Renwick receives grant for ‘telerobots’

High schools in the Renwick School District will receive more than $450,000 in grants to support STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education.Garden Plain High School and Andale High School, plus 18 other Kansas high schools, will receive funds through a telemedicine grant targeted to rural and underserved communities. The funding – $451,480 – will be used for 10 telepresence robots, five for each of the district’s two high schools.
Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers » Feed

Ranson Financial2020-10-19T06:56:10-05:00October 19, 2020|News|

Maple Leaf Festival At Baldwin City Goes Virtual This Year

Like many events this year, the Maple Leaf Festival will be in an entirely different format. Officially, the traditional 63rd annual Maple Leaf Festival in historic downtown Baldwin City is cancelled. “Decision to cancel the 2020 Maple Leaf Festival is necessary,” said Mike Curran, committee president. “It is the right step for public health safety during the coronavirus pandemic.” The annual festival typically draws 30,000 people to Baldwin City fueled by 300 booths from across the country. “It supports the local nonprofit community through food booth proceeds,” Curran added.
Source: WIBW News Now

Ranson Financial2020-10-19T06:55:41-05:00October 19, 2020|News|

As 60% of Johnson County schools report COVID cases, guidance for returning is eased

The Johnson County health department has issued more lenient guidance on whether school districts should allow older students back into classrooms when there is high community spread of COVID-19. Unlike under the previous criteria, districts could now allow middle and high schoolers to return to in-person learning in a hybrid model — going to class part time and taking online classes for the rest of the week — as long as safety precautions are implemented. The guidance for elementary students has remained the same, as officials continue to recommend they can return to classrooms full time.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2020-10-19T06:55:00-05:00October 19, 2020|News|

Last of major Johnson County districts says older students can return to classrooms

Following the Johnson County health department relaxing coronavirus guidance for schools, the Olathe district announced it will allow older students to return to classrooms part time later this month. Superintendent John Allison said in an email that middle and high school students will start in-person learning on Oct. 19, in a hybrid model. Middle schoolers will go to school buildings for part of the week, then learn online the rest. High school students will attend school for half days, five days a week.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2020-10-19T06:54:17-05:00October 19, 2020|News|

LaHarpe starts talk on stop signs

LaHarpe City Council members will chew over a request by city employees to add as many as 26 stop signs around town. Code Enforcement Officer Penny Miller and City Superintendent Mike Hedmon have driven every block in town in search of potential trouble spots for motorists due to obstructed views at intersections or where unfettered traffic pose safety hazards. Miller provided the Council members with a color-coded map identifying intersections she thinks would be better served if motorists had to stop.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2020-10-19T06:53:39-05:00October 19, 2020|News|

Pittsburg hospital limits procedures as virus cases climb

Pittsburg’s hospital is putting the brakes on some procedures as coronavirus cases continue to climb steadily statewide and the positivity rate tops 17%.<

Randy Cason, President of Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, said this week that the plan to pause elective and non-emergent procedures allows leaders to reallocate staff to help care for an influx of patients.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2020-10-19T06:53:15-05:00October 19, 2020|News|

COVID-19 a challenge for Kansas schools

COVID-19 is threatening the way Kansas schools do their work. Randy Watson, state education commissioner, told members of the Kansas Association of School Boards recently that the way schools deliver education currently is “not sustainable.” Although 1A to small 4A schools are returning to traditional five-day-a-week on-site classes because they can keep class sizes to fewer than 15 and require masks and social distancing, most larger schools are obliged to operate differently. They are using all online, remote or hybrid models where students alternate attending on-site for part of the week and study remotely the remainder of the week.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2020-10-19T06:52:54-05:00October 19, 2020|News|

Central Kansas law enforcement, residents support each other after Lyons officer-involved shooting

Rice County residents and law enforcement spent Saturday reflecting on yesterday’s officer-involved shooting in Lyons that hurt two people. 17 agencies across the state responded to the shooting, including several smaller agencies in central Kansas. "When you got a five man agency and one of your guys is shot its devastating," Sterling Police Chief Derrick Ploutz said.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2020-10-19T07:11:28-05:00October 19, 2020|News|

Beef continues to rule economically in Kansas

Once again, beef leads the pack in sales and jobs for Kansas’ agricultural businesses.Contributing more than $8.7 billion to the Kansas economy, the beef cattle ranching and farming sector, which includes feedlots, is the state agricultural leader in jobs as well, with just shy of 39,000 employed in this market, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s latest reports. Economic contributions of agriculture in Kansas totals more than $70 billion…
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News

Ranson Financial2020-10-19T07:02:41-05:00October 19, 2020|News|

Train noise on your nerves? Old Lenexa residents soon to catch a break

By the summer of 2021, people who live and work near Old Town Lenexa should be hearing less noise from passing trains. That’s when — thanks to an extra infusion of city money — wayside horns will be installed at two BNSF Railway crossings: Pflumm Road and Noland Road. “Noise from passing trains has long been an issue for the 1,200 residents and businesses who live within a half-mile of these crossings,” the city said in a news release.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2020-10-16T08:42:47-05:00October 16, 2020|News|