info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Study: Irrigation boosts western Kansas land values by $3.8B

info2022-03-14T09:34:44-05:00March 14th, 2022|

A recent report of the value of water in western Kansas by two Kansas State University agricultural economists has concluded that land values in that part of the state are $3.8 billion greater today than they otherwise would be without access to the Ogallala Aquifer. “It’s a large, substantial number and it provides evidence of just how valuable irrigation is in western Kansas,” said Gabe Sampson, an associate professor in K-State’s Department of Agricultural Economics. The study takes a look at ways water is captured in order to make a judgment on its value. In this case, farmers draw water from [...]

Goddard looks at new fees for developers

info2022-03-14T09:35:34-05:00March 14th, 2022|

Goddard city council members continued their discussion at Monday’s meeting of new sewer and water fees for residential and commercial developments in the city. The city is considering adding a sewer plant equity fee and a water infrastructure equity fee, which in effect would add fees to what is required before a building permit is issued. Currently the city charges $1,500 per new residential home to tap into city water and $1,500 to tap into city sewer. Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers

Fed to Start Rate Hikes With License to Turn Aggressive Later

info2022-03-14T00:30:01-05:00March 14th, 2022|

The Federal Reserve will this week begin a multi-month campaign to conquer inflation that could see Chair Jerome Powell moving even more aggressively after Russia’s war on Ukraine fanned prices further. Already pivoting to tightening monetary policy amid the fastest consumer price gains in four decades, Powell and colleagues now have to deal with the economic fallout of the war, which threatens to deliver the twin blows of weaker growth and even-quicker inflation. With a 25 basis-point hike near-certain on Wednesday after Powell took the rare step of publicly backing such a shift, futures markets show around 165 basis points of tightening this [...]

Visit Emporia receives $11,600 in tourism grants for local projects

info2022-03-14T00:28:35-05:00March 14th, 2022|

Visit Emporia is pleased to announce we have awarded $11,600 in tourism grants to 10 entities to assist with events/projects taking place in Emporia. The recipients are: $1,000 Awarded to Emporia Freedom Fest for 2022 Emporia Freedom Fest. $500 Awarded to Natural Resources Advisory Board for Emporia Earth Day Extravaganza. $500 Awarded to Flint Hills Beef Fest for Flint Hills Beef Fest. $1,500 Awarded to Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow for HOTT Cinco de Mayo Festival & 5K. $1,500 Awarded to No Coast Film Fest for No Coast Film Fest. $2,000 Awarded to National Teachers Hall of Fame for NTHF Induction [...]

Derby not offering public storm shelters this year, tells community to plan ahead before tornado season

info2022-03-14T00:26:20-05:00March 14th, 2022|

The City of Derby is discontinuing its public storm shelter program. City Manager Kiel Mangus said it’s because the city could not find enough volunteers to staff the shelters. It was also struggling to tell residents when the shelters were open. “It’s either, you know, we may be open some of the time or part-time, or we are not operating,” Mangus said. “I think that’s where you kind of had to be very direct to tell people, create your plan, that’s set on sheltering in place.” Derby resident Beau Hastings said he had never heard of the program. “I don’t know [...]

Community members restarting Parsons Community Garden

info2022-03-14T00:24:24-05:00March 14th, 2022|

The Parsons Community Garden will be coming to life again after a few years of laying dormant and becoming overgrown with weeds and trees. Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways, the Wildcat Extension District and the city of Parsons are partnering to bring this asset back to the community. BCBS Pathways coordinator Lauren Coover is behind reviving the garden at 15th and Clark in hopes of it providing additional access to fresh produce for residents. She had initially intended to prepare the garden for planting in 2023, but she said James Coover, an agronomist with K-State, contacted her and told her about [...]

Lawsuit challenges proposed sober living home in Overland Park’s Shannon Valley neighborhood

info2022-03-14T00:21:58-05:00March 14th, 2022|

An Overland Park couple has filed suit in Johnson County District Court asking a judge to review the city’s decision allowing a respite house for sober living in Shannon Valley Estates. The suit, filed Feb. 22 by David and Cynthia King, claims the city denied them due process by not properly reviewing plans for the Concord House, which is separated by one house from their property on West 113th Street in the Shannon Valley subdivision. The Kings ask that a judge find the city’s actions “unlawful and invalid.” The Concord House is a project envisioned by the nonprofit Artists Helping the Homeless for [...]

KPERS hope stirs debate

info2022-03-13T08:00:55-05:00March 12th, 2022|

The year is 1998. Bill Clinton is headed toward impeachment for the most infamous affair in U.S. political history. Shania Twain and Next dominate the Billboard charts. And John Elway leads the Denver Broncos to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. It is also the last time Kansas retirees saw their pension benefit checks adjusted for inflation, a move called a cost-of-living adjustment. The 24-year wait is among the longest of any state in the country. After years of work from legislators to stabilize the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System, there is optimism that the situation is finally improving after [...]

Angus sale heads back to downtown Marquette

info2022-03-13T07:59:24-05:00March 12th, 2022|

After the success of last year’s event, downtown Marquette will have livestock take over its streets for another cattle auction this week. Barta Farms, based out of Little River, will bring angus bulls and females to the city center Friday for its fourth Annual Bull Sale. Ryan Barta, the owner of the farm, said this is the second year that Marquette is hosting the event. “Last year, we were kind of out of a spot to have it due to COVID,” Barta said. He said after talking with Stan Von Strohe at the Smoky Valley Distillery in Marquette, they thought it [...]

New pickleball court to open in Hutchinson

info2022-03-11T11:36:35-06:00March 11th, 2022|

Hutchinson Parks Director Justin Combs reports long-awaited pickleball courts in Rice Park should be ready for action by the end of the month. While a long-time coming, Combs said, it likely is just the first facility the city will construct for the paddle-ball sport that's been growing in popularity for at least the last decade. Under Combs' direction, and in response to pressure from local pickleball players for a place to play, the city converted a set of deteriorating tennis courts in Rice Park into four new concrete- surfaced courts for the alternative game. Depending on their level of use, the [...]

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