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Government, Kansas

Governor Signs Budget

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Governor Kelly Signs Omnibus Budget, Increases Funding for Higher Education, Infrastructure, Student Mental Health Programs


TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today signed Senate Bill 25, the Omnibus Budget, which passed with bipartisan support. The budget increases funding for higher education, invests in local infrastructure, expands mental health resources for students, and provides a pay increase for the state workforce.

“I am proud of this bipartisan, fiscally responsible budget that will bolster our state’s workforce, improve roads and expand high-speed internet, and provide essential mental health resources for our students,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This funding will support my administration’s efforts to continue growing the economy and making every Kansas community an attractive place to live and raise a family.”

The budget:

Increases pay for state employees:  These salary increases improve pay rates for state employees who are earning below the market rate for similar jobs in the Kansas private sector. This increased pay will help recruit, retain, and recognize the work of employees who deliver public safety, infrastructure projects, mental health resources, education, and services to businesses and families across the state.

Promotes STEM workforce training opportunities: These investments expand opportunities for students training in emerging technologies, science, engineering, math, science, and technical trades. These programs are instrumental in attracting students to Kansas and preparing them to participate in our expanding economy and workforce.

Supports local infrastructure projects: The Build Kansas Matching Grant Fund will provide a mechanism to provide state matching dollars to Kansas communities for projects approved under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL). These funds will enable Kansas communities to move forward with infrastructure projects, including improvements to water, transportation, energy, cybersecurity, and high-speed internet. A portion of these dollars will also be used by the Kansas Infrastructure Hub to provide resources and technical assistance to communities seeking to access BIL funding.

Expands mental health resources for students: $13.5 million will be invested in the Mental Health Intervention Pilot to further expand access to behavioral health services for students. With this funding, the Kelly administration has invested over $46 million in this pilot, resulting in the program reaching 5,000 students and nearly 70 school districts annually.

Invests in services for elderly and disabled Kansans: The budget includes funding for services for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including funding for an early childhood program for children with blindness or visual impairments. It also increases funding for Senior Nutrition (Meals on Wheels) and expands the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly to additional counties.

Governor Kelly also line-item vetoed certain aspects of the bill. Find more information and her veto messages here.

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Enter the Good Ol’Days Parade

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Good Ol’ Days Parade!
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is NOW taking entries for he GOOD OL’ DAYS PARADE that will take place in Fort Scott on Friday, June 2nd at 6pm.
We encourage you to get your business, organization, friends, or family together and enter a float, walking unit, golf cart, car/truck, tractor, horse entry, or other! It is FREE to enter the parade and cash prizes will be awarded in each category.
Click here to print the parade entry form, or you can click “Register” on this link to enter online!
The deadline is May 31st.
For more information about the Good Ol’ Days festival, click here!
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Obituary

Obituary of Marguerite Edwards

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Marguerite Anna Edwards, age 91, a former resident of Bronson, Kansas and more recently of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away Sunday, May 14, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.

She was born February 25, 1932, in Harriman, Tennessee, the daughter of Amos George Stuehser and Katherine May Hope Stuehser.  Marguerite married Homer Lee Edwards on December 30, 1960, in Folkston, Georgia.

They lived the first several years of their marriage in Nashville, Tennessee until they relocated to California in 1969.  While in California, Marguerite was employed as a secretary for the English Department of California State University at Los Angeles.

Following the death of her husband Homer on September 6, 2000, Marguerite moved to Connecticut to live with her son.  They eventually moved to Bronson, Kansas before settling in Kansas City.

 

Survivors include her son, Huey Edwards and wife, Martha of Kansas City, Missouri and five grandchildren, Christopher, Ambor, Wendy, Billie Joe and Mike.

In addition to her husband, Marguerite was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Dave Edwards and a brother Alvis Stuehser.

 

Private burial will take place in the Bronson Cemetery at Bronson, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to the Epilepsy Foundation and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Bo 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com

Government, Kansas

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

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Caryn Tyson

 

May 12, 2023

 

Governor’s Active Veto Pen The Kansas Governor, a former New Yorker, demonstrated by her actions she is not ‘middle of the road’.  Her veto of CCR 8 prioritized county and municipality lobbyists veto request above helping seniors and disabled veterans struggling to pay property taxes and other provisions.  These lobby groups were against one provision in CCR 8 that would level the playing field against governments operating a business that directly competes with a private business.  Disappointingly, these taxpayer funded lobbyists put their angst against leveling the playing field over bi-partisan legislation that would have helped many Kansans.

 

CCR 8 had several provisions as do most tax and budget legislation.  The Governor said NO to CCR 8 that would have: expanded property tax relief for seniors in need and disabled veterans; reduced penalties on personal property tax late-filings; modified proposed property tax increase mailed out notices;  provided reimbursement to local governments for these notices;  provided two prior years’ values on your annual property valuation notices; allowed certified residential property appraisal when appealing   property taxes on homes; allowed paying under protest regardless of a valuation appeal; codified adverse influences in valuation of agriculture land; clarified agriculture agritourism property classification; provided a property tax exemption for businesses directly competing against a government business; decreased penalties for late withholding taxes; provided a carryforward for net-operating losses for specific years; allowed a subtraction modification for the federal work opportunity tax credit (WOTC); increased adoption tax credits; removed the sunset of tax credits for disabled employment; clarified an option for State And Local Tax (SALT) – it saved Kansans over $130 million on federal taxes without costing the state a dime; established a tax credit for donations to pregnancy centers; and exempted sales tax on manufacturer coupons.  All of these items were lost this year as a result of the Governor’s veto.  There will not be an attempt to override as the last day of session was a couple of weeks ago.

 

Kansans could have benefited from CCR 8 and CCR 169.  Remember CCR 169 that was vetoed earlier?  It included property tax relief for homeowners, state sales tax on groceries removed in 2024 instead of 2025, and income tax cuts including exempting Social Security and increasing standard deductions.  It is apparent the Governor’s actions and claims she is ‘in the middle of the road’ are contradictory as  she vetoes tax cuts and continues to grow government at a record pace.

 

Vetoes and veto overrides were a record high this year.  The legislature didn’t attempt to override all of the vetoes, but of the ones they did, 12 were overridden.  The successful veto overrides include:  HB 2313 Born-Alive Infant Protection, HB 2264 Women’s Right to Know about Abortion Drug Reversal, HB 2350 Making Human Smuggling a Crime, HB 2138 Requiring Separate Accommodations by Biological Sex on Overnight School Trips, HB 2094 Work or Training Requirement for Able Bodied Adults to Receive Food Benefits, SB 228 Modernizing County Jail Statutes (reimbursement for mental health detainees), and SB 180 Women’s Bill of Rights.  Bills that failed to secure 2/3 majority for an override: HB 2344 Loosening Overly Burdensome Daycare Regulations, HB 2236 Parents Bill of Rights, SB 169 Tax Reductions, SB 206  Ballots Due by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, and SB 26 Child Mutilation Prevention Act.  There will not be an override attempt on the bills she vetoed last week, including CCR 8, because the 2023 session has ended.  I have already began efforts to pass this legislation next year as I keep fighting the good fight.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Caryn

Obituary

Obituary of Eva Irene Lowry

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Heaven welcomed its newest Angel…..

Eva Irene Lowry, on Friday May 12th, 2023 at 8:25 am.

Many knew her as “Toby”, lovingly nicknamed by her big brother.

She was joyfully welcomed into the world by her parents Roy Charles Jewell and Bessie Mae Bybee Jewell on July 27th, 1934.

Toby was preceded in death by her father, mother, brother William Jewell, her sister Jaunita Jewell Lloyd and her husband Richard E Lowry.

 

She attended grade school through high school in Ft Scott, where she met her best and  lifelong friend Helen Rosalee Coyan Rager, who married Darrell Rager, her husband Richard’s,  best friend. What  fun it was to raise their kids across the street from one another.

 

At the tender age of 11, Toby saw a  young man downtown, and said, “Mom, I love his looks, I’m going to marry him!” Five years later on March 30th, 1951 she married him! The love of her life, Richard E Lowry.

 

After a brief time of living in Wichita and Kansas City, Ks. They settled in Ft Scott. Richard went to work for Beltone. A year later, in 1959 He and Toby started their own hearing aid bBusiness called Lowry Hearing Aid Service. Toby and Richard became hearing aid specialists, helping people to hear better in southeast Kansas. They both were well loved by their clients.

 

To sound more businesslike Toby began using   “Irene” after promising her beloved husband to take good care of his people upon his untimely passing on July 8th, 1983. Irene took over the business by herself, and had a faithful, devoted attitude and work ethic in her business  and personal life.

She loved to give whatever she did 100% whether it was serving on the local school board, the Kansas Hearing Aid Society Board, the school PTA, her church board at the 1st Church of The Nazarene where she was a member. Over the years  she served as Sunday School Teacher, church secretary, church treasurer, choir member, and VBS Director for nearly 20 years.

 

Irene loved to feed people! She received great joy by cooking for anyone hungry! For years she along with her husband Richard would make all the chili for the annual Eugene Ware Elementary Chili Feed Fundraiser. The husband/wife duo were the creators of the tastiest Chili in Ft. Scott, Ks.

 

Irene was also voted as Ft Scott’s Business Woman of The Year. She faithfully drove to her Pittsburg Ks office four days a week come rain, sleet, snow or shine, until her retirement at 82, in 2017. Leaving her people in the capable hands of her son, Brian Lowry.

 

Their marriage was blessed with four children, who she is survived by,

Debra J Ediger of Topeka Ks.

Cathy A More of Olathe Ks.

Brian K Lowry of Ft Scott Ks.

And Brent D Lowry of Yukon Ok.

 

She was also the proud Nannie of 8 grandchildren who loved her to the moon and back!

Michelle Ediger Glaze

Brooke Ediger Larson

Caleb Bachman

Careah Bachman Pruter

Ryan Lowry

Amanda Lowry Sellers

Brayden Lowry

And Bryce Lowry.

 

Plus 10 great-grandchildren who thought she hung the moon!

Peyton and Rhyan Glaze

Blakely and Taygen Larson

Dawson and Landry Bachman

Noble, Willing, and Haven Pruter and Adeline Sellers.

All are angels, of course!

 

All of her accomplishments aside, Irene became a totally devoted follower of Jesus Christ in 1962. If she was here, she would give each of you what she gave to each of us…..JESUS! She was the worlds  greatest daughter, sister, aunt, mother and wife.

 

When asked, if she would do anything over differently she said that she would have married Daddy at 11, because Daddy died so young. Although she had to wait five years to marry him, Daddy waited 40 years for her to join him in Heaven!

 

We are so happy shes no longer in pain, and we have no doubt that she is dancing on streets of gold with Jesus and Daddy.

At the end, without opening her eyes, Mama lifted up her head and smiled the most  precious smile ever seen and said, “It’s So Beautiful! My Homecoming is So Beautiful! Yes, Jesus! Yes, I Love You!”

 

WELL DONE! Eva Irene Lowry, My Good and Faithful Servant!

Truly Joy does come in the morning, It came on May 12, 2023 at 8:25 am and escorted our precious Mother from pain to peace into the eternal rest of our Loving Father, God.

We will love you forever Mama and can’t wait to see You again! We will follow you all the way home to Heaven!

 

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

 

Rev. Virgil Peck will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, May 18th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Wednesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Ft. Scott Church of the Nazarene Youth Department 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.

 

Bourbon County, Elections

Bo Co Dems Meet May 21

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Please join Bourbon County Democrats s on Sunday May 21st at 2:00 p.m. for their month meeting.

The meeting will be held in Gunn Park, Shelter House #1.
Please bring a lawn chair for your comfort, if you wish.
Our guest speaker, Roger Sims, publisher of the online publication, Linn County Journal, will begin speaking to the group directly at 2 p.m. so that he can attend another meeting.
Sims will speak on his development of the Linn County Journal and on local media’s effect on politics.

Submitted by Carol MacArthur
Chair, Bourbon Co. Democrats
Bourbon County, Fort Scott

The Tucker Family “Gospel Songs of Graceland” Concert at Common Ground Coffee Co.

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The Tucker Family band, from left: Carolyn Tucker, Aaron Tucker, Stephan Kastli, Jessica Bergen and Mariam Tucker Self. Submitted photo.

Raised on gospel music with a southern flair, the Tucker Family will present their “Gospel Songs of Graceland” concert on Friday, May 19, 6:30 p.m. at Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.

 

The band is comprised of Carolyn Tucker (vocals and keys), daughter Mariam Tucker Self (vocals and saxophone), son Aaron Tucker (drums and vocals), lead guitarist Stephan Kastli, and Jessica Bergen on the electric bass. Everyone in the five-member band has many years of experience playing or singing in church worship and other numerous venues.

 

The concert will feature a wide variety of beloved gospel favorites such as Bosom of Abraham, I Believe, Crying in the Chapel, Milky White Way, Somebody Bigger than You and I, Walk a Mile in My Shoes, plus more.

 

“These individuals have been making music for about as long as they’ve been breathing. So when all that experience and talent comes together as a band, it’s really something special,” concert-series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “We’re pleased to begin the 2023 concert series with the Tucker Family. I encourage friends and family to come together as a community and help us kickoff the free concerts sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.”

 

Dave Oas and Jim Butler provide the sound. Weather permitting, the Common Ground outdoor patio will be available in addition to the Loading Dock stage area.

 

 

Area News, Health Care

Opioid Prevention Education

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DCCA is dedicated to supporting  efforts to educate young people about the importance of medication safety and using skills to refuse invitations to misuse opioids.

DCCCA is offering $500 mini grant opportunities for youth serving community organizations willing to provide opioid prevention messages and activities for groups of elementary, middle and/or high school youth.  This would be a great summertime activity opportunity!!

Opioid prevention curriculum is available and easily tailored to your community needs. For more information about the mini grant opportunity and contact Crystal Dalmasso [email protected]

 

Opinion

Beautiful Love by Carolyn Hayward Tucker

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Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Hayward Tucker

I very well remember September 27, 1970, when the first grandbaby in my immediate family made his appearance.

 

My nephew Brad was born in Olathe, Kansas and the hospital rules were stricter then than now. I was 12 years old and sitting in the OB waiting room with my parents. We had all read the posted sign: “No one under age 14 allowed in  Waiting Room.“  We simply ignored the rule and hoped no one would notice, because I was so excited about this birth! I absolutely did not want to be excluded on such a special occasion! I also very well remember the nurse that came out, took one look at me, and promptly threw me out.

Nevertheless, the arrival of that baby rocked our world and we were never the same. My mother passed away in 2015 and I read her diaries. One of her entries was about her grandson Brad, which read: “I  kept Bradley today. He is like my very own; no difference.” Tears fall even now when I think of the beauty and truth of those words. Our family witnessed her beautiful love for all five of her grandchildren.

 

The Old Testament account of Boaz and Ruth’s marriage and Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi is very touching. “So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife…and she gave birth to a son.  Then the women of the town said to Naomi, …May this child be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” (Ruth 4:13-15 NLT). (Seven was considered a number of completeness, so to have seven sons was the epitome of all family blessings in Israel.) The beautiful love of a grandmother is a priceless treasure. “Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own” (Ruth 4:16 NLT). In this verse, we see the special love between a grandmother and a grandson.

 

In the New Testament, we find the beautiful love between a mother and a son.  When Jesus was suffering on the cross, he had his adoring mother on his mind. “Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple He loved, He said to her, ‘Dear woman, here is your son.’ And He said to this disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from then on this disciple took her into his home” (John 19:25-27 NLT). Evidently John was standing by Mary, giving her consolation and comfort. In this passage we see the special love between a mother and a son.

 

Mary was nearly 50 years old and a widow. Jesus deeply loved and honored His mother  and, while in terrible pain and suffering, Jesus tenderly thought of her. He knew it was the responsibility of children to care for their elderly parents and provide a proper burial for them. Although Mary had other children, Jesus was her firstborn and He needed to know that His precious mother would be taken care of when He left this world. Since John was the only disciple devoted and brave enough to be at the crucifixion, I believe Jesus knew He could trust John to be lovingly committed to the care of  His mother Mary.

 

It’s been said that as death draws nearer, the dying individual narrows their thoughts down to those who are nearest and dearest. Jesus proved this to be true.  Let’s not wait until death is approaching to demonstrate beautiful love to our mother and grandmothers. Remember, no matter how old we are, we never outgrow our need for a mother.

 

The Key: A lovely bouquet of roses to all mothers and grandmothers — you are a VIP!

Food, K-State Extension

Southwind Extension District to Host Kids’ Cooking Classes

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Clara Wicoff. Submitted photo 2023 Extension Agent Nutrition, Food and Health Southwind District K-State Research and Extension 1006 N. State St. Iola, KS 66749 620-365-2242 [email protected]

This summer, the Southwind Extension District is hosting free cooking classes for kids to learn basic cooking and baking skills. The classes are for youth that have just completed the second, third, fourth, or fifth grade. This class will be held from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM in Bronson on June 22nd and in Fort Scott on June 29th. Other dates and locations where the class will be held include:

  • June 8 – Erie
  • June 13 – Yates Center
  • June 15 – Humboldt
  • June 20 – Chanute
  • June 27 – Iola

These classes are free, but registration is required at bit.ly/2023kidscookingclass. Since this will be a “hands-on” experience, the size of each class is limited and these classes fill up fast. Get your registration in soon!

For more information, contact Nutrition, Food and Health Agent Clara Wicoff at (620) 365-2242 or [email protected]. A grant through the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation helped support the kids’ cooking classes in Bourbon County.

 

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.