News – Page 986 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

New Health Department Director named in Crawford Co.

info2022-09-06T00:17:06-05:00September 6th, 2022|

There's a new face behind public health in Southeast Kansas. Debra Anthony has been named the new health department director of Crawford County. Anthony has around 30 years of experience in the healthcare field. She was a part of the Crawford County EMS for 11 of those years. She is a registered nurse, with a degree from the University of Kansas, and experience in the ICU and hospice. Anthony has been a member of the health department for 11 years. She says she's ready to take the lessons the department has learned over the COVID-19 pandemic to help improve Crawford County. [...]

Calls to crisis line go up in Sedgwick County following 988 rollout

info2022-09-06T07:29:49-05:00September 6th, 2022|

Calls routed to Sedgwick County’s crisis center via national suicide hotlines went up nearly 30% percent during the first month of the new 988 hotline. In mid-July, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line replaced the 10-digit national suicide prevention lifeline around the U.S. The goal of the new number is to provide a crisis line for mental health emergencies similar to 911. Calls to the 988 hotline are routed to local crisis centers, like Sedgwick County’s. In 2022, the center received 273 calls via the new hotline between July 16 and August 21. The prior year, the center received 211 calls [...]

Wastewater surveillance continues to inform COVID-19 surges in Kansas

info2022-09-06T07:30:11-05:00September 6th, 2022|

Two years ago, scientists in Kansas and around the world found an interesting way to track the novel coronavirus: sewage water. By measuring the concentration of virus particles in flushed bowel movements, they are able to estimate how much of the virus was generally present in any given area. People infected with the coronavirus shed it through breathing, sneezing, coughing and in their stool. By measuring viral particles in the sewer system, known as wastewater surveillance, scientists can capture the total amount of virus present in large groups of people regardless of whether they had been tested. Source: Wichita Eagle

Johnson County sheriff asks for more funding amid staffing crunch

info2022-09-06T07:30:42-05:00September 6th, 2022|

The Johnson County manager’s office will reallocate ten full-time employees to the Sheriff’s office for the rest of this year as a temporary measure to address staffing shortages. Driving the news: County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson and county commissioners discussed ongoing staffing problems with Sheriff Calvin Hayden Thursday morning before signing off on a plan that would bring six retired officers, known as “blue coats,” and four civilians into the sheriff’s office to fill court security positions and corrections positions currently held by sworn deputies. But the shuffling will only be effective through the rest of this year and will not solve [...]

Butler Community College culinary arts program unveils new facility

info2022-09-06T07:31:16-05:00September 6th, 2022|

The Butler Community College Foundation recently announced the opening of the Redler Institute of Culinary Arts in Andover with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in August. The new facility has two complete kitchens, flexible classroom and learning spaces, and an herb garden where students can gain hands-on experience growing herbs for cooking and baking. The new Redler Institute of Culinary Arts facility was made possible with lead donations from Scott and Betsy Redler, and Paul and Favia Jackson. Additional funding came from private donations and the Butler Foundation. Source: Derby Informer

Shawnee Co. adopts program to connect residents and first responders

info2022-09-06T07:31:28-05:00September 6th, 2022|

The Shawnee County Fire District #2 unveiled a new community program to allow residents to inform first responders of their needs before an emergency. The district has been collaborating with a technology partner Fire Due to release a program called Community Connect. The web application will allow residents and businesses to share information with the fire department easily. Residents will be able to get burn permits without visiting the fire station in person and also be able to verify the burn condition status online. Source: KSNT 27 News

Former hospital site in Ark City could become housing

info2022-09-06T07:33:20-05:00September 6th, 2022|

Real estate developers based in Kansas City have their eye on the vacant lot near Wilson Park in Arkansas City as the possible site of town houses and apartments. The City Commission is scheduled Tuesday to consider a memorandum of understanding with Consolidated Housing Services and Consolidated Development Partners to acquire the land and develop it. The spot is the former location of the old South Central Kansas Medical Center building, torn down in 2015. A report for commissioners says the proposed development would include 15 market-rate town homes and 40 apartments of mostly affordable units, meaning income restrictions, with some [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for September 2, 2022

info2022-09-05T18:51:02-05:00September 4th, 2022|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

Micromansion: New solution to housing crisis comes from Kansas

info2022-09-05T18:47:50-05:00September 4th, 2022|

A southeast Kansas native is developing new housing opportunities across the country. Columbus has become the testing site for this project. After facing problems finding her own home, Abby Nelson decided to take matters into her own hands. Now, her dream is slowly becoming a reality before her very eyes in her hometown, with the first Micromansion under construction right now. "This is our first standing it up, making sure it goes together right, making sure our instructions make sense that we would send to a builder," said Abby Nelson, Micromansion Founder. For years Columbus native Abby Nelson has been trying [...]

‘A hole in the ground’ and other quirky curiosities build up small Kansas towns

info2022-09-05T18:48:32-05:00September 4th, 2022|

One day in 1973, The Wall Street Journal published a review of Kansas tourist attractions. It was not kind. “Kansas is trying to promote tourism,” the Journal noted, “but it really doesn’t have a heck of a lot to promote.” The column singled out the godfathers of Kansas roadside tourism — the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, the World’s Largest Hand-Dug Well in Greensburg and the folk art town of Lucas — for particular ridicule, with pause breaks in the spots where the Journal expected its audience to chuckle at Kansas’ expense. Local newspapers from Salina to Lawrence [...]