info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Rural setting is backdrop for unique cemetery in Sedgwick County

info2021-11-29T23:18:55-06:00November 29th, 2021|

A unique cemetery will soon offer a peaceful place to rest that at times looks and sounds like it did when wagons rolled across the vast Kansas prairie. Prairie Home Scattering Garden, in a rural part of Sedgwick County between Derby and Rose Hill, opens soon with the aim of offering an affordable and remote place for people wanting to bury their loved ones. The cemetery and almost all of the contiguous land around it were gifted in 2003 to two nonprofits by Raymond Fleming Jr., an oil and gas investor who died in 2015. One of the non-profits, Sunflower Land [...]

Governor appoints new KDHE secretary

info2021-11-29T23:14:08-06:00November 29th, 2021|

Governor Laura Kelly has appointed a former Topeka hospital executive as the new secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Janet Stanek has most recently been director of the state employee health benefits program. She replaces Dr. Lee Norman, who announced his resignation Nov. 19. He’d been the health department’s top administrator since Kelly took office in January 2019. Kelly’s office said in a Monday news release that Stanek has held healthcare leadership positions in Pennsylvania, New York and Kansas. Stanek spent 21 years at Stormont Vail Health Topeka, where she last was chief operating officer and senior vice [...]

Riley County approves contract for company to archive social media communication

info2021-11-30T05:56:33-06:00November 29th, 2021|

Riley County commissioners on Monday approved a contract with Archive Social to keep records of the government’s social media interactions. Archive Social, a company based in Durham, North Carolina, will have access to the county government’s social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, to archive communication between the public and the government. The company will archive the communication for public record and archival purposes or if a legal matter arises. The annual cost of $2,988 will be prorated for 2021. Without this service, officials said Riley County might not have access to all conversations with the public through social media. [...]

Pandemic Assistance Drinking Water and Wastewater Funding Available

info2021-11-29T21:06:37-06:00November 29th, 2021|

The Emergency Water Assistance Program (EWAP) provides payments to restore or prevent disconnection of drinking water and wastewater services Eligible Kansas households are those with a combined gross income equal to or less than 150 percent of Federal Poverty Level Funding available: $9 million DCF, not the water vendor, will accept applications from households beginning Dec. 1 Learn more at http://www.dcf.ks.gov/EWAP

USDA Begins Accepting Applications for $1.15 Billion in Loans and Grants to Help People Living in Rural Communities Get Access to High-Speed Internet

info2021-11-29T21:02:23-06:00November 29th, 2021|

USDA is making $1.15 billion in funding available through the ReConnect Program starting today. Eligible applicants are state, local or territory governments; corporations; Native American Tribes; limited liability companies and cooperative organizations. This funding, which does not include the nearly $2 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is available for projects that serve rural areas where at least 90 percent of the households lack broadband service at speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) (download) and 20 Mbps (upload). USDA will give funding priority to projects that will serve people in low-density rural areas and areas lacking internet access services at [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for November 26, 2021

info2021-11-29T07:09:41-06:00November 29th, 2021|

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.

Sexton, Mangus prepare for looming Derby city manager transition

info2021-11-29T07:09:00-06:00November 29th, 2021|

The proverbial clock is ticking at Derby City Hall. As December approaches, staff are preparing for a shift in management as Deputy City Manager Kiel Mangus gets ready to take over for current City Manager Kathy Sexton. Sexton’s last day working for the city (Dec. 10) is less than a month away, leaving not much time to impart any last bits of wisdom to Mangus as he prepares to take over for his predecessor. Mangus took on a new position within Derby as deputy city manager when he was hired three years ago. While that allowed for the shuffling of some [...]

Derby recognizes neighborly manner with new awards

info2021-11-29T07:07:34-06:00November 29th, 2021|

Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor? Hearing those lyrics from the children’s show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” would not have been out of place at the Nov. 9 Derby City Council meeting, as Derby’s Melvin Robinson and the Hamilton Estates HOA were presented with the inaugural Neighbor and Neighborhood of the Year awards. And the efforts they were honored for would have made Fred Rogers proud. "This award program was launched early this year to highlight and recognize contributions by individuals and neighborhoods to enhance the quality of life and feel of community in their [...]

Treasury yields sink amid concerns around a new Covid variant, 10-year yield falls below 1.5%

info2021-11-29T07:06:21-06:00November 29th, 2021|

U.S. Treasury yields fell sharply on Friday morning, amid concerns around a new variant of the coronavirus found in South Africa. ... Yields slid lower on Friday, as investor fled to the safety of bonds, with stock market futures also falling. Overnight, fears of a new Covid variant found in South Africa started to rise, seeing the U.K. suspend flights from six African countries. Source: CNBC - Bonds

Iola changes holding policy for animals

info2021-11-29T07:03:04-06:00November 29th, 2021|

Animals taken to the shelter by city employees can be held for five business days before ACARF officials can put the dogs or cats up for adoption. The city’s previous contract allowed for 10 days. The hope is to reduce overcrowding. Source: The Iola Register

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