City of Winfield: Customers will not get unpayable gas bills

The Winfield City Commission met on Thursday night to declare a local State of Financial Emergency due to the unprecedented natural gas pricing that occurred beginning Feb. 12 thru approx. Feb. 19. We have no immediate supply concerns and the current daily index has returned to previous lower norm pricing around $2.70/MMBtu. Just a week ago prices were over $400/MMBtu. We continue to gather the scope and full impact of the extreme pricing. We are fighting the pricing battle everyday. Whatever the amount, we will not be sending homeowners and businesses unpayable bills. We will work with our customers just as we have for nearly 150 years.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2021-03-01T07:10:41-06:00February 28, 2021|News|

Sedgwick County ends curfew on bars and restaurants

Sedgwick County’s top health official has lifted the curfew on bars and clubs, allowing them to stay open until 2 a.m. beginning Saturday. During the county’s briefing on Friday, Deputy County Manager Tim Kaufman said the infection rate us under 5% for the first time since early October and news case numbers are going down. County Health Officer Garold Minns issued a new COVID-19 health order on Friday that lifts the 12:00 a.m. curfew. Normal hours can resume as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2021-03-01T07:11:00-06:00February 28, 2021|News|

Derby HOA brings Little Free Library to high traffic area

If use can be found for a Little Free Library in a cow pasture near Mount Sunflower, a mile and a half from the Colorado border, then surely it could benefit the Derby community. At least, that was the thought that crossed the mind of Derby resident Diane Quantic. Quantic lives in the Hamilton Estates development near the intersection of Beau Jardin and James Street. Having known about the idea behind Little Free Libraries – a nonprofit geared to “promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide” – Quantic thought Hamilton Estates would be a perfect location given the foot traffic.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2021-03-01T07:12:41-06:00February 28, 2021|News|

‘If you don’t have any sites, you have no projects’: Heermann explains the $1 million land purchase heard around Emporia

The Emporia Gazette received a number of questions after the Emporia City Commission’s split decision to purchase 88 acres of farmland located at 1503 E. Logan Ave. for $1 million, last week. Some residents questioned how the purchase price was reached, while some questioned the need for more land for industrial development. Others wondered why — and how — the deal was pushed through so quickly. We spoke to Kent Heermann, president of the Regional Development Association, to discuss the purchase. Heermann said the purchase is the latest in a long list of examples of the city’s nearly 70-year push for industrial development.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2021-03-01T07:13:08-06:00February 28, 2021|News|

New health order drops curfew in Sedgwick County, bar owners react

Right in time for the weekend, Sedgwick County released a new health order Friday. The biggest change is that it dropped the midnight curfew that has been placed on bars and clubs for many months now. “I was like wow, that’s exactly what we been waiting to hear really for the whole year,” said Mike Mansour, Manager of Heroes Sports Bar and Grill. Mansour said the return of normal hours and staying open until 2 a.m. is when they find their most success, “Those two couple extra hours are gonna make a big difference in our sales.” After nearly a year of restrictions, co-owner of The Stop, Alan Brinkman says this is a needed relief. “It’s huge, our numbers last year were down tremendously — almost 50 percent,” Brinkman said. “Luckily we prepared and had a little cushion, and we’re able to survive — I feel very bad for those that weren’t able to make it.”
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-03-01T07:13:48-06:00February 28, 2021|News|

Galena student’s artwork to hang in the United Nations building in New York City

Its always an accomplishment for an artist to be recognized for their work. But when the recognition involves both national and international recognition – well, then you know you’ve got something special. Dakota Bennett, Galena Middle School Student, said, “Like I still wake up and I’m like, ‘I’m thinking this is a dream,’ because this is just crazy.” Dakota Bennett is your typical middle school student, but she’s accomplished something huge. With competition from 600,000 young artists worldwide, she’s one of 23 Merit Winners in the Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest. Now her art is heading to a very special spot in New York City.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2021-03-01T07:13:58-06:00February 28, 2021|News|

Shawnee County health officials shorten quarantine guidelines

Shawnee County Health Officer Dr. Erin Locke updated the county’s quarantine guidance on Friday. The health department said based on recommendations from the state’s health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people end their quarantine after seven days with a negative COVID-19 test or 10 days without a test. Tests must be completed on or after day 6 and people have to stay in quarantine until results are received, the health department said.
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2021-03-01T07:14:08-06:00February 28, 2021|News|

Osage City historical downtown property shares in statewide preservation grants

An Osage City property will receive a historic preservation project grant as part of 2021 round of Heritage Trust Fund grant program. The Star Block, a portion of the downtown in Osage City on Market Street, will receive $90,000 of the total of $1,168,492 awarded for 15 historic preservation projects across the state. HTF grants reimburse expenses for projects that preserve or restore qualifying historic properties. The funded projects represent a diverse collection of properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places or the Register of Historic Kansas Places. All awards are contingent upon available funding.
Source: Osage County Online

Ranson Financial2021-03-01T07:14:21-06:00February 28, 2021|News|

Labette County extends disaster declaration

Labette County commissioners on Friday extended for 14 days a disaster declaration based on the frigid temperatures the area experienced last week. Charlie Morse, Emergency Operations director, introduced the declaration, the second one approved by the commission. The first declaration will expire on Monday. Without keeping such a declaration in place, communities such as Altamont and Chetopa, which are facing the prospect of steep increases in utility bills tied to the frigid temperatures, could not benefit from a federal disaster declaration if one comes. Morse said some Kansas counties have approved declarations as has the state. So far the federal government only made a disaster declaration for Texas. Morse didn’t think Kansas would see such a declaration anytime soon.
Source: Parsons Sun

Ranson Financial2021-03-01T07:15:50-06:00February 28, 2021|News|

Rose Hill chamber launching new promotion in March

Expanding past the Small Business Saturday trend, the Rose Hill Chamber of Commerce is launching a new promotion in March to encourage area residents to shop local. Through the “Shop Local, Win Big” raffle event, customers will have the opportunity to win prizes by shopping in Rose Hill stores – with local businesses getting some exposure as well. “It’s just to stimulate and support our local businesses,” said Rose Hill chamber board member Sharynne Mattingly. “We hope as a chamber that our businesses will get more business.”
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2021-03-01T07:16:12-06:00February 28, 2021|News|