SW KS counties look toward reopening as COVID-19 cases continue to rise

Even though confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to rise in southwest Kansas, area businesses could reopen in a few days. When Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s statewide stay-at-home order expires Sunday, individual counties get to decide whether or not they’ll extend it. Finney County made its decision Wednesday. County commissioners voted 4-1 to allow businesses to reopen at their own discretion,as long as they follow new guidelines from the governor when it comes to social distancing, safety measures and limits on the number of people that can be inside a business at one time.
(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2020-05-01T08:46:31-05:00May 1, 2020|News|

Under governor’s plan, Kansas will allow many businesses to reopen next week

Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday that she will allow many Kansas businesses to reopen next week if they can maintain social distancing and said she hopes to lift all coronavirus-inspired state limits on mass gatherings and other restrictions by June 15. Kelly said in a televised speech that she is lifting a statewide stay-at-home order Monday and moving to gradually reopen the state’s battered economy. But her plan won’t allow bars, gyms, theaters, barbershops, hair and nail salons or state-owned casinos to reopen until at least May 18. Also, local officials will be allowed to impose their own, stricter rules.
Read more: LJWorld.com.

Ranson Financial2020-05-01T08:48:11-05:00May 1, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for April 30, 2020

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

Ranson Financial2020-05-01T08:37:52-05:00May 1, 2020|News|

Walmart providing testing in rural Kansas

WalmToday, a mobile COVID-19 testing initiative launched in Kansas to set-up drive-thru sites in certain communities to support access to testing.
Mobile units will travel to Reno, Butler, Scott, Rooks and Saline counties on a rotating basis each week to test those who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. In addition, all health care providers and first responders can be tested whether or not they are exhibiting symptoms, per CDC guidelines.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2020-05-01T08:32:14-05:00April 30, 2020|News|

Reno County COVID-19 patient ignores self-isolation guidelines, infects others

“When it comes to dealing with cases of COVID-19 in Reno County, the approach by health officials has been relying on people to use common sense and asking them to follow self-quarantine guidelines. But thanks to one person who didn’t listen, that’s all about to change. “If somebody wants to be selfish and avoid formal quarantine or isolation orders, and risk the infection of other people within the community, we will lock them up,” said Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder. Residents were in disbelief Wednesday when Schroeder announced someone who tested positive for COVID-19 didn’t follow isolation requests by the health department and infected at least four others in the community.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2020-05-01T08:32:42-05:00April 30, 2020|News|

Dodge City meatpacking plants beef up protocols; Ford County maintains high recovery rate

With two national meatpacking plants in the county’s jurisdiction, Ford County is increasing its testing and the plants are beefing up COVID-19 protocols.
The numbers for Ford County have increased to 544 individuals who have had or still have the coronavirus as of April 28. This amounts to 1.6% of the county’s population.
But, according to J.D. Gilbert, a spokesman for the county, 90% of those infected have recovered. No deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in Ford County. Statewide, the deaths from the virus are at 124, or four deaths per 100,000 individuals.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2020-05-01T08:33:05-05:00April 30, 2020|News|

Over some officials’ objections, Johnson County extends COVID-19 shutdown till May 11

Over objections of some elected officials, Johnson County Public Health Officer Joseph LeMaster on Thursday announced he will extend the local stay-at-home order through May 10, a week longer than earlier planned. On May 11, businesses can begin to slowly reopen. Wyandotte County announced similar measures on Thursday as well.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ranson Financial2020-05-01T08:33:45-05:00April 30, 2020|News|

From a farm to the library, plenty of services keep minds, bodies active in Olathe

For places that are normally all about hands-on activities, like the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm, it’s a big adjustment but not an impossible one.
One thing staff members are encouraging children to do is write letters to the Farm’s many animals. Alexis Radil, events coordinator at Mahaffie, said not only does that encourage a creative outlet but it can help strengthen kids’ penmanship as well.
Staff members are facilitating the animals’ responses. So far, the animals receiving mail include Smoothie the sheep, Ashley the rooster and multiple horses. The idea is to send back handwritten responses using cursive, as the Mahaffie family would have done, but it also depends on the volume of mail they receive.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ranson Financial2020-05-01T08:33:54-05:00April 30, 2020|News|

Sedgwick County will begin to reopen once Kansas stay-home order is lifted, commissioner says

A Sedgwick County leader says if Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s statewide stay-at-home order is over at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, local businesses will have the choice to open or not.
Commissioner Pete Meitzner joined Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple for a news conference Thursday morning. He said the county will not mandate that businesses have to open.
“There might be some steps where businesses are not allowed to open in maybe the first phase or two, whatever, depending on the industry,” he said.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2020-05-01T08:34:17-05:00April 30, 2020|News|

With rural Kansas looking to reopen, doctor remains nervous

Dr. Beth Oller would like Kansas to remain under a stay-at-home order a while longer, even as some neighbors in her rural northwest county are restless to see businesses return to normal. Oller and her husband are family physicians in their late 30s in Stockton, a town of 1,300 people roughly halfway between Kansas City to the east and Denver to the west. They watched as the coronavirus pandemic crept ever closer from those two metropolitan areas, each some 300 miles away. The first positive case in Rooks County was one of Oller’s patients, confirmed on Palm Sunday, April 5. A few days after Easter, the doctor’s husband displayed mild symptoms. He later tested negative. Now, as Gov. Laura Kelly prepares to start reopening Kansas businesses next week, Oller worries that the restrictions are being abandoned too soon, with potentially deadly consequences. Meanwhile, neighbors worry that tight restrictions in a rural county with few coronavirus cases will kill their livelihoods.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2020-05-01T08:34:53-05:00April 30, 2020|News|