info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Fed hikes rates by a quarter percentage point, indicates increases are near an end

info2023-03-23T01:16:37-05:00March 23rd, 2023|

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday enacted a quarter percentage point interest rate increase, expressing caution about the recent banking crisis and indicating that hikes are nearing an end. Along with its ninth hike since March 2022, the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee noted that future increases are not assured and will depend largely on incoming data. "The Committee will closely monitor incoming information and assess the implications for monetary policy," the FOMC's post-meeting statement said. "The Committee anticipates that some additional policy firming may be appropriate in order to attain a stance of monetary policy that is sufficiently restrictive to return [...]

Barton County joins prairie chicken law suit

info2023-03-23T07:58:34-05:00March 23rd, 2023|

While appreciating the plight of the threatened lesser prairie chicken, the Barton County Commission Wednesday morning approved participating in a Kansas Natural Resource Coalition lawsuit seeking to block a U.S. Fish and Wildlife rule protecting the bird. The LPC’s range covers much of southwest Kansas and nearby states, but it has yet to call Barton County home, commissioners noted. Source: Great Bend Tribune

New sheriff’s dog attends Harvey County commission meeting

info2023-03-23T07:59:25-05:00March 23rd, 2023|

Harvey County Sheriff’s Deputy Skyler Hinton introduced the Board of Harvey County Commissioners on Tuesday to the department’s 2-year-old German shepherd, which he said was trained to detect narcotics and track people. Hinton said Max, who was born in Poland, was purchased with just shy of $25,000 in private donations the department raised. He said most of the commands for Max were in Czech, and any new ones for the dog are in English. He said Max so far had been involved with 50 deployments and 10 arrests. He said Max, who lives at home with his family, already had a [...]

Museum to open Harvey County service station exhibit

info2023-03-23T08:00:51-05:00March 23rd, 2023|

The Harvey County Historical Museum and Archives is bringing back memories of service stations in the area—of a time when people pulled up to get gas and heard the familiar “ding, ding” noise alerting the attendant who would rush right out, fill up the tank, and check the oil and tire pressures. They’d even wash a window or two. The museum’s upcoming exhibit, “Fill’er Up: Service Stations in Harvey County,” officially will open on May 7. That’s the day Richard Hege will give a program at 2 p.m. at the museum on Newton service stations. The program is free for members [...]

Sheriff’s Association provides bullet proof vests to county

info2023-03-23T01:08:33-05:00March 23rd, 2023|

Recently, the Brown County Sheriff's Office received bullet proof vests, which were donated by the United States Deputy Sheriff's Association (USDSA.) Sheriff John Merchant said throughout the years, the USDSA has provided many dollars in equipment and training not only to the Brown County Sheriff's Office, but many other law enforcement agencies throughout the United States. "USDSA has also provided many training opportunities such as active shooter and self-defense techniques to name a few," he said. "USDSA also provides monetary donations to the beneficiary of any law enforcement officer in the US who gives their life in the line of duty. [...]

Jackson County to seek remedy for lost tax revenue

info2023-03-23T08:04:07-05:00March 23rd, 2023|

The Jackson County Commissioners have signed a one-year contract with Hartwell Capital Consulting LLC of Lake Ridge, Va. to help the county recoup funds from the federal government when property in the county is successfully reclaimed by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, put into USA trust and taken off county property tax rolls. The one-year contract is for $5,000 a month, or $60,000 annually, and will be paid using American Rescue Plan Act funds received by the county, it was reported. The consulting firm will lobby the federal government on the county’s behalf in an attempt to compensate the county for [...]

State offers help, including $2M, to tackle JoCo homelessness

info2023-03-23T00:58:41-05:00March 23rd, 2023|

The state of Kansas says it is willing to offer support, including potentially upwards of $2 million in funding, to help Johnson County tackle issues of homelessness, affordable housing and mental health. The Good Faith Network, a local interfaith group of 27 religious congregations, helped secure that commitment from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services and also facilitated a recent meeting between the state aging department commissioner and Johnson County Chair Mike Kelly. Source: Prairie Village Post

Pott County Appraiser notes soaring property values in monthly report

info2023-03-22T09:50:23-05:00March 22nd, 2023|

Pottawatomie County Appraiser Robin Knoblauch provided an update to county officials Monday, regarding the office’s work with taxpayers questioning or wanting to appeal their 2023 value notices. As of Monday, her office had 46 scheduled appeals. She says the major class of increase was residential, which according to the county wide index average was up 14.6%. Most small towns in Pottawatomie County also showed an index value much higher, by up to 6% or more. Source: 1350 KMANEdit Live

Fort Scott Receives Waste Tire Product Grant from KDHE

info2023-03-22T09:48:35-05:00March 22nd, 2023|

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has announced the recipients of waste tire product grants. “These grants will help handle the costs of proper disposal of many materials scrap tires and assist many important local efforts to promote litter and waste reduction. KDHE applauds the creativity and innovation that our communities have in reusing materials that help support the mission of protecting the health and environment of all Kansans” said Janet Stanek, Secretary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The grants are funded by revenue collected through the tire excise tax, a $0.25/vehicle tire fee. Source: Fort Scott Biz

Volunteers ensure Topeka-area hikers, bikers and walkers have miles of adventure

info2023-03-22T09:42:31-05:00March 22nd, 2023|

The weather this time of the year is, well, predictably unpredictable for Kansas. One day, you’re outside enjoying a warm and sunny afternoon, and the next it’s snowing. For the miles of natural trails around Shawnee County, this change of weather can quickly become a problem. Just as potholes are created each year from vehicles traveling on asphalt during the winter’s freeze-thaw cycle, the same is true for the unpaved trails when wet used by walkers, runners and riders. "It's going to take a lot of work," Rick Bean, president of Top City Trails Alliance (TCTA), told The Topeka Capital-Journal last [...]

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