Train exhibit at Johnson County Museum now open

23 Tuesday, May 23

Train exhibit at Johnson County Museum now open

info2023-05-23T10:20:44-05:00May 23rd, 2023|

Johnson County Museum's new exhibit on trains opened last Saturday, May 13. TRAINS: Transportation and the Transformation of Johnson County showcases the impact of railroads in Johnson County. The exhibit details how trains have transformed the county’s landscape, people and economy – from the early days of the Kansas Pacific Railway to the modern-day BNSF Railway. Through interactive displays, historical artifacts, and engaging visuals, visitors can learn about the county’s long history with the railroad and how it continues to shape the county today. Source: Johnson County Kansas |

23 Tuesday, May 23

Wilson community voting on future of Central Plains School District

info2023-05-23T10:19:56-05:00May 23rd, 2023|

The future of a central Kansas school district is now in the hands of the voters. It was earlier this year that the Central Plains School District decided to close the Wilson 7-12 grade school due to a lack of funding. Now some voters in the district say the best step forward is to disband the district entirely. Enough petition signatures were gathered to put the disorganization of USD 112 up for a vote during the August 1st primary election. Superintendent Bill Lowry says if it passes, state law says other surrounding districts would take the land of the district if [...]

23 Tuesday, May 23

Wichita Public Schools open Future Ready Center to grow technical education opportunities

info2023-05-23T10:17:37-05:00May 23rd, 2023|

If you ask Martin Gutierrez about why he started taking technical education classes while at North High, he found it interesting and easy to understand. “It's more of a tactile part of learning, you kind of get to have a lot more hands-on,” he told KAKE Friday. Gutierrez is one of several Wichita public school students that have been taking classes at the district’s new "Future Ready Center" while it was being finished. Friday, the district held its ceremonial opening of the former grocery store turned educational complex. WPS Superintendent Dr. Alicia Thompson says the school board has had the building [...]

23 Tuesday, May 23

Southeast Kansas police departments catches unusual escapee

info2023-05-23T10:15:44-05:00May 23rd, 2023|

The Parsons Police Department roped an unusual escapee on Thursday (May 18). According to a release, the department was notified about a “possible traffic hazard.” The hazard? A calf that escaped from the local livestock market. Sergeant Waylon Kepley and Officer Joshua Lindsey responded. Fortunately, Sgt. Kepley grew up on a farm and helped raise cattle, so he knew that the animal could be unpredictable. The officers found the calf near Parcom on North 16th Street, eight blocks from the livestock market. Source: KOAM News

23 Tuesday, May 23

City of Wichita gets rush of lifeguard applicants ahead of pool season

info2023-05-23T10:12:53-05:00May 23rd, 2023|

Pool season begins on May 29. At the start of May, the City of Wichita said it was nearly 40 lifeguards short of what is needed to keep all the pools open this summer. A lot of interest in the lifeguard openings sparked over the last couple of weeks. The city is hosting training sessions for over 50 applicants to get certified this pool season. "It's absolutely fantastic that we have this number of people that are wanting to become lifeguards. Really it comes down to keeping our community safe and helping our partners within the community," said Joe Marten, City [...]

23 Tuesday, May 23

Is panhandling legal in Topeka?

info2023-05-23T10:09:19-05:00May 23rd, 2023|

People looking for financial help can be seen dotting roads and intersections in the Capital City, but is this a legal activity? The question of panhandlers in Topeka came up three years ago during a City Council session where members voted on whether or not to pass a new ordinance to ban panhandling. While not a total ban, it prevents panhandlers from congregating at certain places in Topeka. Panhandling is described as "a form of solicitation or begging derived from the impression created by someone holding out his hand to beg or using a container to collect money," according to Middle [...]

23 Tuesday, May 23

Community-Police Oversight Work Group discusses hopes, concerns at first meeting

info2023-05-23T10:06:58-05:00May 23rd, 2023|

To the relief of its members, the Community-Police Oversight Work Group met for the first time Monday. Members shared their hopes, concerns and needs to move the process forward. The work group is intended to review the Lawrence Police Department’s current complaint process and make recommendations for the Community Police Review Board’s oversight of the complaint process. (Read more on the background at this link.) The group’s work was originally supposed to conclude in November, but the process has been delayed. Source: The Lawrence Times

23 Tuesday, May 23

Lawrence school district will sell land to Tenants to Homeowners, start process to sell East Heights

info2023-05-23T10:05:36-05:00May 23rd, 2023|

The Lawrence school board on Monday voted to sell surplus property to Tenants to Homeowners as well as begin the process to sell East Heights and transfer the student programs held there to one of the elementary schools that will soon close. As part of the board’s consent agenda for Monday — a list of items that are considered routine and approved with one vote unless a board member or the superintendent pulls an item for further discussion — the board unanimously approved the sale of the property the district owns at 2600 W. 25th St., just north of the athletic [...]

23 Tuesday, May 23

City committee recommends consolidating or changing most of 18 advisory boards

info2023-05-23T10:04:42-05:00May 23rd, 2023|

A city committee has reviewed the city’s advisory boards and recommends consolidating 13 boards down to five, nixing another and making the police review board the “Safe and Secure Board.” Over the last five months, the Board and Commissions Structure Committee was tasked with limiting the number of boards to 10, not counting those required by state statutes. The committee has discussed the city’s strategic plan, and the scopes and charges of all its boards and commissions, according to a Friday news release from the city. “As a result of this work, each relevant board and commission has been sorted into [...]

23 Tuesday, May 23

Municipal Bond Trends for May 22, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-05-23T09:15:43-05:00May 23rd, 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.