Long-time store owner Georgia Brown is expanding Sunshine Boutique.

The store will be expanding to the east, through a door in the store to the property at 2 S. Main that the Brown’s also own.

“We are excited about the expansion,” Brown said.

The store is a family affair.

She, her husband-Donnie and granddaughters Rilie Creollo, Kinede Houdashelt and Tucker Ross are all involved with the store.

“There will be new boutique clothing, a designated wedding planning area and we will make our all-occasion flower section bigger, this includes fresh flowers in a cooler,” Brown said.

“The girls have been wanting to do clothing for several years,” she said.

Donnie is co-owner, Rilie is the assistant manager, Kinede’s wedding cakes will be featured, and Tucker does technology-part time, Brown said.

The Browns own 2 S. Main and 4 S. Main, which were recently vacated by the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, which had used it for storage the last year, she said.

“We have not used the west side of the street very much, for the past year,” Norman Conard, executive director of the center said.

The new LMC, at 1 S. Main,  is  across the street from the 2 and 4 S. Main.

“The new building is so popular that everyone, teachers and students, want to be in the new building,” he said.

Rental Opportunity

4 S. Main will be available for rent next week, Brown said.

It is 1,300 square feet, has two areas divided by a half wall, a bathroom and an area in the back that has been used as a staff room, Brown said.

January 31, 2020

Kansas Property Taxes have increased 164% from 1997 to 2018, while inflation was 49.5%. during the same time-frame.  And we have some whose property taxes have increased 15% or more just in the last year.

Senate Bill (SB) 294 and SB 295 were introduced to promote transparency and fairness in our property tax system.  SB 294 would require a vote of local government to increase your property taxes.  Taxpayers deserve to know why their taxes are increasing.  SB 295 would stop your property tax from increasing for normal maintenance.  When you need to paint your house or need a new roof it shouldn’t increase your property tax.  Especially when the person who doesn’t take care of their property receives a lower tax bill.

There is an effort by some who are funded with property taxpayer dollars to try and kill or weaken the bills.  It appears they want business as usual.

Value Them Both (mother and child) Constitutional amendment, Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1613, passed the Senate on a vote of 28 Yes to 12 No.  The SCR would allow Kansas voters the opportunity to amend our State Constitution and clarify the authority to enact laws on abortion is with the legislature and not the courts.  The next step is for the House to debate and vote on the SCR.  It must pass the House with 2/3 majority before it can be on a ballot for Kansas voters.  If the amendment passes the House and goes on a ballot, a yes vote would keep Kansas abortion laws already in place.  This is required because the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that our founding fathers allowed for abortion in our state constitution.

The amendment would help in stopping the courts from legislating abortion laws from the bench.  The Court opinion is posted online at:

www.kscourts.org/Cases-and-Opinions/Opinions/SupCt/2019/20190426/114153.pdf.

Legislating from the bench needs to be stopped.  Last year a Kansas Supreme Court decision blocks the state from prosecuting illegal immigrants who use a fake Social Security Number (SSN).  The majority of justices ruled Kansas has no right to prosecute an “alien” for using a stolen SSN.  Two justices dissented and understood how disastrous it is to not be able to prosecute whomever breaks Kansas laws.

www.kscourts.org/Cases-and-Opinions/opinions/SupCt/2017/20170908/112502.pdf

A loud and clear message must be sent to the justices that we will not tolerate judges rulings based on personal opinions rather than on law.  SCR 1613 will help send that message.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12^th District State Senator.

Caryn

She’s That “Nothing” When People Ask Me What I’m Thinking About

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”

Ephesians 5:25

My wife, Amanda, and I have a major anniversary coming up this year. She has been good for me. Yet, somehow, I am afraid that people have not realized that I have been, and am, good for her.

For example, whenever she is not with me, why do people ask, “How’s poor Amanda?”

Last week, a woman in church said, “Amanda must be a saint.” I said, “According to most textbooks on theology, a saint is someone who often endures hardships, persecutions, sufferings, and torments.” “I know…” she replied.

It must be that I have failed to toot my own horn in this matter. Somehow, my humble spirit being what it is, I have failed to let people know the blessing I am to her.

Take our anniversary last year. I did it up right. I went to the cemetery and found her some flowers in the trash. Show me another man who recycles and thinks of his flower-loving wife at the same time.

I took her to Walmart where she looked at the anniversary cards in the display. When she found one that she liked, I read it to her before carefully putting it back. I didn’t want to bend it and have to pay for it.

Then I drove her through the drive-through at McDonalds. I let her read the menu and smell the hamburgers.

I listened as she said that she would like to look at some new dresses. I took her to the mall in Joplin. We went to Sears, J.C. Penny, and Macy’s. For over two hours, I let her walk through the dress area and look to her heart’s content.

She kept saying something about needing a new dress, but I’m not sure she does. She has a perfectly good one that she never wears. As a matter of fact, it is a rather expensive long white dress. It is also the most beautiful dress that I have ever seen on her. But, as beautiful as it is, I have only seen her wear it once for a public event, our wedding. She was then, and still is now, the most stunningly gorgeous woman that I have ever laid eyes on. Next to my salvation in Jesus Christ, marrying Amanda is the best thing that ever happened to me.

Love delights to give. I would have continued giving more to Amanda on our anniversary last year, but she ran out of money. But seriously, love delights to give. Tell me how much you give, and I will tell you how much you love.

God loved you and me so much that He gave His only Son. The Bible says that husbands are to love their wives in that same way (Ephesians 5:35). A husband should be willing to give his very life for his bride.

The point is: Loving and giving are inseparable. Whether you are dating or have been married half a year or half a century, love deeply and give freely.

For over two decades, I have been blessed to live with a woman who makes life worth living. And, I join those who wonder how she can put up with me, but I am glad that she does. Life would not be worth living without her.

So, all kidding aside, I would die for her.

More importantly, I will live for her.

James Collins is the senior pastor at Fort Scott’s First Southern Baptist Church. Find out more about his ministry at the website www.fortscottfsbc.com.