Category Archives: Area News

Evergy Warns Customers Regarding Recent Utility Scam Attempts

 

Imposters asking for immediate payment

KANSAS CITY, Mo., – Oct. 1, 2021 – Evergy has received customer reports today of individuals placing phone calls to customers and claiming to be Evergy representatives. The individuals are asking customers for immediate payment to avoid service disconnection. These representatives are not employees of Evergy. For past-due accounts, calls from Evergy requesting payment are never made the same day as the disconnection.

 

Several customers have contacted us after receiving suspicious calls. In most cases, the caller claims to be an Evergy customer service representative and asks the customer to provide credit card information or other personal information, telling the customer a check has bounced or he or she has a past-due bill. Imposters will often ask customers to use a pre-paid card for payment. Evergy will never ask a customer to purchase a pre-paid debit card to pay for service.

Customers may verify an individual is from Evergy by asking to see company identification or by calling the Customer Contact Center before giving any information such as your Evergy account number or banking information. If you can’t verify that you’re speaking with an Evergy employee, do not give them this information.  Evergy Missouri and Evergy Kansas Metro customers may reach customer service toll-free at 1-888-471-5275. Evergy Kansas Central customers may call 1-800-383-1183. Customers can also review their account status online by visiting www.evergy.com.

 

Evergy wants its customers to know how to identify Evergy representatives. Employees will carry Evergy employee identification. For a service appointment, they may be driving an Evergy vehicle or wearing Evergy branded clothing. Evergy does not perform door-to-door sales. Evergy employees rarely need to enter a customer’s home.

 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, scammers have increased calls, texts, emails, and in-person tactics and are contacting utility customers asking for immediate payment to avoid service disconnection. As a reminder, Evergy will never ask customers to make payments with a pre-paid debit card, gift card, any form of cryptocurrency, or third-party digital payment mobile applications. If you feel you have been a victim of a scam, please work with your local law enforcement agency to report the crime.

 

Want to Restore Natural Gas in Your Home? Special Payment Plan Now Available!

Customers without service can take advantage of special payment plan in October

Overland Park, Kan. – Oct. 1, 2021 – Colder temperatures are on the horizon, and Kansas Gas
Service urges customers with inactive service to sign-up for a special offering. During October,
customers who have exhausted standard payment arrangement opportunities can make a down
payment to restore their service.
“We understand many customers continue to navigate through the challenges of the pandemic,
and we don’t want any of them to go without their natural gas service,” said Abbey Frye, director
of Customer Service for Kansas Gas Service. “By taking advantage of this special offer to
re-establish service now, those customers can also avoid the winter rush that brings longer wait
times.”
How to sign up for the payment plan:
• CALL – Call the Kansas Gas Service Customer Contact Center at 800-794-4780.
• PAY – Pay one-fourth of the total account balance. The company will bill the remaining
balance in six monthly installments.
• SCHEDULE – Schedule service restoration. Customer Service Representatives are
available to assist Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Customers who are experiencing financial hardships may qualify for assistance through several
programs and community agencies. Visit the KansasGasService.com/Cares for energy assistance
resources.

About Kansas Gas Service

Kansas Gas Service provides a reliable and affordable energy choice to more than 640,000 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.
###

New Overland Park Hospital Opens

Governor Laura Kelly Celebrates New AdventHealth South Overland Park Hospital

OVERLAND PARK –  Governor Laura Kelly yesterday celebrated the grand opening of the AdventHealth South Overland Park Hospital, the Kansas City metro’s first new, full-service hospital in 15 years.

“I want to thank AdventHealth for anticipating and responding to the increased need for health care in this area,” Governor Kelly said. “My administration will continue to work with our hospitals during the pandemic and beyond to ensure that they have what they need to provide quality health services for Kansans.”

The 193,000-square-foot addition to the Bluhawk development was designed to provide patients with access to a full suite of medical and emergency services when it opens in early October 2021. The addition includes a birth center, surgical services, intensive care unit, heart care and more.

“Our patients have demonstrated clear need for expanded services in southern Johnson County and surrounding communities, and we are thrilled to provide these with our whole-person care approach,” Alan Verrill, MD, chief executive officer for AdventHealth South Overland Park, said. “Our facilities and our staff provide so much more than medicine by caring for our patients’ body, mind and spirit and we are proud to have the opportunity to deliver this care in a beautiful, high-quality facility.”

SEK Community Foundation Grants Awarded

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas Announces $155,000 in General Funds Grantmaking

Every summer, the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) Grant Review Committee awards funding to programs focusing on Basic Human Needs, Youth Activities, and Arts & Culture. CFSEK is pleased to announce General Grant Funds totalling $155,000 have been awarded to 45 non-profit organizations in Southeast Kansas representing 20 communities in 6 counties. Since 2004, the funds directly managed by CFSEK have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to many Southeast Kansas nonprofit projects.

The Community Foundation continues to celebrate its 20th anniversary by encouraging charitable giving benefiting the common good and the quality of life in our region. CFSEK focuses on ‘inspiring leadership with programming that is responsive to the interests and needs of those we serve now and in the future.’

The following grants were awarded during the 2021 General Grant Cycle:

Basic Human Needs – $56,652

Caney Valley Agape Network – Protective supplies for volunteers.

Catholic Charities, Inc. – Homeless and housing services.

Class LTD – Client emergency assistance funds.

Communities in Schools, Inc. – Basic needs support for students in schools in SEK.

Community Health Center of SEK – Baby basics for the Baby4Baby program.

First Baptist Church of Riverton Kansas – Share with love food bank.

First United Methodist Church Wesley House – Safety supplies for the homeless program.

Homer Cole Community Center – Security cameras.

Kansas Food Bank Warehouse, Inc. – Food 4 Kids weekend backpack program.

Labette County Emergency Assistance Center – Emergency funding for Labette County residents.

Mount Carmel Foundation – Save a life by providing critical inhalers.

Olive Street Presents, Ltd. – Bringing local stages to life.

Sacred Heart Parish – Thanksgiving meal turkey distribution.

SEK Animal Advocates Society – Services to support permanent homes for animals.

Spring River Mental Health & Wellness – Medication assistance and organization.

TFI Family Services, Inc. – Calming kits.

The Beacon – Basic nutritional needs through their food bank.

The Salvation Army – Emergency utility and rental assistance.

Youth Activities – $87,000

Boy Scout of America – Hooked on Scouting recruitment campaign.

Cherry Street Youth Center, Inc. – Art Enrichment.

Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc. – Go Blue SEK kickoff event.

City of Girard – Frisbee Golf Course.

City of Parsons – Parsons Area splash pad.

Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation – Childbirth Education Curriculum and Equipment.

Curious Minds Discovery Zone, Inc. – ‘Rigamajig’

Family Resource Center – Software update.

First United Methodist Church Wesely House – Coats for Kids.

Girls Scouts of the Missouri Heartland – Disaster Preparedness weekend campout.

Mem – Erie Historical Society -Discovering Memories through interactive programming.

Pittsburg Community Child Care Learning Center – Poured in place rubber playground surface.

PSU Foundation, Inc. – PSU Media Production Camp.

PSU Foundation, Inc. – Affordable service provision for children with reading difficulties.

Safehouse Crisis Center – Creating for Healing – a project for the children of Safehouse services.

Southeast Kansas Community Action Program – Early Learning Center flooring.

Special Olympics Kansas – SEK athlete recognition.

The Salvation Army – Stocking stuffers for Christmas.

USD 234 Winfield Scott Leadership Club – Healthy snacks.

USD 246 Northeast Elementary/JH – Back to School Bash.

USD 246 Northeast Elementary/JH Magazines in the classroom.

USD 506 – Junior High Color Guard flags.

Victory Life Church – Back 2 School event

Women’s Resource Center Vie Medical Clinic – Come Play with Me safe play space for children.

Arts & Culture – $1,348

Olive Street Presents, Ltd. – Bringing local stages to life.

Affiliates – $10,000

Girard Area Community Foundation – GACF Youth Activities granting.

Fort Scott Area Community Foundation – FSACF Youth Activities granting.

The CFSEK Board of Trustees and staff congratulate all the 2021 grant recipients!

If you are interested in establishing a grantmaking fund with the CFSEK, please visit www.SoutheastKansas.org or call 620-231-8897.

SEK Library Newsletter Sept. 2021

The SEKnFind Newsletter
September 2021

This newsletter about new books is distributed to people who are registered adult users at a southeast Kansas library participating in the SEKnFind catalog. We hope you find it useful, but if you don’t wish to receive this anymore, you can click on the “Manage Subscriptions or Unsubscribe” link at the bottom.
All the books included in this newsletter are new additions in one or more SEKnFind libraries–and since the catalog is shared, that means they are available to you whether they are in your local library or not!  Just place a hold on the item(s) you want.  If you don’t know how, your librarian can show you.

New Fiction

Cloud cuckoo land : a novel
by Anthony Doerr

Follows four young dreamers and outcasts through time and space, from 1453 Constantinople to the future, as they discover resourcefulness and hope amidst peril in the new novel by the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of All the Light We Cannot See.

The reading list : a novel
by Sara Nisha Adams

Working at the local library, Aleisha reads every book on a secret list she found, which transports her from the painful realities she’s facing at home, and decides to pass the list on to a lonely widower desperate to connect with his bookworm granddaughter. 75,000 first printing.

The heron’s cry
by Ann Cleeves

While looking into the murder of Dr. Nigel Yeo, who was investigating the suicide of a young man who was a member of chilling online group, Detective Matthew Venn, as the body count rises, must wade through the lies at the heart of his community. 150,000 first printing.

How to kill your best friend
by Lexie Elliott

When their close friend and former swim teammate, Lissa, drowns while on vacation with her husband, Georgie and Bronwyn attend a celebration of her life at Kanu Cove and discover danger lurking in the water and beyond.

Sisters in arms : a novel of the daring black women who served during World War II
by Kaia Alderson

The first Black women allowed to serve in the army, Grace Steele and Eliza Jones, helping form the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, navigate their way through the segregated ranks, finally making it overseas where they do their parts for the country they love.

Witch please
by Ann Aguirre

A fully modern witch who keeps her heart protected, Danica Waterhouse meets her match in Titus Winnaker, who’s been cursed to be alone, and wonders if she can find love with an old-fashioned mundane who refuses to settle for anything less than forever. Original.

Murder most fowl
by Donna Andrews

When a filmmaker takes footage of Macbeth, which her husband is producing, that reveals dark secrets about the major players, Meg Langslow, with the filmmaker’s electronic devices destroyed, must uncover the darkest secret of all to expose a killer. 40,000 first printing.

My heart is a chainsaw
by Stephen Graham Jones

Protected by horror movies—especially the ones where the masked killer seeks revenge on a world that wronged them—Jade Daniels, an angry, half-Indian outcast, pulls us into her dark mind when blood actually starts to spill into the waters of Indian lake. 100,000 first printing.

Holdout : a novel
by Jeffrey Kluger

Walli Beckworth refuses to leave her post at the international space station after an accident forces her colleagues to evacuate in the hopes of using her position to save her niece working as a healthcare provider in the Amazon jungle.

Shards of earth
by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Idris, an enhanced human, and his crew, 50 years after the destruction of the earth by alien aggressors, the Architects, discover some strange in space that many people would kill to obtain—and could herald the return of the enemy. 40,000 first printing.

The great glorious goddamn of it all : a novel
by Josh Ritter

Filled with heart, humor and magic, this lyrical, sweeping novel about the last days of the lumberjacks is told by of one of the greatest lumberjacks of all who recounts tales rife with murder, mayhem, avalanches and bootlegging in the tiny timber town of Cordelia, Idaho. 75,000 first printing.

Fork in the false trail
by C. M. Wendelboe

“Tucker Ashley returns to his Black Hills ranch only to find that Indians have raided it. They’ve killed livestock and taken his best friend and business partner Jack captive. Tucker has no choice but to head out after the Indians. Meanwhile, Hack Reed, his nemesis from his recent prison stint, has just broken out of jail, and his gang of cutthroats is hot after Tucker. The Reed gang attacks the posse, killing everyone except their tracker, who narrowly escapes with a gunshot wound. The fact that Tucker was not with them only fuels Reed’s fury. Tucker, tracking the Indians who kidnapped Jack, sees they have taken others captive. Among the familiar faces are a murderer of miners, and a rancher and his daughter. Suddenly Tucker has more pressing issues. The gang springs an ambush that Tucker should have seen coming. Still, he manages to kill some of Reed’s men and make his escape. Resuming the hunt for Jack, his pursuit of the Indians is more difficult now that Tucker is on foot. In a desperate act, the captives cut their bonds and flee the Indians. The murderer and the rancher are killed right off. The posse tracker that was left for dead catches up with Tucker. Together, they follow the Indians, unaware that the rancher’s daughter and Jack escaped. They made it far enough away to hide out in the forest, safe for now. It’s a tight line Tucker walks between surviving himself and saving his friend. Will Tucker find Jack before he is killed by the Indians, or will Reed and his killers find Tucker first?”

New Nonfiction

The quiet zone : unraveling the mystery of a town suspended in silence
by Stephen Kurczy

An award-winning journalist takes us deep into the Appalachian Mountains where the last truly quiet town of America exists and where its residents live a life free from constant digital connectivity, challenging us to rethink the role of tech in our lives. 50,000 first printing.

Breaking the stress cycle : 7 steps to greater resilience, happiness, and piece of mind
by Andrew Bernstein

Using a program developed by the author called Activinsight, this simple seven step guide can help you through some of the most challenging experiences of modern life in a matter of minutes. Original.

Pastoral song : a farmer’s journey
by James Rebanks

The author of the New York Times best-selling A Shepard’s Life returns with a chronicle of his family’s farm in England’s Lake District across three generations and how he restored the viability of its future. 25,000 first printing.

Can I recycle this? : a guide to better recycling and how to reduce single-use plastics
by Jennie Romer

This practical guide to recycling includes a look at how recycling actually works, how to better handle the waste we produce, the way rules differ in every municipality and which common household objects can or cannot be recycled. Illustrations.

Arriving today : from factory to front door–why everything has changed about how and what we buy
by Christopher Mims

An investigative look at how the demand for convenience and instant gratification has changed online commerce, caused huge shifts in transportation and supply chain management and led to massive shifts in how industry uses labor. 50,000 first printing.

Easy crafts for the insane : a mostly funny memoir of mental illness and making things
by Kelly Williams Brown

The New York Times best-selling author of Adulting describes how she used crafting to help her cope with a series of negative events in her life, including a failed marriage, unrelated bodily injuries, and her father’s cancer diagnosis. Illustrations.

The heirloom gardener : traditional plants & skills for the modern world
by John Forti

An award-winning heirloom specialist, garden historian, ethnobotanist and writer offers this wood-block illustrated, alphabetical compendium of heirloom flowers and artisanal crafts like distilling and wreath-making to help inspire gardeners to connect with the natural world. Illustrations.

Sheet cake : easy one-pan recipes for every day and every occasion
by Abigail Johnson Dodge

A baking guru and award-winning cookbook author teaches home bakers how to build spectacular sheet cake creations with her three techniques for assembly—classic, stacked and rolled—along with everything else you need to turn your cake into a masterpiece. Illustrations.

52 weeks of socks : Beautiful Patterns for Year-Round Knitting
by Laine

“52 Weeks of Socks is a modern collection of sock patterns from Nordic knitting experts Laine. That’s 52 sock patterns contributed by 46 leading knitwear designers from across the world, suitable for knitters of all abilities. Each uses different yarns and techniques, including projects with stunning stitch definition and classic slippers for beginners. From sole to toe, these easy-to-follow patterns will sweep you up with stunning photography and styling that evokes the inspiring Nordic landscape and slow living”

Travels with George : in search of Washington and his legacy
by Nathaniel Philbrick

Written at a moment when America’s founding figures are under increasing scrutiny, the author, retracing George Washington’s journey as a new president through all thirteen former colonies, paints a picture of 18th-century America as divided and fraught as it is today. Illustrations.

Even more reading suggestions

NextReads Sneak Peek
Looking for something else to read? Try subscribing to our free NextReads newsletters. Newsletters are divided into a variety of genres and topics so you can get recommendations tailored to your interests sent directly to your inbox every month to two months.
Each issue contains around 9 to 10 reading suggestions. If we don’t have a copy, make a purchase suggestion or ask your library about interlibrary loan. Here’s a sneak peek of titles from this month’s

Grant Opportunities for Juvenile Crime Community Prevention

The Kansas Department of Corrections is pleased to announce the release of two new grant opportunities for Juvenile Crime Community Prevention.

These grants will support communities in providing services to youth that are at risk for juvenile delinquency, victimization, and juvenile justice system involvement.

These grants are being made available to both governmental agencies (i.e., counties, judicial districts etc.) as well as community-based agencies and service providers (i.e. non-profits).

Applicants can submit requests for grant funds for both fiscal year 2022 (1/1/22 – 6/30/22) and fiscal year 2023 (7/1/22 – 6/30/23) on these applications.

 

These grants will have two tracts.

  • The first grant application is for Juvenile Crime Community Prevention for Nonspecific Areas of Prevention with a Matching Fund Requirement. Applications can target any area of juvenile crime prevention and is not limited to any specific priority area. This grant will require a $1-for-$1 local or private funds match.
  • The second grant application is for Juvenile Crime Community Prevention while targeting one of four priority areas (i.e., crossover youth, homeless youth, jobs/workforce development for youth, and runaway youth). This grant will not require matching funds.

 

Both grants require the development and implementation of evidence-based juvenile crime prevention programs and practices

 

All applications, including all related documents and completed signatory approval pages, are due October 29, 2021.

 

If you have questions regarding these grants or need assistance please contact either:

 

Red Cross Volunteers Needed

American Red Cross
Red Cross disaster volunteer
When disasters strike, strike back as a Red Cross volunteer! Join our Disaster Team and do something great by supporting one of our most vital volunteer roles.

Shelter Support
All forecasts point to a higher-than-average hurricane and wildfire season. We need volunteers like you to ensure families don’t face tough times alone. Compassionate and committed individuals are needed to support sheltering efforts this disaster season. Shelter volunteers support the day-to-day activities within a shelter which may include working in reception, registration, feeding, dormitory, information or other vital areas within a shelter. Train now to be a Red Cross Shelter Volunteer so you can answer the call directly help those affected by disaster.

After entering your zip code, enter “Shelter” in the search box to view opportunities.
Healthcare Professionals
Are you a licensed health care professional? If so, you can join the cadre of healthcare professionals who have served as the core of the Red Cross since the very beginning of the organization. Provide quality care in disaster shelters to help assess people’s health and provide hands-on care in alignment with your professional licensure in our RN-led model. Duties include assisting clients with activities of daily living, providing health education and helping to replace medications, durable medical equipment or consumable medical supplies. Daily observation and health screening for COVID-19-like illness among shelter residents may also be required. If you are an RN, LPN, LVN, APRN, NP, EMT, paramedic, MD/DO or PA with a current and unencumbered license, please consider volunteering. You’re one step closer to making the world a better place!
After entering your zip code, enter “Disaster Health” in the search box to view opportunities.
Your help is priceless — sign up today!

Sincerely,

Your Red Cross Volunteer Services Team

Subscribe | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe
Staying in touch via the American Red Cross email list is the best way we have of keeping in regular contact with supporters like you, letting you know about how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from disasters and other emergencies, and how you can support our life-saving work.
Click here to unsubscribe from our list, but please know that if you leave, it will be harder for you to stay involved with the Red Cross and continue the work of which you’ve been such a critical part. It is only because of supporters like you that the Red Cross is able to respond when a disaster strikes or a home is impacted by fire, when someone needs CPR or a lifesaving blood transfusion, or when a family needs to contact a deployed service member in an emergency. And we don’t want to lose you! Thanks for your support!
© 2021 American Red Cross | 431 18th Street NW Washington DC 20006
Donate by phone: 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) | Donate by Mail
Facebook YouTube Twitter Flickr
BBB Seal of Transparency - 2019 Platinum

SEK Foundation Announces New Director

Devin Gorman. Submitted photo.

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is Pleased to Announce Devin Gorman as New Executive Director

Following the recent retirement of Kit Parks, the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is pleased to announce the hiring of Devin Gorman as the new Executive Director, effective August 16, 2021.

Devin comes to the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK), and affiliates Fort Scott Area Community Foundation and Girard Area Community Foundation, with a wealth of experience and a unique skill set.

As a southeast Kansas native, Devin earned both Bachelor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Pittsburg State University. The majority of Devin’s career has been in nonprofit work in the southeast Kansas area. Most recently he held the position of Executive Director of the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Devin has shown he is engaged and committed to SEK through a variety of volunteer roles and positions locally, regionally, and at the state level. He has served as president of Pittsburg Area Young Professionals, president of the Pittsburg Public Library Board of Trustees, treasurer for the Mount Carmel Foundation, vice-president of the SEK Tourism Region, and spent six years on the Mosaic Foundation’s National Board of Directors.

When asked about his new position, Devin stated “The CFSEK has a tremendous legacy of supporting our community, and I truly appreciate the board for providing me with the opportunity to lead such a great organization and team. I am excited to build upon that legacy and to grow the resources the Community Foundation provides back to the citizens of southeast Kansas. I look forward to collaborating with so many great individuals and organizations that work each day to enhance our community.”

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is a local public charitable foundation which awarded $1.9 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2020 and has facilitated $16.9 million in grants since its inception in 2001. The Community Foundation serves the region by providing donors with a wide variety of charitable interests and encouraging charitable giving which addresses present and future needs in our area, and recently surpassed $53 million in fund assets.

Connie Kays, CFSEK Board of Trustees President, shared this statement “The Foundation Board of Directors and staff are pleased to welcome Devin Gorman to the CFSEK team. He comes to the Executive Director position with the education, experience, skills, and passion to do the work of ‘benefiting the common good and quality of life’ in SEK. We have no doubt Devin is a great fit to assist CFSEK in our mission to serve our community.”

Devin will join Community Foundation staff Kim Lynch, Office Administrator, Joshua McCloud, Donor Relations & Community Outreach, and Sherri Stephens, Program Coordinator.

Devin resides in Pittsburg with his wife Misty and son, Finn.

Facebook icon

SEK Library Newsletter August 2021

The SEKnFind Newsletter
August 2021

This newsletter about new books is distributed to people who are registered adult users at a southeast Kansas library participating in the SEKnFind catalog. We hope you find it useful, but if you don’t wish to receive this anymore, you can click on the “Manage Subscriptions or Unsubscribe” link at the bottom.
All the books included in this newsletter are new additions in one or more SEKnFind libraries–and since the catalog is shared, that means they are available to you whether they are in your local library or not!  Just place a hold on the item(s) you want.  If you don’t know how, your librarian can show you.

New Fiction

The madness of crowds
by Louise Penny

When a visiting professor spreads lies so that fact and fiction are so confused it’s near impossible to tell them apart, leading to murder, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache must investigate this case as well as this extraordinary popular delusion – and the madness of crowds. 750,000 first printing.

If it rains : a novel
by Jennifer L. Wright

“A story of resilience and redemption set against one of America’s defining moments-the Dust Bowl. It’s 1935 in Oklahoma, and lives are determined by the dust. Fourteen-year-old Kathryn Baile, a spitfire born with a severe clubfoot, is coming of age in desperate times. Once her beloved older sister marries, Kathryn’s only comfort comes in the well-worn pages of her favorite book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Back in Boise City, Melissa Baile Mayfield is the newest member of the wealthiest family in all of Cimarron County. In spite of her poor, rural upbringing, Melissa has just married the town’s most eligible bachelor and is determined to be everything her husband – and her new social class – expects her to be. But as the drought tightens its grip, Henry’s true colors are revealed.

Dark roads
by Chevy Stevens

Beth Chevalier quits school, lies to her parents and becomes addicted to pills while dealing with the murder of her sister on the notorious Cold Creek Highway in the new thriller by the author of Still Missing. 100,000 first printing.

For your own good
by Samantha Downing

Belmont Academy’s Teacher of the Year, Teddy Crutcher is frustrated by his colleagues and endlessly meddlesome parents who begin digging a bit too deeply into his affairs after the death of an Academy parent and his seemingly missing wife.

Along a storied trail
by Ann H. Gabhart

“Kentucky packhorse librarian Tansy Calhoun doesn’t mind the rough trails and long hours as she serves her mountain community during the Great Depression. Even the rough people-like ornery Perdita Sweet-have their charms. But can love bloom in such rockysoil?”

Pug actually
by Matt Dunn

Doug, a rescue pug, wants his owner, Julie, who is in a bad relationship, to be happy and sets in motion a chain of events that leads her to Tom, whom Doug believes is perfect for her, if only she can get over her initial animosity towards him. Original. 50,000 first printing.

The Moonshine Shack murder
by Diane Kelly

The prime suspect in a murder investigation after the body of a rival bar owner is found on her doorstep, Hattie Hayes, to clear her name, must distill the evidence herself and serve the killer a swift shot of justice. Original.

Come back to me
by Jody Hedlund

“Scientist Marian Creighton was skeptical of her father’s lifelong research of ancient holy water-until she ingests some of it and finds herself transported back to the Middle Ages. With the help of an emotionally wounded nobleman, can she make her way back home? Or will she be trapped in the past forever?”

The witness for the dead
by Katherine Addison

While serving the common people Amalo, Thara Celehar, a Witness for the Dead, finds his skills leading him out of the quiet and into a morass of treachery, murder and injustice, in this stand-alone sequel to The Goblin Emperor.

The whispering dead
by Darcy Coates

“When Keira wakes in a strange forest, she can remember only two things: she can see ghosts, and strange, mask-wearing men are hunting her. She seeks shelter at a church, and the kind pastor offers to let her stay in the groundskeeper’s cottage for a fewdays. But the cottage is situated behind the graveyard, and its spirits are only too eager to make themselves known. This sleepy, quaint town has dark secrets from the past that continue to haunt in increasingly terrifying ways. Keira’s shocked to discover her lost memories may be woven through the town’s bizarre hauntings, and soon, she’s thrown full-tilt into a race to unravel the decades-old mystery…before it’s too late”

The guide : a novel
by Peter Heller

Trying to return to normalcy after a young life filled with loss, Jack takes a job as a guide for the elite Kingfisher Lodge where he, while guiding a well-known singer, discovers that this idyllic fishing lodge may be a cover for a far more sinister operation.

Hell’s Jaw Pass
by Max O’Hara

When a railroad crew at Hell’s Jaw Pass in Wyoming Territory is slaughtered, detective Wolf Stockburn is sent in to investigate and stays at a nearby mining town where he must contend with train holdups, ranch wars, murder — and a deputy’s pretty daughter. Original.

New Nonfiction

The Storytellers : Straight Talk from the World’s Most Acclaimed Suspense and Thriller Authors
by Mark Rubinstein

Collected here are interviews with forty-seven accomplished authors, including Michael Connelly, Ken Follett, Meg Gardiner, Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman, and Don Winslow. These are their personal stories in their own words, much of the material never before published. How do these writers’ life experiences color their art? Find out their thoughts, their inspirations, their candid opinions. Learn more about your favorite authors, how they work and who they truly are.

The comfort book
by Matt Haig

Incorporating a wealth of sources from across history, science and his own experiences, the New York Times bestselling author of The Midnight Library offers reassurance and encouragement for anyone looking for a more fulfilling, more uplifting way through life.

Paradise : one town’s struggle to survive an American wildfire
by Lizzie Johnson

A San Francisco Chronicle reporter, drawing on years of on-the-ground reporting and reams of public records, provides a first-hand account of California’s Camp Fire—the nation’s deadliest wildfire in a century, investigating root causes and how to avert future tragedies as the climate crisis unfolds. Maps.

How Stella learned to talk : the groundbreaking story of the world’s first talking dog
by Christina Hunger

An incredible, revolutionary true story and surprisingly simple guide to teaching your dog to talk from a speech-language pathologist who has taught her dog to communicate using simple paw-sized buttons associated with different words. 100,000 first printing.

The first survivors of Alzheimer’s : how patients recovered life and hope in their own words
by Dale E. Bredesen

Outlining revolutionary treatments, an internationally recognized expert in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases presents first-person accounts from survivors of Alzheimer’s—amazing stories of hope told in their own words. Original.

Hook, line, and supper : new techniques and master recipes for everything caught in lakes, rivers and streams, and at sea
by Hank Shaw

“So many people get all tense when faced with a piece of fish or a bag of shrimp. It’s understandable: you went through all that effort to catch it, or, if you bought it from the store, we all know that fish isn’t cheap. You don’t want to mess things up.Hook, Line and Supper aims to cure that stage fright once and for all by breaking down the essence of fish and seafood cookery, allowing you to master the methods that bring out the best in whatever you catch or bring home from the market”

The green indoors : finding the right plants for your home environment
by Maddie Bailey

“The Green Indoors is a useful guide on how to find perfect plant matches for your home environments with a sustainable and innovative approach. Focusing on working with the plants you already own, the book is divided into chapters detailing all the possible conditions: extreme sun/heat, dry air/central heating, deep shade, high humidity, draughty, cold. By matching awkward spaces in your home with environments in the natural world, this book shows you how to relocate plants to improve their growth and help them thrive. Features an extensive section with informative plant profiles that include their origin, easy-to-follow tips on feeding and watering, optimum conditions, prospective growth, and is concluded by a helpful troubleshooting chapter dealing with common problems, and what to try when all hope is lost”

The new oil painting : your essential guide to materials and safe practices
by Kimberly Brooks

“A guide to the materials and safe practices that will take your oil painting practice to new heights–whether you are just starting out, or have been painting for years”

The girls who stepped out of line : untold stories of the women who changed the course of World War II
by Mari K. Eder

Experience the untold story of 15 women who changed the course of history as part of the Greatest Generation.

The American war in Afghanistan : a history
by Carter Malkasian

“The American War in Afghanistan is a full history of the war in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2020. It covers political, cultural, strategic, and tactical aspects of the war and details the actions and decision-making of the United States, Afghan government, and Taliban. The work follows a narrative format to go through the 2001 US invasion, the state-building of 2002-2005, the Taliban offensive of 2006, the US surge of 2009-2011, the subsequent drawdown, and the peace talks of 2019-2020. The book examines the overarching questions of the war: Why did the United States fail? What opportunities existed to reach a better outcome? Why did the United States not withdraw from the war?”

Even more reading suggestions

Choose Life License Plate Available in Kansas After January 2022

Christians for Life, Inc. is pleased to announce that we no longer need to collect prepaid applications for Choose Life Plates.  We thank you for all your assistance in getting the word out to Kansans across the state.  

We have turned over the applicant’s information to KDOR and the money collected.  After January 1, 2022, KDOR Inventory Manager will send certificates to take to treasurers where applicants will receive their long awaited Choose Life license plate.  

If anyone has a question the number to call at KDOR is 785-296-2228.

Christians for Life, Inc. would like to thank Chris Martin of L&M Solutions for helping with the printing of the brochures.  Russ Amberling, National Choose Life organization based in Florida was so very helpful.  Concerned Women for America of Kansas certainly did their share in helping with the collection of funds the first year. Of course, we thank Representative Trevor Jacobs for actually getting the bill passed and getting the amount needed to print the plates reduced.

Publicity was well handled by Lee Hartman, C5 Alive and the Metro Voice.  BOTT Radio and Phil Anderson, Topeka Capital-Journal also did spots on the station and an article in the paper.  

Kansans for Life, Kansas GOP, Culture Shield and their patrons were so helpful.  We received many orders from people on your mailing lists.

We are so humbled by your responses and appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts.

 

Best Regards,

 

Barbara Saldivar, Founder & Director of Christians for Life and CFL Board Members

Gary Roten, President

Scott McBurney, Vice President

Nancy Leon, Treasurer

Eryka Benteman, Secretary

Evergy Kansas Metro solar customers will move to two-part rate design

 

TOPEKA – Residential distributed generation (DG) customers served by Evergy Kansas Metro will soon have a new monthly electric rate that does not include a demand charge. This morning, the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) issued an order that will move DG customers from a three-part rate design to a standard two-part residential rate. In addition, customers will receive refunds within 60 days for any difference in the amounts paid between the two rates. Evergy Kansas Metro provides power to customers previously served by Kansas City Power & Light (KCPL) prior to the 2018 merger between KCPL and Westar to form Evergy Inc.

Earlier this year, the same rate design change was approved for customers in Evergy’s Kansas Central region (formerly Westar) after a Kansas Supreme Court opinion called the three-part rate design price discriminatory and sent the matter back to the KCC for further proceedings. The three-part rate design was originally implemented following separate rate cases filed by Westar and KCPL prior to the merger, but only the Westar DG rate was challenged.

Today’s order resulted from a proposal by KCC Staff, Evergy, and the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board to make the rate for DG customers consistent across both service areas.  The Commission agreed there is potential for confusion and frustration over the disparate treatment of residential DG customers between Evergy’s two Kansas service territories and that it is in the public interest to treat Evergy’s residential DG customers consistently in this regard throughout both of its service territories.

Today’s order can be viewed at:   https://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx/20210824102815.pdf?Id=48078ebc-832d-4c1d-8089-d2765363c076

 

Pittsburg Youth Chorale Fall Enrollment Open


Area singers in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade are invited to join Pittsburg Youth Chorale, directed by MJ Harper.

The purpose of this vocal ensemble is to further grow vocal abilities, musical knowledge, and choral repertoire.

Performers will prepare music for community events and music festivals. COVID guidelines will be observed.

Rehearsals are Tuesdays from 6-7PM at First United Methodist Church, 415 N. Pine, Pittsburg, KS and begin September 14.

There is a fee of $25 per semester (Sept-Dec/Feb-May) to cover the cost of music.

Scholarships are available.

To enroll, visit this website: https://bit.ly/3km8ErH, contact MJ Harper at 620-719-6633, or email
[email protected], deadline September 14.

Bourbon County Local News