info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Butler County museum hosting Smithsonian’s ‘Crossroads: Change in Rural America’

info2020-12-14T07:16:45-06:00December 13th, 2020|

Smithsonian Partner Site Hosting Virtual Exhibit Crossroads: Change in Rural America is a statewide initiative featuring the exclusive Kansas tour of a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition made possible by Humanities Kansas. “The exhibit itself really has two parts,” said Ken Spurgeon, history consultant for the Kansas Oil Museum. “One is a physical part where you can come into the museum as the months progress and we hope we get more and more open after COVID. You be able to come into the museum and see elements from across butler county. There will be a digital element as well.” Source: El Dorado [...]

Edgerton’s Intermodal enjoys seasonal gains

info2020-12-14T07:17:07-06:00December 13th, 2020|

This is an extremely busy time of year for Edgerton’s LPKC as most companies are dealing with “peak” season. “As you can imagine most of the online e-commerce fulfillment center we have at here see a surge in activities around the holidays,” said James Oltman, president ElevateEdgerton! “Amazon, Walmart.com and UPS are three examples of companies that hire a large amount of seasonal help to assist them with the increase in business they see through the holidays. Of course that also means there is usually increased container movement through the BNSF intermodal facility as well.” “Not only would this time of [...]

State-of-the-art, solar greenhouses feed rural America with both food and internet service

info2020-12-14T07:17:14-06:00December 13th, 2020|

Two native Kansans are manufacturing a state-of-the-art farm facility on very little land. By building solar-powered greenhouses, the pair hope to revolutionize farming – and technology – in Kansas. In addition to growing all types of fruits and vegetables for local consumption, these solar-powered greenhouses will build up energy to power a 5G data center, bringing fast-speed internet to rural Kansas. “It’s the first of its kind,” said David Hinson, an electrical engineer and president of TSO Greenhouses. TSO is working with Kansas Freedom Farms to build these properties. Source: Local - The Hutchinson News

Does Kansas owe businesses for mandating they close? A new lawsuit says yes.

info2020-12-14T07:17:21-06:00December 13th, 2020|

The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic overturned society as we know it, shutting down the state’s economy in a virtually unprecedented way. Business owners have had to grapple with keeping the lights on, scrounging up government aid and taking precautions to keep customers and employees safe. But can those enterprises demand compensation from a state or local government for having to shut their doors? Increasingly, businesses across the country are saying yes to that question and filing legal challenges accordingly. That trend has now reached Kansas. Source: State Government - The Topeka Capital-Journal

New traditions start in St. John

info2020-12-14T07:17:41-06:00December 13th, 2020|

Christmas is being celebrated in St. John with new traditions to thwart the COVID-related disappointments of established Christmas celebrations, including a newly installed mail drop at the southwest corner of First and Main streets that has a direct link to Santa’s workshop. No postage is required and when a self-addressed (and hopefully stamped) envelope is included in the letter, a reply comes directly from Santa and Mrs. Claus. St. John USD 350 Junior-Senior High School principal Blake White, who is rumored to have close ties to Santa, reports Christmas is alive and well in St. John, a sentiment he said he [...]

Rural hospitals in Kansas facing surge in coronavirus cases

info2020-12-14T07:18:07-06:00December 13th, 2020|

Rural areas were spared the worst in the beginning of the pandemic, but that is no longer the case. Many rural hospitals in Kansas are starting to see a spike, and its putting a major strain on their health systems. It took Wilson County about seven months to reach 60 cases, now they’re seeing 60 new cases every week. Dr. Jen McKenney is one of only five doctors at the Fredonia Regional Hospital. Staff is scarce, and the right resources are too. Rural hospitals typically do not have ICU beds, which have been necessary for COVID-19 patients. Source: KAKE - News

Presentation explores rich history of Mexican immigration to Kansas

info2020-12-14T07:18:38-06:00December 13th, 2020|

The first of several special programs in connection with “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” at Kauffman Museum will be held Sunday, hosted virtually in line with COVID-19 protocols. Gene T. Chávez, of Shawnee, will present “Flour Power/El Poder de la Harina” via Zoom and Facebook Live at 3 p.m. Sunday. This free event is sponsored by Humanities Kansas. “Hispanic culture has influenced our way of life in so many ways,” Chávez said. “It is important to understand the contributions Hispanics have made to Kansas and to the nation.” Kauffman Museum is partnering with Humanities Kansas and the Smithsonian Institution to bring [...]

With safety complaints up, Newton eyes sidewalk program

info2020-12-14T07:18:59-06:00December 13th, 2020|

Due to COVID-19, people are staying home more — and they are going for more walks. At least that is the working theory at city hall as Newton city staff deal with an influx of sidewalk safety complaints. “We have had a plethora of sidewalk complaints come in that we did not have,” said Kelly McElroy, city manager. “They are home, they are out and walking in their neighborhood for the first time in (perhaps) many years. They are excising, and we love that piece of this.” The numbers are shocking. This year there have been 98 complaints, factoring in the [...]

Leavenworth celebrates completion of Thornton project

info2020-12-14T07:15:01-06:00December 13th, 2020|

Leavenworth officials gathered Friday to celebrate the completion of a $4.89 million street project. “This project has been a long time coming to fruition,” Leavenworth Public Works Director Mike McDonald said. His remarks came during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a Thornton Street improvement project. The ceremony took place at the Municipal Service Center, which is located on Thornton Street. The project resulted in the reconstruction of Thornton Street between Fifth Street and 10th Avenue. McDonald said the length of that stretch of Thornton Street is about 1.5 blocks short of a mile. Source: Leavenworth Times

BCC K-9 Haxo receives body armor

info2020-12-11T09:07:54-06:00December 11th, 2020|

K-9 Officer Haxo of Butler Community College’s Department of Public Safety has received a bullet and stab protective vest, thanks to a charitable donation from nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s Inc. Haxo’s vest was embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of K9 Gabo, Jonesboro, AR EOW 1/16/20.” Haxo is Butler’s first K-9 officer. Lt. Tim Harder spent two months earlier this year training Haxo at American K-9 Interdiction in Virginia. He lived in a dorm and spent his days focused on turning Haxo into a narcotics detection officer, finishing the intensive program in June. Haxo is now trained on six [...]

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