WPD doubling efforts to help WFD enforce firework ordinance

If you plan to shoot off fireworks you better follow the rules or face paying a fine.

The fireworks ordinance has not changed but the enforcement is getting beefed up.

“We had actually axon video of crowds yelling at the officers, yelling at the firefighter who was just doing they’re doing their jobs,” says Deputy Chief Stu Bevis.

In one situation he says a firefighter and police officer were trying to write a citation and someone hit the firefighter with a firework. He says the firefighter was not injured.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2019-06-27T09:20:09-05:00June 27, 2019|News|

City of Clearwater discontinuing local emergency services

The City of Clearwater is closing its doors on their local emergency services.

This comes after a city council decision to not fund the resource in the 2020 budget, and save the city more than $250,000.

We talked to the mayor about the alternative, and what neighbors think of it.

The mayor says Sedgwick County EMS will serve the community, a service residents already pay for in taxes.

Some people say they accept the change, while others prefer it stay local.

Another shake up with emergency services in Clearwater. But this time, the city says they’re doing away with it, and turning it over to Sedgwick County.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2019-06-27T09:15:19-05:00June 27, 2019|News|

Pretty Prairie water plant nearly ready

The city of Pretty Prairie’s new reverse osmosis water treatment plant should begin operating in July.

A ribbon-cutting for the reverse osmosis plant, near the corner of Santa Fe and Booth, is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday, in conjunction with Final Friday’s Night on the Prairie. That’s a monthly celebration, from April through August, inaugurated this year.

For decades, the nitrate level in the city’s municipal water supply has exceeded desired levels. The federal and state limit is 10 parts per million. The most recent test results showed Pretty Prairie’s water sample at 23 parts per million.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-06-27T12:46:21-05:00June 27, 2019|News|

Pittsburg adopts five-year financial plan

City Manager Daron Hall and Finance Director Jamie Clarkson presented the City’s five-year financial forecast at Tuesday’s Pittsburg City Commission meeting, highlighting various aspects of the city’s fiscal planning through 2023.

Prior to Tuesday’s presentation, on May 18, city commissioners and staff reviewed the financial forecast document, Clarkson noted. Following the presentation by Clarkson and Hall, the city commission voted to approve the plan, and Pittsburg Public Information Manager Sarah Runyon sent out a media release Wednesday summarizing it.

“A recap of the five-year plan shows a steady increase in sales tax revenues, a healthy balance in reserves, declining debt service, and an increase in assessed valuations,” the release notes.

(Read more: Pittsburg Morning Sun)

Ranson Financial2019-06-27T12:47:19-05:00June 27, 2019|News|

Vote makes mayor, council available to attend Gary Woodland event

Topeka’s mayor and city council on Tuesday changed the schedule for their meeting next week to enable them to attend a downtown block party for professional golfer and native Topekan Gary Woodland.

The Greater Topeka Partnership will throw a free outdoor block party from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 2 in the 700 block of S. Kansas Avenue to celebrate the U.S. Open championship Woodland won June 16 in Pebble Beach, Calif. Woodland is expected to attend.

Topeka’s governing body, consisting of the mayor and the nine city council members, had initially planned to meet at 6 p.m. July 2 in its chambers at 214 S.E. 8th.

Ranson Financial2019-06-27T09:03:31-05:00June 27, 2019|News|

Citizen simulators say increase Wichita police and fire services, cut golf and arts

Wichita’s fire and police departments got high scores while golf courses and cultural affairs departments suffered in budget simulations run by local residents, the city government said Wednesday.

The city released the results of the budget simulation drill during a social media town hall Wednesday.

About 1,400 residents responded to the invitation to complete the simulation, the first time the city has used that type of technology to help guide its spending decisions.

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2019-06-27T08:56:06-05:00June 27, 2019|News|

Hospital debt cost shrink

Taxpayers will save more than $11 million over the next several years under a restructuring of the construction debt for the South Central Kansas Medical Center.

The refinancing was approved Tuesday night by both the Building Commission and the City Commission.

The current amount due on the original bonds issued in 2009 to build a replacement medical center that opened in 2011 is $37 million, with combined principal and interest.

The $11 million savings will occur with a drop in the interest rate on the new bonds to between 3 and 5 percent, compared to the previous rate of between 4 and 7 percent, according to a press release issued last week by the city.

Ranson Financial2019-06-27T08:52:09-05:00June 27, 2019|News|

Mini-Max grocery coming to Winfield to fill food desert

The new Mini-Max grocery and variety store set to open in Winfield later this summer is part of a chain of stores owned by Bill Johnson, a Muskogee, Okla.-based entrepreneur with a goal of opening stores in food deserts to help serve others.

The store in Winfield is scheduled to open around July 1, according to signs in the from of the former Save-A-Lot space at Winfield Plaza. Employees are currently being hired.

The former J.C. Penney store next door is also set to reopen as a Mini-Max variety store, offering discounted home products.

Ranson Financial2019-06-27T08:49:15-05:00June 27, 2019|News|

KDOT sets new “transportation stakeholder” meetings

The Kansas Department of Transportation is again scheduling a series of “stakeholder” meetings in August to receive input from community leaders around the state on project priorities and ideas for future transportation planning.
KDOT has scheduled meetings at eight locations during the last two weeks of August.
During the first hour of each meeting, according to KDOT news release, the agency will listen to local officials about specific projects and perceived transportation needs.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-06-27T08:44:03-05:00June 27, 2019|News|

County may seek federal aid for controlling mosquitoes

With thousands of Culex mosquitoes captured in traps in rural Reno County every week over the past month, local health officials are appealing for federal assistance to control the pest that potentially carries the West Nile virus.
Reno County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti updated the county commission Tuesday morning on current efforts.

Swarm of mosquitoes
The number of Culex mosquitoes have continued to grow, both in numbers and as a percentage of the mosquitoes trapped at six locations in the county, since mid-May.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2019-06-27T08:42:25-05:00June 27, 2019|News|

WPD doubling efforts to help WFD enforce firework ordinance

City of Clearwater discontinuing local emergency services

Pretty Prairie water plant nearly ready

Pittsburg adopts five-year financial plan

Vote makes mayor, council available to attend Gary Woodland event

Citizen simulators say increase Wichita police and fire services, cut golf and arts

Hospital debt cost shrink

Mini-Max grocery coming to Winfield to fill food desert

KDOT sets new “transportation stakeholder” meetings

County may seek federal aid for controlling mosquitoes

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