Monthly Archives: September 2019

Elections, Government, Kansas

Mann Runs For Congress

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Former Lt. Governor Tracey Mann Announces Candidacy for Congress
Mann announces his campaign to bring conservative values
and a voice for Kansas agriculture to Washington 

(SALINA, KS) – Former Lt. Governor and fifth generation Kansan, Tracey Mann, today announced his candidacy for Kansas’ First Congressional District.

“America faces urgent threats to our freedom. While President Trump is doing his best to right the ship, too many Washington politicians want to redefine our founding values and ideals. Socialism is on the rise. Efforts to impose government-run health care, increase taxes, restrict religious freedom and erode the Second Amendment are part of the same agenda. America needs leaders who will stand up to meet this challenge and fight to protect our founding beliefs,” Mann said.

“I was raised by wonderful parents on our family farm where I learned the values of hard work, perseverance and service. I recognize that to whom much is given much is required. When I served as Jerry Moran’s first intern I never imagined I would be the 50th Lt. Governor of Kansas. I believe that every generation of Americans has a responsibility to leave our country better off and stronger than how we found it. This is our moment to step up and serve,” Mann said.

Tracey Mann plans to run on a platform of bringing Kansas values and a voice for Kansas agriculture to Washington. The father of four beautiful children, Tracey is strongly pro-life and pro-Second Amendment. Raised on a family farm in Quinter, Kansas, Tracey learned first-hand the value of hard work and how important it is that Washington stays out of the way of Kansas producers. Tracey supports President Trump’s efforts to build the wall and curb illegal immigration.

“I will fight to restore fiscal discipline in Congress and will support sound agricultural policy. My experience in agriculture and business has taught me that politicians don’t create jobs; risk-takers and entrepreneurs create jobs. In Congress, I will do everything in my power to help job creators succeed. But above all, I will put Kansans and our Kansas values first.”

Tracey Mann served as the 50th Lt. Governor of the great state of Kansas. A fifth generation Kansan, he was born and raised on his family farm just south of Quinter.

He attended Kansas State University where he studied Agricultural Economics and was elected Student Body President. After college, Tracey started a career in commercial real estate.

Tracey has served on the Board of Directors of many Kansas organizations including: Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL), Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and The City Teen Center in Salina.

Tracey and his wife Audrey live in Salina with their 4 children (Quincy, Austin, Whitney and Elise).

Government, Kansas

Tax Reform Executive Order

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Governor Kelly issues Executive Order launching Governor’s Council on Tax Reform

 

 

Governor Laura Kelly today signaled the start of a comprehensive overview of state and local taxes by issuing Executive Order 19-11, which outlines her vision for establishment of a fiscally responsible, fair and sustainable tax structure.

 

The Governor’s Council on Tax Reform will conduct an 18-month, in-depth study, and make specific statutory recommendations to state lawmakers.

 

The first meeting of the full Council is set for Sept. 24-25 at the Statehouse.

 

“While Kansas continues to recover from the tax experiment of the prior administration, there’s a need for tax reform designed with adequacy, equity and stability in mind,” Governor Kelly said. “I expect the bipartisan Council to deliver sound strategies and reforms that reflect my desire to keep the state tax burden as low as possible, benefiting all Kansans.”

 

The governor recommends a return to the “three-legged stool” approach that relies on a sensible balance of income, sales and property tax revenue.

 

The Council will review aspects of state and local finances discussed in the 2019 legislative session as they relate to issues such as: how best to respond to federal tax law changes; the taxation of groceries as part of sales tax revenue; and how to best provide targeted property tax relief. The Council also is charged with determining how much room will be available in future budget projections for tax relief.

 

The governor selected a pair of former legislators she served with in the Kansas Senate to be co-chairs for her bipartisan Council on Tax Reform; Steve Morris, Republican from Hugoton, and Janis Lee, Democrat from Kensington. Morris served 20 years in the Senate, including eight as Senate president. Lee logged 22 years in the Senate, served as ranking Democrat on the Senate’s tax committee and later was a hearing officer for the Kansas Court of Tax Appeals.

 

“Steve and Janis understand how important it is to ensure that our tax code supports public investment in areas such as education, public safety and infrastructure needed to help Kansas prosper,” Kelly said.

 

Other members of the Council appointed by the governor include representatives of the business community, agriculture, economic development and governmental entities.

 

Also invited to participate were the following legislative leaders: Republicans Susan Wagle, Senate president, and Ron Ryckman, House speaker; and Democrats Anthony Hensley, Senate minority leader, and Tom Sawyer, House minority leader.

 

Following the first meeting of the Council Sept. 24-25, subsequent meetings in 2019 are set for Oct. 15-16, Nov. 14 and Dec. 3-4.

 

An interim report by the Council is planned for December 2019, in advance of the 2020 legislative session. A final report is due in December 2020, in advance of the 2021 legislative session.

 

COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP

 

Kansas County Treasurers Association: Joe Grisolano, Pittsburg; Crawford County treasurer, former county appraiser and school board member.

 

Kansas Association of School Boards: Shannon Kimball, Lawrence; school board member and president of the Kansas Association of School Boards.

 

Kansas Association of Counties: Anthony Swartzendruber, Hesston, Harvey County administrator

 

Kansas League of Municipalities: Susan Sherman, Olathe, assistant city manager of Olathe.

 

Business, Economic Development or Agricultural Communities (4):

  • Dennis Hays, Kansas City, Kan., former county administrator for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/KCK, currently principal at Hays and Associates, LLC.
  • Larry Weians, Lenexa, vice president of finance for Sprint
  • Lon Frahm, Colby, CEO of Frahm Farmland, Inc.
  • Carl Brewer, Wichita, retired operations manager at Spirit AeroSystems, former mayor of Wichita

 

Additional members:

  • Duane Goossen, Topeka, former state budget director, secretary of administration, member of the Kansas House
  • Audrey Langworthy, Prairie Village, former state senator who served as chair of the Senate Tax Committee.
  • John Wilson, Lawrence, Kansas Action for Children vice president of advocacy and former Kansas House of Representatives member

 

Agencies (all ex-officio members):

  • Mark Burghart or designee — Secretary of Revenue
  • David Toland or designee — Secretary of Commerce
  • Larry Campbell or designee — state budget director
  • Julie Lorenz or designee — Secretary of Transportation

 

Legislative leaders (invited):

  • Susan Wagle, Wichita, Senate president
  • Ron Ryckman, Olathe, House speaker
  • Anthony Hensley, Topeka, Senate minority leader
  • Tom Sawyer, Wichita, House minority leader

 

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Fort Scott Sidewalk Sale Sept. 14

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MERCHANT MADNESS SIDEWALK SALE

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Merchant Madness Sidewalk Sale will take place Saturday, September 14th. From 9 am to 5 pm, eleven downtown retailers will have sales set up in front of their stores with deals and special drawings.

Participating merchants include Bids & Dibs, Books & Grannies (inside), Country Cupboard, Hedgehog.INK, Iron Star Antiques & Such, J & W Sports Shop, Main St. Gallery & Gifts, Mayco Ace Hardware, Sunshine Boutique, Trader Dave’s, and Treasure Hunt Flea Market.

The Merchant Madness Sidewalk Sale will take place in conjunction with other Fort Scott events this weekend including the Fall Town-wide Garage Sale and the Art in the Yard Festival. More information on all community events may be found on fortscott.com/events or by contacting the Chamber at 620-223-3566.

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Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Steps for Improving Fescue Lawn Quality

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Krista Harding
District Extension Agent, Horticulture
Southwind Extension District
111 S. Butler
Erie, KS 66733
Office: 620-244-3826
Cell: 620-496-8786

 

Above normal rainfall this year meant one thing – the lawn mowers have never stopped running! Our fescue lawns did not go dormant this year and the crabgrass hasn’t slowed down either. You might be surprised at how much of your lawn is actually crabgrass and not fescue. If you are thinking about renovating your lawn, September is the time to do it. Renovating doesn’t have to be done by plowing under the current turf and starting from scratch. Instead, lawns can be thickened up by overseeding.

To start the overseeding process, mow the grass short (1-1.5 inches) and remove the clippings. This will make it easier to get good seed-soil contact and increase the amount of light that will reach the young seedlings. The success of overseeding is dependant on good seed-soil contact. Thatch can prevent the seed from reaching the soil and germinating. If the thatch layer is ¾ inch or more, use a sod cutter to remove it. A power rake can also be used to reduce a thatch layer.

Next, the soil should be prepared for the seed. Holes must be made into the soil for the seeds to fall into. A verticut machine can be used. It has solid vertical blades that can be set to cut furrows into the soil. Another option is to use a core aerator. This machine will punch holes into the soil and deposit the cores on the surface of the ground. Each hole will produce an excellent environment for seed germination and growth. Machines to do such work can often be rented, so check around.

Fertilizer should then be applied at the rate suggested by a soil test or a starter fertilizer should be used at the rate suggested on the bag.

Seeding is the next step. For overseeding, use half the amount needed compared to seeding bare ground. For tall fescue, the normal rate for bare seeding is 6 to 8 pounds per 1000 square feet so the overseeding rate would be 3 to 4 pounds per 1000 square feet. You don’t necessarily have to overseed with the same variety you planted before. The quality of a lawn by can be raised by overseeding with a fescue variety that has better growth habits. Many stores carry blends of several newer high-quality tall fescues.

Finally, water everything in and then keep the seedbed constantly moist to insure rapid germination. Frequent light waterings are better than deeper, infrequent watering as the seedlings become established.

Fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer again 4 to 6 weeks after seeding to keep plants growing well and to build up food reserves.

On a side note, many homeowners often want to overseed bare spots under trees, but have minimal luck. The turf will sprout as fall progresses and will get established by winter. It continues to look good going into spring. However, the next summer it begins to die out again – despite any care it is given.

In many cases, this is due to too much shade or the type of turf planted isn’t a good fit for the location. Tall fescue is the only widely used lawn turf in Kansas that can survive some shade. All other cool and warm season turfs need more sunlight.

Instead of establishing grass under trees, consider underplanting the tree with shade tolerant ornamental plants. Examples include ground covers such as vinca minor vines, Boston ivy or liriope, or plants such as hostas or hardy ferns.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Fort Scott Community College, Sports

Arnold Arena Updated Just In Time For Centennial Celebration

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Arnold Arena on the campus of Fort Scott Community College recently was renovated in 2019.

Arnold Arena on the campus of Fort Scott Community College has undergone a renovation, replacing the gym floor, installing new bleachers, and purchasing a new scorer’s table.

This project, along with the Burris Hall expansion project, is now completed before the college-wide 100th Anniversary Celebration of FSCC which happens Sept. 20 with a public banquet and Sept. 21 with a tailgate party before the Greyhound football game.

The new bleachers.

The renovation of Arnold Arena took place because of community feedback.

“We had received numerous complaints over the past few years that there were ‘dead spots’ (on the gym floor) which was difficult to play on,” Tom Havron,  FSCC Vice President of Student Affairs, said. “Additionally, our old wooden bleachers were uncomfortable to our fans and had deteriorated over the years.  We had multiple boards that were broken which were a safety hazard.”

 

“The main benefit of the new floor will be for our student-athletes,” Havron said. ” Not only will the floor help with our recruiting process, but it will also be an advantage to have a high-quality floor to compete on.”

 

The arena renovation project started in early April 2019 and due to some complications, the project was just completed on September 3, 2019.

The floor and the bleachers were budgeted in the general fund, Havron said.

Havron can be reached at

Office: 620-223-2700 ext. 7230

Cell: 620-212-9921

Obituary

Obituary of Lorna L. Carlton

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Lorna Lucy Carlton

Lorna L. Carlton, age 103, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died early Friday, September 6, 2019, at Guest Home Estates in Ft. Scott.

She was born January 14, 1916, in Osborne, KS, the daughter of Laurence Edward Heywood and Annie Stephens Heywood, both born and raised in England.

She married Homer Mix in 1938. They divorced after 20 years. She married Hubert Carlton in June of 1982 and moved to Ft. Scott. He preceded her in death in August of 1989.

She worked for Western Insurance Co. for 17 years. Lorna transferred her membership in the Bronson United Methodist Church to First United Methodist Church in Ft. Scott. Over the years she played the piano, sang, taught Sunday school, provided food and much more. She played piano for Senior Swingers Band for 19 years, helped with congregate meals, and was a member of Marmaton Valley Fiddlers and Pickers. Lorna was a member of Eastern Star and Pioneer Harvest Fiesta.

Survivors include a sister, Coral Face, Dewey, AZ;  four grandchildren, Alisa, Curtis, Ron and Matt; several great-grandchildren; and a nephew, Jim Gardner.

She was preceded in death by a son, Curtis Roy Mix; a daughter, Cristine Deer; and four sisters, Norma Cheney, Jessie Gardner, Daisy Heywood, and Lily Knight.

There was cremation. Rev. Steve Cole will conduct memorial services at 11:00 AM Saturday, September 14th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Eastern Star services will be provided.

Private family burial will take place at a later date in the Bronson Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Pioneer Harvest Fiesta and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Opinion

Stop Global Whining by Pastor James Collins

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Pastor James Collins

Stop Global Whining

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” Philippians 2:14-15

Uncle Elmer lay in a bed in a darkened hospital room. He was attached to a maze of tubes, wires, and machines. Near the end of his life, he struggled for consciousness one last time. Next to him was my Aunt Maimy, his wife of 55 years. Elmer reached for the hand of the person he had known for more than five decades of marriage.

“Maimy, is that you?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said. “I’m here.”

“Maimy, you have been with me for 55 years of marriage.”

“Yes, I have been with you.”

“I remember in our first year of marriage when a fire destroyed everything we owned, you were there with me.”

“Yes, I was with you.”

“I remember when I lost my job and was unemployed for over a year, and you were beside me.”

“Yes, I was with you.”

“And several years ago, after my first stroke, you were with me then.”

“Yes, I was with you then.”

“Now, in these final months, as I lay dying in this hospital bed, you’re with me again.”

“Yes, dear, I am with you.”

Uncle Elmer paused for a moment and said, “Maimy, you’re nothing but bad luck.”

Do you know someone like that? Do you know someone who finds something to complain about no matter how good things are going?

There is a woman in our church, Lois Steam, who complains about everything. “I don’t know how anybody can praise Jesus in this icebox,” she said two weeks ago. “What is this, a church or a walk-in freezer?” The following Sunday she quipped, “It’s so hot in here that you could poach eggs in the baptistry.”

Lois would complain if her ice-cream was cold.

“You shouldn’t talk so loud when you preach. I’m not deaf,” Lois said a while back. When I toned it down, she yelled, “Speak up! You, soft-spoken nitwit!”

I was tempted to rebaptize her and hold her under for a while.

“We need more young people around here,” Lois said when I first came to the church. “Why are all these kids running in the halls? Why do we have all these kids in in here?” she said last week.

Lois makes me want to fire the church and form a congregation search committee.

The point is: Complainers can drain the joy not only out of their own lives, but also out of the lives of everybody around them. Clearly, complaining is no laughing matter to God. God hates complaining. The Bible says to do everything without murmurings and disputings. In other words, stop complaining!

The next time you feel like complaining, resist the urge and look for a way to pay a compliment. Who knows, if you do that enough, you may be cured of your complaining?

James Collins is pastor of Fort Scott’s First Southern Baptist Church. He can be reached by email at [email protected].

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Washateria Ribbon Cutting Today at 10 a.m.

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REMINDER:
The Chamber of Commerce invites you to attend the
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for
Fort Scott Washateria
 September 7th at 10am
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony celebrating the opening of
Fort Scott Washateria,
at 501 South National Avenue. The event will take place TOMORROW, September 7th at 10 a.m., with remarks and ribbon cutting at 10:15 a.m. The event will feature free hot dogs, chips, sodas, snow cones, popcorn and homemade ice cream. Music will be provided by KOMB 103.9 FM from 10 a.m. until noon. There will be giveaways, and specials on wash/dry/fold subscriptions.
Fort Scott Washateria is owned and managed by Lori Lovelace. Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days per week. Please note that on Sundays the Washateria will be unattended from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The following services will be available: a downloadable “Spiderwash” app that tells you what machines are available and how long your load has until it’s done; loyalty cards; wash/dry/fold services; starching & pressing; alterations; delivery in Fort Scott; soaker sinks; vending machines with detergent, softener, etc.; a kid’s section with movies and a blackboard wall; free coffee and tea. The washateria has been equipped with
state-of-the-art machines, including thirteen washers and thirteen dryers.
As a special promotion to familiarize the public with the new state-of-the art machines, all washes and dries are free from September 7th through September 14th. (Limit 1 load per visit, which does not include soap or softener.)
Contact Lori Lovelace at
620-644-9834 for more information