Heartland Park owner Chris Payne seeks $1 million from Shawnee County; official calls allegations ‘groundless and defamatory’

Heartland Motorsports Park owner Chris Payne is stepping up his property tax fight with Shawnee County, sending notice to the county that his company, Shelby Development LLC, is seeking damages of more than $1 million.

Shawnee County, meanwhile, isn’t backing down, with county counselor James Crowl saying the county vehemently denies accusations by Payne’s attorneys and will fight them in court if the case gets to that point.

In documents obtained by The Topeka Capital-Journal, the Kansas City, Mo., law firm of Ensz & Jester, P.C., said in correspondence dated July 3 that it was giving notice to Shawnee County clerk Cynthia Beck that Shelby has a claim against Shawnee County and multiple county officials totaling $1,192,000.

Ranson Financial2019-07-10T00:08:39-05:00July 10, 2019|News|

Riley County collects over $267,000 in 2019 delinquent taxes

Riley County’s 2019 delinquent tax foreclosure case and auction wrapped up last week after auctioning off seven properties.

During Monday’s Riley County commission meeting, Deputy County Counselor Craig Cox presented all the final figures to the foreclosure case. The case began in October 2018 with 84 properties. Cox’s office sent out letters in October notifying residents their properties qualified for the tax sale. They were able to collect $197,176 based on the demand letter sent in October and another $63,183 after filing the case in January.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Ranson Financial2019-07-10T00:04:56-05:00July 10, 2019|News|

Area wheat harvest doing OK despite rain

Despite unseasonably wet weather in the area, the wheat harvest in Crawford and Cherokee counties appears to be coming in on schedule.

“Rain continued to be hit or miss over the holiday weekend,” according to the July 7 Kansas Wheat Harvest Report from the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and the Kansas Grain and Feed Association. “Many Kansas wheat farmers spent their Independence Day in the wheat field. Some areas in south central Kansas have finally wrapped up their harvest, but there are still a lot of acres left to cut in the rest of the state. […] While yields are lower than the last couple years, they are in line with the 10 year average.”

In Girard, a large majority of wheat —about 90 percent— has been harvested. It is questionable whether local farmers will harvest the remaining 10 percent because of recent wet weather, according to Sarah Shepherd, grain merchandiser with Producers Cooperative Association in Girard.

(Read more: Pittsburg Morning Sun)

Ranson Financial2019-07-10T00:03:06-05:00July 10, 2019|News|

Gas prices creeping up along with temps, says AAA Kansas

Along with the summer temperatures, gas prices have started to rise a bit.

“Today’s Kansas gas price average is $2.50 a gallon, which is up 2 cents from a week ago,” said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. “For perspective, one month ago, we were at $2.57 a gallon and a year ago at this time, the average in Kansas was $2.67.”

Though Kansas is 11th cheapest right now, there is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to supply and demand.

(Read more: WIBW News Now)

Ranson Financial2019-07-09T23:47:02-05:00July 9, 2019|News|

Wichita Collegiate School has a new leader at the helm

Wichita Collegiate School on Wednesday announced that Nathan Washer has begun work as its new head of school.
Washer succeeds Tom Davis, who retired in May after 19 years as Collegiate’s leader.

Collegiate says in an emailed press release that Washer brings more than 30 years of education experience to the role.
He was most recently the assistant head of school at The Pine School in Hobe Sound, Florida.

“I look forward with great anticipation the exciting work ahead in collaborating.

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

Ranson Financial2019-07-09T23:43:38-05:00July 9, 2019|News|

ACLU of Kansas selects Google manager as its new director

TOPEKA (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas has named a Google manager and former U.S. State Department employee as its new executive director.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Nadine Farid Johnson takes over Monday. The ACLU of Kansas has fought legal battles with the state over voting rights issues, the ability of transgender residents to alter their birth certificates and rules restricting protests at the Statehouse.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Ranson Financial2019-07-09T23:41:27-05:00July 9, 2019|News|

More than 12K free meals served in June from USD 428

The numbers are in for the Summer Food Program that USD 428 Great Bend participated in again this summer. Providing free lunches and breakfasts in June for anyone 18 years old or younger, the district served 12,467 meals. Of those meals, 8,228 were lunches and 4,239 were breakfasts.

USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton says the program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture is a great opportunity for families.

“It’s self-sufficient. It’s a federal program and does not cost the district any money,” said Thexton. “That’s another month that kids have access to two meals that they may not have any other time.”

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Ranson Financial2019-07-09T23:40:03-05:00July 9, 2019|News|

USD 305 plans job fair to fill numerous open positions

The second annual USD 305 Job Fair will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Salina Central High School, 650 E. Crawford.

Numerous employment opportunities in the school district include food service, maintenance and operations, instructional assistants, paraeducators and substitute teachers.

Flexible schedules with full and part-time positions are available. The district offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance and disability, as well as generous paid leave plans. The job fair is open to the public and job offers onside are possible.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Ranson Financial2019-07-09T23:37:19-05:00July 9, 2019|News|

USD 305 board drops ‘interim’ from Exline’s title

Following an executive session at their meeting today, Salina USD 305 board members unanimously voted to offer Linn Exline a superintendent contract, dropping ‘interim’ from her superintendent title.

“As educators our responsibility to the students in our care is immense,” said Exline. “We have one chance to get K-12 education right for each student. Part of our job is to open as many doors as possible for our graduates. As a leader I take that responsibility seriously, and I’m proud to be able to lead and work beside a top-notch staff to that end.”

Four board seats will be determined at the November 7 general election, with only one incumbent candidate. Exline’s 26 years at USD 305 including classroom teacher, principal and district administrator will provide consistency for the district.

(Read more: The Salina Post)

Ranson Financial2019-07-09T23:33:50-05:00July 9, 2019|News|

‘Ultimate pork project’: Kansas’ mega tax breaks don’t deliver as promised

Two race tracks in eastern Kansas are separated by 60 miles along Interstate 70, as well as a veritable chasm in one’s success and the other’s struggle.

The first, the 48,000-seat Kansas Speedway, draws thousands of NASCAR fans and has been key in transforming the western edge of Wyandotte County from windswept fields to a booming retail, entertainment and employment sector.

The other, in Topeka, is the Heartland Motorsports Park, which has performed so far below expectations that the city has to cough up $1 million a year to pay back investors.

Underpinning both projects is taxpayer assistance in the form of sales tax revenue (STAR) bonds, powerful inducements that were originally designed to encourage exceptional attractions that bring in tourists from far away.

The Kansas Speedway demonstrates what is possible with the bonds, while Topeka and other developments in recent years show what the program has become.

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

Ranson Financial2019-07-09T21:31:38-05:00July 9, 2019|News|