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Monthly Archives: February 2018
Obituary Of Sandra Sue “Sandy” Rylander
Sandra Sue “Sandy” Rylander, 75, passed away Wednesday afternoon, February 14, 2018, at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. She was born October 16, 1942, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of John C. and Nettie Caroline (Townsend) Stanbro.
She married Gary Rylander June 4, 1961, in Fort Scott, and he survives of the home.
Sandy graduated from Uniontown High School with the class of 1960. She was a member of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church and the Old Fort Genealogy Society.
In addition to her husband Gary, Sandy is also survived by her daughters, Susan Hedge, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Cheryl Huffman of Darien, Connecticut; a sister, Martha Murrow of Jupiter, Florida; and six grandchildren, Isabelle, Emily, Benjamin, Andrew, Nick, and Jane. She was preceded in death by her parents, and an infant daughter, Kelli Sue Rylander.
Following cremation, memorial services for Sandy will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 24, 2018, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home with interment following at the Deerfield Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Old Fort Genealogical Society and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Westar Energy Warns Of Scam
Westar Energy warns customers of electric company imposters.
Callers use the threat of disconnection to get immediate payment.
TOPEKA, Kan., Feb. 16, 2018 – Westar Energy is alerting customers that imposters claiming to work for the company are threatening to disconnect service and asking for prepaid cards as payment. Several customers have contacted Westar Energy’s Customer Relations Center after receiving suspicious phone calls.
Some imposters are very convincing. They may use websites that allow them to manipulate caller ID, making the call appear to come from Westar. They speak with authority. When the targeted customer calls the phone numbers provided, the person who answers sounds like they work for Westar. In some cases, callers may even provide information like amount due that makes them sound credible.
“Scammers create a sense of urgency to get customers to act quickly rather than allowing them time to check their account,” Gina Penzig, media relations manager, Westar Energy, said. “We will never require a pre-paid card for payment. Also, we notify customers multiple times in advance if service may be interrupted for non-payment.”
Before acting on one of these calls, check your records to see if a recent payment has been made. If you are still unsure, call our Customer Relations Center, 1-800-383-1183, and check your account status. More about identifying scams: https://www.westarenergy.com/scams If a customer receives a suspicious visit from an individual, he or she should also report it to their local law enforcement agency.
As Kansas’ largest electric utility, Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) provides customers the safe, reliable electricity needed to power their businesses and homes. We have 7,800 MW of electric generation capacity that includes renewables and traditional power sources with half the electricity supplied to our more than 700,000 customers from emissions-free sources: nuclear, wind and solar, with a third coming from renewables. We are a leader in electric transmission in Kansas coordinating a network of lines and substations that supports one of the largest consolidations of wind energy in the nation. Our employees live, volunteer and work in the communities we serve. For more information about Westar Energy, visit us on the Internet at http://www.WestarEnergy.com.
Dancing With Our Stars Tomorrow At Ellis Center
Fort Scott Rotary
presents the 8th Annual
Dancing With Our Stars
Saturday, February 17, 2018
7 pm at the Ellis Fine Arts Center
Tickets available for purchase at the
Chamber until 5 pm today
and from 10am-4pm tomorrow 2/17;
Chamber until 5 pm today
and from 10am-4pm tomorrow 2/17;
then, they will be for sale at the door at
Ellis after 5 pm Saturday.
Only $10 for eight dancing acts and two special performances benefiting great charities in our community.
The charities will also be taking donations during intermission in the lobby – vote for your favorite dancers by making a donation!
Questions ~ call the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566
Bourbon County Commission Agenda For Feb. 20
The following is the agenda for the Bourbon County Commission 9 a.m. Feb. 20.
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
2nd Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: February 20, 2018
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: ____________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
9:00-9:45-Jim Harris
9:15Culvert request at 625 Maple Road
9:30 AT & T 225th & Locust
9:45 -Waiver & release from Liability/ Drywood
10:00- Fire District petition
10:15- Meeting to learn about Mills/Vision Meeting
10:30- 10:45- Executive Session Attorney- Client Relationship
11:00- 12:00- Revitalization Program –Agricultural, Commercial & Residential
12:00- 1:00 -Commissioners gone to Lunch
1:15- 1:30 -Smoking Policy
1:30- 1:45- Budget & AG Opinions
2:30- Employee Handbook
Justifications for Executive Session:
Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel
Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property
Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system
Minutes Of Fort Scott City Commission For Feb. 6
The following is the Fort Scott City Commission minutes for Feb. 6.
CITY OF FORT SCOTT
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of February 6, 2018 Regular Meeting #3
The regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held February 6th, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Room, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners Adamson, Bartelsmeyer, Nichols and Parker were present with Mayor Mitchell presiding.
INVOCATION: Pastor Jason Shackleford, Margrave Church of Christ, said a prayer asking God for guidance for the city and all government and city officials.
AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Travis Shelton, James Charlesworth, Venita Ballweber, Kenny Howard, Chad Brown, Jason Shackleford, Janet Braun, Shannon O’Neil, Jerry Morgan, Rachel Pruitt, Lindsay Madison, James Birket, Kevin Davidson, Clayton Miller, Darrell Parker, Frank Adamson, Paul Ballou, Rhonda Dunn, Deb Needleman, and Jason Silvers, representing the Fort Scott Tribune.
PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: Introduction of new City employee – Deb Needleman, Human Resource Director introduced a new Police Officer: Kevin Davidson. He started on January 29th, 2018.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND APPROPRIATIONS/CONSENT AGENDA:
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Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of January 16th, 2018
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Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1208-A totaling $639,873.81.
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Resolution 4-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure and Accessory Structure located at 1523 E. Wall Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.
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Resolution 5-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure and Accessory Structure located at 1601 E. Wall Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.
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Resolution 6-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure and Accessory Structure located at 13 N. Holbrook Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.
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Resolution 7-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure located at 523 S. Main Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.
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Resolution 8-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure located at 108 W. Oak Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.
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Resolution 9-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure and Accessory Structure located at 309 S. Lowman Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.
Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED CONSENT AGENDA.
APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:
-
APPEARANCE: None
B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute
limit per citizen) – None
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PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
CONSIDERATION:
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Consideration of appointment to Fort Scott Planning Commission – one City resident – Diane Clay, City Clerk, informed the Commission that there was an opening on the Planning Commission for a City resident. There were two letters of interest received: Josh Jones and Frank Adamson. The Planning Commission met on January 22nd, 2018 and their recommendation was to approve the appointment of Josh Jones.
Parker moved to approve the appointment of Josh Jones to the Planning Commission board for a three year term. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED APPOINTMENT OF JOSH JONES TO THE FORT SCOTT PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A THREE YEAR TERM.
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Assignment of Charlesworth Contract – James Charlesworth appeared before the Commission and informed them that his company, Charlesworth & Associates has been in existence since 1977. On November 1st, 2017, the company sold to an insurance brokerage firm. He started Charlesworth Consulting, LLC combining the insurance consulting business and their employee benefit business into a new company. He asked for approval to change the name to Charlesworth Consulting, LLC. He will remain the City’s insurance broker. This is just an organizational name change.
Mitchell moved to approve the change of name from Charlesworth & Associates to Charlesworth Consulting, LLC. Parker seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED CHANGE OF NAME FROM CHARLESWORTH & ASSOCIATES TO CHARLESWORTH CONSULTING, LLC. AS THE CITY’S INSURANCE BROKER.
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Consideration of 2017 Audit Contract with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton – Jon Garrison, Director of Finance, informed the Commission that he is requesting approval of the 2017 Audit Contract with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA’s. The cost of the audit remains the same as the previous year which is $18,300.
Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the 2017 Audit Contract in the amount of $18,300 with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA’s. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED 2017 AUDIT CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,300 WITH DIEHL, BANWART, BOLTON, CPA’S.
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Consideration to approve KDOT Form TRF 3 – Closeout of Downtown Brick Street and Sidewalk Replacement Project in 2010 – Jon Garrison, Director of Finance, informed the Commission that he is needing the KDOT Form TRF 3 signed by the Mayor which will close out the Downtown Brick Street and Sidewalk Replacement Project from 2010.
Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the signature of the KDOT Form TRF 3 closing out the Downtown Brick Street and Sidewalk Replacement Project from 2010. Mitchell seconded. All voted aye.
approved the signature of the KDOT Form TRF 3 closing out the Downtown Brick Street and Sidewalk Replacement Project from 2010.
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Consideration of increase in Woodland Hills Golf Course fees and change in membership renewal dates – Jon Garrison, Director of Finance, informed the Commission that the Golf Course Advisory Board recently met on February 1st, 2018 and discussed the fees at Woodland Hills Golf Course. Shannon O’Neil, Golf Pro Manager, had surveyed the area courses and their fees and shared them with the board. The Golf Course Advisory Board voted to recommend raising the fees to the following:
Weekday Weekend
9 hole green fees $10 to $11 $12 to $13
18 hole green fees $12 to $13 $14 to $15
Memberships: Single $400 to $440
Family (4) $550 to $595
Season Golf Cart $350 to $425
It was also recommended by the Golf Course Advisory Board to have all memberships renew on May 1st of each year. All memberships would need to be prorated this first year, and then next May all memberships would have the same renewal date.
Nichols moved to approve the increase in rates at Woodland Hills Golf Course and the change in membership renewal dates. Parker seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED INCREASE IN RATES AT WOODLAND HILLS GOLF COURSE AND THE CHANGE IN MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL DATES.
Shannon O’Neil, Golf Pro Manager, gave the Commission an update on this last year and the course. There were 9,069 golfers who played the course. There were 127 memberships sold with 90 of the memberships being single, 27 family, 6 junior and 4 with the family recreation pass. The course is listed as one of the top ten courses to play in the State of Kansas.
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Consideration to reject demolition bids for 1837 E. 1st – Rhonda Dunn, Community Development Director, asked the Commission to reject the demolition bids for 1837 E. 1st Street. This property has recently sold and the new owner plans to demolish the structure that is there and place a new modular home there.
Parker moved to reject the demolition bids at 1837 E. 1st Street. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO REJECT THE DEMOLITION BIDS AT 1837 E. 1ST STREET.
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Consideration of Tourism Center remodel bids – Dave Martin, City Manager asked the Commission to reject the two bids for remodeling the Tourism Center at 231 E. Wall. There were five contractors who attended a pre-bid meeting, but due to the big difference in the bids, it was determined that a bid specification sheet be created by Ag Engineering. This project will be re-bid after the bid specifications are created.
Bartelsmeyer moved to reject the two bids for the remodeling of the Tourism Center to be rebid at a later date. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO REJECT THE TWO BIDS FOR THE REMODEL AT THE TOURISM CENTER AT 231 E. WALL TO BE REBID AT A LATER DATE.
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Discussion of Utility Office hours – Deb Needleman, Human Resource Director, informed the Commission that back in September of 2017 the hours in the Utility Office were altered to 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday and the office was closed on Friday afternoons. There is quite a lot of people who want to come into City Hall and pay their utility bills on Friday afternoons and the telephone also rings a lot. She asked the Commission to allow the hours to return back to 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday effective February 26th, 2018.
Mitchell moved to move the Utility Office hours back to 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday effective February 26th, 2018. Parker seconded. All voted aye.
Approved to move the Utility office hours back to 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday effective February 26th, 2018.
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Consideration of tree removal from the west and south end of runway – Fort Scott Municipal Airport – Rachel Pruitt and Kenny Howard appeared before the Commission to request permission for tree removal from the west side and the south end of the Airport runway. This would be done by an in-kind donation and the City would not be out any money or time. If the Airport expansion project is approved and funded, these trees would need to be removed as part of the project. If the trees are removed at the present time, it would be before any environmentals would be needed. This is City property where the trees would be removed.
Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the removal of the trees from the west and south end of the runway. Parker seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED THE REMOVAL OF TREES FROM THE WEST AND SOUTH END OF THE RUNWAY AT THE AIRPORT FROM AN IN-KIND DONATION.
COMMISSION/STAFF:
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Director Updates: Paul Ballou, Fire Chief, gave the Commission an end of the year end update from 2017. They had almost 1,600 calls. There were more EMS calls and more transfers to area hospitals due to the closure of the ICU unit at Mercy. January 2018 has been very busy so far and more than 40 calls over 2017 have already occurred.
He also gave an update on the Dispatch enter and that the 1st week of March the Next Generation 911 will be installed. There are 60 to 70 centers in Kansas that are hosted through a system in Topeka. Texting to 911 will be offered also and 911 calls will be much easier to trace and follow.
Rhonda Dunn – Stout Building update – Rhonda updated the Commission and shared photos of the Stout building and the condition it is in. There are two large holes in the roof and the building is open to the elements. She received an estimate to have the roof repaired and the building boarded up and it was about $32,000. There could be some possible interest in the building and she is looking into that. Another option is demolition of the building. It is owned by the Rosalee Stout Trust. More information will be forthcoming.
Chad Brown – Chad shared photos of the City’s bucket truck. The City has two bucket trucks, one of which was donated from the County. The smaller bucket truck is used on a daily basis but is having issues with the aerial lift unit. It is costing quite a bit to repair it. He found a 2010 International C4900 truck with 176,000 on Purple Wave for $12,500 currently for bid. They actually have two of these trucks – one is a 2009 and one is a 2010 and they are both at $12,500. He asked for approval to spend up to $25,000 to purchase one of these trucks to replace the bucket truck the City currently has. The City’s current bucket truck, which is having issues with the aerial lift, will have the lift removed and the truck will be used on a daily basis as the truck is still in good condition. He and Tom Coffman, the City’s mechanic, will travel to Edmond, Oklahoma to look at the bucket truck tomorrow, February 7th, 2018.
Nichols moved to authorize up to $25,000 to be bid on the 2009 International or 2010 International bucket truck on Purple Wave. Bartelsmeyer seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO AUTHORIZE UP TO $25,000 TO BE BID ON THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL OR 2010 INTERNATIONAL BUCKET TRUCK ON PURPLE WAVE.
B. City Commission:
Adamson – Nothing to report.
Bartelsmeyer – Nothing to report.
Nichols – Remarked that he likes the Director updates.
Parker – Asked about the stop lights at 3rd and National and if they can be changed to a four way stop.
Chad will check into this. He was waiting for warmer weather to change the intersection and 3rd at National.
Mitchell – Nothing to report.
C. City Attorney: Nothing to report.
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Director of Finance: Remarked that he is looking at changes in the Utility billing system. The billing used to be broke out into five different billings and the City was split into four quadrants. He would like to merge all the billing into one billing group. There will be some changes made to the current ordinances before this can take place.
Jon also remarked that he and the City Manager have been having meetings with the City’s software company, Tyler Technologies, on issues we have been having.
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City Manager: Nothing to report.
ADJOURNMENT:
Bartelsmeyer moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:29 p.m. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.
ADJOURNED MEETING AT 7:29 P.M.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is to be held on February 20th, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.
RECORDED BY:
____________________
DIANE K. CLAY
Fort Scott City Commission Meeting Agenda Feb. 20
The following is the agenda for the Fort Scott City Commission which will meet 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 at city hall, 123 S. Main.
The public is welcome.
I. ROLL CALL:
ADAMSON BARTELSMEYER NICHOLS PARKER MITCHELL
II. FLAG SALUTE
III. INVOCATION: Pastor Ian Johnson, Youth Minister, Community Christian Church
IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:
Recognition of Fort Scott High School Girls Wrestling Team
Introduction of new City employees
V. CONSENT AGENDA:
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Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of February 6th, 2018.
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Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1209-A totaling $320,132.82.
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Approval of Archer Daniels Midland Agreement – purchase of treated wastewater from City of Fort Scott
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Certificate of Appropriateness – Installation of Bicycle Racks in downtown area
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Certificate of Appropriateness – Approval of final Gordon Parks sign to be installed on Iron Star Building
VI. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:
-
APPEARANCE: None
B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute limit per citizen) –
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PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS: None
VII. CONSIDERATION:
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Consideration of zoning change – A change of zoning from R-2 (Medium Density Residential District) to MU (Mixed Use District) – For Tract #1 at 1907 S. Horton – Approval of Ordinance No. 3530
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Consideration of Zoning change – A change of zoning from R-2 (Medium Density Residential District) to R-3 (High Density Residential District) for Tract #2 at 1920 S. Huntington – Approval of Ordinance No. 3531
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Consideration of playhouse placement
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Consideration of Fitness Equipment purchase – Buck Run Community Center
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Consideration of Natural Gas Supply Agreement with Constellation for Memorial Hall and the Public Works building
VIII. COMMENTS:
- Director Updates:
- Commission:
- City Attorney:
- Director of Finance:
- City Manager:
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
I MOVE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE
SESSION FOR ________________________________ IN ORDER TO
(see below justification)
DISCUSS ______________________________________. THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE ___________ MINUTES AND THE OPEN
MEETING TO RESUME AT ________________.
Justifications for Executive Sessions:
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Personnel matters of non-elected personnel
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Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
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Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative or representatives of the body or agency
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Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
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Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property
X. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL
Correction On Joe Banker Case
Officials met yesterday to redo a sentencing that brought it into compliance with the law.
Lawyers and Judge Amy Harth met in the small courtroom of the Bourbon County Courthouse Thursday morning to correct a sentencing error in the case of the State of Kansas VS Joseph Banker.
Bourbon County Attorney Jackie Spradling and Defense Attorney Chris Meek met with Judge Harth via teleconference, with defendentJoseph Banker also present in the courtroom.
At the earlier sentencing on Feb. 2, all parties gave statements regarding the sexual exploitation of a child charges against Banker, Harth said.
“Everything everyone said was taken into account,” Harth said. “It was compelling.”
At that time Judge Harth sentenced Banker to 60 months probation.
Meek, Spradling, and Harth have been corresponding via email since the sentencing, Meek said.
“Judge Harth gave the wrong probation during the sentencing (Feb.2),” Meek said in an interview earlier this week. “It should have been 36 months for probation and the post-release supervision is 60 months.”
Spradling agreed that Judge Harth inadvertently put 60 months probation, and the sentence should have been 36 months.
“I realized within five minutes of the mistake that day,” Judge Harth told the two attorneys Thursday. “The previous order was void. I am correcting it. ”
To view prior stories:
Banker Sentenced To 36 Months Probation
Court Hears From Mental Health Professionals in Banker Case
Agenda Package For The Fort Scott City Commission Feb. 20
The following is the link to the agenda package for the Fort Scott City Commission meeting Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. at city hall, 123 S. Main.
Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Feb. 16
Lt. Governor Mann Visits Ft. Scott Munitions
Lt. Governor Tracey Mann began his day in Fort Scott Thursday morning.
The newly appointed Kansas Lt. Governor went on a statewide tour, including two stops in Southeast Kansas.
Mann met with employees of Fort Scott Munitions, 523 E. Wall, for a tour of the business.
Fort Scott Munitions President Robbie Forester told FortScott.Biz the governor’s office requested the meeting with the business.
Fort Scott city officials Dave Martin, Rhonda Dunn, and Rachel Pruitt came to greet the lt. governor’s entourage.
To the employees of the business and the city officials, Mann said the focus of the newly formed team of Governor Jeff Colyer is “reform, jobs, and education.”
Communication and Policy Specialist Daniel Seitz said the tour is to visit small businesses and some community colleges to talk about Governor Colyer’s vision for Kansas’ future.
Following a short tour of the business, the entourage headed south to Columbus to view Crossland Construction Co.
To learn more about Fort Scott Munitions:
Velocity Tactics holds Grand Opening of Wall Street storefront
Fort Scott Munitions Consolidating Name
About Mann
Mann was selected Feb. 13 to be Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer’s Lt. Governor.
Tracey Mann is the managing director and principal of Newmark Grubb Zimmer, a commercial real estate company headquartered in Kansas City. Prior to this, Mann served as senior program director for the National Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values, according to a press release.
Mann has previously served on the board of directors for the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL) program and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce. He is also a board member of the City Teen Center, a non-profit educational facility serving children in Salina.
Tracey Mann is a fifth-generation Kansan from Quinter, Kansas. He regularly returns to work on the family farm.
He earned a degree in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University in 2000, where he also served as Student Body President. In 1997, Tracey served as Jerry Moran’s first intern in Washington, DC.
Tracey, his wife, Audrey and their four children live in Salina, Kansas.
A Parent’s Love by Patty LaRoche
Beth Guckenberger spoke at our women’s retreat this week. I wanted to adopt her, except she is married with 10 children (adopted, foster and biological, combined). Her talk was about God’s faithfulness in the mission field where she and her husband, Todd, work with Back2Back ministries.
Fresh out of college, Todd and Beth had headed a youth mission team to Monterrey, Mexico, where they found themselves painting a church the same color it had been when their team painted it the year before. Frustrated and with only one day left before returning to the states, the young couple grabbed a taxi, asked to be driven to a local orphanage, and soon found themselves on the porch of a rundown building.
They introduced themselves to the children’s guardian and asked if he could use the help of 20 teens, $200 and some prayers. So began their passion to serve the orphans in Mexico, an involvement that led to their attempted adoption of two young sisters, but after months of paperwork, they were denied. (More on that next week.)
Fast forward a few years to when Todd, Beth, and three-month-old daughter settled in Monterrey. In the fall they returned to Ohio where Todd was a principal at a Christian school and their Mexico orphanage fundraising efforts were taking off. In their absence, a young woman volunteered to live in their Monterrey home to help with some caretaking duties.
No sooner were they back in the states than Beth received an emergency call from the Monterrey caretaker. One of the young orphan girls had been hit by a truck. Within three hours, Beth and baby daughter were on a flight to Mexico, leaving her husband a note on the kitchen counter: “Headed to Monterrey. Will call tonight.”
While there, Beth received a phone call that a three-month-old Mexican boy was available for adoption. Beth called Todd who flew to Mexico to join her to meet their baby son. Even though he had “pretzeled legs, bent arms that would not unfold curled hands and mold on one side of his face,” the adopting couple called him the “most beautiful baby ever.”
Returning to Ohio, intense therapy began, but their young son cried nonstop. A trip to a neuro-surgeon was not good news. Antonio was in the “severe” category of spina bifida. He probably never would talk or walk or be able to care for himself. Todd and Beth needed “to be prepared for the worst.” The news, although devastating, was more reason to pray.
One day when the occupational therapist visited, Antonio was on the floor with a toy. His sister grabbed the toy and went to the other side of the room. Antonio wailed. Beth retrieved the toy and took it back to her son. After an hour of observing this behavior, the therapist told Beth that she was making it too easy for her son. As long as she did everything for him, he would not have to do anything on his own. When the therapist left, Beth sat on the kitchen floor, crying out to God while Antonio lay on the living room floor, crying for his mom.
But then Antonio’s crying changed. Beth walked into the living room to watch her disabled son wiggle-crawl toward his sister on the other side of the room. When he neared the couch, he clutched its skirt bottom and pulled himself up. By now, Beth was on the floor a few feet away. Antonio turned and walked toward his mother.
Beth shared that it wasn’t a normal crawl, pull or walk. Still, it was a far cry from what she ever expected. She quickly loaded the two youngsters into her car and sped to her husband’s school where Antonio showed his dad what he could do. “You know what I’m going to do now, don’t you?” asked Beth.
“I’m pretty sure I do,” answered Todd.
(Next week I will share with you the rest of Antonio’s story.)