Harvey County moving to Phase Out reopening stage

Harvey County is moving into the Phase Out stage of its reopening plan tomorrow. This means there will not be any recommended limits on gatherings. Nursing home visits will not be allowed until June 24. “These past few months have been challenging for everyone in our communities. We appreciate the patience and understanding the people of Harvey County have shown,” said Health Department Director Lynnette Redington. “COVID-19 will continue to remain a concern for the foreseeable future. We will be intently watching and ready to react if our circumstances change.” Individuals and business owners are encouraged to continue to follow national social distancing guidelines. Anyone who comes down with COVID-19 symptoms is urged to stay home and seek medical care.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:07:17-05:00June 16, 2020|News|

USD 259 Schools to spend $24 million to get laptops and devices to every student

Next year USD 259 schools wants to give every student in the district a laptop or electronic device with internet service. On Monday the school board voted unanimously to pay $24 Million to make it happen in the first semester of the next school year. “They will supply always-on internet capability,” said Chief Information Officer Rob Dickson. “We’ve worked closely with the vendor of choice and they have assured that they will have the right supply chain to get those in place.” Dickson talked with school board members in a special session of the board on Monday. When it came time to vote, it was unanimous. “A significant amount of the money is going to come from CARES ACT dollars,” said Dickson. “And we will also supplement that through a lease/purchase strategy that will be funded through capital outlay.”
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:07:42-05:00June 16, 2020|News|

Dodge City public transit fees waived through June 2021

The city of Dodge City announced that all passenger fees for public transportation will be waived through June 30, 2021. According to Ernestor De La Rosa, city of Dodge City assistant city manager/legislative affairs, the decision to waive fees was made possible by funds made available through the state’s public transportation program to help local governments and other agencies to match aid under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Fees will resume on July 1, 2021. “The Dodge City Public Transportation program is funded through the Federal Transportation Administration, Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Public Transportation Program and the City of Dodge City,” De La Rosa said. “We are fortunate that the CARES Act provided these funds to help with these operations during these difficult times. KDOT will reimburse the city for 100% of the program’s expenditures until the end of June 2021.”
(Read more: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:09:10-05:00June 16, 2020|News|

Prairie Village cancels 2020 JazzFest citing COVID-19 concerns

The Prairie Village City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to cancel this year’s JazzFest because of public health concerns about COVID-19 and economic hardships caused by the pandemic. Mayor Eric Mikkelson called the council’s action “another very tough decision to cancel a very popular and tremendous event 10 years running in Prairie Village … but ultimately … in my opinion, the right decision.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:10:50-05:00June 16, 2020|News|

Alligator dies after being caught in trap near Kansas creek

An alligator that was recently spotted near a Kansas creek has died after being caught in trap. The 5-foot (1.5-meter) alligator is believed to be one of two stolen from a pet store in the northeastern Kansas city of Manhattan earlier this month. The pet store, Manhattan Reptile World, said the alligator drowned after getting caught in the trap that was set out for the animal.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:28:22-05:00June 16, 2020|News|

Sedgwick County traffic court being held in tents

Traffic court is back in session for Sedgwick County, but in a new way. The traffic court room is usually packed, bringing up to 100 people into one room, making social distancing nearly impossible. So, the county went to the drawing board on how to resume court while remaining safe. It’ll be business as usual, but held in tents right outside of the county courthouse.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:28:33-05:00June 16, 2020|News|

New medical examiner’s office will put Johnson County on cutting edge of autopsies

In 2016, voters of Johnson County passed a Law Enforcement Sales Tax that’s paying for a new courthouse and a medical examiner’s office. It’s a one-of-a-kind facility that will serve not only Johnson County, but eventually, the region. Johnson County Medical Examiner Dr. Diane Peterson has been working to build, staff and develop policies for this state of the art medical examiner’s office for a year and a half. Slated to begin operation at the end of July, it will be the first time in the county’s history it hasn’t relied on a private coroner for autopsies. It’s one of few facilities in the country to have a C.T. scanner and the only facility in Kansas or Missouri to have Lodox full body x-ray technology.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:28:43-05:00June 16, 2020|News|

Congress approves $356M to expand federal penitentiary in Leavenworth

The federal penitentiary in Leavenworth is set to receive $356 million to construct a new Federal Correctional Institute and a satellite Federal Prison Camp. According to a Monday release from U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran’s office, Congress appropriated $175 million for the project in fiscal year 2019 and another $181 million in fiscal year 2020, which is set to end on Sept. 30.
(Read more: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals)

Ranson Financial2020-06-17T08:29:22-05:00June 16, 2020|News|

Kansas police chief who stopped Excel mass shooter helps save another life

A man who nearly drowned at Harvey County East Lake on May 31 is recovering after the swift action of Hesston Police Chief Doug Schroeder, his wife, Vanessa Schroeder, and a bystander. After spending time in the intensive care unit, Larry Etheridge was listed as being in fair condition this week, according to staff at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis. Schroeder said he helped rescue Etheridge from under a dock at the lake after Etheridge hit his head and fell in the water while he was on a boat headed back to shore. Doug Schroeder has a history of saving lives.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Ranson Financial2020-06-16T08:34:19-05:00June 16, 2020|News|

Southwest Kansas counties record low census response rates

Census organizers in Kansas plan to ramp up efforts to get people counted, particularly in southwestern counties where response rates are low. Morton, Stanton, Haskell and Lane counties are showing that 15% to 30% of residents have responded to census forms delivered to their homes. Kansas has a 64.8% self-response rate, on par with most other states. Many in the counties don’t get mail at home, using a P.O. Box, for example, and a planned effort to hand-deliver forms in March was delayed by emergence of coronavirus infections. Census workers resumed the effort in mid-May and ended it last week.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Ranson Financial2020-06-16T08:33:55-05:00June 16, 2020|News|