Shawnee hosts first ‘imagineering’ session to collect public input on future of city

The city of Shawnee on Monday night conducted the first of three imagineering sessions as part of a visioning process for the city’s first ever strategic plan.

Their initial findings: Many residents like the city’s sense of community and amenities, and many others want to see economic development and better infrastructure.

Residents filled Transport Brewery in downtown Shawnee and broke off into groups to discuss the city’s strengths, opportunities and what they like about Shawnee, while deliberating on its weaknesses, threats and areas where they would like to see change.

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T15:13:20-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

GBCF 2019 youth grant opportunity

Golden Belt Community Foundation invites proposals for its upcoming competitive grant cycle focused on the health and well-being of youth, funded through the Kansas Health Foundation Youth Endowment and the Children’s Endowment. These funds support the health and well-being of youth and include, but are not limited to, enhancements to public play spaces, educational projects, recreation, safety, nutrition and physical activity.

Applications now are being accepted from qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and public institutions, including schools, government entities, and other charitable organizations in Barton, Pawnee, Rush, and Stafford counties.

Applications are available online by clicking Receive, and then Grants on the foundation website at www.goldenbeltcf.org. Grant guidelines also are posted on the website. If you have any questions, please contact the GBCF office.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T15:11:19-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Governor appoints three members to Kansas Water Authority

Governor Laura Kelly appointed three members to the Kansas Water Authority (KWA). The Kansas Water Authority plans for the development, management and use of state water resources by state or local agencies.

Kelly appointed the following members:

David Stroberg (R), Hutchinson, for the central Kansas groundwater management district seat, from names provided per statute K.S.A. 74-2622 by districts #2 and #5.

Chris Ladwig (U), Derby and Spirit Aerosystems, for the industrial water users seat, from names provided per statute K.S.A. 74-2622 by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.

State Senator Carolyn McGinn (R), Sedgwick, for the environment and conservation seat, replacing Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Secretary Brad Loveless.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T15:10:19-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

July 11 ceremony proclaimed De Soto ‘the fastest town in Kansas’ for internet

De Soto is seeing the fruits of its quest to bolster internet service, after being years behind the rest of the Kansas City area.

In fact, an invitation to a July 11 ceremony proclaimed De Soto “the fastest town in Kansas.” The occasion marked some early milestones in a venture that has brought 10-gigabit fiber service to the city, where some areas have had no land-based service at all.

The ceremony celebrated the first customer connections, as well as service to City Hall, a project that includes free internet for city government, a new phone system for the administrative offices and free Wi-Fi in the community center gym, the senior center and the aquatic center, said City Administrator Mike Brungardt.

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T10:40:50-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Growing our own: Community expands entrepreneurship

Two years in, members of a local task force formed to try to grow entrepreneur-led business in Hutchinson and Reno County continue to sharpen their focus on how to create paths to homegrown success.

“It’s not just a technical fix,” said Kari Mailloux, program officer with the Hutchinson Community Foundation. “It’s not just one company here or one there. To get to our goal, we’ve got to build an environment and understand the environment that leads to more business.”

“Many, many people are working on this, and a critical mass is building in the community,” she said. “It’s not an exaggeration to say any day of the week there are a couple of high-level conversations going on regarding economic development and downtown revitalization.”

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T10:39:11-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Proponents mobilize to support Topeka Metro Bikes

Supporters of a bicycle sharing program set to be discontinued Dec. 1 are mobilizing in an effort to keep it alive.

Meanwhile, the Topeka Metro bus service announced Monday it would hold public meetings in August to gain public input and provide information on its plans to raise fares, reduce services, eliminate jobs and discontinue its bike sharing program. Specific dates haven’t yet been set.

Proponents of the Topeka Metro Bikes program will hold a rally Wednesday to encourage “continued dialogue and fiscal compromise between the City of Topeka and the Topeka Metropolitan Transportation Authority,” the rally’s organizer, Michaela Saunders, said Monday.

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T10:38:55-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Electric scooters are here, Wichita, for you to rent

The company that put the bikes in Bike Share ICT became the first company to deploy electric rental scooters on Wichita streets Monday.

It’s only the beginning.

Zagster, based in Boston, is starting with 500 scooters in Wichita.

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T10:37:28-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Leawood family donates 1911 home to Shawnee Town 1929

The city of Shawnee is growing Shawnee Town 1929 in the coming years, with the addition of a few “new” century-old buildings and a storm sewer system underneath a portion of the outdoor museum and downtown area designed to mimic the city’s early 20th century society.

One of the newest additions coming to Shawnee Town is an old house built in 1911 in what is now Leawood. The owner of the house, Stu Sharp, is donating it to Shawnee Town to the city for free.

Shawnee must then cover costs, currently estimated from $95,000 to $125,000, to move the house and install it in Shawnee Town.

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T10:37:13-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Leawood council will discuss possible non-discrimination ordinance at future meeting

The Leawood City Council on Monday moved to place discussion of a possible non-discrimination ordinance granting legal protections to LGBTQ+ individuals on the agenda of next month’s city council meeting.

The unanimous decision by the council came after a man named Rob Groves presented the city with a petition he’d circulated among residents asking for the governing body to consider passing an NDO like several neighboring cities have in recent months and years.

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T10:36:59-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Amended petition filed in Fire District No. 1 lawsuit

Attorneys for the Delaware and High Prairie townships have filed an amended petition in a lawsuit related to Leavenworth County Fire District No. 1.

Leavenworth County is now named as one of two defendants in the lawsuit. An earlier petition had named the city of Lansing as the only defendant.

The case initially was filed in January by attorneys for the Delaware and High Prairie townships.

The governing bodies of the townships are seeking a declaratory judgment regarding a section of a 2003 interlocal agreement that established Leavenworth County Fire District No. 1.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Ranson Financial2019-07-16T10:39:49-05:00July 16, 2019|News|

Shawnee hosts first ‘imagineering’ session to collect public input on future of city

GBCF 2019 youth grant opportunity

Governor appoints three members to Kansas Water Authority

July 11 ceremony proclaimed De Soto ‘the fastest town in Kansas’ for internet

Growing our own: Community expands entrepreneurship

Proponents mobilize to support Topeka Metro Bikes

Electric scooters are here, Wichita, for you to rent

Leawood family donates 1911 home to Shawnee Town 1929

Leawood council will discuss possible non-discrimination ordinance at future meeting

Amended petition filed in Fire District No. 1 lawsuit

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