Iolans can pay utility bills by text

Iolans have another way to pay their utility bills, City Clerk Roxanne Hutton noted Monday. Customers can manage their utility account and pay through the city’s text messaging service. The service is set up by calling a toll-free number (866) 272-0281, Hutton noted. Customers will receive text reminders about due dates and given the option to pay their bills promptly or on a specific day. The city soon will have its own smart phone app for customers to manage their accounts online as well, Hutton said, much like online users can do at cityofiola.com.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2022-07-27T07:38:55-05:00July 26, 2022|News|

Kansas Star revenue hits all-time low

According to figures reported by the Kansas Lottery and Gaming Commission, the Kansas Star Casino’s gaming revenue for the month of June slipped to a record low. Total revenue reported for the casino in June was $1,171,525.50, with the city of Mulvane, Sedgwick County and Sumner County each receiving a 1% share of $117,152.56. According to The Mulvane News, that is the smallest share recorded since the Kansas Star Casino opened back in mid-December 2011.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2022-07-27T07:40:21-05:00July 26, 2022|News|

Community benefits from spay and neuter program

One of the reasons Salina Animal Services operates is to help control the population of animals in the community, and one of the services that it offers makes a direct impact on helping control the population of unwanted pets. Keeping the animal from reproducing, spaying and neutering cats and dogs, is an effective way to keep animal populations low, a service that animal services understands is a benefit to the community as a whole. “The purpose (of the spay and neuter program) is to make sure we don’t have as many puppies and kittens (in the community),” said Monique Hawley, director of Salina Animal Services.
Source: Salina Journal

Ranson Financial2022-07-26T07:51:41-05:00July 26, 2022|News|

Hutchinson Fire Department holds annual School Supply drive

The Hutchinson Fire Department and its partners are collecting school supplies again. They will be collecting donations from Aug. 5 to 7 at a variety of locations, including the fire departments. The Hutchinson Fire Department began a two-weekend long school supply drive in 2017 to donate to teachers and students in Hutchinson’s schools.
Source: Hutch News

Ranson Financial2022-07-26T07:50:51-05:00July 26, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for July 25, 2022

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

Ranson Financial2022-07-26T07:48:42-05:00July 26, 2022|News|

‘I’m no hero’: Retired cop becomes Cottonwood Falls fire rescuer

Saturday was not Kirk VanDegrift’s first fire rescue. But it was the first time he encountered real people. “I didn’t think. I just did it… It’s just what you do,” VanDegrift said Sunday about his actions before dawn Saturday in Cottonwood Falls. Even though one woman died, he potentially saved others. VanDegrift was sleeping when the fire developed in an apartment building at 801 Eighth Street around 4:16 a.m. “The smell of smoke woke me up,” VanDegrift said. “I thought it might be coming from my apartment, and maybe it was up in the ceiling.” When VanDegrift went outside, he instead found smoke coming from the end of an apartment building. He called 911, then went to the front of the building.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2022-07-26T07:37:59-05:00July 25, 2022|News|

Weir water customers urged to conserve temporarily

Residents of Weir that utilize city water are being asked to conserve their use for the time being due to an accident. According to the city, a break in the Bone Creek service line is being repaired at the moment and it could take some time. Currently, the tower is very low and as a result, those on Weir City water should conserve as much as possible until tomorrow, when a fix is expected. This is not a boil order, Weir officials said only limited use is necessary by customers.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2022-07-26T07:39:06-05:00July 25, 2022|News|

UG Commission hears study findings

The UG was formed 25 years ago from the city of Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County. The consultants discussed potential realignment for the UG. A realignment of county administration was recommended in managing department functioning. The consultants suggested putting like departments together under an assistant administrator. Currently some assistant administrators are over groups of departments that are not like each other, according to the consultants. It is an ideal time to make changes since there were two assistant administrator positions open. Also, the consultants felt the UG could benefit from collaborative work among the departments. They cited the UG’s SOAR program as an initiative that worked among departments.
Source: Wyandotte Daily

Ranson Financial2022-07-26T07:43:58-05:00July 25, 2022|News|

Caldwell begins process of updating 100-year-old water system

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing over $2.2 million in different infrastructure and economic development projects in rural Kansas. One of those projects is in Caldwell, a town of about 1,000 that is in desperate need of water system improvements. Monday morning, the USDA Kansas Director for Rural Development, Christy Davis, announced that the USDA is investing $2,268,200 toward eight community projects across the state. For the City of Caldwell, a $479,000 loan and a $512,000 grant will supplement previous funding for improvements to the water supply system. Funds already assigned to this project include a prior award from Rural Development’s Water and Waste Disposal Loan in the amount of $1,558,000 and a Kansas Department of Commerce-Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $600,000.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-07-26T07:45:25-05:00July 25, 2022|News|

Kansas corrections system grapples with 22.6% vacancy rate among prison staff

Operations at the Lansing Correctional Facility were expected Wednesday to return to normal following lockdown of inmates and deployment of a tactical team and officers from other prisons to quell a melee in the maximum-security unit, state officials said. Violence erupted among inmates Friday night in Lansing’s A Unit and prisoners assaulted corrections officers responding to the disturbance. One inmate was hospitalized with a stab wound and several corrections officers were injured, the union representing officers said. David Thompson, spokesman for the Kansas Department of Corrections, said Tuesday the state prison in Leavenworth County had resumed normal operations in all but maximum-security units. He said an internal inquiry into the fighting, described as a riot by union representatives, would be conducted.
Source: Andover American

Ranson Financial2022-07-26T07:46:41-05:00July 25, 2022|News|

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