‘Chicken on the lam’: Junction City cops nab rogue chicken after weeks-long pursuit

The Junction City Police Department (JCPD) says a feathered fugitive has been taken into custody on Thursday. On Jan. 18, the JCPD took to social media to share with the public that the local “chicken on the lam” was successfully captured by an animal control officer. This chicken was on the loose for weeks in the Junction City area, with numerous locals and organizations reporting sightings on social media in late December, 2023 into January, 2024. “We’re thrilled to report that she’s now pecking around happily in a loving home outside the city limits, where she can cluck to her heart’s content,” JCPD social media statement excerpt. While the situation is humorous, the JCPD took the opportunity to remind locals that owning chickens in city limits is not allowed. Under section 215.040 of Junction City’s municipal code, it is unlawful for anyone to keep or harbor fowl within the corporate limits of the city.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Ranson Financial2024-01-24T10:44:53-06:00January 24, 2024|News|

Overland Park lands College Baseball Hall of Fame. And Patrick Mahomes helped.

Prairiefire in southern Overland Park will be the new home of the first-ever permanent College Baseball Hall of Fame. State and local leaders, as well as representatives from the College Baseball Foundation which oversees the Hall of Fame, announced the decision on Tuesday at an event at the Museum at Prairiefire on 135th Street. The new Hall of Fame is expected to open late next year in a space in the museum previously set aside for traveling exhibits. Warren Wilkinson, president and CEO of Visit OP, the city’s tourism bureau, called it a “historic milestone” for the city. “Prairiefire was built for this moment,” Wilkinson said during the announcement event Tuesday. “Working together we have not only secured a permanent home for the College Baseball Hall of Fame, we’ve intentionally created a unique place that elevates our destination and supports our tourism strategy.” In a news release that accompanied Tuesday’s announcement, College Baseball Foundation officials said they selected Overland Park after an “extensive search” for a permanent home for its Hall of Fame, which has been inducting classes of honorees since 2006. The College Baseball Foundation said Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes played an “instrumental role” in finalizing the deal to settle on Overland Park. Mahomes played college baseball at Texas Tech and is also the son of a former Major League Baseball pitcher. “Mahomes’ commitment mirrors a love for the game fostered by watching his father play professional baseball, a steadfast dedication to preserving the heritage of college baseball and a genuine enthusiasm for providing a space where budding athletes can envision a promising future,” the Foundation’s release said. “Baseball has been a huge part of my life, and I was fortunate to play the game in college,” Mahomes is quoted in the release. “I’m excited for the College Baseball Hall of Fame to call Overland Park home and join the community that I love so much.” It’s the latest involvement for the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback in a Kansas City area sports venture. He is also part owner of the Kansas City Royals, Sporting KC and the KC Current. Overland Park and state officials promised immediate financial returns once the College Baseball Hall of Fame opens in 2025. “Bringing a cultural gem such as the College Baseball Hall of Fame to Overland Park will add to our state’s strong array of top-notch tourist attractions and will provide a solid boost to both the local and state economies,” Democratic Lieutenant Gov. David Toland said. Overland Park officials forecast a “multi-million dollar impact” once the Hall of Fame opens next year. Wilkinson said Tuesday 150,000 visitors are expected in the first year, with an estimated economic impact of $25 million over five years. The College Baseball Foundation’s annual Night of Champions, meant to honor collegiate baseball’s top performers and stars, is already set for Feb. 15, 2024, at The Marriott Overland Park hotel.
Source: Johnson County Post

Ranson Financial2024-01-24T10:43:22-06:00January 24, 2024|News|

Celebrating four decades of fire service

Longtime Osawatomie Fire Chief Brian Love has had a passion for fighting fire ever since he was 12 years old and going on fire runs with his dad, Bob, in Hiattville, Kan. Bob was a volunteer firefighter and farmer in the rural community southwest of Fort Scott, and Brian has childhood memories of the fire phone ringing in the house when there was a fire. “It would sound one solid ring until someone answered,” Brian said. “When we picked it up, we would just listen to get the details of the fire. It was like a party line.” After high school, Brian followed his passion to the Fort Scott Fire Department, where he worked full-time for two years before joining the South Johnson County Fire Department covering Aubry, Stilwell and Spring Hill. He worked there for 10 years, working his way up to captain. In 2003, Brian built a home in Osawatomie and started volunteering with the Osawatomie Fire Department. He also started working for the Kansas State Fire Marshal Office as a fire prevention inspector. He steadily moved up the ranks at the Osawatomie department, and he was named chief in 2013. Brian has spent the past 20 years of his 40-year career fighting fires in Osawatomie and training the next generation of firefighters, but he has decided it is time to retire and move on to the next stage of his life. “My brain and my body tell me it’s time,” Brian said. Members of the community were able to wish Brian well and thank him for his service during a retirement reception that took place Saturday, Jan. 20, in Osawatomie. Brian said when he looks back on his career, it’s not individual honors or specific fires that stand out to him. “I’m more proud of the people that I’ve trained who are now officers in other departments,” Brian said, adding that he has worked with firefighters who are ow officers in Kansas City, Mo., Johnson County, Lawrence, Topeka and other areas. Brian also is appreciative of the officers who trained him, and all of firefighters who have been by his side over the years.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com

Ranson Financial2024-01-24T10:38:56-06:00January 24, 2024|News|

Westwood wants judge to rule in legal back and forth over controversial project

The city of Westwood has filed a lawsuit seeking a judge’s ruling on whether a state law applies to the sale of Joe D. Dennis Park to make way for a much-discussed new office and park development on Rainbow Boulevard. The city last week filed the lawsuit in Johnson County District Court seeking a declaratory judgment on three items — including whether the law, K.S.A 12-1301, applies to the sale of Joe D. Dennis Park at the corner of 50th Street and Rainbow. That statute specifically deals with the sale of public park land, and a group of Westwood residents has argued the city should have followed it when going through with the sale of Joe D. Dennis Park to clear the way for the development. Mission Woods-based Karbank Real Estate Company plans to build multiple office and retail buildings where the park currently sits along Rainbow. In exchange, the company also plans to create a new, bigger park on adjacent land nearby where the current Westwood View Elementary sits. Residents, who have organized under the banner Friends of Westwood Parkland, have pushed back on the proposed development for months now. The city’s latest lawsuit comes after the Westwood City Council unanimously invalidated a resident-led protest petition. That petition called for the city to apply K.S.A. 12-1301 in proceeding with sale of the park, and also called for a public vote on the Karbank project.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2024-01-24T10:36:32-06:00January 24, 2024|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for January 23, 2024

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.

Henry Schmidt2024-01-24T10:17:08-06:00January 24, 2024|News|

Topeka and police chief seek suit dismissal

Topeka’s city government and Police Chief Bryan Wheeles filed a motion for summary judgment Friday seeking the dismissal without trial of a gender discrimination suit filed last January by three female Topeka police administrators. The motion includes explanations of Wheeles’ reasoning behind key decisions in which he chose to promote men instead of the women who filed the suit, Major Jana Harden and Capts. Colleen Stuart and Jennifer Cross. In each case, the document says, Wheeles picked the best person for the job. “The Plaintiffs have been promoted by males and over males for the entirety of their careers,” the motion said. “COT (the City of Topeka) and Chief Wheeles had legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for the promotional decisions and Plaintiffs were not otherwise similarly situated in all material respects to those promoted.” The motion includes a 60-page document outlining the arguments of Wheeles and the city as well as more than 400 pages of attachments, including statements from Wheeles; Stuart; Harden; Cross; Topeka police administrators Jamey Haltom, Steven Purney and Jerry Monasmith; former Topeka city manager Brent Trout; former Topeka human resources director Jacque Russell; and former Topeka Police Chief and interim city manager Bill Cochran. What does the lawsuit allege? Attorneys representing Stuart, Harden and Cross filed a three-count federal civil suit in January 2023 in U.S. District Court against Wheeles and the city. The three remain with the Topeka department. The suit alleges the city “treats female officers differently than male officers to the detriment of those female officers and the department.” It contends the city passed Stuart, Harden and Cross over for promotion because they are female. Both sides are asking for a jury trial, which is expected to last about 10 days. The location hasn’t been set. Wheeles and the city ask that the trial be held in Topeka, while Stuart, Harden and Cross ask that it be held in Kansas City, Kansas. Stuart, Harden and Cross are asking for more than $7 million in damages between the three of them, plus whatever amount a jury may decide to award for punitive damages they are seeking. They’re also seeking payment for attorney’s fees, which a pretrial order said totaled $518,155 as of last month. Have any of the three officers been promoted since the suit was filed? When Stuart, Harden and Cross first filed the lawsuit, Harden and Stuart were Topeka police captains and Cross was a lieutenant. The city effective April 1 promoted Harden to major and Cross to the captain’s position being vacated by Harden. Stuart, Harden and Cross consider those to be “sham promotions,” made only because they sued the city, the pretrial order said.
Source: CJonline

Ranson Financial2024-01-24T11:18:49-06:00January 24, 2024|News|

Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2024-1: Zoning beyond city limits

Synopsis: Although the Kansas Legislature may legally permit a city to impose its land subdivision requirements on county residents within three miles of city limits, it should be cautious when granting cities extraterritorial authority. Cited herein: K.S.A. 12-749.
Read more: Opinion No. 2024-1

Ranson Financial2024-01-23T14:36:18-06:00January 23, 2024|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for January 22, 2024

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.

Henry Schmidt2024-01-23T11:24:39-06:00January 23, 2024|News|

Planning Commission advances new wind energy regulations for Douglas County

The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission voted 6-3 early Tuesday morning to move forward with a new set of wind energy regulations at the end of a meeting that stretched six hours. … Commissioners aimed to balance the need for rigorous regulations that protect Douglas County against the need to allow continued renewable energy development. The result was a set of new regulations with a series of modifications derived from public comments and commission discussion over the last few months.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2024-01-23T07:43:49-06:00January 23, 2024|News|

Wichita plans to close a number of elementary, middle schools at end of school year

An unspecified number of Wichita schools will be closed at the end of the school year to help offset a looming $42 million budget shortfall. Staff will make recommendations on which schools should be closed and why at the next school board meeting on Feb. 12. Decisions will be finalized by spring break, after ample opportunity for public input, Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld said. Closures will be limited to elementary and middle schools because of the logistical challenges of relocating 1,000 to 2,000 high school students.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2024-01-23T07:42:39-06:00January 23, 2024|News|

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