Shortage of EMTs leads to worries about slower response times

Problems within Sedgwick County’s EMS Department has EMTs leaving and the county trying to find a solution. Currently, there are 20 openings for EMTs at Sedgwick County EMS. EMTs say that the shortage endangers their ability to respond to people’s calls for help. Former Sedgwick County paramedic Jake Masterson said, “It got to the point, before I left, that we were shutting down three to four trucks per shift, which is insane.” Some say that the problem began with the EMS medical director. “Yes, there are concerns about that workforce,” admits Tom Stolz, Sedgwick County Manager. “We are also aware that there is a disconnect between leadership and staff. It happens in an organization.” He goes on to say that he’s meeting with both employees and department leaders to figure out where the disconnect is and how to fix it.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2021-04-30T06:53:53-05:00April 29, 2021|News|

Gov. Kelly celebrates power-pole transparency law: ‘This is what good government looks like’

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly visited a northeast Wichita neighborhood Thursday to promote a law she signed earlier this month requiring more transparency from utility companies before they run powerlines through urban areas. “This is what good government looks like,” Kelly said. “It’s the public and private sector and private citizens working together to find solutions to problems.” The law — formerly House Bill 2321 — was passed in response to a 2018 Evergy project in northeast Wichita. Evergy built 105-foot-tall steel poles in front lawns throughout a predominantly low-income, historically Black neighborhood in Wichita to support high-voltage lines connecting three substations in northeast Wichita without telling city leaders or neighborhood residents of their plans.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-04-30T06:54:01-05:00April 29, 2021|News|

Inman Car Show brings together community for first spring outing

Larry Rufener has missed only one Inman car show in the last 31 years, foregoing only the 2020 show. “I keep coming back because of the fried chicken buffet, for one,” he joked. Rufener has owned his now prize-winning 1966 Corvette for five years. “I traded in a couple of my other cars for it, and it got me down. And it made my wife happy; now there’s another space in the garage for her junk. And it’s nicer than what I traded for it,” he said. The Corvette has been partially restored, however, it still has the original engine and drivetrain. “I love it because it runs,” said Rufener, who drove the car from Beloit, Kan., for the show. “It’s a good show, especially this early in the year,” he said. Wes Esau brought his Studebaker out to the show after finishing the car in November of 2020.
Source: McPherson Weekly News

Ranson Financial2021-04-30T06:54:31-05:00April 29, 2021|News|

McPherson Police Department offering facility walk-throughs

National news has recently been filled with incidents of active shooters or mass shootings. While no such incident has occurred in McPherson, recent events in other parts of the country have led the McPherson Police Department to remind community members they offer facility walkthroughs and active shooter training for local businesses, schools, and organizations. Mark Brinck, administrative captain for the McPherson Police Department, says that in 2019 the department received over 30 requests for facility walk-throughs or active shooter training. “From 2020 to present, we have received one similar request,” Brinck said. The department offers Run, Hide, Five Active Shooter Training to local businesses, schools and organizations. Brinck says the training teaches options for responding to an active shooter event. They also offer facility walk-through to the same groups.
Source: McPherson Weekly News

Ranson Financial2021-04-30T06:54:55-05:00April 29, 2021|News|

Electric rental scooters could make debut on Overland Park streets this summer

Motorized scooters like those in downtown Kansas City are back on the drawing board in Overland Park after a two-year hiatus. A city council committee Wednesday agreed that the city should pursue a pilot project for a scooter share program that could start as early as this summer. The committee asked city staff to move forward with the details after a brief discussion Wednesday night. The Overland Park City Council last talked about scooters in February 2019. At that time, shared public bicycles were the main focus, but scooters were a part of the discussion as well. Scooters subsequently became popular in Kansas City, Mo. for a time, but they never found their way to Overland Park due to some retrenchment in the scooter share business, followed by the pandemic.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2021-04-30T06:55:03-05:00April 29, 2021|News|

City of Sedgwick starts on its pocket park

After years of discussion, the pocket park between the Sodality Place and the police department took a major step toward becoming reality when city workers and a concrete crew poured a large (roughly 30×60) slab of concrete in the empty lot Thursday morning. Mayor Bryan Chapman said that the ADA compliant ramp would be poured on Friday, and then the concrete would cure a week before installing the fencing.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2021-04-30T06:55:36-05:00April 29, 2021|News|

Horse trading has potential to save millions for Newton

The City of Newton wants to do some trading with the state. The Kansas Department of Transportation wants to build a new facility near U.S. Highway 50 and Anderson. It needs city infrastructure hookups. he city needs a maintenance building for the park department, and the one KDOT’s leaving is large and near Centennial Park at 1010 E 12th St. So the city proposed a trade – hook up costs for the KDOT building. And it looks like KDOT is going to accept. “This has building set up for maintenance and equipment storage and those types of functions more usable for us from a park maintenance standpoint,” City engineer Suzanne Loomis said.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2021-04-29T07:46:01-05:00April 29, 2021|News|

World’s biggest disc golf tournament takes over Emporia

Rain or shine, pandemic or not, disc golf is on. The Dynamic Discs Open is hosting some of the best disc golfers from around the country in Emporia from April 28-May 1. Even amateurs can participate or come to watch the best of the best. The tournament usually sees the best in the world, but COVID-19 restrictions kept it to only US participants. It’s still the biggest disc golf tournament in the world and has four rounds for the professionals.
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2021-04-29T07:44:46-05:00April 29, 2021|News|

Topeka business owners report not being able to fill job openings

Labor shortages have been popping up across the country, and now here in Northeast Kansas. With COVID-19 vaccines being widely available and more people feeling comfortable dining out, Ryan Cavanaugh, one of the co-owners at the Brew Bank in Topeka is looking to hire more summer workers. “The important part about now is getting staff in and trained before summer really takes off,” Cavanaugh said. The Kansas Department of Labor reported 3.7% unemployment for March last month. Cavanaugh said he is having trouble finding people to hire. Multiple other restaurants in Topeka also reported having employment issues.
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2021-04-29T07:44:31-05:00April 29, 2021|News|

Abilene appoints Ron Marsh as new city manager

After a competitive search process, the City of Abilene has a new city manager. During Monday’s city meeting, commissioners and Mayor Brandon Rein approved the appointment of Ron Marsh of Clearwater to serve as Abilene’s next city manager. Marsh currently is the city administrator in Clearwater, a job he has held for 3 ½ years. “I am extremely excited to be named the Abilene city manager and appreciate the city commission’s confidence in me,” Marsh said. “This is a fantastic opportunity to work with a great staff.” Marsh said Abilene has much to offer and he and his wife are looking forward to making Abilene their home and getting to know the community.
Source: Abilene Reflector Chronicle.

Ranson Financial2021-04-30T07:12:17-05:00April 29, 2021|News|