Lawrence transit administrator hired away by Topeka

After a decade with the City of Lawrence, Public Transit Administrator Bob Nugent will soon move west to oversee Topeka Metro’s bus service, the organization announced Monday.

Nugent came to Lawrence from Murfreesboro, Tenn., in spring 2009 as the city began to coordinate its bus service with the University of Kansas. During Nugent’s time in Lawrence, the city increased overall ridership by 250%, introduced some hybrid diesel-electric buses to its fleet, added late night service and implemented new mobile tools for riders, according to a press release from Topeka Metro.

He will take over as general manager of Topeka Metro in October, the release said.

Parking lot at Shawnee City Hall gets electric vehicle charging station

The parking lot at Shawnee City Hall now features an electric vehicle charging station.

Kansas City Power and Light installed the charging station earlier this month. The charging station accommodates two electric vehicles. Costs to use the charging station are assessed to the user and not paid by the city.

Assistant City Manager Caitlin Gard said installation of the charging station came free of charge for the city.

When the city had initially considered installing electric vehicle charging stations in May 2015, there was no user payment platform at the time, Gard said. Because the city would have had to foot the costs for users to charge their vehicles, the council decided to table the issue until a user payment platform was established.

Ranson Financial2019-08-19T21:15:20-05:00August 19, 2019|News|

Topeka Metro’s new general manager hopes to bring change to city’s transit

Topeka Metro’s new general manager is crossing county lines to serve in his new position with hopes of bringing change to the city’s transit service.

During an announcement Monday naming Robert Nugent as Topeka Metro’s new chief, Jim Ogle, chair of the Topeka Metro board of directors, said Nugent was chosen because he understands customer service.

“He impressed me and the other members of our board by his thoughtfulness, his intuition, his ability to bring all the tremendous experience he’s gained in transit management over the past many decades and apply it to the questions and concerns we have for the future of Topeka Metro,” Ogle said.

Ranson Financial2019-08-19T21:14:54-05:00August 19, 2019|News|

Maize schools want $100M for new schools, pool, auditorium and safety upgrades

Voters in the Maize public school district will take to the polls next week whether or not to approve over $100 million in bonds.

District officials say there is no need to raise taxes for the bonds, which would pay for two new schools, a storm shelter, an indoor pool, an auditorium, elementary school labs, safety upgrades and other projects. The $108.2 million bond election is split into two questions for voters on Aug. 27.

“With zero change to the mill levy, our community can bring about big change for our students,” USD 266 superintendent Chad Higgins said in a statement on the district’s website. “These big changes for students are much-needed: Our district has grown nine percent in the past five school years, adding 600 students to our classrooms and schools. We need more space. We need upgraded safety. We need our students to have continued access to innovative education with many opportunities.”

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2019-08-19T19:24:45-05:00August 19, 2019|News|

3 Amur tigers born at Kansas zoo

Amur tigers are classified as an endangered species on the IUCN list.

The cubs’ parents, Andrea and Dhenuka, came to Rolling Hills Zoo on a breeding recommendation by the Tiger Species Survival Plan developed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, of which Rolling Hills Zoo is an accredited member.

This is eleven-year-old Andrea’s third litter. It is 9-year-old Dhenuka’s first litter.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2019-08-19T19:22:38-05:00August 19, 2019|News|

Kansas adds 14,000 private sector jobs in past 12 months

The Kansas economy has added more than 14,000 private sector jobs during the past year, state officials said.

“Preliminary estimates for July show Kansas added 2,500 jobs over the month. Job estimates for June were revised upward by 2,100 jobs,” said Tyle Tenbrink, an economist with the Kansas Department of Labor. “Looking back over the last 12 months, Kansas has posted a notable increase of 14,200 jobs.”

The latest reporting by the state labor department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated seasonally adjusted unemployment in Kansas fell to 3.3 percent during July. The June rate was 3.4 percent, but the jobless figure in July 2018 was a comparable 3.3 percent.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Ranson Financial2019-08-19T19:21:37-05:00August 19, 2019|News|

Our Past is Present

In 1949, Junction City’s new radio station, KJCK, was located above the Leedy Drug Store. During the programming there was a segment titled “The Good Neighbor Program”. On this show, local residents were recognized for being “good neighbors” and good citizens.

One of the first honored was Mary A. Verbeke. She was recognized for her kind acts of sending encouraging words to people.

Mary Verbeke was born in Belgium. When Mary was eight years old, she immigrated to this country with her mother. During their train trip to Junction City, there was a need to change trains in Kansas City. Mary and her mother witnessed women chewing something at the train station. It was uncommon in Belgium to see women chewing and the only reference was that of men, who chewed tobacco. So, strange as it may have seemed to them, Mary and her mother assumed the women were also chewing tobacco. However, in fact, the women were chewing gum.

(Read more: Junction City Post)

Ranson Financial2019-08-19T19:07:22-05:00August 19, 2019|News|

Midwest Energy asks Hays customers to  conserve power Monday, Tuesday

Midwest Energy is asking its Hays customers to conserve electricity on the afternoons of Monday and Tuesday between the hours of noon and 7 p.m.

The request is being issued following the downing of several key power lines in northwest Hays during a storm the evening of Aug. 13.

With several key lines out of service, Hays is being supplied using powerlines from the South and East.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Ranson Financial2019-08-19T19:03:30-05:00August 19, 2019|News|

Ellis County Commission to discuss proposal for new public works building

At Monday’s meeting, the Ellis County Commission will discuss a proposal for a new building for the public works shop.

The county commission will meet at 5 p.m. at the Ellis County Administrative Center.

The current public works shop at 1195 280th Ave. was constructed in the 1960s and has not had any significant upgrades since.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Ranson Financial2019-08-19T19:02:11-05:00August 19, 2019|News|

Gardner approves resolution; Olathe to issue bonds for OMC clinic

The Gardner City Council approved a resolution August 5 for the issuance of revenue bonds by the city of Olathe to finance facilities located within Gardner’s corporate limits.

According to Mathew Wollf, finance director, Olathe Medical Center, the leading healthcare provider in Southwest Johnson County, has asked the neighboring city of Olathe to issue revenue bonds to finance healthcare facilities in the region.

One of the facilities, a clinic, will be located on 189th Terrace in Gardner.
State and federal law require that the city of Gardner approve issuance of the bonds since part of the project will be within its jurisdiction.

(Read more: Gardner News)

Ranson Financial2019-08-19T19:00:50-05:00August 19, 2019|News|

Lawrence transit administrator hired away by Topeka

Parking lot at Shawnee City Hall gets electric vehicle charging station

Topeka Metro’s new general manager hopes to bring change to city’s transit

Maize schools want $100M for new schools, pool, auditorium and safety upgrades

3 Amur tigers born at Kansas zoo

Kansas adds 14,000 private sector jobs in past 12 months

Our Past is Present

Midwest Energy asks Hays customers to  conserve power Monday, Tuesday

Ellis County Commission to discuss proposal for new public works building

Gardner approves resolution; Olathe to issue bonds for OMC clinic

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