info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

The people running Kansas prisons have never seen a staffing crisis this bad

info2021-11-10T00:26:27-06:00November 10th, 2021|

By 8 p.m. on a Friday, David Gorges has already clocked 48 stressful hours counseling and guarding inmates at the state prison in town. His work week isn’t over. He’s working security at The Alley, an arcade and bowling alley in Hutchinson. He takes on extra work so he can be debt-free when he retires, though he said he is close to paying off his farm. “I don’t go out and drive a Corvette,” Gorges said. “My wife doesn’t have a Cadillac Escalade, or anything like that. We live a humble lifestyle. We don’t go on these lavish trips out of [...]

Fort Scott CC announces termination of football program

info2021-11-10T00:17:28-06:00November 10th, 2021|

Fort Scott Community College has terminated its football program, according to a release from the school on Monday night. The release reads: “The termination of the historic and legendary FSCC football program was a difficult and emotional decision. A competitive football program at FSCC is not sustainable due to the cumulative effect of limited resources, changes in Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) football eligibility rules in 2016, and the changing ethos of football in general. We simply do not have the resources to maintain a football team that would be competitive in the Jayhawk Conference. Source: KOAMKOAM

Baxter Springs converts old substation into new Liberty Park for residents to enjoy

info2021-11-10T00:12:25-06:00November 10th, 2021|

An area community and the utility that provides it's electricity team up to provide a green space for residents and visitors to enjoy. What used to be called Substation 291 in Baxter Springs, is now known as Liberty Park. The substation, located near the fire department, dates back to the 1940's. But Liberty built a new, more modern substation just west of the old one. So instead of leaving the spot bare, Shelby Stinnett says the utility decided to make the location into a new green space. "We worked in collaboration with the city to present this nice sitting area to [...]

“Imagine Pittsburg” website launched to attract new residents and businesses

info2021-11-10T00:10:31-06:00November 10th, 2021|

An area community is taking to the internet and social media to attract new business, residents and encourage former residents to come back home. Imagine Pittsburg has launched a new website designed to promote the city. The website is dedicated to sharing positive stories about the people who made the community what it is today. Joe Dellasega is on the Imagine Pittsburg committee and says the goal is to create a consistent narrative about the positive things happening in the town. "We needed to be thinking about our story and what our story was, one of the things we said was [...]

ARPA funds will be used to fix Osawatomie water line project

info2021-11-10T07:00:15-06:00November 10th, 2021|

The city of Osawatomie will seek to use some of Miami County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to help fix the water distribution system that supports Osawatomie Middle School. The Osawatomie City Council on Thursday, Oct. 28, approved an interlocal agreement with the county to use up $200,000 of the county’s ARPA funds to fix 100-year-old water lines that are failing to provide adequate water pressure to half of the school building’s fire suppression system. The County Commission is expected to take action on the agreement at its meeting Wednesday, Nov. 3. City Manager Mike Scanlon, Mayor Mark Govea, and [...]

Topgolf requests exemption from airport regulation to build in Wichita

info2021-11-10T07:00:54-06:00November 10th, 2021|

You can’t hit a golf ball in Wichita without coming across something related to aviation, including if hitting golf balls is your business. Topgolf has a request on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting of the Wichita City Council in which it is asking for an exemption from height regulations of structures in the vicinity of an airport that will allow the company to build its nets to planned specifications. The company has plans to build a golf entertainment complex on 22 acres … Source: Wichita Business Journal

Of Johnson County’s large districts, only one is left with high school mask mandate

info2021-11-09T23:58:38-06:00November 9th, 2021|

The Blue Valley school district will drop its mask mandate in high schools after Thanksgiving. After the neighboring Olathe district made the same move last week, the Blue Valley school board on Monday voted 6-1 to make masks optional for grades nine and above, including for high school staff and visitors. The change will go into effect on Nov. 29. Shawnee Mission is now the only larger district in Johnson County that has yet to change its mask mandate in high schools. Officials said the decision was made in response to declining spread of COVID-19, including in schools, as well as [...]

Infrastructure bill aids broadband expansion in Kansas, boosts potential for Amtrak line in Wichita

info2021-11-09T23:54:24-06:00November 9th, 2021|

3.4 Billion dollars will be coming to Kansas as part of the President's infrastructure bill. The majority of which will be going to roads, but 100 million will be going to broadband expansion, something Tiya Tonn is incredibly excited about. “Just giving that opportunity. So the rural communities are on a level playing field with the rest of the world." Source: KAKE - News

License plate readers continue to be utilized; Derby police next to install

info2021-11-09T23:52:41-06:00November 9th, 2021|

New license plate readers are making waves across the Wichita area. When the new Flock cameras are installed in Derby, the city will be one of over 1,400 to use them. Flock says their safety cameras are shown to reduce crime by up to 70%. "It's going to help solve crime for Derby residents and that's our number one goal," Captain Sarah Oldridge with Derby PD said. "Not only does the Flock camera pick up the license plate, but it can also allow us to search or obtain information by a vehicle description." The City of Derby won't be installing them [...]

Shawnee City Council airs frustrations over trash collection issues, including pickup delays

info2021-11-10T07:02:56-06:00November 9th, 2021|

Shawnee city officials say they have received mixed feedback from residents since making significant changes to the city’s Tidy Town bulky item pickup program last year. That was the gist of a discussion Monday night between the Shawnee City Council and city staff, who reviewed the Tidy Town program and went over areas of concern that could be improved. Caitlin Gard, assistant city manager, said the city has “gotten overwhelming positive response” since the city made changes to the Tidy Town program last year. Instead of an annual event occurring in the spring, residents now schedule an individual pickup time with [...]

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