info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

K-State Announces Budget Cuts, Furloughs

info2020-07-14T07:53:49-05:00July 13th, 2020|

Multiple Kansas State University colleges and units will implement administrative furloughs as one of several ways the university is addressing financial challenges for the upcoming fiscal year. The financial challenges are the direct result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. K-State President Richard Myers outlined steps the university is taking to reduce nearly $37 million in costs, including the administrative furloughs, terminating and eliminating positions, voluntary salary reductions, using cash reserves, and cutting operating expenses. Coupled with the emergency furloughs the university administered in May and June, 1,868 employees will be affected. The furloughs will provide the university with $8.65 [...]

Draft of School COVID-19 Regulations for Fall Released

info2020-07-14T07:53:57-05:00July 13th, 2020|

Draft safety guidelines for school this fall from the Kansas State Department of Education say students, teachers, and staff should wear masks, but that students up to fifth or sixth grade shouldn’t be required to wear them unless local officials mandate it, the Kansas City Star and Wichita Eagle are reporting. The draft guidelines about how to reopen schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic were shared with superintendents, and are expected to be formally presented to the State Board of Education this week. The guidelines say everyone should wash their hands when arriving at school and every hour afterward. Space should be [...]

A final farewell: Celebration says goodbye to Garden City’s Big Pool

info2020-07-14T07:54:29-05:00July 13th, 2020|

The Big Pool did not open for a 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but local officials felt the need to celebrate the end of an era and to help people say goodbye, so a farewell celebration was held Saturday. Jennifer Cunningham, Garden City assistant city manager, said it was disappointing that a 2020 season couldn’t be held, but the city hopes the farewell celebration helped soothe the sting. “It’s been such a place that held memories for so many different ages and we knew since we couldn’t open that we wanted people to be able to get in here [...]

GCCC Awarded Over $130,000 in State Tax Credits

info2020-07-14T07:54:39-05:00July 13th, 2020|

Garden City Community College has been selected by the Kansas Department of Commerce to receive Community Service Tax Credits in the amount of $130,708. The program will allow the GCCC Endowment Association to sell 70% tax credits towards the purchase of two mobile anatomage tables that the college will share with about a dozen local western Kansas high schools, according to GCCC President Dr. Ryan Ruda. “We are grateful to the state of Kansas for their support of this worthy project,” said Dr. Ruda said. “This program ensures that we can help provide cutting edge biological health science education with state-of-the-art [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for July 10, 2020

info2020-07-13T08:02:24-05:00July 13th, 2020|

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.

Harvey County’s Old Settlers scaled back to just fireworks

info2020-07-13T07:52:43-05:00July 12th, 2020|

There won’t be a Grand Parade at Old Settlers this year. There won’t be a Great Race or Little Great Race, or a community picnic on Sunday afternoon. At this point, the 133rd annual Old Settlers Festival will only consist of a fireworks show on Saturday, Aug. 8. “We plan, unless something drastically changes due to an outbreak, to only have fireworks,” Old Settlers committee member Cory Harrington said. As recently as late June, the Old Settlers Committee had still been planning on holding a nearly normal schedule of events, but then the county began seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases. [...]

GRDA, City of Coffeyville recognizing hometown heroes

info2020-07-13T07:53:09-05:00July 12th, 2020|

“Heroes work here.” That is the message the Grand River Dam Authority and City of Coffeyville are sharing to recognize the essential employees who have continued to meet critical needs in their hometowns throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Critical needs for any community include electricity, water and sewer as well as other municipal services. GRDA has been the wholesale electricity supplier for City of Coffeyville since 1999. “Each time we turn on a water tap or flip a light switch, we automatically expect it to work,” said GRDA Chief Executive Officer Dan Sullivan. (Read more: Coffeyville, KS - News Flash)

High energy ready to explode at Pretty Prairie Rodeo

info2020-07-13T07:53:50-05:00July 12th, 2020|

Nothing is going to stop an 83-year-old-rodeo if the people in Pretty Prairie can help it. The Kansas Largest Night Rodeo in Pretty Prairie, Kansas will take place from July 15-18, with adult tickets starting at $11. “People are locked down and ready to get out,” said Jon Stucky, president of the Board of the rodeo. “Cowboys are looking for places to go.” Barrelman, John Harrison is ready to prime the crowd with a mixture of energy and humor. Harrison is a three-time recipient of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Comedy Act of the Year and has appeared in Pretty Prairie before. [...]

Hutchinson community invited to help paint downtown mural

info2020-07-13T07:54:08-05:00July 12th, 2020|

The Hutchinson community is invited to help paint a mural beginning July 18. Designed by local artist Deanne Martin, the mural will be painted on the south side of the building at 304 N. Main. Located in the Santa Fe District, it will incorporate elements of the Hutchinson flag and the Santa Fe Railway. Painting will continue every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and every Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. until the mural is complete. Participation is open to the public and all supplies and materials will be provided, thanks to a $2,500 Make it Greater Grant from [...]

Choose Topeka program attracts newcomers, continues to see interest

info2020-07-13T07:56:41-05:00July 12th, 2020|

A little more than six months into the capital city’s Choose Topeka incentive program, Greater Topeka Partnership staff overseeing the initiative consider it a success. According to Barbara Stapleton, the GTP’s vice president of business retention and talent initiatives, 20 applicants — some of whom brought family with them — have moved to Topeka so far this year with help from Choose Topeka. She said people have moved to the capital city from Indiana, Texas, Nevada, Missouri, Tennessee, Nebraska, Iowa, Georgia, Minnesota, Colorado and elsewhere in Kansas."It’s really exciting," Stapleton said. "I hear people talking about how they really like what [...]

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