News – Page 1545 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Seward County approves hazard pay for frontline employees

info2021-01-04T06:47:49-06:00January 4th, 2021|

As the pandemic rages on, many essential employees have put in countless hours to keep their communities afloat. One western Kansas county is bringing relief to those that have been at the frontlines of the pandemic. Seward County Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday approving nearly $200,000 in hazard pay funding to go to numerous county workers. The payment comes after many workers have been putting in 20 to 30 extra hours of work each week, some working even more than that, while several have been working seven days a week. Source: KSN-TV

Mayor’s fund supplies gifts, food for holiday

info2021-01-04T06:48:28-06:00January 4th, 2021|

The scent of smoked turkeys and sides filled the air at Edgerton City Hall just days before Christmas. With festive music playing in the background, volunteers were hard at work, packing boxes for meals and gifts that would go to help more than 30 local families and over 40 children as part of the 2020 Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund. The annual Edgerton tradition has grown over the last few years as the need continues to increase. Families are nominated through third-party organizations, such as the Edgerton Food Pantry, churches and other groups. “We’re looking for the families that aren’t getting help [...]

Century II privatization could eliminate tax subsidy, city manager says

info2021-01-04T06:48:34-06:00January 4th, 2021|

After laying off 29 city employees at Century II, Wichita city government now lacks the knowledge and expertise to manage a performing arts and convention center and must privatize operations of the historic building in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, city officials say. The move could eliminate an annual $2.5 million hotel-tax subsidy for Century II operations. “We need a different business model,” City Manager Robert Layton said last week. “It became pretty clear early in the pandemic that the state of convention business is going to be different going forward, even after the pandemic, and we want to use [...]

Former Wichita police chief received Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award

info2021-01-04T06:46:09-06:00January 3rd, 2021|

Former Wichita Police Chief Rick Stone on Wednesday received the Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award (SSCA) at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. It is the highest honorary award the Chief of Naval Operations or the Commandant of the Marine Corps may bestow on a civilian employee in the Department of the Navy. Stone received the SSCA for his service as the Chief, Naval Historian in the Navy History and Heritage Command while in command of the Histories Branch of the Histories and Archives Division. Stone was appointed to the position in 2019. Source: KAKE - News

Story-time, conference rooms and drive thru among perks of new Johnson County library

info2021-01-04T06:48:09-06:00January 3rd, 2021|

More construction is coming to the Johnson County Central Resource Library in early 2021. The branch, at 9875 W. 87th St. in Overland Park, serves the public but also houses departments that support all 14 branches, such as IT support, materials handling, communications and programming. “Many staff spaces have not been updated since Central first opened in 1995 and no longer meet the needs of a modern library system of our size,” the library said in an online posting. Source: KC Star Local News

8 projects and programs apply for funding from the Lawrence’s affordable housing sales tax

info2021-01-03T11:18:47-06:00January 1st, 2021|

Eight affordable housing projects are requesting funding from the City of Lawrence, including a housing repair program, a voucher program for homeless people and a project that would build a complex of townhomes with 50 new affordable units. A special city sales tax has helped generate $1.275 million this year, and the city’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board is preparing to award $450,000 from the fund, which will be its last distribution for 2020, according to Danielle Buschkoetter, budget and strategic initiatives administrator. The eight projects and programs recently submitted their funding applications to the board, which is now in the process [...]

Lawrence moving forward on donation program to help low-income residents pay their utility bills

info2021-01-03T11:18:58-06:00January 1st, 2021|

The city of Lawrence is moving forward with plans to create a voluntary utility donation program to help low-income residents pay their city utility bill. The city, which provides solid waste, water and sewer services, plans to contract with Catholic Charities to administer the program, and an agreement for the service is expected to come forward soon. Utility Billing Manager Kristen Webb said Thursday that city staff is currently reviewing a contract with Catholic Charities internally. Webb said staff hopes to have the contract finalized and the technical aspects of the assistance program worked out in the city’s billing system by [...]

Lawrence to begin implementation of 25 mph speed limit on neighborhood streets

info2021-01-03T11:19:05-06:00January 1st, 2021|

Motorists will soon need to start slowing down on neighborhood streets. The city is set to begin installing 25 mph speed limit signs on all neighborhood streets throughout the city this month, a process that will continue through mid-February until all 1,000 signs are installed, according to a city news release. The city has created a map that shows which streets will be decreasing from 30 to 25 mph, and it is available on the city’s website, Lawrenceks.org. Collector and arterial streets are not affected by the change, including 23rd Street, Sixth Street, 15th Street, 19th Street, Ninth Street west of [...]

After 30 years, Douglas County’s Kay Pesnell to retire from Register of Deeds Office

info2021-01-03T11:20:25-06:00January 1st, 2021|

After working for Douglas County for 30 years, a longtime official is ready to step away from the job. Kay Pesnell, who has worked for Douglas County’s Register of Deeds Office since 1990, will retire from the office’s top position at the end of the month. She has led the office for 18 years and was elected to the position by county voters four times. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to work for the constituents,” Pesnell told the Journal-World recently. “I really thank them for voting for me each time and keeping me in office. I feel [...]

Dawn Wells dies; she played Mary Ann (from Winfield, KS) on Gilligan’s Island

info2021-01-04T06:53:28-06:00December 31st, 2020|

Dawn Wells, who played the wholesome Mary Ann Summers among a misfit band of shipwrecked castaways on the 1960s sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” died Wednesday, Dec. 30, of causes related to COVID-19, her publicist said. She was 82. Wells, on a visit to Winfield, Mary Ann’s fictional home on the TV show, delighted local folks as she promoted her “Mary Ann’s Gilligan’s Island Cookbook” Sept. 17, 18 and 19, 1993. Sharon Olmstead, at the time the owner of Bluestem Bookstore in Winfield, hosted Wells on her visit. Wells was “full of energy,” Olmstead said. “She seemed to be quite excited” to be [...]