Governor appoints two members to the Kansas Board of Mortuary Arts

Governor Laura Kelly appointed Amy Elliott and reappointed Barry Bedene to the Kansas Board of Mortuary Arts.  

“Barry and Amy are dedicated individuals, and we are fortunate to have them on our mortuary board,” Kelly said. “I know they will work hard to ensure safe and ethical practices among our state’s licensed embalmers.”   

Barry Bedene, Arma, is a licensed embalmer and funeral director, and the owner of Bedene Funeral Home. He is a past president of District Three of the Kansas Funeral Directors Association; a member of the National Funeral Directors Association; served as a board member of the Crawford County Fire District Number Two for more than 20 years; served as a City Council member in Arma for four years; and has served on several other boards and commissions. Bedene also served as a member of the Mortuary Arts board for many years.  

Amy Elliott, Lenexa, currently works as a lawyer in her firm, the Law Office of Amy E. Elliott. Previously, she worked as a legal assistant for the law firm Cohen, McNeile & Pappas, P.C. Elliott received a juris doctor, a bachelor’s degree in English and an associate degree in paralegal studies, all from Washburn University.  

The board ensures that licensees who work in the practice of embalming perform their services in a manner that provides maximum protection of the health, safety and welfare of Kansans.  

Three members of the board must hold an embalmer’s license issued by the state board of mortuary arts, must have five consecutive years of experience in the practice of embalming and must be currently engaged in the practice of embalming in Kansas. The other two members must be a representative of the general public and without an embalming license.  

The governor’s appointments to the mortuary arts board are not subject to Senate confirmation.  

Governor appoints four members to the Creative Arts Industries Commission 

Governor Kelly appointed Aubrey Streit-Krug, Abby Killingsworth, Jamie Oliver and Brittany Novotny to the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission.  

“The creative arts industry is a very important piece of our state’s history,” Kelly said. “In difficult times, the arts bring people together – from all across Kansas. Creativity is what makes Kansas an extraordinary place to live. It amplifies everything we find important and celebrates our greatest accomplishments. When our creative arts industry thrives, so does our state. Aubrey, Abby, Jamie and Brittany have dedicated their lives to the creative arts, and I know that they will work hard to create jobs in our state and enhance Kansans’ quality of life. We are lucky to have them on the team.”  

The commission, which is part of the Department in Commerce, is focused on measuring, promoting, supporting and expanding Kansas’ creative industry to grow the state’s economy and foster creative industry-related jobs. The commission’s 11 members must be representative of the major arts fields. 

Aubrey Streit-Krug, Salina, currently is the Director of Ecosphere Studies at The Land Institute in Salina. She also has worked as a professor of writing and literature at Kansas Wesleyan University, Bethany College, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Streit-Krug received a doctorate in English and a master’s degree in English from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Bethany College. She has several published books, articles and essays.  

Abby Killingsworth, Goodland, is currently the executive director of the Carnegie Arts Center in Goodland. She previously worked as the career services coordinator at Northwest Kansas Technical College. Killingsworth received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Fort Hays State University, and was a national exchange participant at California State University in Chico, Calif.  

Jamie Oliver, Pittsburg, currently teaches art courses at Pittsburg State University, and is the chairperson of PSU’s Art Department. Previously, he was an assistant professor of painting and drawing at Denison University. Oliver received a Master of Fine Arts from Tulane University, a master’s degree from Easter Illinois University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Denison University.  

Brittany Novotny, Pratt, currently works as the co-executive director of the Vernon Filley Art Museum. Previously, she worked as a finance and administration intern at the Indiana University Art Museum. Novotny received a master’s degree in arts administration from Indiana University, and a bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.

Two members of the Creative Arts Industries Commission are appointed by the president of the Senate; one member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; two members appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; one member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; and five members appointed by the governor.  

New DCF Policy Connects Families with Vital Early Childhood Services; Promotes Safe Sleep

Agency Using Universal Infant Referral Policy Across Kansas

The Kansas Department for Children and Families is implementing a new policy designed to take a proactive approach to connecting Kansas families with important parent skill building programs. The Universal Infant Referral policy mandates child protection workers, when working with a family that has an infant under the age of one, refer the family to community-based infant-toddler and home visitor programs.

“We want to meet a family’s needs before crisis sets in,” Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard said. “Providing families with services and supports early may help prevent future maltreatment.”

The new policy took effect July 1 and is already connecting families with programs like Early Head Start, Parents as Teachers and Healthy Families America.

“We are already seeing positive outcomes from this new initiative,” Crawford County Healthy Families supervisor Lindsay Restivo said. “Recently we have been able to connect 16-year-old parents with much needed support services and education in Crawford County. During weekly home visits with our family support specialist, the parents will learn more about positive parent-child interaction, safe sleep and other important health information like the dangers of sudden infant death syndrome.”

The new policy also requires the child protection worker to assess the infant’s sleep environment using guidance from Safe Sleep Kansas. The worker provides the family information and resources to help support a safe sleep environment for the infant.

“It is important to me that Kansas families know that these services are available to them,” Howard said. “We know these programs can help children and families thrive and we are excited to facilitate these connections.”

For additional information on infant-toddler resources visit: http://ksqualitynetwork.org/resources/child- development/.

Information on safe sleep is available at: http://www.safesleepkansas.org/

Governor ends Emergency Declaration at El Dorado Correctional Facility

The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) has notified the President of the Kansas Organization of State Employees (KOSE), Sarah LaFrenz, that improvements in staffing levels at the El Dorado Correctional Facility will allow the Department to return to eight-hour shifts for security staff.

“There are many people to thank for their support during this emergency, first and foremost our employees,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Under very difficult circumstances, our employees demonstrated their commitment to each other and to the safety of their fellow Kansans.”

Uniformed staff vacancies at El Dorado have been reduced from 75 on June 17, 2019, to 50 on July 29, 2019. The reduction is attributed to the commitment of funding by Governor Kelly and the 2019 Kansas Legislature. That funding increase allows KDOC to be more competitive in the job market by offering starting wages of $18.26 per hour, an increase from $15.75.

“We are encouraged to see this administration and Acting Secretary Jeff Zmuda take seriously the issues at EDCF and our other Kansas Correctional facilities, as well as the safety of our Kansas workers,” LaFrenz said. “We look forward to working collaboratively with KDOC both currently and in the future.”

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) between KOSE and KDOC requires a 45-day notice before implementing this change, which would end scheduled 12-hour shifts beginning October 6, 2019. This will provide time for staff to express their preference for a specific post.

“In my first weeks at KDOC, I have appreciated the open dialogue and collaboration between KOSE and KDOC and look forward to our continued work together,” Zmuda said.

KDOC is experiencing reduced vacancies at facilities across Kansas. On June 17, 2019, a total of 342 uniformed positions were vacant compared to 252 on July 29, 2019, a 26.3% improvement

Governor orders flags lowered honoring the victims of El Paso and Dayton shootings

In accordance with Executive Order 10-12, and in coordination with the proclamation signed by President Donald Trump, Governor Laura Kelly has ordered flags throughout the State of Kansas to be flown at half-staff starting immediately and ending at sunset on August 8, 2019, in honor of the victims in the El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio shooting.

“My thoughts go out to the people of El Paso and Dayton today. And, to everyone touched by these tragedies,” Kelly said. “This is not normal. We are in the midst of a public health crisis and we should not wait for another gun-related tragedy to occur to take action. It’s time we do something about this before it’s too late. It’s time to implement real, common sense gun-safety laws.”

To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honors.

TOPEKA – The state begins Fiscal Year 2020 with total tax collections of $496.2 million, which is $2.0 million, or 0.39% above estimates. Total tax collections were $2.9 million, or 0.57%, below the amount collected in July 2018.

Retail sales tax collections were $204.6 million and are down 0.21% from the $205.0 million estimate; and use tax collections were $39.0 million and are $3.0 million, or 8.29% higher than the $36.0 million estimate.

Individual income tax collections were $224.2 million, about $0.8 million below the estimate. Corporate income tax was also about $0.8 million below the estimate with collections of $15.2 million, but were 6.50% greater than the previous July.

“Receipts are holding steady as we start the new fiscal year,” Secretary Mark Burghart said.

Nominations Now Being Accepted for Kansas Health Champion Awards

Exceptional efforts to promote health and fitness in Kansas to be recognized

TOPEKA – The Governor’s Council on Fitness is now accepting nominations for its annual Kansas Health Champion Awards. Awards are given to individuals and organizations that make an exceptional effort to model, encourage and promote health and fitness in Kansas. The deadline for nominations is September 30. Award recipients will be recognized at the Community Health Promotion Summit on January 30 in Wichita.

“The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is excited to partner in this important initiative to recognize those who make healthy living in our state a priority,” said KDHE Secretary Lee Norman, MD. It’s important that we recognize their efforts and the difference they are making in their communities.”

Nominees shall have demonstrated:

• Work that goes above and beyond what is expected to model, encourage and promote fitness
• Work that helps overcome health inequities
• Sustainable influence or activity
• Far-reaching health impact

“In addition to promoting effective models for increasing physical activity, nutrition and tobacco-free living for replication by organizations and communities around the state, the awards also allow us the opportunity to honor the outstanding work of one individual and one organization this year,” said Marlou Wegener, Chair of the Governor’s Council on Fitness and Manager of Community Relations, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.  Eligible nominees might include an outstanding volunteer, a school, a local community, a newspaper or individual reporter, a local or State policy maker, or an employer, among others.

For more information and to submit a nomination, go to getactivekansas.org and click on the nomination form link. If you have questions about the nomination process, contact Connie Satzler at 785-587-0151.

The Governor’s Council on Fitness advises the Governor and others on ways to enhance the health of all Kansans through promotion of physical activity, good dietary choices and prevention of tobacco use.

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Secretary David Toland Awards Community Service Tax Credits to Kansas Non-profits

Topeka, Kan. – Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today the award of Community Service Tax Credits (CSP) to 17 non-profit organizations to support education, healthcare and housing projects across the state.

CSP is a tool that dramatically enhances fundraising efforts, providing a 70% tax credit to qualified donors in rural communities of less than 15,000 population and 50% in larger communities. For example, a donor making a $100 gift in a rural community receives a $70 tax credit when they file their state taxes, making the net cost to the donor only $30.

“These nonprofit organizations provide so much to their communities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We must do everything we can to support them. Community Service Tax Credits will help build stronger communities and a stronger state.”

“Community Service Tax Credits are a powerful tool to fuel the success of important projects that support the quality of life in communities large and small,” Secretary Toland said. “I’m proud that these projects are both a reflection of Governor Kelly’s priorities and of the priorities of the communities. I wish we had the funds to assist everyone who applied. Many more applicants presented important and worthy projects that we were unable to fund this year.”

Awarded companies were chosen through a competitive, score-based selection process.

For this fiscal year, the Department of Commerce is fully disbursing all CSP funds. Due to the amount of funds allocated, 17 of the 39 requested projects (constituting 21.2% of the total funds requested) are being awarded.

The awarded companies and the indicated need for funds are as follows:

• Camp Wood Young Men’s Christian Association (Elmdale) – Increasing capacity and safety through the Next Century Campaign, which aims to address both needs and be the final piece of renovations that will have improved every area of the 104-year-old statewide facility.
• Carpenter Place, Inc. (Wichita) – Building a new cottage to provide a safe and secure home, provide individualized bedrooms for each resident and increase the capacity of residents. Because this organization serves girls through the age of 18, a potential liability is created when residents must share a bedroom. The new cottage with individualized bedrooms will eliminate this important safety concern.
• Center City Academy, Inc. (Wichita) – Purchasing land and building/equipping a building to provide a high-quality early learning experience for children whose parents live and/or work in the downtown area. At least 50% of the children will come from low-income families who cannot afford childcare and preschool education that prepares their children to enter the Wichita public school system.
• Florence Crittenton Services of Topeka, Inc. (Topeka) – Increasing Psychiatric Residential Treatment Program (PRTF) capacity by repurposing a residential unit for PRTF beds, finishing an unfinished basement area for more space to accommodate the increase in programming, replacing carpeting/flooring in high traffic areas of the building, and adding additional parking to accommodate increased staff and visitor traffic.
• Interfaith Housing & Community Services, Inc. (Hutchinson) – Creating transitional housing in the form of 600 square-foot EcoHomes. The homes will be located in a designated neighborhood re-investment area and on empty lots where public infrastructure is already in place. A potential site has been properly identified through a land bank in Hutchinson and other lots will be considered in rural communities within a 100-mile radius of Hutchinson.
• Labette Health (Oswego) – Construction of a Rural Health Clinic and Express Care in Oswego, KS. Located in Southeast Kansas, Oswego is a historically medically underserved community, according to HRSA. On February 14, 2019, Oswego Community Hospital abruptly closed, which left citizens of Oswego without access to primary or express care.
• The Minneola Den, Inc. (Minneola) – Renovation of the facility in which The Den operates, to expand the program area to the north space to create a covered/concrete outdoor activity area, and to provide interior furnishing and upgrades to create an accessible restroom and to establish and expand program areas on the main and basement floors. The renovation will include engineering and design, demolition and site preparation, excavation and waterproofing of basement walls, and sheeting of existing walls of The Den on the north and west.
• Morris County Hospital Foundation (Council Grove) – Restoration and re-opening of the White City and Alta Vista Clinics, which have been closed for several years.
• Moundridge Manor Inc. (Moundridge) – Replacing the HVAC system in two wings to significantly increase the comfort of the frail and disabled seniors by enabling each resident room to have individualized climate control. Residents do not currently have control over the temperature in their room as each side of each wing is controlled by a single thermostat, which results in varying temperatures that are not always to everyone’s comfort.
• Pleasant View Home Inc. (Inman) – Replacing the main generator (in place since 1959) and two fire panels (more than 20 years old) in order to ensure the safety of the more than 200 residents living on campus.
• See to Learn Foundation (Topeka) – Ensure funding is provided to help provide Kansas children access to appropriate eye care. Vision problems affect one in five children in Kansas schools each year. Left unchecked, they can limit a child’s ability to succeed in school and can lead to self-esteem issues and behavior problems. These vision issues can affect any child, regardless of income or ability to pay.
• SOS, Inc. (Lyndon) – Renovation of a newly acquired facility for Advocacy, Education and Outreach Services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Last year SOS, Inc., provided 18,134 services including crisis intervention, court support, safety plans, support groups, therapy services, 24-hour hotline, trauma services and more. This renovation project will bring all Advocacy and Outreach Services under one roof and help streamline operations in order to deliver services to more people in need.
• Spearville Senior Living, Inc. (Spearville) – Construction and operations of a 12-bed skilled nursing unit and a 12-apartment assisted living complex using the “Greenhouse” model of resident-centered care. In addition to caring for 24 elderly residents, the new facility intends to offer more than 20 new jobs to residents of the Spearville area.
• Starkey, Inc. (Wichita) – Creation of a new 20,000-square foot facility for the Life Enrichment program to support the daily needs of 250 people with goal-setting and skill-building activities. A new purpose-built facility would provide essential supports for the basic needs of the persons served, as well as provide new opportunities for living a full life. Program spaces would include small-group activity rooms where people could focus on specialized activities and tasks, but still have a multipurpose common space for activities and dining.
• William Newton Memorial Hospital (Winfield) – Purchasing equipment necessary for a Cath Lab in the new expanded Surgical Center. This equipment will allow the Cath Lab to provide critical services for the area, as this organization would be the only one to offer that service.
• Transition Plus Association (Summerfield) – Creation of growing towers that provide state-of-the-art indoor ability to grow vegetables three times faster than usual, allowing for more profit and sustainability of the business. They will be housed in the former school gym, where transitioning military can train in the methods of care, harvest and distribution. They can then take that knowledge with them and become vegetable farmers without needing to own expensive land or costly farm machinery, thereby eliminating two of the greatest barriers to new farmers.

About the Community Service Tax Credit Program (CSP)

Each year since 1994, the Kansas Community Service Program has given nonprofit organizations a way to improve their ability to undertake major capital fundraising drives for various projects. Tax credits are allocated each year and awarded on a competitive application basis to nonprofit organizations.

Projects eligible for tax credit awards include community service, crime prevention, health care, and youth apprenticeship and technical training. Based on the scope and cost of the proposed project, applicants may request up to $250,000 in tax credits. Applicant organizations in rural areas (less than 15,000 population) are eligible for a 70% credit. Applicant organizations in non-rural areas are eligible for a 50% credit.

Scores are tallied based on the following criteria, among others:

• Need of the project
• Solution compatibility (will this solution solve the need)
• Target community
• Project planning
• Community support

Ryan Brinker

Public Information Officer

[email protected]

Kansas Department of Commerce

1000 SW Jackson St. Ste. 100

Topeka, KS 66612-1354

Phone: 785-296-4931

Cell: 785-276-9723