News – Page 2140 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Sunset for St. John’s Military School in Salina

info2019-05-08T06:35:28-05:00May 8th, 2019|

Moods from solemn to celebratory reign this week at St. John’s Military School, while crowds assemble and pay lasting respects to the pillar of north Salina. Tissues have dabbed tears of both sadness and joy as reunions continue from now through this weekend. Final commencement at the 131-year-old institution is 10:30 a.m. Saturday on the parade grounds in front of Jack Vanier Hall. Officials have been planning for months to give the hallowed institution a proper sendoff in the wake of prolonged sad news. It has landed a blow to many in Salina, other parts of Kansas, neighboring states, and places [...]

Labette County gives $370K to ambulance service

info2019-05-08T06:20:34-05:00May 8th, 2019|

The Labette County Commission on Monday agreed to transfer $370,350 to Labette Health Ambulance Service’s capital outlay fund with money generated from a quarter-cent sales tax that supports the service. Voters approved the quarter-cent sales tax in 2001 for health care. Under an agreement with the county, the hospital compiles a financial report for the ambulance service and shares it with commissioners, generally in May. Also under the agreement, if the hospital ambulance service experiences a direct loss, the county agrees to reimburse the hospital 95 percent of its loss, or 100 percent of the revenue generated by the sales tax, [...]

Kansas schools innovating a 21st century education

info2019-05-07T09:56:00-05:00May 7th, 2019|

"When I'm in there, I don't really feel like I'm in school," said Cole Thompson, a student at Haysville Campus High School. He works in the branch of the Valley State Bank in the school's commons area. His job part of the school's business program. Banks, general stores, carpentry businesses, those are just some of the new ways Kansas schools are bringing your child's education into the 21st century. "It is what we have used for years, for decades!" said Dustin Little, principal of Norwich High School. He's talking about the traditional school scheduling. "I mean, that's what I had when [...]

Commissioners approve 3-year contract for Shawnee County dispatchers

info2019-05-07T09:54:54-05:00May 7th, 2019|

Shawnee County emergency dispatchers will be working under a new three-year contract, thanks to a 3-0 vote Monday morning by Shawnee County commissioners. Changes reflected in the new contract for dispatchers, who work in the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center, include: • A personal leave day off may be taken after the employee completes 120 days of employment from his or her initial hire date. • A change in the number of hours management allows to be scheduled each day from 24 to 20. • A one-time retention bonus of $1,500 to any Communications Workers of America employee hired before Jan. [...]

Amtrak CEO agrees to meet with Senator Moran about rail service in Kansas

info2019-05-07T09:50:46-05:00May 7th, 2019|

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran is putting pressure on Amtrak to commit to the continued operation of the Southwest Chief passenger rail service that connects Chicago to Los Angeles with stops in Kansas. Moran recently delayed confirming three nominees to Amtrak’s board of directors in an effort to push the national rail carrier to offer assurances that the line will operate for at least another year, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. Amtrak’s president, Richard Anderson, agreed to meet with Moran and other lawmakers about the rail service’s future later this month. Amtrak officials considered suspending rail service from Dodge City to Albuquerque, New [...]

Atchison factory, which supplied parts to Harley-Davidson, to shut down

info2019-05-07T09:48:09-05:00May 7th, 2019|

A key manufacturer for Atchison and the surrounding area is set to shut down. The Fargo factory, as it is commonly known, is facing closure by its owner, Electronic Components International, based in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. A document obtained by Atchison Globe lists the official closing date, subject to change, as June 28. The factory has operated as part of Fargo Assembly of PA, Inc. within ECI, following a 2017 purchase of the firm named for Fargo, North Dakota. The factory is a longtime parts supplier for Harley-Davidson, Inc., chiefly producing wire harnesses and other parts for motorcycles. Harley [...]

Program marks 100th year of Finnup Park in Garden City

info2019-05-07T09:46:30-05:00May 7th, 2019|

The Finney County Museum celebrate the 100th anniversary of Garden City’s Finnup Park in a special final spring Brown Bag Lunch program on Wednesday. The program, “A Legacy of Generosity, The Finnup Family’s Lasting Contributions to Garden City and Finney County,” marks the exact day the land for the park was donated and will recall the community-wide celebration that took place in honor of the family that made the park possible. According to a press release from the museum, the Finnup family helped early-day Garden City succeed and grow, and their support continues today through the foundation, which has awarded more [...]

City of Topeka’s process for picking street project contractor questioned

info2019-05-07T09:44:41-05:00May 7th, 2019|

Topeka’s city government is receiving criticism for the way it chose the company to which it anticipates paying $683,000 to replace the roadway for a heavily traveled stretch of S.W. 21st Street. City officials say they followed the city’s procurement policy last month when they bypassed their normal bidding process because the situation was considered a public safety emergency. They picked the contractor, Lawrence-based Sunflower Paving, using bids submitted a few weeks earlier for a project they considered to be similar. Councilman Mike Lesser said this past week he doesn’t doubt that the city acted within its rights, “but just because [...]

Groundbreaking held for $48 million Expocentre renovation project

info2019-05-07T09:43:30-05:00May 7th, 2019|

The Kansas Expocentre is Shawnee County’s community meeting space, where its citizens have hosted dignitaries, thrilled to the Cirque du Soleil and “shared our sorrows when we’ve had law enforcement that’s gone down,” Shawnee County Commission chairman Bob Archer said Monday. He said he felt honored that the county was going to improve, expand and enhance that facility. Archer was among speakers at a ceremony in which shiny shovels with red bows on them were used to break ground for a $48 million renovation project aimed at bringing the sparkle back to the aging Expocentre, with work set to be completed [...]

TPD, ARTSConnect announce mural’s name, focus on finding common ground

info2019-05-07T09:40:31-05:00May 7th, 2019|

In early April, the Topeka Police Department announced a large-scale mural collaboration with ARTSConnect, Topeka’s nonprofit advocate for the arts. Thursday, TPD and ARTSConnect announced the mural project’s name: “TPD Mural Project: The Common Ground.” “Common ground is at the heart of this mural, making it a natural fit for the name and message of this project,” said Topeka Police Chief Bill Cochran. “I think the community will see common ground in the design aspect and we also hope this is what they feel after seeing it.” TPD and ARTSConnect will unveil the mural’s design at noon Thursday in Classroom A [...]