Governor Kelly Signs Bipartisan Bill to Invest Record $35M To Protect Water Resources

24 Monday, April 24

Governor Kelly Signs Bipartisan Bill to Invest Record $35M To Protect Water Resources

info2023-04-24T10:28:09-05:00April 24th, 2023|

Governor Laura Kelly this week signed a bipartisan bill that increases funding for the State Water Plan, including two funds for grants for water-related infrastructure projects. Kelly fully funded the State Water Plan in 2022 for the first time since 2008. This bill increases funding for water, adding $18 million to the annual $8 million for the State Water Plan and $17 million for the two grant funds. In total, the bill designates an additional $35 million in funding to protect essential water resources. The bill includes that it is legislative intent to continue this funding through 2027. Source: 101.3 KFDI

24 Monday, April 24

Derby’s military-friendly schools receive Purple Star designation

info2023-04-24T10:23:47-05:00April 24th, 2023|

Derby Public Schools USD 260, with almost 13% military-connected student enrollment, was recently awarded the Kansas Purple Star designation for its commitment to students and families of active duty, National Guard and reserve military members. April is designated the Month of the Military Child, and the official recognition of the Purple Star District was made at the Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) April 11 meeting in Topeka. The Kansas Purple Star School Recognition Program is a partnership between KSDE, which adopted the program this school year, and Kansas Military Children Education Council (KMCEC). Source: Derby Informer | News

24 Monday, April 24

Community rallies following Chase County tornadoes

info2023-04-24T10:22:28-05:00April 24th, 2023|

Cleanup is still in progress throughout Chase County following a series of tornadoes Wednesday evening, reaching up to EF-2 strength. The National Weather Service is continuing its survey of the damage, which spread from one mile east of Elmdale to three miles southwest of Strong City and 3.5 miles south of Dunlap. As of Friday morning, preliminary results classified the tornadoes as EF-2, with winds speeds of 111 to 135 miles per hour, while specifics, such as how many tornadoes touched down and how large they were, were still under investigation. Source: Emporia Gazette

24 Monday, April 24

Grace Bowser retiring as Mayetta’s city clerk

info2023-04-24T10:16:58-05:00April 24th, 2023|

Longtime Mayetta City Clerk Grace Bowser is retiring this month after 28 years of service to the city. A retirement celebration was held for Bowser last Wednesday prior to the start of the city council’s regular monthly meeting. After seeing an ad in The Holton Recorder, Bowser applied for the clerk’s position and was appointed May 1, 1995. “I was running a daycare at that time,” Bowser said. “I had a sister who was a city clerk and a brother who worked for a couple of cities as a maintenance man. I thought I might as well join the ranks.” Bowser said [...]

24 Monday, April 24

Friday marks 22 years since devastating Hoisington tornado

info2023-04-24T11:13:47-05:00April 24th, 2023|

Twenty-two years ago, the town of Hoisington was ravaged by an EF-4 tornado that destroyed nearly 200 homes and a dozen businesses. One man was killed. Right away, the community pulled together. Volunteers from across the state stepped in to help. Within weeks, the debris was cleared away, and residents started their plans to do what many thought was impossible: move forward and rebuild. Source: KAKE - News

24 Monday, April 24

Local museum hosts special presentation on southeast Kansas railroads

info2023-04-24T10:12:24-05:00April 24th, 2023|

The Miners Hall Museum in Franklin, Kansas is today hosting a free presentation that delves into how the railroad shaped southeast Kansas throughout the years. 'The Emergence of the Railroad in Rural Kansas - 1870 to present day', will be presented by Richard (Dick) Rauniker, and the presentation begins at 2:00 P.M. This special program is being presented in conjunction with the quarterly exhibit "Little Balkans Coal Camp - McCune " which is hosted by Morgan Blanchard-Zimmer and Dick Rauniker. Source: KOAM News

24 Monday, April 24

‘I’ll never give this up’: Anthropology professor discovers forgotten city, retires after 46 years

info2023-04-24T10:08:45-05:00April 24th, 2023|

Donald Blakeslee didn’t go to college with any intention of being an anthropologist – he hadn’t even heard of the field. Blakeslee, now a professor in the anthropology department, was studying astronomy in the 60s and picked up a book about anthropology one summer. “The reason I picked it up was because I read the back cover and went ‘I don’t know what any of these words mean,’” Blakeslee said. After reading the book, he took an anthropology course. When he needed to earn money for the second course, he asked his professor about summer jobs in the field. Source: The [...]

24 Monday, April 24

City offers $5k signup bonus for police

info2023-04-24T14:41:50-05:00April 24th, 2023|

A statewide shortage of applicants for law enforcement positions has made recruiting for many, mostly smaller communities like Clay Center, difficult and expensive. Bill Robinson, Clay Center police chief, told the Council he has had one position unfilled since last summer. A second vacancy in December was filled by a former CCPD officer. Source: www.ccenterdispatch.com

24 Monday, April 24

Municipal Bond Trends for April 21, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-04-24T07:55:44-05:00April 24th, 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, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.

22 Saturday, April 22

These small Kansas towns have zero dollars for books. A statewide book festival is helping

info2023-04-24T07:18:45-05:00April 22nd, 2023|

Small as it is, the Madison Public Library is nominally a quiet place, but for a moment, Christine Inman made an exception. Inman, the library director and sole full-time employee, had just learned the library had been the recipient of a $1,000 grant from the Kansas Book Festival. At any other library, this would have been good news — $1,000 can and would buy countless books to refresh the library. But at Madison Public Library, about 30 minutes south of Emporia, the grant represented double the $500 budget the community resource usually receives for books each year. Source: CJonline