info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

USD 112 superintendent asks county for daycare funds

info2023-09-22T07:46:50-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

Central Plains USD 112 Superintendent Bill Lowry met with Barton County Commissioners on Tuesday to discuss a matching funding request for daycare in the Claflin community. “I’ve raised some funds,” Lowry said, referring to donations to the school district’s Childcare Network established in October 2022 that provides 70% in state tax credits toward renovating an existing classroom in Wilson and a new building in Claflin. The program reached 50% of its goal by December 2022, but a year later Lowry was in hopes that he could move the fundraising along. “I don’t have enough at this time to really start a [...]

Fire fighting training site seeing upgrades

info2023-09-22T07:44:47-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

The Boy Scout motto “be prepared” also applies to the Great Bend Fire Department, Fire Chief Brent Smith told the City Council Monday night as he outlined improvements taking place at his department’s training facility behind Fire Station 2. “We’ve been working with Hazmat Response, our neighbor to the west of us out there station,” Smith said. The business has “been nothing but generous in donating equipment and time to do some dirt work and hauling some buildings for us to add to our burn facility.” In addition, “we’re going to be putting in a grain elevator rescue props and some [...]

Baxter Springs School District reflects on introduction of 4-day school week

info2023-09-22T07:38:58-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

This year, the Baxter Springs School District introduced a new 4-day school week. A month into the school year, administrators say the 4-day school week has been a success thus far. Superintendent David Pendergraft says he's received various emails from parents who were a bit skeptical of the change initially, but now they're seeing the benefit of how it helps them to balance their work life and personal life. The schedule change has also helped with the recruitment of teachers to the district. Source: KSNF/KODE

Outside help: Wichita plans to outsource management of city animal shelter

info2023-09-22T07:28:38-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

Wichita is seeking a private operator to take over day-to-day management of the city’s animal shelter from the Wichita Police Department. The vendor will be asked to “manage shelter services and improve communications with rescue partners to find homes for abandoned pets, provide veterinary care and overall improvement of services that fit standards and best practices,” according to a city news release. The request for proposal was issued on Sept. 15 and will close on Nov. 3. City spokesperson Megan Lovely told The Eagle that plans were already in motion to outsource management of the animal shelter before the Sept. 6 [...]

Festival Planned in Central Kansas to Celebrate Monarch Butterflies

info2023-09-22T07:26:57-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

A host of butterflies, bees and bugs will all be in residence at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center’s (592 NE K 156 Hwy, Great Bend) annual Butterfly Festival from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 23. In addition to a variety of family-friendly activities, “The Instars,” Steve Craig and Amy Short, will present their “Butterfly Magic” show – a melding of humor and magic that illustrates the astonishing butterfly life cycle. “This year promises to be a much better year for the monarch butterfly migration, as millions undertake their annual fall flight to Mexico,” said Pam Martin, Kansas Department [...]

Riley County gives go ahead for new mural at Zeandale fire station

info2023-09-22T07:24:54-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

Riley County officials on Thursday approved a motion for a new mural to be installed at the county fire station in Zeandale. Resident Diane Hoobler, representing the Friends of the Zeandale Fire Station 101, presented a draft example of the mural which the artist plans to start painting on Oct. 7. She says some of the art depicted in the mural, including the train station will be made larger, for a better visual perspective. She discussed some of the other identifying landmarks. The train station, the Pawnee Trail and the old Zeandale school will be depicted in the mural. Source: 1350 [...]

City of Manhattan enters agreement with Ottawa nonprofit to contract out animal shelter services

info2023-09-22T07:22:20-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

The City of Manhattan will contract out services at the T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter. City commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved an agreement with Prairie Paws, a nonprofit organization out of Ottawa to manage the shelter. Mayor Mark Hatesohl says the move should give the city a better understanding of how much it’s spending on services. The city began discussions in January to explore avenues to outsource shelter services, without requiring additional tax dollars. Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers noted on Tuesday’s edition of In Focus that the city has struggled with turnover at the shelter for several years. Source: 1350 [...]

New playground, equipment celebrated at GC Achieve

info2023-09-22T07:20:57-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

Garden City Achieve, 1312 N. Main Street, this week celebrated a new playground area and equipment located on the south side of the school building. The new playground, designed for children from five to 12 years old, includes a slide and many climbing structures. The playground equipment is designed to build motor skills, cognitive skills and social emotional skills through sensory play. The area around the playground equipment has a soft artificial turfed surface to ensure safety for the developmentally appropriate jungle gym for young learners. “This new playground is a very welcome addition to our school and for the students [...]

Saline County needs diesel mechanics

info2023-09-20T10:38:32-05:00September 20th, 2023|

Amid a challenge to hire and retain diesel mechanics, Saline County has approved hiring incentives of $2,500 for those roles in the Road and Bridge Department. Two diesel mechanic positions are vacant as of Sept. 19, one of which has gone unfilled since August of last year. Saline County Road and Bridge Administrator Darren Fishel said these jobs are critical for the department to run smoothly. “Currently the crews are repairing their own equipment under the tutelage of the shop services manager,” Fishel said. “So, when something breaks they bring it in and fix it.” Source: Salina Journal

Governor Kelly Announces $10M for Utility Infrastructure Improvements in 18 Communities

info2023-09-20T10:28:38-05:00September 20th, 2023|

Governor Laura Kelly announced that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is awarding $10 million from the agency’s Small Town Water and Sewer Infrastructure Assistance (STWSIA) grant program to help 18 small communities improve water and wastewater services. That program received the funds through the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) program funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Grant applicants were comprised of water and wastewater utilities with a population of less than 1,000 and that have a public health or regulatory compliance issue that infrastructure improvements would help resolve. Source: Governor of the State of [...]

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