Edna Mae Tourtillott, age 78, resident of Fort Scott, died Monday, April 17, 2017, at her home.
She was born October 19, 1938 in Linn County, Kans., the daughter of Jacob Barrett and Cleta Paddock Barrett. Edna Mae was a graduate of Prescott High School. She married Richard Sharp in 1960. They later divorced. She married Raymond Tourtillott in 1983. In earlier years she worked for Western Insurance Company. She retired following 27 years as shipping clerk for Ward Kraft Business Forms. She was a member of Community Christian Church and the 55 Plus church group. She enjoyed camping and spending time with grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, Raymond, of the home; two sons, Richard Sharp and wife, Jennifer of Olathe, Kans., and David Sharp and wife Michelle, Fort Scott; one daughter, Sherry Culp, Fort Scott; two step-sons, Michael Tourtillott and wife Sandy, Las Cruces, N.M., and Joseph Tourtillott and wife Becky, Fort Scott; one sister, Mildred Bolin, Fort Scott; and a sister-in-law, Carol Barrett, Fort Scott. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Robert Barrett; sister, Mary Johnson and a great-grandson, Gavin Sharp.
Tim Woodring will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Friday in the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Chapel. Memorials are suggested to either Mercy Hospice or SE Kansas Respite and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Virginia Maxine Page, age 85, a former resident of Fort Scott, Kans., passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at the home of her daughter in Bozeman, Mont.
She was born April 20, 1931, in St. Clair County, Mo., the daughter of Omer Finis Witt and Virgie Ann Bland Witt. She started to school at the age of four and graduated high school at the age of sixteen. She then attended Kansas City College and Bible School, as well as the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. She married Rev. John I. Page on August 1, 1951, at Black Jack, Mo. She was a faithful and devoted wife who assisted with her husband’s ministries in both Black Jack Church of God (Holiness) and the Parkway Church of God (Holiness) in Fort Scott. She served as choir director and church pianist. She was always a gracious hostess and will be remembered for her apple and pecan pies. Another one of her passions was spreading the gospel message to the people of Haiti. She had gone on numerous mission trips to Haiti and was currently serving as President of Haiti Missions, Inc.
Survivors include her four children, Brenda Parsons, of Peculiar, Mo., Carma Judy and husband, Mike, of Orange, Texas, Courtney Cresse and husband, Jonathan, of Bozeman, Mont., and Jonathan Page and wife, Kasee, of Lawrence, Kans.; eight grandchildren, Brett Parsons and wife, Kimberly, Carly Parsons and fiancé, Joe Cameron, Lynden Judy and wife, Katie, Cade and Colter Cresse, and Sierra, Jonas and Orrin Page; and four great-grandchildren, Ava Parsons, and Tally, Claire and Jhett Judy. Her husband, Rev. John I. Page, preceded her in death on January 28, 1999. She was also preceded in death by her parents, a son-in-law, Dr. Charles Parsons, two grandsons, Charles Anthony Parsons and Gabriel John Parsons and a brother, Edward Cleo Witt.
Rev. Jonathan Cresse will conduct funeral services at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, at the Parkway Church of God (Holiness). Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Parkway Church of God (Holiness) 1111 State St., Fort Scott, Kans. Memorials are suggested to Haiti Mission, Inc. 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.
Mercy Hospital Fort Scott Receives an “A” for Patient Safety
Mercy Hospital Fort Scott has earned The Leapfrog Group’s prestigious “A” rating for its commitment to reducing errors, infections and accidents that can harm patients.
Dr. John Fox, Mercy Clinic Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Photo Credit: Mercy Hospital
According to the announcement from The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization committed to driving quality, safety and transparency in the U.S. health care system, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott earned top marks nationally with the “A” rating for Patient Safety in spring 2017. Hospital Safety Grades assigns A, B, C, D and F letter grades to hospitals nationwide.
“This honor reflects our dedication and commitment to providing quality care to our patients in the safest way possible,” said Brenda Stokes, RN and Mercy Executive Director Quality Assurance/ Risk/ HIM. “Our ‘A’ rating affirms the emphasis we put on ensuring our community has access to the best healthcare possible. Our physicians, clinical staff and support staff strive to deliver safe, quality, evidence-based care to every patient, every time.”
Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group explained, “Hospitals that earn top marks nationally in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, have achieved the highest safety standards in the country. That takes commitment from every member of the hospital staff, who all deserve thanks and congratulations when their hospitals achieve an ‘A’ Safety Grade.”
Developed under the guidance of an expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
To see Mercy Hospital Fort Scott’s full grade, and to access consumer-friendly patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
Drug Take-Back Program
On April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., local law enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your medications to the parking lot of Mercy Convenient Care at 1624 S. National for free, anonymous, “no questions asked” disposal.
Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is made possible through the partnership of Bourbon County Sherriff’s Department, the Fort Scott Police Department and Mercy Hospital Pharmacy.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
March of Dimes Recognizes Mercy Hospital Fort Scott
Most moms-to-be are aware that the steps to having a healthy baby begin long before birth, but many may not understand the negative health impact of delivering a child prior to 39 weeks without medical reason.
“The last weeks of pregnancy are important,” said Paul E. Jarris, MD, MBA, March of Dimes Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. “Babies aren’t just putting on weight. They are undergoing important development of the brain, lungs and other vital organs.”
Even babies born just a few weeks early have higher rates of hospitalization and illness than full-term infants, the March of Dimes says. Although the overall threat is small, the risk of death more than doubles for infants born at 37 weeks of pregnancy when compared to babies born at 40 weeks, for all races and ethnicities. Babies who survive an early birth often face lifelong health challenges, such as breathing problems, cerebral palsy and learning disabilities.
As part of the March of Dimes campaign to reduce the number of early elective deliveries (EED), the agency is partnering with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) and the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative (KHC) to recognize Kansas birthing hospitals that pledge to eliminate early elective deliveries.
“We commend Mercy Hospital Fort Scott for reducing the number of elective inductions and cesarean deliveries performed before 39 weeks of pregnancy to less than five percent of all deliveries,” Jarris added.
“I’m extremely proud of the work to reduce the number of early elective deliveries at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott,” said Reta Baker, Mercy Hospital president. “This took great teamwork from our Mercy physicians, nurses and obstetric unit. It is a tremendous accomplishment that will give many more babies a healthy start in life.”
Dr. Larry Seals, Mercy OB/GYN, said, “Teamwork is the key. Collectively, we recognized the problem of unnecessary early deliveries and put in place policies to avoid scheduling c-sections or inductions before 39 weeks of pregnancy, except when medically necessary.”
In the past five years, Mercy Hospital has reduced the number of EEDs from 34 percent in 2011 to zero percent in 2016.
“The recognition by the March of Dimes helps us spread the message that ‘Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait,’” Seals added. “The March of Dimes campaign urges women to wait for labor to begin on its own if their pregnancy is healthy, rather than scheduling delivery before 39 weeks.”
Do you have an interest in gardening, but just don’t have the space? Would you like to plant beautiful pots full of flowers, but aren’t sure what plants work together? Learn how at the “Grow It – Prepare It” series, Container Gardening, on Thursday, April 27, at 6 p.m. at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.
This program will cover the advantages and disadvantages of container gardening, which varieties of plants are designed for containers, and how to best arrange plants. Demonstrations will be given on how to arrange both flowers and vegetables into containers for maximum results. For more information on this program and to register, please contact the Southwind Extension District at 620-223- 3720.
Using Machinery
Submitted by: Carla Nemecek, Southwind Extension District, Director
Machinery represents an ever-present danger on the farm. While machines save valuable time and are essential to productivity, use of farm machinery is hazardous, making them the source of most injuries and deaths on American farms and ranches.
While manufacturers design and build safety features into their machines, hazards cannot be completely eliminated without interfering with function. Timely maintenance, responsible use, and comprehensive safety awareness training are ways farmers can protect themselves and others from injury or death when working with and around agricultural machinery.
The primary responsibility for machinery safety rests with the operator. Operators must be aware of potential hazards with the specific piece of machinery they are operating. Safe operators respect machines for the work they perform and the dangers they present. Use these eight simple steps to be a safe machinery operator.
1. Be aware. Recognize where and what the hazards are.
2. Be prepared. Replace worn parts promptly and do daily pre-operational checks. Include preseason checks. Take advantage of the off-season to do additional maintenance work. This gives you time to order any shields and other parts you may need. Anticipate problems.
3. Read the operator’s manual. The simple tips and precautions in this publication are no substitute for the operator’s manual for each piece of machinery. If the manual is missing, contact your dealer or check online to get another one.
4. Shield all moving parts. Make the machine as safe as possible.
5. Respect PTO and hydraulics. Remember that any machine that is powered by a power takeoff driveline (PTO) or has hydraulic systems is inherently dangerous.
6. Shut it off. Before servicing any machine, disengage the PTO, turn off the engine, remove the key, and wait for all parts to stop moving.
7. Watch yourself. Try to avoid particularly hazardous jobs if you’re physically ill or mentally distracted. Fatigue and stress cause many accidents.
8. Use a machine only for its intended purpose.
With more consistently warmer temperatures, farmers will be in the field and on the roads. Pay special attention to slow moving vehicles, as the machinery operator has limited visibility.
For more information about farm or machinery safety, please contact the Southwind Extension District, at southwind.ksu.edu.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Job Fair on Thursday, April 20, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton St.
Fort Scott employers currently registered to attend include the City of Fort Scott; Firstsource Solutions, Kansas Department for Children and Families; Medicalodges Fort Scott; Niece Products; Peerless Products; Sleep Inn & Suites Hotel; Tri-Valley Developmental Services. Elnicki, Inc. of Pittsburg is also registered as well as KANSASWORKS.
Positions employers will be hiring for are include those shown below:
City of Fort Scott: Full-time Waste Water Collections Maintenance, Part-Time Golf Course Clubhouse staff (must be 21), and Seasonal Parks Maintenance (must be 18)
Firstsource Solutions: Insurance Claims Examiners, Call Center Reps.
Medicalodges Fort Scott: Home health aide, CNA, CMA, RN and LPN; dietary aides, cooks
Niece Products: Painters, Welders, Mechanics
Sleep Inn & Suites Hotel: Front Desk 3-11pm, Breakfast Attendant for summer months, other part-time positions.
Tri-Valley Developmental Services: Help in the Residential Program working evening and/or overnight shifts.
Ward/Kraft, Inc.: Customer Service Rep., Sales Reps., Production Members
Elnicki, Inc.: Diesel Mechanic, Welders, CDL Drivers, Heavy Equipment Operators, Laborers. All local and home every night.
Job seekers are encouraged to dress for success, bring copies of a resume, and be prepared to connect with employers. Attendees may enter a drawing for a door prize of $50 in Chamber Bucks that may be used at over 40 Chamber member businesses. Contact the Chamber for more information on having an employer booth at 620-223- 3566 or email [email protected].
Fort Scott National Historic Site commemorates the Civil War and how it shaped our country by presenting the 35th Annual Civil War Encampment on Saturday and Sunday, April 22 and 23.
Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the times—soldiers marching or on horseback, rifles firing, gunpowder hanging in the air. A variety of interpretive programs will illustrate the role Fort Scott played as a major supply base for federal troops during this pivotal conflict.
The public is invited to participate beginning Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and concluding with the last program at 3 p.m. on Sunday as park volunteers engage in various activities. Union Cavalry, Infantry and Artillery units will perform military training representing how troops were prepared for battle. Witness the Grice family as they make tallow and lye soap as it was made in rural areas in the 1860s. On Saturday at 1 p.m., Diane Eickhoff, independent historian and author, presents the program “Women Soldiers of the Civil War.” At 6:30 p.m., you are invited to participate in popular Civil War tunes presented by the Holmes Brigade Minstrels. On Sunday at 10 a.m., come join in a period Church Service. Learn about the logistics of feeding soldiers with “Rolling in the Dough” Bake-house Demonstration at 11 a.m. Cavalry, Infantry and Artillery Demonstrations will continue in the afternoon.
The Civil War Encampment is made possible through the generous support provided by volunteer members of the Holmes Brigade, 4th Missouri Cavalry, Western Bluecoats Field Hospital, 3rd Kansas Artillery Battery B, Friends of Fort Scott NHS, Inc., and a host of Fort Scott National Historic Site volunteers.
The schedule of activities is as follows:
SATURDAY, APRIL 22
9:00 a.m. – Raising the Colors
10:00 a.m. – Cavalry Drill
11:00 a.m. – Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
12:00 p.m. – Soap Making Program
1:00 p.m. – “Women Soldiers of the Civil War”
2:00 p.m. – Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
3:00 p.m. – Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
4:00 p.m. – Flag Retreat
6:30 p.m. – Civil War Music with the Holmes Brigade Minstrels
SUNDAY, APRIL 23
9:00 a.m. – Raising the Colors
10:00 a.m. – Church Service
11:00 a.m. – “Rolling in the Dough” – Bake House Demonstration
12:00 p.m. – Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
1:00 p.m. – Cavalry Drill
2:00 p.m. – Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
3:00 p.m. – Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
Presentation Explores Women Who Fought in Civil War
Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service in Kansas, will host “Women Soldiers of the Civil War,” a presentation and discussion by Diane Eickhoff, on April 22, at 1 p.m. in the Grand Hall. Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. The program is made possible by the Kansas Humanities Council.
During the Civil War, hundreds of women cut their hair and donned men’s clothing to report for duty to Union and Confederate Army recruiters. Others served as scouts and spies or rode with their husbands and brothers in service. The presentation will explore how and why a fascinating group of women defied cultural norms to become soldiers, especially during a time when there was great emphasis on women’s and men’s separate roles in society.
Diane Eickhoff is an independent historian, writer and editor of education materials. Her most recent historical biography, Clarina Nichols: Frontier Crusader for Women’s Rights, is published by Quindaro Press.
“This program evolved out of a single slide that often brought an earlier Speakers Bureau talk of mine to a standstill,” said Eickhoff. “People are as fascinated as I was to learn how so many women were able to disguise themselves as men—and to learn about their different motives for entering the battlefield.”
“Women Soldiers of the Civil War” is part of the Kansas Humanities Council’s Kansas Stories Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and discussions that examine our shared human experience—our innovations, culture, heritage and conflicts.
The Kansas Humanities Council conducts and supports community-based programs, serves as a financial resource through an active grant-making program, and encourages Kansans to engage in the civic and cultural life of their communities. For more information about KHC programs contact the Kansas Humanities Council at 785/357-0359 or visit online at www.kansashumanities.org.
For more information about “Women Soldiers of the Civil War” contact Fort Scott National Historic Site at 620-223- 0310 or visit www.nps.gov/fosc.
Tarecia Jean Herring, age 68, resident of Fort Scott, Kans., died Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at Fort Scott Manor.
She was born on August 24, 1948, in Fort Smith, Ark., the daughter of Billie Jo Greenlee and Wilma Janelle Sesso. She married Larry Wayne Herring on March 1, 1963, in Fort Scott. He preceded her in death. Tarecia work for Peerless Products in Fort Scott. In her younger years, she enjoyed being outdoors; camping, fishing and raising livestock. She especially liked dogs and horses. She loved spending time with her family and grandchildren.
Survivors include two sons, John Herring and wife Heather, Uniontown, Kans., and Wayne Herring and wife Tamy, Fort Scott; two daughters, Tammie Robison, Fort Scott, and Gennie Shields; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Royce Greenlee; and her parents.
There was cremation. Pastor Larry Stevicks will conduct memorial services at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow at a later date in Milum Cemetery, Lead Hill, Ark. Memorials are suggested to the Tarecia Herring Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Freada Louise Fleming, age 84, resident of Fort Scott, Kans., died Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at Mercy Hospital ER.
She was born December 16, 1932, in Vernon County, Mo., the daughter of Cleve and Mary Bridges Brundridge. She married Richard Fleming on May 25, 1950, in Nevada, Mo. He preceded her in death on December 21, 2010. She worked at home, raising the children, until 1975. She then began working as an inspector for Key Work Clothes in Fort Scott, retiring after 25 years. In the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, she belonged to the Busy Bee Club and EHU. She enjoyed gardening, canning, embroidery, cross word puzzles, country music and raising cows. She lived for her kids and grandkids, never missing an event while she was able physically. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints.
Survivors include two sons, Doug Fleming and wife Kay, and Rodney Fleming and wife Kelly, all of Fort Scott; two daughters, Brenda Tourtillott and husband Kenneth, and Debbie Shaw and husband Kenny, all of Fort Scott; one brother, Joe Brundridge, Kansas City, Mo.; two sisters, Doris Quackenbush, Nevada, Mo., and Ruby Villans, Indianapolis, Ind.; a brother-in-law Ralph Fleming; 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; one step-grandchild; eight step-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Harry Wesley Brundridge, Harry Leonard Brundridge and infant brother Cecil Brundridge; an infant great-granddaughter, Reece Tyler Koppa; a sister, Peggy Smith; a half-brother, Roy Brundridge; and two half-sisters, Hazel Cargill and Sylvia Brundridge.
President Kenneth Tourtillott will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Virgil City Cemetery, Vernon County, Mo. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m.Monday evening at the Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the National Kidney Foundation and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
George Hall Fair, age 93, a former resident of Pittsburg, Kans., and more recently of Tucson, Ariz., passed away Saturday, April 8, 2017, in Tucson.
He was born November 3, 1923, in Throckmarton, Texas, the son of Nathan E. Fair and Elizabeth Zona Hall Fair. George married Carol May Wenzel on June 1, 1946, in Sherman, Texas. He served with the United States Army during World War II. He had been employed as a principal for Iowa public schools for many years.
Survivors include a son, Nathan Fair, of McCallsburg, Iowa, and a daughter, Rosaline Fair, of Tucson, Ariz.; three grandchildren, Sheila Dalton, Alex Fair and Allison Fair and two great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister, Brooksie Salman, of Midland, Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife and a daughter, Georgia Dalton.
Graveside services with military honors will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, April 17, at the U. S. National Cemetery. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kans.
FSCC Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Inducts New Students
The Fort Scott Community College Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (Alpha Theta Omega Chapter) inducted 33 new students during a candle lighting ceremony on Friday, April 7, at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.
Students inducted this semester include: Mariah Aebersold, Heather Bahr, Adam Biby, Thomas Boatwright, Taylor Brecheisen, Mataya Cook, Rilie Creollo, Leslie Damian, Jordyn Danzer, Dustin Erikson, Madison Gray, Justin Grigsby, Sirr Green, Tyler Henninger, Heather Huesman, Genna Hull, Sarah Kelley, Keyshla Laureano Perez, Cristin Lowry, Allie Martin, Lindsey McNeil, Nathan Miller, Rachel Newquist, Nguyen Hannah Pham, Erica Pinneo, Emmah Reeves, Alexandria Rooks, Carla Salas, Mason Skiles, Lauren Sluder, Kyle Smith, Kirstie Williams and Barrett Young.
“We are pleased to welcome our new Phi Theta Kappa members this spring,” said Susie Arvidson, FSCC Director of Library Services and Phi Theta Kappa Advisor. “Over the past year, the members and officers have worked diligently to grow the organization and in turn were very successful. We look forward to the coming year as we strive for excellence and growth as individuals and as a group.”
Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society, recognizes the academic achievements of two-year college students. Students who have completed 12 credit hours and earned a 3.5 GPA or higher are invited to join Phi Theta Kappa. For more information, please call Susie Arvidson at 620-223-2700, ext. 3441.
Photo caption—Pictured from left to right: Nguyen Hannah Pham, Keyshla Laureano Perez, Heather Bahr, Genna Hull, Cristin Lowry, Lauren Sluder, Sarah Kelley, Jordyn Danzer, Rachel Newquist and Dustin Erikson.
FSCC Women’s Appreciation Luncheon slated for Apr. 26
Fort Scott Community College will host the annual Women’s Appreciation Luncheon 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.
The luncheon menu includes chicken salad croissant sandwiches, soup, salad, gourmet cookies and refreshments. In addition to lunch, the popular event will offer free gifts, door prizes, musical entertainment and product displays from local businesses. The event will showcase a variety of businesses including AdvoCare, All About That Xyng, Bids & Dibs, Black Dogs Farm, Custom Jewelry, FSCC Cosmetology (manicures), Gold Canyon, Hartman Spine and Joint, LipSense, Locust Hill Lamanchas, LuLaRoe, Mercy Hospital, Premier Designs Jewelry, Prüvit, Rodan + Fields, Taylor’s Lamps and Such, Thirty-One Gifts, Young Living Essential Oils, Younique and more.
Tickets are $6 per person. Attendees who purchase five tickets by April 25 will receive one ticket free. For more information or to reserve a seat, please call 620-223-2700.
This is the final week before the Kansas legislature adjourns for a three-week long break, during which the governor signs off on or vetoes the bills passed this session. We will return for veto session May 1.
Kansas House Fights for KPERS
On Thursday [April 7], the House and Senate passed Senate Sub for Sub HB 2052, a rescission bill that essentially fixed the budget for the current fiscal year. The current budget was in a deficit of $290 million. Fiscal year 2017 ends June 30.
The House stood its ground on this bill to ensure that the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS) was fully funded through the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017. The budget passed by the legislature and signed by the governor in 2016 had not made full payments to the retirement system.
As a result of the House position standing firm for working Kansans, an additional $86 million was appropriated to KPERS and payments will be made through the fourth quarter of FY 2017.
HB 2319: An act concerning abortion; relating to the woman’s-right-to-know act, relating to certain physician information to be disclosed.
HB 2391: An act concerning driving; relating to driving under the influence and other driving offenses; authorized restrictions of driving privileges, ignition interlock device; expungement of convictions and diversions.
SB 55: An act concerning public construction contracts; relating to performance and payment bonds; Kansas fairness in public construction.
SB 149: An act concerning the attorney general; relating to briefs in a criminal matter or post-conviction case in the supreme court or court of appeals; legal representation charges; legal services; creating the attorney general’s state agency representation fund.
HB 2360: An act concerning the administration of the state employee health benefits plan; creating the division of state employee health benefits plan in the department of administration.
H Sub for SB 70: An act concerning amusement rides; relating to the Kansas amusement ride act.
SB 184: An act establishing the Kansas intelligence fusion center act.
Sub HB 2230: An act concerning property taxation; relating to exemptions, property owned by a redevelopment authority and located in a redevelopment district within a former federal enclave.
HB 2279: An act concerning courts; relating to disposition of failure to comply with a traffic citation reinstatement fees; judicial branch nonjudicial salary adjustment fund.
I look forward to continuing to work for you and Kansas when we come back May 1. Until then, please take care. It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I both value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 50-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at (785) 296-7698 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. Additionally, you can e-mail me at [email protected]. You can also follow the legislative session online at www.kslegislature.org.
Linda June Harris Vann, age 69, a resident of Fort Scott, Kans., went into glory to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 1, 2017.
She was born March 24, 1948, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Ray Hugh Harris and Cleta Mae Graham Harris. Linda graduated from the Fort Scott High School in 1967. Immediately out of high school, Linda began a career with Mercy Hospital. She started as an aide and later worked as a ward clerk. She retired in March of 2010 after 43 years of service. She married Harry Glenn Vann on August 29, 1974, at Miami, Okla. Linda enjoyed sports, reading, bowling, fishing and traveling. She was also an avid Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs fan. She formerly attended the Mt. Olive Church of God in Christ and was currently a member of the Diamond Community Church.
Survivors include her three sons, Monty Vann, of Atlanta, Ga., and Gregory and Jonathan Vann, both of Fort Scott; four grandchildren, Elijah Wright, Ezekiel, Daniel and Violet Vann, all of Fort Scott. Also surviving are three brothers, Leon Harris of New Mexico, Eugene Harris of Los Angeles, Calif., and Roger Harris of New York, N.Y.; and four sisters including her twin, Glenda Harris of Fort Scott, Deborah Nelson of Fort Scott, Rotena Gray of Denver, Colo., and Hattie Wright of Olathe, Kans. Her husband, Glenn, preceded her in death on May 8, 2010. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, William Graham, Buford Harris, and Donald Drake, and a sister, Phyllis Mason.
Elder Roger Harris, assisted by Rev. Jimmy Tucker, will conduct funeral services at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Linda Vann Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
