info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Bel Aire denies trash hauler’s fee increase

info2019-05-14T10:01:56-05:00May 14th, 2019|

The Bel Aire City Council May 7 denied a request from Waste Connections for a 2 percent increase for waste and recycling fees with a 3-2 vote. Waste Management makes a request for the increase each year as the cost of doing business increases. The increase isn't mandatory, and the decision is left up to city council. Last year, the council denied the request. Two years ago, the council gave Waste Management a 1.5 percent increase. Council member Jim Benage asked Herschel West of Waste Management to provide a detailed analysis of the business' increased costs in Bel Aire over the [...]

Liberal, Seward County combine to fund emergency response

info2019-05-14T09:59:44-05:00May 14th, 2019|

“This is an entire community public safety project,” Liberal Fire Chief Kelly Kirk said. “We’re talking the communications for sheriff, police, both fires, EMS, emergency management in the event of a tornado, ice storm, wind storm, whatever. Isn’t that what the sales tax money’s for, and isn’t that where that money’s coming from? The people who drive through here from Iowa.” “We’re not paying salaries out of that, but aren’t they the ones that use that? The folks from the county who come to town and shop. The folks from Oklahoma who come to town and shop. The people who drive [...]

No Mercy: How A Kansas Town Is Grappling With Its Hospital’s Closure

info2019-05-14T09:24:05-05:00May 14th, 2019|

Yet, even as this town deals with the trauma of losing a beloved institution, deeper national questions underlie the struggle: Do small communities like Fort Scott need a traditional hospital at all? And if not, how will they get the health care they need? Sisters of Mercy nuns opened Fort Scott's 10-bed frontier hospital in 1886 — a time when traveling 30 miles to see a doctor was unfathomable and when most medical treatments were so primitive they could be dispensed almost anywhere. Now, driving the four-lane highway north to Kansas City, Kan., or crossing the state line to Joplin, Mo., [...]

Wichita Police Foundation works to equip more WPD officers with trauma kits

info2019-05-14T09:18:15-05:00May 14th, 2019|

The Wichita Police Foundation organizes an effort to help officers with the city's police department be as prepared as they can be in emergency response. The foundation this week is providing the Wichita Police Department with 40 trauma kits, featuring life-saving tools officers can use to treat injuries when responding to calls. "Trauma kits are incredible, life-saving tools. And it came to our attention that not all of our police officers have them, (it's) not something each of them are able to carry," says Becca Boldra with the Wichita Police Foundation. Boldra says the group became aware of the need for [...]

Church given chance to buy Partridge school

info2019-05-14T08:43:49-05:00May 14th, 2019|

Real estate issues captured the focus of Haven USD 312 school board members Monday night. The board voted 6-1 -- Dustin Carmichael cast the dissenting vote -- to counter Plainview Mennonite Church’s offer to buy the closed Partridge Grade School. Plainview Mennonite Church, 5610 W. Trail West Rd., is about four miles from Partridge. It uses the old Partridge school for its youth ministry program. In May 2018, USD 312 closed the newer school, constructed in 2000. The church wants to buy that property for its youth ministry. A couple of months ago, the church made an offer to buy the [...]

Hutchinson Chamber asks members to contact commission over NextEra permit

info2019-05-14T08:39:46-05:00May 14th, 2019|

The Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce sent out an email blast to its members last Friday advising them to contact Reno County Commissioners to ask them to support the proposed NextEra Energy wind farm in southeast Reno County. That, despite the county commission adopting a policy in March – and reiterating it during at least two commission meetings since – that the commissioners cannot consider input on zoning applications such as the one sought by NextEra outside of information presented to it via the Reno County Planning Commission’s process. Chamber President Debra Teufel said both the Chamber’s board of directors and its [...]

Chanute continues discussion on fiber optic

info2019-05-14T08:36:08-05:00May 14th, 2019|

Chanute city commissioners will continue discussion about fiber optic expansion at a June work session after covering the issue at Monday evening’s regular meeting. The commission tabled a draft letter to be sent to potential residential customers to gauge interest in the project, and scheduled a work session for 5:30 pm June 10, before the regular commission meeting. Commissioner Tim Fairchild said fiber would be a good subject for a work session. The city is considering a discounted rate of $75 per month for early sign-up and $100 per month afterwards, with a two-month deposit and two-year commitment to get a [...]

‘We just want to get help where help is needed’: Sedgwick Co. looks to hire bilingual call takers

info2019-05-14T08:34:35-05:00May 14th, 2019|

It could be the difference between life and death. Sedgwick County dispatch says it needs bilingual call takers. The longer the positions sit empty, the longer people in need have to wait. Right now there are no bilingual call takers or dispatchers in Sedgwick County. When someone calls for help who does not speak English, they rely on a third party translator service. There are about 100 of those calls a month in the county. "When we get the call to 911, we have to we have to get that interpreter onto the line with us," said Elora Forshee, director of [...]

City of Wichita launches new budget simulator

info2019-05-14T06:50:59-05:00May 14th, 2019|

The City of Wichita wants to give you a chance to weigh in on how tax dollars will be spent on the upcoming budget. You can decide if the budget for the should be increased or decreased by 10 percent in both directions. If you add five-percent to the fire and medical response budget, this will open a new station in an under-served area. Go five-percent the other way and you'll save money, but 22 positions will be eliminated and a station will close. "We want taxpayers to feel like they have a say in the budget decisions that we make, [...]

Small Sunday earthquake reported in Rooks County

info2019-05-14T06:49:27-05:00May 14th, 2019|

Several earthquakes shook Rooks County over the weekend. According to the Kansas Geological Survey, the two largest were magnitude 3.8 at 9:06a.m. Saturday and a magnitude 3.4 at 3:13a.m. Sunday. The United State’s Geological Survey also reported a 2.6 magnitude quake centered 8 miles northwest of Plainville on Sunday. (Read more: Hays Post)

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