Mayor Thompson Resigns

Mayor Thompson - Council President Billy Alcorn will be stepping up and serving as Mayor, and fulfilling Mr. Thompson's term which ends in December 2020.

Letter of Resignation

I will be moving to Topeka for no less than one year. Although I will still own property in Ramona, I will not be a resident. Maoyor and council members must reside in Ramona so in light of this fact and with a heavy heart, I have no choice but to resign my position as Mayor of Ramona. I sincerely hope I will be remembered as having served this community in an ethical, respectful and fair manner. I truly love this town and its residents and only strove to make it a better place to live.

As Council President I invite Bill Alcorn to stop into my position.

I wish nothing but the best for Ramona and its residents.

Mayor James Thompson.

Ramona Independence Day Celebration

Pageant quest a path of discovery for Deines

As it appeared in the December 3, 2014 Marion County Record. Reprinted by Permission of David Colburn, News editor.

When Makenzie Deines decided this summer to enter the Miss Kansas Teen USA pageant, she didn’t know the toughest judge she’d face would be herself. Deines was accepted as a contestant this past summer, and immediately began preparing for the pageant, which was this past weekend in Wichita.

While she tweaked her diet and fitness routines, and kept up on current events, Deines decided the key to performing well was examining her personal traits to become more confident in who she is as a person.

“On stage you have to be confident, own what you’ve got in the interview, and you can’t second guess yourself,” Deines said.  “I took a look at myself and asked, ‘What do I love about myself?’”  she said.  “It was an awkward question to ask, but I was able to identify my strengths that way. I asked myself ‘What are some weaknesses and how can I better myself?’”

by David Colburn, New Editor, Marion County Record

My eventful trips to Ramona have always been at night. Years ago I decided the quaint U.S. Post Office, outlined in white lights at Christmas, was a “must view” classic Americana, and this storm-chaser believes some of the best lightning pictures in the county are to be had in and around this little town.

Ramona in daylight, on the Fourth of July, was a completely different kind of eventful. Classic Americana with a redneck twist. Or better still, a redneck half-nelson with a full-body slam, topped off with a folding chair smackdown.

Face painting, races, pie-eating contests, firehose tug-of-war over a mud pit—other town celebrations have those things. But none I’ve been to has ever pulled so many together as Redneck in Ramona. Given a reason to celebrate, the folk of Ramona jumped into it whole hog.

While “redneck” somehow works its way into everything, the parade stands apart from all the rest—a solemn, patriotic opening that’s quickly overwhelmed by the most gosh-darned, knee-slappin’, side-splittin display of “redneck” you’d ever want to see.

City life never prepared me for something like this. I fear it may take months to recover from the spectacle of the Redneck Ballet, performing the Buttcracker Suite.

And I can’t wait to go back next year.

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To see the Buttcracker Suite - a Trailer-Park Ballet - click here.

(Don't be shocked . . . it's all plastic!) Photo courtesy of the Marion County Record