Monthly Archives: September 2019

Art, Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Life In A Jar: 20 Years Later, Celebrating Sept. 19

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Irena Sendler

It all began 20 years ago, when an assignment from a  local high school history teacher changed the lives of many people, including an unsung hero.

Irena Sendler was a Polish Catholic social worker, who risked her own life to rescue a significant number of Jewish children during WWII.

Her story was unknown to the public for 60 years until three high school students from Uniontown, Kansas uncovered its details in September of 1999 and shared Irena’s story with the world, according to a press release from the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes.

Sendler died in 2008 but not before meeting the teacher and three students who discovered her story.

Twenty years ago this week, Life in a Jar: the Irena Sendler Project was started by Uniontown High School students Elizabeth Cambers Hutton, Sabrina Coons Murphy, and Megan Stewart Felt in Norm
Conard’s high school history class, according to the press release.

Megan Felt has gone on to become the program director of the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, while the former history teacher, Norm Conard, has become the executive director.

“The Life in a Jar Project and Irena Sendler’s story has completely changed my life,” Felt said. “I have learned a powerful history, met wonderful people, received scholarships and support to complete both of my college degrees, and changed my career path so I can help others have the special experiences I have had.”
“Those who have been involved in the project over the last 20 years realize we all have a responsibility to make a positive difference in the world around us,” she said. “I am so grateful for that day in 1999 when we started this incredible journey of bringing Irena’s story to the world.”

Throughout the last 20 years, the play has been performed more than 375 times with more than 50 students involved in the project.

The performances have been all across the United States, Canada, and Poland.

The www.irenasendler.org website that the students created has had more than 50 million hits, according to the press release.

The center continues the encouragement of searching for unsung heroes.

A Celebration

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is pleased to announce the 20th Anniversary Commemoration of Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project.

On September 19 from 3:30 –5:30 p.m. at the Lowell Milken Center, 1 South Main Street in Fort Scott, there will be a special book
signing for Mommy, Who Was Irena Sendler?

Even after the story became known, that emotional connection of Irena’s story continues to reach across generations, according to the press release.

Megan’s daughter, Blair, also learned a life-changing lesson from both the courage of Irena Sendler’s selfless acts and those of
her own mother’s determination to share Irena’s story, according to the press release.

The Lowell Milken Center is located at the corner of First and Wall Streets.

The book, available in paperback for $9.95, can be purchased and signed by the author and two of the characters featured in the story,  Felt and her 9-year-old daughter, Blair.

Megan Felt and her daughter, Blair, help tell the story of Irena Sendler’s courage in a new book written by Cathy Werling. Submitted photo.

Their goal of making Irena Sendler’s story known to the world continues.

Life in a Jar: the Irena Sendler Project by Jack Mayer is also available during the book signing. This is the story of the students’ discovery of Irena Sendler and her efforts to save the Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto.

Cathy Werling is a local children’s book author at the Lowell Milken Center For Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott.

Cathy Werling, the author of Mommy, Who Was Irena Sendler? is an award-winning elementary educator from Fort Scott. Her passion for helping students develop positive character traits and seek out worthy role models led to her part-time work at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes.

Through her series of books, four so far,  about these humble heroes, Cathy hopes to inspire elementary children to realize that they, too,
have the power every day to make a difference in the lives of those around them.

About the Lowell Milken Center

The Lowell Milken Center is a non-profit 501 c (3) that works with students and educators within a range of diverse academic disciplines, to develop projects focused on unsung heroes. Once their projects are finished, the center advocates for the student’s unsung heroes by sharing them in its’ Hall of Unsung Heroes or the center’s website so people all over the world discover their individual influence and obligation to take actions that improve the lives of others.

The Hall of Unsung Heroes is located in Southeast Kansas and showcases some of the top projects developed in collaboration with the center.

Fort Scott, Schools

USD234 Minutes of Sept. 9

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These are the minutes of Unified School District 234, 424 South Main, Fort Scoft, KS 56701-2697, www.usd234.or
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-27 60

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met on Monday, September 9, 2019, at the Board of Education office for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart opened the meeting. The board approved the olficial agenda

The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:
A. Minutes
B. Bills and Claims
C. Payroll – August 20, 2019 – $1,164,377.59
D. Financial Report
E. Bond Proceeds Reconciliation
F. Activity Fund Accounts
C. FSHS Band Fundraising Project
There were no public forum requests. Stephanie George, KNEA President, presented a report. Administmtors from each building shared reports with board members.

Superintendent Ted Hessong provided information on the following items:
o 4-year old preschool
o High Density Weighting
o ProfessionalDevelopment
o IEP Backpack transition
o Safe Routes to Schools Grant
o Council of Superintendents
Gina Shelton, Business Manager, reported on the new district match plan, the number of new staff members, and door bids that will go out next month.

Board members reviewed the first day enrollment count report.In addition, the board approved the following items
o Property sale of213 Scott Avenue to Skitch’s Hauling & Excavation
o Lease agreement between New Generation and USD 234
Agreement between USD 234 and FSCC for the use of Frary Field

Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss school security matters. The board retumed to open meeting. Board members went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and retumed to open meeting.

The board approved the following employment items:

A. Retirement of Deb Kames, middle schooL/Winfield Scott gifted teacher, effective August 30,2019
B. Resignation of Tracy King, high school business teacher, effective July 9, 2019
C. Retirement of Dara Leaming, high school secretary, effective September 13,2019
D. Resignation of Danea Esslinger, high school paraprofessional, effective August 19, 2019
E. Resignation of Brianna Culbertson, high school teacher aide (Student Support Center), effective August 19,2019
F. Resignation of Wanita Tate, bus driver, effective September 6,2019
G. Adjustment in the Special Education/MlS 30-hour, l0-month classified position at the central oflice to a Special Education Secretaryllvledicaid Billing Clerk 40-hour, 12-
month classified position at the central offrce for the 2019-20 school year
H. Addition of a gifted paraprofessional for the 2019-20 school year
I. Addition of a I .5-hour per day custodial position at New Generation
J. Addition of two preschool paraprofessional positions for the 2019-20 school year
K. Addition of a Winfield Scott paraprofessional position for the 2019-20 school year
L. Adjustment in the high school preschool l0-month custodian position to a l2-month position for the 2019-20 school year
M. Transfer ofJason Young, high school ISS teacher aide, to high school Student Support Center teacher aide for the 2019-20 school year
N. Transfer of Allen Davis, l2-month Eugene Ware/middle school custodian , to a 12-month middle school custodian for the 2019-20 school year
O. Transfer of Fred Judy, 4-hour preschool custodian, to a 1 .5-hour New Generation custodian for the 2019-20 school year
P. Transfer of Diana Heckman, high school teacher aide, to high school secretary for the 2019-20 school year
Q. Contract adjustment for Jered McKay, Eugene Ware focus room teacher, to Eugene Ware behavior therapist for the 2019-20 school year
R. Contract adjustment for Andrea Heckman, preschool teacher, to a long-term substitute teacher for the 2019-20 school year
S. Contract adjustment for Bo Graham, high school strength conditioning and credit recovery teacher/middle school weight training teacher to a long-term substitute
teacher at the high school only for the 2019-20 school year
T. Contract adjustrnent for Elizabeth Lyon, Winfield Scott focus room teacher, to a longterm substitute teacher for the 201 9-20 school year
U. Employment of Thomas Russell as a high school paraprofessional for the 2019-20 school year
V. Employment of Bobbie Yoakam as a preschool paraprofessional for the 2019-20 school year
W. Employment of Shawn O’Brien as central office payroll clerk secretary for the 2019-20 school year
X. Employment of Judy Welch as a preschool bus driver for the 2019-20 school year
Y. Employment ofJoyce Earp as a Eugene Ware 6.5-hour cook for the 2019-20 school year
Z. Employment of Joie Moore as a high school 6.5-hour cook for the 201 9-20 school year
AA. Employment of Robert Jackson as a l2-month high schooVpreschool custodian for the 201 9-20 school year
BB. Employment of Tanya Lockwood as a 12-month high school custodian for the 2019-20 school year
CC. Employment of Terry Barrager as a l0-month Winfield Scott/Eugene Ware custodian for the 2019-20 school year
DD. Resigration of Nicole Pellett as a middle school eighth grade team leader, effective August 20, 2019
EE. Resignation of Alicia Hansen as a middle school track coach, effective August 28, 2019
FF. Employment of Angie Kemmerer as middle school scholars bowl sponsor for the 2019- 20 school year
GG. Employment of Kenny Hudiburg as a high school assistant girls’ tennis coach for the 2019-20 school year
HH. Employment of Jared Martin as a high school winter conditioning coach for the 2019- 20 school year
II. Employment of Alicia Hansen as the middle school eighth grade team leader for the 2019-20 school year
JJ. Employment of Eugene Ware team leaders for the 2019-20 school year
KK. Employment of high school team leaders for the 20 1 9-20 school year

The board adjourned.

Fort Scott, Schools, Sports

FSMS Sweeps In Volleyball

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8th graders Kamdyn Farrell attacks the ball set by Keegan Yarick.
The Fort Scott Middle School Tiger Volleyball teams swept Jayhawk Linn at home on Tuesday night.
7B  27-25, 25-9
7A  25-8, 25-15
8B  25-12, 23-25, 15-8
8A  25-22, 25-10
Standouts for the 7th grade were B team-Graycyn Brown had 10 serves with 8 of those ACE serves. A Team-Hadley Forester-15 aerves with 10 of those ACE serves and one kill-Allie Brown with 2 kills.
8th grade stat leaders for the night were, Carsen Wunderly with 13 aces followed by Lauren Hull with 8 for the A team.  Leaders for the B Team were Brylie Schaub with 13 aces followed by Jadyn Messer with 8 and Hannah Peck with 6 for the night.  During our intersquad “C” match Delaney Faulk led the way with 6 aces followed by Delani Weddle, Lauren Orgen, Anna Hall, and Brittany McClure with 4 aces each.
Submitted by Angie Kemmerer
Opinion

Appearances by Patty LaRoche

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Patty LaRoche

 Jesus is not happy with the Pharisees. He calls them whitewashed tombs, beautiful (“righteous”) on the outside but “full of hypocrisy and wickedness” on the inside. (Matthew 23:27-28 NIV)

When Dave and I first toured the Florida subdivision where we now rent, I envisioned Aunt Bea taking cookies to a neighbor and Opie fishing in a nearby pond. Aside from the Key West-style homes and the pristine landscaping, what impressed me most were the front porches—welcoming, friendly, a return to a once-upon-a-time era when neighbors sat together and caught up on each other’s lives. Rocking chairs, swings, and padded loveseats all seemed to say, “Come on up and chat a while.”

As it turned out, these didn’t.

For six months I have ridden my bike or taken long walks a few times a week, all hours of the day, expecting to find owners relaxing on their porches or strolling through their All-American, Norman Rockwell neighborhood. Two times (2!) I have found porch-sitters…both who ignored me until I greeted them first. When I meet up with dog-walkers, they speak only if I mention their cute canine. No one has asked my name or started a conversation. What am I to make of this? I mean, such a waste of these charming, inviting porches!

Dave says I’m to make nothing of it. It’s their home and they can use whatever part of it they want. No one has to talk to me if they don’t want to. The way they choose to live their lives is their business. I tell Dave that they probably are all sad people who never learned how to make friends, don’t know Jesus, and I probably should take them cookies. That’s what Aunt Bea would do. Then I reconsider. I know these types. They’ll accuse me of lacing them with arsenic or marijuana. Dave says I am making way too big of a deal out of this.

I tell him that I think our neighborhood is an excellent example of “what you see is not what you get.” It appears inviting, but isn’t. Jesus gave us a great picture of that when he addressed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. (See Scripture above.) Remember, the Pharisees were the spiritual leaders, esteemed, pious Jews who knew “The Law” and insisted that everyone live accordingly. They looked the part and played the part and probably even had “Honk if you obey God” humper stickers on their camels, but their outer appearance defied what was going on inside them. Had Aunt Bea been alive during Jesus’ day, I’m convinced that she would not have been part of the Pharisees’ social registry.

Earlier in Matthew 23 Jesus calls it like it is: Everything they (the Pharisees) do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long. (Side note: phylacteries were small cases containing Scripture that these religious leaders attached to their foreheads; tassels were a grouping of loose threads hanging at the hems of their clothes–reminders of the commandments God gave to Moses). To the Pharisees, wide and long meant bigger and better.

Let’s face it. Appearances can deceive. We can paint it, enlarge it, decorate it, even suspend a “Welcome” banner from it, all which reveal nothing about what’s inside. But isn’t that true of all of us? Could Jesus call me a “white-washed tomb” for expecting others to meet my front porch expectations but not working harder to meet theirs? Could I be that hypocrite? Could Dave be right after all? Could this be a problem that a few chocolate chip cookies could solve?

I think it is. I’m just not sure how long I have to sit on my front porch, waiting for someone to deliver them. But when they do, I’ll invite them to “come on up and chat a while.” After all, you have to start somewhere.

I think Aunt Bea would be proud.

Fort Scott

Fort Scott Public Library Sept. Newsletter

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Fort Scott Public Library Newsletter
September 2019

Welcome

We hope you enjoy the Fort Scott Public Library newsletter. You are receiving it because you provided us with your email address for library notifications. If you don’t want to receive future editions, you can unsubscribe using the link in this newsletter, or email the library [email protected], and we will remove your address from the list.
Previous editions of this newsletter are available on our website: fortscott.mykansaslibrary.org

Programs and information for Adults

 

Coloring for Adults
Wednesdays at the Library from 2:00-4:00

We supply coloring pages, pens and pencils, and snacks. You’re welcome to bring your own supplies and projects, if you prefer.

Ongoing Book Sale
We have a shelf and 2 carts of books for sale downstairs ALL the time!
Paperback     $0.25
Hardback    $0.50
Other Items   $1.00 (or as marked)

Download ebooks, audiobooks, comics, TV episodes, movies, music, and more. All you need is your library card login and a valid email address. Ask us if you need assistance.

Download ebooks and audiobooks. All you need is your library card login. Ask us if you need assistance.

 
 
 
Download ebooks and audiobooks from the State Library of Kansas. All you need is a Kansas Library eCard. Ask us if you need assistance.

For Kids

Storytime
Join Miss Val for Storytime on Tues. or Wed. at 10 am weekly for a themed children’s program! Storytime features stories, crafts, snacks, singing, and sometimes, special guests, all centered around seasonal themes or ideas from attendees. The program is free and open to all ages! Each event also features a play and coloring table, which families with energetic little ones or special needs children find especially helpful. Join us and see for yourself! Upcoming themes: Mermaids, Food, Toy Stories, Llamas, Music, Fish, Fall, and Halloween.
Tell us your child’s theme ideas here.
 
Miss Val is always seeking volunteers to help with programs and prep. Interested? Contact her at [email protected].

 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Join our free early literacy program and steer your baby or preschooler toward academic success! Studies show that children who are read to from an early age develop better vocabulary, make more connections in their brains, and form the needed skills to read by themselves much quicker than their average peers who are not read to. Sign up by stopping in at the library for your first reading log, welcome letter, and other paperwork. Take a look at our awesome readers here.
           
Attention: 1,000 Books Graduates! 
Plan to attend our first-ever 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Graduation Party on September 27, 5 – 5:30 pm.
Graduates who have reached 1,000 or more books read before kindergarten will receive certificates, goodie bags, snacks, and will make a craft. All past or current participant families are welcome to attend, and will receive a goodie bag, snack, and be invited to read a book together as a group. Join us in congratulating and celebrating these amazing accomplishments in early literacy!

For Families

Celebrate the beginning of a new school year with fellow homeschool families at our 2nd Annual Back to Homeschool Party!
September 30, 2 – 3 pm.
Enjoy snacks & drinks while participating in activities for kids & teens at this free program. Parents will discuss curriculum and schedules for the upcoming year.
WE NEED A HOMESCHOOL PARENT TO LEAD THE DISCUSSION OR ACT AS GUEST SPEAKER. INTERESTED? Email [email protected].
                     Slime returns to Maker Monday!
September 16, 4 – 5 pm.
Make pudding, fluffy, glitter, borax, and many other kinds of slime!
Enjoy snacks & water and work as a family at this free program. Kids 2nd grade and below must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

TAG for Teens & Tweens

Middle & High School Students, come on Wednesdays at 4:15 p.m. for a free program just for you! Help us shape the program for the upcoming months by suggesting new group names and joining in a vote on September 11. An ongoing reading challenge began last week and will run through the end of next May. Reading prizes and books will be awarded for every 500 pages of reading. The August & September meetings will run as follows:
September 11, 4:15-5 pm: Monster Mash-Up Sewing at the Library
September 18, 4-6 pm: Games & Snacks Night at the Library
September 25, 4:15-5 pm: Book Club at the Keyhole
October 2, 4:15-5 pm: Community Service (Have a project for us?)
October 9, 4:15-5 pm: Mini Pumpkin Painting at the Library
October 16, 4-6 pm: Games & Snacks Night at the Library
October 23, 4:15-5 pm: Book Club at the Keyhole
October 30, 4-5 pm: Halloween Party at the Library
Need a ride from public school to TAG? Parents or guardians, call Joe Allen at 223-0800 to arrange bus transportation for your student.

New books–Adult Fiction

A dangerous man
by Robert Crais

Rescuing a bank teller from an abduction attempt, Joe Pike tackles the most perilous case of his career when the would-be kidnappers are found murdered and the bank teller goes missing. By the best-selling author of The Wanted

Bark of night
by David Rosenfelt

Rescuing a dog who was abandoned at a veterinarian’s office by a stranger, defense lawyer Andy Carpenter searches for answers upon learning that the dog’s real owner has been found murdered. By the award-nominated author of Deck the Hounds

…
Fort Scott, Government

Burton Harding: New FS City Attorney

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Burton Harding in a 2013 photo from Linn County News.
 Burton Harding, 37, is the new attorney for the City of Fort Scott.
His duties are providing legal assistance to the Fort Scott City Commissioners.
Harding was educated at the University of Kansas Law School
 and has practiced law for 10 years.
He and his wife have two children.
Burton’s date of hire for the City of Fort Scott was May 1, 2019.
Harding’s familiarity with Fort Scott helped with procuring the job.
“Of the applicants that applied for this position, we felt Burton was the one who had the most familiarity with Fort Scott and would be committed to represent the City’s legal interests and provide legal counsel to the commission and staff,” Deb Needleman, Fort Scott Human Resources Director said.
His office is located in Mound City.
“Just as our previous city attorney worked out of his own office within his legal firm, so does Burton,” Needleman said.  “Burton’s office is in Mound City but he is in Fort Scott several days a week and meets with staff as needed….just as the previous city attorney did.”

Contact information:

Harding Law Firm, L.L.C.
223 Main St.
P.O. Box 216
Mound City, KS 66056
Ph: 913-795-2285
Bourbon County, Business

Buying Locally Benefits Community

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This sign is placed at each participating local Bourbon County business owner and includes a list of all the businesses.

There is a grassroots movement across the county to help small towns stay viable.

Bourbon County has its’ own organization for encouraging small businesses.

Live Local BB started in July 2017 to raise community awareness of the benefits to using locally owned business over non-locally owned businesses, including internet businesses.

The initial public meeting of Live Local BB was in September 2017, pictured here. The event was held at Sharkey’s Pub.

Geoff Southwell, president of Live Local BB said his businesses have experienced sales because of awareness that they are locally owned.

Southwell owns Miller Feed and Oil  and The Butcher Block  in Fort Scott.

“Individuals and businesses come in and specifically buy from us because we are local,” he said. “With the Butcher Block, we got some commercial accounts to have us cater, because we are local.”

“Ever since I have “joined the movement” I have really tried to “think Local First” and I think that, being able to be on the board with several other entrepreneurial folks has really brought to light how to ‘think local first'” said Chrystal Cowan, a member of the organization. “In my life I have taken it beyond the normal, everyday items- those are easy…. Get gas locally, buy groceries locally, feed, shoes, etc… the list goes on and on.  Instead I now have the mindset of, how can I utilize my locals.”

She gives an example of a recent birthday party.

“We had a birthday party for my daughter a few weeks back, and I ordered pizza (and) I forgot to pickup ice cream,  and really didn’t want to hassle with going to the other end of town,” Cowan said. ” I reached out to Brita at Papa Don’s (Restaurant)and she was able to sell me a tub of ice cream as well.  I knew going in, that she may not have enough stock to sell me a tub, but I thought I would ask, and that particular time it worked out!  Now ice cream isn’t something that Brita typically sells by the gallon, but it just so happened that her inventory allowed her an extra for me to buy. I could go on and on about how many times I have tried to come up with a way to purchase something from someone local, or called them with weird requests… but I think my point is that it may take a little bit of thinking outside of the box, but I have learned to try and just think local first.”

Cowan has been asked why she got involved with Live Local BB, since she works at a local insurance company.

” My response to that question, and my response on behalf of any of our professional services businesses is this- You can buy what I sell online, you can travel outside of the county and utilize an agent. But if you click the link and fill out the form to get a quote, are you really getting what you need? Are you going to have a person that you can call on a Sunday, or text on a Tuesday night at 10 pm, and the answer to that is, no you won’t…  so why do I think that Live Local is important – every business in this town is important, and it’s important we support each other in any way that we can.”

“The numbers (facts on money benefitting the community) vary slightly depending on the study, but it’s pretty close to 60 cents of a dollar will stay in a community with a locally owned business and 40% with a non-local business,” Bryan Holt, a member of Live Local BB, said. “Retaining 50% more dollars in our community is a great thing!”

The benefits of money staying in the community include job creation, keeping the money in the local economy where it can be respent and also providing community involvement in the form of charitable giving to local organizations, according to the MSU study listed below.

 

Links for reference are the following provided by Holt:

https://ced.msu.edu/upload/reports/why%20buy%20local.pdf

https://www.forbes.com/sites/centurylink/2017/11/20/5-benefits-of-shopping-locally-on-small-business-saturday/#7656510d668b

https://grasshopper.com/resources/articles/small-business-saturday-statistics/

 

The Live Local BB organization is comprised of locally owned businesses within Bourbon County.

“We have over 80 businesses in our group,” said Geoff Southwell, president of the organization.

Locally owned businesses can be identified by an orange sign in the window of the business. To see the list of local business, click below:

live local

Geoff Southwell speaks during the initial Live Local BB meeting in Sept. 2017.

” We have a desire to see the community grow and become stronger,” he said. ” We wanted to give the community a means for identifying locally owned businesses, with owners who live in Bourbon County. We have ‘Live Local’ signage placed at each business which identifies them as locally owned.”

“We feel we have made an impact on the community to use locally owned first,” Southwell said.

 

 

The Live Local BB sign can be seen in local businesses and includes the list of participating businesses.

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Police, Schools

Police Escort Visitor Out of High School In Sept. 3 Incident

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Fort Scott High School.

An unwanted visitor entered Fort Scott High School on Sept. 3.

“We did have a person in the building at the high school early, before school started, Tuesday, September 3rd,” USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong, said.

The person was stopped by a high school teacher who asked why the person was in the building, he said.

” One of our custodians made sure the students in the building stayed away from the person while the teacher questioned him about being in the building,” Hessong said. “The custodian also contacted another employee of ours who was headed to the high school to assist with the situation, just in case additional support was needed. This employee contacted local law enforcement to also possibly assist with the situation. Police officers escorted the person out of the building, without incident.”

The high school staff followed the plan of approaching anyone who is in the building, who is not identified as checking in the office first, to see if they need help or to direct them back to the school office to check-in, he said.

 

“I want to commend our high school teacher, custodian, program director, and local law enforcement for managing the situation to make sure everyone was safe in the building,” Hessong said.

Business, Government, Kansas

KCC Denies Westar Request

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KCC denies request that would have cost Westar customers approximately $93 million

Topeka – This morning, the Kansas Corporation Commission denied Westar Energy’s request for ratepayers to bear the cost of its seven-month lease and subsequent purchase in August 2019 of an 8% interest in Jeffrey Energy Center (JEC). Had it been approved, the cost to ratepayers would have amounted to approximately $93 million in increased rates over the next 15 years.

 

In rejecting the request, the Commission order states Westar failed to meet its burden of showing that its new lease and purchase agreement was a prudent decision for its retail customers and that Westar entered into the agreement knowing it did not need the 8% portion of JEC to satisfy its capacity requirements and the settlement agreement would increase customers’ rates.

 

Prior to the August purchase, Westar and Kansas City Power & Light owned 92% of the Jeffrey Energy Center (JEC). Midwest Power Company owned the remaining 8% and leased it to Westar. The power generated was sold to Mid-Kansas Electric Company through a Power Purchase Agreement. The lease and purchase agreements both expired on January 3, 2019. Westar then opted for a new lease and subsequent purchase of the 8% and asked the Commission to approve the recovery of costs through its Retail Energy Cost Adjustment (RECA) which is included in customer rates.

 

Today’s order does allow Westar to operate the 8% portion of JEC for wholesale sales and retain revenues resulting from that portion of the plant for their shareholders.

The Commission’s regulatory oversight requires balancing the interests of the public and the utility while ensuring reliable and cost efficient service.

Today’s Commission order can be viewed at: http://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx?Id=a3473a11-528a-46eb-9195-7b5425701361