three pedestrian underpasses that had been affected by graffiti.

Kansas secretary of commerce: ‘We need to crow loudly about why Kansas is a great place to live’

Secretary of Commerce David Toland, speaking at the University of Kansas, following a lecture some called “a funeral of rural Kansas,” touted Lawrence as a model community for the state.

Kansas State University professor Matthew Sanderson began Thursday’s Kansas Economic Policy Conference with the lecture titled “Kansas Population Trends: Where Are We Going?,” in which he highlighted rural population loss and the aging population in Kansas.

But Toland, who just started his term in April, is hopeful that the Department of Commerce’s developing strategic plan, as well as its efforts to brand the state in a way that will attract businesses, families and workers, will bolster Kansas’ economy in both the urban and rural sectors. And in an interview after his lecture, Toland said Lawrence was a model community for the state.

Mission launches new Adopt a Park program with Girl Scout Troop #942

Holcomb shelves plans to research, build indoor pool

City approves 3.75 million in bonds

Salina economy gets boost from new business landing near airport

Farmers in central Kansas will not lose water in 2020

Derby community celebrates 150 years of history

Sunshine plays a role in powering up Olathe West High School

Kansas sees growing need for sports officials

In light of racist graffiti, Douglas County to explore adding murals to underpasses in southern Lawrence

Kansas secretary of commerce: ‘We need to crow loudly about why Kansas is a great place to live’

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