Farmland prices soar, making it even harder for young farmers to break in and grow

24 Wednesday, August 24

Farmland prices soar, making it even harder for young farmers to break in and grow

info2022-08-24T07:01:23-05:00August 24th, 2022|

Farmland values have been rocketing up across the Midwest, for the last year and a half. Farms in Iowa have sold for as much as $25,500 an acre with values increasing 26% in the state over last year and 18% in Illinois, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. On average, prices rose 25% in Nebraska, and 23% in Kansas over the last year, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The high farmland values are making sales competitive, not just between farmers, but also with investors. But sky high prices can make it [...]

24 Wednesday, August 24

Local artist speaks about his multi-wall mural; hopes to add more to the vibrant display in Fort Scott

info2022-08-24T07:02:16-05:00August 24th, 2022|

A local artist today spoke about his new mural on display at the Fort Scott Water Treatment Plant. After about a month and a half, 8 gallons of primer, 60 cans of spray paint, and 30 hours of diligent work, artist Stephen Toal says he’s still not done. “I wanted the mural to be fun and bright and I loved working on it. My intentions were to get more people to Gunn Park and hopefully get school tours to check out the treatment center, said Toal. “I remember as a kid going to the water plant here in Fort Scott and [...]

24 Wednesday, August 24

19 new law enforcement officers graduate from KLETC

info2022-08-24T07:03:54-05:00August 24th, 2022|

Nineteen new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) on Aug. 19 at a ceremony held in the KLETC Integrity Auditorium. Kalaeb Bratton, game warden with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, was the graduating class president. The speaker for the ceremony was Todd Ackerman, director of the Augusta Department of Public Safety. ... Established by the Kansas Legislature in 1968, KLETC trains the majority of municipal, county, and state law enforcement officers in Kansas and oversees the training of the remaining officers at seven authorized and certified academy programs operated by local law enforcement [...]

24 Wednesday, August 24

Wichita Public Library to eliminate overdue fees

info2022-08-24T07:04:17-05:00August 24th, 2022|

As the Wichita City Council approved their budget for 2023 on Tuesday, included was the elimination of overdue fees at the Wichita Public Library. "Effective Tuesday, August 23 by the end of the day, borrowers will not be charged overdue fines for Wichita Public Library materials," the Wichita Public Library website said. According to their website, past fines will be forgiven. Here's the breakdown on their website: Aug. 23: Moving forward, Wichita Public Library accounts will not accrue overdue fines. It's important to return overdue materials, though. If materials are not returned within 30 days of the due date, you will [...]

24 Wednesday, August 24

Overbrook cooks up plan to build downtown historical museum

info2022-08-24T07:05:20-05:00August 24th, 2022|

A cookbook featuring more than 350 homegrown recipes from members of the Overbrook community is now available for purchase, with proceeds from the sale going toward the effort to build a historical museum in downtown Overbrook. The ”Don’t Overcook Overbrook” cookbook features a wide assortment of recipes for appetizers, soups, desserts, main dishes, salads, and more. The book was published by the Overbrook Historical Society, and is dedicated to the memory of three local women who in their lifetimes fed a large proportion of the Overbrook community... Source: Osage County News

24 Wednesday, August 24

Shawnee Mission to give one-time $700 bonuses to teachers, other staffers

info2022-08-24T01:57:58-05:00August 24th, 2022|

The Shawnee Mission school board on Monday unanimously approved a one-time $700 retention bonus to qualifying employees, including classroom teachers and classified staff, like custodians and food service workers. Why it matters: The move is aimed at rewarding employees who worked through the pandemic-impacted 2021-22 school year and have stayed with the district for this new school year, according to board documents. What they said: “It’s just to retain employees through the pandemic as staffing has been very difficult,” Hubbard said. “We are happy to be recommending a $700 retention payment for all employees in the Shawnee Mission School District.” Source: Prairie Village [...]

24 Wednesday, August 24

Local officials brainstorm additional security options for USD 383 schools

info2022-08-24T07:05:52-05:00August 24th, 2022|

Manhattan-Ogden school board president Curt Herrman is advocating for more school resource officers at USD 383 to strengthen security. During a meeting Monday with local government officials about a variety of topics, Herrman discussed several ideas for increased school security. Herrman said about $30 million of two previous bond issues passed for a total of $225 million that was spent for school security. “We have secure public entrances,” Herrman said. “All of our doors in the classrooms are steel doors. We have automatic locks.” Source: themercury.com

23 Tuesday, August 23

Voters will decide Nov. 8 whether to change how Wichita school board members are elected

info2022-08-23T07:15:35-05:00August 23rd, 2022|

Wichita school district voters will decide in November how they want their school board representatives to be elected moving forward. The Wichita Board of Education voted 4-3 Monday to place on the Nov. 8 general election ballot a question asking USD 259 voters if they want to switch to a district-specific voting model or stick with the current system, which allows district voters to weigh in on all school board races across the city. “I think it is time to give our community a choice. Let them make the decision,” board member Sheril Logan said. Source: Wichita Eagle

23 Tuesday, August 23

Municipal Bond Trends for August 22, 2022

info2022-08-23T07:07:08-05:00August 23rd, 2022|

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.

23 Tuesday, August 23

How Salina schools are coping with the teacher shortage and what’s happening across Kansas

info2022-08-23T07:06:14-05:00August 23rd, 2022|

Salina area schools started their first week of classes, and while all districts say they are confident about the year ahead, some are still in the process of hiring faculty and staff. As reported across the state, and in pockets nationwide, there have been fewer applicants to schools for teaching positions. It’s an issue that reflects a greater gap in the overall labor market, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Salina, though, is in a unique position where its schools are not in dire need of staff, like other parts of the state. But their comfortability now comes from quick [...]