DUE TO THE FORECASTED INCLEMENT WEATHER IN OUR SURROUNDING AREA.
THE “LUNCH & LEARN” WITH FRANK CLAY PRESENTATION (BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPEAKING PRESENTATION) HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO Tuesday, FEB 18 AT 11:00.AM. – 12:00 P.M.
Kirk Sharp, Executive Director
Gordon Parks Museum
Fort Scott Community College
2108 S. Horton
Fort Scott, Kansas 66701-3141
620-223-2700, ext 5850
Email: [email protected]
Due to expected bad weather, Cheney Witt Chapel is rescheduling the grief support luncheon planned for tomorrow February 5th to Wednesday, March 4th. Thank you for your understanding.
January 31, 2020
Kansas Property Taxes have increased 164% from 1997 to 2018, while inflation was 49.5%. during the same time-frame. And we have some whose property taxes have increased 15% or more just in the last year.
Senate Bill (SB) 294 and SB 295 were introduced to promote transparency and fairness in our property tax system. SB 294 would require a vote of local government to increase your property taxes. Taxpayers deserve to know why their taxes are increasing. SB 295 would stop your property tax from increasing for normal maintenance. When you need to paint your house or need a new roof it shouldn’t increase your property tax. Especially when the person who doesn’t take care of their property receives a lower tax bill.
There is an effort by some who are funded with property taxpayer dollars to try and kill or weaken the bills. It appears they want business as usual.
Value Them Both (mother and child) Constitutional amendment, Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1613, passed the Senate on a vote of 28 Yes to 12 No. The SCR would allow Kansas voters the opportunity to amend our State Constitution and clarify the authority to enact laws on abortion is with the legislature and not the courts. The next step is for the House to debate and vote on the SCR. It must pass the House with 2/3 majority before it can be on a ballot for Kansas voters. If the amendment passes the House and goes on a ballot, a yes vote would keep Kansas abortion laws already in place. This is required because the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that our founding fathers allowed for abortion in our state constitution.
The amendment would help in stopping the courts from legislating abortion laws from the bench. The Court opinion is posted online at:
www.kscourts.org/Cases-and-Opinions/Opinions/SupCt/2019/20190426/114153.pdf.
Legislating from the bench needs to be stopped. Last year a Kansas Supreme Court decision blocks the state from prosecuting illegal immigrants who use a fake Social Security Number (SSN). The majority of justices ruled Kansas has no right to prosecute an “alien” for using a stolen SSN. Two justices dissented and understood how disastrous it is to not be able to prosecute whomever breaks Kansas laws.
www.kscourts.org/Cases-and-Opinions/opinions/SupCt/2017/20170908/112502.pdf
A loud and clear message must be sent to the justices that we will not tolerate judges rulings based on personal opinions rather than on law. SCR 1613 will help send that message.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
by Adelay Martin, UHS Student Sports Media Reporter
The Uniontown Eagles faced the Crest Lancers on Friday night, January 31. Both Varsity teams took victory over the Lancers. We also had a teachers’ cheering section in the stands, which helped both teams out with morale.
The girls’ Varsity beat the Lancers 66 to 50. Danielle Howard had 24 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 6 steals. Karleigh Schoenberger had 18 points and 3 assists. Breleigh Harris had 3 assists. Sammie Hampton had 11 points and 6 rebounds. Coach Miller remarked, “To use a quote from Larry Bird, ‘It does not matter who scores the points, it’s who can get the ball to the scorer.’ That was definitely the theme for tonight. I’m glad that we are starting to see the court better. This will definitely help moving forward. We will play the Chetopa Hornets on Tuesday, February 3 at 6 pm at home.”
The Varsity boys also beat the Lancers, coming out 54 to 46. Jake Harvey scored 21 points and had 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 steals. Luke George had 11 points and 3 assists. Clay Sutterby had 5 rebounds and Hunter Schaaf had 7 rebounds. Coach Hays said, “I thought the atmosphere for our game tonight was electric. The student section and teacher cheer section really brought the energy. Free throws continue to be an area we need to improve on. I liked our defensive effort tonight, especially Drew Perry on their best shooter. It was a total team effort tonight.”
PARSONS – Sexual Predator Treatment Program (SPTP) resident Randy Snodgrass, a 58-year-old white male, was being transported by a Parsons State Hospital and Training Center (PSHTC) staff member earlier today when he escaped on foot.
Local law enforcement and EMS responded to the scene. A hospital staff member was transported to a local hospital where she was treated and released this afternoon.
“The priority for us right now is the safety of our hospital staff and of the general public. Officials at the hospital are working very closely with local law enforcement to ensure this resident is apprehended quickly and without further incident,” said Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard. “I am in constant contact with the superintendent at Parsons and am actively monitoring the situation.”
Snodgrass is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 195 pounds and was last seen wearing a black hoodie and black pants. Labette County Emergency Management has issued a “Be on The Lookout” through its code red notification system and is instructing the public to not approach, call 911. Snodgrass is considered armed and dangerous.
PSHTC and KDADS officials are fully cooperating with law enforcement’s ongoing investigation. New information will be released as it becomes available.
Participation in the Kansas KidWind Challenge quadruples
The science behind wind energy has captured the attention of Kansas students and boosted the number of competitors in the state’s KidWind Challenge from 17 teams in 2018 to 71 teams this year. The increased number of participants also prompted the addition of a fifth regional competition. Regional events begin on February 5 and continue through March 6 culminating in a state competition on April 4.
KidWind is an annual competition where student teams build and test their own wind turbines, then compete in a regional event for a chance to move on to state and national competitions. The events are part of the Energy Education partnership between the Kansas Corporation Commission and K-State Engineering Extension with a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
“KidWind is a fantastic hands-on opportunity that allows students to tinker and experiment with wind turbine designs. They experience the thrill of scientific discovery as their designs are validated through performance testing, and they hone their public-speaking skills as they present their turbine design to a panel of judges,” explained David Carter, Director of the Kansas Energy Program at K-State Engineering Extension.
Tatum Vogel, a teacher at Dighton Elementary, said the skills her students learned from KidWind extended beyond science to include perseverance and other life skills.
“We went to the regional competition with a turbine that was heavy and barely turned. We weren’t out of the city limits that day, and these students had already redesigned the entire top. The life skills involved were priceless. They had to communicate, work together, take initiative to learn more, and apply all the science and physics along the way,” said Vogel.
Teams compete by age group, 4th – 8th grades or 9th – 12th grades, with three to five students per team (recommended). At each regional competition, the top two teams in each age group advance to the state finals. State winners move on to the national competition in Denver. The complete schedule of events appears below. All events are open to the public.
Region Date Location______________________________________
Kansas City Feb 12 Olathe (Olathe West High School)
Northeast Feb. 20 Manhattan (Unger Complex)
Southwest Feb. 25 Dodge City (Village Square Mall)
Northwest Feb. 27 Oakley (NW Kansas Educational Service Center)
Southeast March 6 Burlington (Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant)
State Finals April 4 Topeka (Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers)
National Finals June 1-4 Denver
More information about KidWind is available at https://kansasenergyprogram.org/kidwindchallenge.
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HOUSTON (Feb. 3, 2020) – Gordmans joins the American Heart Association on National Wear Red and Give Day, Feb. 7, by donating 10% of total store sales up to $50,000 to AHA. Gordmans’ support will help advance the American Heart Association’s mission to build healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke.
On Friday, Feb. 7, Gordmans invites guests to wear red to raise awareness for heart health. Nearly 80% of cardiac events can be prevented. Gordmans’ donation will help educate the community about heart conditions and provide tools to help make heart health a priority.
Gordmans, as part of the Stage community of stores, has teamed up with the American Heart Association since 2019 and, with the generosity of its guests, has raised over $250,000 to help educate families on how to prevent heart disease. Gordmans believes that saving lives starts with each of us – it invites guests to join in supporting the American Heart Association to help fund research and advocacy initiatives that will change the landscape of women’s and men’s health from the inside out.
KDA to Host Regional Agribusiness Development Workshops in March
| MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Agriculture will host four Regional Agribusiness Development Workshops in March 2020 to provide Kansas rural communities with resources and current business development and organizational contacts to assist with recruiting, retaining, and growing ag businesses in their communities.
Workshops will be held in the following locations:
“Economic development in Kansas is tied to agriculture, which makes up $47 billion of the state’s economy,” said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam. “These workshops will help communities consider the unique needs associated with agricultural opportunities in Kansas which will create an environment that facilitates growth.” Beam added that expanding resources and education will make Kansas’ rural communities better prepared to serve as economic engines for rural Kansas.
Featured speakers at the events will represent the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Department of Commerce, and local economic development organizations. The workshops will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and will include a meal. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required to ensure sufficient food and materials. Find out more information and register at agriculture.ks.gov/BusinessDevelopment.
The KDA Division of Agriculture Marketing received a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant to help fund these statewide workshops. Established in the 2014 Farm Bill, USDA’s Rural Business Development Grant is a program intended to help with technical assistance, training and other activities to allow small businesses in rural areas to expand.
KDA is committed to providing an environment that enhances and encourages economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy. These workshops will provide support and assistance to help make Kansas rural communities more successful.
For additional information about KDA’s agribusiness development workshops, contact Russell Plaschka at 785-564-7466 or at Russell.Plaschka.ks.gov.
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New screen for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) added
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s (KDHE) Kansas Newborn Screening Program (KS-NBS) began screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) on February 1. The Kansas Newborn Screening Program (KS-NBS) strives to protect and improve the health of all newborn Kansans. With one small blood sample, more than 30 life-altering and life-threatening disorders will be detected. These are completely undetectable at birth without this screening. Nearly 35,000 Kansas babies receive the newborn screen shortly after birth each year.
“We are very excited to be able to add SMA to our screening process and directly impact the health and future of our youngest Kansans,” said Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary.
SMA is a disease affecting the motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. By limiting infant’s physical strength, SMA can take away the ability to walk, eat or breathe. Approximately 1 out of every 11,000 newborns is diagnosed with SMA. About 1 in every 50 Americans is a genetic carrier for SMA. SMA was added to the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) for newborn screening in 2018. Evidence shows that early diagnosis and treatment leads to better outcomes.
“Since 2016, we have safe, effective and FDA-approved treatments that are dramatically changing the natural history of this disease,” says Dr. Britton Zuccarelli, a pediatric neurologist in Salina and a member of the Advisory Council for Newborn Screening. “Affected children are achieving motor and other milestones we never would have anticipated based on the severity type and are living to ages without invasive respiratory support that are unprecedented in this condition. With over a dozen other investigational drugs in the SMA pipeline, our options for treatment for this rare neurological condition are only going to continue to grow, and early recognition is paramount. With 1/40 to 1/60 of us Kansans being carriers of this disease, newborn state screening is important and will change the lives of babies, children, adults and families across Kansas.”
For more information on Kansas’s Newborn Screening Program, visit: www.kdheks.gov/newborn_screening/index.html.
