Monthly Archives: March 2020

Bourbon County, Schools, Sports

Eagles Boys Defeated by Northeast in Sub-State

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Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter

The Uniontown Eagle Varsity boys faced off against the Northeast Arma Vikings in their second round of Sub-State last Friday. The boys were defeated 51-54, allowing Arma to advance to the final round.

Luke George and Jake Harvey lead in points, scoring 17 and 13, respectively. Harvey also had 3 assists. Hunter Schaaf had 8 points and 8 rebounds. Clay Sutterby had 6 rebounds, and Drew Perry had 4 assists and steals. “I’m extremely proud of our team,” said Coach Hays. “We came a long way this season. I’m going to miss being around these guys every day. It’s sad that it is over. I enjoyed every minute of this season.”

I couldn’t agree with Coach Hays more. I never managed the boys’ team directly, but I stayed for almost every game since they usually played after the girls. I enjoyed cheering for them from my seat in the pep band or by Rhian, our filmer. I hope our seniors had a great final season, and I hope the rest of the team will come out for basketball again next year.

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda March 10

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: March 10, 2020

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 – Executive Session, Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

9:45-11:00 – Jeff Fischer, Review current status of Neosho County Road Use Agreement

11:00-12:00 – Apex Wind Generation Contracts

12:00-1:30 – Lunch

1:30-1:35 – Hazel Swarts, Discuss Public Comment Rules

2:00-2:05 – Arlene Weber, Wind Farms

2:05-2:10 – Anne Dare, Wind Farms

2:10-2:15 – Mary Pemberton, Wind Farms

2:15-2:20 – Nancy Van Etten, Lake Sewer District

2:45-3:45 – Justin Meeks, Executive Session-Contract Negotiations – Medical Mall

Business, Fort Scott

Smallville: Emerging 2020 Business Award

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Smallville CrossFit Recognized as Emerging Business of the Year at 2020 Kansas Small Business Awards

 

Smallville CrossFit was recognized as the Kansas SBDC at Pittsburg State University Emerging Business of the Year at the annual Kansas Small Business Awards on March 5th in Topeka.

 

Aaron and Lindsey Watts, owners of Smallville CrossFit in Fort Scott, are on a mission to build a well-balanced, healthy, and fully capable community. Smallville’s atmosphere allows for anyone to come through their doors and start on their better health journey with no judgement.

 

The Wattses purchased Smallville CrossFit in 2016 and the business quickly grew. Knowing they would need to purchase a larger facility, the Wattses reached out to the Kansas Small Business Development Center in 2019 for assistance with cash flow projections and the development of a financial strategy.

 

“Laying out a detailed list of all of the costs we needed to address and be prepared for was huge for me,” said Lindsey Watts. “I am a planner; however, there were still many things that were not even on my radar. [Kansas SBDC advisor] Dacia Clark explained each and every cost and asked questions that helped me question ways to do things better with future spending.”

 

Smallville CrossFit is located at 1905 S. Judson Street in Fort Scott, Kansas. To learn more, follow them on Facebook at @smallvillecrossfit.

Government, Kansas, Uncategorized

Senator Hilderbrand’s Weekly Newsletter March 6

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State senatorRichard Hilderbrand13th district
Communications From The State Capitol
March 6, 2020 ∙ Week Eight
HARD FACTS
The Budget
·      The Governor’s budget sets a new record of spending from the state general fund at $7.8 billion. That’s an $800 million increase from 2019.
·      KPERS executive director Alan Conroy estimated the Governor’s proposal to re-amortize the employee pension plan would cost more than $4.4 billion in additional contributions over the next 25 years.
·      Although Governor Kelly promotes “Closing the Bank of KDOT,” sweeps from 2019 &2020, total $838 million. http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/Transportation/SHF_xfersFY2011-FY2020Apprvd2019and2020.pdf
·      Governor Kelly’s proposed budget calls for a tax on “all sales of digital property,” which starting in July of 2020, would cost taxpayers an estimated $26.7 million in state taxes.
Kansas Talking Books Week is March 1-7
The Kansas Talking Books program, a division of the State Library of Kansas, provides library materials in a specialized format to any Kansas resident with a visual or physical impairment that makes reading difficult. This no-charge service includes fiction and nonfiction in braille or audio format, magazines in braille or audio, plus descriptive videos. A simple application is available at https://kslib.info/talking-books. A signature from a certifying authority such as a medical doctor, optometrist, or librarian is needed. If you or someone you know would like information, please visit the Kansas Talking Books website https://kslib.info/talking-books or call 620-341-6280 or 1-800-362-0699.
FLOOR ACTION
March 5, 2020
The following bills all received unanimous support and were passed Yea: 40 Nay: 0
SB 255 continues a 2007 commitment by the legislature to provide $5 million per year in support to The University of Kansas for obtaining the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Clinical Cancer Center Designation. This funding has served as a critical resource for The University of Kansas Cancer Center.
An NCI-Designated Cancer Center must demonstrate scientific leadership, resources, and capabilities in laboratory, clinical, or population science. It must also demonstrate reasonable depth and breadth of research in each of three major areas: laboratory, clinical, and population-based research. The University of Kansas Cancer Center met these rigorous standards and was awarded an NCI Clinical Cancer Center designation in 2012.
The bill asks the legislature to appropriate an additional $5M annually to the KU Cancer Center. This additional money will be used for KU Cancer Center to achieve the most prestigious designation known as the Comprehensive Cancer Center Designation. The KU Cancer Center will apply for Comprehensive Designation in 2021.
Comprehensive Cancer Center Designation is only awarded to cancer centers which are recognized for their trailblazing research and leadership in developing cutting-edge treatments. For KU Cancer Center, becoming one of only 51 centers in the U.S. with this comprehensive designation means access to more research dollars, attracting internationally renowned researchers and physician-scientists. This appropriation and designation will continue the urgent journey to break the devastating grip of cancer.
SB 140 establishes income tax and privilege tax credits for contributions to the Eisenhower foundation. Senate Bill 140 would allow a taxpayer, Corporation, or Financial Institution to receive a new tax credit for 50.0 percent of certain contributions made to the Eisenhower Foundation for tax years 2019-2023. Individual income taxpayers would only be allowed to claim up to $25,000 per tax year. Corporations and Financial Institutions would be able to claim $50,000 per tax year on income or privilege tax. The total amount of credits claimed in any fiscal year would be limited to $350,000
The following bill was passed Yea: 35 Nay: 5
SB 409 makes permanent the quality care assessment imposed on skilled nursing care facilities. This is a technical bill to push back the sunset (expiration) of the Nursing Quality Care Assessment from July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2030. (I voted no on this bill. This bill allows a bed tax for nursing home patients.)
The following bill was passed Yea: 31 Nay: 9
SB 225 amends the hospital provider assessment rate and uses and membership of the healthcare access improvement panel.(I voted no on this bill. This bill increases the tax for all inpatient hospital procedures from 1.83% to 3.0%, and adds a 3.0% tax for all outpatient hospital procedures.)
The Appointment of David Weishaar, Kansas Adjutant General, was confirmed Yea: 40 Nay: 0
The Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs heard the nomination of David Weishaar on February 20. He succeeds Major General Lee Tafanelli, who has served as Adjutant General since January 28, 2011 and who retires March 31, 2020.  In Kansas, the adjutant general is the top military advisor to the governor, leads the state’s 7,100-person Army and Air Guard operations and directs the state’s division of emergency management and homeland security.
ABOUT OUR NEW ADJUTANT GENERAL
Prior to his appointment, Brigadier General David Weishaar served as the Director of Joint Staff, Kansas National Guard, Chief of Staff- Air, Commander, Kansas Air National Guard and most recently became dual hatted as the Air National Guard Assistant to Commander, Air Force Sustainment Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Tinker AFB.
He initially entered the Air Force in January 1981 as an aircraft maintenance specialist. He separated from the active duty Air Force and joined the Kansas Air National Guard in 1985. He held various positions in the aircraft maintenance arena until his commissioning through the Academy of Military Science as a Distinguished Graduate in 1996. In the past 15 years in the Air Guard at McConnell Air Force Base, he commanded the 184th Intelligence Wing, 184th Mission Support Group, 299th Network Operations and Security Squadron, and the 127th Command and Control Squadron.
Brig. Gen. Weishaar’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with one device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Armed Forces Services Medal among many others.
THANK YOU, GENERAL TAFANELLI!
Before giving his final report on the activities and status of the Adjutant Generals Department, General Tafanelli said, “For the past nine years, I have had the great privilege and honor and solemn responsibility to serve as the Adjutant General, and for that I am forever grateful as it has been a distinct pleasure and the greatest honor to serve as Adjutant General.”
Later, when reflecting on his interactions with counterparts across the country, he shared that “I always return home thankful for the clear and enduring support that the Kansas Legislature shows our troops and our civilians while working hard to make sure that our families sleep safely at night.” He closed by expressing his full and complete support for the nomination of David Weishaar.
Prior to his appointment as adjutant general, Tafanelli assumed the position of assistant adjutant general – Army, Kansas Army National Guard, and commander of the Land Component for the Joint Force Headquarters-Kansas in 2010. Tafanelli joined the Kansas Army National Guard in 1980 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers through Pittsburg State University’s ROTC program in 1982.
Maj. Gen. Tafanellli’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, Global War on Terrorism Medal, and Iraq Campaign Medal among many others.       Click here to listen to the committee audio.
YET ANOTHER KANSAS SUPREME COURT DECISION IS STRICKEN BY HIGH COURT
The United States Supreme Court has once again overturned a decision made by the Kansas Supreme Court. The case, Kansas v. Garcia, 17-834, centered around the issue of whether or not the state can prosecute illegal immigrants who use false identifying documents to secure employment.
In 2017 the state Supreme Court ruled the federal government is the sole authority allowed to prosecute such cases and threw out state convictions of three immigrants who had used false information on certain employment forms, like the I-9. However, this week the high court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled that nothing in federal immigration law prevents states from going after immigrants who use false documents and numbers.
In the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision, Justice Samuel Alito wrote “The mere fact that state laws like the Kansas provisions at issue overlap to some degree with federal criminal provisions does not even begin to make a case for” the state having to forgo prosecution.
More information can be found at https://apnews.com/8f345352b9e3d4aa8539b22c17be061f.
COMMITTEE UPDATES
SHOULD STUDENT-ATHLETES RECEIVE COMPENSATION?
On Wednesday, the Commerce Committee held a hearing on SB 474, which would allow student-athletes to receive compensation for the use of their name, image, likeness rights or athletic reputation if 15 other states adopt similar legislation.
The practice goes against current NCAA rules, but about 30 states are addressing legislation to make it possible. Examples include student-athletes being paid to autograph memorabilia, accepting gifts or meals or even signing outright endorsement deals similar to what professional athletes receive.
Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, a spokeswoman for KU, said the Senate bill was a reaction to other states saying, “Senate Bill 474 does not intend to put Kansas universities in the forefront of this evolving policy matter, but rather simply seeks to ensure Kansas student-athletes aren’t disadvantaged relative to their peers in other states.”
“Recruiting is one of our biggest challenges for our student-athletes. We’re not the NBA, MLB or NFL where you get drafted. You choose where you go,” said K-State Athletics Director Gene Taylor.
Matt Lindsey of the Kansas Independent College Association testified neutral to the bill but requested, if the committee works the bill, he would like it to include a measure that would allow smaller institutions to opt-out if they don’t have the funding or resources to participate in the agreement.
SEDGWICK COUNTY CONSIDERS REORGANIZATION POSSIBILITIES
On Thursday, the Ethics, Elections and Local Government Committee held a hearing on SB 406, which would authorize the formation of a charter commission to study and propose possible reorganization to the Sedgwick County government. The bill essentially forms the commission and gives different Sedgwick county organizations and the Kansas House and Senate the authority to appoint its members.
SUNDAY MORNING BUZZ: FED AND STATE CONSIDERS EXTENDING SUNDAY LIQUOR SALES
SB 456, which was heard by the committee on Federal and State Affairs Thursday, would change the start time for liquor sales on Sunday morning from 12 noon to 9 a.m. No other changes to statute are made through this bill.
COMMITTEE LOOKS TO CRACK DOWN ON ASSAULT OF A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER
On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on SB 413 which considers adding penalties for assault or battery of corrections officers at private, state-contracted prisons that would be equal to similar offenses against officers in state-run prisons. The costs of such a change are hard to determine due to the impossibility of estimating the number of new court cases that might follow.
CALENDAR
Monday, March 9
Ø Final action: SB 474 — Permitting student athletes to receive compensation for the use of their name, image, likeness rights or athletic reputation when 15 other states adopt similar legislation. (8:30, Commerce, 548-S)
Ø Final Action: SB 375— Providing for the FORWARD transportation program. (10:30, Ways and Means, 548-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2515 — Creating the Kansas promise scholarship program.(1:30, Education, 144-S)
Ø 2:30 p.m. session
Tuesday, March 10
Ø Hearing: HB 2451 — Amending Kansas department of agriculture division of animal health license, permit and registration renewal deadlines.(8:30, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 159-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2462 — Updating provisions related to the Kansas department of agriculture division of conservation.(8:30, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 159-S)
Ø Possible final action: HB 2506 —Expanding the military spouse and servicemember’s expedited licensure law to certain other license, certificate or registration applicants. (8:30, Commerce, 548-S)
Ø Hearing: SCR 1601 — Constitutional amendment eliminating transfers from the state highway fund.(8:30, Transportation, 546-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 360 — Authorizing certain sales taxation authority for the Sherwood improvement district. (9:30, Assessment and Taxation, 152-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2118 — Providing income tax credits for aerospace and aviation program graduates and their employers. (9:30, Assessment and Taxation, 152-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2509— Vacating certain blocks in the original town plat set aside for a college and a park of the city of Americus and vesting fee simple title in the city.(9:30, Ethics, Elections and Local Government, 142-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2510— Special districts may be dissolved and responsibilities assumed by a city.(9:30, Ethics, Elections and Local Government, 142-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2583— Clarify the vacation of territory from city boundaries or release of easements. (9:30, Ethics, Elections and Local Government, 142-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2479— Codifying the NAIC corporate governance model regulation into statute. (9:30, Financial Institutions and Insurance, 546-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 467 — Creating a statewide alert program for missing military members. (10:30, Federal and State Affairs, 144-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 468 — Providing the state fire marshal with law enforcement powers and requiring an investigation of deaths resulting from fire. (10:30, Federal and State Affairs, 144-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2429— Adding a public defender to the Kansas criminal justice reform commission. (10:30, Judiciary, 346-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2447— Changing how two-way electronic audio-visual communication is used in courts. (10:30, Judiciary, 346-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2448— Changing penalties for crimes related to motor vehicles. (10:30, Judiciary, 346-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2449— Changing the requirements for board of indigents’ defense services appointments. (10:30, Judiciary, 346-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 274— Eliminating KPERS working-after-retirement employer contribution requirement when first employing retirees aged 65 or older. (10:30, Ways and Means, 548-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2346 — Relating to standards for school-administered vision screenings.(1:30, Education, 144-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2487 — Including emotional disability rather than emotional disturbance in the definitions of “children with disabilities” and “individuals with disabilities.”(1:30, Education, 144-S)
Ø 2:30 p.m. session
Wednesday, March 11
Ø Hearing: SB 435 — Providing for the use of personal package delivery devices on sidewalks and crosswalks, exempting such devices from motor vehicle regulation and preempting additional municipal regulation. (8:30, Commerce, 548-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 459 — Creating the distracted driving violation and prohibiting the use of a wireless telecommunications device while operating a motor vehicle. (8:30, Transportation, 546-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 338 — Allow municipalities to adopt an alternate budget procedure. (9:30, Assessment and Taxation, 152-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 414 — Exempting grocery stores from sales tax assessments for community improvement district. (9:30, Assessment and Taxation, 152-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 457 — Requiring use of the soil survey version dated September 16, 2019, for mapping agricultural land for property tax purposes. (9:30, Assessment and Taxation, 152-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 462 — Prohibiting disclosure by the secretary of revenue of certain sales and use tax information to taxing officials of other states. (9:30, Assessment and Taxation, 152-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 454— Creating exemptions in the open records act for election security records and cyber security records. (9:30, Ethics, Elections and Local Government, 142-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 458— Increasing the compensation of members of the state banking board. (9:30, Financial Institutions and Insurance, 546-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 407— Requiring the Kansas department for aging and disability services to operate acute psychiatric inpatient beds for children in Hays and Garden City. (9:30, Public Health and Welfare, 118-N)
Ø Hearing: HB 2646— Allowing the attorney general to coordinate training for law enforcement agencies on missing and murdered indigenous people. (10:30, Federal and State Affairs, 144-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2521— Enacting the revised uniform athlete agents act. (10:30, Judiciary, 346-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 368— Transferring $268,412,000 from the state general fund to the Kansas public employees retirement fund in FY 2020 and eliminating certain level-dollar KPERS employer contribution payments. (10:30, Ways and Means, 548-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2503— Authorizing the transfer of $268,412,000 from the state general fund to the KPERS fund during fiscal year 2020 and eliminating certain level-dollar employer contribution payments. (10:30, Ways and Means, 548-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 418— Requiring the joint committee on information technology to meet on a monthly basis. (10:30, Ways and Means, 548-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2540 — Requiring moneys attributable to at-risk student weighting be expended for approved at-risk educational programs.(1:30, Education, 144-S)
Ø 2:30 p.m. session
Thursday, March 12
Ø Hearing: HB 2464 — Updating egg repacking requirements for retailers.(8:30, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 159-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2432 — Creating the Kansas pesticide waste disposal program and allowing up to $50,000 to be transferred annually from the Kansas agricultural remediation fund to a new Kansas pesticide waste disposal fund.(8:30, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 159-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2507 — Liability protection for businesses that participate in high school work-based learning programs. (8:30, Commerce, 548-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2420 — Allowing military surplus vehicles to register with the division of vehicles for road use. (8:30, Transportation, 546-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 396 — Discontinuing apportionment of countywide retailers’ sales tax imposed for general purposes between the county and cities located therein. (9:30, Assessment and Taxation, 152-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 460 — Increasing the sales tax collection thresholds relating to time frames for filing returns and paying sales tax by certain retailers and providing that electronic filing is not required for certain retailers. (9:30, Assessment and Taxation, 152-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2466 — Enacting the Kansas taxpayer protection act; requiring the signature and tax identification number of paid tax return preparers on income tax returns; authorizing actions to enjoin paid tax return preparers from engaging in certain conduct. (9:30, Assessment and Taxation, 152-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2452— Providing certain KP&F tier II spousal and children’s benefits for death resulting from a service-connected disability. (9:30, Financial Institutions and Insurance, 546-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2500— Amending the Kansas power of attorney act regarding the form of a power of attorney and the duties of third parties relying and acting on a power of attorney. (10:30, Judiciary, 346-S)
Ø Hearing: SB 437 — Enacting the Kansas electricity bill reduction bonds act and authorizing the state corporation commission to issue securitized ratepayer-backed KEBRA bonds for electric utility property.(1:30, Utilities, 548-S)
Ø 2:30 p.m. session
Friday, March 13
Ø Final action: HB 2462 — Updating provisions related to the Kansas department of agriculture division of conservation. (8:30, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 159-S)
Ø Final action: HB 2451 — Amending Kansas department of agriculture division of animal health license, permit and registration renewal deadlines. (8:30, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 159-S)
Ø Hearing: HB 2702 — Decoupling the KIT and KIR workforce training programs from the high-performance incentive fund program and enhancing the workforce training tax credit. (8:30, Commerce, 548-S)
Ø 8 a.m. session
Thank You for Engaging
Thank you for all your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. Constituent correspondence helps inform my decision-making process and is taken into great consideration when I cast my vote in the Kansas Senate. I hope you’ll continue to engage with me on the issues that matter most to you, your family, and our community. If you are on Twitter or Facebook, I encourage you to follow along with the #ksleg hashtag for real-time updates on legislative happenings in Topeka.
Please know that I am fully committed to addressing the current issues in our state, and I am proud to be your voice in the Kansas Senate.
Government, Kansas

Legislative Update By State Senator Caryn Tyson

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Caryn Tyson

 

March 6, 2020

 

It’s a good thing it happened…  The U.S. Supreme Court has just reversed the Kansas State Supreme Court once again.  This time it was because the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the state could not prosecute illegal immigrants for identity theft using a stolen Social Security Number (SSN).  In 2017, the Kansas Supreme Court had thrown out three state convictions of identity theft saying it is a federal issue; and not a state issue, because they are illegal immigrants.  Thankfully, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the ruling.  The U.S. Court Opinion stated the Kansas Court’s, “interpretation is flatly contrary to standard English” and “…strange consequences would ensue.”  The U.S. Opinion is posted at https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/17-834_k53l.pdf

 

Legislation 101 Senate Bill (SB) 294, the bill we are following in these updates, that brings transparency to your property tax increases, sits in the House Tax Committee.  I reached out to the Chair in hopes that the bill will be scheduled for a hearing.  He does plan to have a hearing, but has not decided a date.

 

The Senate worked four bills on the floor.

SB 255 would provide $10 million in funding for the University of Kansas Cancer Center in hopes that they will obtain the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Clinical Cancer Center Designation, providing access to more research dollars and attracting researchers and cancer physicians.  The bill passed unanimously.

 

SB 140 would establish an income tax credit for contributions made to the Eisenhower Foundation, used to support the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene.  The bill passed unanimously.

 

SB 409 would increase the tax on nursing home beds in order to get more federal money.  The problem with this bill is it raises taxes on all beds, including those who are paying themselves.  Those who are on government assistance in a nursing home are not impacted because the government pays the tax increase.  The bill passed 35 Yes to 5 No.  I voted No.

 

SB 225 is similar to SB 409 in the manner that it increases hospital provider assessment rates in order to get more federal tax dollars.  During the debate, it was stated that, “this would only impact Medicaid patients” but that was not correct.  More debate exposed the tax would be on all patients and that the tax “will have an automatic insurance rate increase…  The more government gets involved the more expensive things get.”  The bill passed 31 Yes to 9 No.  I voted no.

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Caryn

…

Obituary

Obituary of Erla Mae Casner

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Erla Mae Casner, age 90, died March 5, 2020, at Guest Home Estates, Fort Scott, Kansas.

She was born October 26, 1929, in Mapleton, Kansas, daughter of William Fred Bloesser and Lula Mae Wellington Blosser.

She married Merle LaVerne Casner on Oct. 26,1947, in Fort Scott, Kansas. He preceded her in death June 10, 2017.

Erla graduated from Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1948.

She studied organ under Professor Ronald Dawson and then Dr. John Ditto at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri in Kansas City.

She served twenty-four years as organist at the First Church of God in Fort Scott. She also served as substitute organist at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Fort Scott. She performed several recitals at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on the pipe organ for Good Ol’ Days. She was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Pittsburg, Kansas.

She is survived by two sons: Mark Casner and wife Donna, and Keith Casner both of Fort Scott, four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and sister Fern Wratchford of Fort Scott.

Besides her husband, Merle, she was preceded in death by her brother William Bloesser and grandson, Raef Casner.

Father Dave Jenkins will officiate funeral services for Erla at 2:00 p.m., Thursday March 12, 2020, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1:30 p.m., Thursday until the service at 2:00 p.m.

Burial will be held at Fort Scott National Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Pittsburg, Kansas and may be sent to, or left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, P.O. Box 309, 15 W. Wall St., Fort Scott, Kansas. 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Business, Fort Scott, Housing

Union Building Update: Completion Date Now December 2020

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The First and Main building as seen from National Avenue on Nov. 4, 2019.

 

The renovation of a  downtown late-1800s building has been at a standstill.

 

Work began in 2018 on the Union Building, at First and Main Street, and stopped for many months in 2019 and into 2020.

 

The inside was gutted and will be built back to make it into apartments, according to the developer.

 

 

“We replaced the  (first) contractor” Tony Krsnich, president and CEO of Flint Hills Holdings, told FortScott.Biz.

 

 

A new process began of moving forward on the project, he said.

 

 

Architects and engineers have been working on plans for the gutted Union Building for weeks,  Krsnich, said.

 

 

 

The three-story building is being converted into apartments for the general public and rent will be based on income, Krsnich said in a prior interview.

 

 

To see prior stories on the project:

Historic Redo Back On Track.

Stout Building-Going, Union Block Building-New Apartments

Demo Work Has Started On Union Block Building

 

 

“Architects and engineers work from their offices most of the time,” Krsnich said. “They’ve been on site along with subs every week for the past five weeks or so.”

 

Hans Thomas and Associates, K.C. MO are the architects, Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, is the civil engineer, Rau Construction, Overland Park is the general contractor, and Joe Towns, Lee’s Summit, MO is the structural engineer, Krsnich said.

 

The developer, Flint Hills Holdings, is located at 2315 W. 65th, Mission Hills, KS.

 

Completion of the project is expected to be in December currently, he said.

 

 

Union Building, First and Main streets, Fort Scott. June 2018, before inside demolition began.

 

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Use Common Sense to Protect From Coronavirus

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Submitted by Kathy S. McEwan

Family and Consumer Sciences Agent

Foods & Nutrition, SNAP-Ed Coordinator

Southwind Extension District – Iola Office

P.O. Box 845, Iola KS 66749

620-365-2242

[email protected]

 

 

Use common sense to protect from coronavirus

 

K-State experts say washing hands frequently is among the best defense

 

As Americans brace for the impact of the new coronavirus in the United States, a pair of Kansas State University specialists say the best defense against the emerging threat may be one of the most simple.

 

“If you’re feeling panicked about the coronavirus – or not – go wash your hands,” said Erin Yelland, a K-State Research and Extension specialist in adult development and aging. “That is truly one of the best preventative actions we can take.”

 

In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the country’s leading medical authority on emerging health threats, lists hand-washing at the top of a short list of preventative steps Americans can take toward COVID-19, which is the particular strain of coronavirus now in the news.

 

The CDC’s recommendations include:

  • Wash hands often for 20 seconds with soap and water.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Cover your mouth with your sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
  • Seek medical care for fever, cough or difficulty breathing.

 

In addition, experts are encouraging Americans to avoid close contact with people who are sick and to disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched frequently. Those who feel sick should stay home or seek medical care immediately.

 

“Preventing sickness from this particular virus is like a lot of other respiratory viruses that circulate this time of year,” said Londa Nwadike, a food safety specialist whose academic background is in public health. “The same steps we have taken to prevent getting the flu are important for stopping this virus, as well.”

 

Nwadike said reports of coronavirus in the U.S. is not cause for panic, but should be taken seriously. She said that Americans should routinely read updates and information from the CDC, and in Kansas, from the Kansas Department of the Health and Environment.

 

“For a lot of things, it’s good to be prepared, whether it’s coronavirus or influenza or anything else,” Nwadike said. “Do things based on science, not just because everyone else is doing it.”

 

Yelland urged older adults to be especially attentive to taking care of themselves.

 

“Older adults are at heightened risk of complications from many illnesses – such as the flu, pneumonia, norovirus, and coronavirus – and need to take appropriate precautions,” she said. “Taking these precautions is something we should be doing every day, not just when there is a global issue. In such institutional settings as nursing homes, the precautions are very much the same: wash your hands, limit visitation from sick family members, and group people who are ill in the same area or wing.”

 

Yelland cited a recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association that indicated the fatality rate of coronavirus in China was 1% to 2%. “However, the fatality rate is as high as 8% to15% among older adults in China,” she said.

 

“But higher fatality rates are not only limited to the coronavirus; 0.1% of the population that gets the flu in America will die from it, and 90% of those deaths are among adults 65 and older,” Yelland said. “Age is clearly a huge risk factor for complications, hospitalizations and death from many viruses and illnesses. As such, older adults must be diligent in their hand-washing, staying away from others who are sick, and staying up-to-date on all vaccinations, including their yearly flu shot.”

 

The CDC has published a fact sheet to answer additional questions about coronavirus. Persons with any doubts on whether they have been sickened by the coronavirus should seek medical assistance.

 

For additional information and links to publications about coronavirus, visit our website at:  www.southwind.ksu.edu.  “Like” Southwind Extension District on Facebook for the most current updates and information.

Bourbon County

Uniontown 4-H Club March Report

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By Marley Sutton, Uniontown 4-H Club Reporter

Uniontown 4-H Club members have practiced numerous times over the past month in preparation for the regional 4-H skit competition that took place on Saturday, March 7th in Chanute, Kansas. The club performed well and earned a Blue ribbon placing.

Several members also competed at regionals in individual competitions. Will Maycumber received a Blue ribbon in the Intermediate division for his illustrated talk and his brother Austin received a Blue as well in the Junior division for his illustrated talk. Bareigh Farrell received a Blue ribbon for her musical senior solo and a Top Blue for her senior reading. Marley and McKinley Sutton both received a Blue ribbon for their junior division reading.

Government, Health Care, Kansas

COVID-19 in Johnson County

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Presumptive-Positive COVID-19 Case Identified in Kansas

 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is confirming its first presumptive-positive case of COVID-19 in Kansas. The possible case was identified today with testing sent to KDHE’s Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL). KHEL, which is approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to perform COVID-19 testing, found presumptive-positive results this afternoon. These results will be verified by the CDC lab but will be treated as positive unless determined otherwise.

 

“Kansas has been prepared for positive cases of novel coronavirus and will continue to work alongside local and federal public health partners in addressing the potential spread of the virus,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “It is our main priority to keep Kansans healthy and safe. We want Kansans educated on all aspects related to COVID-19.”

 

The case is located in Johnson County and the patient is currently in home isolation, following the guidance of the CDC. KDHE continues to work with the local health department and CDC to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while they were infectious, and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms. The patient is a female under the age of 50 years old. No other information will be provided about the patient.

 

“We continue to monitor the situation closely. In the meantime, the general public can help. Please practice proper public health hygiene,” Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of KDHE, said. “Wash your hands and stay home if you’re sick.”

 

On March 4, Governor Kelly announced the administration’s robust, comprehensive preparedness plan in the event of a positive test result.

 

Under Governor Kelly’s direction, KDHE and KDEM are:

  • in constant communication with local hospitals and health departments, coordinating with local, state and federal public health partners;
  • preparing for emergency management situations on a regular basis, with staff who have decades of experience in developing responses and preventative measures for any situation;
  • continuing to work with federal, state and local partners to maintain awareness of national and international COVID-19 trends and strategies.

 

 

The 2019 novel coronavirus infections initially were diagnosed in Wuhan City, China and have been reported in 60 locations internationally, including the United States. There are a number of unknowns with the virus, including how long people are considered contagious. KDHE, along with our community partners, continues to investigate this illness. Treatment for individuals with confirmed cases is supportive care.

 

If you have recently traveled to China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea and have developed fever with lower respiratory symptoms including cough and shortness of breath within 14 days of your travel, or have had contact with someone with a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider. You may also call the KDHE phone bank at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF) today, Saturday, March 7 from 6-8 p.m. and on Sunday, March 8 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

 

For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE’s website and Frequently Asked Questions at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/  and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/ .

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

 

This situation is constantly evolving and changing. For the most up-to-date information, please use the following links from KDHE and the CDC: