Monthly Archives: January 2023

Government, Kansas

Legislative Update By State Senator Caryn Tyson

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Caryn Tyson

 

January 13, 2023

And they’re off!  The Kansas Legislature 2023 session began 1/9/23 with new House members and new Senators taking an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution and the Kansas Constitution.  It is a good reminder for us all.

Committee Work  Kansas operates on a two-year bill cycle.  Bills that did not become law last year died and so we start over in odd years.  There have been several bill introductions which include those I requested, such as removing state income tax on Social Security and increasing standard deductions based on inflation (much like the federal income tax code).  This session appears to be lining up to help the people of Kansas.

 

Property Tax Relief  During the 2022 session, there were several changes to tax law.  One change is a first step in a property tax freeze for low income seniors and disabled veterans.  There are restrictions on property taxes in the KS Constitution and so the program is a rebate program administered by the KS Department of Revenue (KDOR).  Applications can be found at https://www.ksrevenue.gov/pdf/k-40svr.pdf.  In order to qualify for the ‘freeze’ a household annual  income must be $50,000 or below, a homeowner must be 65 years or older, and the value of the home cannot be above $350,000.  A disabled veteran must be at least 50% disabled.  Property taxes are still paid to the county and then a homeowner may apply to KDOR for a refund on their increase, resulting in a freeze.  Applications must be submitted by April 18, 2023.  The legislature will take another look at the program this year in an attempt to allow more seniors to qualify.

 

Another property tax cut was a slight decrease for all homeowners on the K-12 20 mil obligation.  That reduction increases every year based on inflation.  There is no application required for this reduction.

 

In an attempt to help small storefront businesses shutdown or negatively impacted by the Governor’s shutdown during COVID, the legislature established a program to provide some property tax relief.  Details of the program can be found at https://www.ksrevenue.gov/taxnotices/notice22-04.pdf.  Applications can be found by going to the KDOR website www.ksrevenue.gov and scrolling down to the application link

Kansas Department of Revenue Home Page

www.ksrevenue.gov

Official Website of the Kansas Department of Revenue

(https://www.kdor.ks.gov/Apps/Misc/PropTaxAssistance/StoreFront).

 

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

Caryn

 

Bourbon County, Business

Female Business Owners Support System: Dare to Dream Seminar

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The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is located at 104 N. National Avenue. Submitted photo.

Local female business owners will be speaking on the challenges of ownership of a business or hope to help those that want to start one.

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) is sponsoring the Dare to Dream Seminar: The Unique Challenges of a Small Business on  February 8 at 5:30 p.m.  at 104 N National in Fort Scott.

“This… seminar is for ALL women of ALL ages who have a business or is interested in starting a business, Rachel Carpenter, director of the The Center for Economic Growth at the HBCAT office.

“Our goal is to bring these woman entrepreneurs together to help create a support system of women supporting women. We bring in local woman leaders to share their expertise on how they have become successful.

The keynote speaker will be Erin Vann, of Highway Three.

Erin Vann is the keynote speaker at the Dare to Dream Seminar on Feb. 8. Submitted photo.

“She will speak on the challenges that her business had to overcome to get to the success story it is today,” Carpenter said. “We also have panel speakers Kelly Perry of Perry’s Pork Rinds Country Store and Angela Simon of Bids and Dibs. They will share about managing a business banking account and how to get through the low seasons of business.”

Kelly and Thaddeus Perry, owners of Perry’s Pork Rinds Country Store. Submitted photo.
Angela Simon, owner of Bids and Dibs. Submitted photo.

A part of the agenda is devoted to discussion.

“We will have HBCAT and Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center staff available to answer questions about starting a business and about the grant opportunities available through HBCAT,” Carpenter said. “We will also have staff from City State Bank that will answer questions about cash flow. Our keynote speakers and panelist will be available to answer any questions at that time as well.

Free Meal, Child Care and a Raffle

Perry’s Pork Rinds Country Store will be catering a lasagna meal for the evening, and there is childcare available upon request.

“We will be raffling off a business starter kit and a printer,” Carpenter said. “This event is free we just ask that people register prior to the event using this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dare-to-dream-unique-challenges-of-a-small-business-tickets-510878690917″

 

Event Funded By

The support for the seminar is grant funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways to Healthy Kansas, she said.

Rachel Carpenter can be reached at The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, phone: 620-215-2562

 

Entertainment, History

Writings From Vietnam Author Book Signing on Jan. 28

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Mary Barbara McKay is the featured local author on Jan. 28. Submitted photo.

All during January there will be a special sale of Buy 2 Books Get 1 Free on Action/Detective/Mystery and Christian Fiction at Hedgehog INK! Bookstore located at 16 S. Main.

The store showcases book signings featuring local authors.

On January 28, Mary Barbara McKay will introduce her book, Writings from Vietnam,  at 1:30 p.m. at the store.

“We are excited to have her launch her book and book signing at Hedgehog.INK!,” store owner Jan Hedges said.

McKay has lived in neighboring Linn County since 1996, when she and husband, Rod, bought 40 acres of Kansas farm ground and built a country home. They moved from Sacramento, California, where she had been a high school English and art teacher and then nurse and he, a commuter airline pilot.

First Book

McKay’s first book, The Good Horses: How Horses Taught Me God’s Plan for My Life tells the story of their move to the country and the important role horses played in making the transition from city woman to country woman pleasant, she said.

“Horses made my new life interesting, enjoyable, educational,” she said. “Country life brought me closer to God through the horses and our care of them and the peaceful natural world around us.”

“My first book was published in 2019 and is also available at Hedgehog Ink Bookstore,” she said. “It has my own photographs and paintings, and some favorite poems and Scripture quotations. I love painting, drawing and photography and also love writing from my own experience.”

Second Book

“The second book, Writings from Vietnam, was completed in November 2022,” she said. It is a compilation of my husband’s letters to me from his time in Vietnam, plus a short journal he kept for three months, and nine pages he wrote of what happened on ‘a terrible day,’ but never sent to anyone.”

Rod, survived serving in the Vietnam War, and died of a heart attack in 2018.

She had kept all his letters from his tour of Vietnam and wrote the book as a tribute to him, she said.  “He very rarely talked about Vietnam, and then only a sentence or two.”

“Rod has an almost intellectual view of the war, though he is living through very dismal times (in the book)” she said.  “I insert paragraphs from his time in Army Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training within the war letters to show the differences and parallels between the Army at war and the stateside Army. My husband was a radio telephone operator, which means he carried the radio for his commanding officer.”

“He was in Vietnam for 11 months,” McKay said. “In April 1970 the U.S. was pulling back forces and he was discharged a month early. His letters show life in the field–sleeping in the mud, constantly watching for enemy, losing men he just met.”

“His last five months were spent as company clerk at a fire support base,” she said. “He wrote the letters home to families who’d lost a husband or a spouse. He has deep insights and always kept his faith. God always came first in his life.”

“This is a short book, it is only 114 pages, and it includes a few photographs and an addendum which is a journal he kept for three months from May 3 to August 12, 1969, his first three months in Vietnam,” she said.

Her husband of nearly 47 years was a thoughtful, principled man and has a message for everyone who reads the book, she said. “This book is a tribute to him with a message I believe will resonate with readers.”

The cover of Mary Barbara McKay’s book, Writings from Vietnam. Submitted.

“Merl Humphrey Photography (a local Fort Scott business) used two photographs to make the composite picture for the cover,” she said. “The color picture I took of Rod at the Vietnam War Memorial in 1994;  the black and white picture of men in Vietnam placed within the wall was among Rod’s things.”

February’s Offers At Hedgehog INK!

Additionally coming up at Hedgehog INK! in February  is Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Romance books.

Feb. 4 – Children’s Story Time, story and activity
Feb. 10-11 Love Local Chocolate Crawl – All Chocolates 25% off
Feb. 25? – Author Talk / Book Talk – Leon Perry

Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Debate Team Represents the School Well

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Huge congratulations to the Fort Scott High School Debate team on an outstanding performance at the 4A 2-speaker State Debate Tournament this weekend in Wichita!
The team of Kinsley Davis and Joy Self finished in 2nd place!
The team of Cadence Tuck and Regen Wells brought home the 3rd place trophy!
Anna Hall and Silvia Moreno also won 2 rounds.
Congratulations to the entire team and their first-year coach, Tyler Slinkard!
Submitted byJeff DeLaTorre
Athletic/Activities Director
Fort Scott High School
Opinion

Bones and Happy Feet by Carolyn Tucker

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The first song I remember about bones was “Dry Bones” recorded by the Delta Rhythm Boys. I enjoyed hearing how all the bones were connected, even though it was a long  drawn-out musical expression. And then Randy Travis had the big country hit “Diggin’ Up Bones.” The Secret Sisters recorded “Rattle My Bones,” and Lauren Daigle recorded “Come Alive (Dry Bones).” As kids we sang the fun lyric, “with a knick-knack paddy- whack, give the dog a bone….” We even talk about bones: bone tired, funny bone, bag of bones, big boned, broken bones, you need backbone, bad to the bone, etc.

 

On the day that the prophet Elijah knew his ministry was coming to a close and Elisha would take his place, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me” (2 Kings 2:9). Rather than asking for worldly things, what he really desired was a large measure of the Holy Spirit to equip him for the prophetic responsibilities ahead. So as Elisha witnessed Elijah being carried by a whirlwind into heaven in a chariot of fire, the anointing he asked for was immediately transferred to him.

 

At the end of his obedient ministry, “Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet” (2 Kings 13:20,21 NIV). Verse 21 is a one-sentence miracle wrapped around the grave clothes of the prophet Elisha. Assuming the “dead” man had a wife and family, can you imagine the pandemonium when his happy feet walked into the house and he asked his wife, “What’s for supper?” Obviously, the double-portion anointing that Elisha had was alive and well even though he was dead. Death could not stop King Jesus, and death could not stop God’s power from working through the bones of Elisha.

 

As believers, what we desire and need in the spiritual realm is within our reach. God wants to do great things for us and through us. One of the most-important requirements is simply getting close enough to touch the Great I AM. If we will throw ourselves into God’s presence, He will anoint (empower) us to accomplish what He’s called us to do. The dead man that was thrown on top of Elisha’s bones was at the end of the road — until he came into contact with the anointing of God. If you’re living a broken or spineless existence, simply throw yourself at the feet of Jesus and ask for the miracle you need. Just hold on a little longer, help is on the way. Help won’t help tomorrow if you give up today.

 

Elisha was still influencing people after he was dead as a doornail. How deep does your influence reach in your part of the world? After you’re long gone, your impact and testimony will live on. Your legacy as a man or woman of God is eternal. You may not have your name and accomplishments recorded in a history book, but heaven knows all about your struggles and triumphs as a Christ follower. I double-dog dare you to leave a godly legacy of loving God and others.

 

The Key: Make your bones strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Government, K-State Extension

2023 Eastern Kansas Weed School Comes to Bronson on Jan. 24

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Chad Guthrie
District Extension Agent, Crop production and Forage Management
Southwind District
210 S. National
Fort Scott, Kansas 66701
Office: 620-223-3720
Cell: 308-991-8415
[email protected]

Kansas State Research and Extension will be hosting the 2023 Eastern Kansas Weed Schools in three locations across eastern Kansas:

January 23rd, Ottawa, Neosho County Community College, 7-9 pm

January 24th, Bronson, Bronson Public Library, 7-9 am

January 24th, Parsons, SE Research and Extension Center, 11:30 am- 1:30 pm

 

Please join us and come with any of your herbicide related questions in either crops or pastures!

Dr. Sarah Lancaster will discuss row crop weed management with her presentation, “Timely Tips for Corn and Soybean Weed Management.” Dr. Bruno Pedreira will discuss his work on broomsedge and pasture weed control with his presentation, “Successful Control of Broomsedge and Pasture Weeds.”

 

To register please contact your local extension office. Ottawa – Frontier District, 785-229-3520, [email protected]; Bronson – Southwind District, 620-365-2242, [email protected]; Parsons – Wildcat District, 620-784-5337, [email protected].

 

This program is free thanks to our sponsor, Frontier Farm Credit.

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda for Jan. 17

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Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Date: January 17, 2023
1st District–Nelson Blythe Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District–Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District–Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk–Ashley Shelton
MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM BEGINNING AT 9:00AM
Call to Order
• Flag Salute
• Approval of Minutes
• Signatures for Accounts Payable & Payroll
• Eric Bailey – Road & Bridge Report
• Matt Quick – NRP Program
• Lora Holdridge – Survey Review Discussion
• Jim Harris – Organizational Changes
• Nelson Blythe – Move meeting from Feb 21st to Feb 24th
• Susan Bancroft – Chief Financial Officer
o Broker Selection
o Food Sales Tax Reduction
• Shane Walker – Chief Information Officer
• Justin Meeks – County Counselor
• Public Comment
• Commission Comment


Justifications for Executive Session:
KSA 75–4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy
KSA 75–4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney–client relationship
KSA 75–4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer–employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
KSA 75–4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships
KSA 75–4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property
KSA 75–4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.

Attachment:

doc03510320230113164959

Opinion

Obituary of Byron Tillery

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Byron Eugene Tillery, age 67, resident of Pittsburg, KS, died Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Pittsburg Health and Rehab.  He was born May 21, 1955, in Nevada, MO, the son of Ivan and Velma Hoover Tillery.  He graduated from Nevada High School.  He married Margaret Ann McHenry on May 22, 1976.  She preceded him in death on September 22, 2008.

Bryon worked for Ennis Inc. in Fort Scott, KS, for over 23 years.  He enjoyed woodworking, working on cars, and was an avid KC Chiefs fan.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren.

 

Survivors include 2 daughters, Kerri Jo Lawrence (Gary), Fort Scott, KS, and Sarah Tillery, Joplin, MO; 2 brothers, Martin Tillery (Kathy), Vesper, WI, and John Morris (Arlene), Tuttle, OK; 2 sisters, Barbara Bobbett (Don), Ozark, MO, and Elaine David, House Springs, MO; 5 grandchildren, Zachary Cassett, Ryan Cassett, Lucas Cassett, Sven Ash, and Madison Braun; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by 2 sisters, Carmen Pettibon, and Laura Garrison; 2 brothers, Ralph Tillery, and infant Gary Lee Tillery; and is parents.

 

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Friday, January 20th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Cremation will follow.  The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 Friday prior to the service.

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

 

 

Obituary

Obituary of Inez Haugen

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Inez Mae (Graves) Haugen, 95, of Fort Scott, passed away early Tuesday morning, January 10, 2023, at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. She was born July 10, 1927, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of John Owen Smither and Dorothy Eleanor (Manges) Smither.

She married William Allen Graves September 10, 1945, in Fort Scott, and he preceded her in death September 17, 1994. She later married Milton O. Haugen July 25, 1997, and he preceded her in death in November of 2011.

 

Inez graduated from Fort Scott High School and attended Fort Scott Community College. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Fort Scott.

 

Inez is survived by her children, Doug Graves and Christy, of Fort Scott, Sherry Hartshorne and Dave, Peggy Gniffke and Terry, Rick Haugen and Mary; fourteen grandchildren, including Chad Hall and Pamela, of Sedalia, Missouri, Chris Bart, of Hays, Kansas, Brady Graves, of Fort Scott, and Taylor Chaplin and Matt, also of Fort Scott. She is also survived by twenty-nine great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husbands, she was also preceded in death by her parents, two daughters, Teresa “Terry” Ann Hall and Tracy Lea Helm, and a brother, Harold Smither.

 

Following cremation, Rev. Ken Ansell will conduct graveside services at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 20, 2023, at Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Family and friends will meet for a visitation at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home the day of the service and leave for the cemetery at 1:45 p.m. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

 

Obituary

Obituary of Marjorie McGinnis

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Marjorie Lucille McGinnis, age 97, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, January 12, 2023, at the Guest Home Estates in Ft. Scott.  She was born August 24, 1925, in LaCygne, Kansas, the daughter of Henry Isiah Bergmann and Stella Lee Boyd Bergmann.  She grew up and attended school in LaCygne.

Marjorie first married Henry Robert McDaniel in 1942.  To this union, five children were born, Robert, Louise, Harvey, Connie and Michael.  Henry passed away in 1957.  She then married William R. Peacock in 1960.  Marjorie and Bill had one daughter Michelle.  Bill passed away in 1990.  Marjorie later married Roy “Mac” McGinnis in 1997.  He passed away in 2015.

Throughout her life, Marjorie lived in many places, primarily in Oklahoma and Kansas.  She had worked a a variety store for several years in Owasso, Oklahoma and also worked for twelve years for Wal-Mart in both Miami, Oklahoma and Ft. Scott, Kansas.  Marjorie enjoyed reading and crocheting.  She was a past member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary.

 

Survivors include her children, Robert McDaniel of Miami, Oklahoma, Harvey McDaniel of Eudora, Kansas, Connie Fergerson of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Michael McDaniel of Ft. Worth, Texas and Michelle Stine of Redfield, Kansas; eleven grandchildren and numerous great and great-great-grandchildren.  Also surviving is a sister, Ruth Allison of Marshall, Missouri.

In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Louise Schuler, three grandchildren, four sisters and nine brothers.

 

Graveside services will be held at 11:30 A.M. Monday, January 16th at the Oak Lawn Cemetery in LaCygne, Kansas.

The family will receive friends on Monday from 9:30 A.M to 10:30 A.M. at the Cheney Witt Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.