News – Page 1244 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Move to the Country?

info2021-12-27T01:18:41-06:00December 27th, 2021|

I grew up in a small town but moved to the city to find fame and fortune (I found neither), which is a common American story in the last 80 years. About 13 years ago, I took a “temporary” consulting job in Southeast Kansas and fell in love again with the rural lifestyle I had left behind all those years ago. It wasn’t long before my wife (who also had rural roots) and I left city living behind, found our permanent home, and rediscovered country living. We are loving life in Bourbon County and have purchased our retirement home here. Source: [...]

‘Major Scrooge move’: $5,000 damage done to Kansas sports field

info2021-12-27T01:10:43-06:00December 27th, 2021|

The Riley County Police Department is calling the vandalism done to a soccer field a major "Scrooge move." The police department posted photos to social media of the damage at Anneberg Park. The RCPD estimates it will cost about $5,000 to fix soccer field 5 at the park. According to authorities, similar damage was done last month. This means the field won't be able to be used until the fall of 2022 or spring of 2023. Source: KSN-TV

Arma fire department handing out free smoke detectors this holiday season

info2021-12-27T07:24:01-06:00December 27th, 2021|

A local fire department is working to keep southeast Kansans safe by offering free fire alarms. The Arma Fire Department has partnered with the Kansas State Fire Marshall to provide and install free smoke alarms. This will only be for homeowners living in Arma and the rest of Fire District Number Two. Those who qualify can call the department from 9 AM until 5 PM during the week to schedule a time for the department to install the alarm. "Early detection is going to be huge in you getting out safely, if we can get people aware that there is a [...]

New Comprehensive Plan to help Parsons over next decade

info2021-12-27T07:40:20-06:00December 27th, 2021|

In the state of Kansas, it's required for cities to come up with a comprehensive plan (for zoning), which acts as a guide the city will follow for the next decade. The City of Parsons wanted to take this a step further, and thanks to collaborative efforts with its community, a new plan has come together. "Economic development used to be very specifically defined, those lines have blurred," said Parsons Director of Economic Development Jim Zaleski. ... the City of Parsons has come up with its most recent comprehensive plan. "It addresses everything in the city, from housing to retail, transportation, [...]

Lenexa’s new justice center will cost $8M more with rising construction costs

info2021-12-27T01:05:36-06:00December 27th, 2021|

Lenexa’s new justice center is going to cost $8 million more than initially anticipated. That’s according to city staff and construction and design representatives on the project, who went over the conceptual budget with the Lenexa City Council last week at Thompson Barn. The city council on Tuesday unanimously approved a construction agreement with J.E. Dunn Construction Company based on the increased project costs. The city council also agreed to increase the budget for the project, which will now run at an estimated $73 million. Located on the southwest corner of Prairie Star Parkway and Britton Street, the Lenexa Justice Center [...]

Johnson County COVID-19 hospitalizations keep climbing, and officials say that’s still due to Delta, not Omicron

info2021-12-27T01:03:46-06:00December 27th, 2021|

Local hospitalization trends in Johnson County and the Kansas City metro continue to show a troubling upward trajectory heading into the second Christmas holiday being celebrated under a pandemic cloud. The University of Kansas Health System said Wednesday that its number of COVID-19 patients continues to rise, topping 80, with all but two patients in its wards unvaccinated. Likewise, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission officials said in the last month alone they have doubled their number of COVID patients. As of Wednesday afternoon, 40 active COVID patients were in the hospital, said Morgan Shandler, AdventHealth Kansas City director of communications. Source: Shawnee Mission [...]

Manhattan government to reinstate mask mandate in city buildings Monday

info2021-12-27T01:00:25-06:00December 27th, 2021|

Masks will be required in all Manhattan city government-operated buildings beginning Monday. The Manhattan city government announced the mandate on Thursday. This applies regardless of people's vaccination status. The masking requirement is for people 2 and older. City manager Ron Fehr said this city's decision is in response to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Riley County Health Department. “The Omicron variant is surging across the country as well as being more prevalent in Kansas which is putting a strain on local hospitals and medical providers,” Fehr said in a written statement. “Holiday gatherings and upcoming [...]

Tonganoxie City Council approves liquor sale expansion

info2021-12-27T00:58:25-06:00December 27th, 2021|

Tonganoxie City Council said yes Monday to an earlier start to Sunday liquor sales in the city. The council unanimously approved the change, which would mean sales could start at 9 a.m. instead of the current noon start. Recent changes in state law allows for cities to change operating times. Time must be allowed for any protest petitions, which means the new hours wouldn’t take effect for about two months. Source: TonganoxieMirror.com stories

Applications Open for the Broadband Acceleration Grant Program

info2021-12-27T00:57:22-06:00December 27th, 2021|

Governor Kelly announced that the application window for the Broadband Acceleration Grant Program has opened. She said the program is crucial to the state’s plan to address broadband gaps statewide, adding that funds will be targeted to areas unlikely to get broadband service without state or federal funding support. The program, which was launched last year, is poised to invest roughly $85 million over the next 10 years to bridge the digital divide in Kansas, with help from broadband modernization funding provided by the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Baldwin City mother’s challenge to Douglas County mask mandate fails in court

info2021-12-23T07:40:08-06:00December 23rd, 2021|

A Baldwin City mother’s challenge to Douglas County’s mask mandate for children has failed in court. Douglas County Judge Kay Huff recently ruled against Marie Taylor’s petition against the county’s health order, which argued that the order’s 90-day mandate was too long and must be reconsidered every 30 days. The petition was filed under the state’s new law, Senate Bill 40, which allows residents to challenge public health orders related to the coronavirus pandemic. Taylor’s challenge was considered by the Douglas County District Court, even though the law itself is in limbo and its legality is currently being considered by the [...]