County honors two Deputies for their life saving efforts

Geary County officials have honored two Deputies, James Garcia and Cayla Da Giau, for their life saving efforts at Milford Lake in the early morning hours of June 8th.

The Sheriff’s Department said the Deputies were dispatched to Auld Road and Brinkley Road for a man and woman who had driven their car into the water. The man and woman were standing on top of their vehicle as it was sinking into flood waters.

Garcia stated the two subjects were hanging onto some trees when the officers arrived on the scene. “We advised them to stand by, we had a boat enroute to pick them up. But they ignored our request and started swimming towards us. While swimming towards us they started sinking.

(Read more: Junction City Post)

Ranson Financial2019-10-23T19:54:00-05:00October 23, 2019|News|

Adding a wind farm to Marion County still concerns landowners

A fight against a wind farm in Marion County continues after some residents said they were not notified of changes to the zoning or updates on the project.

Amy Stutzman built her log cabin in 2016 just feet away from where a potential wind turbine could be installed. At the time of building, she was unaware of zoning changes. Stutzman said a Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) overlay map was changed to include the entire county.

“Had those maps of been updated when I walked int he planning and zoning office in 2016 for my building permit, I would’ve seen on those maps the WECS overlay,” said Stutzman. “I would’v walked out of there and never built.”

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2019-10-23T19:51:19-05:00October 23, 2019|News|

Nickerson hires new city clerk

Nickerson City Clerk Robin Schmitt is resigning after working at City Hall for more than eight years, to take a job in the Rice County Treasurer Rita Smith’s office.

The Nickerson City Council accepted Schmitt’s resignation Monday night and hired Deputy City Clerk April Beshears as city clerk. The council also raised the salary of the full-time job to approximately $20 an hour.

The city is seeking applicants for utility clerk and the person hired potentially could become deputy clerk. Beshears held the title of utility clerk before becoming deputy clerk and handling utilities. There is no utility clerk currently.

A resignation also left the city with an opening for maintenance tech II. City Councilman Jon Rohling was among the applicants, and he did not participate in the executive session where the council considered applicants. In open session, the council hired Joe Keffer for the job, which will pay approximately $17 an hour.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-10-23T19:49:16-05:00October 23, 2019|News|

Conference to promote Kansas tourism, showcase Sumner County

Representatives from communities throughout Kansas have been in Sumner County this week to see how tourism is promoted here, share ideas and take that information to their own local economies.

The TIAK (Tourism Industry Association of Kansas) conference started Aug. 21 and runs through Aug. 23 at the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane. The conference will draw in representatives from chambers of commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureaus and DMOs (Designated Marketing Organizations), Stacy Davis, director of the Sumner Economic Development Commission, said before the conference started.

″This big event will give our counterparts across the state a chance to see how we do tourism and business because retail is big,” Davis said.” It’s destination retail.”

Ranson Financial2019-10-23T19:46:12-05:00October 23, 2019|News|

Sedgwick County Hires New President For Exploration Place

Sedgwick County hired a new president and CEO for Exploration Place Wednesday.

Adam Smith starts his job at the nonprofit Wichita science center Nov. 11.

Smith has worked in the museum field for more than 20 years and most recently served as executive director for Comic-Con Museum in San Diego.

Deputy County Manager Tim Kaufman says Smith’s museum leadership experience put him at the top of more than 70 applicants.

(Read more: RSS Feed)

Ranson Financial2019-10-23T19:42:21-05:00October 23, 2019|News|

Corinth, Clear Creek elementaries among 6 in Kansas named Blue Ribbon Schools

Three elementary schools in Johnson County were named Blue Ribbon Schools this year as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s recognition of school excellence.

Clear Creek Elementary in USD 232, Corinth Elementary in the Shawnee Mission School District and Lakewood Elementary in the Blue Valley School District were recognized as Exemplary High Performing Schools. Exemplary High Performing Schools have their state’s highest high school graduation rates and the highest achieving students — the top 15% — in English and mathematics, measured by state assessments. The three elementary schools are among six schools in Kansas to receive the Blue Ribbon recognition this year.

Located in Shawnee, Clear Creek Elementary serves about 570 students from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Ranson Financial2019-10-23T19:41:20-05:00October 23, 2019|News|

History Guy: ‘Birdman’ made Kansas aviation history in Shawnee County

As he built a biplane from scratch in 1911 in Topeka, Albin K. Longren kept the project secret in case it failed.

Longren, his brother, E.J. Longren, and their mechanic, William Janicke, waited until nearly dark on Sept. 2, 1911, before revving up the engine of that plane, which Alvin Longren then piloted as it stayed airborne — 2 feet above the ground — for about 200 feet in southeast Shawnee County.

This week’s History Guy video at CJOnline tells of how Longren accomplished a milestone in Kansas aviation history that day by making the first successful flight of a plane built in this state. Clyde Cessna in May 1911 had become the first Kansan to build and fly a plane, but he did that in Oklahoma.

Ranson Financial2019-10-23T19:40:08-05:00October 23, 2019|News|

Transfer station director retires after 32 1/2 years with county

Bud Druse, the county noxious weed, household hazardous waste, transfer station, and recycling director, will retire Nov. 20 after a total of 32½ years with the county.

Druse has worked for the county twice. He spent 22½ years in the road and bridge department, from 1973 to 1995. He returned to work for the county in 2010, starting in the road and bridge department before being promoted to director of the transfer station in 2015.

(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)

Ranson Financial2019-10-23T21:03:58-05:00October 23, 2019|News|

From driverless trolleys to free hot spots, Wichita looks to technology to help residents

Fans who take a trolley from a downtown parking garage to Wichita’s new baseball stadium next season may notice something unique about their journey.

There’s no driver.

City officials want to use autonomous trolleys downtown next year as part of a concerted effort to increase the use of machine-learning, or “smart,” technology across Wichita.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Ranson Financial2019-10-22T21:48:22-05:00October 22, 2019|News|

Wichita City Council approves funding to help speed up drivers’ commutes

he Wichita City Council Tuesday approved funding to help speed up drivers’ commutes across town.

The council voted to approve $250,000 that will lead to synchronizing stoplights. The technology is already in use along Maple from Maize Road to McLean.

With the tech upgrade, drivers along Maple may have noticed a recent change.

“Ultimately we’re looking to save time. We’re looking to minimize stops, to minimize delays, Wichita City Engineer Gary Janzen says.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2019-10-22T21:44:15-05:00October 22, 2019|News|

County honors two Deputies for their life saving efforts

Adding a wind farm to Marion County still concerns landowners

Nickerson hires new city clerk

Conference to promote Kansas tourism, showcase Sumner County

Sedgwick County Hires New President For Exploration Place

Corinth, Clear Creek elementaries among 6 in Kansas named Blue Ribbon Schools

History Guy: ‘Birdman’ made Kansas aviation history in Shawnee County

Transfer station director retires after 32 1/2 years with county

From driverless trolleys to free hot spots, Wichita looks to technology to help residents

Wichita City Council approves funding to help speed up drivers’ commutes

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