News – Page 1082 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Southwest Kansas wheat devastated by drought

info2022-05-26T00:26:23-05:00May 26th, 2022|

Last week saw much needed rainfall across the state, but areas in southwest Kansas missed out on it once again. Much of southwest Kansas has gone nearly 300 days without an inch of precipitation. Annual average rainfall is about 12” in southwest Kansas, and much of the area has seen about 1/3 of that over the past year and less than an inch since wheat was planted in the fall. There are several counties in the far southwest corner of Kansas where very little wheat will make it to harvest. Farmers have already been in touch with their crop adjusters, and [...]

Fed minutes point to more rate hikes that go further than the market anticipates

info2022-05-26T00:23:35-05:00May 26th, 2022|

Federal Reserve officials earlier this month stressed the need to raise interest rates quickly and possibly more than markets anticipate to tackle a burgeoning inflation problem, meeting minutes released Wednesday showed. Not only did policymakers see the need to raise benchmark borrowing rates by 50 points, but they also said similar hikes likely would be necessary at the next several meetings. They further noted that policy may have to move past a "neutral" stance where it is neither supportive nor restrictive of growth, an important consideration for central bankers that could echo through the economy. "Most participants judged that 50 basis [...]

Wichita City Council approves revised contract for towing impounded vehicles

info2022-05-26T00:20:41-05:00May 26th, 2022|

The Wichita City Council voted unanimously in a special meeting Wednesday to approve a contract with three towing companies for impounded vehicles and the fees that will be charged. The council deadlocked last week on a proposed contract with nine companies out of concerns for low-income families that might not be able to pay fees to recover their vehicles. The new contract sets up a payment plan that will allow a person to pay a $600 fee over 24 months, and the city’s $30 administrative fee would be reduced to $5. The city had asked the towing companies for their best [...]

Lack of lodging worrying to some in Newton

info2022-05-26T07:30:21-05:00May 26th, 2022|

Newton’s hotels are low on vacancies. That’s according to the front desks of both the Holiday Inn Express and The Comfort Inn. “We’ve been full pretty much all season,” said Cat Olson, front desk manager for The Comfort Inn, 1205 E 1st St, Newton. Olson said, for the Comfort Inn, much of the demand was being driven by regular events, such as school activities, weddings and funerals. She said corporate stays or bookings for staff did account for some of the stays at the hotel, but it varied by week. The front desk of the Holiday Inn Express reported a good [...]

Burrton EMS purchases CPR device, thanks to grant

info2022-05-26T00:14:01-05:00May 26th, 2022|

Fire and EMS workers in Burrton learned how to use a new piece of life-saving equipment last week. The department recently received a KRAF grant from the board of EMS to purchase a LUCAS, which is an automated CPR machine. The grant paid for 75 percent of the approximately $15,000 cost, with the department matching the remainder. EMS Director Cherie King said the LUCAS is something their department has really needed for a while. “We applied last year and didn’t get it, but last year I think there was a lot that didn’t get funded because of COVID,” King said. Halstead [...]

Turbine suit in Marion County could end soon

info2022-05-26T07:32:05-05:00May 26th, 2022|

A lawsuit filed a year and a half ago seeking approval for a third county wind farm could be over in six weeks if a judge who hears arguments July 19 dismisses the case. Roger Buller at Stonebridge Investments LLC, filed suit Sept. 25, 2020, claiming county zoning director Sharon Omstead was wrong when she deemed Buller’s company did not have standing to install wind turbines in an area once planned for wind farm development by Rex Savage. The Doyle 4 development was planned for south of US-50 near Florence. Savage eventually sold the project to Stonebridge and others. Stonebridge purchased [...]

Holton switching to electronic ticketing

info2022-05-26T07:33:32-05:00May 25th, 2022|

Traffic tickets and other police citations will soon be issued in Holton using an electronic ticketing system instead of traditional paper tickets, according to action taken on Monday by the Holton City Commission. Commissioners approved a “pay-for-use” contract with Saltus Technologies of Tulsa, Okla. for police use of two DigiTicket mobile electronic ticketing systems, which are also in use by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol, as Holton Police Chief Steve Frederick told commissioners. The monthly contract will entail the use of two DigiTicket systems at a total cost of $812 per month, or $9,744 per year... [...]

Grant approved for Paola broadband internet project

info2022-05-25T23:39:24-05:00May 25th, 2022|

An option for faster and more reliable internet will soon be available to residents and businesses in northern Paola after it was announced Friday, May 20, that KwiKom Communications and the city were able to obtain a state grant. It was the culmination of a group effort that began earlier this year when KwiKom Communications identified Paola as an ideal community for the Kansas Office of Broadband Development Acceleration Grant. The 50-50 state grant allows for up to a 50 percent co-investment of the matching funding, and KwiKom asked the city of Paola for a co-investment commitment of $250,000, which is [...]

Wichita City Council strikes new deal with tow companies, sets up repayment plan

info2022-05-26T07:33:58-05:00May 25th, 2022|

The city of Wichita struck a compromise with three towing companies on Wednesday that avoids rate increases for people whose cars are impounded by police. The City Council also approved an ordinance that would allow economically disadvantaged people to get their cars out of impound without breaking the bank. Under the repayment plan, the city would carry the cost — up to $600 — of returning vehicles to their owners. The vehicle owner could then pay back the city $25 a month until the debt is paid off. The plan also offers a one-time waiver of up to $600 for people [...]

Lenexa approves special taxing district, grant to convert former Kohl’s into furniture store

info2022-05-26T07:35:18-05:00May 25th, 2022|

Calling it a “win-win,” for the company and the city, the Lenexa City Council last week gave unanimous approval to a special taxing district and economic development grant that will help developers convert the former Kohl’s department store into Living Spaces, a furniture store company mostly active in western states. Council members approved the two development incentives quickly and with little discussion. Mayor Mike Boehm said the area will be “enhanced by having a big building not sitting empty, not to mention the property taxes they will pay. It’s a win-win for everybody.” Source: Prairie Village Post