Lawrence votes to return 23-ton sacred prayer rock to Kaw Nation, apologize to tribe for city’s past actions

Decades after the City of Lawrence removed a sacred prayer rock from the Kaw Nation’s homelands and made it into a monument honoring settlers, city leaders will begin working to return the rock and issue a formal apology to the tribe. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted 5-0 to move forward with a request from the Kaw Nation to return the 23-ton red quartzite boulder, which is currently in Robinson Park across from City Hall, 6. E. Sixth St. The city will now formally respond to the request and express its intent to work with the tribe and other community partners to seek grants to pay for the relocation of the rock and develop plans for its return to the tribe.
Source: LJWorld.com.

Ranson Financial2021-01-20T08:01:16-06:00January 19, 2021|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for January 15, 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 Financial2021-01-19T06:52:19-06:00January 19, 2021|News|

Torline announces retirement as North Newton administrator

North Newton City Administrator John Torline unceremoniously mentioned his official March 31 retirement date during the Monday night North Newton City Council meeting. This was during a discussion of him wanting to schedule a council spring work session in early March, before his retirement date. Torline told the council he’d like to talk about the past and future status of North Newton during the work session and that he proposed a couple of hours for discussion. He also invited the council to bring other issues to the discussion.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2021-01-19T06:50:47-06:00January 19, 2021|News|

Pittsburg schools launches internet service

As we move further into the digital age, access to the internet is becoming more and more necessary. The pandemic has only highlighted the need, since many students now require it to effectively get an education. Kelynn Heardt, Pittsburg High School Principal, said, “What this has provided is a way for our students to connect without interruption in the their school day.” Access to the internet has been a struggle for many during the pandemic. Families in the Pittsburg Community School system were some of those facing this problem. Dr. Brad Hanson, Pittsburg Community Schools Assistant Superintendent, said, “We surveyed and we found that approximately 20 percent of our families did not have good quality internet service.” So the district decided to do something to make sure students in need could have access to an education, even if they’re learning remotely.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2021-01-19T06:49:54-06:00January 19, 2021|News|

Main Street’s Mural Crawl celebrates downtown art installations

Emporia Main Street is inviting the community to celebrate downtown’s interactive murals with the Main Street Mural Crawl. The murals, located in four places along the retail corridor along Commercial Street, offer the public a place for a fun photo opportunity while encouraging a walk downtown. “Emporia Main Street has been wanting to bring more public art work to downtown for a while,” said Community Development Coordinator Jessica Buchholz. “We know that public art increases pedestrian traffic, which then results in an increase of potential consumers in our retail corridor.”
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2021-01-19T06:49:17-06:00January 19, 2021|News|

New mural goes up in downtown Wichita

A new makeshift art gallery will showcase local artists’ work in downtown Wichita. Bokeh Development, Harvester Arts, and the Wichita Community Foundation joined forces to collaborate with area artists in a series of pieces that will help bring attention to the former pop-up park. “In an effort to sort of create buzz here and keep people looking at this site in anticipation for what’s going to be next,” Kristin Beale, program director at Harvester Arts. “We want people to be able to engage with art without having to go into a museum or a gallery,” said Beale. “This is all about bringing the art to the people, and for the people”
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-01-19T06:48:53-06:00January 19, 2021|News|

Doctors return to rural: After traveling to Peru to learn how to speak Spanish, a couple takes their skills to an underserved western Kansas community

A western Kansas couple is breaking down language barriers, learning to speak Spanish to better serve their community. The United States Census Bureau found that nearly 55% of people in Dodge City speak Spanish, and with a 62% Hispanic demographic on top of that, the demand for more Spanish-speaking doctors became all the more real for Zach and Serina Harvey. It became a need they aimed to fill. After graduating from chiropractic college in 2016 the Harvey’s moved to Peru for three years. The couple studied Spanish while treating patients at a small clinic.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-01-19T06:48:13-06:00January 19, 2021|News|

Iola’s Civil War fort and the widow’s wild ride

Although Humboldt was the more prominent military center in the area, along with other sites like Fort Belmont in Woodson County, at one time Iola’s “fort” had a force of 400 men and filled the area roughly demarcated by Madison, Jefferson, Broadway and South Streets. In the northeast corner of the block stood the Parsons building, which was essentially a Civil War military headquarters (1861-1865), and where many were sworn into service. The structure had initially been intended as a community safehouse in the event of attacks from hostile indigenous forces, but eventually concerns seem to have shifted from incursions by native people to pro-Southern militants.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2021-01-19T06:47:02-06:00January 19, 2021|News|

‘There’s big hope’: Topeka’s Walmart Distribution Center construction helping struggling hotels

The construction of a new Walmart Distribution Center is one of very few things keeping Topeka hotels together. From fewer cars in the parking lot, to fewer people in the lobby and fewer guests filling the rooms, Topeka hotels are taking a hard hit due to the coronavirus pandemic. “At the beginning, the occupancy was, of course, we were low, low occupancy,” said Farid Elias, general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Topeka. “People were scared. They didn’t know what’s going on with the virus, how they can avoid it.”
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2021-01-19T06:45:44-06:00January 19, 2021|News|

Johnson County ‘Phase 2’ vaccine registration now available online

Many Johnson Countians wanting to get the COVID-19 vaccine now have a way to tell county health officials. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment on Friday launched an online survey that allows people in Phase 2 of the county’s vaccine rollout plan to let the county know they’d like to receive the two-dose vaccine when they become eligible.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2021-01-19T06:45:14-06:00January 19, 2021|News|