Category Archives: Area News

Area News, Church news

Area Churches come together to pack food for people in Ukraine

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Submitted photos.

Seven area churches partnered together with IDES (International Disaster Emergency Services) to put meals together for people in Ukraine.

Those seven churches were Rinehart Christian Church, Walker Christian Church, Rich Hill Christian Church, Hume Christian Church, 1st Christian out of Nevada, and Community Christian out of Nevada, and Sheldon Christian Church.

“It was a great time of coming together with other believers in Jesus and working on a common goal/project,” said Kevin Moyers, Pastor at Rinehart Christian Church.

Submitted photos.

Friday evening, March 25th, a truck arrived at the Rinehart Church from Indianapolis and about 30 people helped unload the truck of all the food supplies.  “We set up 10 lines (2 tables in each line) from which the food would be handled the next morning and put into bags,” Moyers said.

Submitted photos.

On Saturday, March 26th, approximately 120 people from those 7 churches gathered at 9 a.m. and for the next three hours were busy, packaging 53,280 meals.

“It’s hard to imagine how that is possible, but you would have had to see it to imagine it,”  Moyers said. “The system that IDES has in place for this kind of service project is very efficient.  And of course, it takes people who are willing to ‘stay at it.’ Older folks, younger folks, kids…everyone working together to the glory of God.  This was actually a fun project to do!”

Submitted photos.

The food bags consisted of rice, soy, dried vegetables, and a bag of 21 essential vitamins and nutrients.  When full, the bags were six servings, therefore six meals per bag.  The recipient of the bag of food will add the contents to 1.5-2 liters of boiling water, and after cooking for 20 minutes there is enough food that will fill to overflowing a 2 qt. crockpot. IDES figures the cost of each meal at twenty-five cents.  Figure the total cost of this project:  $13,320.  The seven churches partnered in coming up with that money.

Submitted photos.

“It was a really great event to be a part of,” Pastor Moyers said.  “IDES has committed 1,000,000 meals to Ukraine, and we were so happy to be a part of that relief effort.  We weren’t sure at first where the food was going to go, as this event has been in the planning stage for about nine months.  IDES is a crisis relief ministry and they send help all over the world.  When we were told on Saturday this shipment of food was going to Ukraine it was very exciting to our people.”

Area News

Prisoner Walks Away in Johnson County

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KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS RESIDENT ALEXIS WOLFGEHER #126758 WALKED AWAY FROM CONTRACT PLACEMENT IN JOHNSON COUNTY

TOPEKA, Kansas. – Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Alexis Wolfgeher #126758 has been placed on escape status. KDOC Enforcement Apprehension & Investigation (EAI) Special Agents and local law enforcement are conducting a search for Ms. Wolfgeher.

Wolfgeher, a 23-year-old while female, has black hair currently dyed red, brown eyes, is 5 feet 2 inch tall and weighs 112 pounds.

Wolfgeher is currently serving a sentence for a conviction in Johnson County for possession of opiates. She is serving that sentence at the Johnson County Department of Corrections (JCDOC) Adult Residential Center (ARC) from which she walked away. Under an agreement between the KDOC and JCDOC, residents who have release plans that are appropriate to Johnson County are housed at the ARC to promote their successful reintegration back into the community.

Anyone with information on Wolfgeher can call EAI at 816-266-2102, JCDOC 913-715-6539, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911. Or contact EAI via email at [email protected]

The escape is currently being investigated.  New information will be released as it becomes available.

Area News, Ascension Via Christi, Health Care

Ascension Via Christi Wound Center receives Center of Distinction recognition

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Acsension Via Christi. Submitted photo.

The Wound Center at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg has been recognized as a Healogics Center of Distinction based on its outstanding clinical and operational results in 2021 despite the
extraordinary circumstances presented by the pandemic.

To earn this recognition, centers must achieve or exceed a 92 percent patient satisfaction rate and 75 percent wound adjusted comprehensive healing rate and have an outlier rate of less than 16 percent; Pittsburg’s wound center numbers were 95 percent, 80 percent and 12 percent.

“I am so proud of the work this team does,” says Charlotte Russell, director of Physician Services, noting how well they work with each other on patients’ behalf. “In addition to being clinically proficient, they are all so kind and accommodating. They truly are a blessing to our Mission.”

Rachel Stevens, MD, serves as the wound center’s medical director and Tammie Caves as its clinical
program director.
To learn more about the Wound Center, call (620) 235-7522.

###
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,

Area News, Bourbon County, Business

New Concept to Provide Staff for Local Businesses: MyShift

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Myshift. Submitted grapic.
Cole Bowman, 37, Fort Scott, and Scott Morris, 47, Parsons, have launched a new computer application called MyShift in the Apple Appstore.
 Since the beginning of the  COVID-19 Pandemic, businesses have been struggling to fill staff vacancies and operate at their full capacity because of illness, quarantine and other measures taken during the pandemic.
Nine months ago, Bowman began to think of a way to help this situation.
“I came up with the idea on May 24, 2021 while waiting for one of my sales reps at a hotel in Tulsa to go have dinner,” Bowman said.  “He was late, so I was looking through the food delivery apps and overheard a hotel worker talking to a customer about how none of the employees they had before the shutdown would come back to work, or had found other jobs, and she must have been the first person on their list that was willing to come back to work for the pay they were offering.”
Bowman said he thought to himself that surely there is an app for that.
“A situation where businesses could look through available workers that they could bring them in to cover a shift, but there wasn’t,” he said.
Bowman enlisted help from Scott Morris.
“I talked to Scott about the idea for the app and he liked it,” he said.  “We searched and searched for something that worked like our app and never found anything, so we began our path of figuring out how to build an app in late June.  Finally, our app is complete and went live in the Google PlayStore and iOS Appstore this last week,” Bowman said.
New Ways To Work
“Businesses were unable to operate at full capacity after reopening from the pandemic, and people have evolved to find new ways to work without the traditional employment requiring them to commit to a schedule,” Bowman said.
MyShift is starting in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, then within the next few weeks expanding to four more states.
Their plan then is to release nationwide by October 1, 2022, Bowman said.
“This is a web/ mobile app-based platform for businesses to connect with workers to fill shifts on-demand with the transaction being as simple as using a ride-share app,” Bowman said.
How It Works
MyShift allows businesses and workers to connect anywhere, anytime, to fill shifts and have the entire payment transaction handled through the app, according to a press release.
 Businesses can list open shifts including details about when, where, description of work, and the amount they will pay for the shift.
“Shifters” will then be able to see the open shifts in their area and can select which one they would like to work.
MyShift. Submitted graphic.
After a Shifter has requested the posted shift, the business is able to review the applied Shifter’s ratings in their profiles and click on the one they would like to work their shift.  Then the Shifter shows up to the business at the agreed-upon time and works the shift; upon completion of the shift, the business will then rate the Shifter between 1-5 stars and confirm the payment triggering Myshift to deposit the payment in the Shifter’s account.
  Myshift is free for everyone to download, and the business will only pay a fee once they agree to accept the Shifter to work a shift they have posted.
 There are no fees to the Shifters, and there are no commitments beyond the shifts they choose to work.
 For the business, it allows them to find help on-demand to fill shifts hassle-free.
 Business owners will now have a pool of vetted professionals ready to fill their shifts, all without the hassle of recruiting and onboarding, according to the press release.
Shifters have the freedom to work as often as they’d like and get paid each time they complete a shift, allowing the flexibility to earn money without the commitment of traditional employment.
The first target markets for MyShift will be Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma & Texas for the initial startup.
Cole Bowman. Submitted photo.

About the Creators

Bowman is a 2003  Fort Scott High School Graduate and 2007, Pittsburg State University Graduate with a  Bachelor in Plastics Engineering.

He has 15 years of professional experience in plastics engineering and is currently the regional sales manager for Sepro Group, a robotics and automation manufacturer based in France.

He and his wife, Wendy Bowman, have four kids Luke, Lily, Nora, and Gage. His parents are John and Cindy Bowman, who own the NuGrille Restaurant.

His contact info: Phone 620-215-5250, Email [email protected]

Scott Morris. Submitted photo.
Scott Morris is a 1993 Labette County High School graduate and earned a BBA in accounting for Pittsburg State University in 2002 and an MBA in 2009 from Friends University.
He has 20 years of experience in plastics manufacturing as vice president and chief financial officer of Charloma, Inc.
His wife, Jeanna Morris, and he have four children: Grant, Hallie, Mason, and Brady.
In his community Morris coaches multiple youth sports, he said.
For more info:

Google Play-https://play.google.com/store/apps/details…

iOS-https://apps.apple.com/app/id1602791238

Web- https://web.myshiftapp.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Area News, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum

Shuttle Offered to KSU to View the Parks Exhibition

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One-Day Shuttle Trip to view the Gordon Parks: “Homeward to the Prairie I Come” & Doug Barrett: Find Your Voice Exhibition

Fort Scott-The Gordon Parks Museum has scheduled a one-day shuttle trip, for April 13, 2022 to the Parks exhibition, in the Marion Pelton Gallery at the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art featuring photographs donated by Parks to Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, in 1973.

We will also view the Doug Barrett: Find Your Voice, in the Archie and Dorothy Hyle Family Gallery. Barrett exemplifies Parks’ influence on contemporary artists. Barrett is a Manhattan-based photographer who makes personal connections with his subjects, especially with the harm they have suffered because of race-based stereotypes

The Shuttle Coach leaves at 8:30 a.m. on April 13, 2022 from The Gordon Parks Museum parking lot. Lunch will be on your own at 12 p.m. at restaurants within walking distance of the museum. The shuttle will arrive back at Fort Scott at 6:00 p.m.

Cost is $10 per person for the shuttle trip.

The admission to the museum is free. Enjoy the ride on an Executive Coach Shuttle with comfortable leg room. The registration deadline is Tuesday, April 12, 2022.

Tickets are available at The Gordon Parks Museum, on-line at https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/ or over the phone, at 620-223-2700 ext. 5850.

For more information about the events contact the Gordon Parks Museum by phone (620) – 223-2700, ext. 5850 or by email [email protected].

Area News, Bourbon County, Youth

Second Annual Cattle Show At Bourbon County Fairgrounds March 19 Results

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Photos submitted by Hannah Montee.

Submitted by Hannah Montee

The second annual Southeast Kansas Spring Classic was held at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds in Fort Scott, KS on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Kids from across Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma came out for a shot at winning banners, cash, and prizes.

This is a one-day cattle show featuring bulls, breeding heifers, market heifers, market steers, and a showmanship class for all ages.

This year there were 6 Bulls, 93 Breeding Heifers, 6 Market Heifers, 51 Market Steers, and 71 Showmanship entries (ages 7-18) + a peewee and adult class, for a total of 152 calves and 227 total entries. There were 18 total breeds represented between the bulls and heifers.

The show is hosted by Adam and Hannah Montee of Arma. They hosted the show for the first time last year to give kids another chance to showcase their animals. Plans are already underway for next year’s show.

A huge thank you is extended to the Bourbon County Fair Board for the use of the fairgrounds. Their support and help throughout the process is greatly appreciated.

The results of the show:

Bull show –

Champion Angus: Easton Newsome

Grand Overall: Adysin McCarley – Lim-Flex (Girard, KS)

Reserve Overall: Josie Wilkins – Maine-Angus (Lamar, AR)

Top 2 breeding heifers –

• Angus: Grand – Grant Ward  ||  Reserve – Corbin Ellerman

• Balancer: Grand: Hadlee Ketcherside

• Charolais: Grand – Jaden Teter  ||  Reserve – Kensi Reed

• Charolais Comp: Grand – Braelynn Reed  ||  Reserve – Kristy Beene

• Chi: Grand – Stockton Scott  ||  Reserve – Carmun Scott

• Commercial: Grand – Mayci Wilkins  ||  Reserve – Addy Burns

• Hereford: Grand – Grant Ward ||  Reserve – Drew Ballard

• Limousine: Grand – Aliston McCarley || Reserve – Maddix Small

• Lim-Flex: Grand – Adysin McCarley  ||  Reserve – Clara Farran

• Maine-Angus: Grand – Cassidy Barker || Reserve: Stockton Scott

• Maine-Anjou: Grand – Dexter Small  ||  Reserve – TJ Mills

• Maintainers: Grand – Madison Mcgee ||  Reserve – Braxtyn Evenson

• Mini Hereford: Grand – Morgan Pattimore || Reserve: Jayson Peterson

• Red Angus: Grand – Lucas Bowling  ||  Reserve – Greta Rosenhagen

• Shorthorn/Shorthorn Plus: Grand – Wyatt Fechter  ||  Reserve – Kristin Penn

• Simmental: Grand – Ethan Kunkel  ||  Reserve – Hayes Rickstrew

• % Simmental: Grand – Olivia Walrod  ||  Reserve – Elsie Rickstrew

Breeding Heifers Final Drive Results –

Grand: Grant Ward (Angus)

Reserve: Cassidy Barker (Maine-Angus)

3rd: Corbin Ellerman (Angus)

4th: Olivia Walrod (% Simmental)

5th: Ethan Kunkel (Simmental)

Market heifers:

Grand: Mayci Wilkins (Lamar, AR)

Reserve: Wyatt Fetcher (Howard, KS)

Market Steer Final Drive Results –

Grand: Wyatt Collard (Class 9)

Reserve: Kyanna Lankton (Class 10)

3rd Overall: Wyatt Collard (Class 4)

4th Overall: Jarrett Birk (Class 5)

5th Overall: Halle Delk (Class 3)

Top 5 Senior showman –

Grand: Josie Wilkins (Lamar, AR)

Reserve: Kyanna Lankton (Le Roy, KS)

3rd: Corbin Ellerman (Atchison, KS)

4th: Lilly Parks (Emporia, KS)

5th: Clara Farran (El Dorado Spring, MO)

Top 5 Intermediate showman –

Grand: Elsie Rickstrew (Wamego, KS)

Reserve: Olivia Walrod (Bronaugh, MO)

3rd: Kennedi Hettinger (Drexel, MO)

4th: Jaylynn Birk (Yates Center, KS)

5th: Drew Ballard (Inman, KS)

Top 5 Junior showman –

Grand: Mayci Wilkins (Lamar, AR)

Reserve: Halle Delk (Harrison, AR)

3rd: Stockton Scott (Havana, KS)

4th: Braxtyn Evenson (Eureka, KS)

5th: Josephine Razey (Augusta, KS)

Results from our peewee and adult showmanship classes:

• Adult showmanship –

Grand: Austin Waltz

Reserve: Brook Falk

• Peewee showmanship –

Grand: Kash Hettinger

Tie for Reserve: Kane Stainbrook and Emery Mengarelli

 

Area News, Bourbon County, Health Care

Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu: Check Your Flocks

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Photos by Gary Palmer.

Highly pathogenic bird influenza has come to Kansas and families who have backyard birds should examine their flocks, according to both state and federal press releases.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Franklin, Dickenson, and Sedgwick Counties recently according to recent press releases https://agriculture.ks.gov/news-events/news-releases/2022/03/12/usda-confirms-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-in-backyard-flock-in-kansas.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a contagious viral disease that can infect chickens, turkeys, and other birds.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture officials have quarantined the affected areas, and birds on the property are destroyed to prevent the spread of the disease.

All who are involved- from a small backyard chicken flock to a large commercial producer- should look at their flocks for signs of the flu.

“Coughing, sneezing, discharge around the eyes, lack of energy, not moving around, not making noise,” are some of the signs, Heather Lansdowne, Kansas Dept. of Agriculture Director of Communications said.

Other signs are decreased egg production and/or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs; incoordination; and diarrhea, according to the KDA press release. Avian influenza can also cause sudden death in birds even if they aren’t showing other symptoms.

If these symptoms are observed in your birds, immediately contact your veterinarian, according to a press release. If you don’t have a regular veterinarian, contact KDA’s Division of Animal Health office toll-free at 833-765-2006.

There are procedures intended to protect humans or animals against disease or harmful biological agents, which are called biosecurity measures that can be done to help stop the spread of the flu.

Find guidance on biosecurity on the KDA Division of Animal Health webpage at agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza. More biosecurity resources as well as updates on the current HPAI status nationwide can be found on the APHIS website at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States.

Proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F are recommended as a general food safety precaution.

For more information about HPAI, including the current status of the confirmed cases in other states as well as more information about biosecurity for flocks, go to KDA’s avian influenza webpage at agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza or call KDA at 833-765-2006.

 https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/division-of-animal-health/animal-diseases/avian-influenza

Basic Facts of HPAI

What is avian influenza?
• Avian influenza is a rapidly spreading viral disease that mainly affects birds.

Is it contagious, who is susceptible and how is it transmitted?
• Yes, it is contagious.
• Although rare, humans and other mammals can be vulnerable to the disease.
• The disease may spread through contact with infected birds or ingestion of infected food or water.
• Birds are the most susceptible animal.
• Exists naturally in wild birds.

What are the symptoms?
• Cough
• Sneezing
• Respiratory distress
• Decrease in egg production
• Sudden death

How do I avoid it or stop it from spreading?
• Notify veterinarian of any suspected disease.
• Stay informed about the health of neighboring birds.
• Do not move animals from farm to farm.
• Keep flock away from wild birds.
• Be sure your birds have no contact with contaminated birds.
• Isolate new birds.
• Restrict unauthorized people and vehicles from the farm
• Disinfect tires, equipment, and clothing going on and off the farm
• Quarantine contaminated areas and birds immediately
• Dispose of all dead birds properly

How is it treated?
• At this time there is no known treatment

Are there public health risks?
• Although rare, humans and other mammals can be vulnerable to the disease. If you have come in
contact with the disease and are showing symptoms, report it to your physician immediately
• There have been no reported cases due to consumption of infected, cooked meat.

Area News

How to Save Money at the Gas Pump

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Union Station at Uniontown has gas today at $3.79, the same price as Fort Scott gas stations.
Drivers are getting a lesson in how events around the nation and the world can have an impact on what they pay at the gas pump. Today’s  U.S. national average cost per gallon is $4.30, in Fort Scott, it is $3.79 according to American Automobile Association (AAA) https://cluballiance.aaa.com/public-affairs/fuel-price-finder
According to the AAA fuel price finder above, in the Fort Scott gas station locations of 5 Corners, Pete’s and Casey’s all have gas today for $3.79 as well as Union Station in Uniontown.

Those who would like to save money at the pump have some vehicle driving tips to help them reach that goal.

A call to AAA, Topeka, resulted in the following tips from Shawn Martin, AAA Retail Sales Associate with additional tips from Consumer Reports:

Drive the speed limit.         “Your driving habits can play a significant role in fuel economy, according to a Consumer Reports story https://www.consumerreports.org/fuel-economy-efficiency/10-tips-to-get-the-most-out-of-a-tank-of-gas-a2642110189/.  Consumer Reports measured gas mileage while driving at a steady 55, 65, and 75 mph in a Nissan Altima and Toyota RAV4. They found that reducing speed from 65 mph to 55 mph improved fuel economy by 6 mpg in the Altima and 8 mpg in the RAV4. The penalty of cruising at 75 mph, rather than 65 mph, was almost 7 mpg in the Altima and 6 mpg in the RAV4. Higher speeds exact a toll on fuel consumption. Another way to look at it: Speeding up from 55 to 75 mph is like moving from a compact car to a large SUV. Beyond fuel concerns, speeding is, of course, a safety risk.

No sudden acceleration.        “Avoid hard acceleration and braking whenever possible. In our tests, frequent bursts of acceleration and braking reduced an older Toyota Camry’s mileage by 2 to 3 mpg. Once up to speed, maintain a steady pace, according to the web article. “The harder you accelerate, the more fuel you use. Unnecessary braking wastes the fuel you used to get up to speed. Drive smoothly and anticipate the movement of traffic. Smooth acceleration, cornering, and braking also extend the life of the engine, transmission, brakes, and tires.”

 Download an app that tells of the best prices for gas near your location.
Apps and websites such as https://www.gasbuddy.com/home  or check out the AAA gas prices page online or use the AAA Mobile app if a member.
Additional fuel economy tips from Consumer Reports:
 Keep at least a half-tank of fuel during cold winter months, and when there is a risk of shortages, say, due to a lack of gasoline delivery drivers to meet travel demands, or when a major storm is imminent. This tip also goes for holiday road trips, when roads can be congested and slow-moving. Having plenty of gas onboard can ease stress and give you more flexibility with when and where you fill up, according to Consumer Reports.
If you can minimize or combine errands or other activities, you will preserve the gas that you purchased and reduce overall consumption for the region, helping in some small way to reduce the gas scarcity. 
Pay attention to aerodynamics. Remove roof racks when they are not being used. At highway speeds, more than 50 percent of engine power goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag.

Check your tire pressure. Tires lose about 1 psi a month. Having tires with lower pressure than what is recommended on the doorjamb sticker can affect performance, tire longevity, and fuel economy. 

Using air conditioning does consume gas. In mild weather, if you can get by without it, even if you open the windows, it will give incremental savings. But once it gets hot, having AC on to cool the cabin and lower humidity is a wise investment in your comfort and ability to stay alert while driving.

According to Consumer Reports, if in the market for a more fuel-efficient car, HERE are Consumer Reports vehicles with the best MPG.

  • 2022 Honda Insight
  • 2022 Toyota Prius
  • 2022 Hyundai Ioniq
  • 2022 Hyundai Elantra
  • 2022 Toyota Corolla
  • 2022 Honda Accord
  • 2022 Toyota Camry
  • 2022 Hyundai Sonata
  • 2022 Kia Niro
  • 2022 Toyota Avalon”

 

Area News

Free Grant Writing Training Offered April 19 In Pittsburg

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The Foundry is located in Block 22, Pittsburg, Ks. from its Facebook page.

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is offering a grant writing training workshop to SEK area non-profits which include 501 3c organizations as well as government, religious and educational institutions.

The training event will take place on Tuesday, April 19 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at The Foundry meeting room, located in Block 22,  402 N. Broadway in Pittsburg.

CFSEK is partnering with The Center of Community Supports at Greenbush Education Service Center to offer this workshop at no cost to the SEK community, according to a press release from the community foundation.

Sherri Stephens is the CFSEK Program Director. Submitted photo.

“Grant writing is one of the services of our foundation,” Sherri Stephens, CFSEK Program Coordinator, said. “We hope this training of writing a grant proposal will make it easier.”

Monica Murnan, Greenbush Director of Community Support Services, will share information on organizational readiness, proposal development, needs assessments, budgeting, and managing funded projects.

Monica Murnan. Photo credit: KLC Journal.

Murnan has a 25-year history of successful grant writing and management in the areas of community-based services, health care access, collaborative early childhood projects, and education-based programs for kids and families, according to the press release.

CFSEK staff will share some CFSEK grant-specific information as well.

Learn some “must do” and “please don’t” strategies along with some organizational tips for gaining funds for your organization/entity’s work, according to the press release.

To register     https://southeastkansas.org/grant-writing-april-2022/?fbclid=IwAR1nRJ918afK5BCocJYga6k4ELsY49xko2XGG_t1BMhFUBqaWOGFdkCBlmY

Email [email protected] with any questions.

Area News, Business

KS Gas Service Allowed to Recover Last Winter’s Gas Costs

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KCC approves settlement agreement allowing Kansas Gas Service to recover last winter’s gas costs from third-party marketers and certain large transportation customers

TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has approved a settlement agreement outlining how Kansas Gas Service (KGS) will recover costs incurred to meet the demand of the company’s transportation customers during last February’s winter storm. Unlike sales customers, who contract directly with KGS for gas, transportation customers purchase gas from gas producers or through a gas marketer. The purchased gas is then provided to KGS and delivered through KGS pipelines to transportation customers. Examples of transportation customers include some municipal utilities, businesses, schools, and churches.

What is normally a straightforward transaction was complicated by the high demand and limited supplies during the winter storm. Some gas marketers did not provide adequate gas to KGS in order to ensure uninterrupted service to transportation customers threatening the integrity of KGS’s entire system. Under an emergency order from the KCC designed to protect the health and safety of Kansans, KGS was obligated to make up the difference to ensure gas was available to all customers, including transportation customers.

Under the settlement agreement, KGS will recover approximately $52 million of the $58 million of calculated supply shortfalls in the negotiated gas cost penalty payments from marketers and transportation customers. Due to the extraordinary costs from the winter storm, KGS also requested a waiver from a provision in its tariff that would have allowed a multiplier penalty to be applied to the amount owed. The Commission granted the waiver.  In the absence of the waiver, penalties could have been as much as $888 million, potentially sending many entities into bankruptcy and resulting in great harm to the State’s economy.

Had KGS been unable to recover costs from marketers and transportation customers, those costs would have fallen to residential and small commercial customers. The settlement also avoids costly litigation and further delays.

Today’s order makes clear that the Commission’s decision to waive penalties is not to be viewed as precedential and not to assume penalties will be waived again if a similar situation occurs in the future. In addition, the order states that any proceeds received by KGS from ongoing federal or state investigations into market manipulation, price gouging or civil suits will be passed on to customers.

Today’s order is available at:  http://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx?Id=6378bf46-4736-4fc7-bbfb-47a48bba916d

A recording of today’s Business Meeting featuring comments by Commissioners on this order, is available on the KCC YouTube channel.

 

Area News

Summer Camp Registration Open

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Rock Springs Ranch, a camp located on 735 acres of prairie in the Kansas Flint Hills, is opening Summer Camp for the first time to youth ages 8-18 who are not currently involved with a 4-H Club. They believe all youth deserve a 4-H experience!
The benefits of attending camp an American Camp Association accredited program like Rock Springs Ranch include:
  • Social Skills Development
  • Self-Respect & Character Building
  • Community Living/Service Skills
Registration for camp this summer is now open featuring their new flexible camp session opportunities. RSR offers 4-H Camp for 3rd through 12th rising grades, Leaders in Training (LIT) for rising 11th graders and Counselors In Training (CIT) for rising 12th graders. Dates and pricing can be found online here.
The Rock Springs Ranch team will be providing transportation to and from camp from nine hubs across the state of Kansas including Olathe, Lawrence, Topeka, Emporia, Wichita, Great Bend, Hays, Dodge City and Colby.
Rock Springs Ranch is also currently hiring for internships, seasonal and year-round positions. Open seasonal positions/internships include:
  • General Counselors
  • Conservation, Challenge, Shooting Sports, Aquatics, Equine, Crafts & Retail Specialists
  • Program Area Coordinator
  • and more!

Those pursuing degrees in education, nursing, hospitality, wildfire management, biology or recreation can benefit from the soft skills developed while working at camp that employers are looking for such as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication.

Submitted by Jenna Black
Senior Account Executive
Parris Communications
620-952-2944
Area News, Government, Health Care

Flint Hills Burning Season Starts

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Health Advisory, Safety Tips Issued During Flint Hills Burning Season
Smoke Modeling Tool to be activated on March 1

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reminds Kansans that March and April are the months when large areas of the state’s Flint Hills rangeland are burned. These burns help preserve the tallgrass prairie, control invasive species, reduce woody encroachment from species such as Eastern Red Cedar and Sumac and provide better forage for cattle. Prescribed burning minimizes risk of wildfires and is effective in managing rangeland resources. Smoke from the burns can influence the air quality of downwind areas. The use of smoke management techniques is vital to reduce air quality and health impacts.

KDHE will activate the Kansas smoke modeling tool on March 1, prior to widespread burning in the Flint Hills. The computer models use fire data and current weather conditions to predict the potential contribution of smoke to downwind air quality problems. There are approximately 2.2 million acres burned on average in the Flint Hills of Kansas and Oklahoma each year.

“For the twelfth-consecutive year, we are proud to have the opportunity to provide this important tool for the prescribed fire community,” said Douglas Watson, meteorologist at the KDHE Bureau of Air. “We continue to encourage ranchers and land managers to take advantage of this smoke modeling resource to spread out their burns more effectively and mitigate potential air quality impacts.”

Prescribed burns release large amounts of particulate matter and other pollutants that can form ozone. Particulate matter and ozone can cause health problems, even in healthy individuals. Common health problems include burning eyes, runny nose, coughing and illnesses such as bronchitis. Individuals with respiratory issues, pre-existing heart or lung diseases, children and elderly are more vulnerable to experience symptoms.

Steps to protect your health on days when smoke is present in your community include:

  • Healthy people should limit or avoid strenuous outdoor
  • More vulnerable people should remain
  • Help keep indoor air clean by closing doors and windows and running air conditioners with air
  • Stay hydrated by drinking lots of
  • Contact your doctor if you have symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath or severe

For more information about the burning in the Flint Hills, the Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan, the April burn restrictions and the smoke modeling tool, please visit http://www.ksfire.org.