Ark City commissioners hire new city manager, Randy Frazer (Moundridge city administrator)

A new city manager in Arkansas City will be on the job by the end of May.
Randy Frazer, the city administrator of Moundridge, Kan., accepted an offer from city commissioners and a contract was signed Friday.
“I am excited the city commissioners have selected me to be the next city manager,” Frazer said in an email. “I look forward to joining the Arkansas City team and becoming part of the community.”
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Ranson Financial2020-04-20T08:55:03-05:00April 20, 2020|News|

Higher education grapples with academic, financial uncertainties

Washburn University president Jerry Farley approaches planning for fall semester classes with optimism about possible return to some form of academic normalcy and with trepidation as financial costs of the coronavirus disruption sink in.
This feeling of excitement and angst is shared by administrators at universities large and small, as well as community and technical colleges across the state serving more than 125,000 students. Campus buildings have been shut down since mid-March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and learning from kindergarten through college in Kansas was hastily moved mostly online.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2020-04-20T08:55:27-05:00April 20, 2020|News|

Emporia Zoo welcomes new bison

The David Traylor Zoo announced on Friday the arrival of a 1-year-old female American Bison. Her name is “Beulah.”
She was donated to the zoo by Madison residents, Randall, Kristi and Cliff Schankie.
“Beulah” the bison is doing well in her new surroundings and has a curious personality. She is really small in comparison to the zoo’s 17-year-old bull bison and, in time, they will be introduced to each other.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Ranson Financial2020-04-20T08:56:26-05:00April 20, 2020|News|

Topeka’s mayor and city council mull temporarily cutting their pay

Topeka’s mayor and city council on Tuesday will consider temporarily reducing their pay by 3%.
A proposal to make that move is among items on the agenda when the mayor and council meet at 6 p.m. in their chambers at 214 S.E. 8th.
The Shawnee County Commission won’t meet Monday because commissioners voted April 6 to cancel that day’s meeting in an effort to decrease the risk of spreading COVID-19.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-04-20T08:56:51-05:00April 20, 2020|News|

KDHE shows Ford County COVID-19 cases reach 84

COVID-19 cases continued to rise in Ford County as the the Kansas Department of Health and Environment numbers for Friday show 84 people have tested positive for the coronavirus.
According to Ford County administrator J.D. Gilbert, the Ford County Health Department recorded 16 new COVID-19 cases on Friday.
“The increase in cases the last few days is attributed to the health department investigation team identifying close contacts of already confirmed positive cases,” Gilbert said. “We do not have evidence of community spread even though we have seen a lot of positive cases recently.
(Read more: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS)

Ranson Financial2020-04-20T08:57:01-05:00April 20, 2020|News|

Chase County Sheriff’s Office to issue citations to those breaking stay-at-home orders

Chase County Sheriff Rich Dorneker said his office will start issuing citations to individuals ignoring statewide stay-at-home orders within the county in a Facebook post Saturday evening.
“For all of you that not want to abide by the stay at home order, my office will now start issuing citations to all that [do] not want to follow the orders set forth by the Governor,” the post read. “So if you want to drive to Chase County and illegally go to the lake or other places that have been limited you will get a citation written to you and all that are with you.
“Let’s abide by the order so that we can be done with this pandemic and have some sort of summer. By not following the order all you are doing is prolonging the stay at home order, what does it take for people to get it. Thanks and have a great day!”
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Ranson Financial2020-04-20T08:57:07-05:00April 20, 2020|News|

No furloughs at Edgerton, Gardner

The fear of COVID-19 has caused a nationwide lock down. Many businesses have been shuttered and the unemployment rate soaring.
Although exact numbers and overall effect of the “stay at home” order on the economy won’t be known for months or years, Johnson County just furloughed more than 250 employees and Overland Park about 200.
At this point, neither Gardner or Edgerton have furloughed any staff.
(Read more: Gardner News)

Ranson Financial2020-04-20T08:57:18-05:00April 20, 2020|News|

‘Ghost town’: Weeks into COVID-19 crisis, Overland Park shops work to adapt or wither

Darby Brender’s classes at Fusion Fitness were jammed at the start of March. Business was so good, her three locations around the Kansas City area, with 40 instructors, were pulling in 500 high-energy exercising clients a week.
“Classes were packed,” the owner said. “Everyone was happy.”
So it seemed for her 300 neighboring merchants in downtown Overland Park, where many seemed to reaping the fruits of a fast-paced economy nourished by the lowest unemployment rate, 3.5%, in half a century.
(Read more: Kansas City Breaking News, Crime & Sports |)

Ranson Financial2020-04-20T09:02:11-05:00April 20, 2020|News|

Parsons to provide utility bill relief to residents

The city of Parsons is hoping to provide some relief to its residents.
Parsons utility customers could get a little relief on their bills for the next two months.
City Manager Debbie Lamb proposed an idea that would save customers $15 month in May and June by waiving the environmental protection agency compliance fee.
Lamb says because the EPA charge is a flat fee paid by all city utility customers, waiving it is the most fair way to help all residents.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)

Ranson Financial2020-04-20T09:02:29-05:00April 20, 2020|News|

Retail grant is considered in Parsons

A new furniture store may get a retail recruitment grant despite the location not yet being properly zoned.
The Parsons City Commission will consider a $5,000 retail recruitment grant for Milli’s New and Used Furniture, 2106 Crawford Ave., during a regular meeting on Monday evening. The commissioners discussed the proposed grant during a Thursday work session.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Ranson Financial2020-04-20T09:08:36-05:00April 20, 2020|News|