News – Page 1420 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Larned opens refurbished swimming pool

info2021-05-31T16:58:19-05:00May 31st, 2021|

On Friday evening, May 28, as one of the kick-off events to Santa Fe Trail Days, the public and Larned City officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication celebration at Schnack Park for the newly refurbished Larned Municipal Swimming Pool. Once the dedication was finished, enthusiastic swimmers and the public and officials were treated to an outdoor barbecue featuring hot dogs and hamburgers. The event culminated almost two years of planning and work. The pool was not open in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns but it provided a perfect time for the community and City officials to take a look at [...]

Your Local Kansas Swimming Pool Could Cut Its Hours Because Kids Aren’t Taking Lifeguard Jobs

info2021-05-31T16:57:41-05:00May 31st, 2021|

During a normal year, Brian Hill doesn’t have much trouble hiring enough lifeguards to staff Wichita’s six public swimming pools. Not in this pandemic year. “Usually I’m about 80% staffed by February,” said Hill, Wichita’s aquatics director. “This year, I was about 10% staffed.” Lifeguarding took a hit last summer, when the COVID-19 pandemic closed most gyms, water parks and community pools. High school and college students who would normally work as guards took the summer off or found other jobs. Training classes were cancelled. So were junior lifeguard programs for 11- to 14-year-olds. “That’s our pipeline,” Hill said. “In a [...]

As Kansas, Missouri keep building wind, some communities look to regulate

info2021-05-31T16:56:58-05:00May 31st, 2021|

Austin Cline is the third generation to farm his family’s land in Marshall County. His home, added onto many times over, sits at the edge of 1,000 acres where he raises cattle and bales hay. From his driveway, he has a more than 180-degree view of neighbors’ land and native prairie grass. But by next year, he expects the horizon to be dominated by commercial wind turbines, some as close as 4,000 feet. He and his neighbors will be in the shadow of the 300-megawatt Irish Creek Wind Farm, which is set to begin operation late this year. Neighbors who didn’t [...]

Community steps in to help following fire at Altoona-Midway Elementary School

info2021-05-31T16:56:07-05:00May 31st, 2021|

Following a fire at Altoona-Midway Elementary on Saturday that damaged the building, many from across the community came out to begin boarding up and securing the school. “In a small rural community like this, a school is kind of a center point, it’s where a lot of activities happen, it’s where people have a lot of memories, when that special place get’s damaged or maybe destroyed, as much as this building has been, it’s gonna have some impact on the whole community,” said Steve Parson, Interim Superintendent of Altoona-Midway School District. The damage is extensive, with two classrooms, a storage room, [...]

Neighbors excited for renovated Wichita pools to open on Monday

info2021-05-31T16:55:28-05:00May 31st, 2021|

For the first time in two years, city pools will open on Monday. People who live close to the Minisa and McAfee pools say they are thrilled to have a place to hang out this summer but are happier that neighborhood kids can still make a splash this summer. Wichita swimmers will have two renovated spots to cool off in. McAfee and Minisa were set to be closed, but the city council saved them. "I thought, ‘Well, they've taken away some other pools, so this one—because of its age—could be the same thing happening,'” Cecilia Palta, who lives in the Minisa Park area said. “But I'm really glad that they decided with certain districts [...]

A Southeast Kansas community project is about to get an upgrade

info2021-05-31T16:54:18-05:00May 31st, 2021|

A Southeast Kansas community project is about to get an upgrade. The Arma Community Garden has been named one of the 21 winners of the Gardens For Good Grant. It beat out over 300 other projects across North America in the grant competition. The garden received $5,000 from the grant and hopes to use it to expand it's resources. Source: KSNF/KODE

Kansas now has no counties with mask mandates

info2021-05-31T16:53:57-05:00May 31st, 2021|

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County's Board of Commissioners will allow its health order to expire at midnight on Thursday. Wyandotte County was the last county in the State of Kansas to have a mask mandate. The order will expire at midnight. A vote to extend the order 30 more days was held. Two commissioners voted in favor of the order, while seven voted against extending it. Source: KAKE - News

New life was given to one community attraction in Baxter Springs

info2021-05-31T16:53:33-05:00May 31st, 2021|

New life was given to one community attraction in Baxter Springs. This weekend marked the launch of the newly designed pool in Baxter Springs. Accessibility was a major goal in the pool's renovations. It now includes ADA accessible ramps going into the pool. Pool Manager, Casi Shaw plans on hosting pool times for individuals with special needs to help make sure it's something the whole community can enjoy. Source: KSNF/KODE

Winchester Fire Department trains rescue dogs, assist larger agencies all with volunteers

info2021-05-31T16:52:51-05:00May 31st, 2021|

While small towns are known for their quiet charm, one northeast Kansas rural town is training big dogs to tackle the responsibilities fit for towns big and small. The Winchester Fire Department is a volunteer organization, with a total town population of around 500 people. While the squad is made up of good Samaritans, there are good boys on the team too, also known as the search and rescue dogs. This is a unique feature of this small fire department. Typically, dogs of this caliber are only part of larger law enforcement agencies and fire departments. Source: KSNT News

Buhler schools consider solar energy savings by looking at Maize’s example

info2021-05-31T16:30:24-05:00May 31st, 2021|

Buhler saw a spike in energy costs after the state’s February cold snap, but now, the school district is thinking big. Kansas schools are looking to incorporate solar energy to reduce energy expenses. Buhler leadership called in a teacher who started the largest solar energy system for a school in Kansas and began to accumulate information. “We want to save money, be more efficient and use it as an educational tool,” said Laura Meyer Dick, president of Buhler’s Board of Education, and the person who came up with the idea. “We want to use it to benefit the district.” Source: Salina [...]