info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

KDA seeks Marketing Advisory Board members

info2019-07-01T23:37:16-05:00July 1st, 2019|

MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s agricultural advocacy, marketing and outreach team is seeking talented Kansans to serve on the Marketing Advisory Board. The mission of the KDA marketing division is to serve all Kansans through innovative programming and deliver solutions designed to create an environment that facilitates growth and expansion in agriculture while increasing pride in and awareness of the state’s largest industry — agriculture. The Marketing Advisory Board will advise the program team on a variety of topics through the following sub-programs: agricultural business development, international agricultural development/trade, From the Land of Kansas, local foods and affiliated programs, [...]

Board finds Johnson County overtaxed Walmart by millions

info2019-07-01T23:23:47-05:00July 1st, 2019|

Johnson County overtaxed Walmart and Sam’s Club by millions of dollars by overstating the value of the retailers’ property, the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals found. The ruling on Friday could be more costly than it appears for the county, because Walmart isn’t the only large retailer that has protested appraised valuations, The Kansas City Star reports. Target and Home Depot are among other big-box retailers challenging Johnson County tax appraisals going back a couple of years. (Read more: Kansas City Business Journal - The Business Journals)

Bajillion, ActionCOACH and MotoVike share their goals and plans for the future of downtown Topeka, their businesses

info2019-07-01T23:09:08-05:00July 1st, 2019|

When Bajillion Agency decided to make its third move in three years due to a growing company, it knew it wanted to be where the community was at work doing great things. “Downtown had the character that we wanted for our creative team,” said Andrea Engstrom, president of Bajillion, “and also, we were just really inspired by what’s happening in NOTO and what’s happening in downtown and said, ‘Let’s be part of that excitement in our community and the momentum that’s happening with the investment in downtown and the grassroots growth of NOTO.’ ” Bajillion Agency, ActionCOACH and MotoVike Films celebrated [...]

Top Kansas court: Cities can raise age for buying tobacco

info2019-07-01T22:56:33-05:00July 1st, 2019|

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas' highest court ruled Friday that cities can raise the age for buying tobacco products even though state law sets it at 18, bolstering a public health movement driven in part by concerns about teenagers' use of e-cigarettes. The state Supreme Court's unanimous decision allows the city of Topeka to enforce an ordinance setting the age to buy tobacco products, e-cigarettes or liquid nicotine at 21. A company operating two local businesses, Vapebar Topeka and Puffs 'n' Stuff, sued just before the ordinance took effect in January 2018, and a lower-court judge blocked it. The ruling had broader [...]

Wind farm company doubts protest is valid

info2019-07-01T22:38:50-05:00July 1st, 2019|

Developers of a proposed wind farm in the southern half of the county believe a protest petition filed at the county clerk’s office won’t be validated. Pat Pelstring, CEO of the company developing Expedition Wind Farm, said the protest petition, with signatures of 64 people, does not appear to meet required criteria. “We have reviewed the petition, and our analysis is that it does not meet the 20% standard to qualify as a valid protest petition,” Pelstring said. “We understand the county is also working to confirm whether the petition is valid.” (Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)

Police, fire departments busy as summer heats up

info2019-07-01T02:13:59-05:00July 1st, 2019|

County and local law enforcement along with area fire departments have had a busy first few days of summer responding to many fire, medical, vehicle-accident and criminal calls in Cowley County. Ark City Fire Chief Bobby Wolfe said they have responded to many calls in the past week but luckily none of them have been major events. “I’m really grateful at how few of grass fires for this time of year we’ve had to respond to, this being probably the fewest in seven years,” due to the amount of moisture keeping the vegetation green. (Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Top Kansas court: Cities can raise age for buying tobacco

info2019-07-01T02:01:42-05:00July 1st, 2019|

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas' highest court ruled Friday that cities can raise the age for buying tobacco products even though state law sets it at 18, bolstering a public health movement driven in part by concerns about teenagers' use of e-cigarettes. The state Supreme Court's unanimous decision allows the city of Topeka to enforce an ordinance setting the age to buy tobacco products, e-cigarettes or liquid nicotine at 21. A company operating two local businesses, Vapebar Topeka and Puffs 'n' Stuff, sued just before the ordinance took effect in January 2018, and a lower-court judge blocked it. (Read more: The Arkansas [...]

Hospital debt refinancing to save taxpayers millions

info2019-07-01T01:57:51-05:00July 1st, 2019|

Taxpayers will save more than $11 million over the next several years under a restructuring of the construction debt for the South Central Kansas Medical Center. The refinancing was approved Tuesday night by both the Building Commission and the City Commission. The current amount due on the original bonds issued in 2009 to build a replacement medical center that opened in 2011 is $37 million, with combined principal and interest. (Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Opponents of wind project push for moratorium

info2019-07-01T01:49:03-05:00July 1st, 2019|

ERIE – Controversy over the planned Neosho Ridge Wind project was calmer, or at least shorter, during Thursday evening’s Neosho County Commission meeting when commissioners heard from two people. Lori Whitworth, a spokesperson for the opposition, addressed the commission on its decision to approve agreements with developer Apex Clean Energy. She said she thought she was participating in government, but what she witnessed was not open and transparent. She said the outcome was based on politics. Whitworth questioned how long Commissioner Gail Klaassen studied the agreements before voting in favor of approval, and contrasted the length of the agreements with the [...]

City does not extend fireworks sales

info2019-07-01T01:29:51-05:00July 1st, 2019|

OSAWATOMIE – A proposal to extend fireworks sales through July 6 failed to prompt a change in the city's ordinance. On Wednesday, June 26, City Council members voted unanimously not to amend the fireworks ordinance. A fireworks vendor had requested the city extend sales through July 6. The amended ordinance under consideration Wednesday night also tied use of fireworks to the same July 6 extension. The current city ordinance will remain in effect, which allows fireworks to be sold from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 29 through July 4. Fireworks can be discharged in the community from June 29 through [...]

About info