Monthly Archives: December 2020

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of Dec. 15

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December 15, 2020                                         Tuesday 9:00 am

 

The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners, the County Clerk and the County Counselor present.

 

Also present were the following: (some were present for a portion of the meeting, some were present for the entire meeting), Jason Silvers with the Fort Scott Tribune, Mr. & Mrs. Clinton Walker, Anne Dare and Michael Hoyt.

 

Eric Bailey and Dustin Hall with Road & Bridge met with the Commissioners; they are putting brine on some of the roads and hills today due to the anticipated weather coming.

 

Eric said he had a good meeting (regarding clean up and the roads) with the contractor installing fiber on the south side of 54 Highway.

 

Eric said some of their employees are getting updated CPR and 1st aid training for their MSHAW qualifications.

 

Eric said they needed to update the board members for the 5 year solid waste plan; Jeff made a motion to appoint Lynne Oharah, Clifton Beth, Jim Harris, Eric Bailey and Frank Young as the solid waste management committee, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Eric said they applied and should receive a grant from KCAMP for the purchase of a tarp for a hauling truck.

 

Eric said the hydraulic pumps are overheating on the dump trucks, he said they are taking a truck to Joplin for the installation of a new pump to test to see if this repairs the issue.

 

Eric said they are repairing a spindle on a tire on a grader.

 

Eric and Dustin discussed the motor on the rock crusher; they contacted Foley, Inland, Larry’s Diesel and CAT in Joplin for a quote, to date they have received a quote from Foley for $36,000 to replace the motor with a re-manned motor.  They have contacted Murphy Tractor to discuss the cost of repairs vs. the trade in value of the crusher, (they don’t want to spend more in repairs then the crusher is worth), to discuss a possible crusher demonstration or to possibly rent a crusher.

 

Gregory Vahrenberg with Raymond James (on the telephone) met with the Commissioners to discuss the possible bond refinancing.  Mr. Vahrenberg said with the current low interest rates it is a good opportunity to refinance the 2015 general obligation bonds, he said refinancing the years 2024-2035 can produce savings.  He said the cost to refinance would be paid out of the proceeds.  He said the current average interest rate is 3.23% and the estimated refinanced rate is 2.03% and if refinance could produce approximately $251,941 in savings.  Lynne asked if they reviewed savings for refinancing other bonds, Mr. Vahrenberg said only refinancing the 2015 bonds produced savings; he hadn’t reviewed the sewer district bonds, but said he would.  The approximate cost to refinance is 2% of the principal amount of the bonds. After discussion, Clifton made a motion to start the process to refinance the 2015 bond, Jeff seconded and all approved.  If the County later decides to cancel the refinancing there will be no cost to the County.

 

Jody Hoener met with the Commissioners to discuss Spark; she said they have encountered some difficulties getting items purchased, she said the credit cards being used have limits and there have been barriers getting checks cut in off cycles.  The Spark money has to be spent by the end of the year.  Jody said they needed real-time numbers on what the balance is so that all of the money can be spent by the end of the year.  There is a Spark meeting (between Greenbush, departments and others) on December 15th to discuss the balance and reconciling expenses.

 

Jeff made a motion to allow employees with unused vacation time as of 12/31/2020 to carry over the unused vacation time until 4/30/2021, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Register of Deeds Lora Holdridge met with the Commissioners to discuss longevity pay; she had concerns over employees that had left employment and come back to work getting longevity credit for the time the employee worked at the County before leaving.  Lora said all of the elected officials had prior experience with the County before becoming elected.  Jeff said elected officials aren’t eligible for the one-time longevity pay, but said if they became unelected and serve the County then their prior knowledge with the County should count towards longevity.  Lora said she wasn’t asking for elected officials to get the longevity pay. Lora said if an employee comes back to work for the County then their longevity date should be the date they come back to work, not their original start date.  She said their other benefits aren’t held and said their longevity (original hire date) shouldn’t be held either.  Lora didn’t agree with the longevity calculation for a former Commissioner leaving and coming back as an employee.

 

Lynne made a motion to amend the agenda to discuss a pay matter, Jeff seconded and all approved.  Lynne said pay raises had been given at times and said Lora had taken on extra work regarding road records back to the 1950’s, Lynne said he thought they should consider a pay scale to compensate for the extra work; Lora thanked him, but said she wasn’t here to discuss that issue.

 

Clifton made a motion to go into a 15 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room, Jeff seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Justin Meeks).  No action was taken.

 

 

Jeff made a motion to go into a 15 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room, Clifton seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Eric Bailey).  After the session, Jeff made a motion to fill the administrative clerk position for Road & Bridge, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

On 12/8/2020, the Commissioners approved a bid from Schwab Eaton to do the bridge inspections; the Commissioners asked that yes be circled on that agreement for the low water crossings.

 

Jeff made a motion to go into a one hour executive session for confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships, Clifton seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Jody Hoener, Shane Walker, Nedra Barr, Sharon Ross, Lindsay Madison, Josh Jones and Pete Allen (some were attending the meeting by Zoom).  No action was taken.

 

Jeff made a motion to go into a 25 minute executive session for confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room, Clifton seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Justin Meeks and Jody Hoener).  After the session, Lynne made a motion to give Clifton permission to meet with CHC, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Lynne made a motion to amend the agenda to discuss resolutions, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Jeff made a motion to adopt Resolution 30-20, a wage resolution effective 01/01/2021, increasing the wages for the position of major, captain and GIS coordinator, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Jeff made a motion to adopt Resolution 31-20, a resolution allowing unused 2020 vacation time to be carried over until April 30, 2021, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Lynne made a motion to not have a Commission meeting on December 29th or January 5th and to allow the Commission room to be used for early in-person voting, Jeff seconded and all approved.

 

Jeff made a motion to go into a 20 minute executive session confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room, Clifton seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Jody Hoener and Justin Meeks).  No action was taken.

 

At 1:00, Jeff made a motion to adjourn, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS

(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman

(ss) Jeff Fischer, Commissioner

(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner

ATTEST:

Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk

December 22, 2020, Approved Date

 

 

Obituary

Obituary of Wilma Rippee

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Wilma Marie Rippee

Wilma Marie Rippee, age 93, resident of Prescott, KS, formerly of Ft. Scott, KS, died Wednesday, December 23, 2020, at her home.

She was born March 8, 1927, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Harvey Wilkins and Marie Rose Wilkins. She graduated from FSHS with the class of 1945.

She married William Wesley Rippee on December 17, 1944, in Ft. Scott. He preceded her in death on March 14, 1958. Wilma worked for Western Insurance Company for 25 years, retiring in 1986. She was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include a daughter, Rhonda Croan and husband Dean; Prescott, KS; a sister, Claribel Rose McLaughlin, Tulsa, OK; 4 grandchildren, Dena Thompson and husband Marty, Bill Dauben, Tamara Jefferson and husband Mark, and Amy Andrews and husband Dusty; and 7 great grandchildren, Brayden, Avery, and Brooklyn Dauben, Haley and Paige Jefferson, and Eli and Madison Andrews.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Helen Parker, and her parents.

 Due to COVID-19, the family has decided to cancel services.”

Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.

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

Obituary

Obituary of Joyce Wilkins

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Joyce Elaine Wilkins, age 72, a resident of Bronson, Kansas, passed away Friday, December 18, 2020, at the Research Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

She was born October 3, 1948, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the daughter of William Faulhaber and Martha Babbit Faulhaber.

She married David Wilkins in January of 1970, at Topeka.  She was a member of the Bronson Baptist Church.  She was also a member of the Bronson Ruritan Club and had served as treasurer.  She enjoyed doing cross-stitch.

 

Survivors include her husband, David, of the home; and two children, Brenda Proehl (Shawn), of Rogers, Arkansas and Mark Wilkins (Michelle), of Lansing, Kansas; six grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.  Also surviving are her mother, Martha Faulhaber, of Ft. Scott and a brother, David Faulhaber, of Mapleton, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by her father and a sister, Janice Lutz.

 

There was cremation.  A memorial service with burial in the U. S. National Cemetery will be held at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Hospital and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary

Obituary of Barbara Marsh

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Barbara Jean Marsh, age 86, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at her home.

She was born January 23, 1934, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Lloyd K. Baysinger and Irene D. Shepard Baysinger.

Barbara graduated from the Ft. Scott High School.  She married Donald W. Marsh on February 24, 1961, in Miami, Oklahoma.

Barbara had worked for forty-five years for Key Work Clothes.  She began as a seamstress and later served as an inspector.  She was a member of the Grace Baptist Tabernacle and was currently attending St. John’s United Methodist Church.

Barbara enjoyed reading and taking the occasional drive-through Gunn Park with her husband, Donnie.  She was also an avid fan of racing and of the Kansas City Chiefs.

She enjoyed spending time with her family and made every effort to attend her grandchildren’s activities.  When health permitted, she enjoyed volunteering for Care to Share.

 

Survivors include her husband, Donnie, of the home; and her five children, Mike Simmons (Marsha), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Jerry Simmons (Lavetta), Ft. Scott, Donnie Marsh (Sandy), Deerfield, Missouri, Ronnie Marsh (Mary), Ft. Scott and Tammy Miller (Doug), also of Ft. Scott.  Also surviving are thirteen grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, Joyce Farmer, a brother, LeRoy Baysinger and a niece, Linda Alvater.

 

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, December 28th at the Evergreen Cemetery.

Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel on Monday prior to leaving for the cemetery at 10:45 A.M.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Sunday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

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

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Special Meeting Today: Executive Session

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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: December 23, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

*SPECIAL MEETING

MEETING WILL BE HELD IN COMMISSION ROOM. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK. MUST MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.

3:00 – 3:20 – Executive session – confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

3:20 – 3:30 – Executive session – personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Kansas Statistics Showcased by Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

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Attention Data Junkies!
The 54th Edition of the Kansas Statistical Abstract was released in November
KU’s Institute for Policy & Social Research publishes some incredibly useful data.
The Kansas Statistical Abstract 2019, contains the latest available state, county, and city-level data for Kansas on population, vital statistics and health, housing, education, business and manufacturing, exports, employment, income, finance, state and local government, crime, recreation, communications, transportation, agriculture, climate,
and energy and natural resources.
*** Click hereto access the online edition! ***
We hope you find this information useful,
if you ever want to access the abstract in the future it is saved on our website here.
Thank you from the
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce!
Example of Data Included in the Abstract:
Categories Included in the Abstract:
Here is a press release with an overview
and more information:
The 54th edition of the Kansas Statistical Abstract is now available online. In a year that brought the novel coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic turmoil, the KSA shares data on Kansas and the United States in 16 categories that provides context for the challenges Kansans are now facing and offers key information for local and state government leaders seeking the best paths forward for recovery and growth.
Developed by Institute for Policy & Social Research staff, the publication includes data up through 2019, or the most recent available data.
Some key findings:
Medical resources
As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise across the country, the proximity of hospitals to communities and availability of hospital beds have become urgent questions. The KSA includes a chapter on Vital Statistics and Health, with a map of hospitals in Kansas as of 2018 and utilization of hospitals in Kansas, by county as of 2018, with a map showing admissions per bed. Understanding where hospitals are and the pattern of hospital use before COVID-19 helps Kansans anticipate challenges in health care access during COVID-19. Data on persons per physician in Kansas by county as of 2019 indicates that several counties do not have a physician, and in some counties, the ratio of persons to physicians exceeds 2000 to 1.
Digital divide
While many Kansans have known the benefits of a strong broadband internet connection — and the lack of such connection in many parts of the state — the pandemic brought the disparities in connectivity across Kansas into sharp relief. A map of broadband availability in Kansas in 2019 shows that many areas of Kansas lack the necessary infrastructure for high-speed internet connection. With that gap in connectivity comes problems for people who hope to attend school remotely, telecommute and video-call their loved ones who live far away. IPSR affiliates Wally Meyer, director of Entrepreneurship Programs in the KU School of Business; Germaine Halegoua, associate professor of film & media studies; and director Donna Ginther, Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor of Economics, plus several IPSR staff members, will undertake a comprehensive study of broadband in Kansas in the coming months.
Solar energy
In addition, as the World Meteorological Organization identifies 2011-2020 as the warmest decade on record, the KSA includes a new map showing commercial solar farms in Kansas. The map also displays the solar kilowatt hours per square meter average from 1998 to 2009 throughout the state. This measure indicates how much solar energy might be collected from a given place. As the map shows, western Kansas has a particularly high concentration of potential solar energy. A map of wind farms and wind resource potential in Kansas, also part of the chapter on Energy and Natural Resources, similarly shows that a considerable part of the state has excellent wind power density and identifies locations of wind farms in the state. These sources of energy offer an important alternative to fossil fuel-based energy as stakeholders consider ways mitigate anthropogenic climate change.
The 54th edition of the KSA honors the long history of this publication with a dedication to the memory of Thelma Helyar, editor of the Kansas Statistical Abstract from 1985 to 2003. She was born in Carshalton, Surrey, England, in 1929, and she died in Lawrence in November 2019. As the institute’s librarian from 1976 to 2003, Helyar took countless phone calls from stakeholders requesting data on Kansas.
The IPSR editorial team, including Jena Gunter, Genna Hurd, Whitney Onasch, Abigail Byrd and Xan Wedel, gathered, compiled, and in many cases, visualized available data from federal and state agencies. The online abstract is available in a single, 576-page PDF and an enhanced online edition, with individual chapters, tables and maps.
The abstract includes data on agriculture; banking and finance; business, industry, and exports; climate; communications and information; courts, crime, and public safety; education; employment and earnings; energy and natural resources; government; housing and construction; income; parks and recreation; population; transportation; vital health; and a summary of key information about Kansas, the Sunflower State.
The 54th edition includes high-resolution image files for several maps. Users can reproduce these resources in presentations or publications with appropriate citation. With this edition, the abstract has now been available online at no cost for 20 years. Prior to online publication, theaAbstract was available on paper or CD-ROM for purchase.
“By offering the KSA free online we are able to provide a convenient volume of current data to Kansans at the state, county, and city levels,” says Gunter, assistant director.
Preparing the Kansas Statistical Abstract for publication during a pandemic came with unique challenges, with some data releases delayed and a higher-than-normal workload for the team. While compiling the KSA, IPSR also developed and maintained a website of COVID-19 research and resources, with regular briefings from Ginther, reports on county recovery efforts, briefs on the federal stimulus in Kansas, and galleries of maps and graphs with data updated on a regular basis.
Efforts to develop the 55th edition of the KSA are already underway.
“I’m hopeful that we will start to see the data from the 2020 Census as well as to learn more about the impact of COVID on our economy as more data become available,” said Wedel, who in addition to leading data collection for the KSA, serves as the lead for the Kansas State Data Center and participated in several efforts to ensure a complete count of Kansans in the 2020 Census.
Business, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Schools

Sunbeam Preschool Receives SPARK Funds To Keep Doors Open

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As with life in America at all levels, the COVID-19 Pandemic has affected schools.

Sunbeam Christian Preschool received SPARK funds to help them continue to teach young children, said owner Lindsay Hill.

“We are very thankful for the SPARK grant as it helped keep our doors open for another year,” she said. ” We are a private preschool, so we rely on tuition to pay bills and staff. We did not collect tuition after March but continued to provide online services for our preschoolers. This grant allowed us to continue to pay our staff and bills.”

 

“Although enrollment is down this fall because of COVID, Sunbeam Christian Preschool continues to provide a Christian learning experience for all their Sunbeamers,” she said.

 

“Sunbeam Christian Preschool has taken extra precautions to make sure their students can continue in-person learning, with extra cleaning, temperature checks at the door of children entering the building, no parents or adults allowed in the building, and much more,” Hill said.

 

History of Sunshine Christian Preschool

Sunbeam has been in operation since 1985,  30 years under the direction of Marilyn Barker.

Sunbeam Christian Preschool is now owned by Lindsay Hill and directed by Tonya Defebaugh.

The preschool has 3-5-year-olds and offers three different class times:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 12-1:30 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

 

“We are extremely blessed to be apart of the Fort Scott community and thankful for First Baptist Church, where our classroom is located,” she said. The church is located in downtown Fort Scott at the corner and Second and State Streets.

 

SPARK, The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas program, is federal COVID-19 Pandemic recovery money that was given to the states and then to local entities.

Area News, Government, Kansas

Wichita Earthquakes Investigation Complete

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KCC completes investigation of Wichita area earthquakes

TOPEKA –The Kansas Corporation Commission has completed an investigation into whether the recent string of earthquakes occurring in the Wichita area are related to oil and gas industry activity. The KCC regulates oil and gas production and exploration in the state.

“Based on our investigation, KCC staff does not believe the seismicity in Wichita, Kansas is tied to any oil and gas activities in the area,” said Ryan A. Hoffman, Director of the KCC Conservation Division.

The KCC’s investigation examined many factors including:

  • A review of historical disposal well records for Arbuckle or Granite Wash injection wells within a six-mile radius of the earthquakes. Five wells were located in the radius. No recent volume increases were found.
  • Any new drilling activity within three miles of the epicenters. No new wells were recently completed within the area.
  • Spot checks of the wells within the radius area to verify compliance with permit conditions.

This investigation procedure is outlined in the Seismic Action Plan developed in 2014 in collaboration with the Kansas Geological Survey and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. An investigation is triggered whenever an earthquake of M 3.5 or higher occurs in the state or when an earthquake scores a 17 or higher Seismic Action Score which takes into account variables such as risk, clustering and timing.

The KCC will continue to monitor the situation and consult with the Kansas Geological Survey and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as necessary.

Business, COVID-19, Entertainment, Government, Health Care

COVID 19 Relief Legislation Passed

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Marshall Issues Statement on COVID Relief Legislation Passed on Dec. 21

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D. issued the following statement and details on the new COVID relief legislation.

“Millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses are being distributed and administered, bringing the hope and possibility of widespread immunity by mid-March. However, our nation still needs a bridge to help us to the spring. With that in mind, I’m supporting the $900 billion COVID relief bill. Since the summer, Republicans have called for a targeted relief package that prioritizes refunding the Paycheck Protection Program, funding for vaccine distribution, additional support for unemployed Americans and resources to allow our children to safely return to the classroom. This relief legislation delivers on all of those priorities and leaves out the unnecessary funding for cities and states and socialist priorities of the left.

 

This bill repurposes more than $500 billion in unused CARES Act funds to help hardworking Kansans make it through these next winter months. By reopening the highly successful Paycheck Protection Program, which saved more than 500,000 Kansas jobs this year, we will ensure that assistance is again available to struggling small businesses and improvement are made to address issues raised by lenders and business owners.

 

Families will receive another stimulus check, and federal unemployment benefits have been extended for both full-time and contract workers. Finally, this legislation includes essential funding for the continued manufacturing and distribution of the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. This package not only will help families, small businesses, and communities still struggling with the impacts of COVID-19, but it also gives us the tools we need to defeat this virus.”

 

The COVID Relief bill does the following:

  • Adds $280 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program to support small and mid-size businesses impacted by COVID-19, allowing them to retain employees and keep their door open
    • Gives businesses with 300 employees or less experiencing severe revenue reductions an opportunity to apply for a second PPP loan
    • Includes 501(c)(6) organizations but excludes unions from PPP eligibility
    • $15 billion in funding for entertainment venues, movie theaters, and museums that are experiencing significant revenue loss  
    • Codifies federal rules that ensure churches and faith-based organizations are eligible for PPP loans
    • Makes expenses businesses covered with funds from the Paycheck Protection Program tax deductible
  • Provides $68 billion to ensure continued manufacturing and distribution of safe, effective COVID-19 doses to all Americans, regardless of their ability to pay
  • Delivers $600 in direct payments to both adults and children, with reduced payments for high-earning families
  • Provides $300 per week federal unemployment benefits until March 14, 2021, to help those still struggling to reenter the workforce
    • Extends and phases-out Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which is a temporary federal program covering self-employed and gig workers, to March 14 (after which no new applicants) through April 5, 2021
  • Sets aside $13 billion for the USDA to continue support of farmers, ranchers and the biofuels industry
  • Provides $82 billion in funding for schools and universities to assist with reopening for in-person learning that also includes $2.75 billion in designated funds for private K through 12 education
  • Extends the deadlines for states and cities to use CARES Act funds by one year  
  • Provides $25 billion in temporary and targeted rental assistance for individuals who lost their source of income during the pandemic
    • Extends the eviction moratorium until January 31, 2021
  • Allocates $7 billion in broadband funding that includes funding to build out rural networks and telehealth

 

“As a physician I often tried to share a message of hope to patients facing a tough diagnosis,” said Rep. Marshall “Over the past 11 months, I’ve learned even more about how important hope is to all of us.  With the vaccines being distributed and given, and now this next phase of COVID relief, I believe hope is visibly there for all Kansans. This Christmas season, I encourage those of us with more than enough to reach out to our neighbors who might benefit from some encouragement and a message of hope.”

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