Former Garden Plain water operator pleads guilty to making false report

The former operator of the water system in the Sedgwick County town of Garden Plain pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Wichita of falsifying a report on the quality of the city’s drinking water, authorities said.

Arthur Wolfe, 64, of Norwich, pleaded guilty to one count of a making a false statement in a report to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Stephen McAllister, U.S. Attorney for Kansas, said the report is required by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Wolfe certified a bacteriological report in falsely represented water samples taken at the water treatment plant as samples taken at other locations, McAllister said.

Ranson Financial2019-09-16T17:11:33-05:00September 16, 2019|News|

This JoCo district wants to tear down and rebuild more schools. Why not just renovate?

In the past couple of years, the Shawnee Mission school district has torn down five grade schools and constructed six new ones. Now officials are eyeing which ones to rebuild next.

In Johnson County, it’s an issue that doesn’t come up as much in the newer school districts to the south and west, where buildings are generally decades younger than the half-century-old schools that were recently demolished across Shawnee Mission. Districts such as Blue Valley and Olathe are either constructing brand new schools are updating and refreshing existing buildings.

But in Shawnee Mission, it’s simply more cost effective to knock down the aging, problematic buildings and replace them with bright, modern schools, complete with flexible classrooms and the latest technology, said district spokesman David Smith. Voters in 2015 approved a $233 million bond issue to help pay for the six new buildings.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ranson Financial2019-09-16T17:09:53-05:00September 16, 2019|News|

Hundreds convene on JCCC campus for first-ever Metro KC Climate Action Summit

Hundreds of local officials and residents came together on the campus of Johnson County Community College on Saturday for the inaugural Metro KC Climate Action Summit, which brought together elected leaders and climate experts to discuss ways the region can take action on climate change.

“We hope that people obviously leave inspired,” said Mike Kelly, Roeland Park mayor and Climate Action KC co-founder, of the event. “We hope they can understand a little bit more about what they can do in their own sphere of influence — whether that is in their home, in their business or in their city — but also that we inform people and engage people in our larger process, which is a climate action plan for all of metropolitan Kansas City.”

Registered attendees had a day packed with breakout sessions, guest speakers and an environmental expo. Experts in a variety of fields shared their views on how and why others in their areas should take action against climate change. For example, Christopher King, a retired brigadier general, discussed how climate change affects the United States’ national defense system.

Ranson Financial2019-09-16T17:08:12-05:00September 16, 2019|News|

Newton Fire/EMS receives grant

After several attempts to secure grant funding for new equipment, the Newton Fire Department was successful in getting an Assistance to Firefighters Grant that will mean new breathing equipment.

Newton Fire/EMS has received a $154,000 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The grant will be used to purchase National Fire Protection Association-compliant self-contained breathing apparatus, spare bottles and masks.

Newton’s application was one of more than 8,400 in a competitive process. Chief Steve Roberson gave credit to the department’s budget support team for their diligence in pursuing grant funding.

(Read more: Newton Kansan)

Ranson Financial2019-09-16T17:07:09-05:00September 16, 2019|News|

Reduction in homeless shelter capacity raises question: Where can people legally sleep?

For Lawrence’s homeless with nowhere to go at night, their new beds consist of a park gazebo, the dry concrete next to a building or a patch of ground along the Kansas River. Others opt not to sleep at all.

“Some walk the streets to stay awake, for safety, because they don’t want to lie down to go to sleep,” said Loring Henderson, director of a downtown drop-in center for the homeless at 10th and Kentucky streets. Those homeless people, Henderson said, opt to take short naps during the day because they fear being assaulted or having their possessions stolen if they sleep out in the open at night.

Fair board’s group chat conflicts with KOMA

The Kansas State Fair Board has been using a group chat for the past two years to communicate with its members during the fair.

While the conversations were “inconsequential,” State Fair general manager Robin Jennison said, he acknowledged its use is likely a violation of the Kansas Open Meeting Act.

Max Kautsch, an attorney who advises for the Kansas Press Association, said use of such an app or group chat is clearly a violation of the law.

“It’s a classic example of why the Open Meeting law exists and is interpreted the way it is: to prevent a body from doing the business of the body behind the public’s back, which is what is happening here,” Kautsch said.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-09-16T20:27:49-05:00September 16, 2019|News|

Citizens help seek the direction for Derby’s future

Derby resident Lisa O’Hair spent a bit of a recent afternoon examining concepts for the city’s future at the Vision Derby 2040 Design Studios event.

She said it was time well spent and got to make a point of wanting to make the city a more environmentally friendly one.

“We love Derby but it’s not that ‘green,’” she said.

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O’Hair said she and her family, who have lived here for 4-1/2 years, would like to see more emphasis on the environment, including opening up space for community gardens and additional stress on recycling.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

Ranson Financial2019-09-16T20:27:10-05:00September 16, 2019|News|

UTVs soon will be allowed on Paola city streets

The ordinance defines a UTV as any vehicle designed for off-highway use which has: a width no less than 48 inches; an overall length, including the bumper, of not more than 135 inches; four or more wheels; low pressure tires; side-by-side seating; a steering wheel; non-straddle seating; manufacturer-provided foot controls for throttle and braking; occupant restraints and rollover protective measures.

Under the revised ordinance, which council members unanimously approved, UTVs will be allowed on city streets with posted speed limits less than 45 miles per hour. There are a number of conditions listed, including the fact that the UTV must be equipped with lights, turn signals and reflectors and be inspected each year.

Drivers must have a valid unrestricted license, and the UTVs must be registered with the Paola Police Department, which will give the owner a registration sticker to place on the vehicle. The sticker will be valid through Dec. 31 of the year that it is issued.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Ranson Financial2019-09-16T20:26:09-05:00September 16, 2019|News|

Derby passes conditional smoking ban in parks

It’s going to be tougher to smoke in Derby’s parks.

At its Sept. 10 meeting, the City Council approved an ordinance banning smoking and vaping from outdoor gathering areas and within 20 feet of those spaces.

The ordinance also added e-cigarettes to Derby’s Clean Indoor Air Ordinance and put the same restrictions on vaping as smoking. That part, however, didn’t spark the same examination as the subject of smoking in the parks.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

Ranson Financial2019-09-16T06:35:38-05:00September 16, 2019|News|

Reno County administrator input session draws just one

Just one person showed up Friday for a public input session with the group helping Reno County select its next county administrator.

The resident emphasized a need for experience and someone with the ability to communicate at all levels…

The man, who Commissioner Ron Hirst said was a former volunteer with the Reno County Health Coalition, also suggested a need for someone able to coordinate equally well with department heads and elected officials, someone who has clear leadership ability and who can direct projects and staff.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-09-16T06:32:52-05:00September 16, 2019|News|

Former Garden Plain water operator pleads guilty to making false report

This JoCo district wants to tear down and rebuild more schools. Why not just renovate?

Hundreds convene on JCCC campus for first-ever Metro KC Climate Action Summit

Newton Fire/EMS receives grant

Reduction in homeless shelter capacity raises question: Where can people legally sleep?

Fair board’s group chat conflicts with KOMA

Citizens help seek the direction for Derby’s future

UTVs soon will be allowed on Paola city streets

Derby passes conditional smoking ban in parks

Reno County administrator input session draws just one

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