Why this group is building fences to highlight beauty of rolling hills in Wabaunsee County

Every spring and fall, about 15 people get together to build fences out of native limestone in Wabaunsee County. They also build friendships. The group has become like a band of brothers and sisters, Chuck Kidd told The Capital-Journal. Kidd is among participants in biannual workshops the Native Stone Scenic Byway Committee has held since 2007 to teach people how to preserve the heritage of the area’s historic stone fences. For three days each spring and fall, Rocky Slaymaker trains participants on how to build and preserve those fences. They also work at each session on a specific project to create or reinforce a stone fence while stacking the rocks like pieces in a puzzle.
Source: CJonline

Ranson Financial2023-08-18T12:33:39-05:00August 18, 2023|News|

Shawnee County mulls measures to ban unauthorized camping, require leashes on dogs

Shawnee County commissioners moved Thursday toward potentially banning unauthorized camping on county property and requiring leashes for dogs in the county’s parks and on its trails. Commissioners Aaron Mays, Kevin Cook and Bill Riphahn heard county counselor Jim Crowl present the first reading of a proposed home rule resolution sponsored by Riphahn regarding unauthorized camping. They then heard Tim Laurent, the county’s parks and recreation director, present the first reading of a proposal sponsored by Commissioner Aaron Mays that would require dogs on park properties to be controlled by leash.
Source: CJonline

Ranson Financial2023-08-18T12:32:13-05:00August 18, 2023|News|

McLouth City Clerk achieves MMC designation

McLouth City Clerk Kim Everley recently earned the prestigious Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation from IIMC, the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, Inc. The MMC program is the second and more advanced of the two professional designations granted by IIMC. The MMC program is an advanced continuing education program that prepares participants to perform complex municipal duties. The program has an extensive and rigorous educational component and a professional contribution component. The MMC applicant must demonstrate that they have actively pursued education and professional activities. The designation is granted only to municipal clerks who complete demanding education requirements and have a record of significant contributions to their local government, their community, and state.

Ranson Financial2023-08-18T12:31:10-05:00August 18, 2023|News|

Fed officials see ‘upside risks’ to inflation possibly leading to more rate hikes, minutes show

Federal Reserve officials expressed concern at their most recent meeting about the pace of inflation and said more rate hikes could be necessary in the future unless conditions change, minutes released Wednesday from the session indicated. That discussion during a two-day July meeting resulted in a quarter percentage point rate hike that markets generally expect to be the last one of this cycle. However, discussions showed that most members worry that the inflation fight is far from over and could require additional tightening action from the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee. “With inflation still well above the Committee’s longer-run goal and the labor market remaining tight, most participants continued to see significant upside risks to inflation, which could require further tightening of monetary policy,” the meeting summary stated. That increase brought the Fed’s key borrowing level, known as the federal funds rate, to a range targeted between 5.25%-5%, the highest level in more than 22 years. While some members have said since the meeting that they think the further rate hikes could be unnecessary, the minutes suggested caution. Officials noted pressure from a number of variables and stressed that future decisions will be based on incoming data.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Ranson Financial2023-08-18T12:23:47-05:00August 18, 2023|News|

Governor Kelly Announces $500,000 Awarded to Emporia, Osawatomie to Revitalize Downtowns

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that two rural communities will each receive $250,000 in federal grants to assist with community development projects. The $500,000 will be matched with $1,236,632 of local funding, totaling more than $1.7 million of new investment in Emporia and Osawatomie. … So far this year, five Commercial Rehabilitation projects have been funded for a total of almost $1.1 million. Earlier announced grants are assisting Atchison, Independence, and Meriden. … The Osawatomie and Emporia Commercial Rehabilitation projects meet the CDBG national objective of revitalizing downtown commercial districts:

Osawatomie funds will be used to fix roofing, windows, and doors and demolish an attached garage of a downtown building. The first floor will be used for commercial space, with short-term living rentals on the second floor.
Emporia will use the grant to install a sprinkler system and roofing, repair a masonry wall, and make ADA improvements to a downtown building. The first floor will consist of office space, an art studio, and community space. The second floor will consist of short-term lodging units.

Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2023-08-18T12:23:09-05:00August 18, 2023|News|

New 911 service up & running in Marshall County

Emergency communication in Marshall County changed exponentially at 4 p.m. Aug. 9, when the county’s Emergency Communications/911 division began using Next Generation 911. Just in the last few days, the new system has allowed dispatchers to zoom in on the location of a house fire and immediately know all utility contacts. In a multi-county vehicle chase, it provided information about a Marshall County landowner who was affected when the vehicle crashed into a fence. “A click of the mouse, and I have the information I need,” said Michelle Reinhart, a terminal access coordinator for the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department. Other information that comes up on the maps includes townships, fire districts, ambulance and first responders. “It will save minutes, which will save lives,” she said.
Source: The Marysville Advocate

Ranson Financial2023-08-18T12:22:02-05:00August 18, 2023|News|

New GCPD history exhibit at museum

The Finney County Historical Museum has opened a new short-term exhibit in the Front Door Gallery, marking the 100th anniversary of the Garden City Police Department. Entitled “A Century of Service,” the display features a collection of artifacts loaned by the police department, a few dating back more than a century, as well as a collection of 16 black-and-white photographs chronicling highlights and milestones from a century of law enforcement and assistance to the community. While Garden City relied on various watchmen, constables and marshals during the first four decades after it was founded, a full police department was established in 1923 by Chief Lee Richardson.
Source: Garden City Telegram

Ranson Financial2023-08-18T10:43:56-05:00August 18, 2023|News|

Sedgwick County debuts renovated 911 communications center

Following four months of construction and renovation to expand and enhance the building, Sedgwick County officially unveiled its updated Emergency Communications (911) Center earlier in August. Renovations of the county’s dispatch center addressed several key goals including expanding the workspace (from 26 to 48 consoles, to help take more calls), creating two workstations for COMCARE to provide mental health providers who will directly respond to 911 callers in crisis, allowing room for future growth and additional staffing, and providing employees with a refreshed work environment allowing them to adjust computer monitors, desk heights and even individual climate controls.
Source: Derby Informer | Area

Ranson Financial2023-08-18T12:17:10-05:00August 18, 2023|News|

USD 457 Garden City discusses teacher recruitment, long-term sub transitions

Teacher recruitment practices and transition programs for long-term substitutes teachers was discussed at the USD 57 Board of Education meeting Monday. Joe Alcorta, chief human resources officer of Garden City Public Schools, said certified staff, or teachers, has dropped and classified staff has risen from the 2021-22 school year to the 2022-23 school year. During the 2022-23 school year there were 558 certified staff members and 565 classified staff for a total of 1,123 employees. During the 2021-22 school year there were 621 certified staff members and 456 classified staff members for a total of 1,077 employees. Alcorta said there was a big influx of long-term substitute teachers this year, which kind of accounts for the influx of classified staff verses certified staff.
Source: Garden City Telegram

Ranson Financial2023-08-18T12:17:34-05:00August 18, 2023|News|

Garden City approves changes on days of operation for liquor retailers

Staff, with assistance from the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce, reached out to existing retail establishments, the liquor stores and their owners, and Chamber members, to determine the level of interest in making changes to the city’s code to more closely resemble the state statutes, Hurtado said. In total, 249 surveys were received, and of those 76% were interested in allowing Sunday sales except for Easter Sunday, 88% were interested in allowing sales on Memorial Day, 88% were interested in allowing sales on Labor Day and 87% were interested in allowing sales on Independence Day. The proposed ordinance change would allow for sales on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, Hurtado said. A separate ordinance would have to be drafted by city staff if the commission wanted to allow liquor sales on Sunday.
Source: Garden City Telegram

Ranson Financial2023-08-18T12:18:55-05:00August 18, 2023|News|