Pittsburg City Commission approves funding for wireless program

The Pittsburg City Commission approves additional funding to a wireless internet program. Dragonnet will provide about 500 Pittsburg community schools students and their families with internet in their homes. The project was initially funded through a $1.1 million grant from the state. The city will now be contributing an additional $100,000 to help get the project done. And that money will come from sales taxes. Jay Byers, Deputy City Manager, Pittsburg, said, “The sales tax has been coming in very strong. So, we’re able to take half of that from the public safety sales tax fund balance. And it’s a public safety feature we will definitely use it to enhance our public safety efforts. And the other one is our utility funds.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2020-11-12T07:13:49-06:00November 11, 2020|News|

Shawnee County may create public health advisory board

Helping the Shawnee County Commission replace outgoing health officer Gianfranco Pezzino would be among the duties of five medical professionals serving on a public health technical advisory board the commission will consider creating Thursday. … The proposal, sponsored by Riphahn, comes forth at a time when the county is looking to replace Pezzino, who is leaving the health officer’s job he has held for nearly 14 years effective Dec. 31.
Source: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal

Ranson Financial2020-11-12T07:16:45-06:00November 11, 2020|News|

Tampa transplant reinvigorates neglected homes

John Bichelmeyer eyed Tampa’s the old lumber building on Main St. and fell a little more in love with its potential every day he walked by. A native of Kansas small towns, Bichelmeyer’s job building wind farm turbines with RES had him traveling from New York, to Canada, and the very bottom of Texas, until he blew into Tampa about year ago. Not really intending to stay, Bichelmeyer surprised himself by buying the rundown structure, rescuing it, and moving in along with girlfriend Michelle Wilson.
Source: Marion County RECORD

Ranson Financial2020-11-12T07:17:06-06:00November 11, 2020|News|

Roeland Park, Leawood residents approve sales tax increases

Roeland Parkers on Nov. 3 approved a special sales tax that will fund the city’s infrastructure projects beginning in 2024. The question — which asked if the city should replace its one quarter of one percent sales tax with a new half percent sales tax — gained approval from nearly 60% of voters, according to Johnson County’s unofficial election results. Roeland Park Mayor Mike Kelly said the city will ensure the funds collected are used efficiently. “We’re very grateful that the people of Roeland Park trust us to represent this community, and we appreciate their support of our plan to utilize these additional resources,” Kelly said. “We will ensure they are put to good use.”
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Ranson Financial2020-11-12T07:17:22-06:00November 11, 2020|News|

Governor Laura Kelly Announces $2 Billion in New Capital Investment in 2020

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that the State of Kansas has officially surpassed $2 billion in new capital investment in 2020. This investment is brought by new economic development projects driven by Governor Kelly’s administration and the Kansas Department of Commerce. “The arrival of COVID-19 threatened to undermine the significant progress my administration has made to rebuild Kansas’ economic development recruitment efforts,” Governor Kelly said. “But with the assistance of Secretary David Toland and the dedicated team at the Department of Commerce, we have continued to bring in new projects or grow existing businesses. This significant milestone in investment illustrates our strong momentum, which will allow us to continue creating jobs and strengthening our state’s economic foundation.” As of Tuesday, Governor Kelly’s administration has closed 86 projects in 2020, worth nearly $2.15 billion in capital investment and creating more than 8,100 jobs. Since Governor Kelly has been in office, her administration has closed 179 projects worth more than $3.47 billion in capital investment and which promise to create nearly 19,000 jobs.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2020-11-12T07:17:29-06:00November 11, 2020|News|

Sedgwick County to enforce new health order

Sedgwick County commissioners have approved a resolution that will allow the county to enforce a new health order that went into effect Wednesday. The health order puts a limit on mass gatherings of 100 people or 50 percent of the fire code capacity, whichever is less. This will apply to restaurants, bars, nightclubs, fitness and health centers that have patrons not wearing masks for a longer period of time. Bars and nightclubs will have to close at 11 p.m. but they can continue carryout and curbside services past midnight. Retail stores are not considered mass gatherings but they would be limited to 50 percent of fire code capacity, with concerns about social distancing and the approaching holiday shopping season. There are exemptions for religious events, weddings, funerals, schools and school activities, licensed child care facilities and courts.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2020-11-12T07:17:47-06:00November 11, 2020|News|

Kansas counties, biggest school district set new COVID rules

Kansas’ largest public school district has scrapped plans to allow its middle and high school students to attend some in-person classes and three counties have imposed new restrictions inspired by the coronavirus pandemic. The moves by local officials come as the state works to expand its overall testing capacity so under a “unified” statewide strategy announced by Gov. Laura Kelly in late September. The strategy calls for regular testing of at-risk populations, including first responders, prison inmates, nursing home residents and K-12 students and staff, as well as more aggressive testing in virus hotspots. The state plans to spend at least $53 million in federal coronavirus relief funds on contracts with private laboratories.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2020-11-12T07:17:57-06:00November 11, 2020|News|

As nurses, instructors and recruiters, these Kansas women served in WWII

As World War II raged across the globe, some 350,000 American women joined the armed forces, serving in branches including the Women’s Army Corp (WAC), the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (SPARS), the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP), the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve (WR) and the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). Earlier this year, The Eagle asked the community to share stories about Kansas women who answered the call to serve in the war in any capacity. In honor of Veterans Day, here are some of them, as told by their families and friends.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2020-11-11T07:57:44-06:00November 11, 2020|News|

More schools in Wichita area move students to online classes as COVID rates spike

More schools in the Wichita area are sending at least some of their students to fully remote learning as the coronavirus pandemic worsens. The local school decisions come as Kansas Department of Health and Environment data shows Sedgwick, Reno, Butler, Harvey, Sumner and Cowley counties above the red zone thresholds for the positive test rate and the rate of new COVID-19 cases. Many district created their own reopening guides based on the Kansas State Department of Education’s gating criteria. The red zone calls for online only classes for all grade levels and no sports or other activities.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2020-11-11T07:56:55-06:00November 11, 2020|News|

Humboldt helps Our Market

Humboldt council members approved investing $20,000 with Amy and Scott Welch to put toward the renovation of Our Market, their up-and-coming grocery store that will partner with their butcher shop. “We’ll recoup that money in a year,” predicted Nobby Davis, mayor of Humboldt, at Monday’s council meeting. Scott Welch said the city could expect to net $31,000 a year and the county $22,000 a year in sales tax revenues, “if we meet our goals.” The Welches did not request a specific amount of funds Monday evening, but rather explained their situation, which is that “we are rather short of funds” when it comes to bringing the former Moon’s Market up to snuff. The grocery has sat vacant for 21 months.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2020-11-11T07:55:59-06:00November 11, 2020|News|