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Monthly Archives: February 2025
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Feb. 4
Obituary of Lisa Jayne Coyan
Lisa Jayne Coyan, age 55, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. She was born January 2, 1970, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Gerald Beerbower and Jo Ann McCracken. Lisa married Timothy L. Coyan on August 3, 2011, at Ft. Scott.
Lisa had worked as a cook at various restaurants and had also worked in housekeeping at the Ft. Scott Inn. Lisa enjoyed art and graphic design. She was also an avid fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Survivors include her husband, Tim, of Ft. Scott; three sons, Kenny Withers, William Hubbard and Jason Hubbard and special neighbors, Aaron and Andy Cowlishaw. Also surviving are five brothers, Scott Beerbower, Christopher Thurston, Dearl Stufflebeam, Flint Roufs and Aaron Roufs and two sisters, Chanel Thrush and Jeanette Sisseck.
Lisa was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald Beerbower and Jo Ann Roufs.
Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Lisa Coyan Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
KS Tax Collections $942.8 Million In January
Governor Kelly Announces January
Total Tax Collections Surpass Estimate by
Nearly $16M
TOPEKA – The State of Kansas ends January 2025 with total tax collections at $942.8 million. That is $15.9 million, or 1.7%, above the estimate. Total tax collections are up 1.5% from January 2024.
“While current revenues are in line with the estimates, it is important that we continue to focus on fiscal responsibility to ensure long term financial health in Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said.
Individual income tax collections were $500.1 million, $25.1 million or 5.3% above the estimate, and up 5.1% from January 2024. Corporate income tax collections were $73.0 million, $20.0 million or 21.5% below the estimate, and down 18.7% from January 2024.
“But for a tax system deployment on Friday, January 31, which delayed that day’s individual income tax refunds to today, total taxes collected would have been extremely close to the forecasted amount for the month of January,” said Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart.
Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $348.8 million, $11.8 million or 3.5% above the estimate, and up $4.5 million or 1.3% from January 2024.
Click here to view the January 2025 revenue numbers.
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KDOT to host open houses on U.S. 69 design options in Crawford County
The Kansas Department of Transportation will host four in-person open houses and one virtual open house to allow the public to review design options for the U.S. 69 project in Crawford County in February.
All the open houses will share the same information, and the public will be able to provide input at each meeting. Project team members will be available to answer questions about the design options that were developed based on feedback from previous open houses and insights gained from data collected along the study area.
Participants are encouraged to drop by at any time during the in-person open houses, as there will be no formal presentations. The virtual open house will be recorded and start at the designated time and include a walk-through of the design options with a question-and-answer session.
In-person open houses times and locations:
Pittsburg State University, Overman Student Center, Ballroom C
302 E. Cleveland Ave., in Pittsburg.
Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Fellowship Hall
100 S. Cherokee St., in Frontenac.
Thursday, Feb. 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Northeast High School
1003 E. South St., in Arma.
Thursday, Feb. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Virtual open house time and link:
Friday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m. to noon (sign-in starts at 10:30 a.m.).
Link: https://shorturl.at/xXhjc
Information presented at the open houses will also be available online by Feb. 26 at: ksdot.gov/us69-highway-study.
Anyone who requires language translation, special assistance or accommodation to attend the meeting should contact Alicea Thompson at [email protected] or call (785) 817-0864 at least five days before the meeting date.
Kansas Legislative Update by Caryn Tyson
Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson
January 31, 2025
Thoughts and Prayers As we come to grips with the heart-wrenching drowning of two youth in Linn County, the D.C. and Philadelphia plane crashes last week, and the devasting fires in California, we are reminded how fragile life is. It is also a reminder of the hundreds of emergency responders who swiftly and often put themselves in harm’s way. Prayers are with all who have been touched by these emergencies and the unimaginable sorrow.
Week three of the 2025 session proved to be productive for the Senate.
Illegal immigration was debated on the Senate floor January 29th instead of on the 28th. Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1602 requests that the Governor fully cooperate with federal enforcement of immigration laws. It passed overwhelming 31 to 9 and was sent to the House for consideration. The Senate sent a strong message to the Governor that we want federal immigration laws to be upheld. I voted Yes.
Property Tax legislation overwhelmingly passed the Senate. Senate Bill (SB) 35 would repeal the 1.5 mill property tax the state collects for maintenance on regent’s buildings and some state buildings. State General Funds (mainly income and sales taxes) will be used to make up the difference if SB 35 becomes law. The bill passed the Senate 38 to 2. I voted Yes to lower your property taxes.
SB 10 was requested by the Kansas County Appraiser Association (KCAA) and would exempt several personal property items, such as ATVs, electric wheelchairs, golf carts, watercraft and electric bicycles. We heard testimony that for many of these items it costs more to collect the taxes than what is paid. I had the opportunity to visit with several of the county appraisers while they were in Topeka. They gave several examples of why this legislation is needed. Some are arguing this bill helps the rich. The appraisers reassured us that it is best these items come off the tax rolls. It passed 37 to 3.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
The 2025 KidWind Challenge competitions begin this week
TOPEKA – The 2025 Kansas KidWind Challenge kicks off this week. The annual competition has grown significantly from one regional challenge with 14 teams in 2016 to six regional events with a total of 94 teams from 48 schools this year.
The first regional challenge will be held in Hutchinson on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Five more regional events are scheduled throughout the month in Colby (Feb. 11), Dodge City (Feb. 13), Overland Park (Feb. 19), Manhattan (Feb. 25), and Burlington (Feb. 28). All events are open to the public. The 2025 KidWind Event Guide, complete with times and locations, is available here.
Student teams work together to design, build and test a wind turbine using the materials of their choice – no two look alike. Each team’s turbine will be put to the test in a 48″ × 48″ wind tunnel at a wind speed of approximately 3.5-5 m/s (meters per second). Scoring is based on turbine performance, a knowledge quiz, a presentation to judges where the team explains its design process, and an instant challenge.
Students compete by age categories: 4th – 5th grade, 6th – 8th grade and 9th – 12th grade. The winning teams at regional events advance to the state finals on April 5 in Salina. State winners are invited to participate in the World KidWind Challenge in Phoenix, AZ planned for May 18-21.
“KidWind is a fantastic hands-on opportunity that allows students to tinker and experiment with wind turbine designs. They experience the thrill of scientific discovery as their designs are validated through performance testing, and they hone their public-speaking skills as they present their turbine design to a panel of judges,” explained David Carter, Director of the Kansas Energy Program at K-State Engineering Extension.
Kansas KidWind is an energy-related STEM education event from the Kansas Corporation Commission and K-State Engineering Extension made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
More information about KidWind is available at https://www.kcc.ks.gov/energy-
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Kansas Follows No Tax On Tips Initiative
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Dangerous Game At Fort Scott: One Local Family’s Story of Tap-Out Challenge
A warning to parents appeared on the Fort Scott Middle School Facebook page on January 31 of a Choke Out Game or Tap-Out Challenge that has been happening at the school.
“The Choke Out Game, also known as the Tap-Out Challenge, is a dangerous activity where individuals intentionally restrict their breathing or blood flow to the brain in an attempt to achieve a brief sense of euphoria or dizziness,” said USD 234 Assistant Superintendent Terry Mayfield. “This practice can cause serious harm, including unconsciousness, brain damage, and even death.”
“It is also known as many other things, chicken, redneck, tap out, blackout, etc.,” said Beth Worthing whose Fort Scott Middle School child participated and was taken to the hospital. “We need to let every child know not to play or accept this challenge…That you win the challenge when you walk away from it.”
“The challenge has been noticed in various schools and communities, with reports indicating it has gained some attention in social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. The post on the Fort Scott Middle School page serves as a warning to parents and caregivers, as this dangerous activity has surfaced among students.”
“While the challenge has been noticed primarily at the middle school level, it is important to understand that it can potentially affect students in different age groups. The influence of social media platforms, especially TikTok and Instagram, has made it easier for these kinds of trends to spread quickly among young people.”
Mayfield sent the following to help parents/caregivers in working with their children on this matter.
- “Open Communication: Talk to your children about the dangers of participating in challenges like these and encourage them to speak up if they come across harmful trends.
- Monitor Social Media: Keep an eye on the apps and content your children are engaging with, and consider using parental control features to limit exposure to risky content.
- Educational Discussions: Discuss the potential consequences of these dangerous behaviors, and provide information about safer, healthier alternatives.
- Encourage Peer Support: Empower children to look out for each other. If they see peers engaging in harmful challenges, they should know how to intervene and seek adult help if needed.”
One incident
The following is an account of a Fort Scott Middle School student’s mother, Beth Worthing.
“On January 22, I received a call from the school that Tyler had been choked by another student, but that he had agreed to it. Tyler was supposed to ‘tap out’ when he had enough,” Worthing said.
“The other student had choked out another peer prior and that student ‘tapped out’ of the challenge. Tyler said he doesn’t ‘Tap out’ so the child came over and choked him too.”
“Tyler did not ‘Tap Out’ he, in turn, blacked out. The child that choked him said he waited around 16 seconds or so when he thought he heard Tyler say something.”
“Tyler didn’t say a word, he couldn’t, he was out cold. When the child let go, Tyler landed flat on his face. He lost all consciousness, he could not recall things from before the event or after.”
“My husband picked Tyler up from school and took him to Nevada Regional Medical Center. I arrived about 30 minutes after they got to the Emergency Room. Tyler was in and out of fogginess all afternoon. He had no idea how he got from the school to NRMC, and bits and pieces of the event were coming back to him.”
“Tyler had a CT scan, and x-rays as they thought his nose may also be broken.”
“I asked Tyler if other kids were participating in this, and if it’s a challenge or something that’s going around. Tyler told me he had no clue it was a challenge.”
“I however had a hunch it was, and was a bigger thing than Tyler knew or understood.”
“I called the Superintendent as I felt God used Tyler for a greater good that day. I just had a hunch he was the wake-up call this community needed to raise awareness and hopefully end this.”
“I called (USD234 Superintendent) Destry Brown, and stated all my concerns. I could have blamed the school, or the child that choked him or went about this so many different ways, but that wouldn’t have put the right amount of urgency on this challenge.”
“I didn’t want another parent or child to go through what we did or worse, as I have a childhood friend, Jen Burns, who lost her son at age 9 about 9 or 10 years ago, so I was already aware of the dangers.”
“I told Destry Brown what I wanted to come from this was awareness to all the parents and children in every school in our community.”
“I said Tyler is your wake-up call. This happened this way for a reason. The fact that he didn’t die from being choked, or the fall that day, and that the event took place at school tells me this is a bigger deal than we think, and we need to do our part to protect the children and families.”
“He agreed but stated an investigation needed to take place first.
“The Principal at the Middle School and Mr. Brown did their part. I got a phone call about a week later and Destry Brown notified me that this was a bigger deal than they thought, and that young children were allowing older kids to choke them, and asked them to ‘tap out’ when it was too much.”
“The young kids will think it’s cool to be doing a challenge or playing a game with the older kids.”
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Feb. 3
Welcome Home by Carolyn Tucker
Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker
Welcome Home
I recently purchased a replacement porch mat for the front door. This one has “Welcome” printed on it; my old one didn‘t. As I admired how nice it looked because it was new, I also realized that “welcome” is a very inviting word. The mat actually gives a friendly greeting before anyone steps foot into my home. I have a decorative sign in the kitchen that reads, “Welcome Home.” The word “home” includes an additional warmth. Where I come from, that means whatever I have is yours with all my love and prayers. John Denver composed and performed the song “Back Home Again” and it won the “Song of the Year” award in 1975. A couple of my favorite lyrics in Denver’s song are: “It’s the little things that make a house a home” and “supper on the stove.”
When believers die, we’re going to go Home, although it’s a place we’ve never been and have only read about. But I’m confident we’ll feel more at home in Heaven than we have on earth. My daughter Mariam and son Aaron performed B.J. Thomas’ song entitled, “Home Where I Belong” at their dad’s memorial service. Heaven is a home where everything is magnificently perfect and everyone is filled with love. This is not just wishful thinking either. “God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” (Ephesians 3:20 MSG).
I’ve attended hundreds of funeral services and the standard Bible passage that’s used to encourage the family is: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3 NKJV). Jesus is telling us to not be worried or anxious, but to believe God is Who He says He is. We are to grab hold of the promise that Jesus is preparing a Home for us and, if we remain faithful, we can live with Him for eternity.
I helped my late husband build our home in 1980-81. It seems like just a few years ago, but time is beginning to reveal some normal wear and tear. The New Testament states that God is the architect and builder of Heaven and deterioration cannot happen there. Jesus said: “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20 NLT). Our time on earth is meant to be spent loving and serving God and loving and serving our fellow man. Our lifespan gives Jesus time to build the perfect home for us when we wave good-bye, world, good-bye.
“For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven” (Hebrews 13:14 TLB). The address of my current home is temporary — as long as I’m on planet earth, nothing is permanent. We need to remember that this life is not all there is. It’s been said that, “Life is not all it’s cracked up to be.“ Generally speaking, I don’t believe that. But some days are better than others for sure. Believers are going to live forever in an eternal Home of bliss because God is sitting high upon His Throne.
The Key: God’s welcome mat is always out and the Light is on for believers coming Home where they belong.
The Artificer’s Online February Gallery
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