News – Page 300 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Belle Plaine arboretum gets mural grant

info2024-08-19T09:06:37-05:00August 19th, 2024|

Through the Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas Arts Commission, Belle Plaine’s Bartlett Arboretum was recently awarded a Public Arts and Murals grant to install a new mural at the front gate. Highlighting natural floral and fauna, the mural is intended to hint at what’s within the arboretum, with Wichita artist Elisabeth Owens transforming the entrance into a display of arboreal delight. Owens has completed murals along Wichita’s Douglas Avenue, been exhibited at the Wichita Art Museum and participated in Art at the Arb. Plans are to debut the mural during TreeFest on Nov. 10. Source: Derby Informer | Area

Mulvane set for Old Settlers festival

info2024-08-19T09:04:58-05:00August 19th, 2024|

An end-of-summer tradition, Mulvane is getting set to host its Old Settlers Days festival from Aug. 22-25. The theme for this year’s 151st iteration is “Party by the Pix.” Starting out as a community picnic, the annual festival has grown to include a number of events focused on “preserving the past and building for the future.” Festivities planned for this year include the traditional parade, rodeo, talent show, carnival, a pair of street dances and more. Source: Derby Informer | Area

Preserving historic cemeteries around Kansas

info2024-08-19T09:03:26-05:00August 19th, 2024|

Director of the Riley County Historical Museum Katharine Hensler joins the 27 News Morning crew with a look into the museum's cemetery preservation program. Source: KSNT 27 News

Commission agrees to grant $2,500 to 22 day cares

info2024-08-19T09:02:18-05:00August 19th, 2024|

Labette County commissioners agreed to fund some improvements for 22 day cares in the county on Monday. The money came from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, a COVID-19 economic stimulus package. Jim Zaleski, Parsons’ economic development director, and Laura Moore, the city’s community development director, oversee the ARPA program for the county. The county had $40,000 left in the fund designated for day cares so Zaleski and Moore asked for requests from day care operators. The 25 requests totaled $218,014 and included projects from play equipment and fencing to expanding day care space. Zaleski and Moore suggested eliminating the three [...]

WyCo, KCK officials warn of impacts to public services after sweeping budget cuts

info2024-08-18T11:49:08-05:00August 18th, 2024|

Less than two months after a decision to cap property tax revenue, Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, commissioners passed budgets Thursday with significant cuts to city and county services that will take shape next year. Over the past two weeks, local government leaders identified roughly $15.4 million in spending to carve out. Reductions were necessary, according to top staffers, as costs will naturally rise to meet contractual obligations, employee cost-of-living raises and inflation. No public employees will be laid off or furloughed, according to county administration. Dollars were saved in large part through the reductions of unfilled [...]

A Kansas photographer is documenting sports in every county in the state

info2024-08-18T11:45:11-05:00August 18th, 2024|

Jeff Jacobsen spent decades as a photojournalist and as a photographer for University of Kansas athletics. Since he retired in 2020, he's been working on a project to capture images of sports in all 105 counties in Kansas — and he's almost done. When Jeff Jacobsen retired in 2020 after decades as the athletic department photographer for the University of Kansas, he found himself looking for one more challenge. So he decided to visit every county in the state to document sports. Four years later, the Heart and Soul of Kansas Sports project is nearly complete. Only eight out of Kansas' [...]

Low-income Kansans are going into debt because unpaid traffic tickets rack up interest

info2024-08-18T11:43:42-05:00August 18th, 2024|

Unpaid traffic tickets can end up costing low-income Kansans thousands of dollars when cities send unpaid fines and fees to collection agencies and add interest on top. Critics say the system is unfair to lower income Kansans who already could not afford the initial fine and courts should consider alternatives to monetary punishment. It’s also unclear if it’s even legally allowed under Kansas law. Proponents of the system argue it is legal, and communities need to be able to add interest to make sure some drivers who ignore traffic laws don’t go unpunished. Kansas Legal Services, a nonprofit legal agency, helps [...]

Watch out, pickleball: Growing sport arrives in Kansas City area. More courts are coming

info2024-08-18T11:39:25-05:00August 18th, 2024|

It’s kinda like tennis, kinda like squash. Padel is gaining popularity in the United States, though for decades it’s had a presence in Spain, Argentina, Mexico and several other countries. But until now, the Kansas City area hasn’t had padel courts. Then along came six current and former Sporting KC players. Teammates Roger Espinoza, Andreu Fontas, Uri Rosell, Johnny Russell, Daniel Salloi and Graham Zusi partnered with engineer Jamie Mahoney to create their new venture, La Casa del Padel. Last week, they opened two padel courts at the Overland Park Racquet Club, 6800 W. 91st St. “We were surprised to see [...]

Halstead Market feeds the town for many years

info2024-08-18T11:36:33-05:00August 18th, 2024|

Forty-seven years. That’s how long Russ Friesen of Halstead has worked at and/or owned Halstead Market. He began working there at age 16. “Started out as a carryout boy, and then he went to meat cutting,” his wife and other co-owner Charlene Friesen said. Now, he’s 63. The Halstead couple purchased the business in 2003, and they added a bakery to their endeavor in 2010. The bakery has the scent of sugary treats floating on the air, and there’s an entryway through which people can get to it through the market or they can use the bakery’s front door. There, they [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for August 16, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-08-18T10:59:26-05:00August 18th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.