USD 457 Board updates district discipline policy

6 Thursday, July 6

USD 457 Board updates district discipline policy

info2023-07-06T00:39:36-05:00July 6th, 2023|

The USD 457 Board of Education approved separating the operation of the Garden City High School girls’ and boys’ wrestling programs at its regularly scheduled meeting on June 22. The separation aligns the district at all levels as the as the programs are already separated at the middle school level. Also at the meeting, the board approved updates to the district’s Discipline Policy, which was last updated in 1998. There will be separate policies for grade levels PK-second grade, third to sixth grade, and seventh to 12th grade. Each policy includes five levels of discipline. Source: Garden City Telegram

6 Thursday, July 6

New way-finding signs coming to GB

info2023-07-06T08:10:04-05:00July 6th, 2023|

To help folks find their way around town, the Great Bend City Council Monday night gave its nod to the installation of new city way-finding signs. The bid went to Mark’s Custom Signs of Great Bend for $44,950 for 15 markers. “One of the city’s Strategic Plan goals was to replace all the way-finding signs in town so that they look cohesive with our welcome signs and create inviting directional signage to the points of interest and city locations,” said Christina Hayes, Convention and Visitors Bureau director and community coordinator. Source: Great Bend Tribune

6 Thursday, July 6

Less than a year after starting Wichitas parkrun draws tourists as well as locals

info2023-07-06T00:36:29-05:00July 6th, 2023|

In January, an Australian couple took time out of their three-week vacation at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, to fly to Wichita for a weekend so they could participate in the Exploration Place parkrun. At the end of June, a Chicago-area couple drove from Illinois to run in the weekly event that takes participants on a 3.1-mile route along the Arkansas River. Both couples said they likely wouldn’t have traveled to Wichita if not for the lure of completing one of the newest parkruns in the U.S. A parkrun is a free, weekly 5K that is open to walkers, runners, volunteers, [...]

6 Thursday, July 6

Johnson County creates new diversity sustainability boards

info2023-07-06T00:35:26-05:00July 6th, 2023|

Two new citizen advisory boards on diversity and sustainability were voted into existence by the Johnson County Commission last Thursday after extended discussion, particularly on the implications of a diversity group. The advisory groups – called coalitions – can each have up to 15 members appointed by Chairman Mike Kelly and subject to approval by the full commission. The diversity coalition also had supporters amongst the public speakers. Justice Horn, chair of the Kansas City LGBTQ Commission, said the idea was “long overdue for folks across this community to feel like they have a place in Johnson County.” Source: Prairie Village Post

6 Thursday, July 6

Derby Fire Department holds annual open house event

info2023-07-06T00:34:04-05:00July 6th, 2023|

This year marks the fifth annual open house event in which the Derby community showed up to see fire trucks and learn about firework safety. "Derby's a great place and we just knew it was going to be a great experience for them,” Said Brittany Henning. "And didn't want to miss anything." Brittany and Patrick Henning are originally from Maize but traveled with their kids to Derby to see the parade and open house this morning. They have become more fire aware recently and have made sure to prepare for emergencies. "We looked into it a while ago, bought a few [...]

6 Thursday, July 6

New federal funding will help Kansas build out broadband infrastructure

info2023-07-06T00:32:41-05:00July 6th, 2023|

Nearly half a billion dollars worth of federal funding is going to build Kansas' broadband infrastructure. For Jacquelyne Leffler, the last three years have been a whirlwind for her ranch up in Americus Kansas, near Emporia. She started directly selling her beef online in 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. “No one could find beef on the grocery store shelves, and I thought I'm gonna really capitalize on this and I sold to over 1500 people that year and did 170 head of cattle,” said Leffler. She says sales numbers have stayed at that level since 2020 but notes [...]

5 Wednesday, July 5

Municipal Bond Trends for July 3, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-07-05T07:14:34-05:00July 5th, 2023|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

5 Wednesday, July 5

Municipal Bond Trends for June 30, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-07-05T07:13:31-05:00July 5th, 2023|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

30 Friday, June 30

A Kansas gardener is suing for the right to sell honey and fruit from her Ottawa yard

info2023-06-30T10:24:13-05:00June 30th, 2023|

Ellen Finnerty revels in working her backyard garden as much to learn the science as to harvest a juicy watermelon.... Now the Ottawa resident wants to keep bees, too, and ultimately sell her honey, fruits and vegetables at a local farmer’s market. But the city of Ottawa halted her aspirations last year, citing city code. Finnerty holds out hope. With help from a small-government advocacy group, the gardener sued in May, arguing those rules violate the Kansas Constitution. Some cities across the country are changing their codes to allow residents to grow more food or add bees and chickens to their [...]

30 Friday, June 30

Hospitals in Kansas turn to overseas workers to combat nurse shortage but immigration law gets in the way

info2023-06-30T10:22:58-05:00June 30th, 2023|

Kansas recruiters are looking as far away as the Philippines in Southeast Asia because 21% of registered nursing jobs in the state went unfilled last year. That’s what the Kansas Hospital Association found in a recent report. “Just to kind of put that in perspective, we need four nurses on a unit,” said Cindy Samuelson with the KHA. “If we’re thinking of percentages 25%, that means we only have three.” Prior to the pandemic, the U.S. was already experiencing a shortage of nurses. During COVID-19, the issue was only exacerbated as fatigued nurses left the workforce. Samuelson said the association held [...]