News – Page 2022 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Chanute deals with new costs for fiber optic

info2019-08-26T22:42:20-05:00August 26th, 2019|

Chanute city commissioners contemplated the issue of fiber optic internet service to homes during Monday evening’s meeting after bids for the project came in higher than expected. City Manager Jeff Cantrell previously brought the question to the commission about fiber service to two neighborhoods. An engineer estimated the project to total $551,000 for both neighborhoods, but new cost estimates come in at $777,000. Cantrell said by trimming some of the count, the project would cost $650,000. Information Technology Manager Rick Willis said that part of the price increase is because the project originally planned on using one-gigabyte equipment, which suppliers are [...]

City updates ordinances on CBD oil, guns, driver’s licenses, scooters

info2019-08-26T19:59:36-05:00August 26th, 2019|

A few new laws will be on the books in Hays and around Kansas, with the annual updating of the city’s criminal code and traffic ordinances by the League of Kansas Municipalities. The League’s update normally doesn’t make sweeping changes, but rather tweaks a few, fine-tunes others or works out kinks that have become apparent. Hays City Commissioners on Thursday evening at their regular weekly meeting at City Hall unanimously adopted ordinances that accept the League’s updates for this year. (Read more: News - The Hays Daily News)

Strategic Doing meetings set for Ellis, Rooks and Trego counties

info2019-08-26T19:57:48-05:00August 26th, 2019|

The Heartland Community Foundation, which serves Ellis, Rooks and Trego counties, has scheduled the next round of Strategic Doing meetings for each county. Strategic Doing is an engaging process that actively helps residents implement their ideas for community improvement projects. Current working groups who attend will report on their progress and continue work to move their projects forward. New ideas and working groups are also encouraged to attend and start working through the Strategic Doing process. (Read more: Hays Post)

Wichita Public Schools implementing new grading system

info2019-08-26T19:57:04-05:00August 26th, 2019|

Wichita Public Schools will have a new grading system for kindergarten through 5th grade students this year, using numbers instead of letters. The new grading system was tested out in elementary schools all across Wichita last year, but this school year is the first year it will become mandatory and it'll begin in secondary education next year. Washington Elementary students are joining kids all across the city, taking control of their own learning process. Leslie McEntire has been teaching at Washington elementary for seven years. (Read more: KAKE - News)

Inmate missing from work release in Cowley County

info2019-08-26T19:56:12-05:00August 26th, 2019|

The Cowley County Sheriff’s Office is looking for an inmate missing from work release. Deputies say Britton White was last seen Friday at the restaurant he is employed for work release. White was serving time after a conviction of failing to comply with the district court. In the past, he was imprisoned after a forgery and theft conviction. (Read more: KSN-TV)

Brighthouse receives nearly $104,000 in grants from AG

info2019-08-26T19:55:23-05:00August 26th, 2019|

BrightHouse Inc. of Hutchinson has been awarded nearly $104,000 in grants to provide services for victims of crime, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced in a news release today. Grants offered by the Attorney General’s office are open for applications every year, but the grants are not guaranteed. “We feel so fortunate to be granted, and hold our breath when submitting the grant application until we hear the verdict,” said Donna Davis, executive director of Brighthouse. “Without this funding, we would not be able to afford rent, we would have to cut back on staff, and keeping our Child Visitation & [...]

Ambulance official guarantees move will boost response times in Shawnee County

info2019-08-26T19:53:55-05:00August 26th, 2019|

A pilot program Shawnee County commissioners established Monday will enable ambulances in some circumstances to not carry paramedics, thus helping bring a quicker overall response to calls, an official with the county’s ambulance service provider said. “I guarantee you we will see improvement in response times,” said Jon Antrim, regional director for Kansas for Colorado-based American Medical Response. Commissioners Bob Archer, Bill Riphahn and Kevin Cook voted 3-0 Monday to revise the county’s contract with AMR to temporarily waive — for six months, from Sept. 1 through Feb. 29 — the requirement that AMR get a paramedic to the scenes of [...]

‘Mowing with Cops’ tour stops in Topeka, aims to counter negative police stereotypes

info2019-08-26T22:44:20-05:00August 26th, 2019|

One lucky family just south of Ward-Meade Park now has a freshly mowed lawn thanks to Rodney Smith and Topeka police. Smith is the founder of Raising Men Lawn Care Service. Earlier this month, he embarked on a 50-state “Mowing with Cops” tour, in which he travels across the country mowing lawns for the elderly, the disabled, single parents and veterans. Each time he stops to mow a lawn for free, Smith invites police officers in that community to help. Smith spent Monday afternoon in Topeka. He arrived in the capital city around 3 p.m. — following a morning spent mowing in Des [...]

KDOT secretary urges Kansans to think of transportation in terms of 2045

info2019-08-26T19:45:20-05:00August 26th, 2019|

Kansas’ secretary of transportation convened Monday a meeting in Topeka to draw input from local officials on immediate highway, airport and rail system needs while driving the conversation toward what that complex network might look like in a quarter of a century. “We are in a time of great transformation in transportation,” aid Julie Lorenz, secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation. “There are a bunch of trends that are beginning to combine and collide.” She said the challenge was to design a Kansas system for 2045 that accommodated a projected 11.6% growth in population, but dealt with the potential of [...]

Shawnee businesses cite need for stronger workforce, government responsiveness

info2019-08-26T19:43:10-05:00August 26th, 2019|

When it comes to the future of the city of Shawnee — and the growth of business and economy — workforce density and government responsiveness were two key elements identified as needs of the business community. About 40 members of the business community in Shawnee met in a business focus group Aug. 20 to talk about the challenges and opportunities of growing and maintaining a business in the city. The focus group is part of the city’s first strategic visioning process, Imagine Shawnee. (Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)