Roeland Park Becomes Second City In Johnson County To Require Masks Indoors

Roeland Park is now the second Johnson County city with a citywide mask mandate, following Prairie Village, which instituted a similar measure that took effect Tuesday. The Roeland Park City Council unanimously approved a mask resolution at its Monday night meeting, effective Tuesday, Aug. 24, and currently set to expire Oct. 19. The order requires masks for all people indoors in public places or in crowded outdoor public places, with some exceptions. Roeland Park started complying last summer with Gov. Laura Kelly’s mask mandate, which took effect July 3, 2020. The city changed its mask mandate in April to “strongly recommend” masks, in line with Johnson County’s then-new guidance, Assistant City Administrator Erin Winn said in an email Tuesday morning to the Shawnee Mission Post.
Source: KCUR News

Ranson Financial2021-08-25T01:17:21-05:00August 25, 2021|News|

Want to race the Wichita police? Now you have a chance

Do you want to race the Wichita Police Department? You will now have your chance this Friday night. Wichita police and Mel Hambelton are teaming up to provide an opportunity in a controlled and safe environment at the Kansas International Dragway. According to Wichita police, drag racing has become a problem here and nationwide. Officer Paul Cruz said so far in 2021, two deaths in Wichita have been related to street racing. “We are excited to bring this together. As much as the street racing is an issue, we want to bring this community back together where the street racers are at the track doing it in a safe environment,” said Phil Nightingale, Mel Hambelton general manager Police plan to have three officers racing a patrol car.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-08-25T01:13:03-05:00August 25, 2021|News|

Sheriff’s Office seeks assistance in purchasing drone

The Brown County Sheriff is requesting assistance from the public for purchasing a drone for the Sheriffs office. Brown County Sheriff John Merchant said that last week, two boys were lost in a cornfield near Fairview. “With the aid of a drone, they could have been located in a more timely manner,” Sheriff Merchant said. “With high temperatures and humidity, dehydration could have set in within a short amount of time.” In the situation with the lost boys, Sheriff Merchant said a local farmer assisted and with information obtained from the dispatcher who stayed on the phone with the boys – keeping them calm and obtaining location info – and with Undersheriff Brian Guilliams, the situation was resolved without a bad outcome.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com

Ranson Financial2021-08-25T01:10:40-05:00August 25, 2021|News|

Childcare deserts in Kansas

“We have one in-home provider in Wichita County, and they don’t take infants,” Baker said. While the entire state has a lack of child care options, the problem is particularly bad in western Kansas where practically every family has a story like Elder and Baker. The problem is scaring away potential new Kansans, chasing away young families who might otherwise stay in the state and even sometimes closing down companies.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2021-08-24T07:15:23-05:00August 24, 2021|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for August 23, 2021

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.

Ranson Financial2021-08-24T06:55:20-05:00August 24, 2021|News|

Wichita Public Schools to require masks starting next week, with 194 students and 51 teachers already positive for COVID

Wichita Public Schools will require masks indoors starting next week for everyone 3 years old and older as district data shows more than 3% of students are in quarantine less than two weeks into the school year. The Wichita Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the measure Monday night after Superintendent Alicia Thompson told board members that 1,612 students, or 3.4%, were in quarantine because of close contact with COVID-19. The mask mandate will go into effect Monday, Aug. 30.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-08-24T06:47:34-05:00August 24, 2021|News|

Urn from 1908 is being renovated in Parsons

An urn that’s over a century old is being renovated in Parsons. In 1908, an urn was placed in Forest Park only to be removed around a decade ago due to the installment of a new playground. Sunday morning, members of the community were invited to stick rocks around the vase of the urn as part of the restoration process. David Mattox, Parsons 150th Anniversary Committee, says, “It’s just always been there. It’s kind of a constant, so you like to have those things. People remember playing on these urns. There’s hundreds of pictures of people posing by these urns from a hundred years ago. I know my grandfather stood next to this when he was eight years old and now i can take my picture there as well. It’s kind of a neat deal.” Mattox says the project could not have been done without the Parsons Area Community Foundation, which paid for the project.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2021-08-23T21:25:38-05:00August 23, 2021|News|

Debate over requiring masks, vaccinations heats up in Kansas

Debates about mask mandates and vaccine requirements have intensified in Kansas amid the surge in COVID-19 cases caused by the highly contagious delta variant. In Lawrence, a homeless shelter and theater decided to require vaccinations. “It just isn’t safe in a congregate setting — we don’t have walls, nobody has a room,” said Meghan Bahn, the director of community engagement at the Lawrence Community Shelter. She said most of the shelter’s 40 guests were either fully vaccinated or had received one shot. But she added that there were some people who said they did not plan to return to the shelter under the new requirement. Meanwhile, Theatre Lawrence became the city’s second major event venue to announce it would require patrons to show proof that they have been vaccinated.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2021-08-23T21:24:32-05:00August 23, 2021|News|

Pott County approves draw down of federal funds to support ‘overwhelmed’ health department

Pottawatomie County commissioners agreed Monday to use $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support up to four additional positions for its overwhelmed health department. Health Department Director Leslie Campbell says her nursing staff, which includes she, the local health officer and two nurses, have been fielding a growing number of concerns and questions from school officials daily. Many, she says, are trying to navigate uncertainty as transmission rates and quarantines increase. Campbell says her department has fielded numerous phone calls the past few weeks from school officials, including superintendents about what protocols they should be following.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2021-08-23T21:22:55-05:00August 23, 2021|News|

Stray Bullets Keep Hitting Homes In Johnson County, So Sheriff Threatens To Fine Shooters $1,000

Education and brochures haven’t reduced the number of stray bullets flying in parts of rural Johnson County. Now law enforcement, the county commission and its legal department are considering a measure that will make firing bullets onto or over property without permission a code violation that could carry a maximum $1,000 fine. The new violation is meant to enforce safety measures that have not always been used by target shooters in the unincorporated area of the county, Sheriff Calvin Hayden told commissioners Thursday.
Source: KCUR News

Ranson Financial2021-08-23T21:17:52-05:00August 23, 2021|News|