info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Kansas schools resume classes amid COVID case surge and full hospitals after Christmas, New Year

info2022-01-04T07:04:33-06:00January 4th, 2022|

Kansas schoolchildren and teachers return to the classroom this week amid a post-Christmas and New Year coronavirus surge and pleas from doctors to wear masks. Kansas Department of Health and Environment data suggest the COVID-19 case surge in the week after Christmas has been worse than any previous peak in the pandemic. "If you want to keep schools open and you want to keep businesses open, you got to keep people healthy," said Steve Stites, the chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, when asked Monday whether mask mandates should be reinstated. "You're either not going to have [...]

Historic Rice County Jail transformed into an Airbnb and escape room

info2022-01-04T06:59:35-06:00January 4th, 2022|

Jail cells line the second floor of a bright, vintage-looking home. During years past, sheriffs of Rice County and their families lived on the ground floor, processing inmates and addressing drunken troublemakers. In 1929, the Rice County Jail opened, serving the community until 2001 when Rice County built the new Law Enforcement Center, which is west of town near the Lyons Airport. Today, the historic site purchased by Chris McCord in 2020 is an Airbnb and escape room named The Slammer Historic Rice County Jail, where guests can stay in a piece of Rice County history or learn the narrative of [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for January 3, 2022

info2022-01-04T06:58:05-06:00January 4th, 2022|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

Geary County hospital to close ICU, citing nursing shortage and ‘fiscal’ problems

info2022-01-04T06:56:23-06:00January 4th, 2022|

Geary Community Hospital is closing its intensive care unit by Feb. 1, hospital officials announced Monday. “Due to a national COVID-19-exacerbated nursing shortage, as well as fiscal situations beyond our control, Geary Community Hospital can no longer effectively operate an intensive care unit (ICU),” officials said in a written statement released Monday afternoon. “We assure you closing a unit of the hospital is not an easy decision, and we understand how this impacts the community.” Source: themercury.com

Manhattan Modifies Mask Requirement for Indoor City-operated Facilities

info2022-01-04T06:56:34-06:00January 4th, 2022|

Beginning Monday, January 3, 2022, visitors will no longer be required to wear masks when inside City-operated facilities, except when entering secure, staff-only areas where mask required signage is present. To protect the workforce and maintain programs and services, City employees are still required to wear masks that cover their mouth and nose when inside all areas of indoor City-operated facilities. The decision to modify the mask policy for City facilities was made by City Manager Ron Fehr. Source: Manhattan - News Flash

The Pride of Wildcat Land joins K-State football in Houston, plays crucial role in gameday atmosphere

info2022-01-04T06:56:51-06:00January 4th, 2022|

The gameday atmosphere at a Kansas State football game is special, but that atmosphere simply doesn't happen without the Kansas State Marching Band. The band and the football team share a special connection. "It's a complete package. We go to bowl games because they win a lot of football games. They have a great coaching staff, they have great players and they have a great tradition. We've built that with the band we think, and we just look at it as a tag team approach," band director Dr. Frank Tracz said. The band put in a lot of effort and some [...]

New City of Topeka Lien Release Program will improve thousands of lives

info2022-01-04T00:01:37-06:00January 4th, 2022|

The new year is looking bright for Topeka residents already. On Monday the city announced the new Lien Program will release thousands of people from paying back their loan. The new policy is projected to help between 8,000 to 10,000 Topekans. The city reports 80 releases have already been complete, putting an estimated $300,000 into low income households. This policy is only for those who have a current lien with the city's housing services division - or those who apply for future rehabilitation loans. Source: KSNT News

Topeka Municipal Court suspending most in-person dockets due to COVID-19 spread

info2022-01-03T06:41:45-06:00January 3rd, 2022|

The Topeka Municipal Court is suspending the majority of its in-person dockets due to an increase in community spread of COVID-19 in Shawnee County. The suspension starts Monday and is expected to last through January 14. The City of Topeka announced the decision last month. According to a city press release, all impacted cases will be rescheduled and all impacted defendants and defense counsel will be notified by mail. Source: KSNT News

Johnson County to consider ending school mask mandate Thursday as COVID-19 cases soar

info2022-01-03T06:40:55-06:00January 3rd, 2022|

Johnson County leaders will decide Thursday whether to scrap their current school mask mandate for elementary school children or leave it in place through the spring semester as the highly contagious omicron variant pushes COVID-19 cases to record highs. The current county order, in place since August, requires masks in schools that serve students as old as sixth grade in an attempt to slow the virus’s spread while vaccination rates among children remain low. But the rule has come under fire from a litany of state and local officials who argue such mandates should be left to individual school districts to [...]

Parsons leadership creates safe exchange zone for community

info2022-01-03T02:05:31-06:00January 3rd, 2022|

Safety is always a primary concern throughout any community. With the increased use of online shopping through platforms, this has community leaders looking for ways to create an environment for any in-person exchanges. And soon, one of those will be coming to Parsons. "Marketplace and Craigslist and all that stuff has really gotten huge over the past few years," says Leland Crooks, Parsons City Commissioner, "It's individuals selling to individuals, there's no guarantees, you don't have a store you can go back to." Source: KSNF/KODE

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