News – Page 557 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Kayak rentals coming to Vets Park

info2023-11-17T11:28:02-06:00November 17th, 2023|

By next spring, people will be able to rent a kayak and paddle across the lake at Veterans Memorial Park. Director of Kansas Tourism Bridgette Jobe stopped in Great Bend on Tuesday morning to present a “big check,” representing a grant for $12,200 to the Great Bend Convention & Visitors Bureau. This joint project will involve the City of Great Bend and the Great Bend Recreation Commission as well. The plan is to add a kayak rental service that will operate similar to the Bird Scooters that were in Great Bend for a couple of years. Kayaks can be checked out from [...]

Newton to ban tobacco use in city parks

info2023-11-17T11:19:07-06:00November 17th, 2023|

The Newton City Commission has approved a policy to ban tobacco use at city parks and outdoor recreational areas. The Tobacco-Free Parks policy will be effective on January 1st, 2024, and it will ban tobacco use in city-owned recreational areas, including parks, playgrounds, trails and athletic fields. Sand Creek Golf Station will be exempt from the policy. The Healthy Harvey Coalition asked Newton High School students last spring to help with a study on tobacco litter in city parks, and in one park, the students filled a seven-liter bucket with discarded tobacco products. The Coalition also helped to encourage the City of [...]

Bel Aire officials looking into problems with street project

info2023-11-17T11:18:18-06:00November 17th, 2023|

There have been delays in completing a street improvement project in the city of Bel Aire, two years after construction began. Work on the project has stopped and the city is working on testing and inspections to determine when it can be started again. Bel Aire Mayor Jim Benage provided an update on Facebook on the project to improve Woodlawn between 37th and 45th Streets North. He said the wheel paths in the east lanes are deforming, cracking, slipping, and sinking. The city has hired a firm to take soil samples and results will be studied by the project engineers, the Bel Aire City [...]

The market thinks the Fed is going to start cutting rates aggressively. Investors could be in for a letdown

info2023-11-17T11:17:06-06:00November 17th, 2023|

Markets seem to have taken this week's positive economic data as the all-clear signal for the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates aggressively next year. Indications that both consumer and wholesale inflation rates have eased considerably from their mid-2022 peaks sent traders into a frenzy, with the most recent indications on the CME Group's FedWatch gauge pointing to a full percentage point of cuts by the end of 2024. That may be at least a tad optimistic, particularly considering the cautious approach central bank officials have taken during their campaign to bring down prices. "The case isn't conclusively made yet," [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for November 16, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-11-17T08:37:03-06:00November 17th, 2023|

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.

Shawnee County is seeing record revenues at its golf courses this year

info2023-11-16T11:03:05-06:00November 16th, 2023|

Shawnee County's government has set a record this year for golf revenue, with one key reason being COVID-19, an official says. Many new golfers took up the game during the pandemic, when it was among the few activities available. Now, they continue to play, Josh Maike explained Monday to The Capital-Journal. County golf revenues eclipsed $2 million for the first time this year, county commissioners learned at a work session Monday from Maike, recreation superintendent for Shawnee County Parks and Recreation. The previous record was $1,805,080, set last year, he told The Capital-Journal. Other reasons Shawnee County set the record include [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for November 15, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-11-16T07:22:07-06:00November 16th, 2023|

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.

Newton hires McPherson’s Daniela Rivas as its next city manager

info2023-11-16T08:15:50-06:00November 15th, 2023|

The Newton City Commission approved a contract to hire Daniela Rivas as its next city manager. Rivas, who works as an assistant city administrator/finance director for the City of McPherson will replace Kelly McElroy, who left the city position in October. According to information released by the city, Rivas grew up in Wichita and has family in Newton, and her familiarity with the community is one of the factors that drew her to the job. “Having spent my summers in Newton growing up, I know what a special community it is,” Rivas said. “I’m honored and excited to contribute to the [...]

Pickleball noise causing issues at this Prairie Village park

info2023-11-16T08:10:00-06:00November 15th, 2023|

Prairie Village is looking at four different options for alleviating pickleball noise coming from public courts at Windsor Park. Residents near the park at 7200 Windsor St. have shared concerns about the incessant noise of paddles hitting balls at six pickleball courts that were installed at the park in June. ... The Prairie Village City Council last week gave city staff the green light to explore options for four different types of possible sound mitigation at the park. Source: Prairie Village Post

Lawrence Police Department prioritizing calls by solvability; non-officer responders working out well, chief says

info2023-11-16T08:10:31-06:00November 15th, 2023|

The Lawrence Police Department is prioritizing calls by how solvable they are, LPD Chief Rich Lockhart told city commissioners Tuesday, and the addition of four non-officer responders has helped with efficiency. The department is now using a solvability matrix to guide its members’ efforts, he said. They’re going to focus and investigators’ time on violent crimes against people and the most severe and solvable crimes. Emergency dispatch will help classify calls as they’re received, and Lockhart said someone with the department will call people and let them know they’re going to have a delayed response and offer to schedule a time [...]