News – Page 1015 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Snapping turtle tangled in fishing line rescued from Meadowbrook Park pond

info2022-08-03T10:30:23-05:00August 3rd, 2022|

Two animal control officers from different Johnson County cities recently teamed up to rescue a snapping turtle tangled in a fishing line in the pond at Meadowbrook Park. Courtney Sievers, a community service and animal control officer for Prairie Village Police, told the Post she received a request last week from animal welfare group Operation Wildlife to help a turtle — potentially tangled in fishing line — in the Meadowbrook Park pond. Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Leawood considers several options for conducting citywide survey on pit bull ban

info2022-08-03T10:30:59-05:00August 3rd, 2022|

This week, the Leawood City Council discussed the possibility of allowing residents to weigh in on its dangerous animal ordinance — the last one in Johnson County that bans pit bulls. Leawood is considering whether to send out a community survey about its pit bull ban, the last ban of its kind on the books in Johnson County. The Leawood City Council on Monday heard an overview of potential options for sending out a citywide survey asking what residents think of the city’s current rules around owning pit bulls. Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Winfield Public Library goes fine-free

info2022-08-03T01:11:58-05:00August 3rd, 2022|

To ensure equitable access for all, Winfield Public Library has become a fine-free library, adopting recommendations from the American Library Association. While fees for lost or damaged books remain, existing fines have been waived. Studies show that going fine-free has positive effects for the entire community. Due to quarantine periods during COVID, WPL stopped charging for late materials in March 2020. Post-quarantine, WPL did not reinstate fines as research was gathered regarding the effect fines had on library usage. Based on data gathered, in July of 2022, the library board of directors voted to waive all existing fines and discontinue [...]

New Fed Infrastructure Law Will Aid KS Bridge Improvements

info2022-08-02T17:58:26-05:00August 2nd, 2022|

Kansas cities and counties needing to replace or repair locally owned bridges have a supportive partner in the Kansas Department of Transportation. The agency is improving programs and collaborating with partners to take advantage of new revenue streams generated by the federally approved Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). KDOT has reshaped two local bridge improvement programs which focus on city and county bridges to include approximately $137.5 million in BIL funds over the next five years. The increase will more than double and triple local bridge impvement funds currently available in these programs under the existing Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). [...]

Sedgwick’s city park is getting several new additions soon

info2022-08-02T17:56:28-05:00August 2nd, 2022|

The Sedgwick city maintenance crew laid the foundation last week at the city park for what will be the new playground equipment recently purchased by the city. The playground is called the flying alpine by Actively Play and includes two straight slides, a double straight slide, a sectional left turn slide, a sectional right turn slide, a honeycomb climber, net climber, upright snake climber, tic tac toe panel, gear panel, storefront panel, drum, and a rain wheel. “We’re not lacking for slides,” Mayor Bryan Chapman joked about the new playset. Source: Harvey County Now

Sedgwick County jail critically understaffed, sheriff says as he seeks to boost deputy pay

info2022-08-02T05:55:19-05:00August 2nd, 2022|

The Sedgwick County Jail is experiencing critical staffing levels, with the deputy to inmate ratio more than double the national jail standard recommended average of one deputy to 30 inmates, Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter says. The jail now is staffing one deputy for about 69 to 75 inmates, according to Easter, who plans to ask the Sedgwick County Commission on Wednesday to increase starting pay for detention deputies by more than $4 an hour, from $19.34 to $23.50. The jail is budgeted to have 228 detention deputies but currently has 113 unfilled positions, according to Easter. Source: Wichita Eagle

It’s proving increasingly hard to hire cops in Kansas — and to avoid losing them to other jobs

info2022-08-02T05:54:55-05:00August 2nd, 2022|

The Dodge City Police Department struggles to keep officers. Stress, in an era where police complain they’ve become pariahs, only makes it harder to hire and keep officers on patrol. All that turnover means more work for the officers that remain, which could bring on more burnout. “We asked these people to do so much more with less staff,” said Deputy Police Chief Jerad Goertzen. “When we're putting so much more on them and asking them to do more, (it) seems like burnout is hitting a little bit earlier.” A week after making that observation, two more people had put in [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for August 1, 2022

info2022-08-02T05:47:16-05:00August 2nd, 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.

Free land? How about a free house? Kansas town tries a little of everything to grow

info2022-08-02T05:42:53-05:00August 2nd, 2022|

If you’re looking for evidence of rural decay and postindustrial decline in this dusty north-central Kansas town, you can find it. The last remaining manufacturing employer, US Tower, closed its facility during the pandemic, putting about 25 local workers out of a job. On the edge of town lies a subdivision without any houses, a barren reminder of a free land program that has failed to attract much interest. In the middle of the day, the shutting of a car door echoes for blocks, bouncing between the aging two-story buildings that bracket Lincoln Avenue downtown. Many are vacant. Source: Wichita [...]

Damaged Andover elementary school ready for new semester

info2022-08-02T00:22:39-05:00August 2nd, 2022|

Students are set to return to Prairie Creek Elementary School on August 11. The Andover school was damaged in the April 29 tornado, and workers have been making repairs since then. The school has been closed since the tornado, and students had to finish the semester elsewhere. Work is not expected to be completely done by the first day of school, but the building will be usable. Source: 101.3 KFDI