Months After A Tornado Tore Up Linwood, Kansas, Residents Find Different Paths Forward

Dena Duffin, 53, pulls her teenage son close as she looks into the trailer stuffed with tables, tubs of housewares and whatever else they were able to salvage when the tornado ripped their home off its foundation the night of May 28.

“I gave that to my dad,” she says, pointing to a dented copper tub. “And there’s a stepstool and shelf my dad made for us. You can’t replace those kinds of things.”

Clothes, furniture and appliances will be replaced when the Duffins leave this rural corner at Highway 32 and 206th Street just outside of the tiny town of Linwood, Kansas. They’ve already found a house in Lawrence.

The tornado was on the ground for more than 30 minutes and cut a swath of damage a mile wide, according to the National Weather Service. Miraculously, no one died and there were only a handful of minor injuries. The tornado went around the few blocks of homes in downtown Linwood, almost certainly saving lives.

(Read more: Rural Messenger)

Ranson Financial2019-07-31T20:34:33-05:00July 31, 2019|News|

This Johnson County neighborhood ranked one of the ‘hottest ZIP codes’ in nation

Shawnee Mayor Michelle Distler often has viewed her city’s attractive homes, walkable downtown and abundant green space as a well-kept secret.

But now the secret’s out.

For the first time, a piece of this Johnson County suburb is ranked as one of the country’s “hottest ZIP codes” by realtor.com, a national real estate website. The neighborhood along Nieman Road and Johnson Drive — and its accompanying 66203 ZIP code — came in fourth in the nation.

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

Ranson Financial2019-07-31T20:34:08-05:00July 31, 2019|News|

KDHE: 83 Kansas counties in ‘high risk’ for West Nile Virus

The latest data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment identifies 83 Kansas counties in a “high risk” for West Nile virus. Of the state’s 105 counties, those remaining in a “moderate risk” are in the northeast part of the state, in a line stretching north and east from Chase County to the Missouri and Nebraska borders.

Counties in the “high risk” cover all of western, central and southeast Kansas. Wichita, Hutchinson, Salina, Garden City, Dodge City, Hays and Pittsburg are among the more populated cities facing the high risk.

The KDHE says the high-risk level is based on a “high number of West Nile virus mosquitoes identified and high number of historical human cases of West Nile virus.”

(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2019-07-31T20:33:51-05:00July 31, 2019|News|

Firefighters retire after more than 40 years of service

More than 40 years is a long time to serve a community, but Mike Regnier and Jim Davis are more than happy they were needed for so long by the city of Marion’s Volunteer Fire Department.
Both Regnier, the city’s fire chief, and Davis are retiring this week after 44 and 42 years respectively — a term that surprises them both.
“I don’t know,” said Davis. “You just get on and you never figure out how to get off. As long as you feel that you can do it, and if you’re needed, you stay.”

(Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Ranson Financial2019-07-31T20:32:29-05:00July 31, 2019|News|

Kansas National Guard disputes labeling of land in Salina as excess property

The Kansas National Guard lodged objections to state auditors labeling as surplus property about a dozen acres near the Salina Municipal Airport with an estimated market value of $250,000.

The two vacant lots were identified as excess for a joint committee of the Kansas Legislature during a survey of property held by nine state agencies. This report on surplus property was another piece of a puzzle being worked by state lawmakers who have sought for years to return buildings and land to the tax roll and passed a law ordering the Kansas Department of Administration to develop criteria for speeding identification of unneeded property — a mandate the agency hasn’t met.

Lt. Col. Ken Weishaar, who serves in the Kansas Army Guard, told legislators the state adjutant general’s department intended to retain the parcels for construction of a $750,000 physical fitness testing facility and, eventually, an $18 million training center with classroom, conference and office space. Both projects would make use of federal funding.

Ranson Financial2019-07-31T14:40:58-05:00July 31, 2019|News|

Ellis City Council opts to permanently close city pool

The city of Ellis announced in a news release Wednesday that, effective immediately, the Ellis Municipal Pool will be permanently closed.

“At the last Council meeting, it was reported that the pool is losing almost 30,000 gallons of water every 2-3 days. After further evaluation, the City reluctantly made the difficult decision to close,” the city said in a news release. “We apologize for the inconvenience. Our Splash Bash on Aug. 17 will go on as planned but our itinerary will be modified accordingly. Watch for our new flyer!”

(Read more: Hays Post)

Ranson Financial2019-07-31T14:30:30-05:00July 31, 2019|News|

Belle Plaine moves forward on quiet zone

Belle Plaine is now one step closer to having a quiet zone within city limits, the Belle Plaine News reports.

The Belle Plaine City Council passed Ordinance No. 1677 at its July 18 meeting. It states the city will close the railroad crossing at 10th Avenue and North Line Street.

The News reports class-three barriers will be used to close the intersection permanently.

(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)

Ranson Financial2019-07-31T14:28:45-05:00July 31, 2019|News|

Buhler City Council asks for reduction in proposed mill levy

The Buhler City Council was in agreement during Tuesday’s regular meeting to cut a proposed half mill increase from the budget.

Capital improvements and regular cost increases were said as the reason for the $3,500 increase in the numbers, but the Council informed City Manager Merrill Petersen to trim the budget so that the mill levy would stay at 51.2 mills.

Petersen says he will move some numbers around and cut $1,000 from the general fund to hit the Council’s target.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Ranson Financial2019-07-31T11:45:09-05:00July 31, 2019|News|

Businesses giving Kansas tornado victims new furniture

As Kansas families still work to recover from a devastating tornado that tore through the Lawrence and Kansas City areas in May, a business is partnering with a major furniture manufacturer to help ease their burdens.

KMBC reports Nebraska Furniture Mart has partnered with Ashley Furniture to donate 780 pieces of furniture to storm victims.

“As an organization, we were devastated to see the damage these storms had, both emotionally and physically, on the lives of the people we share our community with,” said Kansas City Store Director Ethan Stover. “It is our sincere hope that through our strategic partnership with Ashley Furniture, we can, in some small way, help to restore a sense of normalcy for those affected.”

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2019-07-31T11:43:34-05:00July 31, 2019|News|

School groundbreaking planned for Aug. 5

Officials with Basehor-Linwood public schools are planning a groundbreaking for the district’s Early Learning Center.

Voters approved funding for the Basehor-Linwood Early Learning Center last year as part of a $51.6 million bond issue.

The new center will house preschool classes as well as the district’s Parents As Teachers program. Superintendent David Howard said school officials also are planning to use the center for a child care program for children of district employees.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Ranson Financial2019-07-31T11:41:00-05:00July 31, 2019|News|

Months After A Tornado Tore Up Linwood, Kansas, Residents Find Different Paths Forward

This Johnson County neighborhood ranked one of the ‘hottest ZIP codes’ in nation

KDHE: 83 Kansas counties in ‘high risk’ for West Nile Virus

Firefighters retire after more than 40 years of service

Kansas National Guard disputes labeling of land in Salina as excess property

Ellis City Council opts to permanently close city pool

Belle Plaine moves forward on quiet zone

Buhler City Council asks for reduction in proposed mill levy

Businesses giving Kansas tornado victims new furniture

School groundbreaking planned for Aug. 5

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