News – Page 709 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Kansas firefighters receive $16.8 million from Kansas Insurance Department

info2023-06-20T09:57:54-05:00June 20th, 2023|

The Kansas Insurance Department has made its annual distribution to local Firefighter Relief Associations (FRAs). Pursuant to the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act, over $16.8 million has been distributed among 554 local FRAs throughout the state. Kansas Insurance Dept. Commissioner Vicki Schmidt said in a press release, “Firefighters put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act acknowledges that by providing additional protections for firefighters and their loved ones. The Act not only gives first responders needed safety nets, but it also allows local communities to provide their citizens with improved firefighting equipment and resources.” [...]

Funding available to power clean energy in rural communities

info2023-06-20T00:47:33-05:00June 20th, 2023|

Wind, solar, and other renewable energy projects offer a significant opportunity to revitalize rural communities and diversify the local economy. Increased tax revenue from renewable energy projects enables school districts, cities, and other entities to address local emergency services and infrastructure improvement needs while reducing the local tax burden. Additionally, farmers and landowners can earn additional income through land-lease payments from project developers, and new job opportunities arise during the development, construction, and operation of a project. Those economic benefits have not gone unnoticed in Washington, D.C. Source: Pratt Tribune

Vogts Parga moving to Moundridge

info2023-06-19T10:41:13-05:00June 19th, 2023|

Vogts Parga will be moving its office from downtown Newton to Moundridge. Rene Parga, owner, said the decision was based on the opportunity to put the office next to the company’s shop. “I hate to leave, but we have a better chance to have everything together,” he said. The company recently purchased buildings along I-135 highway and Highway 260 (Arrowhead Road) in Moundridge. A notice on the company’s website said the property will allow space to provide room for future growth. Parga said the company rented the Newton office and will be out of it by the end of 2023. Source: Harvey [...]

Sedgwick County plans to build a new emergency preparedness center

info2023-06-20T07:24:09-05:00June 19th, 2023|

Sedgwick County is buying land to build a new emergency preparedness center in southwest Wichita. Construction of the roughly 27,000-square-foot facility is expected to cost around $16 million. A federal grant the county plans to apply for could finance 70% of the project. The county commission voted unanimously at a special meeting Friday to purchase 4.9 acres at the southwest corner of MacArthur Road and South Meridian Avenue for $613,934. The county expects to close on the property next week. The site at MacArthur Road and South Meridian Avenue that Sedgwick County will purchase to construct a new Emergency Preparedness Center. [...]

Stan Herds earthwork revering John Brown to be unveiled Saturday in Osawatomie

info2023-06-20T07:23:54-05:00June 19th, 2023|

Lawrence artist Stan Herd has created an earthwork portrait of Kansas abolitionist John Brown for the City of Osawatomie. The first-of-its-kind tribute to Brown is set to be unveiled on Saturday. The land artwork is located at John Brown Memorial Park in Osawatomie. The city in April announced the new partnership with Herd in an “effort to highlight the city’s critical role in pre-Civil War American history” and “transition the currently-state maintained historic site into a national park and museum, much akin to the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia,” according to a news release. Source: The Lawrence Times

Sedgwick County FD uses new service to alert drivers

info2023-06-19T10:30:31-05:00June 19th, 2023|

Sedgwick County Fire District 1 (SCFD) now has a new way to warn drivers that a fire truck is responding to an emergency and motorists need to use caution. SCFD vehicles were recently equipped with a system called HAAS Alert that automatically sends digital notifications to drivers in the area when a fire truck’s lights and sirens are activated. The alerts appear through GPS on cars’ navigation and entertainment screens and on drivers’ cell phones, letting them know a fire truck is en route or on the scene of an urgent call. This advance warning, in addition to traditional lights and [...]

Douglass city pool adds color

info2023-06-20T09:59:30-05:00June 19th, 2023|

Douglass city pool got some bright new colors painted on its walls. It all started when the Douglass pool got new management at the beginning of the summer. They contacted a local town artist, and author Jessica Williams to see if she could paint the entrance and a couple murals on the inside walls as well. Williams has been an art enthusiast since she can remember, taking all the art classes and clubs she could. She even got to be a part of the K-State Mural team where she painted a couple murals on the K-State campus that she says are [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for June 16, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-06-19T09:02:11-05:00June 19th, 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.

Sedgwick schools and rec commission discuss working together

info2023-06-20T10:00:01-05:00June 19th, 2023|

USD 439 and the Sedgwick Recreation Commission have agreed to consolidate their effort in offering a wellness center to the community but they still have obstacles to overcome in making it a reality. Superintendent Greg Lehr said the district plans to have the outdoor track, the indoor walking track, the new gymnasium, and the cardio/fitness room available for use by anyone living inside the district’s parameters. He said they don’t plan to make the heavy weight room available to the public but could consider its use on a case-by-case basis. Lehr said construction was scheduled to be done in mid-September and [...]

Next Newton mural revealed installation set for summer

info2023-06-19T08:15:19-05:00June 19th, 2023|

A character by the name of Jack Pumpkinhead was featured in at least one of the Oz books by L. Frank Baum. Many people don’t know about his appearance in the book “Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz” because he wasn’t in the movie. That is Oz book No. 23. The people of Newton will become more acquainted with the character because he’s one of five characters featured on the Newton Arts & Murals Project’s next mural, the Meadowlark Mural, which will be on the back of the freestanding mural near the Main Street railroad track crossing and the north Old Mill parking [...]