Garden City documentary is people’s choice

Filmmakers Steve Lerner and Reuben Aaronson didn’t create “Strangers In Town,” a documentary about Garden City, for film festivals.

Instead, they created it to get the message out about a small Kansas town that has accepted those that have traveled from around the world to live there.

While the film wasn’t made for a festival, that hasn’t stopped it from picking up two people’s choice awards.

The most recent award was handed out Jan. 20 at the Borrego Springs Film Festival. Additionally, the film received an audience favorite award in 2019 at the Film Festival at Brown’s Point.

“We made the film really to get this message out, and we screened it all over the country, but both of these film festivals that gave us awards. They were the award given by the vote of the viewers at the festival and that means a lot to me because that means the message of the film is resonating with people,” said Lerner, the film’s director of photography. “These weren’t awards made by film critics.”

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Ranson Financial2020-02-02T19:07:47-06:00February 2, 2020|News|

As PV considers repeal on pit bull ban, a look at Shawnee Mission cities’ current dangerous dog ordinances

Next week, the Prairie Village city council is expected to decide whether to repeal its pit bull ban. Prairie Village is one of a shrinking number of Shawnee Mission area cities that have such “breed specific language” on their books.
As Prairie Village prepares to consider changes to the “breed specific language” currently on its books, here’s a look at what other Johnson County cities’ laws have to say about dangerous animals and specific breeds of dogs…
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Ranson Financial2020-01-31T07:10:13-06:00January 31, 2020|News|

Shawnee Mission school board adopts 3-year unilateral teachers contract

On a 6-1 vote following four hours of closed-door deliberations, the Shawnee Mission Board of Education approved a three-year unilateral contract for teachers, a move strongly opposed by their union …
Teachers and their supporters packed the board room at the Center of Academic Achievement ahead of the specially called meeting, which followed the district walking away from negotiations at the final possible session in the state-mandated process for teacher contracts on Tuesday.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Ranson Financial2020-01-31T07:09:46-06:00January 31, 2020|News|

KDOT awards Parsons Airport $225K

The Tri-City Airport will get another $225,000 worth of improvements following the approval of a grant.
The Kansas Airport Improvement Program announced the grant for the airport owned by the city of Parsons on Wednesday. The Parsons project is one of 23 selected by the program for funding for the purpose of planning, constructing or rehabilitating public use general aviation airports, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Ranson Financial2020-01-31T06:50:27-06:00January 31, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for January 30, 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 Advisors.

Ranson Financial2026-10-22T10:29:42-05:00January 31, 2020|Finance|

Record day for municipal bond yields

It was a record day in the market in a couple of different ways, as yields descended further to new record lows on both the10- and 30-year and the market saw the lowest yield ever for a century bond.
…
On the MMD benchmark scale, the yield on both the 10- and 30-year were three basis points lower to l.15% and 1.80%, respectively. With this move, both maturities set a new record low. The 1O-year muni read hit an all-time low of 1.18% on Monday, beating the previous MMD record low of 1.21 % set on Aug. 28, 2019. The 30-year on Monday tied its previous low of l.83% also set on Aug. 28 last year.

(Read more: Bond Buyer)

Ranson Financial2020-01-31T07:00:05-06:00January 31, 2020|News|

Highway 54 reopens in Pratt and Kiowa counties after gas leak

The Kansas Department of Transportation says Highway 54 is open to traffic again between Pratt and Greensburg.

The highway had been closed since January 26th, when a butane gas leak was reported in a pipeline east of Cullison. Traffic was directed away from the area as a precaution.

The highway was reopened Thursday afternoon, and the pipeline company is now working on cleanup operations at the site of the leak.

(Read more: KFDI 101.3)

Ranson Financial2020-01-30T21:57:26-06:00January 30, 2020|News|

KCC opens investigation dockets in Reno, Rooks county earthquakes

Following an update on seismicity investigations in two areas of the state, the Commission voted unanimously this morning to open general investigation dockets for both Reno County and Rooks County. The dockets will provide a publicly available place to share all information gathered by KCC staff. The dockets also provide a vehicle for the Commission to issue orders if appropriate.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

Ranson Financial2020-01-30T21:55:50-06:00January 30, 2020|News|

Hillsboro City Administrator Larry Paine announces retirement

Larry Paine, Hillsboro City Administrator had big news to share at the city council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

“I wanted to announce my plans to retire at the end of June 2020,” said Paine during his Administrator’s report.

“I would like to express my appreciation to Delores Dalke and the city council who offered the position to me 12 years ago. I received great support with the work they wanted me to attend to,” said Paine.

He also thanked Mayor Lou Thurston and the current council for all of their support, particularly with his medical needs early in their term when he battled cancer.

“Before the election, I promised Mayor Lou two years. With this schedule, I will live up to my commitment. The staff I inherited have been wonderful to work with. We needed to overcome the fear of acting independently. They now act as department heads should. They have received the support to bring their departments to the level they should be. The community has been wonderful to (wife) Susan and me. As an outsider, we have been welcomed and included. Many have expressed support for the work we have started and accomplished. I have to conclude this list with the support I received from Susan my whole career.”

(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)

Ranson Financial2020-01-31T06:50:58-06:00January 30, 2020|News|

Unable to reach a contract agreement, Shawnee Mission teachers warn of ‘mass exodus’

Union representatives in the Shawnee Mission school district warned there could be a “mass exodus” of teachers now that the two sides have failed to agree on a new contract for this school year — despite negotiating since last spring.

“Special education (teachers) could walk out today. There are openings in districts 10 miles from here in special ed. Young teachers can go to other districts and make more money,” said Linda Sieck, president of the National Education Association-Shawnee Mission. “Secondary teachers might be willing to take a pay decrease to know that their district is interested in working with teachers.”

School district administration and union officials met for five hours on Tuesday to take one last stab at reaching a contract agreement. The unsuccessful final session followed months of negotiations and a state-mandated fact-finding process.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ranson Financial2020-01-30T19:12:55-06:00January 30, 2020|News|