Health officials say 60% of JoCo public schools have had to use quarantines to try to stop COVID-19

Less than a month after schools around Johnson County began reopening for in-person learning, about 60% of the county’s public school buildings have had to put least one person in quarantine for exposure to the novel coronavirus. That’s according to Johnson County health officials, who briefed the Board of County Commissioners Thursday. Public Health Director Sanmi Areola, Ph.D, said 104 of the 169 public school buildings in the county have “something going on related to COVID,” while community transmission overall remains high. Elizabeth Holzschuh, an epidemiologist with the county health department, told county commissioners that quarantines linked to schools include students and staff, and that there are a variety of reasons, including school athletics, for positive cases and exposures. The schools and the county have been working together to handle the overwhelming workload of contact tracing, she said.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Ranson Financial2020-10-05T06:11:42-05:00October 4, 2020|News|

Despite the pandemic, or perhaps in part because of it, Wichita new home sales thrive

As the coronavirus pandemic struck in March, there was a collective holding of breaths in many industries about what the impact might be. New home builders and developers braced themselves for potential catastrophe. “I’m like, oh, great, is this going to be like the 2009 recession again?” said developer Jack Ritchie of Ritchie Development. “We thought the world was going to come to an end, and we wouldn’t have any sales,” said developer Jay Russell of J. Russell Communities.
Source: Carrie Rengers: Business Columns & Blogs |

Ranson Financial2020-10-05T06:12:13-05:00October 4, 2020|News|

Kansas counties prepare to send advanced ballots ahead of election

Counties across the Sunflower State are preparing for the 2020 General Election on November 3. Due to the pandemic, county clerks are noticing a major focus on mail-in ballots. “We are sending out close to 10,000 ballots which is huge for our county,” said Butler County Clerk, Tatum Stafford. Inside the Butler County Election Office there is an assembly line of envelopes. Workers are stuffing them one at a time. “October 14 we will be mailing this whole state of Kansas will be mailing all advanced ballots and last I knew we have close to a little over 400,000 ballots going out in the state of Kansas,” Stafford said.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2020-10-05T06:12:19-05:00October 4, 2020|News|

Girard Fall Festival commences amid pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has halted many activities, but the Girard Fall Festival will not be one of them. Taking place October 1-3, the Girard Fall Festival has made some precautionary changes, but is still going on as planned. Celebrate Girard! has organized several events to be held as part of the Festival, including Paint the Town, vendors, food trucks, kids games, and more. A full list of the scheduled events can be found on Celebrate Girard!’s website. “I think that the town has been very appreciative in seeing how much we all pulled together with this pandemic this year with the fall festival coming together, and everybody in the entire town, really, pitching in, to make sure that this happened for normalcy,” said Nelle Lehman, Celebrate Girard! vice president. “It brings everybody together as a community to support each other, pulling their part.”
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2020-10-05T06:12:26-05:00October 4, 2020|News|

WSU police department starts bicycle patrol

Wichita State campus police began a bicycle patrol on Monday to allow officers to interact more and be able to patrol places vehicles may not be able to access. Officer Matthew Feldt asked Police Chief Rodney Clark if there was interest in a bicycle patrol program and was the one who led the initiative to bring it to campus. Clark said the bike patrol will add another level of safety. “It’s hard to approach someone in a vehicle, it’s much easier to approach someone on a bike and that’s what I want students to take from the bike patrol, it’s just an additional method of safety,” Clark said. Being more visible and more approachable is a goal Clark says the campus police is hoping to achieve with this form of patrol.
Source: The Sunflower

Ranson Financial2020-10-05T06:12:30-05:00October 4, 2020|News|

Hutch library glad to see visitors back in the stacks

Although their hours have changed and some of their services have changed, the staff at Hutchinson Public Library want residents to know the library is open and able to serve them. “People can come in and browse,” said Nathan Towle, a public services assistant at the library. The library opened back up in July. During October, its store is having a half-off sale. They also offer virtual story time on Fridays through Nov. 27. “It’s good to see people back in the library,” Towle said.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News

Ranson Financial2020-10-05T06:12:36-05:00October 4, 2020|News|

100 Years of Women Voting: Boot Hill host new exhibit

Boot Hill Museum will welcome a traveling exhibit starting Oct. 4 and running through Oct. 18 that will tell the life of the women’s suffrage movement in the lead up to women gaining the right to vote. According to Jacqueline Lightcap, co-chair of the League of Women Voters of Kansas, the exhibit has visited dozens of towns across the state over the last year in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. The theme of the seven-paneled mobile museum is “Learning from the Past, Imagining the Future.”
Source: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS

Ranson Financial2020-10-05T06:12:43-05:00October 4, 2020|News|

Restoring Salina downtown a constant throughout 2020

As years go by and downtown continues to be remodeled, it can be hard to recall or to see the history that is a significant element of most downtowns. When you are on S. Santa Fe, if you look up to the roof line, you will see the names of buildings that date back over 100 years. At ground level, you may also notice an effort being made to retain history, while adding a fresh modern style. One of the current projects is being done by Restore Construction in a stretch of buildings from 137 — 143 S. Santa Fe. This includes the historic Thomas Watson, T.W., Roach Building at 141-143. This will be the new home of Apron Strings, a kitchen store that is opening in October.
Source: News – Salina Journal

Ranson Financial2020-10-05T06:12:51-05:00October 4, 2020|News|

Johnson County home prices approach new milestone

Limited inventory and skyrocketing demand have pushed up home prices across the Kansas City metro area. But Johnson County is approaching a new milestone: In August, the average sales price of new and existing homes reached nearly $400,000, according to the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors. While the booming market is good news for sellers, it does underscore longstanding concerns that Johnson County homes are becoming increasingly out of reach for many working- and middle-class families.
Source: KC Star Local News

Ranson Financial2020-10-05T06:15:01-05:00October 4, 2020|News|

Inspired by Topeka leaders and community members, local artist creates portrait series

Like everyone else, local artist Becky Drager was handed a box of lemons when COVID-19 made its presence and caused many businesses to shut down. But instead of letting those lemons sour, Drager chose to turn them into lemonade and create a portrait series of Topeka leaders and community members that inspire her every day. Drager created 20 portraits from April 1 to Sept. 25, and the full collection will be on display from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at the NOTO Arts Center during the Decade of NOTO celebration. The people in Drager’s portraits range in age from toddlers to adults and capture a diverse group of people.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal

Ranson Financial2020-10-05T06:14:00-05:00October 4, 2020|News|