TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly on Monday, in accordance with Executive Order 20-30 and the proclamation signed by President Joe Biden, has ordered flags throughout Kansas be flown at half-staff starting immediately until sunset on Jan. 28, 2025 to honor the passing of President Jimmy Carter.
“Former President Jimmy Carter was a truly moral man,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “His innate humanity, his humility, his devotion to serving his community and his country, and his belief that the world could live in peace is the remarkable legacy he leaves behind.”
President Carter was the 39th President of the United States and was awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his work to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, advance democracy and human rights, and promote economic and social development. President Carter and The Carter Center led the near eradication of the Guinea worm that infected millions in the 1980s. As a result of their work, today, new infections total roughly a dozen worldwide. He and his wife, Rosalynn, helped build, renovate, and repair more than 4,000 homes as ambassadors for Habitat for Humanity.
I would like to respond to a question that was thrown at me at the last county commissioner meeting. “Do you want a Hospital?”
Let me tell you my story on how I became involved with the Legacy Saga. There was an investigative reporter, with Kaiser Health News from California who began following the closures of small rural hospitals. She was a native from our area. She had just completed several articles that were published on the Fort Scott BIZ web site regarding the Noble Health Corporation saga that included the devastating closure of the Audrain, Missouri hospital and the Calloway Hospital in Mexico, Missouri. This Noble Private Equity Investors firm had very little knowledge or healthcare experience. “Noble had received nearly $20 million in Federal Covid relief money in the 18 months before it closed the hospitals – funds whose use is still not fully accounted for.“
This Kaiser Health News reporter from California was in Fort Scott to research the possible closure of Mercy Hospital and was interviewing people. We struck up a spontaneous conversation at a local restaurant about the closures of so many rural hospitals. We discussed the fact that Missouri and Kansas placed themselves in a vulnerable state by not taking advantage of the expanded Medicare funds being offered, which affected many of the rural hospitals that eventually included the closure of our hospital in 2018. Because of my conversation with the investigative reporter, it sparked an interest and I decided to follow the journey of Noble turned Legacy when these same Private Equity Investors were introduced to our city and county officials. Yes, the Directors of Noble were the same people who called themselves the “Progress Mexico Amigos” who had never run a hospital or navigated the regulatory demands of a hospital. In fact one of them was charged with Medicare fraud, just months before he became one of two directors for Noble. “Meanwhile the three men who ran Noble were shopping for more hospitals to buy” and we were their victims with a sales pitch heavy on charm.
I have records of the Noble litigations that occurred over the closures of the two Missouri Hospital. Once they took over The Callaway and Audrain Hospitals they stopped paying their bills. Noble sold both Hospitals for $2 to a Texas based company. There are multiple court litigation cases pending in Missouri.
I have records turned into timelines of the Fort Scott Tribune Newspaper articles that covered the Legacy Saga.
We used ARPA funds in the transaction fund given to Noble Health who under the newly founded LLC Access Medical Advisors, charged us One Million Dollars for the feasibility study. When the president of Noble’s real estate company told the county in late March of 2021 that “An incredible finding from the study. Fort Scott’s hospital building was worth $19.6 million, which could present the borrowing basis of the bonding basis for a really great viable community project to move forward.” That should have been an indicator that profit was the factor not healthcare.
I have a list of all of the companies that were registered on the California, Missouri, and Kansas State Business Websites that did their bidding and due process, only to let the business be forfeited after their gains were met. Access Medical Advisors was one of those LLCs as well as Legacy Strategies LLC.
I have created timelines from documents of all of the people who have been involved in the process leading up to the donation of the hospital building and who continue to be involved.
I wrote a synopsis of my documented findings titled “SOS – Sold Our Soul (Red Flag Alert)”. I shared my concerns and observations with our Kansas State Governor with hopes that another county in our state would not become another victim of the Legacy saga. Kansas State Governor Kelly did respond to my information provided to her.
A hospital setting is always an asset to a community. I had a 45 year career working in healthcare that began at Mercy Hospital. People made generous donations when the new Mercy Hospital was built, because they knew how important having a hospital was to the community. But circumstances changed. The Medicare expansion bill was once again voted down. Covid hit. We donated the building, land and property assets, with a contractual agreement for a hospital, just like what happened in Missouri. Again I am going to say, if Legacy was truly serious about a signed contract to provide us with an Acute Care Hospital and ER why did it not happen? Once we relinquished the building, should the process of providing that acute care hospital have been the burden of Legacy’s organization as the owner who signed the Donation Agreement? What happened?
It appeared that there was a conflict of interest among some of our city and county officials who became much intertwined with Legacy by accepting employment with Legacy and those who were involved in business transactions with Legacy. In addition, funds and taxes were implemented, placing the burden of expenses back upon the community for a donation contract that was not fulfilled.
Yes, I am skeptical, but hopeful that things will be different. It will be nice to have an organization with CEOS and administrators who actually have experience and understanding regarding the importance of oversight in navigating a healthcare system and its regulatory demands to provide our community with the healthcare we deserve.
It was my first podiatrist appointment and I was patiently waiting in the exam room. The doctor entered and we exchanged the usual pleasantries. Then he dropped a bombshell and asked, “What kind of shoes do you wear?” That was a loaded question — I had no idea how to begin to describe all the happy shoes in my closet! I was dumbfounded, plus I knew he wouldn’t approve of 90% of my high heels, mules, sandals, flip-flops, slides, slingbacks, water shoes, knee-high boots, ankle boots, sneakers, and walking shoes. I’m a shoe lover on steroids.
So here’s another loaded question: “What kind of Christian are you?” How would you answer that if you were put on the spot by someone? Would all the color drain from your face as you changed the subject in order to get out of answering the question? Or would you sidestep by answering with the name of your church denomination? Or would you do a song-and-dance and respond, “I regularly attend church and take communion?” Hey, I could go sit in a tree all day and eat a nut but that wouldn’t make me a squirrel.
If we want to cut to the chase, an adequate answer to the proposed question would be, “A biblical one.” When Christians base our faith walk on the truth of God’s Word, that means we think and act like the Bible is true. So let’s review a few scriptures regarding what kind of Christian we should be.
Christ followers must grasp the fact that God loves us as much as He loves Jesus. Although this is nearly too much to wrap your head around, it’s still the truth. God’s love for us is unconditional and timeless. Here are the words of Jesus’ evening prayer with His disciples before His crucifixion: “I am in them and You (God) are in Me (Jesus). May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me“ (John 17:23 NLT). God created us to experience love, faith, hope, peace, and abundance, so we should gratefully receive what He offers.
Believers are to desire to please God rather than ourselves. “Don’t forget to do good things for others and to share what you have with them. These are the kinds of sacrifices that please God” (Hebrews 13:16 GW). Always choose the high road over the low road, even though the low road is easier. In order to please God, we must also live by faith and trust Him every day (see Hebrews 11:6).
The following scripture is certainly not a convoluted explanation of what a Christian is: “No, the Lord has told us what is good. What He requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God” (Micah 6:8 GNT).
A man asked Jesus to explain the most-important commandment. His answer was simple yet profound: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself“ (Matthew 22:37-39 NLT). After all these thousands of years, His answer remains the same for Christians today.
The Key: So, what kind of Christian are you? Hopefully the kind who practices love.
This time of year, typically it is pretty slow in the ag industry. The two main activities are livestock care and equipment maintenance. These everyday runs of the mill things that seem like just another day in the life of farmers and ranchers can be dangerous at times. As your Extension Agricultural Agent, I feel that we all need to be reminded every now and then to please be careful as you tend to your livestock and as you work on your equipment.
According to the 2022 census the average age of Kansas farmers is now 58.2 years of age. This means that slips, trips, and falls become a main concern for producers. I know this warm dry weather helps but at some point, this winter we could see some moisture and freezing temperatures that will increase the likelihood of falling while tending to your livestock. Examples include but not limited to are:
Slipping in the mud or on ice
Slipping on the steps getting in and out of the truck or tractor
Tripping over frozen clods of dirt
Losing your balance when carrying buckets of feed
Getting knocked down by livestock trying to get to the feed source
One reason the probability increases is due to freezing temperatures we tend to layer up to stay warm which is necessary when working in winter conditions. The problem with this is the more layers and heavier the clothing you have on the more it will decrease your range of motion and restrict your ability to maintain your balance.
Working in the shop on equipment requires producers and employees to be more proactive when it comes to safety. A wise investment for anyone working in a shop is the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We all know how expensive hospital visits can be. Spending a couple hundred dollars on PPE is less expensive than a trip to the emergency room. PPE items I strongly encourage producers to wear when working in the shop are:
Safety glasses
Leather gloves
Long sleeve shirts
Jeans
Solid toe boots with slip resistant soles
Ear plugs that do not need to be smashed or earmuffs
Along with proper PPE a clean shop is a safe shop. Pick up slip and trip hazards such as spills, extension cords and hoses when not in use, and put tools away when finished. Keep all hot work like welding and cutting away from flammable materials (oil, fuel, cleaners, etc.). OSHA standard is a minimum of 50ft and in a flammable storage cabinet. You also need to check to make sure all electrical equipment is properly grounded and all cords are free from any rips and tears that may expose the wires and all an operator to get shocked or electrocuted.
As the 2024 calendar year ends, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas this year. Coming up after the first of the year, K-State Research and Extension will be very active in putting on several programs throughout the southeast area. In January, I will be hosting a 4-day coffee shop discussion in 4 different locations across the Southwind District that will be producer led. It is called Growers’ Grind. I would love to sit down and visit with you all and answer any questions you may have. Feel free to reach out for more information.
On a final note, we in the ag industry know how precious life can be. One second everything is good, and the next tragedy can strike. Do your part to stay safe out there.
Lonnie Mengarelli is a K-State Research and Extension Agriculture agent assigned to Southwind District. He may be reached at [email protected] or 620-223-3720
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.
Bourbon County Commissioners meeting of Dec. 19, 2024 opened to a packed citizens’ section.
Redistricting was one topic that dominated the meeting.
Commissioner Brandon Wisenhunt started the redistricting discussion by apologizing: “We dropped the ball on the 3 to 5 thing. We should have been working on it as soon as it was on the ballot.” We originally thought the clerk and secretary of state was working on it.” After last meeting Wisenhunt did some more research on the issue. “I want to start off by apologizing to Mr. Hoyt. This is not something that should be citizen-lead.” Wisenhunt went on to explain that it is the “most litigated topic in Kansas, and I would not want to put individual citizens at risk for litigation.”
It is the sole responsibility of the commission to redistrict based on KSA19-204. The current commission must vote in the new districts, per Kansas law. Redistricting is to be completed by January 1, 2025. After consulting with other counties, Wisenhunt says, “We are so far behind in our process it’s almost embarrassing.”
After explaining that there has been distrust between the public and the commission leading to this situation [around the 48 minute mark], the commissioner made several motions to remedy the situation and move the county toward compliance with the law regarding redistricting.
He then made motions to hire SAM, a survey and mapping company, to create three different maps of possible new districts, based on the population of the county and keeping the voting wards and precincts intact. The commission would then choose from those maps to create the 5 districts.
Commissioner Clifton Beth spoke about the citizen’s committee created at the previous county commissioner meeting. He said that it was intended to be an advisory committee, “they have no say in what happens, just advice.”
All committee meetings would be open to the public.
County employee stated that the county cannot produce the needed maps themselves, because the census data is produced in blocks, but the county is divided into precincts and wards. It is in the best interest of the public to pay somebody to do this, so as do avoid any charges of malfeasance. The company, hired by the county will “go in and break the [census] blocks, figure the blocks to fit into the wards because the wards cannot be separated. Precincts can’t be separated.”
He went on to explain to the commission that creating the new districts was beyond his capability, especially within the timeline, “so if we want to get it done in a timely manner we need to use SAM.” He predicted that if the county hired SAM, they could probably get the redistricting done by the end of the following week, Dec. 27.
The commission voted to hire SAM to create the three maps of 5 commission districts of Bourbon County on the motion of Commissioner Beth. SAM’s services will cost $7,600 and the maps will be ready by Dec. 30.
Mark McCoy, chairman of Bourbon County REDI gave an overview of key activities and accomplishments of REDI including conducting several targeted studies to inform strategic planning and decision making. These studies covered labor market trends; data shared with state officials to assist in site selection projects for potential business locations; information to several local business to support HR teams in marketing their companies to prospective employees; and retail selection performance.
REDI also supported several businesses including The Kitchen Collective, Bibs and Dibs, the Artificers, and Bourbon County Clay. REDI’s data was instrumental in grant applications resulting in multiple successful awards.
REDI also conducted housing needs assessment used by external and local developers to promote housing initiatives, as well as sales tax revenue analysis. They made business retention efforts, conducting three years of visits since 2021.
REDI claims that their assistance allowed for the securing of more than $2 million in competitive grant funding with $200,000 already being disbursed.
“REDI distributed more than $150,000 in community grants to fund critical development projects across the county.” These funds provided by the county have been invested in baseball field upgrades in Redfield and Bronson, park improvements in Uniontown, Fort Scott, and Mapleton, a new playground at Kansas Rocks, and $17,000 for Bourbon County EMS to purchase AEDs (defibrillators).
REDI has played a roll in community based projects demonstrating its commitment to partnering with local organizations. Projects include the splash pad and the First Kansas Mural, and the new pavilion down town, promoting civic pride.
Housing developments, REDI is actively engaging developers to address critical housing needs with ongoing initiatives totaling more than $5 million. Working to expand single and multi-family housing options.
REDI organized a county-wide strategic planning session including school districts, Fort Scott Community College, community organizations,and local businesses to identify and address regional challenges.
REDI’s ongoing efforts include the areas of housing, child care, tourism, and health care.
When asked by the commission about the idea of REDI being self-sufficient three years from its formations, McCoy answered that REDI’s previous chairman stated that the goal for REDI was to be self-sufficient in three years from 2020, but the REDI board didn’t vote on that. McCoy went on to answer Wisenhunt’s questions regarding REDI’s expectation of funds from the county by stating that he has had conversations with the commissioners on 3 previous occasions regarding funding for REDI. He also said that $130,000 was set aside for REDI at the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024 for services rendered and services being paid.
Another citizen claimed that the things REDI is taking credit for helping with in Bourbon county could have been done without their assistance. He then went on to ask how much funding REDI is receiving outside of the city and the county.
McCoy says that he is unaware of REDI receiving any funds from anything outside of the county and city. “If we don’t get funded, that is your choice,” he told the commission. “We’re here to provide services and are listed on the Bourbon County website as the county’s economic development entity.”
A former REDi board member asked what the county had asked REDI to do. Expressed concern about the county’s funding limitations and the precedence set by continuing to fund REDI indefinitely.
Deb McCoy presented detailed information she had collected about the history of REDI and its relationships with the city of Fort Scott and Bourbon County. REDI was formed in August of 2021. However, she could produce no signed contracts between Bourbon County and REDI.
Her information stated that the county paid Bourbon Co. REDI between 2021-2023, per expenditure reports, $774,751, that the county didn’t include REDI in the 2024 budget. The city drew up a contract with REDI signed April 8, 2024.
Combined with payments from the city, REDI received $849,918 during that time period.
McCoy asked how the commission to explain these payments and services rendered without signed contracts, pointing out that the expenditures exceed the amounts in those contracts.
Commissioner Beth said that the county did their business via a motion, no contract, but a motion made to create a city/county entity (REDI) for economic development in 2021 and fund it for 3 years at $130,000 per year. Contracts with the city are seperate. The county was paying a one time annual payment per their motion. There were no contracts considered by REDI.
One citizen spoke up, “I’m asking the county, please, you fulfilled your promise, please do not fund this.”
Rob Harrington spoke to the commission about REDI as well, explaining his involvement in REDI: “I’ve given my heart and soul to this community.” Enumerated numerous activities that REDI took part in, including getting health care back in Bourbon County by bringing in KRI, helping revive downtown Ft. Scott by getting viable businesses into unoccupied buildings, and keeping the Artificer’s building stable.
He went on to explain that his children have been harassed on the street asking if they know their dad’s a fraud, and he has received 2 a.m. phone calls saying he should be killed or run out of town.
“Our job at REDI is to bring in new revenue so we can decrease [tax] rates,” he said.
Wisenhunt said he wanted to wait to decide about funding REDI to “see how much money we have left.”
The commissioners voted to table it for a few weeks until they get final numbers for their finances for the year.
The meeting also included a public hearing for budget amendments. Several funds amended by county due to revenue that has come in that exceeds the budget in various categories for a number of reasons by $1.3 million: Road and Bridge, Appraisers, Bridge and Culvert, Election, Employee Benefits, Landfill, and Emergency Services sales tax ( The new sales tax fund)
Susan Walker explained that the purpose of the budget hearing is amend to budget to spend un-budgeted extra revenue by the end of the year. However, unspent funds will carry over. Even though the cash is available, a hearing and amendment to the current budget must be made to keep the county from violating budget laws.
Susan went on to answer several questions from the citizens at the meeting explaining the following:
It is ideal to have 3 months of funds carry over every year, but the county usually spends it down to zero, especially in the road and bridge department. The county currently has no plan for a three month carryover for 2025, but they are “working towards that” by building cash reserves.
The county cannot always budget for inflation.
Commissioner Jim Harris said, “Everyone has to keep in mind that we assisted in funding health care. That money could have easily been called carryover because it was in an account and it could have been moved to any cash fund by this commission. For us spending a half million dollars assisting with healthcare, it would strain anyone’s budget, any time any where.”
However, the commission is making steps toward creating a carryover amount, “With Susan’s help, for 2025, we budgeted $450,000 extra cash to help carry over the cash and start building cash reserves again.”
“We are way behind on pay raises (for employees),” said Susan, then she explained that the commission has increased wages for county workers, changing the base pay to $15 and hour and giving them 40 hours a week, up from $13 an hour and 35 hours a week.
In order to keep taxes down, the changes the commission made forced the spending of reserves, “We knew it wasn’t sustainable,” said Susan, “and so now you’re at a rebuilding phase.”
She mentioned the importance of talking about the county’s priorities when building the budget: “I’ve always said, ‘If your going to cut expenses, you’re going to cut services…People need to understand that.”
The county’s budget was decreased by $300,000 for road and bridge in 2024. “That hurts,” said Susan. The county tried to do as much as they possibly could but “it hit them really hard.” Roads and Bridges is also awaiting reimbursement from FEMA for the repairs required by the floods earlier this year, which will help that department rebuild its reserves.
Commissioner Harris prefaced the public comments section of the meeting by reminding those present that the purpose of this section of the commissioner meeting is to discuss county business. He said that if people make personal comments or get insulting, he will end the meeting at that time. He also said that no one can discuss solar or wind farms due to litigation.
Anne Dare said the commission should give clear direction to the citizen’s committee, created for the purposed of advising the commission in the Dec. 12 commissioner meeting, and not allow Michael Hoyt to run it without their direction. She referred to the solar committee the commission created in the past.
Mary Pemberton stated that a committee will just bog the redistricting down. She also stated that REDI should not receive extra funding. They went into the year knowing they weren’t receiving funding, so presenting a bill for work they did isn’t right.
Brian Allen asked for permission to have a public hearing on the new flood plane maps. on Jan. 13 at 5:30pm
Sherriff Bill Martin brought the commission a financial adviser request. He asked that Ben Hart with Baker Telly, which firm also works for the city of Ft. Scott, be hired as a financial adviser for his department to look through the budgets to find money for pay raises and equipment, as well as big ticket items anticipated in the new future. He was asking the county to pay $34,000 for the services as the Sheriff’s budget has already been approved. This would be a one year contract.
Commissioner Beth said he was in favor of the hire because, “I think you’re going to need it.” Then he moved to fund it from the general fund, starting Friday, Dec. 20. Susan advised to fund it out of the VIN account or tabling it for a week to get a better idea of the funds available. Sheriff read the statute regarding use of VIN funds stating they are for law enforcement purposes and not to supplement the department’s budget.
Vote was to table it and add it to the next week meeting.
The Ft. Scott hospital equipment agreement and a memorandum of understanding with Freeman Ft. Scott Hospital was presented and tabled until Monday, Dec. 23 meeting to give commissioners time to read over.
The commissioners voted to encumber $50,000 to cover attorney fees for the lawsuits filed against the commission regarding solar panels.
Tara Soloman-Smith, Family and Wellness Agent, Sunflower District of Kansas State University’s Extension Office. Submitted photo.
Beware of a silent threat in your home: radon. This colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas naturally lurks in the soil. The silver lining? Take action this winter, especially during Radon Action Month in January, to safeguard your home and loved ones.
Here are the facts on radon:
Radon and lung cancer
Radon induced lunch cancer is the number one cause of death in homes and is the second leading cause of lung cancer. One in four Kansas homes have high levels of radon.
Radon in Kansas
Radon seeps into your home through the ground, exploiting cracks and openings in the foundation. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the average indoor radon level statewide stands at 5.4 picocuries of radon per liter (pCi/L), surpassing the EPA threshold of 4.0.
How do I know the level of radon in my home?
Testing is the only reliable way to determine the radon levels in a home. Test kits can be obtained from your Southwind Extension District office for a reduced fee, which includes a lab analysis and return postage.
My home has elevated radon levels, now what?
The most common technique to reduce levels is called Active Soil Depressurization. An ASD mitigation system is a permanently-installed pipe-and-fan system that places a direct constant vacuum on the soil beneath the home’s foundation, so the amount of radon that can penetrate into the living space is reduced.
More information about radon, testing, and mitigation is available at www.kansasradonprogram.org or by calling the Kansas Radon Hotline at 1-800-693-5343. To purchase a test kit locally, contact Tara Solomon-Smith, [email protected], or call 620-244-3826.
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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
Allina Gottlieb’s peaceful life in 1939 Germany shatters when she is forced to work as a nurse in Hochland Home, a facility for breeding Aryan children, where she conceals her Jewish identity and develops a risky relationship with Karl, an SS officer with his own hidden secrets.
“A fast-paced literary thriller for fans of The Bad Seed, set in a crumbling luxury hotel in Egypt, in which an elderly widow and an 8 year old boy find themselves rivals, locked in a gleefully criminal psychological game of cat-and-mouse”
“While back on tribal land, Mud Sawpole uncovers an illegal fracking operation underway that threatens the Kiowas’ ancestral homeland. But there’s an even greater threat: a local businessman involved in artifact thefts is murdered, and a respected tribe elder faces accusation of the crime. After being roped in by her cousin, Denny, they begin to investigate the death while also pursuing evidence to permanently stop frackers from destroying Kiowa land, water, and livelihoods. When answers evade her, Mud heeds her grandfather’s and great-aunt’s words of wisdom and embraces Kiowa tribal customs to find the answers that she seeks. But her ceremonial sweat leads to a vision with answers wrapped in more questions. Mud and Denny race against the clock to uncover the real killer and must face the knowledge that there may be a traitor–and a murderer–in their midst. It’s already too late for one victim–and Mud may be next”
After a career-halting accident, prima ballerina Natalia Leonova returns to St. Petersburg to confront her past and to decide whether to rejoin the stage amidst the cutthroat world of Russian ballet. 75,000 first printing.
“Nothing’s going well for Eve: she’s single, turning forty, stressed at work and anxious about a recent series of increasingly creepy incidents. Most devastatingly, her beloved father died last year, and her family still won’t acknowledge their sorrow. With her younger sister’s wedding rapidly approaching, Eve is on the verge of panic. She can’t bear to attend the event alone. That’s when she recalls a strange story her Yiddish grandmother once told her, about a protector forged of desperation…and Eve,to her own shock, manages to create a golem. At first, everything seems great. The golem is indeed protective-and also attractive. But when they head out to a rural summer camp for the family wedding, Eve’s lighthearted rom-com fantasy swiftly mudslides into something much darker. With moments of moodiness, fierce love and unexpected laughter, I Made It Out of Clay will make you see monsters everywhere”
Three siblings struggling in the romance department head to their mother’s house in the Catskills for the holidays, determined to swear off love and focus on themselves and their work, but the spirit of the season seems to have different plans for them.
The Evans women, owners of the only funeral parlor in their Southeast Texas town, discover generations of calm ending as the dead begin to rise again forcing them to once again fight the Strigoi, the original vampires. 75,000 first printing.
“Dovey Van Dalen has a gorgeous day planned for her 200th birthday: driving her new Porsche, admiring the cherry blossoms abloom in her adopted city of Washington, D.C., and a little pampering. But her boss has other ideas. A powerful artifact has been stolen, and he fears it’s causing chaos in the unmagical world… The rich and connected Ariti family has suffered a string of suspicious deaths, with no signs of foul play. Yet each member has died in the way they feared most. As the enchanting agent mostskilled at blending in with mere mortals, Dovey must find answers and retrieve the dangerous trinket. There’s just one unexpected wrinkle: By the time Dovey arrives at the art gallery where the Ariti patriarch died, FBI agent Grant “Gib” Barlow has takencontrol of the scene. Dovey needs his cooperation to investigate–but she’ll have to hide her abilities, and her true objective, from a man who uncovers deceptions every day. And as they inch nearer a deadly truth, both will face danger even the spellbound would be lucky to survive…”
Explores a familiar town where a Dream Reader interprets dreams, and shadows detach from their owners, weaving a love story, a quest, and an ode to books and libraries into a parable reflecting the complexities of post-pandemic life.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Termination Shock and Cryptonomicon, the first installment in a new series—an expansive historical epic of intrigue and international espionage, presaging the dawn of the Atomic Age.
A single father and the only detective in town investigates his first murder in Granite Harbor when a teenager is brutally murdered in a local archaeological site, in a new book from the author of The Rocks. 100,000 first printing.
“In the dusty frontier town of Rebel Ridge, Sheriff Jesse Loman rules with an iron fist, exploiting the local populace through unjust taxes and a corrupt legal system. His gang of outlaw deputies ensures his dominance, staging mock trials and sentencing innocents to the gallows while protecting their own. But when chaos grips Rebel Ridge, hope arises in the form of a legendary bounty hunter. Renowned for his unwavering principles, Dane Caulder reluctantly steps in to free the town from Jesse’s grasp, pitting himself against corrupt deputies in a deadly showdown. Can Dane deliver the long-awaited justice that the oppressed town of Rebel Ridge yearns for-or will its chance at peace be slaughtered once and for all?”
Nothing warms a cold heart like true love, and in this newest Black Dagger Brotherhood winter book, a fighter who has never been a savior finds himself falling in love–and trying to rescue–a male who’s lost all hope. With the BDB training center reopening, and the Brothers looking to add more soldiers in the war against the Lessening Society, fan favorite Callum decides to find his purpose in fighting. Apex knows what suffering the male has survived, and he joins the program just to make sure Callum doesn’t get himself killed. As the two hit the streets, and the danger gets real, Callum must decide whether he can open himself up to love or if he will give in to his inner darkness and spiral down into an abyss of hatred and death… forever.
Filled with eerie surprises and dark delights, Night and Day takes us from the dusty shelves of an uncanny library filled with fictional characters to a bunker deep beneath the earth where scientists seek revenge on old Nazis; from an English marsh haunted by a mother and her son to a country house where a grieving widower finds comfort from a most unlikely source. Concluding with the author’s account of how an obscure horror film brought him closer to his lost father, and how nostalgia can help to keep us sane, this is a collection that will move, entertain, and keep you reading late into the night.
Hailey Morgan, a high school band teacher with dreams of songwriting, escapes to a cabin for a solo holiday retreat only to find herself entangled in small-town drama and a blossoming romance that reignites her passion for music.
A former Homicide prosecutor and current legal analyst for ABC news examines murder from an insider’s perspective and weaves his personal narrative throughout his case work in a way that humanizes the people entrusted with the duty of seeking justice on behalf of the public.
Brings the popular podcast to print, sharing stories about the invention of the croissant in a country that was not France; a dog that stowed away and went to war, only to help capture a German spy; and much more.
”Jen Chillingsworth will show you how to get the most out of the season and make considered choices in how you prepare, decorate and gift this Christmas. Featuring 30 projects, this practical, illustrated book showcases simple changes you can make for agreener Christmas. Jen offers achievable advice on how to sustainably shop for the season, forage for your own wreath and create beautiful handmade gifts”
“In Neil deGrasse Tyson’s delightful journey through the cosmos, his fictional character Merlin responds to popular questions asked by adults and children alike. Merlin, a timeless visitor from Planet Omniscia in the Andromeda Galaxy, has observed firsthand many of the major scientific events of Earth’s history. Merlin’s friends include the most important scientific figures and explorers of all time–da Vinci, Magellan, Newton, Einstein, and Hubble…Merlin clarifies the details of familiar phenomena like gravity, light, space, and time, and travels to distant stars and galaxies to describe what makes them tick, rotate, explode, and collapse”
“In Good Nature, Kathy Willis takes the reader on a journey with her to dig out all the experiments around the world that are looking for this evidence-experiments made easier by the new kinds of data being collected from satellites and big-data biobanks. Having a vase of roses on your desk or a green wall in your office makes a measurable difference to your well-being; certain scents in room diffusers genuinely can boost your immune system; and, in a chapter that Kathy calls “Hidden Sense,” we learn that touching organic soil has a significant effect on the healthiness of your microbiome”
“Now with a new introduction by award-winning writer and iconic culinary historian Jessica B. Harris, a foreword by chef and television personality Carla Hall, revised recipes and stories, and a fresh new package, A Kwanzaa Keepsake offers proverbs, ceremonies, family projects, inspirational biographies, blessings, and of course, wonderful recipes. Structured around the seven days of Kwanzaa and the virtues each day represents, Harris shares a themed feast for each night, designed to reflect the principle of the day. Some of the menus include: -Umoja (Unity), featuring dishes of multinational origin such as Seasoned Olives, Mechoui-Style Leg of Lamb with cumin, mint, and chili, and a classic Caribbean rum punch, and reminds readers of the union of all peoples of African descent. -Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), composed of dishes from the African continent including Sweet Potato Fritters, Grilled Pepper Salad, and Piment Aimee, a hot sauce from one of the author’s friends. -Kuumba (Creativity) is a healing supper and communal meal that opens the gates of remembrance through food. The repast is centered around a heritage recipe and includes others for Pickled Black-Eyed Peas, a fish dish from the the Ivory Coast, Spicy Cranberry Chutney, and a killer pecan pie with molasses whipped cream”
“In The Art of Small Business Social Media, social media marketing expert Peg Fitzpatrick provides a hands-on guide designed to empower small business underdogs and teach them to leverage social media for brand growth and sales; turning their passion into profit”
“An anthology of brand-new poems inspired by Taylor Swift songs, from a powerhouse group of contemporary poets, including Kate Baer, Maggie Smith, and Joy Harjo”
Adventure awaits in this new visual odyssey from Accidentally Wes Anderson, taking readers on stunning trips to every continent and sharing oddly moving human tales along the way. For lovers of travel, design, and exploration, AWA presents a brand-new collection of real-world places that seem plucked from the films of Wes Anderson, and the stories that bring each location to life. You’ll venture to Antarctica through the treacherous Drake Passage, make a stop in lesser-known Jincumbilly, Australia (where platypuses outnumber people), discover the bridge in Wisconsin that went to nowhere, and drop into the most peculiar umbrella shop in London. But adventure means nothing without someone to tell the tale. You’ll meet the father of American skydiving, who created the officially-sanctioned center of Earth — a California town with a population of two. You’ll visit the “post office at the end of the world” — and meet its mustachioed letter carrier, who runs an anarchist island nation in his free time. And you’ll travel to a town in the Arctic Circle where cats are prohibited, humans may not be buried, and doomsday vaults hold all we need to survive an apocalypse — including the secret recipe for the Oreo cookie. Authorized by the legendary filmmaker himself, Accidentally Wes Anderson Adventures reminds us that the world is ours to explore.
A New York Times bestselling author tells the thrilling true story of the most infamous hangout for bandits, thieves and murderers of all time. Illustrations. Maps.
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