USDA approves Spearville Senior Living funding

A local group of senior adults recently received some good news in hard times. According to a news release, the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development approved an application from Spearville Senior Living Inc. and awarded the organization $4 million in funding for a local senior living project — a campus to be named Sunrise at Spearville. “This is a loan at a very favorable interest rate,” Ron Temaat, Spearville Senior Living board of directors chairman, said in the release. “This project could not happen without USDA funding. We are very grateful.”
Source: News – The Hays Daily News

Ranson Financial2020-08-24T07:32:45-05:00August 23, 2020|News|

Roeland Park breaks ground on Aquatic Center improvements, on track for completion before 2021 pool season

The city of Roeland Park last week celebrated the groundbreaking of improvements to the Roeland Park Aquatic Center, 4843 Rosewood Drive. The city council last month awarded a $1.6 million aquatic center improvement contract to Royal Construction. Mayor Mike Kelly said the aquatic center groundbreaking is a bit of good news for the city amid COVID-19, especially considering the lack of a 2020 pool season. “One of the silver linings and one of the hopeful things that we have is this aquatic center revitalization,” Kelly said. “Being able to break ground on that was very encouraging.”
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2020-08-24T07:34:09-05:00August 23, 2020|News|

Topekans look to regain momentum

After a pause in momentum during the coronavirus pandemic, Topeka’s five-year community development plan is getting back on track. According to Michelle Cuevas-Stubblefield, senior vice president of strategy for the Greater Topeka Partnership, Momentum 2022 is still very much alive, and the handful of workgroups tasked with pursuing different initiatives to push that plan forward are re-engaging this month. “We’re still going to monitor COVID, and we’re going to address that,” she said, “but at the same time, it’s time to get our momentum back.” Cuevas-Stubblefield said Momentum 2022 had been put on hold in March when COVID-19 cases and effects of the pandemic began to reach Topeka and Shawnee County.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal

Ranson Financial2020-08-24T07:34:19-05:00August 23, 2020|News|

Johnson County COVID-19 stories from public will help government decide on funding

So it can better distribute federal relief money, Johnson County government wants to know more about the impact of COVID-19 on those who live and work in the county. By an extended deadline of Aug. 24, officials will accept stories about the how the illness, and efforts to limit its spread, have affected households, businesses and organizations. The county has received about $30 million in Phase II funding under the federal CARES Act. Officials have identified six areas for investment of the money: mental health, aging, housing, small business assistance, workforce development and digital access.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2020-08-24T07:34:46-05:00August 23, 2020|News|

Edgerton’s new trail under construction

Construction on Edgerton’s new pedestrian trail along 56 Highway began the last week of July. The new asphalt trail will run from 1st Street to 7th Street when fully complete, but work will be broken up into two phases. The first phase will connect 1st Street to Edgerton Elementary. The second phase runs from the school to 7th Street. The new trail will drastically improve safety for pedestrians and provide important connections to the businesses along 56 Highway. This spring, Edgerton City Council members approved a cooperative purchasing agreement with Johnson County from Max Rieke Bros. and Updike Paving Corp for the project. The agreement with Johnson County Parks and Recreation helped defray some of the costs.
Source: Gardner News

Ranson Financial2020-08-24T07:34:54-05:00August 23, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for August 20, 2020

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 Financial2020-08-21T08:54:42-05:00August 21, 2020|News|

McPherson Fire Department impresses local family

Cody Rierson says he began smelling the burning plastic and started looking for the source. “Of course, I didn’t want to call anyone,” Cody Rierson said. “I wanted to figure it out myself. After about 30-45 minutes, Abbey finally called the fire department. “They were to our house within minutes.” Once on scene, the firefighters located the hot spot in the Rierson home. The burning smell was coming from a faulty motor in the central air system. The issue was addressed and the Rierson family wasn’t injured and their home sustained no fire damage. Once the emergency had passed, the children asked the firefighters for their autographs, which they willingly provided. “They were kind, courteous and professional,” Cody Rierson said. “I was so happy to live in Mac after last night.”
Source: McPherson Weekly News » Feed

Ranson Financial2020-08-21T08:51:22-05:00August 21, 2020|News|

Small college hits record enrollment in Haviland

Barclay College in Haviland is in the process of welcoming one of the largest classes in school history to campus this month, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With more than 70 new students coming in as freshmen and 80 returning students on campus, recruitment tactics seem to be paying off for the four-year, Quaker-based college. “When I started here last year, I met with Royce [Frazier, BC President] and I told him I want to expose this secret to the world,” said Scott Post, Coordinator of Recruiting and head women’s basketball coach. “Not enough people know about this amazing place and we worked really hard to change that this past year.”
Source: News – Butler County Times Gazette

Ranson Financial2020-08-21T08:49:32-05:00August 21, 2020|News|

Olathe Mayor Michael Copeland dies at 58. He was the city’s longest-serving leader

Olathe Mayor Michael Copeland died Wednesday night at the age of 58, city officials announced Thursday. Copeland was the longest-serving mayor in the city’s 162-year history, officials said in a news release. Olathe Mayor Pro Tem John Bacon, who has served on the City Council since 1995, will assume the role of acting mayor. “I can’t begin to say how much Mike will be missed. I lost a great friend of 40 years, and the community lost a true advocate and cheerleader who loved Olathe,” Bacon said in a statement. “Olathe loved Mike as well. We will do our best to carry on his legacy.”
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2020-08-21T08:49:08-05:00August 21, 2020|News|

‘I wish we were all more like Michael Copeland:’ Community mourns loss of Olathe mayor

Each year, Mayor Michael Copeland would visit Olathe elementary schools with the neediest kids to read to first-graders and pass out book bags, paperbacks and stickers. “He didn’t do it to get credit. He absolutely loved it,” Olathe Superintendent John Allison said Thursday. “There was a bounce in his step when he went through the school doors and could talk to students. You could just see his smile and his enthusiasm, and how the students got so engaged. That will always be a vision I will carry of the mayor.” The mayor’s children literacy program is only one example of how Copeland chose to serve the Johnson County city for nearly 30 years.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2020-08-21T08:48:27-05:00August 21, 2020|News|