News – Page 1292 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Baldwin City mother files petition to challenge Douglas County’s mask mandate

info2021-10-28T07:32:18-05:00October 28th, 2021|

A Baldwin City resident recently filed a petition in Douglas County District Court to challenge a mask mandate for children under the age of 12, alleging that the mask requirement causes her child “severe anxiety, stress and a lack of concentration.” Marie Taylor, the mother of a 9-year-old, filed the petition on behalf of the child, in response to the county’s current mask order, which requires anyone between the ages of 2 and 11 to wear a mask indoors in public settings, including in public school buildings. The Douglas County Commission issued the order in August, then extended it for 90 [...]

Rose Hill fitness center gets upgrades

info2021-10-28T07:21:10-05:00October 28th, 2021|

October marked the official unveiling of the new fitness center at the Rose Hill Recreation Commission (400 S. Rose Hill Rd.). The upgraded fitness center has expanded by about 750 square feet, according to RHRC Superintendent Jason Steadman, through movement of some office space. Additionally, new fitness equipment was secured for the renovated space. “We’ve added 1,200 pounds of free weights, an olympic bench press, a hip sled, a leg press … and new cable machines for biceps/triceps,” Steadman said. Renovations began in March 2021. While there are a few finishing touches being made, the space has officially opened to RHRC [...]

Public service is way of life for longtime Derby resident

info2021-10-28T07:20:36-05:00October 28th, 2021|

For 46 years, Larry Gould has had a hand in the growth, vision, and safety of the community through his service on councils, boards, and committees. The spry 81-year-old moved to Derby from Wichita in 1965, and on the advice of a friend that “this is a small community and you’ve got to support it,” he become involved with the Derby Jaycees. His first foray into public service came in 1975 when he was elected to a two-year term on the Derby City Council, followed in 1981 by election to a four-year term on the Board of Education and appointment in [...]

Overland Park takes this step to solve financial issues for fire departments in JoCo

info2021-10-28T07:19:57-05:00October 28th, 2021|

As Overland Park, Leawood and Olathe have grown, financial problems have mounted for the fire district that serves rural southeast Johnson County. The expansion of those cities has shrunk Fire District No. 2, and its tax base, creating a bleak future for the district. Right now, Fire District No. 2 is serving territory that Overland Park annexed in 2008, but the city is about to open a new fire station for that area and will terminate the service agreement earlier than initially planned. Jim Francis, chief of Fire District No. 2, said the move will cost the district even more revenue, [...]

Saline County approves agreement to pledge $1 million towards new RHID

info2021-10-28T07:09:22-05:00October 28th, 2021|

The Saline County board of commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward in the process of developing the South View Estates Rural Housing Incentive District located near South Ohio Street and Schilling Road. With the vote, they affirmed their previous decision made on Aug. 31 not to protest the formation of the RHID and authorized chairman Rodger Sparks to sign an agreement between the county and the City of Salina. The county will work with the developers to identify ARPA-eligible costs, for which they set aside $1,000,000 to spend on housing, and transmit those to the city for preapproval. Source: Salina [...]

‘Don’t walk, run!’: Emporia brewery owner’s business booming with state ‘Main Street’ program

info2021-10-28T07:08:13-05:00October 28th, 2021|

An Emporia business owner is applauding a recently expanded state economic development program for keeping his business up and running, especially during the pandemic. Jeremy Johns, co-owner of Radius Brewing Company, said the state's "Main Street" program had been 'proactive' in providing the support his brewpub needs to stay afloat. "A lot of times, businesses don't know what kind of help they need, and Main Street reaches out to us and says, 'Hey, we see this coming up, how can we help? Here are some things that might be helpful for you...,'" Johns said. Emporia is one of 28 designated communities [...]

USPS slow down creating late utility bills in northeast Kansas

info2021-10-28T07:07:39-05:00October 28th, 2021|

Some community members across northeast Kansas are having to pay up because the United States Postal Service is slowing down. USPS launched new standards for first class mail at the beginning of October. This has caused a slow down for certain deliveries across the country. A handful of residents in Wamego say this has led to receiving their utility bills late, but city officials are assuring them there are other ways to pay. Source: KSNT News

City of Lawrence wants to hear from transit riders and pedestrians about getting around town

info2021-10-28T07:07:06-05:00October 28th, 2021|

Changes are coming to the way people get around town in Lawrence. City staff and steering committee members want to hear from the public about the future for pedestrians and transit riders. After months of work and planning, the city has rolled out two proposed scenarios to redesign bus routes. The work to gather feedback and finalize route changes by the end of this year — to be implemented in August 2022 — complements plans for a bus transfer facility coming to Bob Billings and Crestline Drive. Source: The Lawrence Times

Saline County breaks ground on $89 million jail project

info2021-10-28T07:06:45-05:00October 28th, 2021|

Construction will begin soon on an $89 million jail in Salina. The new jail will be located in north Salina at 800 E. Pacific Avenue. The jail is expected to consist of housing for approximately 392 inmates, increased space for rehabilitation programming, office spaces for the sheriff`s office, and parking for staff and the public. Source: KSN-TV

Why Sedgwick County turns its eyes to San Antonio for mental health solutions

info2021-10-28T07:04:11-05:00October 28th, 2021|

Every weekday at San Antonio Public Safety Headquarters, people line up at windows to report crimes, seek advice, maybe challenge a parking ticket. But not everyone is here to conduct typical police business. Some are unsheltered and have heard the police can help them get or recover an ID, removing a huge barrier to receiving services. The ID program is the brainchild of the department's homeless outreach team, and it represents one small piece of a puzzle that San Antonio and Bexar County (population 2 million) have been putting together since the early 2000s. Its purpose: to reduce the number of [...]