Baxter Springs Historical Society breaks ground on Route 66 roadside park

2 Friday, June 2

Baxter Springs Historical Society breaks ground on Route 66 roadside park

info2023-06-02T11:07:41-05:00June 2nd, 2023|

Members of the Baxter Springs Historical Society broke ground recently on a future Route 66 roadside park. It will adjoin the Route 66 Visitors Center and provide parking for downtown Baxter Springs, a mural wall and a statue commemorating Baxter Springs’ heritage as the first cowtown in Kansas. “I’m incredibly excited to start work on this project,” Jordan Adams, Historical Society Board president, said in a statement. “This will serve as a fantastic gateway to downtown shops and restaurants while highlighting the colorful history of our area.” The historical society noted the community’s diverse history, from being a stop on the [...]

2 Friday, June 2

Galesburg seeks community building funds from county

info2023-06-02T11:07:00-05:00June 2nd, 2023|

Representatives of Galesburg asked the Neosho County Commission for $100,000 Tuesday to continue renovations to the community building. Galesburg Mayor Adam Tromsness and council member Nancy Dague requested the amount from the funds the county receives in lieu of taxes from the Neosho Ridge wind farm. The Galesburg Community Building has undergone $200,000 in renovations since the city bought it in 2021 and is two-thirds complete. It now houses the city offices and plans call for a meeting area and kitchen improvements. Source: www.chanute.com

2 Friday, June 2

Topeka’s TopCity Intern program sees record enrollment

info2023-06-02T11:04:29-05:00June 2nd, 2023|

The Capital City welcomed a record number of interns to its summer internship program. Forge Young Talent held a kick-off event Thursday evening at the Topeka Zoo for this year’s group of TopCity Interns. Organizers said close to 400 interns from 39 companies in Shawnee County are taking part in the program this summer. Forge Young Talent offers them a chance to see everything Topeka has to offer. Forge Executive Director Rhett Flood said they hope to convince these young professionals to stay in the Capital City once they enter the job market. Source: KSNT 27 News

2 Friday, June 2

Municipal Bond Trends for June 1, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-06-02T07:27:57-05:00June 2nd, 2023|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

2 Friday, June 2

Holton city sales tax election is Tuesday, June 6

info2023-06-02T11:10:51-05:00June 2nd, 2023|

A special election to determine whether a half-cent sales tax for infrastructure maintenance and improvements and debt service will continue for the next 10 years in Holton will be held next Tuesday, June 6, it has been reported. Holton residents will be able to vote on the sales tax issue from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day at Holton First Baptist Church, located at 404 Juniper Drive in Holton, and voters are reminded to bring an ID to vote. The election was set by a resolution approved in April by the Holton City Commission. Source: Holton Recorder

2 Friday, June 2

Kansas Appleseed highlights food insecurities at Topeka summit

info2023-06-02T00:30:33-05:00June 2nd, 2023|

When the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, Paige Olson was struggling to provide for her Iola family of five, unsure when their next meal would come. Olson talked about her struggles as part of a Kansas Appleseed summit Wednesday at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Olson, southeast Kansas advocate for Kansas Appleseed, and her colleagues met with the public to address the needs of Kansans and available resources. “During the pandemic, I was working at a coffee shop and making minimum wage, and my husband had lost his job, he was unemployed, and we have three kids,” Olson said [...]

1 Thursday, June 1

Hutchinson’s interim city manager looks forward to helping city thrive

info2023-06-01T11:38:30-05:00June 1st, 2023|

Hutchinson City Councilmembers voted to hire Mary Grace Clements as the Interim City Manager late Friday afternoon. ... Clements is most likely the first female city manager in Hutchinson, at least for the past 40 years. A native upstate New Yorker, she has lived around the country, most recently serving as vice president for Allegiant Airlines and executive director of the Reno County Historical Society. She has lived in Hutchinson since 2015. Source: Hutch News

1 Thursday, June 1

Kansas is sending $2M to Topeka entities to make up for a ‘bureaucratic snafu’

info2023-06-01T11:34:56-05:00June 1st, 2023|

Kansas taxpayers will be reimbursing Shawnee County taxpayers for a "bureaucratic snafu" that meant three months worth of a dedicated sales tax went uncollected. The $2 million will go to the Gage Park Improvement District after the Kansas Department of Revenue failed to implement on time a voter-approved sales tax increase. "Once it comes in, the authority wants to talk about how to allocate it and to make sure we make a difference with it, because the community, I think, passing the sales tax wants to see something fairly soon that's making a positive change in Gage Park," said Rep. Fred [...]

1 Thursday, June 1

Council gives OK to bid on Hotel Topeka during next week’s auction

info2023-06-01T11:33:34-05:00June 1st, 2023|

The city of Topeka will attempt to purchase a well-known local hotel. The city's mayor and council voted 7-2 Tuesday afternoon to authorize the city to take part next week in an auction in which it will have a chance to acquire The Hotel Topeka at City Center, 1717 S.W. Topeka Blvd. ... 'Today, the city of Topeka has stepped up and ensured that our future as a convention destination isn't left to chance,' said Sean Dixon, president of Visit Topeka. The hotel, built in 1997, will be up for auction next week. Source: CJonline

1 Thursday, June 1

Kansas Launches Broadband Speed Test and Comprehensive Expansion Plan

info2023-06-01T10:39:15-05:00June 1st, 2023|

The Kansas Office of Broadband Development is developing a comprehensive strategic plan to expand broadband infrastructure statewide and ensure every Kansan has access to reliable high-speed internet. To assist in this and provide accurate data for the plan, the department is calling on residents to participate in an important online speed test and survey. The data collected ultimately will help guide the allocation of state and federal resources to areas in need. “Accurate, comprehensive data is critical to our state’s efforts to bridge the digital divide across Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. Source: Kansas Department of [...]