info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Winfield looks to add electric vehicle charging stations

info2020-07-20T10:06:01-05:00July 20th, 2020|

The City of Winfield, in partnership with the Kansas Power Pool, plans to install at least two public-use electric vehicle charging stations, Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall said Tuesday. The Level 2 charging stations will cost around $3,000 each. The city will pay for half the cost with electric utility funds, and the KPP will cover the other half, Wall said. The station locations are still being discussed, but will be placed in areas where they will most likely be used by travelers to Winfield. (Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Small Kansas town hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic

info2020-07-20T10:13:49-05:00July 20th, 2020|

Logan, population about 540, and Phillips County are an illustration of rural America during the global coronavirus pandemic. For months, the county had managed to dodge the wrath of COVID-19, with only a handful of confirmed cases cropping up even as the large metropolitan counties saw them explode. County officials, believing the threat was minimal, lifted all restrictions at the end of May. (Read more: Kansas City News)

Police chief talks about use of force

info2020-07-20T10:06:46-05:00July 20th, 2020|

Use of force will never be eliminated from law enforcement because there will always be people who do not cooperate when being placed under arrest, but Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens said discussion about change is necessary and changes must come in a thoughtful and methodical manner. “We can change things. We can try to make it better,” Kitchens said, in a forum last week that focused on the Leavenworth Police Department’s use of force. The chief spent time during the forum reviewing the law and court decisions that guide use of force by law enforcement officers. He also reviewed the [...]

Rural Economic Index Inches Upward

info2020-07-20T10:08:10-05:00July 20th, 2020|

The rural economy in the middle of the country is not booming – but it’s moving upward. The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index, or RMI, increased in July. According to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy, July’s overall index climbed to 44.1, well below growth neutral, but up from June’s 37.9, and April’s record low 12.1. The index ranges between 0 and 100 with a reading of 50 representing growth neutral. (Read more: WIBW News Now)

USDA Invests in Community Infrastructure in Independence, Kansas

info2020-07-20T07:43:00-05:00July 18th, 2020|

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Kansas Lynne Hinrichsen today announced that USDA is investing $7,200 for community infrastructure in the city of Independence. ... The Independence Area Library District will use a $7,200 Community Facilities Grant to purchase new mobile book shelves, storage and extra seating for the Independence Public Library. The library was built in 1907 and expanded in 2007. Existing furniture is deteriorating and unsafe. The improvements announced today will help modernize the older portion of the facility, enhancing the children and teen areas, and allow more space for classes and large events. Read [...]

‘I’m scared to death’: KC area teachers worry if schools can be safe during COVID-19

info2020-07-17T09:20:30-05:00July 17th, 2020|

Olathe teacher Amy Hillman said she was “given a gift” when Gov. Laura Kelly announced Kansas schools would stay closed until after Labor Day due to skyrocketing coronavirus cases. “These three weeks are giving us a leg up. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a lifetime for teachers,” said Hillman, a science teacher at Santa Fe Trail Middle School. Like other teachers, she has spent the summer taking online courses, learning how to use new technology and researching the virus — preparing to drastically transform her classroom for students returning during the worsening pandemic. (Read more: Joco 913 News)

Facebook deletes Butler County Health Department’s page

info2020-07-17T09:20:12-05:00July 17th, 2020|

With everything going on during the coronavirus pandemic, the importance of fast and easy communication with the public is at an all-time high. For this, most turn platforms like Facebook, but for now, that’s no longer an option for the Butler County Health Department. “We're just stunned and with what's going on right now that is, you know, Facebook is our main means of communicating with our citizens,” said Jamie Downs, Administrator of the Butler County Health Department. Downs was shocked Wednesday when she saw a notification from Facebook saying it unpublished the county's official health department page because it violated [...]

Looming election challenge: Pandemic leads to influx of mail-in ballot requests

info2020-07-17T09:19:40-05:00July 17th, 2020|

Widespread concern over catching coronavirus at polling places is setting the stage for a record-breaking election for votes by mail. To date, 272,794 advance ballots have been sent by mail compared to 3,046 in 2018. In Sedgwick County alone, the election office has received close to 50,000 requests for a ballot by mail for the primary compared to a total of 8,100 for the 2016 primary. With thousands more choosing to send in votes, Kansas counties are scrambling to bring in enough election workers to count the ballots by hand. (Read more: KAKE - News)

Pandemic increasing substitute shortage in Kansas schools

info2020-07-17T09:19:13-05:00July 17th, 2020|

School superintendents say substitute teachers are always hard to come by, but this year some districts say that problem is getting worse thanks to the pandemic. Retired teacher Brenda Groat enjoyed seeing the kids at school, especially during passing period at the middle school where she taught. “Generally, that's a really good time and fun to watch,” Groat said. That’s why she became a substitute teacher, but she says with the pandemic, not this year. (Read more: KAKE - News)

Send in the clowns

info2020-07-17T09:18:50-05:00July 17th, 2020|

Along with exceptional athleticism, rodeos bring joy to onlookers. This year’s Kansas Largest Night Rodeo in Pretty Prairie is no exception. National rodeo stars John Harrison and Wacey Munsell, along with newcomer Jacob Welker of Pretty Prairie, helped bring joy and suspense to rodeo onlookers. Harrison, this year’s barrelman, taunted the bulls from his barrel, which was positioned close to the chutes. “He’s gone. You can stop now,” Harrison said as a bull took off past him, causing the pickup men — mounted cowboys — to spend several minutes trying to get the bull back to the pen. On his way, [...]

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