Parade of Quilts returns to downtown Yoder

The 22nd Annual Parade of Quilts is on display for the month of March, featuring about 90 original, hand-stitched quilts made in a variety of patterns, colors and sizes. “People enjoy looking at the quilts, (there is a) nice variety of colors and patterns,” said Linda Miller, Parade of Quilts coordinator. “We think it is a fun event for the community, and it draws people in to Yoder.” The patterns range from traditional to modern and include lone star, log cabin, starburst and bargello. There are also unique wedding ring traditional patterns, but one of the most popular ones is the compass star pattern.
Source: Salina Journal

Ranson Financial2022-03-14T15:38:28-05:00March 14, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for March 11, 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 Financial2022-03-14T09:36:54-05:00March 14, 2022|News|

Harvey County to end recycling program May 1

The Board of Harvey County Commissioners eliminated the county’s recycling program Tuesday morning on a 3-0 vote. The change will take effect May 1. County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber presented commissioners with additional fee structures that would be more affordable for those choosing to recycle. The suggested fees cost $12 for residents to bring in 100 pounds or fewer of recyclables and $36 for up to 300 pounds. Under the first proposal presented to commissioners last week, residents would have had to pay $48 for up to 500 pounds. Commissioner Randy Hague asked if the county would hold off on purchasing any equipment for the recycling program until the City of Newton decided whether to continue accepting recyclables.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-03-14T09:33:13-05:00March 14, 2022|News|

Construction superintendent dies after on-the-job injury at Wichita’s new water plant

Work has been suspended at the Wichita Northwest Water Treatment Facility after a superintendent for one of the companies building the new water plant was fatally injured on the job. Family members have identified the man as 55-year-old Manuel Esparza, of Wichita, a superintendent for UCI Industrial Construction Services, a subcontractor on the Wichita Water Partners team hired by the city of Wichita. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation into Esparza’s death, city officials confirmed Friday. Neither the city nor Wichita Water Partners — a joint-venture headed by Missouri companies Burns & McDonnell and Alberici — would give any details of the circumstances surrounding Esparza’s injury or death.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2022-03-14T09:33:25-05:00March 14, 2022|News|

SE Kansas officials reflect on pandemic 2nd anniversary

The world changed two years ago when the pandemic first began. Health departments plan for events like this — but the newness of COVID-19 forced many to adjust on the spot. Now with cases going down, many departments are hoping to use the lessons learned during this time in the event something like this happens again. “A lot of what’s been going on with this pandemic will prepare us for, God forbid if we have another one,” said Teddi Van Kam, Crawford County Health Officer. The coronavirus first hit Cherokee County on March 19th, 2020. Constant updates to the science and guidelines had health departments adapting on a daily basis. But the virus wasn’t the only thing they had to contend with.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2022-03-14T00:50:52-05:00March 14, 2022|News|

Federal Reserve expected to raise interest rates in week ahead, as Ukraine crisis adds volatility

Investors may take the Federal Reserve’s first post-pandemic interest rate hike in stride, while uncertainty over the Ukraine crisis continues to hang over markets. The Fed has clearly broadcast that it intends to raise its target fed funds rate by a quarter percentage point from zero, and it is expected to announce that move at the end of its two-day meeting Wednesday. The central bank should also reveal new forecasts for interest rates, inflation and the economy. There are a few economic reports of note in the week ahead, including the producer price index Tuesday, retail sales Wednesday and existing home sales Friday. “Earnings are over. Monetary policy is obviously going to be important here. I don’t see the Fed surprising anyone next week,” said Steve Massocca, managing director at Wedbush Securities. “It’s going to be a quarter point and then step into the background and watch what’s happening in Europe.”
Source: CNBC

Ranson Financial2022-03-14T09:33:51-05:00March 14, 2022|News|

Gardner to offer signing bonuses for police new hires; approves 2 % COLA

Gardner sworn officers and city staff will be receiving a two percent increase cost of living compensation bonus and benefit package. Todd Winters, mayor, approved the updated salary structure and compensation plan at the March 7 city council meeting. The COLA would be in addition to Gardner’s annual merit pay increase which was budgeted at $286,500. The starting salary for a police officer is currently $21.646 per hour; Gardner has 32 sworn officers currently on staff (includes all ranks) and six vacant sworn officer positions. Matt Wolff, finance director, said the plan is to help ease the burden of the current seven percent inflation. “Everything is going up,” he said. Wolff said it would also help make the city more competitive and hiring and retaining sworn officers was a national issue not just a local issue.
Source: Gardner News

Ranson Financial2022-03-14T09:34:16-05:00March 14, 2022|News|

Study: Irrigation boosts western Kansas land values by $3.8B

A recent report of the value of water in western Kansas by two Kansas State University agricultural economists has concluded that land values in that part of the state are $3.8 billion greater today than they otherwise would be without access to the Ogallala Aquifer. “It’s a large, substantial number and it provides evidence of just how valuable irrigation is in western Kansas,” said Gabe Sampson, an associate professor in K-State’s Department of Agricultural Economics. The study takes a look at ways water is captured in order to make a judgment on its value. In this case, farmers draw water from the aquifer to irrigate farm crops and raise livestock; in 2013, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service listed sales from eight western Kansas counties overlying the aquifer at $4.7 billion, or about one-third of total agriculture revenue in the entire state.
Source: themercury.com

Ranson Financial2022-03-14T09:34:44-05:00March 14, 2022|News|

Goddard looks at new fees for developers

Goddard city council members continued their discussion at Monday’s meeting of new sewer and water fees for residential and commercial developments in the city. The city is considering adding a sewer plant equity fee and a water infrastructure equity fee, which in effect would add fees to what is required before a building permit is issued. Currently the city charges $1,500 per new residential home to tap into city water and $1,500 to tap into city sewer.
Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers

Ranson Financial2022-03-14T09:35:34-05:00March 14, 2022|News|

Fed to Start Rate Hikes With License to Turn Aggressive Later

The Federal Reserve will this week begin a multi-month campaign to conquer inflation that could see Chair Jerome Powell moving even more aggressively after Russia’s war on Ukraine fanned prices further. Already pivoting to tightening monetary policy amid the fastest consumer price gains in four decades, Powell and colleagues now have to deal with the economic fallout of the war, which threatens to deliver the twin blows of weaker growth and even-quicker inflation. With a 25 basis-point hike near-certain on Wednesday after Powell took the rare step of publicly backing such a shift, futures markets show around 165 basis points of tightening this year, or the equivalent of at least six quarter-point increases.
Source: Bloomberg

Ranson Financial2022-03-14T00:30:01-05:00March 14, 2022|News|

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