Category Archives: Area News

Southwind Extension District Appreciation Award 2024: Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging

(Left to Right) – Stacy Dickerhoof, SEKAAA; Diedre Reed, SEKAAA; Tara Solomon-Smith, Southwind District; Kathy Brennon, SEKAAA; Krista Harding, Southwind District
Submitted photo.

 

The Southwind Extension District is proud to recognize Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging (SEKAAA) for their outstanding support of the mission of K-State Research & Extension. SEKAAA has partnered with Southwind Extension District to implement evidence-based health programs that increase independence, balance, and state of mind.  These organizations also work together to assist Medicare beneficiaries in navigating their health insurance decisions. The K-State Research and Extension Appreciation Award was authorized by Extension administrative staff in 1977. Its purpose is to honor a person, business or organization who has made outstanding contributions to extension programs in a county or district. The Southwind District Extension board and agents want to express their sincere gratitude to Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging for their support and look forward to partnerships yet to come.

Stay Warm and Save Money: Tips to Lower Your Energy Bills this Winter

 

 

As the chill of winter sets in, Kansas Gas Service is dedicated to helping customers stay warm and save money. With a few no-cost or low-cost energy-saving tips, families can reduce their energy use without sacrificing comfort.

“Making small adjustments to save on energy consumption is easier than customers think. With simple tips and tools, Kansans can use less energy, which lowers bills and keeps more money in their pockets,” said Sean Postlethwait, vice president of Operations at Kansas Gas Service.

5 Easy Steps to Save Money and Energy This Winter

Customers can take these easy steps to reduce energy use and help manage their winter bills:

  • Seal Air Leaks Around Doors and Windows: Apply weather-stripping or caulk to seal gaps and cracks around windows and doors to keep warm air in and cold air out.
  • Reduce the Temperature on Your Water Heater: Set your water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or the “warm” setting.
  • Change or Clean Filters: A clean filter on your furnace can lower your energy consumption by 5% to 15%.
  • Install Foam Gaskets on Switches and Outlets: Electrical switches and outlets can account for up to 10% of your home’s energy loss.
  • Change the Rotation of Ceiling Fans: Hot air rises, so reverse your ceiling fans to a clockwise rotation to push warm air downward.

Applying these tips can help reduce energy consumption and lower your utility bills while keeping your home comfortable during the winter months. For more information, visit kansasgasservice.com/energytips.

 

 

About Kansas Gas Service

Kansas Gas Service provides a reliable and affordable energy choice to more than 648,000 customers in Kansas and is the largest natural gas distributor in the state in terms of customers. Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas Gas Service is a division of ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS), a 100-percent regulated natural gas utility that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “OGS.” ONE Gas is included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index and is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States. For more information and the latest news about Kansas Gas Service, visit kansasgasservice.com and follow its social channels: @KansasGas, Facebook, Nextdoor, LinkedIn and YouTube.

 

Care To Share Has Moved To Downtown Fort Scott

 

Teresa Davenport, president of Care to Share and Cory Bryars, vice president hold the organization’s banner in front of the front desk area of the former Mercy Hospital- that they moved into last December.  This month they are moving into a new office for the organization at 9 E. Wall in downtown Fort Scott.
“Care to Share is moving!” said Corey Bryars, vice president of the cancer fighter support group. “With Freeman (Hospital and Emergency Department) coming soon (to the former Mercy Hospital building) and Kansas Renewal Institute growing, it became time to find a place we could call our own.”
“It all happened fast, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with our move into 9 East Wall Street,” he said. “Come see us as of Dec. 16th.”
9 East Wall Street is the new home of Care To Share.
It is a former dental office with 1,200 square feet of space.
“Some of the extra rooms might be sublet to complementary startup local small businesses…stay tuned,” he said.
“Thanks to a few special Sharing Angels, Care to Share now has a walk-in office, gift shop, and more, all in beautiful and vibrant downtown Fort Scott,” he said.
“We want to thank Holmtown Pub for pledging $100 per month for 2025 to help offset the costs of having our own space. If you are interested in donating, please contact us.”
“We will continue walk-in hours of Monday-Wednesday-Friday 11-2. If you or someone you know is fighting cancer, please get them in touch with Care to Share at the office, at facebook.com/CareToShareSEK, or 620-644-9090.”
“Stay tuned for more details and upcoming Care to Share Community Events. As a 100% volunteer organization, we have always prided ourselves on having little or no overhead. While this office isn’t free, it sets the stage for us to be able to offer more and more support for SEK Cancer Fighters.”
“Thank you Fort Scott and all of SEK for Caring and Sharing,” Bryars said.
About Care to Share
Care to Share Sharing Bucket is a grassroots volunteer organization providing support to members of the community impacted by cancer with financial or emotional support and even driving individuals to and from doctor appointments out of town.
The original founders of the organization that began in 2007 were Teresa Davenport, Joy O’Neal and Lavetta Simmons.
Lavetta Simmons, Teresa Davenport and Joy O’Neal started Care to Share in 2007. Submitted photo.

 

Contact Teresa Davenport, President by phone: (620) 238-0902.

Southwind District 4-H Livestock Judging Team Earns Reserve Champion Honors at American Royal

Kansas City, MO — The Southwind District 4-H Livestock Judging Team proudly represented Kansas at the prestigious American Royal 4-H Livestock Judging Contest, achieving outstanding success with their Reserve Champion Team Overall title. Competing against 15 top teams and 68 individuals from across the nation, Southwind demonstrated exceptional skill and preparation, excelling across various categories and earning high marks in both team and individual divisions.
Team accomplishments include: Sheep/Goats – 2nd Place; Hogs – 1st Place; Cattle – 5th Place; Reasons – 1st Place. Individual highlights: Reegan McDaniel, Fort Scott was named High Individual in both Hogs and Reasons, ranked 10th in Sheep/Goats, and secured 3rd Overall; Tate Crystal, Fort Scott earned 6th in Reasons, 8th in Sheep/Goats, and placed 6th Overall; Kyser Nemecek, Iola achieved 9th in Hogs and 10th in Reasons; Emery Yoho, Yates Center was 23rd in Sheep/Goats.
Their accomplishments mark yet another milestone for the Southwind District 4-H team, and only highlights this team’s dedication to excellence, teamwork, and mastery in livestock judging. They have established themselves as a formidable presence on both state and national stages.
Photo Caption: Southwind District 4-H Livestock Judging Team members celebrate their accomplishments at the American Royal with Coach Carla Nemecek (left). Pictured from left to right: Emery Yoho, Reegan McDaniel, Tate Crystal, Kyser Nemecek, and assistant coach Jade Parrish.
The Southwind District 4-H program offers youth across Kansas opportunities to develop leadership, critical thinking, and practical skills through a range of projects, contests, and community involvement. The program supports young people in reaching their full potential through hands-on learning and team-building experiences.
For further information about the Southwind District 4-H and their upcoming events, please contact Southwind District at (620) 365-2242 or visit www.southwind.k-state.edu.

The SEK Library Newsletter October 2024

The SEKnFind Newsletter
October 2024

We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog.
This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold.
Need assistance? Your local librarian can show you how!
Happy Reading!

New Fiction

Society of lies : a novel
by Lauren Brown

When her sister Naomi, about to graduate from Princeton, is found dead on campus, Maya, believing it was no accident, discovers Naomi joined the same underground society she did years ago and now every clue is leading her back to the past?—?and to the secrets she’s kept all these years.

Blood like mine
by Stuart Neville

On the run from a grisly secret, a desperate mother and her teenage daughter hide out in the foothills of Colorado unaware that they have entered the orbit of a gruesome serial killer who drains victims of blood.

This Girl’s a Killer
by Emma C. Wells

Cordelia is a serial killer who kills unscrupulous men, and she never had a problem with it, until she starts to become not so sure about the new man her best friend, Diane, is dating.

Libby lost and found
by Stephanie Booth

Diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, author Libby Weeks, known as F.T. Goldhero to the fans of her fantasy series, realizes she needs help finishing her long anticipated final book, and turns to an unlikely source for support.

Mina’s matchbox
by Yåoko Ogawa

In 1972, 12-year-old Tomoko is sent to stay with her affluent aunt’s family in a coastal town in Japan where she, beguiled by her devoted aunt, her German great-aunt, her charming uncle and her cousin, Mina, who draws her into an intoxicating world of secrets and storytelling, soon discovers the truth behind their glittering façade.

Prime time romance : a novel
by Kate Robb

When she, after making a wish, wakes up in the ideal world of her favorite 2000s teenage soap, Brynn soon discovers Carson’s Cove is not as perfect as seen on TV and when there’s a plot twist, she must choose between sticking to the script, or let love change the story forever. Original.

I’ll be waiting : a novel
by Kelley Armstrong

Outliving the expectations of her Cystic Fibrosis diagnosis, Nicola Laughton marries Anton, but after his death in a car crash goes viral as a supernatural event, a group of spiritualists offering closure hold a séance that unleashes a terrifying force.

Bull moon rising
by Ruby Dixon

Aspeth Honori, a noble’s daughter, must join the Royal Artifactual Guild and marry a surly minotaur to retrieve lost magical artifacts and save her family, all while concealing her identity and navigating increasingly complex challenges.

This world is not yours
by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

“An action-packed, inventive novella about a toxic polycule consumed by jealousy and their attempts to survive on a hostile planet. After fleeing her controlling and murderous family with her fiancâee Vinh, Amara embarks on a colonization project, New Belaforme, along with her childhood friend, Jesse. The planet, beautiful and lethal, produces the Gray, a “self-cleaning” mechanism that New Belaforme’s scientists are certain only attacks invasive organisms, consuming them. Humans have been careful to do nothing to call attention to themselves until a rival colony wakes the Gray. As Amara, Vinh, and Jesse work to carve out a new life together, each is haunted by past betrayals that surface, expounded by the need to survive the rival colony and the planet itself. There’s more than one way to be eaten alive”

Sharpe’s command / : Richard Sharpe and the Bridge at Almaraz, May 1812
by Bernard Cornwell

Sent on an undercover mission to a small village in the Spanish countryside in the early 19th century, far behind enemy lines, the formidable Captain Sharpe and his group of men—with their cunning and courage to rely on—must stop two French armies from meeting on the Almaraz bridge.

The treasure hunters club : a mystery
by Tom Ryan

A murder mystery is set in a seaside town filled with pirate lore, family secrets, unforgiveable grudges, secret societies and, of course, a treasure lost to time.

The hanging party
by William W. Johnstone

In a new series from a pair of best-selling authors, a legendary gunslinger tries to outrun his past and start a new life. But after so many years, so many bullets—and so much bloodshed—he finds old habits die hard.

New Audiobooks

Billy the Kid : The War for Lincoln County
by Ryan C. Coleman

In 1870s New Mexico, the territory is at a crossroads. After escaping jail, William Bonney, a.k.a. Billy the Kid, is a seventeen-year-old orphan who’s been on the run for the better part of two years. Billy falls in with a gang of ruthless rustlers and murderers, but when Billy crosses one of the members, the gang sets out to kill him. Billy narrowly escapes, finding refuge under the tutelage of English immigrant and businessman John Tunstall. When Tunstall is murdered, the Kid becomes determined to seek revenge.

Tell Me Everything
by Elizabeth Strout

While defending a lonely, isolated man accused of killing his mother, town lawyer Bob Burgess falls into a deep and abiding friendship with acclaimed writer, Lucy Barton, and together they meet the iconic Olive Kitteridge and spend afternoons in Olive’s apartment, telling each other stories, which imbues their lives with meaning.

The House at Watch Hill
by Karen Marie Moning

Zo Grey is reeling from the death of her mother when she receives word of an inheritance. But to receive it, Zo must live in a mansion, alone, for three years. What she doesn’t yet know is that her own roots lie in this very house and that in order to awaken her dormant powers, she must face off against sinister forces she doesn’t quite comprehend.

New Nonfiction

Framed : astonishing true stories of wrongful convictions
by John Grisham

Exposes 10 harrowing tales of innocent Americans unjustly found guilty and convicted of crimes they didn’t commit, shedding light on the flaws within the legal system that led to their imprisonment and the relentless battles for exoneration that ensued.

The free mind : finding clarity in a digitally distracted world
by Kilung Rinpoche

“Our engagement with digital technology connects us to people but can also cause anxiety, distraction, imbalance, and suffering. This book offers a unique Buddhist approach to develop a clear understanding of our inner lives and the world of digital communication to lessen our suffering and deepen our happiness. Dza Kilung Rinpoche, a respected contemporary Tibetan Buddhist teacher, skillfully addresses these widespread issues in modern life geared toward his Western students and readers. He offers straightforward Buddhist strategies and tools to clear away the distractive clutter that prevents us from advancing in our careers and relationships. The book also explores deeper issues like the nature of wisdom, question of karma, and importance of lovingkindess and compassion. The practices and meditations in this book will appeal to anyone who enjoys mindfulness apps like Ten Happier, Insight Timer, and Headspace. By calming our minds, we can clearly see the sources of our inner and outer problems and begin to work on them for the benefit of ourselves, others, and the earth”

The bookshop : a history of the American bookstore
by Evan Friss

Drawing on oral histories, archival collections, municipal records, diaries, letters and interviews with leading booksellers, this ode to bookstores discusses its central place in American cultural life and offers a captivating look at this institution beloved by so many. Illustrations.

Sharks don’t sink : adventures of a rogue shark scientist
by Jasmin Graham

A marine biologist and co-founder of Minorities in Shark Sciences shares how she flourished outside of academia by remembering the important lesson she learned from sharks: keep moving forward, in this guidebook to respecting and protecting some of nature’s most misunderstood and vulnerable creatures—and grant the same grace to ourselves. Illustrations.

Heal your gut, save your brain : the five pillars of enhancing your gut and optimizing your cognitive health
by Partha Nandi

“The brain and the gut are neurologically and biochemically connected via millions of nerves and the trillions of microbes that populate the intestines. Known as the gut-brain axis, this communication network between the two systems is vast and complex. Although scientists have known about this axis for some time, the assumption was that the gut needed the brain in order to function. Only recently has science given the gut its due credit in this relationship. As a gastroenterologist with a personal and professional interest in understanding the role the gut plays in brain health and in employing targeted treatments that can prevent cognitive decline, Dr. Nandi is poised to deliver this information to consumers. Heal Your Gut, Save Your Brain explains the emerging science, including the pathophysiology between the gut and disorders, in lay terms. It also shows readers how simple changes to improve gut health-most of which are not currently part of a neurologist’s standard treatment protocol-can help them to achieve excellent brain health; preserve brain health to help prevent neurological disease; and dramatically improve recovery from devastating neurological disorders such as: stroke, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s Dr. Nandi’s accessible and simple program is based on five pillars, which include nutrition, movement, purpose, spirituality, and community, and offers an holistic approach to helping prevent and mitigate cognitive decline”

Food to die for : recipes & stories from America’s most legendary haunted places
by Amy Bruni

A paranormal investigator collects stories rooted in history and recipes from haunted hotels, ghost towns and includes scary-good eats like Villisca Ax Murder House Skillet Cornbread. Old Absinthe House Frappe and Grand Hotel Pecan Balls. Illustrations.

DIY thrift flip : sewing techniques for transforming old clothes into fun, wearable fashions
by April Yang

“DIY Thrift Flip teaches how to shop and sew sustainably by providing how-tos for finding, upcycling, and customizing secondhand clothing with basic sewing instructions”

CATO CELEBRATES ITS PIONEER HISTORY WITH CATO DAYS Oct. 26

 

CATO CELEBRATES ITS PIONEER HISTORY WITH CATO DAYS

 

The annual Cato Days will be presented by the Cato Historical Preservation Association on Saturday, October 26th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Admission is free.

 

The annual Cato Days will be held on Saturday, October 26th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Cato, Kansas.  This free event is presented by the Cato Historical Preservation Association to promote Cato’s pioneer history, and starts with registration at 9 a.m.  This will be followed at 9:30 by music, and history presented by Matt Wells in the historic Cato Christian Church.  At 10:45, in the “Old Stone School,” Anna Portwood Swank, Elizabeth Portwood Thompson, and Jamie Thompson will talk about the school, followed by Jerry Lomshek who will discuss Cato’s early history, and its involvement in Bleeding Kansas, and the Civil War.  Musical entertainment will be presented outdoors at 12 noon, when drinks and “Cowboy Stew,” cooked by Shawn Pryer and friends, will be available.  Shawn will demonstrate chuck wagon and Dutch oven cooking.  At 12:45 there will be a raffle for a beautiful quilt donated by longtime member, Sue James of Texas.  The highlight of the event begins at 1 p.m. with a hayrack wagon ride, led by Joe Bournoville, to various local historical sites.  The ride will visit the site of the Buckhorn Tavern, a popular stop on the stage coach line from Fort Scott, the Coonrod Cemetery, which is the resting place of many Cato area pioneers, and finally, the site of the birthplace of Elisha Black, Jr., the first baby born to settlers in Crawford County.  The hayrack ride, and Cato Days ends at 3 p.m.  All times are approximate.

Booklets about the history of Cato, and the newly released booklet about the Cherokee Neutral Land (present day Crawford and Cherokee Counties) will be available for sale.  The Cato Store will also be selling other Cato-related merchandise, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and more.  All proceeds from the quilt raffle, “Cowboy Stew,” booklets, and merchandise go to the preservation of Cato’s historic buildings, and for history related educational activities.  Local fourth and fifth graders will have their own Cato Day on Thursday, October 24th.

Cato is in the northern part of Crawford County off Hwy 69.  From Hwy 69, turn west on 720th Avenue, and follow the signs to Cato.  Directions can be found at http://catoschool.com/ .  The Cato Historical Preservation Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the buildings, and history of Cato, and the surrounding areas. These buildings include the “Old Stone School,” built in 1869, the Cato Christian Church, built in 1915, and a full-sized replica of a cabin the early settlers would have used in the 1860s.  A stone bridge, part of the “Old Wagon Road,” can also be seen on the property.  Cato is an open-air museum and its buildings are only open to the public a few times a year, so don’t miss this unique opportunity to spend an afternoon of entertainment and enlightenment in historic Cato.

The Cato Historical Preservation Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the buildings and past of Cato, and surrounding areas.

 

Heartland Awards:$615k for Electric Grid Resilience Project

Taken from the Heartland Rural Electric Website.

Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative members in Linn County and surrounding areas will soon benefit from enhancements to  electric power grid resilience thanks to state and federal awards totaling more than $615,000, according to a press release from HREC.

“The project was designed to address some challenges in Linn County, where we have had problems with the power supply from the transmission lines,” said Doug Graham,  Communication Specialist for Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. .
“What happens at our substations is that we tap into the transmission lines and get the power we need to distribute to our members,” he said. “What this project will do is link 10 of our substations together and make new paths for electricity to flow — paths that we can control remotely.”
“The idea is that if we lose power to one of our Linn County substations because there is a problem with the transmission line in that area, but we still have access to power through a transmission line that’s connected to a different substation, we will be able to remotely reroute power from that other substation and get the Linn County people back online.”
“But the reverse could also be true,” he said. “There could be situations where we have lost power at, say, our Devon substation in Bourbon County, but we still have access to power at our Linn County substations. Thanks to the improvements this project will make, we would then be able to quickly and remotely reroute power to the members who are usually served by that Devon substation and keep them on until the power supply issue is resolved.”
“For that reason, this project will benefit folks in the counties around Linn as well,” he said.

 

Heartland’s Project RESTORE (Resiliency Enhancements to Strategically Transfer Optimized Reliable Energy) involves the installation of 10 remote-controlled reclosers to allow for speedy rerouting of power along existing lines to bring Linn County members back online within minutes rather than hours in the event of a substation outage, according to the press release.

 

By replacing hydraulic reclosers with remotely operated electronic reclosers, Heartland staff will be able to reroute power much more quickly, greatly reducing the time consumer members are out of power due to power supply interruptions. The project will allow Heartland staff to remotely reroute power between a total of 10 substations.

 

Heartland will receive $414,627 in federal funding for the project through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience Grant Program, and an additional $200,403 from the Build Kansas Fund, which was established by the Kansas Legislature to help Kansas organizations meet the matching fund requirements for federal infrastructure grants, according to the press release.

 

While the project was designed to address needs specific to Linn County, members in adjoining counties served by the affected substations will also benefit from these grid enhancements.

 

Heartland Chief Executive Officer Mark Scheibe said few electric distribution utilities serving rural areas would consider this type of project because of the cost and the technical knowledge required to make it work. As a result, already underserved areas miss out on technology that could substantially reduce outages.

 

“Our goal is for Project RESTORE to serve as a model for other rural providers to follow as they work toward improving grid resilience,” Scheibe said.

 

Project RESTORE was one of 11 projects selected for a total of nearly $17 million in funding through the DOE grid resilience program and the Build Kansas Fund.

About Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. powers rural lifestyles throughout more than 11,000 locations in eastern Kansas. Heartland’s service area includes consumer-members in 12 counties, including Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Miami, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.

Heartland REC traces its roots back to three original rural electric cooperatives: Cooperative Electric Power & Light Company, Sugar Valley Electric Cooperative Association, and Sekan Electric Cooperative Association. Cooperative Electric Power & Light Company joined with Sugar Valley in 1975 to form United Electric Cooperative; United Electric Cooperative joined with Sekan Electric Cooperative Association in 1996 to form Heartland.

 

Foundation Hosts Chamber Coffee on Oct. 17

Join us for Chamber Coffee!

Thursday, October 17th, 8am

Hosted by Fort Scott Area Community Foundation

200 S. Main St.

Landmark National Bank

Click here for their website.

Click here for their Facebook page.

_____________

We hope to see you there for Networking * Community News * Refreshments!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, October 17th at 8 am hosted by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, 200 S. Main St, at Landmark National Bank. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the opportunity to win a door prize drawing.

The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation was launched in 2007 by a visionary group of community leaders to connect donors and build enduring charitable funds that improved the quality of life for Bourbon County residents. Since then, over $350,000 in grants have been awarded to area organizations, schools, and churches. Each fall, FSACF hosts a competitive grant cycle, and this year, we are pleased to award grants totaling $77,591.

Join us as we announce and recognize the grant recipients during Chamber Coffee on Thursday, October 17.

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members shown below…
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701

620-223-3566

fortscott.com

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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 

Kansas Infrastructure Investment Annnounced

Governor Kelly Announces More than $17M Investment for Energy Grid Resiliency

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that 11 Kansas communities have secured more than $17 million for energy grid resilience. This investment combines nearly $12 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s 40101(d) Grid Resilience Grant Program and more than $5.8 million in matching funds from the Kansas Infrastructure Hub and Build Kansas Fund.

“By leveraging federal funds to supplement our state and local investments, we are strengthening opportunities for economic growth across Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The 40101(d) Grid Resiliency program ensures our communities have the resources to build, operate, or maintain critical infrastructure.”

“The survival and economic development of our rural communities are dependent on a solid infrastructure,” said Representative Troy Waymaster, chair of the Build Kansas Fund Advisory Committee. “The awards made through the Build Kansas Fund Advisory Committee, and ultimately approved by the U.S. Department of Energy, ensure that these communities will continue to thrive. I am glad these eleven Kansas projects were selected for this program.”

 The 11 Kansas projects receiving grid resiliency funding are:

  • City of Garden City – Underground Conductor and Transformer Replacement
    • Build Kansas Funding – $302,590
    • Federal Funding Awarded – $626,048
    • Total Project – $928,638
  • City of Pratt – Substation Hardening
    • Build Kansas Funding – $1,034,551
    • Federal Funding Awarded – $2,140,449
    • Total Project – $3,175,000
  • Victory Electric – South Dodge City Grid Resiliency
    • Build Kansas Funding – $715,395
    • Federal Funding Awarded – $1,480,129
    • Total Project – $2,195,524
  • Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative – Resiliency Enhancements to Strategically Transfer Optimized Reliable Energy
    • Build Kansas Funding – $200,403
    • Federal Funding Awarded – $414,627
    • Total Project – $615,030
  • Ark Valley Electric Cooperative – System Resiliency Project
    • Build Kansas Funding – $235,421
    • Federal Funding Awarded – $487,079
    • Total Project – $722,500
  • Holton Electric – Transformer and Feeder Circuit Improvements
    • Build Kansas Funding – $796,360
    • Federal Funding Awarded – $1,647,640
    • Total Project – $2,444,000
  • City of Blue Mound – Substation, Electric Line & Pole Replacement
    • Build Kansas Funding – $175,603
    • Federal Funding Awarded – $270,071
    • Total Project – $445,674
  • City of Anthony– Circuit Reconstruction
    • Build Kansas Funding – $131,161
    • Federal Funding Awarded – $271,369
    • Total Project – $402,530
  • Pioneer Electric Cooperative – Grid Resiliency, Vulnerability, and Innovation Initiative
    • Build Kansas Funding – $1,575,449
    • Federal Funding Awarded – $3,259,551
    • Total Project – $4,835,000
  • City of Horton – Substation Upgrade
    • Build Kansas Funding – $529,494
    • Federal Funding Awarded – $1,095,506
    • Total Project – $1,625,000
  • City of Attica – Rebuild High-Voltage Feeder Line
    • Build Kansas Funding – $143,371
    • Federal Funding Awarded – $296,629
    • Total Project – $440,000

“The importance of grid resiliency cannot be overstated,” said Rick Pemberton, energy division director for the Kansas Corporation Commission. “Safe and reliable power infrastructure is vital to our rural economy.”

“Rural Kansas communities do not always have the funding needed to meet the match requirements of large federal grants,” said Matthew Volz, P.E., executive director of the Kansas Infrastructure Hub. “Having the Build Kansas Fund available can make all the difference in whether or not they can apply for these lucrative federal funding opportunities.”

In addition to these awards, in recent months, the Build Kansas Fund has been used to leverage federal grant awards in the cities of Ozawkie, Manhattan, Russell, Concordia, Dodge City, Topeka, Nortonville, Ellsworth, Edgerton, Hutchinson, Independence; Coffey and Morton County; Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District; and the Salina Airport Authority. The combined total investment by the Build Kansas Fund in all projects is just over $28.5 million, which has resulted in federal grant awards of more than $44 million.

The Kansas Infrastructure Hub connects multiple state agencies and serves as a resource center for Kansas communities to identify best practices for maximizing BIL funding opportunities. The Build Kansas Fund provides state matching dollars for projects throughout Kansas that successfully apply for federal grants under BIL. In 2023, the Kansas Legislature and Governor Kelly approved $200 million for the Build Kansas Fund to provide state-matching dollars to Kansas entities and projects to meet federal-local match requirements.

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Fall Family Fun Activities Starting Oct. 5 at Rinehart Christian Church

The Lion of Judah is depicted in the years Rinehart Christian Church corn maize, taken from the church’s Facebook page.
Rinehart Christian Church Annual Corn Maze is part of a FREE fall festival event for the public.
The surrounding community is invited to come out for an afternoon of fall fun and fellowship on three Saturdays: October 5, October 12 and October 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to the church located at 9443 S. 900 Rd. Richards, MO 64778, about 14 miles from Fort Scott.
Family activities include a petting zoo on October 5, horse rides on October 12, and hatchet throwing on October 19.
Besides the corn maze, activities include hay rides, corn pits, pumpkin painting, fire pits, lawn games, duck races, concessions, photo booths, cow train, grain wagon basketball hoops, and inflatables.

“The reason for the corn maze is to give area people a fun day for the family and to let them know Rinehart is a church that cares about them,” said Pastor Kevin Moyer.

“This is the 5th year for us to have the maze,” he said. ” It grows each year in numbers, and people come and stay for hours. It really is a family event, and people can’t get over the fact that it’s free. Even the lunch is free! It’s our gift to the community. Our people volunteer their time for three Saturdays in October.”

‘If you look at the maze from high above you’ll see the full design, the Lion of Judah,” he said.

The Lion of Judah is mentioned in the scripture Revelation 5:5.

Rinehart Christian Church’s mission is to love God, live like Jesus, and lift others up, he said.

U.S. 54 Project starts Oct. 2 in Allen County to Bourbon County Line

 

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, the Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin resurfacing work on U.S. 54 in Allen County. The work will start at the east city limits of LaHarpe and continue east for 12.3 miles to end at the Bourbon County line.

 

The contractor will place ultra-thin bonded asphalt surfacing on the roadway. Flaggers and a pilot car will direct one-lane traffic through the work zone. Expect delays of 15 minutes or less during weekday daylight hours until early November.

 

KDOT awarded the $1.7 million construction contract to Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., Topeka. Check KDOT’s updated traveler information website, www.Kandrive.gov, for more highway condition and construction details. Persons with questions may contact Construction Manager Warren Ebberts at (620) 901-6549 or Public Information Officer  Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433.