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Obituary of Jeffrey Hack
Jeffrey J. Hack, age 67, a resident of rural Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, January 9, 2019, at his home.
He was born November 30, 1951, in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Joseph C. Hack and Mary Kathryn Potts Hack. He graduated from the Ft. Scott High School.
He later worked as a saw operator for Peerless Products for over thirty years. Jeff enjoyed his music while in the garage or on a ride on his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Jeff loved his pets, Pepper and Lil’ S***, who were like his kids.
He was a member of the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Misty Hack and Michelle Blankenship, both of Ft. Scott. Also surviving are several grandchildren who he loved dearly. They were all his pride and joy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Hack and Mary Kay O’Brien.
The family would like to thank everyone for the support and prayers. “Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Psalm 23:4”
Father Yancy Burgess will conduct Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 A.M. Friday, January 18th at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.
Memorials are suggested to the St. Mary’s School 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.
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports Jan. 14
Click below.
Merger Benefits for Westar/KCPL Customers
Westar-KCP&L merger already producing benefits
for Kansas customers, communities
Rate study: Kansas rates more competitive as merger efficiencies realized
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 14, 2019 – When Great Plains Energy (the parent company of KCP&L) and Westar Energy merged in June 2018 to form Evergy, the new company promised multiple benefits to customers. As the company enters the first full calendar year combined, Kansas customers have already seen significant benefits from the merger.
Customer credits: In December of 2018, Westar’s customers began receiving credits on their electric bill. These credits were the result of merger efficiencies and the reduction in federal income tax rates. KCP&L’s Kansas customers are scheduled to receive credits on their bills in the weeks ahead. The company anticipates future bill credits as additional merger savings are achieved.
Electric rates reduced: KCP&L and Westar both completed rate reviews in 2018. As a result of ongoing merger savings and the reduction in federal income taxes, the base price of electricity was reduced for all KCP&L and Westar customers. Westar prices decreased about $50 million and KCP&L $4 million.
Rate increase moratorium: Lower base rates enacted in 2018 will remain stable, as the company has committed to no base rate changes for five years (until December 2023).
Increased community investment: Both KCP&L and Westar have well-established histories of community involvement and charitable giving, which they pledged to maintain. Since the merger was completed, in addition to maintaining the companies’ historic levels of charitable giving, Evergy has made an additional $4 million in investments to support key community development projects in Topeka, Wichita and Pittsburg.
No involuntary layoffs: The company has adhered to its pledge of no involuntary layoffs due to the merger and maintained staffing levels in Topeka and Wichita.
Electric rates study, Kansas prices competitive: Stabilizing prices and maintaining local control were key reasons KCP&L and Westar sought to merge. The companies also promised to publish a study of their electricity prices and how they compared with other utilities as part of the merger agreement.
KCP&L and Westar Energy’s rate study filed today with the Kansas Corporation Commission concludes that the companies’ electricity prices are in line with the national average, are entering a period of rate stability and are well-positioned to meet customers’ needs.
“Prices going forward are expected to be more stable. Our merger brings economies of scale to ongoing operations and future investments. We are ahead of many peers in adoption of renewables, meeting state and federal environmental regulations and investing in infrastructure to ensure reliability and economic growth,” said Chuck Caisley, senior vice president, marketing and public affairs. “For example, Oklahoma’s largest utility just filed a rate request to recover costs in making environmental upgrades similar to those we’ve already completed.”
The study showed that a long-term electricity price advantage Kansas enjoyed eroded in the past decade. The rate study points to four primary factors: plunging natural gas prices; declining industrial use, despite billions of dollars of economic development in Kansas; mandated environmental upgrades and renewable energy investment; and investment to modernize the state’s transmission grid.
While low-cost coal benefitted Kansas through the 1970s into the early 2000s, the shale gas boom coupled with the disproportionate effect of environmental regulations on coal-fueled generation provided advantages to utilities that were more reliant on natural gas-fueled power plants. The cost advantage reached retail customers and wholesale markets alike.
Required investment in developing renewables markets and to meet environmental regulations aligned with a national economic downturn that flattened electricity sales. In times of growing sales, investment has less impact on prices because it is spread over broader sales. While electricity sales were down about 0.7 percent for other study utilities in 2017 compared with 2007, for KCP&L Kansas, they were down 5.5 percent and for Westar Energy, 4.1 percent. Despite these declines, Kansas continued to attract business.
“Kansas is drawing new investment. Since 2010, we’ve attracted more than $4.3 billion in industrial investments including major brands like Mars Chocolate, Cargill, Geico and Spirit Aerosystems,” Caisley said. “Prices are important, but customers also want access to renewable energy, which we can now provide at a competitive price. And customers expect excellent reliability. Without that, nothing else matters.”
Additional information about the study
The study uses 2017 prices available from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (the most recent full year available). In 2018, KCP&L and Westar decreased prices and agreed that base prices wouldn’t change for five years. For the study, KCP&L and Westar Energy examined how their prices compare with 35 investor-owned, vertically integrated electric providers. These companies serve more than 11 million customers in 10 Midwestern states. Some other utilities studied are just entering cycles of investment to meet federal environmental mandates and to update transmission infrastructure. Investments that are just beginning to affect their prices.
About KCP&L and Westar Energy:
Serving approximately 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L), KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company and Westar Energy are the electric utilities of Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG). Together we generate nearly half the power we provide to homes and businesses with emission-free sources. We support our local communities where we live and work, and strive to meet the needs of customers through energy savings and innovative solutions.
Investor Contact:
Cody VandeVelde Director, Investor Relations Phone: 785-575-8227 |
Media Contact:
Gina Penzig Manager, Media Communications Phone: 785-575-8089 Media line: 888-613-0003 |
For more information:
HS Junior/Senior Day at FSCC
Fort Scott Community College invites high school juniors and seniors to Spring Junior/Senior Day on Thursday, March 7th. The event will begin with registration at 9:00 am at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.
During the event, students and their parents will have the opportunity to visit and experience FSCC. College faculty, staff, and students will be on hand to show potential students what it’s like to be a Greyhound. The event will also include a free lunch and entertainment.
Pre-registration is not required! HOWEVER, those who do will be entered into a drawing to win prizes. Pre-registration will end on March 6th at 5:00 p.m. This is an event you won’t want to miss! Go Greyhounds!
Location | Danny and Willa Ellis Fine Arts Center 2108 South Horton, Fort Scott, Kansas |
Date | March 7th |
Time | 9:00 a.m – 12:00 p.m |
Submitted by Kassie Fugate-Cate
Director of Strategic Communications
& Student Activties
620.223.2700 ext. 5248
Bourbon County Commission Agenda Jan. 15
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Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: January 15th, 2019
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
9:00-9:45-Jim Harris
10:00 – Kansas Works
10:30 – Justin Meeks (20 min. Exec. Session, Re: Attorney/Client)
11:00 – Jody Hoener – ABC Trails Plan
12:00 – 1:30 – Commissioners gone to lunch
1:30 – Osage Township Trustee Appointment
Justifications for Executive Session:
Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel
Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property
Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system
Grass to Cash Jan 24
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City Offices Will Close Jan. 21 For Holiday
The City of Fort Scott City Administrative Offices will be closed on Monday, January 21st, 2019 in observance of the Martin Luther King Day holiday. The offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019.
The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Saturday, January 19th, 2019 for the Martin Luther King Day holiday. It will be open again on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report Jan. 14
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports Jan. 10-13
Kansas Female Veterans Sought
The United States was plunged into World War II on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese Imperial Navy bombed Pearl Harbor. Thousands of Kansas patriots were among the millions who left their civilian jobs and joined the military in response to a presidential call to arms.
Heroic Kansas women were among those sixteen million females who answered the call to work on assembly lines, farms, in shipyards, airplane factories, and other institutions in support of the military overseas.
Rosie the Riveter became the iconic image of World War II’s working women. She was the star of a campaign to recruit females to work in defense industries. American Legion Auxiliary President Karen Hasting announced an initiative to honor their service and share their stories with future generations of Americans.
“The Auxiliary wants to recognize its Kansas Rosies for their inspiring patriotism and service to Kansas and the United States,” Hasting said. “The Department of Kansas American Legion Auxiliary will honor its known Rosie the Riveters during the American Legion’s Mid-winter Forum.
Auxiliary Vice-president Paula Sellens is spearheading the effort to identify Rosies.
“The Auxiliary is issuing a call for Rosies,” Sellens said. “Our known Rosies will be honored in a ceremony in Dodge City, Kansas on February 1, 2019. We’re asking that everyone that knows of a Kansas Rosie, living or deceased, to call me at 620-255-9339 or send information by email to: [email protected].”
First Southern Baptist Church Happenings
The First Southern Baptist Church, 1818 S. Main, Fort Scott, is planning to build a gymnasium to be used for youth programs, meetings, dinners and as a safe shelter for the surrounding area.
There will be a fundraiser in support of this building program Saturday, Feb. 2 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
It is the First Annual All You Can Eat Pancake Meal with a serving of ground hog (sausage).
Adult tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door. Children under 7-years-old are free.
The church is hosting a study on the book of Revelation on Sunday evenings at 6 p.m.
“We will be going through it verse by verse, chapter by chapter,” said Leeta Walker, a church member. “It’s in our fellowship hall at the north end of the church.
For more information:
620-223-2986 or fortscottfsbc.com