KEY Apparel is searching for an entry-level Business to Business Junior Sales Professional to join our KEY For Business team.
The focus will be developing KEY’s direct sales customer base, including sales to businesses and government entities.
Visit https://www.keyapparel.com/careers-at-key/ for more information.
Several years ago, my stepdaughter Nikki and her husband, Dave, redid their backyard. They added a pool, an outdoor kitchen, a sit-down counter for eight, an outdoor television, and an area for cornhole and games. It became the hangout for their friends and the friends of their three, teenage children.
From that point on, rarely were they invited to someone else’s house. They were expected to host every get-together. People couldn’t wait for the next event. Oh, the guests might bring an appetizer or drink, but most of that costly responsibility, prep, and cleanup, fell on Dave’s and Nikki’s shoulders.
My husband, Dave, and I had a similar experience in Mexico where we owned a bottom-floor condominium for 15 years. Ours became the gathering spot, and several times, we were asked, “We had so much fun the other night. When are you having another get-together?” A few reciprocated, but some never did. After years of this, I began mortifying Dave by responding, “Or maybe we could come to your place sometime.” If I didn’t hear “Yea, maybe,” I heard, “My wife doesn’t like to have people over. But we sure enjoy coming to your place.”
Recently, Dave and I were at Nikki’s, and she and I began discussing how some people use all kinds of excuses not to open their homes to guests. Typically, it’s because their house isn’t as nice or as big and doesn’t have all the conveniences, but that’s not the point. When Dave played baseball and we lived in a small apartment, we hosted almost every team event. Players owned large, beautiful homes, but they never shared their houses for get-togethers. They just asked when we were having another party.
On Sunday, we went to my grandson-in-law’s church and heard a sermon on hospitality, on how important it is to invite people over instead of shutting them out. The pastor used the example of Zaccheus, the tax collector who climbed a tree in order to get a look at Jesus as he passed by. Jesus called him by name and said that he wanted to go to Zaccheus’s house, a request that was met with a quick “yes.” How many of us would be panicked instead of welcoming an unexpected guest?
Let’s face it. We now live in a world that is cold and impersonal, yet Romans 12:13 instructs us to “Practice hospitality” which has nothing to do with impressing others with our fine linens, fresh flowers, spotless home and perfect children. Some of us need to stop with the lies that tell us we have to be perfect, that our homes belong to us, not God, and that our possessiveness about our personal time many times isn’t linked to laziness or selfishness.
Jesus seemed to know that true fellowship, true intimacy, happens around a dinner table. Why else would he choose his final evening on earth to be centered around a table with his disciples? A table owned not by a friend but by a nameless person whose servant, according to Mark 14:12-17, led two disciples to an upstairs room prepared for a dinner for 12.
When Dave and I first attended a church near our home in Tomball, Texas, Mollie and Cal introduced themselves and invited us to their house after the service. I explained that we had three children, but Mollie answered, “Perfect. So do we!” That friendship (as well as other couples we met through them) has lasted for the past 30 years.
Billie Graham said it best. “The happiest Christian homes I know are those given to hospitality, where neighbors feel at home, where young people are welcome, where the elderly are respected, where children are loved.” Maybe that’s what this cold, impersonal world is missing.
Larry Lee Amer Sr., 65, beloved son, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away on April 2, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of love and cherished memories. He was born on August 2, 1958, in Fort Scott, Kansas, to Dorothy Irene Burch and James Lawrence Amer.
From a young age, Larry embraced his faith and accepted the Lord as his savior at the tender age of six. This foundation of faith guided him throughout his life, shaping his character and influencing his relationships.
Larry was a devoted son, bringing joy and comfort to his mother, Dorothy, with his love and affection. His dedication to his family extended to his role as a loving father to Larry Lee Amer Jr. of Fort Scott, Kansas, and Amanda Lynn Herrington and her husband Paul of Fort Scott, Kansas. He took immense pride in his role as a grandfather to Christian Herrington, Kaydence Herrington, and Kholsn Herrington, finding joy in every moment spent with them.
He was a devoted brother to Kenneth Meek of Fort Scott, Kansas, and Fred Meek of Great Bend, Kansas, as well as a caring brother to his sister Darlene Norvell of Great Bend, Kansas. Larry cherished his family deeply and also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, whom he held dear to his heart.
Larry dedicated many years of his life to Extrusions Inc, where he formed lasting friendships with his colleagues. He had a passion for fishing, camping, and watching old western reruns, but his true love was found in everything related to hot rods and cars. Whether tinkering in the garage or attending car shows, Larry’s enthusiasm for automobiles was infectious.
In his later years, Larry found solace in the simple pleasures of life, cherishing the company of his neighbors and closest friends. He lived each day with a profound appreciation for the moments shared with those he held dear.
Larry Lee Amer Sr. will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His kindness, warmth, and unwavering love will forever remain in the hearts of those he leaves behind. May his soul rest in peace, and may his memory be a blessing to us all.
Funeral services will take place at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.
Burial will take place later in the Prescott Cemetery, following cremation.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Care to Share, and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
If you own a business in Bourbon County and selected other counties in rural Kansas, you can apply for a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant and get up to 50% off the cost of solar panels.
Add the 50% federal tax credits available for renewable energy installations in Bourbon County, and a business owner could get a solar system for nearly free, according to Daniel Zywietz, founder of SEK Solar, Chanute.
SEK Solar designs and installs solar systems and also helps with the grant application, allowing business owners to drastically reduce their utility bills, he said.
Before starting SEK Solar, Zywietz founded and ran Enerwhere, the Middle East’s largest rooftop installation company and one of the world’s largest microgrid operators. The company started as a provider of temporary power services to the construction industry in 2012 and quickly expanded into the commercial rooftop solar market in Dubai, building over 45 MW of solar over 10 years, including the world’s second-largest solar rooftop system at the time, covering an area of more than 23 football fields, he said
He ended up in the Middle East as a management consultant working for Booz & Company, a spin-off of Booz Allen Hamilton, and one of the best-known management consulting companies worldwide.
With his wife (who is originally from Humboldt, KS) looking to move home after the COVID-pandemic, Zywietz started to look into the solar market in Kansas and was astonished to find that there were hardly any solar panels installed, despite the clear and sunny skies and large open spaces. With over $1 billion in grant funds for solar and energy efficiency available to agricultural and rural small business owners under the USDA’s Rural Energy for America (REAP) program, Zywietz and his wife decided to set up a solar company to service local business owners.
What made the opportunity even more exciting was that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, not only refilled the REAP program, which had been running for 10 years with much lower funding levels, but also significantly improved the Federal tax credits available to rural Kansans, according to Zywietz.
According to the EPA website, the credits are structured in three separate buckets, according to information from Zywietz. The 30% base tax credit is available to anyone wanting to install a solar system at the business or home, anywhere in the US. A further 10% “Low-Income Community” bonus is available to projects in disadvantaged areas. (Bourbon County, together with most of South-East Kansas, qualifies). Finally, there is another 10% “Energy Community Bonus” available to areas that previously hosted coal mines or coal-fired power plants, and again, Bourbon County qualifies, according to a map provided by the Department of Energy. Added together, the tax credits can add up to 50% for a renewable energy project in Fort Scott and the surrounding area.
While the tax credits don’t require any special application process, the REAP grants do. It all starts with checking whether a business’s location is eligible based on the USDA’s Property Eligibility site, says Zywietz.
The USDA defines a rural area as an area with a population of less than 50,000 people. The second criterion is the business size. The small business size standard is based on either annual revenue or the number of employees, depending on a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, which is used by federal agencies to classify businesses by industry type, according to http://kansasenergyprogram.org/assessments/REAP-OverviewFAQ
This generally means that if a business has less than $10 million in revenue or less than 100 employees and is a for-profit business, such as a restaurant, hair salon, retail business, or farm business, the owner is eligible to apply, Zywietz said.
“It’s a tedious grant application process,” he said. “The smallest grants of up to $20,000 have a nearly 100% approval rate because $200 million were set aside for these small projects and there aren’t enough applications, as most small business owners find it too time-consuming to fill in all of the forms. Larger grants, which can go up to $1 million, compete with other projects based on a scoring system, so getting the grant application right can make a big difference to the chance of approval. The next application deadline is June 30th.”
“It’s a big opportunity for rural business owners to lower their utility bills and go green. And while filling in government paperwork can be frustrating, I think it’s only fair for them to check if your business is legitimate before they hand you what is essentially free money. I’m happy to answer any questions on solar or the USDA REAP grants and the IRA tax credits as well,” Zywietz said.
To learn more about SEK Solar visit the website at http://seksolar.com
Zywietz can be reached at (620) 431-1122 or email: [email protected].
Zywietz plans to attend the Fort Scott Chamber Coffee meetings on Thursday mornings at 8 a.m. to answer questions from business owners., he said.
The Kansas Energy Program is also available to assist you through the entire REAP grant application process, according to its website.
The City of Uniontown is Searching for City Clerk
Would you like to make an impact in your community while broadening your skill set, connecting with people, working close to home, and receiving good pay & great benefits?
As Uniontown City Clerk/Municipal Court Clerk you can do all this and more! This is a 40 hours per week position with above average wage and benefits, including:
Personal Requirements:
The Clerk position entails performing all duties as defined by Kansas State Statute and City Ordinances: receive and disperse monetary funds and maintain financial records; complete various administrative reports; grant applications & administration; prepare, mail and apply payments of monthly customer utility billing; assist residents via phone or walk-in; attend and record minutes of all city council meetings, write monthly community newsletter; other duties as required (a more detailed job description and list of duties available upon application).
Apply in person at Uniontown City Hall, call 620-756-4742, or submit your resume via email to [email protected] . Applications accepted until position filled.
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KFF Health News and Cox Media Group’s Series on Social Security Overpayments Wins the Goldsmith Awards’ Inaugural Government Reporting Prize |
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KFF Health News and Cox Media Group Television Stations announced today that they received the 2024 Goldsmith Awards’ inaugural Government Reporting Prize for their joint reporting in the series “Overpayment Outrage,” which exposed how the Social Security Administration routinely reduced or suspended monthly checks to take back funds to pay off large debts that were often created by its own miscalculation of people’s benefits.
The investigation revealed that more than two million people each year are hit with overpayments, including those least able to repay the debt, such as individuals who are poor, old, disabled, blind, or who suffer from a chronic illness.
The reporting triggered congressional hearings, a “top-to-bottom” review by Social Security officials, and increased Senate oversight. Commissioner Martin O’Malley also recently announced sweeping policy changes to stop what he called “clawback cruelty” and “grave injustices.”
The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School honored KFF Health News and Cox Media Group at the Goldsmith Awards ceremony yesterday with the new prize, which recognizes reporting on how government and public policy implementation works, including how and why it can fail and how it can most effectively and efficiently solve problems.
“This series exposed the significant impact of these mistakes on millions of people, including those who had little to no ability to pay back the government, forcing some people to lose their homes, cars and savings,” said KFF President and CEO Drew Altman, who is the founding Publisher of KFF Health News. “This is why KFF reports on systemic issues like this through our news service—to reveal how people are affected by policy. ”
“We’re honored to receive this prestigious award because it reflects CMG’s commitment to local news and investigative journalism,” said Marian Pittman, CMG’s President of Content. “The team’s relentless efforts to uncover the truth behind complex government policies and their implementation has resulted in tangible changes within the SSA and will directly benefit millions of people impacted by overpayments.”
The series was reported by David Hilzenrath and Fred Clasen-Kelly of KFF Health News and Jodie Fleischer of Cox Media Group. A list of additional contributors is available here. |
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More on “Overpayment Outrage”
In “Overpayment Outrage,” Cox Media Group and KFF Health News examined the overpayment issue and the impacts clawbacks have on vulnerable people. They found that overpayments happen due to rules that are complex and hard to follow, inadequate SSA staffing, outdated limits on assets and lagged or otherwise inaccurate data on income and other beneficiary information. The reporting also laid out potential solutions to address the legislative, funding, and process failures that cause this systemic problem.
About the Reporting Partnership
After they published the series, hundreds of disability beneficiaries came forward with troubling accounts, including that the government sent them overpayment notices without explanation and threatened to cut off their main source of income with little warning. The agency has since restored benefits to several of the beneficiaries featured in the reporting.
About KFF and KFF Health News
Other major KFF programs include Policy Analysis; KFF Polling and Survey Research; and KFF Social Impact Media, which conducts specialized public health information campaigns. A new program on Health Misinformation and Trust will be launched soon. |
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The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news. |
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Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Minutes
April 3, 2024
May program: Amanda Classen, K-State Research Community Vitality Agent
June program: Tara Solomon Smith, QPR Suicide Prevention
