Wichita middle school technology teacher receives national award

Wichita Public Schools announces a national award for a middle school technology teacher.

Stephen Smith, a technology teacher at Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School will receive a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the district says.

The National Science Foundation administers the award on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The Wichita school district says the award “recognizes outstanding teachers for their contributions to the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science.”

Smith’s recognition include’s a citation signed by President Donald Trump and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. Smith will travel to Washington, D.c. to accept the award.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2019-10-17T18:51:22-05:00October 17, 2019|News|

USD 428 trying to get bond information out to everyone

After Terry Wiggers with SJCF Architecture passed along survey results from what voters liked and disliked about a failed $44.87 million school bond, many of the USD 428 Board of Education members were surprised that some residents were not aware of the bond issue details.

Several comments from the online survey at greatbendschools.net mentioned they were not educated on the purpose of the bond. With 55-percent of the vote against the first bond question, the district and SJCF will be tasked with figuring out how to get information to everyone, and not just those following on social media, reading the newspaper, or listening on the radio.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Ranson Financial2019-10-17T21:56:39-05:00October 17, 2019|News|

Fort Scott city officials visit Nation’s Capitol to encourage legislators to invest in community

Fort Scott city staff visit the Nation’s Capitol encouraging legislators to invest in the community.

The Community Development Director, Robert Uhler says the trip was to raise awareness about the Southeast Kansas town at both a state and federal level.

He met multiple federal legislators, including senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts, and state representatives Steve Watkins and Roger Marshal. Uhler pushed for more funding towards the many historical sites in the region, in hopes of keeping Fort Scott’s history alive.

Ranson Financial2019-10-17T16:43:10-05:00October 17, 2019|News|

City of Fort Scott applies for development grant to promote city expansion

The city is looking get a Community Development Block Grant. It’s given to communities across the state of Kansas to enhance livability by providing financial, technical or business assistance.

If the city gets the grant they plan to use it for a new 100-foot ladder truck for the fire department. Fort Scott’s expansion is bringing taller buildings to the area. That means fire fighters need to be able to reach higher than before.

“We have more apartments downtown now, downtown buildings. We’ve had a developer in that’s bought some buildings and working on another one now, there’s primarily apartment,” explained Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou. “A truck like this would make it much safer if we could get it if we have to go in there and rescue someone.”

Ranson Financial2019-10-17T16:40:44-05:00October 17, 2019|News|

Hospital debt wiped clean; use-tax issue appears resolved

South Central Kansas Medical Center’s staff can breathe easier now that a $1,313.005 debt to the city has been officially removed from the books.

Arkansas City Commissioners passed a resolution Tuesday canceling all the hospitals debt obligations to the city for funds it borrowed in the past few years to meet bond payments and other costs.

The resolution was put into place after the city acknowledged it had kept compensating use tax revenue instead of giving it to the hospital.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Ranson Financial2019-10-17T16:38:46-05:00October 17, 2019|News|

City turns down proposal from rural electric cooperative

The Wellington City Council, during its Oct. 15 meeting, voted to deny a rural electric cooperative’s proposal for a franchise agreement with the city in which the coop would supply utilities to territory recently annexed by the city.

The property, annexed in August, is at the southeast corner of U.S. 160 and Seneca Road, lying east of the railroad. This property is platted into two lots – Lot 1, zoned for commercial use and Lot 2, zoned as heavy industrial. Verbio North America Corp. (VNA), a biofuel producer, plans to build on Lot 2, but currently, the entire property is on bare ground with no services.

The property lies entirely within the service territory of the rural utility supplier, Sumner-Cowley Electric Cooperative (SCEC).

Ranson Financial2019-10-17T16:36:31-05:00October 17, 2019|News|

Manhattan to allow women to go topless, with restrictions

Women are now legally allowed to go topless in Manhattan, with some restrictions.

The Manhattan City Commission on Tuesday unanimously decided to amend the city code to allow females to go topless. However, property owners and businesses may still require all patrons to wear shirts.

The Manhattan Mercury reports City Attorney Katie Jackson recommended the change to avoid potential lawsuits. She said the code could be changed again later.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2019-10-17T22:27:23-05:00October 17, 2019|News|

Kansas Bicycle Map Photo Contest

Kansas is home to many incredible views and opportunities to see some of the greatest sunsets in the world, but have you ever seen Kansas up close while riding a bike? If you have or if you plan to in the near future, we want to see what you see when you travel Kansas on two wheels! Our first Kansas Bicycle Photo contest is currently underway, and we need to hear from you!

Comprehensive Transportation Planning Manager Matthew Messina said that the best thing about biking in Kansas is that the state has plenty to offer, whether you’re a commuter, a recreational rider or even a racer.

“Kansas has a wide range of terrain and scenic landscapes that help make biking fun and enjoyable every time you ride,” Messina said.

(Read more: Kansas Transportation)

Ranson Financial2019-10-17T16:30:32-05:00October 17, 2019|News|

Pittsburg firefighters attend specialized disaster training session

Several members of the Pittsburg Fire Department have returned from their annual training session as members of a special response team. The first responders are part of Task Force 4, which responds to natural disasters that occur in the southeast corner of Kansas.

“We did a lot of wide area search and it helps us familiarize ourselves with our GPS’s, so we can mark our way points, track victim locations, and then we did a lot of shoring,” explained firefighter Cody Hobbs. “We did some breach and break and then we did some confined space searches.”

The session took place in Salina at a location called “Crisis City.” Task force members house different types of equipment needed to respond to disasters at various fire stations throughout Southeast Kansas.

Ranson Financial2019-10-17T22:00:36-05:00October 17, 2019|News|

Rates & Financial Planning Workshop (Osawatomie) on October 23

The Kansas Department of Health Environment (KDHE) Capacity Development Program, in partnership with Wichita State Environmental Finance Center (EFC), Ranson Financial and Kansas Municipal Utilities (KMU), encourages representatives from your utility to attend an upcoming rate setting and financial planning training.The session provides participants with an understanding on major considerations when setting rates; rate structure options and pricing objectives; financial planning considerations; and strategies for communicating rate information to your board and community. The training will provide classroom instruction as well as interactive participant exercises and discussion.

Learn more and register here.

Ranson Financial2019-10-16T21:00:25-05:00October 16, 2019|News|

Wichita middle school technology teacher receives national award

USD 428 trying to get bond information out to everyone

Fort Scott city officials visit Nation’s Capitol to encourage legislators to invest in community

City of Fort Scott applies for development grant to promote city expansion

Hospital debt wiped clean; use-tax issue appears resolved

City turns down proposal from rural electric cooperative

Manhattan to allow women to go topless, with restrictions

Kansas Bicycle Map Photo Contest

Pittsburg firefighters attend specialized disaster training session

Rates & Financial Planning Workshop (Osawatomie) on October 23

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