Hugoton’s Park Day big success, winners announced

Hugoton celebrated Independence Day with Park Day Tuesday, July 4. Boy Scout Troop 189 presented the Colors and the Hugoton High School Show Choir sang the National Anthem. Winners with vouchers need to go to the Hugoton Area Chamber of Commerce to pick up your winnings. The winners in the Little Miss / Mr. Hugoton contest sponsored by Flatlanders Farm and Home were: birth to six months Little Miss first place Juliette Turner, second Thalia Ordonez and third Wrenley Maravilla; Little Mr. winner was Kord Luke Kallenbach.
Source: Hugoton Hermes News

Ranson Financial2023-07-12T23:21:59-05:00July 12, 2023|News|

Wyandotte nation looks to expand casino, hotel in Park City after court ruling

It’s Wednesday afternoon and dozen of people are testing their luck inside the Crosswinds casino in Park City. The small casino was opened by the Wyandotte nation back in 2021, and originally the building was only supposed to be a temporary site before the tribe launched a bigger operation. “You know our plans are to build a casino resort,” says Wyandotte nation Chief Billy Friend. “We have 10 and a half acres that has been taken in trust for gaming. and then we also have another 100, approximately 125 acres.” Those plans had been on hold while the state of Kansas was challenging a ruling from the US Department of the Interior back in 2020 that granted the tribe the ability to have gaming on part of its land.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2023-07-12T23:20:29-05:00July 12, 2023|News|

Kansas plumbing company penalized more than $300K after trench collapse

An investigation into a Salina trench wall collapse determined Precision Plumbing LLC willfully violated federal trench safety regulations, resulting in proposed penalties of more than $300,000. In January 2023, a worker from Precision Plumbing, a Cheney plumbing company, was connecting a plumbing line to a Salina municipal sewer in a trench nine feet below the surface when he was buried due to a wall collapse, according to Monday’s U.S. Department of labor news release. The company foreman entered the trench to dig out the buried worker when the trench collapsed further, burying him to the knees.
Source: Kansas Reflector

Ranson Financial2023-07-12T23:17:48-05:00July 12, 2023|News|

Topeka metro cuts back on bus services, here’s why

Local transportation officials made several changes to existing bus routes in Topeka following a special meeting earlier this month. Keri Renner with the Topeka Metro said in a press release that on Friday, July 7 the Topeka Metro board of directors came together at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library to cast votes on proposed service changes. These changes will take effect starting Sept. 3, 2023. This meeting came after three other previous meetings on the same topic and after taking comments from the public.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Ranson Financial2023-07-12T23:16:36-05:00July 12, 2023|News|

USD 252 Southern Lyon County to fund portion of Olpe Fitness Park project

USD 252 Southern Lyon County will fund a portion of the Olpe Fitness Park project. Board members voted 4-3 to have the district contribute $600,000 to the project as a part of their board meeting Wednesday night in Hartford. The fitness park is a three-stage project, which will see the district distribute $200,000 immediately, $200,000 in July 2024, and the final $200,000 in July 2025. New USD 252 Superintendent Ryan Muhlig said the project is beneficial to the district. The district might be tight on funds, but community members are raising 70 percent of the funds.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

Ranson Financial2023-07-12T23:11:10-05:00July 12, 2023|News|

‘Urban Cowboy’ nightclub with $128M Golden Circle casino pitched for old greyhound park

Billionaire casino mogul Phil Ruffin wants to build a massive nightclub that will be familiar to fans of the 1980 hit movie “Urban Cowboy,” a film that brought cowboy hats, line dancing, mechanical bulls and pearl-snap shirts to the mainstream. Gilley’s Dance Hall and Saloon, a replica of the popular Texas honky-tonk featured in “Urban Cowboy,” would open as early as fall 2024 as part of a $128 million Golden Circle casino redevelopment at the defunct Wichita Greyhound Park, which has been closed since 2007 after voters rejected a plan to allow slot machines at the track. Ruffin also would build a 110-room hotel near the casino and dance hall after renovations were completed. The plan hinges on a decision expected Thursday from the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission. Ruffin is seeking approval for a license to operate 1,000 historical horse racing machines to make the rest of the project economically viable. Ruffin is the last remaining applicant after one dropped out and another was disqualified.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2023-07-12T11:59:39-05:00July 12, 2023|News|

Businesses looking to move to Hutchinson

Although many in Hutchinson are not seeing the day-to-day progress, there are large investors looking at heading to the Salt City. The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is taking phone calls, giving tours and fixing prospective business leaders up with options. Several businesses are looking at locating in the Kansas Enterprise Industrial Park as well as the recently closed Sonoco Hutchinson Paper Mill, although the building has not come on the market yet.
Source: Hutch News

Ranson Financial2023-07-12T11:51:48-05:00July 12, 2023|News|

County’s jail housing costs on rise; Officials consider cutting costs by keeping inmates elsewhere

Housing a healthy inmate costs $100 a day at the Shawnee County Jail but about half that at the Anderson County Jail in Garnett, 75 miles southeast of Topeka, says Shawnee County Commissioner Kevin Cook. Speaking at a work session focusing on the budget of the county’s corrections department, Cook suggested Shawnee County try to save money by keeping some of its inmates in the Anderson County Jail. After learning later that the Anderson County Jail houses only 48 inmates and therefore might not be of much help, Cook said Shawnee County could still cut costs by keeping some inmates at other jails in northeast Kansas that might be willing to take them.
Source: CJonline

Ranson Financial2023-07-12T11:50:31-05:00July 12, 2023|News|

Inflation rose just 0.2% in June, less than expected as consumers get a break from price increases

Inflation fell to its lowest annual rate in more than two years during June, the product both of some deceleration in costs and easy comparisons against a time when price increases were running at a more than 40-year high. The consumer price index, which measures inflation, increased 3% from a year ago, which is the lowest level since March 2021. On a monthly basis, the index, which measures a broad swath of prices for goods and services, rose 0.2%. … Traders are still pricing in a strong possibility that the Fed will enact a quarter percentage point rate hike when it meets July 25-26. However, market pricing is pointing toward that being the last increase as officials pause to allow the series of hikes to work their way through the economy.
Source: CNBC

Ranson Financial2023-07-12T11:49:26-05:00July 12, 2023|News|

The bus stops here: Wichita cracks down on fights, underage drinking, nudity on party buses

The city of Wichita plans to start requiring licenses for party bus operators in an effort to curtail reckless passenger behavior that police say oftentimes crosses the line into criminality. “Underage drinking, fights, disorderly conduct, violent crimes that include shootings, and other unsafe behavior,” said Travis Rakestraw, special investigations captain with the Wichita Police Department. “By requiring a city of Wichita license for a party bus to operate, it will help control any businesses not willing or able to control its customers.” The City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to establish a new ordinance requiring entertainment vehicle operators to pay a $100 annual licensing fee and agree to a code of conduct for acceptable party bus behavior. Kansas already regulates commercial vehicles, requiring inspections and insurance, but there are no state-level regulations for onboard activity.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2023-07-12T11:48:19-05:00July 12, 2023|News|