Shawnee businesses cite need for stronger workforce, government responsiveness

When it comes to the future of the city of Shawnee — and the growth of business and economy — workforce density and government responsiveness were two key elements identified as needs of the business community.

About 40 members of the business community in Shawnee met in a business focus group Aug. 20 to talk about the challenges and opportunities of growing and maintaining a business in the city. The focus group is part of the city’s first strategic visioning process, Imagine Shawnee.

Ranson Financial2019-08-26T19:43:10-05:00August 26, 2019|News|

Wichita, home of fatal ‘swatting’ case, launches alert system for gamers and police

Wichita police will begin placing alerts on addresses where potential swatting targets could be living, the department announced Friday.

The program is voluntary and open to any person who thinks they could fall victim to swatting, a false report to law enforcement meant to draw a large police presence to a particular address. The practice has been growing in popularity on the fringes of the online gaming community, including a case in Wichita that ended in tragedy.

In Wichita’s swatting case, police shot an unwitting and unarmed man on his front porch after Tyler Barriss, 26, called from California and reported a murder and hostage situation at 1033 W. McCormick, the former address of a gamer involved an online dispute.

Walmart, Gardner community offer ‘cool’ help to homebound couple (part of the Gardner Samaritan Project)

Gardner Mayor Steve Shute is collaborating with community leaders to form the Gardner Samaritan Project, an initiative he outlined in his State of the City address last May to assist people in need.

But after a local couple’s air-conditioner quit working as temperatures climbed, city officials tackled the problem in a way that served as a prototype for the larger initiative — which will connect those in need with volunteers and organizations in a position to help.

After the couple contacted the city because they couldn’t afford to replace their broken window unit, the city turned to the local Walmart Supercenter, where manager Albert Stutzman and claims manager Denise Hastings were willing to help.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ranson Financial2019-08-25T21:18:18-05:00August 25, 2019|News|

Fire chiefs detail response to Tyson fire in Holcomb

Two weeks after a fire shut down one of the area’s top job creators, Holcomb and Garden City emergency officials are reflecting on what made their response a success.“The public around Holcomb comes through anytime we ask,” said Bill Knight. “It was the same thing here.”Knight is the chief of the Holcomb Community Fire Department, one of the entities responsible for combating a fire in the Tyson Fresh Meats plant earlier this month.

(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

Ranson Financial2019-08-25T21:15:11-05:00August 25, 2019|News|

Leaders hope new park will stimulate growth in downtown Baldwin City

Construction will start next month on a new park in Baldwin City that local leaders hope will stimulate more development downtown.

Earlier this month, the Baldwin City Council approved the design for the so-called Lotatorium, as well as a construction contract not to exceed $670,000. The project will add sidewalks, a stage, a big-screen TV, a splash deck water feature and restrooms to the now-empty lot in the 700 block of High Street, which has long been a site of community events.
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The Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce, the Lumberyard Arts Center, the Baldwin City Academy of Dance and Voice and the library have drawn residents and businesses to downtown, Simoneau and Simmons said, and Simmons is hopeful the Lotatorium will attract even more private developers.

“There are empty lots downtown,” he said. “Business people want to make money. When they see all those people, they will see the opportunities and invest in downtown.”

KCK/WyCo sales tax revenues continue downward trend

Sales tax revenues were down about 8 percent during the second quarter of 2019, according to a financial report Aug. 19 at the Unified Government Economic Development and Finance Committee meeting.

According to Debbie Jonscher, UG deputy chief financial officer, revenues were down six-tenths of a percent than the previous quarter primarily because of the sales tax coming in 8 percent below the target.

She said the UG now has adjusted the sales tax revenue target down in the amended budget.

(Read more: Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!)

Ranson Financial2019-08-25T21:16:47-05:00August 25, 2019|News|

Your mega guide to fall festivals: Middle of Map returns, along with beer, chili, art

If it seems that every town must have a fall celebration and every food product deserves its day in the sun, a look at the area’s autumn lineup of fairs and festivals will do little to dispel that belief.

Lenexa, Olathe, Overland Park, Lee’s Summit, Liberty and Raymore are just a handful of the region’s municipalities that will be dancing in the streets in the coming months. Meanwhile, there will be events celebrating products from the lowly hedge apple to spinach and chili.

And, of course, beer, wine and barbecue will be common themes.

Ranson Financial2019-08-25T20:40:50-05:00August 25, 2019|News|

City seeks citizens’ input as to Derby’s future

The planning of the city’s future continues. The next event in the Vision Derby 2040 process is what is known as the “design studios” and will be facilitated by city staff and urban planners from RDG Planning and Design, which is handling the project.

At the event, participants may have their ideas drawn up and designed for what is being called “the roadmap for the next 20 years.”

There will be a series of design studio meetings in September at The Venue at Madison Avenue Central Park.

Ranson Financial2019-08-25T20:38:42-05:00August 25, 2019|News|

More state funding means more raises for Great Bend teachers

Going inside the numbers from USD 428’s approved budget for the 2019-2020 school year, the charts show the Great Bend school district gave teachers an across the board raise of 4.5 percent. The district was able to give raises despite the mill levy remaining nearly flat from the previous year.

USD 428 Assistant Superintendent John Popp says Great Bend received more money from the state this school year.

“We have an increase in per-pupil funding from the state,” said Popp. “That should allow us to have more money to pay for raises. The issue always with that is if we have a decline in students, but Great Bend has been steady for a long time.”

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Ranson Financial2019-08-25T20:37:31-05:00August 25, 2019|News|

Butler Community College to offer Volvo curriculum — one of first in U.S.

Butler is expanding its curriculum to include luxury cars.

Volvo and Butler Community College officially collaborated in August in an effort to strengthen the auto mechanic workforce and develop a pipeline for the car company. The agreement was made possible in part by Eddy’s Volvo Cars of Wichita, serving as the sponsoring dealership, and Volvo’s Car University Program designed to embed Volvo system technology into top accredited auto tech programs in the country, according to a BCC news release.

The collaboration makes Butler Community College one of the first collegiate Volvo Training programs in the country. Butler’s faculty will be trained in the latest Volvo technologies, and Butler’s auto tech students will have hands-on access to training. The Volvo curriculum, to be launched this fall and embedded into the existing curriculum, will become standard for all auto tech students at Butler.

Ranson Financial2019-08-25T21:20:05-05:00August 25, 2019|News|

Shawnee businesses cite need for stronger workforce, government responsiveness

Wichita, home of fatal ‘swatting’ case, launches alert system for gamers and police

Walmart, Gardner community offer ‘cool’ help to homebound couple (part of the Gardner Samaritan Project)

Fire chiefs detail response to Tyson fire in Holcomb

Leaders hope new park will stimulate growth in downtown Baldwin City

KCK/WyCo sales tax revenues continue downward trend

Your mega guide to fall festivals: Middle of Map returns, along with beer, chili, art

City seeks citizens’ input as to Derby’s future

More state funding means more raises for Great Bend teachers

Butler Community College to offer Volvo curriculum — one of first in U.S.

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