The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office daily reports can best be viewed on a computer.
To view the reports click here, then click on the image to enlarge:
Kathy S. McEwan,Family, and Consumer Sciences Agent Foods & Nutrition, SNAP-Ed Coordinator, Southwind Extension District – Iola Office, P.O. Box 845, Iola KS 66749, 620-365-224, [email protected]
Time to get ready for canning season
Fresh pickles, ripe tomatoes, and other garden goodies may still be months away, but if you plan on canning those foods, now’s a good time to check on your supplies.
And if that includes buying a new canner, Kansas State University food safety specialist Karen Blakeslee says there is a lot to think about before selecting a canner.
“The first thing to think about is what kind of cooktop do you have on your stove,” said Blakeslee, who is also the director of the university’s Rapid Response Center. “The cooktop is going to dictate what type of canner you’re going to get.”
She said most canners will work on a gas stove or a coil-type stove. But the newer, smooth top stoves could create some problems with some canners.
“Some of the smooth top stoves have automatic shutoffs on them if they get too hot,” which could mean the food is not properly heated and thus preserved, according to Blakeslee.
“The other thing to think about is the weight that you’re putting on that stove top. Canners are heavy, and when you add water and full jars of food, that increases weight, and you could end up cracking your stovetop because of the weight and the heat.”
She recommends following the stove manufacturer’s recommendations for using canners on a smooth stovetop.
“There are some canners that I would not recommend using on a smooth top surface,” Blakeslee said. “One example is a water bath canner like the old Granite-Ware, which are speckled blue or black enamel canners. Many people have them and they work great, but the problem with those is they have the bumpy bottoms. On a smooth cooktop surface, you do not get maximum heat contact from the burner into the canner, so it takes forever to heat up water.”
Blakeslee, who teaches classes on canning through K-State Research and Extension offices in the state, suggests a stainless steel water bath canner sold by the Ball company that has a flat bottom. Presto is another company that says its product can be used on a smooth top, but Blakeslee says “make sure that your burner is as large as possible.”
She adds that the bottom of the canner should not extend beyond the burner more than one inch to get maximum heat transfer from the burner into the canner.
Canners sold by All American and Mirro warn consumers not to use them on a smooth cooktop.
“An alternative to using your stove top for water bath canners is an electric water bath canner sold by the Ball company,” Blakeslee said. “This is a stand-alone canner; it has its own heater/burner system and is separate from your stove, so you don’t have to worry about what kind of canner to use on top of your stove.
“This is a good investment if you do a lot of water bath canning. It can also be used for general cooking such as making soup or stew.”
Blakeslee has some other timely tips leading up to canning season:
Use a canner that is recommended for the type of food you want to can. “If you’re canning plain vegetables, like green beans, you have to use a pressure canner because green beans are low acid foods,” she said. “Plain vegetables like green beans, carrots, corn, even meat…those types of foods must be pressure canned.”
She added that you can use a water bath canner for such foods as fruits, jams, jellies, and pickles.
“A pressure canner can be used like a water bath canner. Just leave the weight off so the pressure is not applied,” Blakeslee said.
Have your dial gauge tested. Southwind Extension offers this service for free. Gauge brands that can be tested include Presto, National, Magic Seal and Maid of Honor dial gauge pressure canners.
“Check dial gauges every year so you know how accurate the gauge is reading,” she said.
Check your canning supplies. The food safety specialist says you should check to make sure jars are not scratched or chipped and that the rims of jars are not damaged. A damaged jar could crack inside a canner, “and that’s not good,” she said.
Other supplies you may need to have in stock include pectin for jams and jellies; lemon juice or citric acid for tomatoes; and other supplies that vary based on the type of food you plan to can.
“We want you to be smart and safe when it comes to home canning,” Blakeslee said. “It’s a great way to preserve produce you grow or buy from a farmer’s market. Be smart about how you’re canning food. While there are some things that haven’t changed over the years, there are some procedures and methods that have changed, so make sure you’re up to date on what you’re doing when it comes to home canning.”
As part of our Grow, It Prepare It series, I will be offering preservation classes in Iola beginning May 9 with Preservation 101. This class is a pre-requisite for the other “hands-on” classes to follow. For more information or to register for the Preservation 101 class, call Kathy at 620-365-2242. Class details are available on the Southwind District website at www.southwind.kus.edu.
State senator Richard Hilderbrand 13th district
communications from the state capitol
April 27, 2018, ∙ Week Twelve
Quote of the Week:
“On every occasion [of Constitutional interpretation] let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying [to force] what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, [instead let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Johnson, 12 June 1823
HARD FACTS:
Student Success Skills Center helps students develop skills that are vital for success in high school, college, and in life. This online resource from the State Library of Kansas has interactive tutorials on multi-tasking, time management, and information literacy. Skills featured for new high school students cover study and classroom skills, finding good sources, and how to cite work and avoid plagiarism. College students receive tutorials on organizational strategies, using campus resources, and personal skills like money management, healthy habits, and understanding insurance, credit, and taxes. Go to https://kslib.info/LEL and click on the tile for Student Success Skills.
If the page above asks for a Kansas Library eCard number, you may get one at any library in Kansas. Most people will be automatically recognized as being in Kansas and will not need this step. Easy registration and self-supplied password are necessary in order to save your work and revisit any practice tests or tutorials. Questions: [email protected] or 785-296-3296.
WEEKLY OVERVIEW:
The legislature reconvened on Thursday, April 26th for the start of Veto Session. This week the Senate voted on eight Conference Committee Reports and two bills. The Senate will continue to work until Sine Die on Friday, May 4th.
FLOOR ACTION:
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS (HB 2438): House Bill 2438 would prohibit state agencies from contracting with a vendor on an information technology project if that vendor prepared or assisted with:
Information technology projects with estimated cumulative costs less than $50 million would be exempted from the provisions of the bill. This bill passed the Senate 38-0.
KANSAS RACETRACKS AND CASINOS (SB 427): Senate Bill 427 would amend the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act and the Kansas Pari-mutuel Racing Act concerning racetrack gaming facilities and lottery gaming facilities. SB 427 would require racetracks with slot machines to pay back about 22 percent of their earnings to the state, the same as state-owned casinos. Currently, racetracks are required to pay 40 percent of earnings back to the state. SB 427 would also allow for greyhound and horse racing in Kansas. This bill failed on a vote of 17-20. (I voted against this bill. I had many concerns with this bill. The treatment of the greyhound dogs. This bill had a clause that would allow the owner of the race tracks the ability not to open any facilities if they were not able to open the Wichita track. There is also some concern that the Wichita track will be the only track that opens.)
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORTS:
(SB 56): Senate Bill 56 would create the Kansas Cybersecurity Act and would amend the membership and the frequency of required meetings for the Information Technology Executive Council (ITEC). The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 37-2. (I voted against this bill. I had some concerns about the cybersecurity reports being open to KORA.)
(SB 217): Senate Bill 217 would update several statutory references in accordance with enacted 2016 SB 449 and Executive Reorganization Order No. 41. The bill would replace the term “mentally retarded and other handicapped persons” in statutes with “individuals with intellectual or other disabilities” in accordance with current law. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 39-0.
(SB 272): Senate Bill 272 would amend the Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways regarding the passing of waste collection vehicles, length and weight limits for certain vehicles, the fine for improper passing of a school bus, and operation of golf carts on city streets. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 35-4. (I voted for this bill)
(SB 282): Senate Bill 282 would amend the Uniform Controlled Substances Act and certain statutes pertaining to crimes involving controlled substances. The bill would amend the definition of “marijuana” to exempt cannabidiol. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 39-0.
(SB 307): Senate Bill 307 would make amendments to the Kansas Amusement Ride Act. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 37-1. (I voted for this bill)
(SB 331): Senate Bill 331 would add to the list of designated state parks the Flint Hills Trail State Park located in Miami, Franklin, Osage, Lyon, Morris, and Dickinson counties, and Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park located in Logan County. SB 331 would also establish the Flint Hills Advisory Council, which would study and assess the development, staffing, maintenance, and promotion of the Flint Hills Nature Trail. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 27-12. (I voted against this bill. I think that the state shouldn’t be taking control of private property and the land should be reverted to the landowners. There are over 117 miles of land that will be affected by this. There are also concerns that the state has accepted the liability of some ongoing issues regarding land usage.)
(SB 335): Senate Bill 335 would amend the State Banking Code related to savings and loan associations, savings banks, and the Kansas Money Transmitter Act. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 39-0.
(SB 348): Senate Bill 348 would authorize electronic delivery as the standard method of delivery for certain health insurance related documents and require the State Employees Health Care Commission to provide coverage for amino acid-based elemental formula, as specified. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 35-4. (I voted against this bill. It has language in it that will mandate and expand the state’s role in medical insurance.)
Below are links to make it easy for constituents to follow the Kansas Legislature:
Website – www.kslegislature.org. It is great for looking up bills, calendars, journals, as well as, the roster in each Chamber.
YouTube of Legislature – http://bit.ly/2CZj9O0 Did you know the legislature is now streaming its proceedings? The YouTube page has an archive of the sessions thus far – including the State of the State and the State of the Judiciary.
Committee Streaming – http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/ The Kansas Legislature is also streaming committees, with every committee room equipped with audio streaming technology.
Thank You for Engaging
Thank you for all your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. Constituent correspondence helps inform my decision-making process and is taken into great consideration when I cast my vote in the Kansas Senate. I hope you’ll continue to engage with me on the issues that matter most to you, your family, and our community. If you are on Twitter or Facebook, I encourage you to follow along with the #ksleg hashtag for real-time updates on legislative happenings in Topeka.
Please know that I am fully committed to addressing the current issues in our state, and I am proud to be your voice in the Kansas Senate.
DCF announces event and outlines efforts to increase placement options for Kansas kids
TOPEKA – Currently, there are more than 7,500 children in foster care. Sadly, these children have been placed outside of their home by the court for safety reasons. As the number of children in foster care continues to rise, following the national trend, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is actively recruiting foster families in all parts of the state, to ensure children can remain in their home communities while the agency and its contractors work with birth families to address safety issues and promote reunification.
“It has become abundantly clear that we need more foster families, especially those who are willing to accept older youth, sibling groups and children with special needs,” said DCF Secretary Meier-Hummel. “We are actively working to strengthen the continuum of care.”
At this time, there are more than 2,600 foster homes in Kansas. Ensuring appropriate accommodations for children in care has been and remains a top priority for Secretary Meier-Hummel. However, some solutions to address the shortage of homes and facilities require additional funding. Governor Jeff Colyer, in January, proposed a DCF budget enhancement of $16.5 million to address this and other urgent issues to help Kansas families in crisis.
“I remain hopeful that the Kansas Legislature will respond to these needs by fully funding this request,” said Governor Colyer. “As a State, we have a duty to care for children deemed unsafe in their own homes. Without adequate resources, we jeopardize our ability to address the problems facing the child welfare system.”
With the current resources, Secretary Meier-Hummel continues to seek solutions to the placement-option shortage. In recent months, she has worked diligently with DCF staff and others to address the immediate issue of placing youth, to prevent overnight stays in contractor offices. She is also directing staff to quickly eliminate identified barriers in the placement process. Kinship care approvals are being expedited. Reviews and investigations of foster homes are being moved through. And provider agreements are being fast tracked to increase bed availability. These steps are being taken, all while ensuring child safety is not compromised.
While it’s important to focus on the immediate need for placement options, it’s also important to relay our appreciation for the foster and kinship families who are taking on the tremendous responsibility of caring for youth removed from their homes. Governor Colyer has signed a proclamation designating May as Foster Care Month.
At 5:30 p.m., on May 12, DCF will host a foster family appreciation night at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center. The event will kick off with a news conference, to include Lieutenant Governor Tracey Mann, Secretary Meier-Hummel, foster families and others. Foster care information will be available at more than a dozen booths, and family-friendly activities will be available throughout the zoo grounds. A cook-out dinner will be provided to attendees. (Please do not promote in advance, as this event will be open to the media and invited guests only.)
Additionally, throughout the month of May, foster care contractors, KVC Kansas and Saint Francis Community Services, will host other appreciation events for families.
For more information about foster care in Kansas, visit www.FosterKSKids.org or call 1-844-380-2009.
Fort Scott Community College Agriculture is getting bigger and better with a new facelift coming soon to the Burris building where the program resides.
The agriculture program at FSCC has been around for many years and is one of the foundations of the college itself. Approximately 800 students come through the agriculture program each year and even more continue to show interest.
The FSCC Agriculture program creates an umbrella effect for numerous opportunities to eager agriculture students. From “Farm & Ranch Management” classes to “Ag Hydraulics” in the John Deere program. The Ag program is also the host of numerous scholarship and activity opportunities including, but not limited to Livestock Judging, Meat’s Judging, Rodeo, and academic. On top of that, the FSCC Endowment Foundation offers eight agriculture-related scholarships that can stack on top of the institutional scholarships.
“Agriculture education at FSCC is essential!” says Alysia Johnston, President at FSCC. “The importance of our agriculture curricula goes well beyond what is taught in the classroom, as our students learn valuable life skills and leadership qualities that will not only help them but also the agriculture industry. My Bachelor of Science is in Animal Science and Industry. The skills I acquired while earning my agriculture degree and being a part of the livestock judging team has helped me thrive at my present job as president and working at our family farm every day.”
The new expansion is possible thanks to the generous donations from Chester Boileau and Lonnie Cleaver estates. The expansion will consist of an extra 2,533 square feet, making the building 6,680 square feet! The extension will have new offices, classrooms, bathrooms, and a trophy area to display our prestigious winnings from the Livestock and Meat’s Judging teams.
The program would not be where it is today without our amazing instructors that help shape the student’s lives every day. We are looking to add to our team with two agriculture positions currently open. For more information about the open positions, please go to www.fortscott.edu/jobs.
For more information about the FSCC Agriculture program(s), please contact Admissions at 620.223.2700 or visit our website at www.fortscott.edu.
FSCC Baseball Program to host annual Youth Camp Sponsored by Sunbeam Christian Preschool
The Fort Scott Community College Baseball Program will host its annual Youth Camp Sponsored by Sunbeam Christian Preschool on Tuesday, May 8th from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at Lions Field in Fort Scott.
The camp is open to students ages four through 14.
Campers will receive instruction from the FSCC Baseball coaching staff and players on baseball fundamentals including base running, hitting, defense, and throwing.
The cost for the camp is $15 per student; the fee includes a t-shirt. Registration will begin at 5:00 pm at Lions Club Field.
For more information, please contact John Hill at 620.223.2700 ext. 7170 or email at [email protected]. Registration is open at http://www.fsgreyhounds.com/sports/bsb/related_links/camp.
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
2nd Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: May 1st, 2018
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
9:30-Road Closure-130th Kansas-Limestone
9:45-11:00-Fence Viewing
11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks
Budget concern and possible action item with County Appraiser’s Office
Executive Session-Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of a corporation
Executive Session-Privileged in the Attorney/Client relationship
12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch
1:30-2:00-Jim Harris
2:00-2:15-Phillip Heagy-Dogs running loose in the County
2:30-Employee Handbook
2:45-Courthouse Flowers
3:00-Sandy Winters-Executive Session
3:15-Walking trail update and request for assistant from Commissioners
3:30-Update on NRP/Meeting times
Justifications for Executive Session:
Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel
Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property
Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system
Nearly 400 comments made in child welfare contracts Request for Information
TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Children and Family (DCF) Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel is now in the process of reviewing 393 suggestions and comments made during a week-long Request for Information (RFI).
On Friday, April 20, the agency announced that it would gather public input on existing foster care contracts, as it prepares to release the bid for new foster care grants (grants will replace contracts, going forward).
During the RFI, which included a public meeting and online submission, Secretary Hummel received a wide range of opinions from interested parties, such as stakeholders, community and contracted partners, families, foster parents, staff and the general public.
Some of the most common concerns addressed in the feedback have been the high turnover rate of caseworkers, lack of proper oversight of contractors, lack of proper funding for staff, high caseloads, need for more quality training and a lack of collaboration between agencies and organizations.
“We want to thank everyone who took the time to share their thoughts; clearly the public cares about this issue and wants the best for Kansas families,” said Secretary Meier-Hummel. “As we begin the process of evaluating the comments and concerns collected, our goal is to take each one into consideration.”
In an ongoing effort to promote transparency and accountability, the Secretary and her staff are responding to each comment made. The comments and responses will be available at a later date on the DCF website.
“We have made it a priority to listen to all parties involved so that we can make informed decisions regarding the well-being of children and families in our state,” said Governor Jeff Colyer. “This was just one step in the process of ensuring that we protect the best interest of those we serve.”