News – Page 1010 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Sedgwick’s city clerk to retire after twenty-plus years

info2022-08-10T22:04:26-05:00August 10th, 2022|

Sedgwick City Clerk publicly announced her retirement to the city council last week at the regular council meeting. She gave them plenty of advanced notice though. She plans to retire on June 30, 2023. Enterkin has been employed with the city for 20 years, since May 2002. She was first appointed as City Clerk in January 2004. Mayor Bryan Chapman told the council that they currently have two full-time employees in the office and one part-time. Chapman said that Shelia Agee, the full-time municipal court clerk, might be interested in moving into the city clerk’s position. He thought they should consider [...]

Sedgwick County reactivates COVID-19 dashboard as cases rise for months

info2022-08-10T20:50:04-05:00August 10th, 2022|

The Sedgwick County Health Department stopped publishing its COVID-19 dashboard back in March as cases plummeted. But after months of trending back up, it says it's bringing it back so the community can easily see what's happening. With a better understanding of the virus and vaccines readily available, the fight against COVID-19 is much different and less deadly than it used to be. But the SCHD is reminding people it's still very much around, including KAKE's own Maeve Ashbrook, who is going through it for the first time. "I was gonna be able to say that I never had it, [...]

Spring Hill High School unveils new solar array

info2022-08-10T20:46:29-05:00August 10th, 2022|

Spring Hill High School powered up its new solar array for the first time at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, Aug. 3. The school partnered with Evergy and EnergyLink to create a 750.4-kilowatt ground-mounted system that covers nearly four acres. The solar array is considered a carbon-emission-free site. The solar array will produce 85,000 kWh of energy per month. That much energy can charge 15 million smartphones, 95 homes or 5.3 million hours of watching television. Spring Hill High School annually will save 30 percent on its electricity cost, according to information provided by Evergy and the school district. Source: Local [...]

Commerce Department Launches Rural by Choice Champions Program

info2022-08-10T22:05:58-05:00August 10th, 2022|

Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland today announced a unique opportunity for rural communities throughout the state – the Rural by Choice Champions Program (Rural Champions). This one-year pilot program will create a network of grassroots individuals who will tackle critical community projects and identified needs integral for rural prosperity. Rural Champions, which was made possible through a collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation, will help drive success when there is a lack of capital or other resources to complete the project. “We are continually looking at ways to keep and attract individuals that want to live and work [...]

State senator to seek RNR bill changes

info2022-08-10T22:06:41-05:00August 10th, 2022|

The road to property tax transparency is paved with good intentions. That was Kansas Sen. Alicia Straub’s assessment of Senate Bill 13, the so-called Truth in Taxation or Revenue Neutral bill enacted by the Kansas Legislature in 2021. Straub, from Ellinwood, serves the 33rd District and joined the Barton County Commission Wednesday morning to discuss the measure which created much consternation amongst local officials. During the 2021 session, the tax lid was removed and the Legislature enacted Senate Bill 13, county Operations Director Matt Patzner said. This bill established notice and public hearing requirements if a taxing entity’s proposed budget [...]

County hears pitch for broadband expansion in rural areas

info2022-08-10T20:34:18-05:00August 10th, 2022|

Two IdeaTek representatives made a pitch Tuesday to the Board of Harvey County Commissioners, seeking support for extending broadband service to underserved areas. Nate Oswald, director of customer service and sales, said he and Thomas Garrett, director of business development, had been working with County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber to find needs for the county. He said a new grant opportunity had been made available through the Kansas Office of Broadband Development. The application is due Aug. 19, and he asked for a letter of support, which commissioners agreed to provide. Oswald proposed a map of the work area that he [...]

Hiawatha places new signs honoring John McLendon

info2022-08-10T22:07:40-05:00August 10th, 2022|

A Hiawatha native, basketball icon and Civil Rights pioneer continues to be honored in his hometown, as the City of Hiawatha has posted fresh signage recognizing the town as the birthplace of Coach John B. McLendon. A groundbreaking basketball coach who spent time as Dr. James Naismith’s protégé, McLendon went on to become the first African American to coach at a white university, and also the first African American to coach a professional team in any sport. Source: hiawathaworldonline.com

New Grocery Store Opens in Bronson

info2022-08-10T20:27:58-05:00August 10th, 2022|

Kelly and Thaddeus Perry opened their store, Perry’s Pork Rinds and Country Store on July 31 in Bronson, Kansas-population 309. The store is located right on Highway 54 that runs through the town. Perry’s Pork Rinds and Country Store, Bronson. The mom and pop operation has people sign a guest book when they come in. “This is for Kansas Tourism,” Kelly said. “There have been a ton of people coming in.” “We sold over 200 pounds of (her homemade) fudge in the first three days we were open,” she said. Source: Fort Scott Biz

To keep students safe, Johnson County schools get new emergency buttons and door locks

info2022-08-10T20:22:01-05:00August 10th, 2022|

The Shawnee Mission School District is adding an extra layer of security to its buildings this school year after recent mass shootings that heightened anxieties over school safety. At its meeting Monday, the Shawnee Mission Board of Education unanimously approved spending up to $250,000 to install hard wired, button-controlled door locks at the main entrances of the district’s elementary and middle schools. According to district documents, the change is part of an effort to “better and more uniformly secure district attendance facilities.” It also said the buttons will replace wireless ones which risk being misplaced, need batteries changed frequently, respond [...]

Hutchinson residents can be part of the city’s 150th birthday photo in downtown this month

info2022-08-09T23:53:15-05:00August 9th, 2022|

As part of the Aug. 18 festivities marking Hutchinson’s Sesquicentennial, the city has arranged for an aerial photograph of residents forming the number 150 in the center of downtown. Organizers estimate it will take about 300 people to fill the spaces, which will create the three numbers, 1-5-0, in the road at Sherman Avenue and Main Street. Participants for the photo will be entered into a drawing for a gift basket featuring more than $500 worth of items. Source: Hutch News