Mary Ann Hurd, 85, of Mapleton, Kansas, passed away, Thursday evening, January 25, 2018, at the Windsor Place Nursing Home in Coffeyville, Kansas.
She was born March 10, 1932, in Harding, Kansas the daughter of William Christopher and Grace Lee Wagener.
She is survived by her niece, Alice Myrick, of Mapleton, Kansas, and two brothers, Carl Wagener of Cottageville, South Carolina, and Lee Roy Wagener, of Mapleton, Kansas.
Following cremation, private family services will be held at a later date and are under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Ella Louise Greenfield, 58, of Fort Scott, passed away late Wednesday evening, January 31, 2018, at Mercy Hospital. She was born November 14, 1959, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of John Calvin and Rachel Elinor (Hord) Greenfield.
Ella is survived by her children, Scarlett “Pete” Greenfield of Pittsburg, Kansas, and John Greenfield, of Fort Scott; nine brothers and sisters, John C. Greenfield, Kathie Wilson, Kurt Greenfield, Paul Greenfield, Cindy Jones, Brian Greenfield, Tracy Saker, and Karl Greenfield; and two grandchildren, and one more on the way. She was preceded in death by her father, and a sister, Cheryl Bagnall.
Following cremation, memorial services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 10, 2018, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Many people don’t realize they may be at risk for heart disease, so Mercy is making it easier to identify certain conditions by offering low-cost screenings.
“Before symptoms appear, people should consider a screening to evaluate their risk for cardiovascular disease if they are over age 45 with a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure or cholesterol, smoking or other risk factors,” said Christi Keating, executive director of nursing at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. “Other risk factors include diabetes, peripheral vascular disease and having a more-than-ideal body weight.”
Mercy Fort Scott offers low-cost heart and vascular screening year-round, but since heart health seems to be top-of-mind during February, now is the perfect time to get a screening. The screenings help identify factors that may lead to stroke, aneurysm, cardiovascular disease or other serious conditions.
A variety of screenings are available starting at only $50. Insurance will not be billed for the screenings and payment is due at time of service.
The $50 calcium heart screening is a simple CT scan of your heart to detect calcium build-up in your arteries – an indication of heart disease. The $99 vascular screening package includes three non-invasive tests on your carotid arteries, your abdomen, and your legs. The tests help identify problems to reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and aneurysm.
Patients may choose both screening packages for $149. A physician order is not necessary and no special preparation is needed before either screening package.
Screenings are available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott.
Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2017 by Truven, an IBM Watson Health company, serves millions annually. Mercy includes 44 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, more than 700 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 40,000 co-workers and more than 2,000 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Mercy also has outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
Donald Dale Simpson, age 90, a resident of rural Garland, Kansas, passed away early Saturday, February 3, 2018, at the Country Place Assisted Living facility in Ft. Scott, Kansas.
He was born March 16, 1927, in Ft. Scott, the son of Maurice Simpson and Nina Alice McPheron Simpson. Don attended Fort Scott schools. He served in the United States Army from 1945 to 1947 where he was stationed in Italy. He married Charlene Mason on December 22, 1954.
Don farmed and raised cattle on the family farm near Garland for the remainder of his life. Don loved his life on the farm and enjoyed making things grow. He especially enjoyed tending to his strawberries and gladiolus. He also liked to collect arrowheads and toy tractors. In earlier years, he liked to do woodworking.
Survivors include his three sons, Mason (Paula), Scott (Becky), Brady (Patty), all of Ft. Scott and his daughter, Lisa Ireland (Lanny), of Stewartsville, Missouri; ten grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.
His wife, Charlene, preceded him in death on November 27, 2017.
Pastor Lela Simpson will conduct funeral services at 11:30 A.M. Thursday, February 8 at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor’s choice and may be left in the 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.
The following are highlights of the agenda for the Fort Scott City Commission to be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 6. at city hall, 123 S. Main.
1. Resolution 4-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure and accessory structure located at 1523 E. Wall Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.
Resolution 5-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure and Accessory Structure located at 1601 E. Wall Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.
Resolution 6-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure and Accessory Structure located at 13 N. Holbrook Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.
Resolution 7-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure located at 523 S. Main Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.
Resolution 8-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure located at 108 W. Oak Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.
Resolution 9-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure and Accessory Structure located at 309 S. Lowman Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.
Items to be considered by the commission:
Consideration of appointment to Fort Scott Planning Commission – one city resident
Assignment of Charlesworth Contract
Consideration of 2017 Audit Contract with Diehl, Banwart Bolton
Consideration to approve KDOT Form TRF 3 – Closeout of Downtown Brick Street and Sidewalk Replacement Project in 2010
Consideration of increase in Woodland Hills Golf Course fees and change in membership renewal dates
Consideration to reject demolition bids for 1837 E. 1st
Consideration of Tourism center upgrade bids
Discussion of Utility Office hours
Consideration of tree removal from west and south end of runway – Fort Scott Municipal Airport
Paul Ballou with Rhonda Dunn will give an update on the Stout Building.
To see the full agenda which includes minutes and financials click here:
Westar Energy in Fort Scott, on Old Fort Boulevard.
Consistent with its recent statements, Westar Energy (NYSE: WR) today asked the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) to update its prices for the new lower federal tax rate, which will save customers about $74 million per year.
Westar’s request also included $11 million of initial savings in contemplation of its proposed merger with Great Plains Energy and $29 million in savings achieved from refinancing debt. These $114 million in savings offset costs related to the recently added Western Plains wind farm, depreciation, and other expenses.
All told, these adjustments will reduce prices by about $2 million in September, when the KCC’s decision is due.
In early 2019, credits that reduced customer prices for about 10 years will expire, and Westar has asked to adjust prices for those changes at that time. “Westar Energy is pleased to ask the KCC to reflect in our prices the benefit of federal tax savings,” said Mark Ruelle, president, and chief executive officer. “It’s important that our prices reflect the actual cost of serving customers.”
Renewable energy expansion Included in Westar Energy’s rate update are costs for the new 280 megawatts Western Plains wind farm, required updates for depreciation costs, and, later, adjustments related to ending renewable energy federal tax credits and an expiring wholesale contract.
Western Plains wind farm, near Spearville, Kan., has been in service, reducing customers’ fuel costs for a year, but the costs of the new renewable energy center are not yet reflected in customer prices.
Over the wind farm’s 20-year life, the fuel savings are expected to exceed the cost of the wind farm by about $70 million.
“About a third of the electricity we supply to our retail customers now comes from renewables – notably, Kansas wind farms,” said Ruelle. “Clean Kansas energy is affordable, bringing Kansas to third in the nation for wind energy.”
The KCC requires companies it regulates to produce a study every five to seven years updating the depreciation costs that should be included in prices. Changes to depreciation costs account for $56 million of the request, but as noted, are more than offset by other decreases. These periodic updates are to ensure that customers who are paying for investments are also those who benefit from those same investments. If a depreciation period is set too short or long, customers today could pay too much or too little toward the cost of those assets.
Updating prices for lower taxes, anticipated merger savings, and interest savings, along with recognizing the costs for the new wind farm, increased depreciation costs and other adjustments results in a planned net price decrease of about $2 million that would be effective with the KCC’s decision in September.
Westar’s application also includes adjustments to reflect the expiration of government and wholesale customer credits that have been reducing customer bills during the past decade but will soon expire.
In early 2019, Westar Energy’s first wind farms will reach 10 years of service. At that time, federal production tax credits will expire. Westar also sells electricity to Kansas electric cooperatives, with gains on those wholesale sales used to reduce costs for its retail customers.
One of those long-term contracts, and the associated benefits, also expires in January 2019.
Current wholesale electricity markets no longer provide the same opportunity to capture such credits for customers. Recognizing the expiration of these benefits would result in a subsequent price increase of about $54 million to be implemented February 2019.
Together, early next year, the two adjustments combined would increase prices by about $52.6 million or 2.6 percent.
Two-thirds of Westar’s residential customers use a monthly average of 900 kWh or less, so their average monthly increase would be about $5.90 or less when both the rate reduction and the subsequent rate increase are implemented.
The KCC is the state’s regulatory body that oversees this process and sets Westar Energy’s prices.
Regulators will take eight months to review, audit and evaluate Westar’s request to ensure that prices reflect appropriate costs of providing electricity.
Marilyn Jane Love, age 73, a resident of rural Redfield, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri.
She was born October 2, 1944, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Lawrence Homer “Jack” Query and Alberta Mae Duncan Query.Marilyn graduated from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1963.She married Charles A. Walker on February 4, 1966, at Ft. Scott.
He preceded her in death on April 25, 2000.She later married Gerald Love on February 16, 2001, at the Mt. Orum Baptist Church near Redfield.
In earlier years, Marilyn had worked for the Western Insurance Company and then for the Pittsburg, Kansas, and Stillwater, Oklahoma school districts.She was later employed by Wal-Mart in Ft. Scott for over twenty-five years.
Marilyn loved her God and her family.She was a member of the Mt. Orum Baptist Church and was also active with the Redfield Ruritan.She also enjoyed taking care of her animals.
Survivors include her husband, Jerry, of the home; and her children, Shane Walker (Jana), Lane Walker (Crystal Sprague) and David Johnson (Christina) all of Ft. Scott; and her grandchildren, Olivia, Grace, Audrey and Ella Walker, Kirryn Sprague, Korbyn and Kayley Reyes, Rosa Martin and Kaden Johnson.Also surviving are two brothers, Dwayne Query (Clyda), of Rochelle, Illinois and Robert Query (Lori), of Ft. Scott a sister, Marjorie Schwalm, of Ft. Scott and several nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles Walker and her parents, Jack and Mae Query.
Rev. Jeff Cokeley will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M.Monday, February 5th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.Burial will follow in the Pittsburg Garden of Memories Cemetery.The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 P.M. Sunday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in the 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.
This information submitted by The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY February 2 & 3
10:00 am – 5:00 pm~ Livestock Sale – Fort Scott Livestock Market 2131 Maple Rd.~ Friday: Cows, Pairs & Big Bulls. Saturday: Stocker & Feeder Cattle.
8:30 am – 4:30 pm ~ Art Project: New Faces New Neighbors Fort Scott National Historic Site, Old Fort Blvd. Fort Scott, KS 66701 Join us at Fort Scott NHS as youth from around the region display their art in the “New Faces, New Neighbors” display. The artwork explores the stories of change at Fort Scott NHS throughout its history.
SUNDAY, February 4 ~ SUPER BOWL SUNDAY 5:30 pm ~ Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots
All Day ~Annual Superbowl Potluck Party – Holmtown Pub 206 N National Ave ~ Bring a dish in to share and enjoy a great night of Football with friends. Drink specials and games all day. 2:00 – 9:00 pm ~ Un Superbowl Party – The Boiler Room Brewhaus 102 S. National Ave ~ A safe (TV Free) place to get away from all the Super Bowl hoopla and discuss important stuff, like which beer to drink next.
Extension Update by Carla Nemecek, Southwind Extension District Director, Agriculture, Iola Office. Phone: 620-365-2242 [email protected]
The Southwind Extension District met for their annual organizational meeting on Tuesday, January 30, 2018.
After much discussion, a motion was made and seconded to bring Woodson County into the existing District that includes Allen, Bourbon and Neosho Counties.
There is a lengthy process that includes that Kansas Attorney General before the district merger with Woodson County will be finalized on July 1.
Board members learned that Lois Carlson accepted the 2017 Extension Board Leadership Award on behalf of Southwind at the annual partnership meeting in Lawrence.
Finally, officers were elected – Chairman, Kathy Brazle; Vice-Chairman, Jim Smart; Secretary, Lori Shue; Treasurer, Job Springer.
The next meeting will be held March 27 at 6 pm at the Moran United Methodist Church.
