Sedgwick County jail releases inmates being housed for low-level crimes

The Sedgwick County Detention Facility released about 200 inmates to make room for social distancing. All of those released were being held on low-level crimes.
The move comes as the number of coronavirus cases increase across Kansas and the United States.
Sheriff Jeff Easter said the jail is almost always at capacity and inmates interact with each other at a closer distance than six feet. The concern is that could easily help the virus spread.
(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2020-03-27T09:32:51-05:00March 27, 2020|News|

Sumner County reports first case of COVID-19, issues stay-at-home order

Sumner County reports its first case of COVID-19.
The Sumner County Health Department received official confirmation very late Wednesday night.
The patient is a man in his 60’s who resides in the northern part of the county. He is currently hospitalized in Sedgwick County. We have started our disease investigation and locating contacts of the patient….
The county has also issued a Stay-At-Home Order which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.
(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2020-03-27T09:32:28-05:00March 27, 2020|News|

Many turn to small-town markets as grocery stores struggle to keep stocked

Grocery stores have struggled to keep stocked, and now many are turning to small town markets. Several store owners have recently been seeing more out-of-town faces.
While looking through her store, Sarah Orem said, “Yeah, it’s pretty bare, pretty bare. “
Sarah Orem is the manager at Hometown Food Stores in Buhler. She says in the 25 years the store has been in business, she’s never seen anything like this.
“We’re getting emails and text messages and Facebook messages from people asking if we have stuff before they drive all the way over here because they have looked everywhere else and can’t find it,” said Orem.
(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2020-03-27T09:31:56-05:00March 27, 2020|News|

COVID-19 fears gouge county hospital revenues

Cancelations of hospital and clinic appointments because of COVID-19 fears are hitting rural hospitals hard.
Last week, St. Luke Hospital in Marion saw decreases in several departments. Visits to the therapy department were down 28%, laboratory tests were down 40%, and clinic visits and radiology tests were each down 30%, CEO Jeremy Ensey said.
“This week is looking similar,” he said.
(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)

Ranson Financial2020-03-27T09:30:20-05:00March 27, 2020|News|

‘Stay home.’ Small-town Kansas diner tells tourists ‘please stop coming here … for now’

As restaurants across the Kansas City metro ramp up carryout, delivery and specials to survive the stay-at-home order, one small-town Kansas restaurant doesn’t want your business — at least not right now.
Family-owned Keller Feed & Wine Co. in downtown Cottonwood Falls — in the shadow of the Chase County Courthouse, just west of Emporia, Kansas, and about 130 miles from KC — makes the majority of its revenue from tourists. But during the shelter in place, the 50-seat diner wants its out-of-town customers to do just that: “Here is the best way you can help my family owned small town Kansas diner. PLEASE STOP COMING HERE … for now, “ the owners posted on their Facebook page.
(Read more: Kansas City Breaking News, Crime & Sports |)

Ranson Financial2020-03-27T09:28:08-05:00March 27, 2020|News|

Local Government’s Still Open—Remotely

As governments call for business closures, school shutdowns and social distancing among residents, local officials across the country have scrambled to transition their own employees to telework.
The move is necessary to protect residents and government employees and to limit the further spread of coronavirus, officials said. But it’s an unprecedented situation for most municipalities, where public servants deliver dozens of essential services to residents, many of them relying on in-person interactions and on-site work.
“They are definitely moving employees as much as they can to telework,” said Rita Reynolds, chief technology officer for the National Association of Counties, who discussed the issue with a group of nearly 360 county-level IT directors and chief information officers.
(Read more: Route Fifty – All Content)

Ranson Financial2020-03-27T09:27:39-05:00March 27, 2020|News|

Small biz grants headed to Augusta

“Small businesses are suffering, really everybody is suffering,” said Josh Shaw, City of Augusta Mananger. “This is a program we talked to the state about and we’re hoping people will be able to benefit from it. The goal is to make sure on the other side of this, small businesses are still around.”
To address the economic consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak, the City of Augusta is establishing the Kansas CDG Small Business Relief Program, which has $438,000 available for loans and grants targeted towards small businesses with the highest risk of closing and/or laying off workers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kansas Department of Commerce has removed many of the traditional CDBG application requirements to expedite the review process. Businesses are at this time not required to provide a business plan, financials, or collateral to secure these grants and loans.
(Read more: News – Butler County Times Gazette)

Ranson Financial2020-03-27T09:24:28-05:00March 27, 2020|News|

No virus cases in Saline County, health officer prepared to execute stay-at-home order if necessary

While Saline County still has no confirmed cases of coronavirus and the, the County Health Officer is prepared to execute a stay-at-home order if necessary.
In a media release at 5 p.m. Thursday, the county asked citizens to be vigilant in staying at home and away from public places to avoid having to put formal restrictions on movement in place in the county.
The release also addressed rumors that testing is not happening in the county, saying, “Testing is being done in Saline County by the medical providers and Salina Regional Health Center. A test has to be authorized by a medical professional and meet the criteria thatthey and KDHE have set forth to test.”
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-03-27T09:23:23-05:00March 27, 2020|News|

Salina City Commission makes tough decisions in ‘unprecedented times’

Things in the city, country and world look very different now than they did three weeks ago, and the Salina City Commission meeting reflected that.
After technical difficulties halted the planned meeting before business was conducted Monday evening, the commission rescheduled and met Wednesday for more than five hours.
The format for the meeting involved the commissioners all in the same room, but sitting at least 6 feet apart to adhere to guidance on social distancing. The public was also not allowed to be at the meeting physically and had to view it through public access TV, online or call in by telephone conference, which is how the public was able to comment during the meeting.
“As we all know by now, these are unprecedented times,” city manager Mike Schrage said. “The reason for our meeting format today is a result of the governor’s executive order limiting mass gatherings to 10 (people).”
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-03-27T09:22:53-05:00March 27, 2020|News|

Franklin County under stay-at-home order starting Thursday

The Franklin County Health Officer, Dr. Bud Ransom, has issued a “Stay at Home” order for the residents of Franklin County as the community continues efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.
This order includes the closing of all non-essential business in the County effective at 12:01am March 26, 2020, for 30 days. Consideration will be carefully given of whether to prolong these orders beyond that date, based on Public Health and Critical Care information available at that time.
(Read more: News – The Ottawa Herald)

Ranson Financial2020-03-27T09:22:28-05:00March 27, 2020|News|