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All posts by Submitted Story
FS City Work Session May 2 at 5 p.m.
There will be a Work Session prior to the Tuesday, May 2, 2023, City Commission meeting. The Work Session will begin at 5:00PM with Gilmore and Bell to speak to the Commission about STAR Bonds and TIFs. The regular City Commission meeting will follow at 6:00PM. Both meetings will be held in the City Commission Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main St. and will be available on the City of Fort Scott YouTube channel.
Obituary of Annie Lucile Bacon
Annie Lucile “Lucy” Bacon, age 95, a resident of rural Moran, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at the Residential Living Center in Garnett, Kansas. She was born October 29, 1927, on the family farm in rural Allen County, Kansas, the daughter of William Deer and Nora Cady Deer. Lucy graduated from the Bronson High School with the Class of 1945. Shortly after graduating, she married Kenneth C. “Joe” Bacon on June 6, 1945, at the Allen County Courthouse in Iola, Kansas. Joe and Lucy raised their family and worked side by side on their farm north of Moran for many years. Lucy enjoyed fishing and working in the garden. In earlier years, the family enjoyed camping trips to Colorado. Later, Lucy and Joe spent thirteen winters in Texas where they enjoyed getting to know other campers from all over the United States. Another hobby enjoyed by Lucy and Joe was bowling. They enjoyed time at the bowling alley with family and friends and also traveling to bowling tournaments. Lucy was also an accomplished cake decorator and often made birthday and wedding cakes for area friends. She was an avid fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals as well as the KU Jayhawks. She also made every effort to attend the sporting events of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Lucy enjoyed playing the keyboard and she and Joe often entertained nursing home residents at both Moran and Iola. She was a longtime member of the Bronson United Methodist Church and a past member of the Eastern Star.
Survivors include her children, Beverly Fuhrman (Harley) of Bronson, Kansas, Charles “Chuck” Bacon (Cristine) of Moran, Kansas, Doug Bacon (Paula) of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Cindy Mefford (Jason) of Mapleton, Kansas and Jean Davolt (Philip) of Wichita; ten grandchildren, Chris Hanna (Aric), Ken Fuhrman (Sue), Bryan Bacon (Brenda), Jessica Bacon, Travis Bacon (Angie), Tyler Bacon (Haley), Brandon Newman, Jason Newman (Trish), Jeremy Davolt (Victoria), and Stephanie Davolt; thirteen great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson. Also surviving is a sister-in-law, Margaret Fuston. Lucy was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth “Joe” Bacon on October 30, 2014. She was also preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Percy and Everett Deer and four sisters, Ruth Bowman, Lorene Ard, Doris Crone and Beula Proyck.
Tracy Smith will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Monday, May 1st at the Bronson Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Moran Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 P.M. Sunday at the Cheney Witt Chapel in Ft. Scott. Memorials are suggested to the Bronson United Methodist Church 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.
Obituary of Clara Belle Page
Clara Belle Page, age 91, resident of Hiattville, KS died Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at the Horton House, Fort Scott, KS. She was born October 19, 1931, in Lamar, MO, the daughter of Carl and Hannah Sheets Chaplin.
Clara worked in housekeeping and laundry for three area nursing homes during her career.
She enjoyed babysitting, embroidery, gardening, bass fishing, and crossword and jigsaw puzzles. She loved spending time with her family, especially during holidays preparing the meals. Her specialties included homemade noodles and pies.
Survivors include 3 sons, Jerry Lee Page (Leanna), Fort Scott, Carl Joe Page (Vicky), Hiattville, and Gary Ray Page, Hiattville; a sister, Velma Dyche, Pawnee, KS, a daughter in law, Erlinda Page, Fort Scott; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Chris William Page, 4 brothers, Virgil, Carl, Paul and Everett Chaplin, 2 sisters, Florence Barnum, and Mary Killion, and a son, John Page.
Pastor Brian Rhoades will conduct funeral services at 2:00 Wednesday, May 3rd, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Hepler Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 until service time Wednesday at the funeral home
Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports April 27
Water Leak Work Begins May 1 on Sixth Street in Fort Scott
Starting Monday May 1st, the City of Fort Scott Water Distribution department will be working on a water leak on 6th street between Eddy and Holbrook. Due to the severity of the leak this area will be close to traffic for a few days. Please bypass this area of 6th street by using 5th street or a alternate route. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to anyone. We will continue to make updates on this street closure. Thank you for your patience. #togetherwecan
submitted by:
Brad Matkin
City Manager
City of Fort Scott
Patient meets goals with help from Ascension Via Christi Therapy Center
After having carpal tunnel surgery, Tawny Sandifer, who serves as vice president of Operations and Nursing at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, needed Occupational Therapy services to get back to normal life.
Sandifer says she confidently chose Ascension Via Christi Therapy Center for her ongoing care not because of her role, but based on all the positive feedback from friends and community members.
Occupational Therapy, which works to develop, recover or maintain function of everyday skills, treats a variety of upper extremity injuries, disabilities or impairments such as: amputations, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, cerebral palsy, brain injuries, surgery recovery and much more.
For 12 weeks, Sandifer worked with therapist Chrissy Naccarato, OT, to strengthen and improve function in her hand.
“Chrissy always greeted me with a smile,” says Sandifer. “She took time to explain the ‘why’ behind what I was doing with my treatment plan and ensured that I understood how it was helping me to reach my goals.”
Although Occupational Therapy can sometimes be challenging, Sandifer expressed what a positive experience it’s been: “I look forward to my therapy appointment and seeing Chrissy. I know it will be challenging but I also know that Chrissy’s approach makes it fun.”
Now, Sandifer says that she has met her goals and has seen significant improvement in the strength and functioning of her hand, crediting much of that to her therapist.
“I would refer Occupational Therapy at Ascension Via Christi Therapy Center to all of my friends and family,” says Sandifer. “Chrissy is so knowledgeable, compassionate, engaging, professional and caring!”
To learn more about Ascension Via Christi Therapy services, go to ascension.org/PhysicalTherapyKS.
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About Ascension Via Christi
In Kansas, Ascension Via Christi operates seven hospitals and 75 other sites of care and employs nearly 6,400 associates. Across the state, Ascension Via Christi provided nearly $89 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2021. Serving Kansas for more than 135 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the leading non-profit and Catholic health system in the U.S., operating more than 2,600 sites of care – including 145 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org.
Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson
April 25, 2023
The Governor’s Veto Pen is in overdrive again this year. Besides the fairness in women’s sports bill (which was successfully overridden) and the born-alive bill, she vetoed Senate Bill (SB) 180, defining a biological sex for the protection of women. It takes a supermajority of legislatures (2/3) to override a veto. She also vetoed House Bill (HB) 2344, allowing daycares to accept more children. The rules and regulations implemented by bureaucrats have become too restrictive. In fact, so restrictive that Kansan Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) testified about reducing the regulations and then didn’t follow through. HB 2344 was an attempt to address the overreaching restrictions.
It is almost unbelievable the Governor has prioritized corporations over families and individual taxpayers by vetoing a CCR 169. It would cut sales, property, and income tax by:
- accelerating “food” sales tax cut to zero on Jan 1, 2024 – instead of Jan 1, 2025
- increasing the property tax exemption for homeowners to $60k from $40k on the K-12 20 mil
- exempting most Social Security from state income tax, eventually exempting all
- increasing income tax standard deductions each year based on inflation
- creating a single income tax bracket of 5.15% while exempting income below $6,150 for individuals, $12,300 married so that it is a tax cut for all personal income tax filers
- accelerating the corporate income tax cut by one year to 1% cut 2024, instead of ½ percent in 2024 and 2025 (which the Governor signed into law last year)
- and cutting the privilege tax for banks ½ % in 2024 and ½ in 2025
Keep in mind that this is the same Governor who signed into law tax cuts and/or exemptions for major corporations and vetoed tax cuts in 2021 CCR 50. It is estimated just the APEX tax exemptions she pushed will be over $1.5 billion for two companies, one being a foreign owned company. Her claims for vetoing the tax cuts in CCR 169 are much the same as in 2021, that it would break the state. After CCR 50 became law, the state has continued to collect record revenue (taxes collected). She was wrong then and now. Let’s hope we can override the veto this year putting the brakes on massive government growth and providing tax relief for all, especially families and individuals in need.
Environmental Social Governance (ESG) has been creeping into Kansas and there were a couple of pieces of legislation attempting to restrict ESG ratings in taxpayer investments such as Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS). During debate on Senate Bill (SB) 291, I ran an amendment that would stop taxpayer money being invested in foreign adversaries of the U.S. The amendment passed and the bill passed the Senate 29 to 11. During conference committee a stripped-down version of 291 was put in CCR 2100, taking out the language blocking investments in China and other foreign adversaries. The Senate sent a strong message to the House killing the conference committee report, but later reconsidered so we didn’t lose the entire ESG bill. It became law without the Governor’s signature.
It is important to get KPERS and other taxpayer money out of these countries. KPERS currently has approximately 2% invested in China, over $543 million. Some say it will cost too much to divest. I contend it is to costly to stay. This was proven when KPERS Russia investments went from over $30 million to basically $0 last year. KPERS board members and others have refused to take action so the legislature must. Hopefully, it will not be too late as we are a part-time legislature and the 2023 session is coming to an end.
HB 2036 would exempt veterans from property taxes, but the bill was not accepted during conference committee negotiations. I did not block the bill, as a State Representative who is a veteran is reporting (see https://www.teamtyson.org/HB2036.htm for more details). I have fought diligently for tax cuts for our veterans, military, and all Kansans. I have been a leader on the property-tax freeze for seniors and disabled veterans. Tax conference committee members were instrumental in leading the effort to pass the program last year and the possible expansion of the program this year in CCR 8. Hopefully, CCR 8 will become law this year.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report April 26
Death Notice of William Wood
William David “Bill” Wood, age 76, resident of Fort Scott, KS died Monday, April 24, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO. Funeral services and burial will take place in Colton, SD. Local arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.
Obituary of George Freeze
George Albert Freeze, age 69, a resident of Fort Scott, Kansas passed away Sunday, April 23, 2023, at his home. He was born to Fred and Irma Dickey Freeze on October 30, 1953 in Pittsburg, Kansas.
George was a registered respiratory therapist and worked at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, Kansas for forty-seven years. He loved his job. The past three years, he worked the switchboard for Via Christi Hospital.
He married the first love of his life, Lucille Page on May 28, 1977. George and Lucille had one son, Aaron Freeze. Lucille passed away on February 19, 2006
George later married the second love of his life, Janice Brunner on August 3, 2010, and gained 5 step-children and 15 grandchildren.
He enjoyed playing poker, fishing and watching old TV shows.
He is survived by his wife Janice, son Aaron Freeze, of Ft. Scott, Kansas, 5 step-children and 15 grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, John (Ann) Freeze of Lehi, Utah, Randy (Teresa) Freeze of Liberal, Missouri and sisters, Carol (Mark) Brizendine of Norborne, Missouri, LuAnne (Paul) Crocker of Liberal, Missouri and Linda (Tom) McKay also of Liberal, Missouri, brothers-in-law Larry Page and David Page of Fort Scott, Kansas and sisters-in-law Chris Brown, and Audrey Cole both of Ft. Scott, Kansas, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. George was also survived by his beloved cat, Maggie, who was his constant companion. He wasn’t really a cat person, but loved Maggie.
George was preceded in death by his wife Lucille, parents and grandparents.
George will be sadly missed by his family and many friends.
Following cremation, Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct a memorial service at 2:00 P.M. Friday, April 28th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Private burial will take place at a later date in the Hiattville Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association 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.
Evergy Seeks To Recover Investments With Rate Increase
Evergy Files Kansas First Rate Review in Five Years to Recover Investments to Modernize the Power Grid, Increase Reliability and Enhance Customer Service
Ongoing savings achieved since 2018 exceeded projections, reducing the overall Kansas rate increase request by more than 37%
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – April 25, 2023 – Today Evergy (NASDAQ: EVRG) filed a request and supporting documentation with the Kansas Corporation Commission to recover investments made to improve service to customers with a more reliable and resilient power grid and updated customer service systems. This is the first base rate review Evergy has requested in five years.
Evergy was formed in 2018 by the merger of Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy. As part of the merger approval, Evergy agreed to keep the energy company local by maintaining its Kansas headquarters in Topeka and continuing to invest millions annually in local community organizations and charities throughout its Kansas service area. Evergy also committed to significantly reduce the operating costs of the combined company, to pass those savings on to customers and not to ask for an increase to base rates for five years. Evergy has kept all of those commitments.
For the Evergy Kansas Central service area, the company is requesting a net revenue increase of $204 million or a 9.77% overall rate increase — reflecting a reduction of nearly $89 million in operating costs and other billing line items. If the full request is approved, the monthly bill increase for an average residential customer would be about $14.24. Evergy Kansas Central includes approximately 736,000 customers in Topeka, Pittsburg, Wichita, Hutchinson and other communities in the eastern third of the state. In the Evergy Kansas Metro service area, the company is requesting a net revenue increase of $14 million or a 1.95% overall rate increase — reflecting a reduction of nearly $41 million in operating costs and other billing line items. If the full request is approved, the monthly bill increase for an average residential customer would be about $3.47. Evergy Kansas Metro includes approximately 273,000 customers in Lenexa, Overland Park and other communities near the Kansas City metro area.
“We formed Evergy with a focus of reducing costs and making rates more affordable and competitive. Over the past five years, we have made significant progress towards that goal. Since 2018, our Kansas customers have received $232 million in merger savings and bill credits,” said David Campbell, Evergy president and chief executive officer. “We’ve exceeded our targeted merger savings and shared them with customers. Now, we are seeking to recover investments made to improve the electric grid and build a smarter, more reliable energy future for our Kansas customers.”
This rate review is the first that Evergy has requested in Kansas since the creation of the company in 2018. Offsetting steep inflation in Kansas and the US economy, operational cost savings and merger efficiencies have allowed Evergy to maintain flat rates for Evergy’s Kansas customers over the last five years. Since 2017, overall rates for Evergy Kansas customers have increased just 0.1% and residential rates have decreased 2.5%. During the same time period, other electric utility rates in states surrounding Kansas have increased nearly 13% and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased 20%. In addition, since the merger, Evergy has delivered $232 million in merger savings and bill credits to Kansas customers.
“The merger has helped stabilize prices despite historically high inflation. We have achieved nearly $1 billion in cost savings and efficiencies as a combined company since the merger. This achievement has helped us keep rates flat and has reduced our requested increase for investments made over the last five years by more than 37%,” said Campbell. “From residential customers to large businesses, we know how important it is to keep electricity affordable especially in the wake of record inflation.”
The most significant driver of the rate increase request relates to infrastructure improvement aimed at enhancing reliability and resiliency. While Evergy has a track record of solid performance, as the electric system ages, modern upgrades are needed to maintain and improve reliability. Evergy has made significant improvements over the past several years focused on the power grid, with a goal of making it more resistant to outages from severe weather and improving resiliency to restore power faster when outages occur. Some of those improvements include rebuilding aging power lines and equipment and adding advanced automation technology that can reduce the impact of power outages by isolating the cause of the outage more quickly. In addition, Evergy is leveraging data analytics to improve its ability to identify areas at risk for outages, allowing it to target maintenance and replacement work, driving reduced outages and operating costs.
“A resilient, reliable power grid is critical for our customers. A modern power grid deploys automation to run more efficiently and effectively and must be hardened and maintained against physical threats, including the extremes of Kansas weather, and equipped with secure communication devices that help prevent and shorten power outages,” Campbell said. “Five years after creating Evergy, we remain local and invested in the communities we serve. We have reduced our operating costs, our rates are more competitive, our power generation is more sustainable, and our service is more resilient.”
As part of the rate review, Evergy has requested an increased allowance for depreciation of investments to ensure that recovery of costs associated with an asset is aligned with the useful lives of those assets and the customers who benefit. Evergy has also asked to include funding for expected dismantlement costs to provide for appropriate decommissioning of power plants upon retirement.
This rate increase request includes investments made to replace legacy customer service systems with new, shared systems that provide for greater efficiency and that enable customer experience enhancements. This single platform enabled us to increase the number and types of online and self-service transactions either on the phone or online. Evergy has also expanded and improved payment capabilities, start and stop service, outage management capabilities, outage and billing notifications and energy management tools. In September 2022, Evergy launched a mobile app that includes often-used capabilities from the website.
The Evergy Kansas Central request includes recovery of its share of costs of IT systems shared across all Evergy customers. These shared systems are a key enabler of merger efficiencies that have resulted in savings of more than $110 million annually for Evergy Kansas Central customers, far exceeding the cost included in the request. Resolution of legacy Evergy Kansas Central items that constitute nearly $56 million of the rate increase request include the expiration of wholesale energy contracts which had contributed to lower rates during the contract term and managing the previously established end to a corporate owned life insurance program initiated in 1985.
Kansas rate requests follow an 8-month process before the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). New rates will become effective in December 2023. As part of the process, Evergy must demonstrate that its request is warranted, and the supporting costs are prudent. Evergy and other interested parties representing the Commission and consumers will submit and exchange information through briefs and filings available on the KCC website.
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About Evergy, Inc.
Evergy, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVRG), serves 1.7 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. Evergy’s mission is to empower a better future. Our focus remains on producing, transmitting and delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for the benefit of our stakeholders. Today, about half of Evergy’s power comes from carbon-free sources, creating more reliable energy with less impact to the environment. We value innovation and adaptability to give our customers better ways to manage their energy use, to create a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace for our employees, and to add value for our investors. Headquartered in Kansas City, our employees are active members of the communities we serve.