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Monthly Archives: October 2022
Evergy To Explain Dramatic Increase in Spending Plan on Dec. 13
KCC schedules public workshop for Evergy to explain dramatic increase in capital spending plan
TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has scheduled a workshop on December 13 at 9:30 a.m. to give Evergy officials an opportunity to explain a dramatic increase in the company’s capital expenditure projections. The plan, filed earlier this year, showed an increase of $1.2 billion compared to projections shared when the company presented its Sustainability Transformation Plan (STP) last year.
In an order issued on September 15, the Commission directed Evergy to work with KCC staff and the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board (CURB) to schedule the workshop, which will be conducted by Zoom and available for public viewing on the Commission’s YouTube channel. The workshop will also be recorded for later viewing.
During the workshop, Evergy will be asked to explain the necessity and impact of the proposed capital spending and answer questions from KCC Commissioners, Commission Staff and CURB. Prior to the workshop, Evergy is required to file updated and comprehensive financial modeling showing expected retail rate changes resulting from continued increases in capital expenditures. That information must be submitted by December 2.
Evergy is required to file a Capital Investment Plan with the KCC annually. A report filed by Commission Staff in response to the 2022 report expressed concern that the expenditures outlined exceeded those reported in the STP by 21.82%. The 2022 five-year Capital Investment plan was $1 billion higher than the 2021 five-year plan, and this increased spending projection was on top of a previously announced $1 billion increase between Evergy’s 2020 and 2021 five-year plan.
The order is available here.
A recording of the Business Meeting is available on the KCC YouTube channel.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Oct. 6
Pre-School Trunk or Treat Oct. 28
Submitted by
Nick Johnson, Fort Scott Preschool Principal
(620) 223-8965
On behalf of the USD 234 School District, we would like to invite you to the 2022 Early Childhood Trunk-or-Treat. This year’s event will be held on Friday, October 28 from 4:30-6:00 PM at the Fort Scott Preschool Center gym. All children ages birth-six years old and their families are invited to attend. A grant through the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation is helping support this year’s Early Childhood Trunk-or-Treat.
If you are a family resource provider or a community partner, we invite you to attend and set up a table from which children can trick-or-treat. During this time, you may also provide brochures, resources, and/or helpful information related to your program. Our goal is to inform families about the resources available in our community. If you are a preschool or childcare provider, please share the attached flyer with your families. We also welcome you to set up a table for your program.
If you plan to attend our event, please complete the form below by Friday, October 21st so we can have a table reserved for your organization.
Early Childhood Trunk-or-Treat Reservation
FS City Commission Meets To Discuss Wastewater Treatment Plant on Oct. 6
The City Commission will meet for a special meeting at 4:00 p.m.
on Thursday, October 6th, 2022, at City Hall in the City
Commission meeting room at 123 South Main Street, Fort Scott,
Kansas. This meeting will be held to discuss improvements at the
Wastewater Treatment Plant.
This meeting will be broadcast on the City’s You tube channel.
This meeting is open to the public.
To view attachement:
Growing Pains: Downtown Fort Scott Improvements
Downtown Fort Scott has experienced much improvements in the last few years.
Historic buildings have been and are being brought back to life, some for business storefronts and some for residences. There has hardly been a month where there wasn’t a dumpster in front of buildings downtown where construction going on.
All the new businesses and residences create problems that local city, businesses and organizations are working to solve.
At the quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet on Oct. 4, hosted by City State Bank, there was discussion of the downtown parking situation.
The need is real: more available and easily accessed parking for downtown businesses and residents.
The two recently renovated buildings, Union Lofts at 20 S. Main and Fort Scott Lofts at 8 E. First, need approximately 120 parking spaces for residents. In addition there are a growing number of other downtown apartments.
The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Downtown Division has been having conversations to come up with solutions, Lindsay Madison, executive director of the Chamber said.
“No solution will make everyone happy,” Bailey Lyons, chair of the the division told the attendees. We are looking at the most cost effective ways.”
There is a small unpaved parking lot in back of the Union Lofts, at First and National Avenue that has not been developed, “but funding is not available, is my understanding,” Madison said.
There are currently public parking lots behind Moe’s Breads on National Avenue, south of Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel, 201 S. Main and on Skubitz Plaza at the north end of downtown.
Some solutions for the parking situation on Main Street, from information provided by Madison are:
- Enforcement of the 2-hour parking that is already in place. The ticket amount is being discussed by the city.
- Reinstall parking meters. This is not a popular choice, based on feedback.
- Have no parking allowed between the hours of midnight to 6 a.m.
- Give designated spots, with car stickers, in downtown area public parking lots for the downtown residents.
- Build parking garages large enough to hold all the apartment resident’s cars, business employees cars and overflow parking.
“No solution will make everyone happy,” Bailey Lyons, chair of the the division told the attendees. We are looking at the most cost effective ways.”
For Lyons, the possible solutions are “Divert and assign spots for residents and business employees, and have better signage to identify public parking lots.”
Also on the Downtown Meet and Greet Agenda:
- The Fort Scott National Historic Site annual candlelight tour is the first weekend in December, with tickets set to go on sale on November 1.
- The annual Downtown Halloween Parade is Oct. 29, with festivities starting at 10 a.m. and the parade at 11 a.m. Hot dogs will be provided after the parade for participants.
- Downtown Holiday Open House is Nov. 10-12, with the kick-off event from 5-8 p.m. on Nov. 10.
- Small Business Saturday Bonanza in November 26.
- Cocoa and Caroling Night Shopping is Friday, December 9 from 5-8 p.m.
Madison listed several business resources available in Fort Scott:
- The Dare to Dream Women’s Entrepreneurship Event, today from 5-7 p.m. at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Office, north of Luther’s BBQ on North National. There will be tips to affording health insurance.
- Also at this location is the Small Business Development Center, with Dacia Clark as the contact.
- Bourbon County Regional Economic Development offers business entrepreneurship mentoring with Mark McCoy, by appointment.
- E-Community Loans are available at 4% for 10 years, minimum loan is $5,000 maximum is $45,000. Contact the Chamber.
- Governor Laura Kelly announced that small businesses can now apply to receive COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief. In June, Governor Kelly signed bipartisan House Bill 2136, investing $50 million to help small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two downtown building construction updates
Lyons gave an update on the building on the west side of downtown Main Street that she and her husband are renovating.
She said they are working with the state on the historic building which is a slow process, and have addressed structural issues.
“We are going to tackle the first floor first,” she said. “It is a possible build-to-suit for interested businesses.”
Kathy Dancer gave an update on the Scottish Temple that she and her husband have purchased.
She envisions a cafe and retail spaces in the building.
“I am guesstimating 18 months until we get the cafe going,” she said.
There will be a future story on this project on fortscott.biz.
About the host
City State Bank President John Hill told attendees that the bank was chartered in 1920, and in 2018 the downtown branch location was remodeled. They have two locations: 1012 Highway 69 or 202 Scott Avenue Fort Scott. and can be reached at 620-223-1600.
“We are a $55 million dollar institution, with 97% in Bourbon County,” he told the attendees.
Chamber Coffee Hosted by Gordon Parks Museum on Oct. 6
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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Oct. 5
Writer’s Seminar Oct. 15
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Adoptions Increase Over 35% Under Kelly Administration
TOPEKA – Data released today by the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) shows that under Governor Laura Kelly’s Administration, statewide adoption numbers are up more than 35% compared to the Brownback and Colyer Administrations. This increase is credited to initiatives that expand training, resources, and awareness for foster care staff and prospective adoptive families.
“My administration is doing everything we can to make it easier for Kansas families to provide a loving, stable home to children who need one,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By providing vital resources for families and deepening relationships with our providers, we’re making it possible for more Kansas children to be adopted. I couldn’t be prouder of these numbers.”
From 2011 to 2018, the average number of adoptions in the state sat around 730. However, under the Kelly Administration, close to 1,000 children on average are being adopted each year.
The increase in adoptions has contributed to the 17% decrease in the number of children in the Kansas foster care system under the Kelly Administration.
Adoption Numbers by the Years, 2011-2022
| 2011 | 761 adoptions | 2017 | 758 adoptions |
| 2012 | 777 adoptions | 2018 | 766 adoptions |
| 2013 | 620 adoptions | 2019 | 1,210 adoptions |
| 2014 | 666 adoptions | 2020 | 998 adoptions |
| 2015 | 765 adoptions | 2021 | 846 adoptions |
| 2016 | 755 adoptions | 2022 | 948 adoptions |
DCF created Adoption Accelerator positions in 2019 and expanded them in 2022 to identify, track, and monitor youth who experience barriers to adoption. These specialized staff conduct home studies, share resources for completing adoption procedures, and aid case management teams to support adoption finalization.
“We have removed barriers in the adoption process for children with special needs by updating policies and growing eligibility,” DCF Secretary Laura Howard said. “The adoption assistance and subsidies available for families who are trying to adopt children with special needs are vital.”
DCF also recently revised adoption subsidy policies for children who are on Technology Assistance waivers and Intellectual/Developmental Disability (I/DD) waivers and need specialized medical care. These children are eligible for monthly subsidies designed to ensure their families can continue to support their specialized needs.
“Over the past three years, we have also grown our partnerships in the community,” Howard added. “DCF’s partnership with The Kansas Post Adoption Resource Center is important as adoptive and kinship families often find the need for support grows in the years after adoptions are finalized.”
DCF has worked to bring together different partners to take a systemic, all-hands-on-deck approach to preparing families to meet the needs of children in foster care. Partners include the Kansas Post Adoption Resource Center (K-PARC), which supports families who have adopted children or who are providing permanent care because of a kinship placement; Adopt Kansas Kids; and the four Child Welfare Case Management Providers.
Individuals who are interested in adoption can learn more from Adopt Kansas Kids. The program raises awareness about the need for adoptive families for children currently in foster care as well as educating potential families and connecting them with more information. Discover more at www.adoptKSkids.org.
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Pump N Pete’s Hosts Fundraiser For CASA
MASSIVE REGIONAL FUNDRAISER SPONSORED BY PUMP’N PETE’S CORPORATION
TO BENEFIT CASA PROGRAMS IN 3 STATES DURING OCTOBER
Pump N Pete’s Corp of Erie is hosting a pledge card fundraiser and other activities on behalf of Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) during the month of October. Pete’s operates 54
convenience stores and fuel stations in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma and this special effort targeting the increase of services by CASA to abused and neglected children in the court system will benefit 6 individual CASA Programs in those areas; CASA of the 31st Judicial District, CASA of the 4th, Bourbon County CASA
and Tri–County CASA in Southeast Kansas; Child Advocates of Northeast Oklahoma and CASA of Jasper County in Missouri.
“Pinwheels for Prevention – Partners for Children” is an easy, stress free and fun way to help children in state custody. Pete’s cashiers will ask you to donate and all you do is say YES! You get to sign a Pinwheel Pledge Card and hang it in the store to commemorate your donation. It you donate $5 or more at one time you
get a raffle ticket good for a chance at winning a $25 prize in each store and the winners from each store will go on to a GRAND PRIZE DRAWING at the end of October for $250 at the Pete’s Corporate Office in Parsons.
The funds raised are used to recruit, train, prepare and support Volunteer Advocates who are specially trained by CASA and appointed by County Judges to help children who have been abused or neglected and found to be in need of care by the court. The Advocates partner with the children, speak up for their best
interest in court and guide them successfully through their time in foster care. Once appointed, the CASA is always there for the child until he or she is released from custody. CASAs focus on the needs of the children and them spending less time in foster care, also getting services that benefit them.
Fundraising proceeds have also been used in emergencies and to pay for athletics, music lessons, summer camp, winter coats, Christmas gifts, adoption gifts, life books, special equipment and special clothing for children in the CASA programs.
CASA programs are non–profit and must raise their own funds to operate The Pinwheel Fundraiser is in its 10th year and Pete’s Corporation has made it a competition between
stores, area managers and district managers, even offering corporate incentives to all employees to do their best
for CASA. From there the managers and employees have gotten very creative and have taken the competition to heart! All stores do something special or host an event to supplement the fundraiser and many do some truly zany things. Several managers have taken cream pies to the face if the store reaches a set goal or offered to get
dunked in a water tank for extra money; others have thrown a BBQ or pizza party when employees post so many pledge cards. There were dueling bake sales between stores in the same town; car washes that got drowned by rain but continued anyway; body painting; dance–a–thons; characters greeting customers; lotto
winnings donated by employees and customers and public competition to have the most pinwheels on the wall!
At the end CASA awards trophies and publicly recognizes the top 6 Pump’n Pete’s Stores in several categories and representatives from each CASA program are on hand to congratulate them. A media event is planned for December 14th in Parsons, KS.
CASA and Pump’n Pete’s invite everyone to join the fun and help unfortunate children at the same time.
Children who did nothing wrong but wound up in foster care anyway. Donations to CASA are fully tax deductable and CASA is recognized as a 502(c)(3) charity by the IRS.
Discovering Fort Scott’s Little Known Stories
Exploring the African American Experience
Fort Scott Kan. – The public is invited to the Exploring the African American Experience Project videography discussion on Friday, October 7, at the Ellis Fine Arts Center theater on the Fort Scott Community College campus at 9 a.m.
There will be discussions about video and movie making, how to find inspiration, and some insight of technical aspects. Featured panelists include David Parks, photographer, filmmaker, author, and son of Gordon Parks; Robin Hickman-Winfield, Executive Producer of SoulTouch Productions and great-niece of Gordon Parks; and Eli Reed, award-winning photographer, photojournalist, and author.
The stories of Gordon Parks and George Washington Carver highlight the struggles and ability to overcome adversity. The Exploring the African American Experience Project engages local high school and Fort Scott Community College students to research the little known and under told stories of other progressive African Americans and leaders from the Fort Scott area. Students will create audio recordings or videos to share these stories in their ‘voices’ through social media and short films hosted by the National Park Service, Gordon Parks Museum, and their schools. Exhibits will be developed from their work. This ongoing project is designed to expand beyond Fort Scott students.
From April 1-October 31, Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, will be open for its summer hours of operation. The site exhibit areas and visitor center are open daily from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.
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