info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Bar-hopping, liquor on Sundays: Kansas pushes to change alcohol laws

info2023-03-03T12:51:50-06:00March 3rd, 2023|

Kansas lawmakers are moving forward with several bills to rewrite alcohol laws in the state. The Kansas House voted 116 to six to pass House Bill 2059 on Thursday. The proposal could change where people drink alcohol in the state. In some cases, it could mean buying a drink at a local bar, then walking down the street with your drink in hand. "Local governing bodies are best situated to interact with stakeholders and make decisions on how best to build out and police common consumption areas," said Representative Ron Bryce, R-Coffeyville, who carried the bill. The bill makes changes to [...]

Tammy Baird ready for new title, new responsibilities at USD 386 Madison-Virgil

info2023-03-03T12:51:12-06:00March 3rd, 2023|

As her education career has developed, Tammy Baird says she didn’t consider being a superintendent until recently — and it wasn’t originally her idea. After serving as Madison-Virgil’s junior-senior high school principal the last two years, she applied to be superintendent and was approved by the board as part of a short interview process earlier this week. The biggest immediate challenge facing Madison-Virgil is recruiting and retaining teachers. She wants to push to have the district in a good financial and academic position so students can be successful after high school. She says Madison-Virgil is a “fantastic” district because of the [...]

Salina looks at opioid settlement funds

info2023-03-03T12:47:01-06:00March 3rd, 2023|

Hundreds of millions of dollars has already been awarded to the state of Kansas related to the opioid crisis, and with some of that money coming to local communities within the state, Salina is looking at options for how it will spend its share. The Salina City Commission discussed these settlements during a study session Monday, with several groups, including first responders and the main addiction treatment center on hand to give their thoughts on what the current state of the crisis in the community and how the funding could be used locally. “Hopefully, by the end of this (study session), [...]

“Bittersweet” retirement for Fort Scott police chief

info2023-03-03T12:45:24-06:00March 3rd, 2023|

A local police chief officially retired on Tuesday. He spent his last day on duty celebrating with hundreds of family, friends, and colleagues. "We've been blessed. And I've been blessed to serve in a community like this," said Travis Shelton, Retired Chief, Fort Scott Police Dept. After 26 years of serving the Fort Scott community, chief Travis Shelton officially retired today at 5 o'clock. His retirement party is nothing short of sharing memories, laughs, hugs, and handshakes. The gathering included Shelton's childhood friends, who came from Drexel, Missouri to Fort Scott to celebrate him. Source: KSNF/KODE

Emporia drinking water finishes fourth at international contest

info2023-03-03T10:23:55-06:00March 3rd, 2023|

Emporia’s drinking water is among the best in the world — at least as judged at the internationally-known contest in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. Emporia’s tap water finished tied for fourth with Miryang-Si, Gyeongsangdam-do, Republic of Korea, in the international contest. Gold went to Clearbrook, British Columbia, Canada, while silver was claimed by South Muskoska, Ontario, Canada, and bronze went to St. Paris. Ohio. Water samples were rated by appearance, taste, mouth feel and aftertaste. Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

Why I love Winfield

info2023-03-03T00:40:22-06:00March 3rd, 2023|

A couple of weeks ago I sat in a restaurant in Wichita catching up with some of my friends who live in the city. “Are you all enjoying living in Winfield?” one of them soon asked. The three of us are similar in many ways, young working professionals with elementary-aged children and parents living close enough to engage in our kids’ lives. My immediate affirmative responses drifted to conveniences so often craved in my current life stage. My kids’ ability to attend a school a few blocks away. The experience of a college basketball game and bluegrass festival practically in my [...]

Kansas movie theater owners write legislative script for two-year state sales tax break

info2023-03-03T00:35:38-06:00March 3rd, 2023|

Scott Zaremba owns the world’s oldest purpose-built cinema in downtown Ottawa, and asked the Kansas Senate for help keeping the two-screen venue’s doors open to movie fans. “We’re working very hard to keep it, and keep it operational. We’re at 116 years and counting,” he said. “The Plaza has been through its share of challenges, from floods, fire, wars. We’ve been through two pandemics, right, not just one, because its been open that long.” On Thursday, Zaremba requested senators endorse a bill that would enable Kansas movie theater owners to retain the state portion of sales tax collected on ticket admissions [...]

The federal government isn’t actually measuring how inflation is hurting rural America

info2023-03-03T08:26:45-06:00March 3rd, 2023|

In rural southwest Illinois, fourth generation grocery store owner Craig Norrenberns said his three shops across the region are “fighting the price battle.” “There's no doubt that people are having to watch their wallets a little bit closer,” Norrenberns said. A head of lettuce is a good example. What normally costs $1 soared as high as $5 several times in the past couple months, he said. ... the grocery’s most rural store in Red Bud, Illinois, is in an area not included in the Consumer Price Index, the most widely used tool to measure inflation in the U.S. The Bureau of Labor [...]

City of Wichita considering fee to shoot aerial fireworks on July 4th

info2023-03-03T00:29:44-06:00March 3rd, 2023|

Would you be willing to pay to be able to shoot off the big fireworks on the Fourth of July in Wichita? City leaders are considering a proposal that would allow that. Right now it is illegal to shoot fireworks within the city of Wichita that goes over six feet in the air. But that could soon change by paying a $10 permit fee. “I shoot them off with my grandkids every year but we don't shoot the big ones. But there's plenty in my neighborhood,” said Cheno Workman, a Wichita resident. Cheno Workman loves to celebrate Independence Day every year with [...]

Wichita city leaders looking at proposed Century II renovations

info2023-03-03T00:27:39-06:00March 3rd, 2023|

Century II has been a staple of downtown Wichita for decades and city leaders are looking at a project that would transform it to keep it that way for future generations. "It is important to us here in Wichita to balance our historical roots with our modern purpose and I think that we can thread the needle on a project like this," Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple. Tuesday the Wichita City Council and the public got the first look at a proposed 400 million-dollar plan to renovate and modernize Century II, the Bob Brown Expo Hall, and the old downtown library building. Source: [...]

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