News – Page 541 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Newton Fire/EMS practicing ice rescues on frozen Spring Lake Pond

info2024-01-17T10:42:39-06:00January 17th, 2024|

Newton Fire/EMS is practicing ice rescues on Spring Lake Pond, which has frozen over. "We don't often get weather like this that we can afford as a training and the real-world experience with the ice, so we're taking advantage of it," said Newton Fire/EMS Division Chief Zane Hansen. Hansen says they cut a hole in the ice to simulate a rescue and then have a crew go out in ice suits to rescue a "victim." "They're gonna have the ice suits, and we're gonna tether them to rescuers on the shore. So they're gonna move out to the ice, trying to [...]

Commission discusses wind project moratorium

info2024-01-17T10:41:19-06:00January 17th, 2024|

The Labette County Commission may consider extending the current moratorium on the construction of wind harvesting projects in the county. The current moratorium ends in April, commissioners were told, and discussed if voting on the issue in March would provide enough time for legal publications to notify the public about the decision. The board attorney said that would provide enough time. The commission enacted the 15-month moratorium by resolution in late November 2022. The purpose is to allow the county planning committee to get zoning regulations in place. Foster and Associates, hired to assist with the process, is still working on [...]

Halstead fire crews battle large fire in bitter cold

info2024-01-17T10:40:03-06:00January 17th, 2024|

Harvey County fire crews battled a large fire in bitterly cold temperatures early Tuesday around 12:20 a.m. at an automotive repair shop. Halstead Fire/EMS said the fire happened on Halstead Road just south of U.S. Highway 50. Upon arrival, crews discovered the building had flames throughout and through the roof. Pictures from Halstead Fire/EMS show flames engulfing a metal-framed building. Several fire crews, including Newton Fire/EMS, were called to help battle the fire. Halstead Fire/EMS said the state fire marshal was on scene. There is no word on what started the blaze. The investigation is ongoing. No injuries were reported. Source: KSN-TV

Is Wichita affordable for single renters? This report says it’s the top city in the US

info2024-01-17T10:39:13-06:00January 17th, 2024|

If you’re a single renter looking for more affordable cities to live in, you may want to take a close look at Kansas. According to a report by apartment rental company RentHop, Wichita was ranked the most affordable city for a single renter in the U.S. The company conducted the December report by measuring median nonfamily household incomes, city population counts, advertised prices for studio apartments and year-over-year changes to studio prices. The median cost of a studio apartment in the Air Capital is $565 a month, Renthop says in the report, meaning the average person would have to spend 17.65% of [...]

‘We care about each other’: Topekans weigh in on city’s homeless initiative

info2024-01-17T10:37:48-06:00January 17th, 2024|

Community leaders are moving into the next phase of addressing the city's homeless population. On Tuesday, the 'Homeless Initiative,' partially led by design chair Brianna Sylver, held an ideation session to brainstorm solutions to Topeka's homeless problem. "The goal is to come up with seven to 10 different solutions," Sylver said. "Typically, those will range in terms of short-term versus long-term solutions." The City of Topeka brought Sylver in to help manage the entire process. The best way, in Sylver's opinion to approach this, is by involving as many people as possible. Topeka residents and community leaders spent for several hours offering [...]

City Council votes for more input on overturning LLC contribution ban

info2024-01-17T10:36:34-06:00January 17th, 2024|

The expected City Council overturn of a 2-week-old ban on contributions to city of Wichita election candidates from limited liability companies and corporations took a detour Tuesday. The Council voted 5-2 to refer the ordinance change to members' district advisory boards, which offer advice and recommendations to each of the six members representing specific areas of the city. Mayor Lily Wu and Council member Becky Tuttle voted to ask for the DAB input, along with the three remaining members who voted for the initial ban Jan. 2 — Maggie Ballard, Mike Hoheisel and Brandon Johnson. New members Dalton Glasscock, who asked last week to [...]

Clay Center City Council passes grant policy

info2024-01-17T10:34:52-06:00January 17th, 2024|

In a meeting that lasted about five minutes, the Clay Center Council swore in Mayor Jimmy Thatcher and recently-reelected council members and approved one agenda item last week on Tuesday, Jan. 2. The sole agenda item that was approved outside the consent agenda was a grant management policy that directed City Clerk Kerry Rozman how to handle grant funds received through a grant applied for by Grow Clay County. Source: www.ccenterdispatch.com - RSS Results in news,local/* of type article

Bobcats spotted by Johnson County officials at Shawnee Mission Park

info2024-01-17T10:33:45-06:00January 17th, 2024|

Two bobcats were spotted roaming Shawnee Mission Park on Tuesday. Johnson County Park and Recreation (JCPRD) Natural Resource staff took pictures of two bobcats walking through the park while doing deer density research. They snapped the rare photo while surveying the area for deer on the south side of Shawnee Mission Park. The "elusive bobcats are secretive but highly adaptable to the urban environment of Johnson County," JCPRD said on X. A bobcat bit a woman in 2022 after she picked up the wild animal off a Liberty, Missouri, road. It's a friendly reminder not to approach these majestic animals, even if they seem [...]

Topeka asks every resident to begin flushing water

info2024-01-17T10:32:38-06:00January 17th, 2024|

The City of Topeka is asking residents to flush possibly contaminated water to restore fresh water for customers. While the City of Topeka, and parts of Shawnee County are still in a Boil Water Advisory, Utilities staff with the City of Topeka are asking all customers, if able, to flush their water. According to a press release from the city, flushing water through their water supply systems could help to make sure fresh water makes it to every residence. The time it takes to flush a system thoroughly varies depending on the size of a building or home. To properly flush, [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for January 16, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-01-17T09:52:48-06:00January 17th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. 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.