Flint Hills Rodeo canceled for first time in 83-year history

Another popular local event fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday night.
The Flint Hills Rodeo Association announced on social media that this year’s PRCA rodeo — the longest-running in Kansas — is canceled. The decision was made by a unanimous, 11-0 vote, at an emergency meeting Wednesday evening.
Started in 1937, this is the first time the Flint Hills Rodeo has been canceled. Even during World War II, when many of the cowboys were fighting overseas, the rodeo was held, with some of the ladies stepping in to compete.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Ranson Financial2020-04-17T09:11:46-05:00April 16, 2020|News|

Wamego Strong program helps to support local businesses amidst pandemic

Help is being given to struggling Wamego businesses. Wamego strong raises money for struggling businesses in the community. How the program works, is customers buy gift cards on https://wamegostrong.org/.
Wamego strong committee member Casie Hartwich explains how it works and how much they have raised so far. “Right now I think we’re up to $33,000. So for every gift card purchase to a local business and will may go a match is made in that equal amount and those funds are given to Community Care Ministries to provide assistance to those that are just suffering a financial shortfall right now,” says Hartwich.
Hartwich also says how many gift cards were sold in the first week. “I think in our first week we sold 11,000 gift cards to local businesses. So it’s just been phenomenal to see everybody step up despite what’s going on and support the people that that make downtown Wamego a great place”, says Hartwich.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Ranson Financial2020-04-17T09:12:44-05:00April 16, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for April 15, 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 Financial2026-10-22T10:29:39-05:00April 16, 2020|Finance|

Pair of small town restaurants turn to selling groceries

When the novel coronavirus shut down dining at the Pretty Prairie Steakhouse, it didn’t take long for the owners to figure out that offering carryout was not going to sustain them.
“That lasted about a week and we knew we couldn’t do it because of the overhead,” said Liz Shepherd, a daughter of owners Ed and Judy Markel.
Then their Sysco food delivery representative, Kerrie Kaufman-Molitor, originally a Pretty Prairie native, suggested another idea – groceries.
Now, instead of steaming plates, tables in the restaurant in the small town about 25 miles south of Hutchinson are piled with produce, flour, loaves of bread, spices and various condiments.
They are also offering bundles with a variety of meats, Shepherd said.
“We tried to get as many things as people might need in a week,” she said.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2020-04-16T07:57:47-05:00April 16, 2020|News|

Gov. Laura Kelly, legislators earmark $17 million for struggling hospitals

Gov. Laura Kelly and House and Senate legislative leaders Wednesday agreed to allocate $17.3 million to cash-starved hospitals and to dedicate $10 million to the state’s emergency management system in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Kansas Hospital Association proposed the emergency aid to bolster the bottom line of hospitals statewide until federal stimulus dollars arrived. The plan adopted by the State Finance Council would spread money across 124 hospitals with maximum amounts ranging from $100,000 to $250,000.
“Hospitals are most in need of a very quick shot in the arm as many hospitals are operating on a sub-optimal level of days cash on hand,” said Adam Proffitt, director of Medicaid services at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-04-16T07:57:16-05:00April 16, 2020|News|

COVID-19’s financial toll on Kansas and Missouri colleges: ‘It will be significant’

At college campuses across Kansas and Missouri, moving classes online and sending students home may have been wise moves to protect public health as the coronavirus pandemic rages on.
But the decisions resulted in a financial body blow to universities that will cost them millions in the short term and deliver unknown consequences in the months and years ahead.
“What is clear, however, is that we will be losing tens of millions of dollars of revenue through the end of this semester and the summer,” said Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, a spokeswoman at the University of Kansas.
(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2020-04-16T07:56:43-05:00April 16, 2020|News|

First round of results from JoCo random sample finds 9 positives among 330 tests processed

Early results from the first round of random sample COVID-19 testing administered by the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment last week has found nine positives among 330 tests processed, an infection rate of 2.7%.
Sanmi Areola, PhD, director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment, characterized those results as evidence that residents have done a good job of helping mitigate community spread of the virus through adherence of stay-at-home orders and hygiene guidelines. However, he said, the apparent success of efforts to bend the curve doesn’t mean the county can lift restrictions immediately.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-04-16T07:54:14-05:00April 16, 2020|News|

Gov. Laura Kelly extends statewide stay-at-home order until May 3

Earlier Wednesday, Kelly announced her statewide stay-at-home order will remain in effect until May 3 and suggested a slow, cautious transition must follow.
Kelly said it was important to see a reduction in COVID-19 infections for a two-week period before easing restrictions. The crisis is expected to peak in Kansas in late April.
The governor said it has become clear no state will be safe from the pandemic until a vaccine is available, an indication the crisis could drag on for another year. Broader testing will help guide decisions in the coming weeks.
(Read more: State Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-04-16T07:53:10-05:00April 16, 2020|News|

Newman named interim Chanute city manager

Chanute city commissioners appointed the Parks Director Monday evening to serve as interim city manager.
Parks Director Todd Newman will replace current City Manager Jeff Cantrell in May when Cantrell leaves to take the city manager position in Hutchinson.
Newman has worked for the city for nine years and has been parks director since 2014. For about a year, he has also been director of the Chanute Recreation Commission.
(Read more: www.chanute.com – RSS Results in news,news/* of type article)

Ranson Financial2020-04-16T07:52:13-05:00April 16, 2020|News|

Sedgwick County commissioners debate property tax relief amid coronavirus pandemic

Sedgwick County commissioners are debating how to provide property tax relief amid the coronavirus pandemic, but found out Wednesday what they can do is pretty limited — if they can do anything at all.
Citing concerns over how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the general economy and individuals’ financial solvency, commissioners considered multiple proposals for tax relief at their meeting Wednesday.
Ideas included rolling back property valuations to 2019 levels, pushing back the deadline for property owners to pay their taxes, and/or giving people more time to appeal their tax valuations.
(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2020-04-16T07:51:24-05:00April 16, 2020|News|