info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Governor Jeff Colyer orders flags to be flown at half-staff in recognition of Patriot Day

info2018-09-11T09:44:40-05:00September 11th, 2018|

In accordance with Executive Order 10-12, Governor Jeff Colyer today ordered flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset today, 9/11/18, in observance of Patriot Day. By a joint resolution approved Dec. 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), Congress designated Sept. 11 of each year as Patriot Day, and by Public Law 111-13, approved April 21, 2009, requested the observance of Sept. 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance. “Today is a day for us to come together as a nation and to honor the heroes of both our past and present,” said Governor Colyer. “We will never [...]

Statistics can now reveal life expectancy for Hutchinson neighborhoods

info2018-09-11T09:26:43-05:00September 11th, 2018|

We have had statistics that track the health of Reno County and even the city of Hutchinson alone. Now a special study from The National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems has narrowed the life expectancy for residents to an area as small as an individual neighborhood. It’s the first time ever that public health officials, community leaders, and others working to improve health in Kansas can access census tract-level data to measure and compare differences in life expectancy in each area of the county and the city of Hutchinson. The United States Small-Area Life Expectancy Estimates Project is [...]

Stoecklein named Hutchinson’s interim police chief

info2018-09-11T09:25:29-05:00September 11th, 2018|

A familiar face to law enforcement has been named by the City of Hutchinson to serve as the interim police chief. City Manager John Deardoff announced Monday afternoon that Alan Stoecklein will serve in the interim position until the new chief is named and comes on board. That is expected to happen Nov. 1. Stoecklein enjoyed a 40-year career in law enforcement, mostly with the Kansas Highway Patrol, where he retired as a lieutenant colonel. Deardoff says he appreciates Stoecklein’s willingness to step in the role and oversee the department until the replacement for Chief Dick Heitschmidt arrives. No announcement was [...]

Manhattan firefighters save kitten trapped in car engine

info2018-09-11T09:24:48-05:00September 11th, 2018|

A group of Manhattan firefighters happened to take a break at the right place and at the right time on Sunday. The firefighters stopped at a local fast-food restaurant and saved a kitten trapped in the engine compartment of a car. They shared the photos on social media. (Read more: Hays Post)

Derby Recreation Commission starts membership structure survey

info2018-09-11T09:22:55-05:00September 11th, 2018|

The Derby Recreation Commission has identified its next item to pursue within its Recreational Facilities Master Plan. They launched a survey on Sunday night that will identify any potential correlation between a membership that would allow members to use DRC facilities and take classes for the same fee. Currently, a membership doesn’t allow anyone to take an additional class at either recreational facility without a separate fee. “It’s something we’ve heard about from our clients for quite some time,” DRC superintendent Chris Drum said. “We’ve received some suggestions on things that our clients would like us to look at doing differently.” [...]

Strategic Plan Outlines Efforts to Address Opioid Crisis — Kansas Prescription Drug and Opioid Advisory Committee releases four-year plan

info2018-09-11T09:20:19-05:00September 11th, 2018|

In 2016, there were more than 300 drug-poisoning deaths in Kansas, and approximately half of those involved a prescription or an illicit opioid. Although Kansas is below the national average for fatal opioid overdoses, the opioid crisis is an emerging threat that remains a priority for the state to address. The Kansas Prescription Drug and Opioid Advisory Committee has developed a four-year plan to provide help to those affected and empower professionals with the strategies they need to reduce prescription drug and opioid misuse, abuse and associated adverse health outcomes. “Kansas has an opportunity to address the opioid crisis proactively through [...]

Westar apologizes for lack of communication on new poles in Wichita neighborhood

info2018-09-11T09:19:15-05:00September 11th, 2018|

Leaders of Westar Energy are apologizing to northeast Wichita residents that are concerned about the new transmission poles. The City of Wichita and Westar held a meeting last week to talk to community members concerned about the electrical poles. "We wanted to address the concerns in the community. Concerns included a loss of property value, improper compensation, decrease neighborhood esthetics, and more," said Brandon Johnson, Wichita council member. "Westar listened to the concerns and are ready to address them. This is outside of the purview of what Westar is expected to do." Residents in Wichita's District 1 raised concerns about the [...]

Inside look at Union Station Renovations

info2018-09-11T09:16:29-05:00September 11th, 2018|

Behind barricades and past dust-covered doors in Old Town, you see a massive restoration effort underway in Wichita’s Union Station. As with any facelift of the kind, it’s delicate and can be complicated – trying to revive the 100+ year-old building into a business plaza. The people in charge of the project keep a close eye on history, knowing intricate details about the facility. “This is the ticket booth, this will be a break room and there will be a couple of offices inside” said Chad Stafford, President of Occidental Management, while giving a tour of the facility to KAKE News [...]

Despite misconceptions, sales tax not higher at State Fair

info2018-09-11T09:14:32-05:00September 11th, 2018|

The Kansas State Fair’s funding for capital improvements may be at risk because of fairgoer misconceptions about the new Kansas State Fair sales tax law. “Commercial exhibitors are telling us that fairgoers think state sales tax is higher at the Kansas State Fair,” Bob Moeder, Interim General Manager, said. “We want to make sure our visitors understand that Kansas sales tax is consistent everywhere in the state, but when they buy and take delivery of goods at the fair, a portion of the state sales tax collected returns to the fair for greatly-needed improvements to our facilities.” Moeder said, “The more [...]

New library, old funding: Wichita spends less on libraries than most cities

info2018-09-11T09:11:35-05:00September 11th, 2018|

Wichita’s new downtown library had a heck of a first month. According to a new report, about twice the number of people visited the Advanced Learning Library in July compared to the downtown branch at the same time last year. Three times as many people applied for library cards. And patrons checked out nearly 68,000 books and other materials — a monthly record for the Wichita library system. “It’s an exciting time, and that’s certainly cause for celebration,” said Cynthia Berner, director of libraries. But the celebration has been tempered by a harsh reality: Wichita’s libraries are the lowest-funded in the [...]

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