There are lots of activities to take advantage of in Fort Scott!
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Category Archives: Submitted
Westar and Kansas City Power and Light Merge
KCC approves Westar/Kansas City Power and Light merger
Topeka – May 24, the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) approved a settlement agreement giving Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy (the parent company of Kansas City Power and Light) approval to merge as equals. Under the agreement, the two companies will become wholly owned subsidiaries of a new parent company and serve more than 1.5 million customers in Kansas and Missouri.
As the regulator of public utilities in the state, the Commission is charged with determining if the merger is in the public interest. That determination is made largely on the satisfaction of eight merger standards previously established by the Commission.
In its review of the merger standards, the Commission found the merger, as modified by the Settlement Agreement plus one additional condition, is in the public interest. The additional condition requires the companies to develop, and submit for Commission approval, an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) reporting process within three months of the close of the transaction. The implementation of the IRP will ensure the merger maximizes the use of Kansas energy resources.
The merger standards include:
- a) The effect of the transaction on consumers
- b) The effect of the transaction on the environment
- c) Whether the proposed transaction will be beneficial on an overall basis to state and local economies and to communities in the area served by the resulting public utility operations in the state.
- d) Whether the proposed transaction will preserve the Commission’s jurisdiction and capacity to effectively regulate and audit public utility operations in the state.
- e) The effect of the transaction on affected public utility shareholders.
- f) Whether the transaction maximizes the use of Kansas energy resources.
- g) Whether the transaction will reduce the possibility of economic waste.
- h) What impact, if any, the transaction has on the public safety.
Today’s order can be viewed at: http://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx?Id=4ab19c7e-9957-40f1-8fb6-dd49aad0966f
The merger application was filed with the Commission on August 25, 2017. Statutorily the Commission is required to render a decision within 300 days. The parties have the right to file a petition for reconsideration within 15 days of the effective date of the order.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports May 25
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports May 23-24
The Fort Scott Police Department daily reports can best be viewed on a computer.
Click here, then click on the image to enlarge it:
Choose To Be Content by Patty LaRoche
This past week, Dave was called out of retirement to fill in for a pitching coach in the Marlins’ organization. Yesterday, our Jacksonville, Florida, ballclub-paid-for stay at the 5-Star Hyatt ended. During those five days we were to find an apartment for the remaining four months of the baseball season. Close-to-impossible, we found out, except for one that would be available in ten days. Until then, we were on our own looking for affordable motels with kitchenettes. The key word here is “affordable.” With little choice short of living under a bridge, we took the first one available that would not eat up Dave’s entire paycheck.
So, yesterday, after saying good-bye to the Hyatt’s valet parking, rooftop lap pool, complimentary orange/cucumber water and plush, over-sized towels, I dropped Dave off at the ballpark at noon for him to leave on a six-day roadtrip where he would stay in a 4-Star hotel. I, on the other hand, could check-in at my 2-Star facility at 3:00. In the meantime, I would make the best of it and take care of important things…
like a $30 pedicure, the kind where your feet are paraffin-waxed and your legs rubbed with hot rocks. Then I checked in at our motel. Correction: I tried to check in. No one was at the front desk. (Had I been a thief I could have made off with a new laptop and several rolls of toilet paper.) Minutes passed before I walked the halls, calling out for someone to help. Juanita finally appeared from who-knows-where.
She excused herself to check to see if my room was ready. When she reappeared with beads of sweat on her forehead, I realized she must double as the maid. Juanita read me my rights. I could have the regular, free Wi-Fi which was “really slow” or pay extra for the faster speed. If I needed towels, I was to bring my used ones to the front desk to exchange them for clean ones. The maid would change my sheets in seven days. (Oh, Hyatt, where art thou?)
I asked if there was a luggage roll-cart. There was. It was right around the corner with a hand-written sign on it: “Do not use. Tire is flat.” “Jackson” appeared from a storage closet and showed me where a workable cart was, only this one, once loaded, balked at corners and left tire tread marks on my freshly-pedicured, paraffined toes. Jackson, fearing I would run over the lobby coffee table, offered to guide my contraption.
The view from my room was a dumpster supporting broken-down mattresses, the pool was the size of a Subaru, and the towels, Kleenex and toilet paper doubled as exfoliators. Jackson told me to expect my kitchen supplies in spurts, a pot today and a pan tomorrow. “You know, because we are really busy.” Which might explain why I was the only vehicle in the parking lot. You’ve gotta laugh.
Yesterday things weren’t quite so funny. Yesterday when I ran errands, I was stunned by the number of homeless people carrying “Jesus loves you” signs. This motel would be the Taj Mahal to them. Who am I to deserve what comforts it offers (like a roof and running water)?
Paul, who penned more Epistles than any author, knew the difference between a 5-Star and 2-Star existence. Born into Hyatt-style privilege, he was well-educated and held an esteemed position among the Pharisees. He lacked for nothing…until, that is, God zapped him into a life of submission. In his words, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Phil. 4:12)
And that’s the attitude I choose to have. I choose to be content.
So now, if you will excuse me, I am off for a 30-minute swim. Two-thousand, four-hundred laps should do it.
Like I said, you’ve gotta laugh.
Art Walk Tomorrow Evening
The first of four Art Walks is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 25 at the Liberty Theatre Patio, 113 S. Main. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to the offices south of Crooners Lounge.
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Prepare Kids For Safe Summer
As Parents Prepare for Summer Break, State Offers Advice on Keeping Kansas Kids Safe
TOPEKA – The summer months mean a welcomed break from school for Kansas kids, but they also signal a shift in the family’s daily routine.
Families may be considering leaving children home alone during the summer, instead of opting for a sitter. Safe Kids Kansas, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) have some tips on how to decide if your child is ready to be home alone. And if you decide to keep the kids home, we have some important advice on keeping them safe.
“Developmentally, children are generally ready to be home alone around the age of 12 or 13,” said Cherie Sage, State Director of Safe Kids Kansas. “However, children develop at different rates, so use your own discretion to determine your child’s maturity level and capabilities. For example, if you have an impulsive 13-year-old who is a big risk taker, you might be hesitant to leave him/her alone. On the other hand, a thoughtful 11-year-old, who has a good track record of following household rules might be ready. Most states, including Kansas, don’t have regulations or laws about when a child is considered old enough to stay at home alone or babysit another child.”
DCF has some general guidelines to help you make the decision when your child is ready to be home alone:
- Age—Young children through age six, should never be left alone for even a short period of time. Kids six to nine can be left alone for only short periods of time, depending on their level of maturity. Children 10 and older can be left alone, depending on other factors.
- Length of time alone—Consider whether your child is ready to spend the whole day alone or if only a couple of hours is more appropriate.
- Maturity—Consider your child’s ability to fend for himself/herself and your child’s level of common sense. Certainly, children with developmental disabilities and emotion issues should be monitored closely.
- Knowledge of emergency preparedness—Ask your child if he/she knows what to do in the event of a fire, tornado, stranger at the door, etc. Ask “what ifs”.
- Availability of adults—Children must know how to reach a responsible adult at any point in the day for any reason, even if it’s just to provide reassurance if the child becomes fearful.
- Insecurity—Children should feel comfortable with the idea that they will be home alone. The more fearful they are, the less likely they will be able to respond appropriately to emergency situations.
- Behavior—Children who misbehave, vandalize, steal, intimidate neighbors, set fires or are a danger to themselves need close supervision.
“If you are unsure whether your child is ready to stay home alone, it is best to be cautious and take all measures necessary to ensure child safety,” DCF Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel said. “Never assume your child is ready because he/she seems old enough.”
Each year, more than 3 million kids, ages 14 and under, get hurt at home—and more than 2,000 children die from unintentional injuries in the home. Fire, suffocation, drowning, choking, firearm and poisoning are among the top leading causes of unintentional home injury death for this age group.
“Teach your children about hazards around the home, and make sure they know what to do in an emergency,” says Sage. “The first time your kids stay home alone, it should be for a short time and you should be nearby.”
Safe Kids Kansas also recommends parents take the following precautions to ensure your child’s safety:
- Carry a cell phone and keep it turned on. Make sure your children know where you will be and what time you will return. In addition to your cell phone number, post emergency numbers (police, fire, EMS, doctor and the poison control hotline, 800-222-1222) and a friend or neighbor’s number by every phone in the home. Teach your child their home address so they can tell emergency personnel where to dispatch assistance, if necessary.
- Prepare a snack or meal in advance — preferably one that does not need to be heated. If your children will need to cook, remind them never to leave an oven or stove unattended while cooking and to turn it off when they are finished.
- Make sure potentially poisonous or hazardous household items are locked up out of reach — especially medications, matches, lighters, weapons and cleaning products.
- Review your family’s emergency plans and make sure your children know what to do if the smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector goes off. Practice two escape routes from each room.
- Review and practice plans for other types of emergencies, such as severe weather. Ensure they know where to go for emergency shelter.
- Show your children where you keep your first aid kit and how to use basic first aid supplies.
Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports May 23
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports May 22
The Fort Scott Police Department daily reports can best be viewed on a computer.
The department is located at 1604 S. National Avenue and can be reached at 620-223-1700.
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Obesity – America’s Arch Enemy Number One
The Uniontown School District just won a $100K Fitness Center from Jake Steinfeld’s National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils, the following is an editorial submitted by Steinfeld.
Obesity – America’s Arch Enemy Number One
By Jake Steinfeld
Opioid abuse is a hot political topic this year. The opioid epidemic has become a public health emergency. Opioids killed more than 42,000 people in 2016 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This number is terrible and need to be eradicated. But let me give you one more number that is mind blowing – 2.8 million. That’s the number of people who die annually from obesity related diseases.
Obesity accounts for more than 1 in 5 American deaths alone. In fact, today, more than 70 percent of adults are considered overweight or obese. More than one in three American kids and teens are considered overweight or obese, making them five times more likely to become obese or overweight adults. Ramping up the severity of obesity is the fact that it’s linked to 60 chronic diseases including cancer, type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease and the estimated healthcare costs in the United States is between $147 billion to $210 billion annually.
There is no disputing the growing dangers of opioid deaths and the fact that stricter laws are needed to fight this issue. There is also no disputing the need to fight obesity as well. However, there is a difference – obesity is preventable by making a few simple changes including diet and exercise. Exercise serves as an anti-depressant and when you exercise you feel better about yourself, you build your confidence as well as your self-esteem. And when you feel good about you, you are less likely to abuse your body.
I wholeheartedly believe in the benefits of exercise. I know from personal experience how important it can be in turning a life around. As a kid, I was overweight with a bad stutter and zero confidence. At 13, my dad bought me a set of weights, and it changed my life forever. Not only did the weights build my body, but it boosted my confidence and self-esteem. It made me a firm believer in its power. By adding physical activity into your daily life, you’ll find that it positively changes your perspective on everything. It gets your blood flowing, which helps you concentrate, improves your performance at school, and keeps you both mentally and physically fit.
I’ve been helping people get fit for more than 40 years but realized I needed to do more. To make a real difference, we need to focus on our children. So, to help motivate kids across the country to get fit and to inspire them to move each day, I created the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC). Since its inception, NFGFC has delivered DON’T QUIT! Fitness Centers to elementary and middle schools to 24 states and this year we’ll be delivering fitness centers to Kansas, South Carolina, Utah and Tennessee. Our fitness centers is financed through public/private partnerships. In short, they don’t rely on a single taxpayer dollar or government funding.
Since we began dedicating these fitness centers to schools throughout the US, the response from students, teachers and the communities we’ve visited has been unbelievable. Kids are excited about working out and being physically active. The benefits gained through exercise are undeniable. I’ve always said that when you give the schools the tools, amazing things will happen…and they are happening!
There is no reason that obesity levels in this country should be at an all-time high. By introducing kids to physical exercise, we can reduce childhood obesity numbers significantly while helping fight a host of other issues including drug addiction.
Our children are our most precious resource, and when our kids are strong, the future of our country will be strong!
Jake Steinfeld serves as the Chairman of the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils, which supports state councils by providing fitness centers to schools across our nation. Visit www.natgovfit.org for more information.
PO Box 340692
Sacramento, CA 95835
916-213-5230
Japan is Kansas’ Third Largest Export Market
Kansas Strengthens Trade Relations by Rejoining the Midwest-US Japan Association
Topeka- Governor Jeff Colyer announced today that Kansas will renew its alliance with Japan by rejoining the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association. Governor Colyer met with the Japanese consulate in April at the Capitol to discuss the relationship between Kansas and Japan and feels this partnership will be a good way to strengthen business and agriculture relations.
“Kansas and Japan have historically been and continue to be great partners. It is time to take the next step,” said Governor Colyer, “I am looking forward to strengthening this valuable partnership through our renewed membership in the Midwest U.S. – Japan Association.”
Japan is an important export market for Kansas, traditionally ranking as one of the state’s top trading partners. Based on 2017 data, Japan is Kansas’ third largest export market, totaling $980 million. Kansas has also welcomed investment from Japanese companies such as Kubota, Kyodo Yushi, Takako, Gunze, Softbank, Yanmar, Sekisui, and Sumitomo.
“Japan is a very important export market for Kansas, and we are looking forward to continuing our already strong relationship,” said Robert North, Interim Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. “By joining the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association, we will have even more opportunities to work together and explore opportunities for growing our trading partnership.”
In early June, the Kansas Department of Agriculture will be participating in a USDA-led trade mission to Japan. Japan has been Kansas agriculture’s number two trading partner since 2014 and the goal of the trip is to strengthen the state’s relationship with Japan through this trade mission to Tokyo and Osaka. The trip will provide an opportunity to connect with potential customers and take part in briefings and site visits to learn firsthand about maximizing trade relationships with Japanese businesses.
“Japan continues to be the top export market for U.S. beef. Strengthening ties with this important trading partner is beneficial for Kansas beef producers,” said Kansas Livestock Association Chief Executive Officer Matt Teagarden.
“International trade markets are vital to the state of Kansas and the farmers and ranchers who call it home. Strong relationships with other countries can only help grow opportunities for Kansas farmers and ranchers,” said Kansas Farm Bureau president Richard Felts, a Montgomery County farmer.
Welding Expansion at FSCC
FSCC is responding to students interested in welding.
Fort Scott Community College (FSCC), Southeast Kansas Career and Technical Education Center of Crawford County (CTEC) and area businesses have banded together to prepare for the fall semester increase of students interested in welding, according to Kassie Fugate-Cate, Director of Strategic Communications and Student Activities at FSCC.
FSCC’s Welding, Construction Trades, Masonry, and HVAC programs are located in Pittsburg.
Enrollment from Crawford County high school students is approximately 43 students, which made the expansion necessary.
CTEC will be adding five new welding booths to the 11 that already exists to accommodate the increase in enrollment.
FSCC masonry students are in the midst of building the cinder block booths, while Nutter Electric, Garland, is providing the necessary electrical upgrades, and the college is supplying the welding equipment.
Potential industry donors have been identified who may be willing to donate equipment for the new booth spaces as well.
Kris Mengarelli, the Director of FSCC CTEC says: “It is exciting to see our enrollment increase, giving our students the opportunity to learn a trade in high need jobs. This spring, we have been approached with more job openings than ever before from industry partners and have had more students take the certification test. CTEC is an incredible partnership between high schools, FSCC, industry partners and generous donors and we are excited to continue to work together to benefit students in Crawford County.”