info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Regional law enforcement training center coming to Parsons

info2021-08-18T00:12:39-05:00August 18th, 2021|

Parsons is picked to be the home of a new regional law enforcement training center. It will be run by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC), and serve agencies in 16 counties. Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks says having a training center in Parsons will give the agencies the ability to send officers, dispatchers, and others to classes when they otherwise might not be able to. “I’m ecstatic that we will have that in our community and so close so that we can continue to increase the competency of our staff. And we can reduce the amount of outside city [...]

Hillsboro Fire Chief celebrates 20 years

info2021-08-18T00:10:32-05:00August 18th, 2021|

While Ben Steketee just celebrated 20 years as Hillsboro Fire Chief on Sunday, he didn’t ever think he would get to fight fires, let alone be chief. “I grew up in California where only the most fit and the best of the best were chosen for positions in fire departments. And I got into some trouble when I was growing up so I never thought I would be in a top position,” said Steketee. But then Steketee moved to Kansas. “I moved to Hillsboro and my friend Dale Winter asked me if I would want to volunteer for the fire department. [...]

Education gets a reboot

info2021-08-18T06:46:08-05:00August 18th, 2021|

A company can’t wait 100 years to upgrade its business model. Education should be no different. “But we have only two models. One-room schoolrooms of 100 years ago, and today’s outdated model,” which is in the process of being revamped, said Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education. Rather than using state assessment scores to gauge a student’s success in high school, educators are looking to redesign the material and school experience so that they are better tailored to students’ skills and abilities, helping them develop into critical thinkers who address real-life problems. “We all know a student’s ACT scores will never [...]

Pregont named Interim City Manager of Atchison

info2021-08-18T06:46:53-05:00August 18th, 2021|

City Commissioners unanimously approved a contract with Assistant City Manager Justin Pregont to serve as City Manager on an interim basis effective immediately. The contract was approved following a 15-minute executive session during Monday’s regular commission meeting and comes on the heels of Becky Berger’s resignation from the top role a week ago. Pregont, who was attending a professional development conference and was not at the meeting, is an Atchison native and has served as Assistant City Manager since 2018. Prior to that he oversaw Public Works and Utilities and has been with the City since 2013. Pregont is a Benedictine [...]

Carbondale plans grand opening ceremony for new library

info2021-08-18T06:47:15-05:00August 18th, 2021|

The Carbondale City Library will hold a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the new building’s construction. The ceremony will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at 302 Main St., Carbondale. The new 6,000-square-feet building features seating for more than 100 people, study areas, group meeting rooms, and a multi-purpose room, including a kitchen for future classes. Source: Osage County Online

Local elections in Kansas were moved from the spring to the fall with the promise of increasing voter turnout, but did it work?

info2021-08-17T06:49:53-05:00August 17th, 2021|

Only 9.7% of eligible voters cast a ballot in Topeka's 2021 primary election. However, the disappointing turnout isn't a sign that changes to spur higher turnout have failed, at least not yet. Election Day changed in 2017, but voter turnout hasn’t shown many signs of increasing since then. The Capital-Journal reviewed voter turnout from 2010-2020 in Shawnee, Sedgwick and Douglas county elections. The 2015 change moved local elections from the spring to the fall of odd-numbered years, with the stated goal of increasing voter turnout. But voter turnout among all three counties peaked at 16.59% during Douglas County’s 2015 general election. [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for August 16, 2021

info2021-08-17T06:44:38-05:00August 17th, 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.

Treasury yields start the week lower with Fed meeting minutes in focus

info2021-08-17T06:39:27-05:00August 17th, 2021|

U.S. Treasury yields fell on Monday morning, with investor focus on minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest meeting, due to be published on Wednesday. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 3 basis points to 1.263% at 3:55 a.m. ET. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond gave up nearly 3 basis points, falling to 1.921%. ... Treasury yields fell sharply on Friday, after data showed U.S. consumer confidence fell in August to its lowest point since 2011. Investors' focus this week will likely be on the Fed's latest meeting minutes, as they search for any clues as to [...]

Kansas plays catch up on pension funding with $500 million bond sale

info2021-08-17T01:29:57-05:00August 17th, 2021|

Kansas is taking advantage of continued low interest rates with a $502.6 million taxable deal to pump money into its underfunded state retirement system. The pension obligation bonds on Tuesday's calendar are coming through the Kansas Development Finance Authority with Citigroup as book runner. The bonds are rated Aa3 by Moody’s Investors Service and A-plus by S&P Global Ratings. Outlooks are stable. “The stable outlook reflects an expectation that Kansas has the capacity to generate the resources necessary to sustain structural balance in a period of economic stability or to withstand a moderate shock to revenue in a period of economic [...]

Spring Hill water treatment plant officially opens

info2021-08-17T06:41:12-05:00August 17th, 2021|

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Aug. 5 for the Hillsdale Water Treatment Plant at 22705 Moonlight Rd., Spring Hill, Kan. The ceremony marked the completion of an expansion and provides the treatment of water from four million gallons of water per day to seven million. The expansion was necessary due to the city’s growth and population increase. Source: Gardner News

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