Pottawatomie County commissioner meets President Trump

Commissioner Dee McKee with President Donald Trump

On a recent trip to speak to the president’s cabinet, a Pottawatomie County commissioner was able to meet with President Donald Trump.

Commissioner Dee McKee was in DC last week to talk to the president’s cabinet on how local issue are impacted by rules and regulations from the federal government. She met with members of the Department of Agriculture, Transportation, and the EPA. After their meetings, McKee and seven others were led to the oval office to meet President Donald Trump.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Ranson Financial2019-07-30T17:17:40-05:00July 30, 2019|News|

‘Meet Ike and Mamie again’: Eisenhower Museum reopens after a year of renovations

After a year of construction at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, renovations offer visitors the chance to meet Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie, through a new lens.

The museum, 200 S.E. 4th St., was renovated with the hope of creating a place that attracts all types of museum-goers, from researchers who read every detail to visitors who prefer to skim through Eisenhower’s story.

A dedication ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 12, the same weekend as Eisenhower’s birthday.

Ranson Financial2019-07-30T17:16:46-05:00July 30, 2019|News|

Restaurant corridor values drop, homeowners to cover more tax burden

Hutchinson taxpayers will experience a shift in the local tax burden next fiscal year as leases on several commercial properties along the 17th Avenue corridor start to show their age.

Following reappraisals by the Reno County Appraiser’s office, commercial property values within the city dropped this year by nearly $15 million, or about 3.3%, according to data from that office.

Residential values, in contrast, went up.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-07-30T17:13:18-05:00July 30, 2019|News|

Attorney files to move wind-project suit to federal court

The attorney for a wind-project developer has filed to move a lawsuit to federal court.

The attorney for the Neosho Ridge Wind project filed a notice late Friday afternoon seeking to move a lawsuit against the project from the 31st Judicial District Court in Neosho County to US District Court.

The suit, filed by 45 plaintiffs against Neosho Ridge Wind, seeks an injunction against construction of the project, which would build 139 windmills on 44,000 acres in southwest Neosho County to generate 300 megawatts of electricity. The suit was filed July 9.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Ranson Financial2019-07-30T17:12:20-05:00July 30, 2019|News|

City to crack down on nuisance vehicles

The city of Osawatomie is mobilizing this fall to rid the community of inoperable vehicles that are violating city nuisance regulations.

On Sept. 1, city officials will begin notifying persons or property owners found to have a motor vehicle deemed to be a nuisance, according to a city news release. The stepped-up enforcement campaign will run through October.

The city’s current ordinance states that a motor vehicle is considered a nuisance if it is untagged, unregistered, inoperable or wrecked, according to the release.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Ranson Financial2019-07-30T17:11:08-05:00July 30, 2019|News|

Newton Police: Look out for door-to-door solicitors claiming to raise funds for department

The Newton Police Department warns of a door-to-door fundraising effort that might be a scam.

Even if this isn’t a scam and they mean well, police say the solicitor isn’t doing this legally and does not represent the Newton PD.

“Although we appreciate the generosity of well-meaning citizens, we also have not been informed directly of any current fundraising activities for the Newton Police Department,” the department says.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2019-07-30T21:44:04-05:00July 30, 2019|News|

Topeka Metro to share facts at meetings about cuts in service

The Topeka Metro bus service on Thursday will hold the first of three meetings in which it will share information and accept public input about reductions in service it plans to make beginning later this year.

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Topeka Metro announced July 15 it would hold meetings in August to receive public input and provide information on its plans to raise fares, reduce services, eliminate jobs and discontinue its bicycle sharing program. Topeka Metro then announced July 24 it was creating a community task force to review the bike program and its viability.

Ranson Financial2019-07-30T21:44:36-05:00July 30, 2019|News|

‘I’m glad I stayed’: Three generations of family work in Pittsburg salon

When Brian Hendrickson first peeked inside what had been Beasley Tire, an historical building on the southeast corner of Ninth and Broadway in Downtown Pittsburg, it looked about as far removed from a beauty salon as anything could be.

That was 2002, when his wife, Kelli, was pregnant with their second daughter, Ella — a full seven years before the City of Pittsburg completed a $3 million downtown streetscape project, and long before anyone could imagine the downtown being a destination, let alone a thriving one.

“I could see the potential in the shop and in the town,” Brian recalled. “But this far surpasses anything I could have envisioned.”

Today, Brian, Kelli, their daughters, and Brian’s mother, Nancy, own and operate the vibrant Salon 9 that pulls clients in from as far away as Tulsa, Okla., and the Kansas City area.

(Read more: Newton Kansan)

Ranson Financial2019-07-29T22:02:47-05:00July 29, 2019|News|

Tax base from machinary and equipment also continues to disappear

Besides the loss in appraised commercial property values for Hutchinson, the exemption on business equipment and machinery adopted by the state in 2006 continues to cut into taxes for the city and county. The value of machinery and equipment still being assessed by Reno County fell some $5.5 million, or more than 16 percent from 2018 to 2019. That brought it down to about $27.9 million, data from the Reno County Appraiser’s office showed.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-07-29T22:01:31-05:00July 29, 2019|News|

A look at what Lawrence’s new city manager has learned so far, and a peek at a possible debate to come

With about one month on the job, City Manager Craig Owens already has made some observations about his new community.

For one thing, we have plenty to say in public meetings. Owens has been to three City Commission meetings, and booked about 12 hours as part of them. The long meetings haven’t scared him away.

“You care and you should,” said Owens, who previously served as city manager for Clayton, Mo., just outside St. Louis. Such a process may not always produce a quick consensus, but Owens said he’s OK with that.

“It is hard and it takes time, but it works,” he said. “It works.”

Although he’s still probably more of an expert on St. Louis, Owens also has learned something about Kansas City in his short time here. Lawrence doesn’t want to be Kansas City. As the luncheon speaker at a recent chamber of commerce event, Owens said he readily picked up on Lawrence’s “pride in uniqueness.”

Pottawatomie County commissioner meets President Trump

‘Meet Ike and Mamie again’: Eisenhower Museum reopens after a year of renovations

Restaurant corridor values drop, homeowners to cover more tax burden

Attorney files to move wind-project suit to federal court

City to crack down on nuisance vehicles

Newton Police: Look out for door-to-door solicitors claiming to raise funds for department

Topeka Metro to share facts at meetings about cuts in service

‘I’m glad I stayed’: Three generations of family work in Pittsburg salon

Tax base from machinary and equipment also continues to disappear

A look at what Lawrence’s new city manager has learned so far, and a peek at a possible debate to come

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