Committee awards third round of response grants in Reno County

Eight nonprofit organizations received a total of $25,150 on Monday in the third round of grants issued from the Rally Reno Nonprofit Response Fund. The money comes from a $110,000 pool funded by donors of the United Way of Reno County and Hutchinson Community Foundation. The grants are aimed at expanding local nonprofits’ capacities to continue providing services during the COVID-19 crisis. A total of $95,700 in grants have been awarded to 26 organizations since the fund was established in April.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2020-05-13T06:33:16-05:00May 13, 2020|News|

Employers urged not to require negative virus tests before allowing workers to return

The Shawnee County COVID-19 team on Tuesday spoke critically of the practice by some employers of requiring their workers to test negative for that disease before allowing them to return to work. “The Shawnee County Health Department has been notified that there are employers requiring all employees to have a negative test result before they can return to work,” the COVID-19 team said in a news release put out by Amanda Monhollon, the health department’s deputy public information officer. The release didn’t identify any such employers by name. “Per current testing guidance, it is not recommended for asymptomatic people to be tested for COVID-19,” the release said. “Testing and other related resources are currently focused on those with symptoms of COVID-19 and other high risk groups identified by (the health department).”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-05-13T06:33:41-05:00May 13, 2020|News|

Fairway council votes to close pool for 2020 season, but city staff will continue to monitor situation

A week after Roeland Park and Prairie Village decided to close their pools for the summer, the city of Fairway made the decision to keep the its pool closed for 2020 — though the council asked to leave the door open to looking into potential options that might allow for the pool to open later in the summer. After over an hour of discussion, the Fairway city council on Monday evening affirmed City Administrator Nathan Nogelmeier’s decision to close the pool for the 2020 season. Nogelmeier said the staff recommendation to close the pool was not made because surrounding cities closed their pools, but rather because city staff evaluated several factors and determined that inability to train lifeguards while maintaining social distancing measures was prohibitive.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-05-13T06:33:54-05:00May 13, 2020|News|

Shawnee tentatively planning to open Soetaert pool this summer under physical distancing guidelines

As of today, Shawnee is planning to open one of its two pools this summer under physical distancing guidelines and other COVID-19 safety measures. In a presentation to the city council on Monday, Sean Keenan, aquatics manager, said the city lacks adequate staffing for both pools so city staff opted to consider only the Thomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center for opening. City staff led the decision-making process, although City Manager Nolan Sunderman acknowledged that the situation is tentative and subject to change.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-05-13T06:34:07-05:00May 13, 2020|News|

Johnson County Park and Recreation District releases details on phased reopening plans

The Johnson County Park and Recreation District has released details for phased reopening of facilities and resumption of activities following the end of the local COVID-19 stay-at-home order this week. Phase one began yesterday and allows for the use of park courts for singles play and non-contact activities. Phase two is expected to begin next week, and would include the reopening of playgrounds and outdoor entertainment venues. But the majority of activities will remain closed until phase three. District leaders say that phase three could begin June 1 if statewide directives on reopening criteria remain on their current trajectory. However, all of the plans are subject to change pending new orders from the county and state government.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-05-13T06:34:23-05:00May 13, 2020|News|

Overland Park planning commission OKs idea of food truck offering regular business downtown

An Airstream trailer with coffee and donuts may become the first food truck to set up for regular business in Downtown Overland Park. The city planning commission gave its blessing Monday to make a test case of the donut truck, which will be at 7512 W. 80th Street, on a vacant spot just east of the Nexus IT building. Plans are for the truck to be open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays. Saturdays and Wednesday coincide with Farmers’ Market days, once it’s open again at its downtown space. The concrete pad where the truck will sit will be covered with artificial turf and some landscaping, tables and chairs will be added. The truck will be moved behind the buildings on its off days.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-05-13T06:34:36-05:00May 13, 2020|News|

Gov. Laura Kelly not a fan of city, county orders forcing businesses to log customer visits

Gov. Laura Kelly said city or county orders requiring businesses to keep records of consumer visits was unreasonable and an alternative voluntary approach with individuals keeping a journal of their public activity might be sufficient to assist health officials with contact tracing of COVID-19. The Linn County health director issued a May 4 order requiring many businesses to record names, contact numbers and the time and date of interactions with clients, patrons or customers for at least 30 days to help find people potentially infected with the virus. In addition, officials in Kansas City, Mo., developed rules for reopening restaurants Friday that “strongly encouraged” maintenance of records on all customers who stayed in the business more than 10 minutes. “I think that’s going a little bit too far. I don’t see us doing that,” Kelly said Monday during a news briefing at the Capitol. “My gut is that that’s an awful lot to ask of people.”
(Read more: Lifestyle – The Garden City Telegram)

Ranson Financial2020-05-13T06:36:02-05:00May 12, 2020|News|

Sabetha’s “Wise Owl” returns home

The refurbished “wise owl” sign made its way back to the corner of Main Street and Old Highway 75. The sign was put in place Thursday morning, May 7. Three years ago, Sabetha’s Chamber of Commerce Director Gina Murchison located the sign at Albany, and the chamber started raising the funds to refurbish the sign. The original sign was installed at the same intersection on July 13, 1960, at the cost of $3,400. The sign remained at the intersection for 28 years until it was taken down – due to its condition – in October 1988. At that time, a new sign was put in its place. To date, the chamber raised $15,000 for the sign. These funds paid for the sign to be refurbished as well as maintained for the future.
(Read more: The Sabetha Herald » Feed)

Ranson Financial2020-05-13T06:36:10-05:00May 12, 2020|News|

Great Bend recommends flushing water lines before opening business

As the City of Great Bend begins the reopening process during the COVID-19 pandemic and businesses start to serve customers, the Public Works Utilities Division is urging business owners to take precautions to keep water quality standards. Buildings that have been closed for more than a week need to have the service lines and internal plumbing completely flushed, even if there has been low occupancy. Water that is not being used on a regular basis can have a quality change if the water has been stagnant, especially after an extended amount of time, a news release from the city notes. Flushing the cold and hot lines decreases the risk of bacterial growth, and brings clean and freshly disinfected water into the water lines of the building.
(Read more: Great Bend Tribune)

Ranson Financial2020-05-13T06:36:26-05:00May 12, 2020|News|

Kansas City region is home to two of the biggest coronavirus clusters in the U.S.

The Kansas City region is home to two of the largest clusters of coronavirus cases in the United States, according to an analysis of outbreaks across the country. Among the top U.S. clusters of the virus, Lansing Correctional Facility is the 13th biggest while the Triumph Foods meat processing facility in St. Joseph is the 20th largest, according to data maintained by The New York Times. Correctional facilities make up more than half of the top 20 localized outbreaks of COVID-19, the Times’ data shows. At the top of the list Tuesday was the Marion Correctional Institution in Ohio, which has been connected to 2,439 cases.
(Read more: Kansas City Government & Politics News |)

Ranson Financial2020-05-13T06:37:20-05:00May 12, 2020|News|