How one airline leaving small Kansas airports could deal a blow to the state’s rural economy

The COVID-19 pandemic hit air travel hard. The number of canceled flights skyrocketed, airlines hemorrhaged billions in losses and a lack of passengers turned once-bustling airports into ghost towns. For rural airports like the one in Hays — not bustling, but critical in their own way — the shutdowns hurt that much more. At the height of 2020’s stay-at-home orders, just 29 people flew out of Hays Regional Airport in the entire month of April. Time and again, airport director Jamie Salter said, some planes would take off with no passengers at all. “There were some times they’d come and they’d have nobody on,” Salter said. “I hope that’s something we will never see again.”
Source: KCUR News

Ranson Financial2022-05-24T07:35:59-05:00May 23, 2022|News|

Public Works held final debris pick up day for tornado victims

It’s been more than three weeks since an EF-3 tornado touched down in Andover and parts of Sedgwick County, destroying many buildings and homes in it’s path. Since that day, it’s been a team effort as volunteers, crews, and city workers work to clean up the devastation. Monday marked the last day the City of Andover and Sedgwick County public works employees were in the areas to pick up debris. For some homeowners in Andover, all that remains is carpet, walls, mattresses, refrigerators, and toilets. Public works employees take what remains to the landfill. “It’s been a lot of work. I know the residents have had a ton of work on their end. There’s been a lot of volunteers,” said Rick Lanzrath, the director of public works for Andover.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-05-23T23:26:21-05:00May 23, 2022|News|

Arma shows why it’s the ‘French Cookie Capital’

Southeast Kansas was keeping tradition alive Sunday with cookies. The Miner’s Hall Museum opened its doors for A Taste of Arma. It’s the second presentation part of the museum’s quarterly exhibit exploring the history of city. Today focused on the history of French cookies in Arma. The original Belgi Galette French cookie iron you see here was replicated in Arma and Pittsburg. It helped the cookie gain popularity within the community, especially during weddings and Christmas. According to today’s presenter Rachelle Mengarelli, this helped make Arma the French cookie capital of Kansas.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2022-05-23T23:25:09-05:00May 23, 2022|News|

Wichita schools will see an increase in lunch prices, but help may be available

The price of school lunch will increase by 25 cents in the Wichita district this fall. USD 259 operations divisions director Fabián Armendáriz said the decision was not made by the district, but at the federal level by the United States Department of Agriculture. “USDA, which oversees school lunch programs, basically states that we need to analyze meal pricing every year in order to remain compliant … Because of increased cost of food, our average cost to produce meals has increased; so we are looking at a 25-cent increase on all levels in order to remain solid and compliant,” Armendáriz said.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2022-05-24T07:37:12-05:00May 23, 2022|News|

Merriam needs 10 property owners’ OK to move forward on $2.6M 55th Street project

The city of Merriam is taking steps to move forward on a $2.6 million project along 55th Street but must first try to gain the approval of some property owners who have yet to sign off on temporary construction easements in the right-of-ways in front of their properties. Why it matters: The long sought after project to improve the 55th Street corridor can’t continue until the city gets all 35 impacted property owners to sign off on temporary construction easements to work in the right-of-ways. Currently, there are 10 property owners that have yet to give the city the green light. If they do not, then the city will have to petition Johnson County District Court to legally acquire the parts of the properties needed to accommodate road work and stage equipment.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-05-23T23:19:42-05:00May 23, 2022|News|

Advisory board calls for transparency in Lawrence’s social services funding process

As the City of Lawrence formulates its 2023 budget, some social services leaders and members of an advisory board want more transparency, equity and public engagement in the priority-based budgeting process used to distribute funding for social service agencies. Members of the Special Alcohol Funding Advisory Board (SAFAB) are charged with reviewing requests and making funding recommendations for the special alcohol tax to the Lawrence City Commission. They submitted their annual report to Assistant City Manager Casey Toomay in late April demanding clarity in the process and their role in it. They also want city officials to acknowledge the power differential between the city and social service agencies within the current process.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2022-05-24T07:38:27-05:00May 23, 2022|News|

Hutchinson plant hit with more layoffs, ‘hibernation’ as wind turbine industry faces challenges

An international wind turbine company’s struggles — and overall headwinds the onshore wind industry is facing — are having an impact on south-central Kansas. On Friday, Siemens Gamesa announced its nacelle assembly facility in Hutchison and its blade manufacturing plant in Fort Madison, Iowa, will be put into “temporary hibernation” in July and June, respectively, due to what the company called “production demand” issues in the U.S. onshore market. Ninety-two employees in Hutchinson and 171 in Forth Madison are being laid off. “The hibernation of our manufacturing and assembly facilities is an unfortunate but necessary measure to address the current challenges in the U.S. onshore wind market,” said Shannon Sturgil, the company’s CEO of Onshore North America, in a news release. “We continue to pursue new orders and remain fully committed to finding a path in support of our Fort Madison and Hutchinson manufacturing facilities.”
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Ranson Financial2022-05-23T23:08:06-05:00May 23, 2022|News|

Emergency units prepare for major earthquake

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a 2.2-magnitude earthquake in South Hutchinson just before 9:24 p.m. Monday, with its epicenter just off West Sixth Avenue and North Broadacres Road. It was the first earthquake recorded in the county since July of last year. Then, at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, local emergency response officials reported another, much larger quake. This one resulted in more than two dozen injuries and was centered at the former Dillon Living Center on the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center campus. The second quake was a scenario created by local emergency response officials to conduct a mass casualty exercise involving more than 100 people from at least a half dozen agencies. It had been scheduled six months in advance.
Source: Hutch News

Ranson Financial2022-05-23T07:36:15-05:00May 23, 2022|News|

Salina is preparing to reach 50,000 people

Salina is in a unique place of growth, with employers finding it a great location to bring new industry, with new employees buying and renting houses to a point where the city is in a housing crisis. The population of this city has been close to the 50,000 mark for a while, with many people expecting Salina to reach that mark in the next few years. “For a long time, there’s been community discussion as if 50,000 is the threshold for certain retail and restaurants,” said Salina City Manager Mike Schrage. h Schrage said while that perception is somewhat true, there are other factors that businesses look at, and Salina, as a trade center for the region, can still bring in some of those businesses.
Source: Salina Journal

Ranson Financial2022-05-23T07:33:52-05:00May 23, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for May 20, 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 Financial2022-05-23T07:27:28-05:00May 23, 2022|News|