info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Wichita golf courses to remain publicly run after City Council rejects privatization

info2022-03-02T07:16:41-06:00March 2nd, 2022|

Wichita’s public golf courses will remain publicly run. The City Council on Tuesday rejected a contract with KemperSports that would have privatized operations of the city’s four municipal golf courses. The proposal failed 5-2, with council members Becky Tuttle and Bryan Frye voting for privatization. KemperSports, based in Illinois, is a national golf company that runs 120 courses, a quarter of which are publicly owned. It was chosen by a selection committee and the park board to take over the city’s system that includes Sim Park, Consolver, Auburn Hills and McDonald courses. The system had five courses until the closure of [...]

Labette County mulls leasing fleet vehicles

info2022-03-02T07:17:07-06:00March 2nd, 2022|

Labette County commissioners are considering leasing fleet vehicles for law enforcement and Public Works from Enterprise Fleet Management as a way to save money on maintenance costs. Commissioners discussed the matter with Sheriff Darren Eichinger, sheriff’s Cpl. Dusty Conrad and Public Works Director Sandy Krider Monday. Kenneth Olsen attended the meeting representing Enterprise. The sheriff’s office has the newest fleet of vehicles but mileage adds up quickly on deputies’ patrol vehicles, up to 35,000 miles a year. Source: Parsons Sun

Pickleball in Lenexa keeps gaining popularity, and the city is reminding players how to properly reserve courts

info2022-03-03T08:13:00-06:00March 2nd, 2022|

With the overwhelming demand for pickleball court time and new players joining the sport every day, Lenexa city officials are highlighting a system for allowing teams and individuals to reserve courts. It’s affectionately called the “paddle saddle,” a curved plastic device with ten numbered slots hanging on the exterior fencing of pickleball courts around the city. It works like this: put your paddle in a slot in order of your arrival, denoting who’s next in line for the next available court. Source: Prairie Village Post

Broad coalition seeks $50 million for rural housing

info2022-03-02T07:17:49-06:00March 2nd, 2022|

These should be good times for Norton County. It’s got four companies ready to invest $6 million in expansions, adding about three dozen jobs. Plus, area businesses have posted another 185 job openings. All welcome news in this northwest Kansas county with a population of 5,459. But there’s a catch. The county has so few homes available that it’s not only struggling to attract employees to fill existing openings, but fighting to meet the demands of new development. It’s a problem facing all parts of the state especially western Kansas, which has prompted a broad coalition of business and government interests [...]

Williamsburg holds second annual Mardi Gras Parade

info2022-03-02T00:05:50-06:00March 2nd, 2022|

Williamsburg held its annual Mardi Gras Parade over the weekend as an early celebration of the holiday, which falls on Tuesday, March 1 this year. Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday, originated as a way for Christians to have one last day of feasting before Lent begins the next day. The city of New Orleans holds a world-famous Mardi Gras celebration each year, but for those who couldn’t make it to the Big Easy, Williamsburg held its very own mini-parade, complete with a Cajun feast. All proceeds from the dinner went to the Wellsville Community Building. The event was sponsored by [...]

Grant allows county to replace aging bridge at reduced cost

info2022-03-01T09:21:10-06:00March 1st, 2022|

A state grant announced on Thursday will allow Reno County to replace an aging bridge in the southwest part of the county this year at a significantly reduced cost. The bridge on Fairview Road, crossing Smoots Creek some 7.4 miles west and 2.7 miles south of Pretty Prairie, is one of 29 around the state that will share more than $5 million in state funds as part of the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program. The current 76-foot-long bridge, consisting of four spans, was built in 1959, said Reno County Public Works Director Don Brittain. The bridge is still open, but it’s [...]

Treasury yields fall sharply, 10-year rate drops to 1.74%

info2022-03-01T08:05:17-06:00March 1st, 2022|

U.S. Treasury yields dipped on Tuesday morning, as investors remained focused on Russia's attack on Ukraine. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 3 basis points to 1.8044% at 4:40 a.m. ET. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond moved 3 basis points lower to 2.1435%. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has entered its sixth day. The attack has roiled global markets and seen investors look to safe haven investments like U.S. government bonds, pushing yields down. ... Investors will be watching Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's testimonies to Congress this week, for any indication on whether the Russia-Ukraine [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for February 28, 2022

info2022-03-01T08:01:51-06:00March 1st, 2022|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

Liberal celebrates International Pancake Day

info2022-03-01T08:00:58-06:00March 1st, 2022|

March 1 is international pancake day this year. The small Kansas town of Liberal celebrates it like no other. It all started back in 1445 in Olney, England, when a woman was making pancakes to use up her cooking fats before lent. While making the pancakes, she heard the church bells ringing for the shriving service. She ran 415 yards to the church, skillet and pancake in hand. In the following years, it became a race as neighbors joined in to see who could make it to the church first to collect a kiss of peace from the bell ringer. It [...]

BP seeks to appeal Kansas town’s lawsuit over gas price hike

info2022-03-01T00:57:01-06:00March 1st, 2022|

The energy company BP says in new court documents that it wants to appeal a judge's ruling allowing residents of Mulberry to sue over sharp hikes in natural gas prices last February. The Wichita Eagle reports BP filed two court documents in the last week that indicates it wants the lawsuit dismissed. One seeks permission to appeal Chief District Judge Lori A. Bolton Fleming's decision on Feb. 8 to let the lawsuit proceed. The second document outlines BP's belief that it cannot be sued by residents of the town. Source: KSN-TV

About info