New project in Parsons park would serve those with physical and sensory needs

An effort is underway in Parsons to create a park that everyone can enjoy. The Parsons State Hospital and Training Center has partnered with the City of Parsons to upgrade Railroad Park. The new project would turn the existing area into an inclusive sensory park for those with physical, sensory, or other needs. Right now the project is focused on generating at least $150,000 in funds through grants and community support. “We’ll have to do fundraisers, of course, and private donations will always be accepted. We have volunteer help with the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts, I’ve had churches that are very interested in helping,” said Marlys Sohmber-Jones, Parsons State Hospital Program Consultant.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2022-01-27T07:21:31-06:00January 27, 2022|News|

Dog owner appeals ‘pick up, pay up’ order

A Peabody woman who three times has been accused of letting her dogs run free is appealing a ruling that she pick her dogs up from boarding and not return them to Peabody or else they will be adopted out. Terri Tucker was ordered Jan. 12 to pay $265 for having two dogs at large. She pleaded no contest in exchange for dismissal of two charges of no proof of vaccination and two charges of having dogs with no city tags.
Source: Marion County RECORD

Ranson Financial2022-01-27T07:22:20-06:00January 27, 2022|News|

Manhattan city government struggles with staffing shortages

The Manhattan city government is struggling with a lack of staff, according to various department leaders. Department heads on Tuesday updated the Manhattan City Commission about the things they accomplished in 2021, challenges to their departments and goals for 2022. They provided updates as a lead-in to the commission’s retreat on Friday. All departments mentioned being short-staffed, and the city is working on updating its compensation package in hopes to retaining and hiring employees. According to exit interviews, human resources director Tammy Galvan said the top five reasons people left were lack of advancement, under compensation, performance evaluation, training and leadership.
Source: themercury.com

Ranson Financial2022-01-27T07:22:35-06:00January 27, 2022|News|

Wichita Set To Host Best Professional Bull Riders In Major Tour

The best bull riders in the world have April 23rd marked on their calendars as a Professional Bull Riders (PBR) tour returns to Wichita, Kansas. It’s the PBR Nexgrill Invitational of the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, according to Kacie Albert at the Wrangler Network. “For one night only, top bull riders will battle the sport’s rankest bovine athletes in the ultimate showdown,” Albert promised.
Source: WIBW News Now

Ranson Financial2022-01-27T07:23:14-06:00January 27, 2022|News|

Bleeding Kansas Series Planned Six Sundays At Historic Lecompton

History of troubled times in Kansas before statehood and during the Civil War are being relived. It’s the Bleeding Kansas Program Series featured the next six Sundays at the Constitutional Hall State Historic Site in Lecompton. ‘We’ll have six different programs starting January 30th through March 6th,” announced Paul Bahnmaier of the Lecompton Historical Society. “On Sundays at 2 o’clock, there’ll be dramatic presentations about Kansas’ violent times from 1854 through 1865,” Bahnmaier said. Kicking off January 30th is the Kansas Day program with faces of the Free State House. It’ll feature the first general assembly of the territory of Kansas legally elected by the people.
Source: WIBW News Now

Ranson Financial2022-01-27T00:13:08-06:00January 27, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for January 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 Financial2022-01-26T07:43:38-06:00January 26, 2022|News|

Ortiz has City Manager aspirations

Becoming a city manager has been the dream of Olivia Ortiz since she was seven years old. It may seem young to have aspirations, but when your father is a city manager that all changes. “My father used to take me to functions and I got to know some of the other city managers. The programs were very interesting,” Ortiz said. Her father served as the city manager for Eudora, Kansas but has since retired. … At this time Ortiz is working for the City of Atchison, but she told the story of how she started. “I talked to Justin Pergont, interim city manager, and told him I would love to work for the city,” Ortiz said. “He told me that unfortunately there wasn’t money set aside for an intern. I responded that I didn’t care I wanted the opportunity to serve.”
Source: Atchison Globe Now

Ranson Financial2022-01-26T07:41:46-06:00January 26, 2022|News|

City and County Combine Tourism

In a continuing effort by Bourbon County and the City of Fort Scott leadership to combine services, the city’s tourism department will come under the Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc. Jackson Tough, the City of Fort Scott’s Tourism Director moved his office into the Bourbon County REDI office at Landmark Bank today. The city’s tourism department is funded through a Transient Guest Tax, Harrington said. “Any money left from the transient guest tax, after the administrative stuff, payroll, FICA, and any incumbrances…will come to REDI for marketing.”
Source: Fort Scott Biz

Ranson Financial2022-01-26T07:39:32-06:00January 26, 2022|News|

CNBC Fed Survey forecasts more aggressive Fed tightening

The CNBC Fed Survey shows market expectations have turned aggressive for Federal Reserve policy tightening this year and next, with respondents looking for multiple rate hikes and significant balance sheet reduction. The first hike is now firmly seen coming in March, compared with a June expectation in the December survey. Respondents expect 3.5 rate hikes this year, showing that three are agreed but there is debate over whether there’s a fourth. Half of the 36 respondents see two or three hikes this year, and half see four or five. An additional three hikes are expected next year. That makes the forecast for a funds rate of just over 1% this year, compared to around zero now, 1.8% in 2023 and a terminal rate, or the end-point of the hiking cycle, at 2.4% reached in March 2024.
Source: CNBC

Ranson Financial2022-01-26T07:32:12-06:00January 25, 2022|News|

Muni 5-year hits 1%, 10-year at a high not seen since April 2020

Municipals faced more cuts to triple-A benchmark yields with the five-year hitting 1%, a level not seen on Refinitiv MMD’s curve since May 2020 and the 10-year at 1.34%, a rate high not seen since April 2020 when the market was in recovery from the initial COVID-induced selloff. U.S. Treasuries were slightly weaker while equities ended in the red after paring back much larger losses earlier in the day ahead of Wednesday’s much-anticipated FOMC meeting.
Source: The Bond Buyer

Ranson Financial2022-01-26T07:33:36-06:00January 25, 2022|News|