News – Page 6 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Residents protest plan to sell land

info2019-03-06T09:53:10-06:00March 6th, 2019|

A proposal by city officials to sell a parcel in Stone Creek Addition that was to be used for a small park has run into opposition. A number of community residents showed up at the Feb. 26 City Council meeting to show their opposition to the move. The 1.77-acre lot, known as Reserve S, was intended to be a neighborhood park, but the city’s approach to parks has shifted during the years to larger parks and officials say the land is no longer needed for that use. However, Stone Creek resident Kaci Link said the potential of a park was one [...]

Wind project foe balks on making survey public

info2019-03-01T09:02:34-06:00March 1st, 2019|

An opponent of the Neosho Ridge Wind energy project wants some information about the project kept out of the public record. Neosho County Commissioners, with Counselor Seth Jones and County Attorney Linus Thuston present, talked Thursday evening about information provided in open meeting being public record. One member of the audience accused Apex, the wind project developer, of using that information to hound residents. Over the past two weeks, opponent Dustie Elsworth has contacted nearly 200 people, including those outside of the area of the Neosho Ridge project, and claimed that a high majority favor increased setbacks, holding the developer Apex [...]

Zoning approved for assisted living center in Derby

info2019-03-01T08:50:08-06:00March 1st, 2019|

An assisted living center developer wants to build in Derby. NAK Development Wichita LLC, which has a facility in Andover, wants to build a similar facility at the northeast corner of Woodlawn and Meadowlark, just west of the Family Video store. As planned, it would have 25 to 40 studio-type apartments and perhaps some independent living. The company got the lead on building a presence in Derby from its Andover workers. “A lot of our staff is familiar with Derby as they either worked or lived here,” said Chase Thornock, managing director. “We thought it was a beautiful location and it [...]

Derby public schools to use new safety tool

info2019-02-07T09:44:03-06:00February 7th, 2019|

An anonymous tip line will give Derby Public Schools a new tool to try to keep students safe. The school board approved implementing the “See Something, Say Something” program on a 6 to 0 vote at its Jan. 28 board meeting, entering into an agreement with the Wichita Metro Crime Commission, the Derby Police Department, the Wichita Police Department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department and the cities of Derby and Wichita. The program will allow people who are concerned about a threat to schools to call or text anonymously. Rewards will not be offered for tips. Tips can be submitted through [...]

Celebrate 150 years of Derby

info2019-02-07T09:37:42-06:00February 7th, 2019|

A lot has changed in 150 years, especially in the city of Derby. In 1869, the Alexander Garrett family staked a claim near Spring Creek close to what’s now Garrett Park, sparking the community that soon became El Paso and then in the 1950s boomed into Derby. Let’s get this in perspective. In 1869, Ulysses Grant was sworn in as our 18th president. The outlaw Jesse James robbed the bank that made him famous, and the first transcontinental railroad was completed. The terrain here was mostly prairie grass, and Kansas had just become a state in 1861. Look around Derby today [...]

Colbalt Boats announces $7M expansion plans in Neodesha

info2019-02-01T11:24:05-06:00February 1st, 2019|

A southeast Kansas boat manufacturer will begin a multi-year expansion in Neodesha. Cobalt Boats will expand in a nearly $7 million project to improve operational efficiency and quality. “That kind of growth will be good for Chanute,” Chanute Regional Development Authority Matt Godinez said. Cobalt Vice President of Operations Shane Stanfill said he could not release specific numbers, but the three-phase expansion will add jobs and increase the size of operations significantly. He said the project will touch all areas and improve flow and equipment. Cobalt currently has 700 employees in 500,000 square feet of space. Stanfill said as the company [...]

Derby City Council makes its views known to state lawmakers

info2019-01-17T06:52:38-06:00January 17th, 2019|

The 2019 Kansas Legislative session got underway this week and, with its start, the Derby City Council has voiced opinions as to what its members see as most important for the city. They approved the suggested legislative positions presented by City Manager Kathy Sexton at their Jan. 8 meeting. One of the city’s top priorities from the state, she said, along with the county’s, is a focus – and funding – on behavioral health.Sexton said she is “really proud of Sedgwick County” for putting the issue at the forefront. That includes opening a new state mental health hospital in the Wichita [...]

Neosho County won’t issue moratorium on wind project

info2019-01-14T08:22:31-06:00January 14th, 2019|

A motion for a moratorium against a proposed wind farm in Neosho County failed with all three county commissioners present at a special meeting Thursday evening. Commissioners also voted to change their meetings to Thursday evenings from Friday mornings when a commissioner decided against resigning. The discussion on the proposed Neosho Ridge wind project filled the courtroom at the Neosho County courthouse to capacity, but was less dramatic than previous commission meetings. A representative of Apex Clean Energy, developers of the project, had 30 minutes to make a presentation, then a representative of non-participating landowners had 30 minutes to present the [...]

Chanute, rec commission line out path to improvements

info2019-01-11T06:44:07-06:00January 11th, 2019|

The Chanute City Commission and Chanute Recreation Commission met Wednesday night to discuss a facilities agreement in a joint work session. Final action was not taken on the agreement, but city and rec commissioners asked questions about the draft, which will pave the way for renovations of the Santa Fe Park ballfields, the rec center and other improvements. City commissioners Randy Galemore, Phil Chaney and Jacob LaRue met with the CRC board, with attorney Kent Pringle and Chanute Interim Superintendent Steve Parsons attending. Renovation of six fields at Santa Fe Park is estimated at a cost of more than $1 million, [...]

County working to resolve issue with IRS

info2018-12-27T12:06:18-06:00December 27th, 2018|

Neosho County officials are working to avoid a $61,000 penalty from the Internal Revenue Service. Human Resources Manager Christy Hofer told commissioners Friday morning that the IRS notified her about the penalty for 2016 because of the Affordable Care Act. The county is in compliance with the ACA, but Hofer said the problem stems from errors made in forms filed for the year that made the IRS think the county had not met requirements. She said she has received an extension and is working to resolve the issue. (Read more: The Chanute Tribune - news,news/)