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Category Archives: Area News
Resource Adequacy Workshops Coming
Kansas Corporation Commission announces workshop series on resource adequacy
TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission has scheduled a series of informational workshops to discuss the topic of resource adequacy.
As renewable energy resources continue to grow nationwide and aging gas, coal and nuclear facilities are being retired, careful planning is required to ensure adequate energy generation and reliability in the event of extreme weather events. As part of this inquiry, the Commission recognizes the physical attributes of various generation options must be taken into consideration. These considerations include the intermittency of renewable resources, fuel availability and cost for thermal generation, and outage rates for all generation types.
KCC Utilities Director, Jeff McClanahan addressed these considerations in speaking before the Kansas House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications committee at the Capitol last week.
“How far can you go with renewable generation given the need for reliability? Given the variability within renewable generation, you can’t always count on it. For example, there is just not as much wind in the winter. You need dispatchable generation out there to balance it all out until we get to long term, longer duration battery storage or other technology that can provide that,” said McClanahan.
Each workshop will feature experts on resource adequacy sharing information and answering questions from KCC Commissioners and staff.
The current workshop schedule appears below with additional dates to be added:
January 25 9 – 11 a.m. Black and Veatch
February 8 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Midwest Reliability Organization
February 24 9 – 11 a.m. Southwest Power Pool
The workshops will be held via zoom and broadcast on the KCC’s You Tube channel.
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Scheibe Elected to National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative

Heartland CEO appointed to National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative Board of Directors
Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mark Scheibe will advocate for the technology needs of cooperatives in Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming following his election to the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) Board of Directors representing District 7.
NRTC is a national cooperative that helps rural electric and telephone providers deploy advanced technology solutions in rural communities. Scheibe said he is particularly interested in helping cooperatives leverage smart grid technologies to improve reliability, security, and efficiency of the electric grid.
“NRTC has always been there for major technology decisions at every co-op I’ve been at,” Scheibe said. “Whether it’s advanced metering infrastructure, solar, battery technologies, or electric vehicles, they’re always there to provide support and help solve problems.”
Scheibe said his background in data analytics and engineering lends him a unique perspective. He sees many opportunities for cooperatives to make better use of the data and streamline operations through automation of repetitive tasks.
“I want to ensure people are able to do the hard work once to get things automated and then reap the rewards in the future,” Scheibe said.
Scheibe was elected to the District 7 seat, which became open in 2021 upon the retirement of Dale Short as CEO of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative in El Dorado, by vote of the other NRTC board members, who considered several impressive cooperative leaders and conducted interviews prior to their vote. His election was effective January 13, 2023, and his term continues until March 2025.
“Mark’s track record of deploying technology to improve reliability, security, and efficiency of the electric grid is impressive,” said NRTC Board Chairman Tim Mergen, CEO and General Manager, Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association in Minnesota. “We look forward to his contributions to the Board as NRTC continues to drive technology innovation on behalf of its members.”
Scheibe is a licensed professional engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Iowa State University. Prior to coming to Heartland, Scheibe worked his way up from Distribution Engineer to Director of Engineering for Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative in Anamosa, Iowa.
Prior service on local, state, and national boards and committees includes:
- Board member for Learning Tree Institute at Greenbush
- Trustee and Executive Committee Member for Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.
- Chairman of Loss Control, Safety, and Compliance Committee for Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.
- Member of Strategic Technology Advisory Council for the Business and Technology Strategies area of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Scheibe is also an avid long-distance cyclist. He lives with his wife and two children in rural Crawford County, Kansas.
About Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. powers rural lifestyles throughout more than 11,000 locations in southeast and 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 counties.
Heartland REC is a non-profit, member-owned cooperative that 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.
NRMC Earns Swing Bed Accreditation
NEVADA, MO December 28, 2022 – Nevada Regional Medical Center has been surveyed by the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) and has successfully met the
requirements to be accredited for a Hospital Swing Bed Program.
Nevada Regional Medical Center was subjected to a rigorous, unannounced assessment on December 13, 2022. The CIHQ team toured the hospital, reviewed medical records, observed
care practices, and interviewed staff.
“CIHQ’s goal is to partner with hospitals to improve the care provided in our communities,” states Richard Curtis, Chief Executive Officer of CIHQ. “CIHQ is proud to recognize Nevada Regional Medical Center for achieving swing bed accreditation.”
Jason Anglin, NRMC’s CEO stated: “We are so excited to add this service to NRMC. This will help us better serve our community as patients will no longer have to travel to other facilities for
skilled care. Our doctors, nurses and rehabilitation staff will help patients stay close to home and move forward in their recovery process. To prepare for this survey, our leadership team prepared
policies and educated our clinical staff on how to care for and rehabilitate patients after their acute care stay. We are so proud of this accomplishment.”
For more information about our Swing Bed program, please visit
www.nrmchealth.com/swingbed or call 417–448–3682. Reyna Blakely Community Relations & Foundation Manager
417.448.3801
Find A Book For The Long Winter Nights
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The SEKnFind Newsletter
December 2022
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Evergy Announces Dec. 28, 2022, Transfer to Nasdaq Stock Market
Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 15, 2022 – Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG) today announced it will transfer its stock exchange listing from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to the Nasdaq Global Select Market, effective as of the opening of trading on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. The last day of trading on the NYSE will be Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022. Evergy’s common stock will continue to trade under the ticker symbol “EVRG.”
“Evergy prides itself on innovation and providing cost-effective power and clean energy to our customers, while bringing value to our shareholders,” said David Campbell, Evergy President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our stock exchange move will allow us to benefit from Nasdaq’s cutting-edge technology and information in serving our shareholders, and we are excited to be joining a wide range of innovative companies listed on Nasdaq.”
Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG), serves 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. Evergy’s mission is to empower a better future. Our focus remains on producing, transmitting and delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for the benefit of our stakeholders. Today, about half of Evergy’s power comes from carbon-free sources, creating more reliable energy with less impact to the environment. We value innovation and adaptability to give our customers better ways to manage their energy use, to create a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace for our employees, and to add value for our investors. Headquartered in Kansas City, our employees are active members of the communities we serve.
For more information about Evergy, visit us at http://investors.evergy.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements made in this Document that are not based on historical facts are forward-looking, may involve risks and uncertainties, and are intended to be as of the date when made. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Evergy, Inc.’s strategic plan, including, without limitation, those related to earnings per share, dividend, operating and maintenance expense and capital investment goals; the outcome of legislative efforts and regulatory and legal proceedings; future energy demand; future power prices; plans with respect to existing and potential future generation resources; the availability and cost of generation resources and energy storage; target emissions reductions; and other matters relating to expected financial performance or affecting future operations. Forward-looking statements are often accompanied by forward-looking words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “seeks,” “intends,” “proposed,” “projects,” “planned,” “target,” “outlook,” “remain confident,” “goal,” “will” or other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information.
In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Evergy, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Evergy Companies”) are providing a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to: economic and weather conditions and any impact on sales, prices and costs; changes in business strategy or operations; the impact of federal, state and local political, legislative, judicial and regulatory actions or developments, including deregulation, re-regulation, securitization and restructuring of the electric utility industry; decisions of regulators regarding, among other things, customer rates and the prudency of operational decisions such as capital expenditures and asset retirements; changes in applicable laws, regulations, rules, principles or practices, or the interpretations thereof, governing tax, accounting and environmental matters, including air and water quality and waste management and disposal; the impact of climate change, including increased frequency and severity of significant weather events and the extent to which counterparties are willing to do business with, finance the operations of or purchase energy from the Evergy Companies due to the fact that the Evergy Companies operate coal-fired generation; prices and availability of electricity and natural gas in wholesale markets; market perception of the energy industry and the Evergy Companies; the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on, among other things, sales, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows, and also on operational issues, such as supply chain issues and the availability and ability of the Evergy Companies’ employees and suppliers to perform the functions that are necessary to operate the Evergy Companies; changes in the energy trading markets in which the Evergy Companies participate, including retroactive repricing of transactions by regional transmission organizations and independent system operators; financial market conditions and performance, including changes in interest rates and credit spreads and in availability and cost of capital and the effects on derivatives and hedges, nuclear decommissioning trust and pension plan assets and costs; impairments of long-lived assets or goodwill; credit ratings; inflation rates; the transition to a replacement for the London Interbank Offered Rate benchmark interest rate; effectiveness of risk management policies and procedures and the ability of counterparties to satisfy their contractual commitments; impact of physical and cybersecurity breaches, criminal activity, terrorist attacks, acts of war and other disruptions to the Evergy Companies’ facilities or information technology infrastructure or the facilities and infrastructure of third-party service providers on which the Evergy Companies rely; Impact of the Russian, Ukrainian conflict on the global energy market; ability to carry out marketing and sales plans; cost, availability, quality and timely provision of equipment, supplies, labor and fuel; ability to achieve generation goals and the occurrence and duration of planned and unplanned generation outages; delays and cost increases of generation, transmission, distribution or other projects; the Evergy Companies’ ability to manage their transmission and distribution development plans and transmission joint ventures; the inherent risks associated with the ownership and operation of a nuclear facility, including environmental, health, safety, regulatory and financial risks; workforce risks, including those related to the Evergy Companies’ ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, maintain satisfactory relationships with their labor unions and manage costs of, or changes in, wages, retirement, health care and other benefits; disruption, costs and uncertainties caused by or related to the actions of individuals or entities, such as activist shareholders or special interest groups, that seek to influence Evergy, Inc.’s strategic plan, financial results or operations; the possibility that strategic initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, and long-term financial plans, may not create the value that they are expected to achieve in a timely manner or at all; difficulties in maintaining relationships with customers, employees, regulators or suppliers; and other risks and uncertainties.
This list of factors is not all-inclusive because it is not possible to predict all factors. You should also carefully consider the information contained in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed by the Evergy Companies with the SEC, and from time to time in current reports on Form 8-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed by the Evergy Companies with the SEC. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. The Evergy Companies undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
| Investor Contact:
Pete Flynn Director, Investor Relations Phone: 816-652-1060
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Media Contact:
Gina Penzig Manager, External Communications Phone: 785-508-2410 Media line: 888-613-0003 |
Patients For Profit: Kaiser Health News
KFF’s Kaiser Health News Investigates Private Equity’s Stealth Takeover of Health Care in the United States
A new investigation by KFF’s Kaiser Health News (KHN) lays bare the sizeable efforts by private equity investors to take over large and lucrative parts of the U.S health care system in recent years. KHN found that private equity firms have invested nearly $1 trillion through thousands of deals to acquire hospitals and specialized medical practices during the last decade alone. The deals, many of them unnoticed by federal regulators, typically result in a ratcheting up of providers’ pursuit of profits – and higher prices for patients, lawsuits, and complaints about quality of care.
The investments range widely and include the acquisitions of physician practices, dental clinic management companies, companies that treat autism, drug addiction and other behavioral health care, and ancillary services such as diagnostic and urine testing labs and software for medical billing. Through other deals, companies tied to private equity have come to dominate specialized medical services such as dermatology, gastroenterology, and anesthesiology in certain markets around the country. All of it has come on top of better-publicized takeovers of hospital emergency room staffing firms as well as the buying up of entire rural hospital systems. Federal regulators have been almost blind to the incursion. KHN found that more than 90 percent of private equity takeovers or investments fell below the $100 million threshold that triggers an antitrust review by the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department.
Whistleblowers and injured patients, however, have turned to the courts to press allegations of misconduct or other improper business dealings. KHN found that companies owned or managed by private equity have agreed to pay fines of more than $500 million since 2014 to settle at least 34 lawsuits filed under the False Claims Act. Most of the time, the private equity owners have avoided liability.
The latest story, published today in USA Today, is part of a broader ongoing series, “Patients for Profit: How Private Equity Hijacked Health Care” in which KHN has examined a wide range of private equity’s forays into the health care system. They include the marketing of America’s top-selling abortion pill, the establishment of “obstetric emergency departments” at some hospitals, investments in the booming hospice care industry and even takeovers of funeral homes and cemeteries. The series includes a video primer, “How Private Equity Is Investing in Health Care”.
KHN collaborates with many editorial partners, and media outlets can publish these and other KHN stories at no charge. KHN also will publish the stories on khn.org and promote them through its social media platforms. KHN journalists also are available for interviews about their stories. News organizations interested in working with KHN should contact the news service at [email protected], and those interested in helping to expand and improve health journalism around the country should contact KFF at [email protected].
About KFF and KHN KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis, Polling and Survey Research and Social Impact Media, KHN is one of the four major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.
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Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas Newsletter
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Read the November edition of Circle Conversations |
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Today marks the start of the second year for the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund’s quarterly newsletter, Circle Conversations. We hope you enjoy this fifth edition, which contains the latest information about Women’s Health Fund grants for 2022! You can read this new edition of Circle Conversations by clicking the button below or visiting our Newsletters page. |
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P.S. As the newsletter points out, CFSEK is offering $51,000 in matching funds to help grow 36 local organizations’ endowments, and the Nightingale Endowment of the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund is one of them! Visit SoutheastKansas.org/match-day to get the latest updates as they become available! |
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Match Day 2022 is scheduled for National #GivingTuesday, November 29! |
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Rita Bicknell Women’s Health Fund Grants Friends of Mapleton
The Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund (WHF) is furthering its support of women’s health
initiatives in the Southeast Kansas area by awarding a total of $50,992 in grants in 2022.
TheWomen’s Giving Circle awarded $43,312 to five SEK nonprofit organizations and the Circle of
Friends Giving Circle awarded four nonprofit organizations $7,680. All projects receiving funding
are committed to carrying on the WHF mission “To improve the health and wellbeing of
women by supporting education, increasing awareness, and sharing quality of life
opportunities to benefit all women.”
In 2007, the establishment of the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Giving Circle at the CommunityFoundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) was a philanthropic beginning for women helping
women in our area. Today the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund is made up of the Women’s Giving Circle, the Circle of Friends, and the Nightingale Endowment.
Circle memberships support granting to area organizations.
The Nightingale Endowment supports the Irene Ransom
Bradley School of Nursing Simulation Hospital at Pittsburg State University. Since inception, the
giving circles have generously granted over $350,000 to improve women’s health in our
community.
The Women’s Health Fund and the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas would like to
congratulate the following 2022 grant recipients:
Women’s Giving Circle
Community Health Center of SEK, Inc.: Scope it Out – Reducing the Risk of Cervical Cancer
Fostering Connections: Teen Girl Shopping Spree
Kansas Angels Among Us Inc.: Financial Assistance for Cancer Patients.
Labette Health Foundation: OB/GYN Patient Care Improvement Project
Mount Carmel Foundation: Better Care at the Bedside: Ultrasound Probes Needed to Care for
Expectant Mothers & Babies.
Circle of Friends Giving Circle
Friends of Mapleton Association: Emergency Preparedness
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters: Here We Grow
Labette County USD 506 Meadowview Elementary School: Girls Day in Aviation at Greenbush
Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc.: A New Bed for a New Beginning
The Women’s Health Fund is proud to be able to contribute to the success of these
organizations and their projects in support of women’s health and wellbeing in the SEK region.
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is pleased to be the host agency for the Rita J.
Bicknell Women’s Health Fund. CFSEK is a public non-profit foundation that serves the region
by helping donors fulfill their charitable giving goals in ways that benefit the common good and
improve the quality of life. The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation and the Girard Area
Community Foundation are CFSEK affiliates. If you would like to learn more about the CFSEK or
the Women’s Giving Circles, we invite you to visit SoutheastKansas.org or call 620-231-8897.
Grant Awards from the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund
The Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund (WHF) is furthering its support of women’s health
initiatives in the Southeast Kansas area by awarding a total of $50,992 in grants in 2022. The
Women’s Giving Circle awarded $43,312 to five SEK nonprofit organizations and the Circle of
Friends Giving Circle awarded four nonprofit organizations $7,680. All projects receiving funding
are committed to carrying on the WHF mission “To improve the health and wellbeing of
women by supporting education, increasing awareness, and sharing quality of life
opportunities to benefit all women.”
In 2007, the establishment of the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Giving Circle at the Community
Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) was a philanthropic beginning for women helping
women in our area. Today the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund is made up of the Women’s
Giving Circle, the Circle of Friends, and the Nightingale Endowment. Circle memberships
support granting to area organizations. The Nightingale Endowment supports the Irene Ransom
Bradley School of Nursing Simulation Hospital at Pittsburg State University. Since inception, the
giving circles have generously granted over $350,000 to improve women’s health in our
community.
The Women’s Health Fund and the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas would like to
congratulate the following 2022 grant recipients:
Women’s Giving Circle
Community Health Center of SEK, Inc.: Scope it Out – Reducing the Risk of Cervical Cancer
Fostering Connections: Teen Girl Shopping Spree
Kansas Angels Among Us Inc.: Financial Assistance for Cancer Patients.
Labette Health Foundation: OB/GYN Patient Care Improvement Project
Mount Carmel Foundation: Better Care at the Bedside: Ultrasound Probes Needed to Care for
Expectant Mothers & Babies.
Circle of Friends Giving Circle
Friends of Mapleton Association: Emergency Preparedness
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters: Here We Grow
Labette County USD 506 Meadowview Elementary School: Girls Day in Aviation at Greenbush
Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc.: A New Bed for a New Beginning
The Women’s Health Fund is proud to be able to contribute to the success of these
organizations and their projects in support of women’s health and wellbeing in the SEK region.
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is pleased to be the host agency for the Rita J.
Bicknell Women’s Health Fund. CFSEK is a public non-profit foundation that serves the region
by helping donors fulfill their charitable giving goals in ways that benefit the common good and
improve the quality of life. The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation and the Girard Area
Community Foundation are CFSEK affiliates. If you would like to learn more about the CFSEK or
the Women’s Giving Circles, we invite you to visit SoutheastKansas.org or call 620-231-8897.
K-7 pavement repair project to start at Girard into Bourbon County
In early November, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) expects to begin a pavement repair project on a 500-foot section of K-7 at Girard. K-7 will be closed to traffic north of K-47. A state route detour will be signed on K-47, U.S. 69 and K-39 (see map).
Project activity includes repairs to the base drains and replacing the water lines and pavement. KDOT awarded the construction contract of $388,686 to Mission Construction, St. Paul. Weather permitting, the work should be completed by mid-December.
Persons with questions may contact KDOT Pittsburg Area Engineer Kyler Farmer at (620) 308-7617, or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433. Check KDOT’s updated traveler information website, www.Kandrive.org, for more highway condition and construction details.
Lansing Inmate Renfro Captured
Minimum-custody Inmate Joshua W. Renfro Who Walked Away from Lansing Correctional Facility Apprehended
~LCF Walkaway Apprehended Without Incident~
TOPEKA –
Minimum-custody resident Joshua W. Renfro has been apprehended.
Renfro was taken into custody Monday night, October 24, 2022, by law enforcement officials in Leavenworth County. He was arrested on the KDOC escape warrant without incident.
Renfro had been placed on escape status after he walked away from the minimum-security unit at the Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) on October 24, 2022.
No other details are being released as the investigation is ongoing.
The Lansing Correctional Facility, formerly the Kansas State Penitentiary, opened in 1867. Serving only males, the facility maintains maximum and medium units totaling 1,920 beds and a 512-bed minimum security unit.




