Ark City kicks off 150th Celebration today

The City of Arkansas City will celebrate its 150th anniversary (sesquicentennial) starting tonight with a kickoff event in downtown Ark City. The 100 block of South Summit Street will be blocked off to through traffic from 2 to 10 p.m. today between Central and Fifth avenues. (The avenues will remain open to east-west traffic.) A variety of entertainment will be available in the street, including a cornhole tournament and picnic tables. Music will be provided by Aztec Event Services and there will be food available for attendees.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2021-07-14T08:08:15-05:00July 14, 2021|News|

Tiny cottages being built in McPherson to provide transitional housing for those experiencing homelessness

The McPherson Housing Coalition is building ten tiny cottages near the corner of Oak and Skancke in Mcpherson. Chris Goodson, the Executive Director for the coalition, says the fully finished, 440 sq. ft. homes will serve as shelter for people experiencing homelessness or those at risk of homelessness. “It’s going to be a life-changer for many, many families,” said Goodson. The Program Director for the Housing Coalition, Karolyn Moore, says the project costs around half a million dollars, with each cottage costing roughly $50,000. The cottages will consist of two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, and a laundry area.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-07-14T08:07:36-05:00July 14, 2021|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for July 13, 2021

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 Financial2021-07-14T07:58:19-05:00July 14, 2021|News|

Humboldt locals fight early Sunday sales

Possibly realizing they were up against powerful forces, Humboldt Council members changed their tune Monday evening and decided not to pursue Sunday morning sales of alcohol. About 15 local citizens attended the meeting specifically to oppose the city changing its ordinance to allow sales to begin at 9 a.m., rather than at noon. At their June 14 meeting, council members seemed inclined to approve the request after hearing appeals from Dan Onnen of Freedom Liquor Store and Suzanne Whitcomb of Pete’s Convenience. … During the intervening month, however, it seems the idea has festered with some. At Monday’s meeting several letters and a petition with 63 signatures opposing the ordinance were presented.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2021-07-14T07:59:26-05:00July 13, 2021|News|

Shawnee launches banner project to honor local veterans

The City of Shawnee is working on a new way to honor veterans living in the community. The Hometown Hero project creates banners featuring the names of veterans and active duty service members from the six major branches of the military to be installed on streetlights downtown. Derrick Rolfo is a Shawnee firefighter who came up with the idea for the project and modeled it after a similar program in his hometown of Visalia, California. Rolfo served in the Marines Corps from 2002 to 2006. “It was great driving down the road and being able to see the banner with your name on it. Your friends and your family see it. It’s just a great feeling to have the city support you and what you did as a service member in the United States military,” Rolfo said. Veterans and military families can purchase a 2’ by 4’ banner for $100. To qualify the veteran or active duty service member must live or work in Shawnee or be a former resident.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF

Ranson Financial2021-07-13T22:18:52-05:00July 13, 2021|News|

Overland Park moves forward with plans to convert hotel to apartment complex

Developers are one step closer to converting an Overland Park hotel into a new multi-family apartment complex. Monday, the Overland Park Planning Commission voted 9-0 to approve a request to rezone 10610 Marty Street from a Planned Office Building District (CP-O) to a Planned High-Rise Apartment District (RP-6). The property currently houses a three-story La Quinta Inn & Suites that was built in 1987. Developers want to remodel the existing 143 hotel rooms into 121 studio units and 22 one-bedroom units. To be classified at an RP-6 District, the property must maintain one major amenity and three minor amenities. According to city documents, the major amenity will be the hotel’s existing swimming pool. The minor amenities will include an outdoor patio space, a gazebo and picnic area, two barbeque grills and a recreation area.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF

Ranson Financial2021-07-13T22:17:24-05:00July 13, 2021|News|

Wichita City Council delays action on anti-discrimination ordinance

After another round of public comments Tuesday, the Wichita City Council has voted to delay final action on a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance until October 12th. The vote was 5-2, with Mayor Brandon Whipple and Vice-Mayor Brandon Johnson voting no. Mayor Whipple said the ordinance has been discussed and vetted and he wanted the council to finish the work that has been started. As they did a week ago, the Council heard from a number of speakers, many of them in support but others said the ordinance would have a negative impact on churches. District 2 Council member Becky Tuttle moved to delay action until October 12th to allow the city’s Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights Board to look at the proposed ordinance and comment on it. She also wants to have a city council workshop on the issue. Tuttle said there is still too much confusion over the ordinance and what it provides for.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2021-07-14T08:00:19-05:00July 13, 2021|News|

Topeka’s NOTO may become a business improvement district. What does that mean, and who would it impact?

North Topeka’s NOTO Arts & Entertainment District has placed greater emphasis in recent years on creating a destination for locals and visitors alike — but up to this point, such improvement efforts have largely been grassroots. That has sparked questions among members of the community about how to keep beautification projects in the arts district going long term. “Part of the challenge with that is, how do you support it?” said Tom Underwood, NOTO executive director. Underwood and business owners in the district have engaged in conversations over the past year about the possibility of standing up a business improvement district, or BID, in NOTO, as they see it as a way to grow and enhance what the arts district offers.
Source: CJonline.com.

Ranson Financial2021-07-13T07:05:34-05:00July 13, 2021|News|

Abilene’s Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo returns to celebrate its 75th anniversary

Celebrating its 75th anniversary when it commences next month, tickets are now on sale for the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo in Abilene. Happening from Aug. 4 to Aug. 7 at the Central Kansas Free Fairgrounds, the rodeo returns after being canceled, along with the rest of the Central Kansas Free Fair, in 2020. …to honor the 75th anniversary, a herd of longhorn cattle, from Sanders Ranch in Woodward, Oklahoma, will visit the rodeo. The herd will be part of the parade and driven into the the rodeo arena before and after the rodeo.
Source: Salina Journal.

Ranson Financial2021-07-13T07:03:00-05:00July 13, 2021|News|

Kansas heritage sites can help save rural communities

…when a National Heritage Area is designated, landowners have the option to allow their property to be used or not. There is also a stipulation that if land owners opt in but change their minds later, they can opt out and have their land removed from the designation area. A designation provides a community the freedom to renovate, preserve and market local places that are of state and national significance. For example, Freedom’s Frontier directly supports its sites in two ways. First, it offers grants to fund on-the-ground projects. And second, it works to promote the entire region in a way that smaller entities could never afford on their own. One such tool is the Freedom’s Frontier App, where tourists download themed maps such as the Underground Railroad, Santa Fe Trail, or Civil War. Visitors can then travel to each site learning Kansas history and adding to a town’s economy as they go.
Source: Kansas Reflector

Ranson Financial2021-07-13T06:53:45-05:00July 13, 2021|News|

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