Tag Archives: featured

Bourbon County, Elections, Mercy Hospital

Introducing the Candidates: Jeff Caldwell

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This is a part of a series of candidates for the November 6 election.
Governor/Lt. Governor (vote for one)

Kris Kobach/ Wink Hartman P.O. Box 1993 Topeka 66601 Republican

Laura Kelly/Lynn Rogers P.O. Box 2098 Topeka 66601 Democratic

Jeff Caldwell/ Mary Gerlt 4900 W 108th St, Apt. 1202 Leawood 66211 Libertarian

Rick Kloos/Nathaniel Kloos 5339 SW 22nd Pl. Topeka 66614 Independent

Greg Orman/John Doll 18001 W 106th St Olathe 66061 Independent

Name:Jeff Caldwell
Age: 32
Candidate for the position of Governor of Kansas
Place of residence: Leawood, Kansas
Current occupation: Sales
Community involvement: Volunteer for Harvesters, Food Banks, and Food Pantries
Party affiliation: Libertarian
1) What is the biggest issue, if elected, and how do you plan to address it?
The Kansas government spends way too much money and is $3.2 billion in debt. It’s time for Kansas to stop borrowing money from different agencies and stealing from KPERS. I will work with the legislators to responsibly cut government spending, abolish unnecessary agencies like the Board of Cosmetology, and eliminate overburdensome regulations and red tape. I will also look at returning state responsibilities back to local city governments and find ways to have nonprofit organizations take over some services provided by the state.
2)Give your views on food sales tax:
Kansas is one of only seven states in the entire United States that taxes food without a reduced rate or no rate at all. Kansas has one of the highest tax rates on food in the entire United States. Missouri, Nebraska, and Colorado have a reduced tax rate on food. Oregon and Montana have no tax on food. Having some of the highest sales tax on food in the nation is a burden on everyone. My platform includes abolishing the tax on food and water, lowering private property taxes, and abolishing the income tax for the service industry.
3) Give your views on legalizing marijuana:
I am the only Kansas Gubernatorial candidate running to fully legalize cannabis. I am also the only Kansas Gubernatorial candidate running to pardon all nonviolent cannabis offenses. Earlier this year, Kansas passed a $525 million school funding increase. The politicians in Topeka have not told us how they are going to pay for it or how they are going to improve our economic outlook. The unemployment rate in Kansas has been stuck at 3.4% for over 6 months; however, the Kansas legislators are telling us an improving economy will cover the funding. I want to use funds from full legalization of medical and recreational cannabis, hemp, and sports betting to cover the cost.
4) Give your views on health care for our state, including Medicaid:
I am running to keep Medicaid at current levels while cutting government regulations to allow free market solutions to health care [not privatization like Brownback, which created government granted monopolies]. This means more direct primary care doctors, ushering in coverage from insurance companies out of state, allowing more nonprofit organizations to enter health care, and allowing for importation of medicine from other countries. Having more doctors who do not require health insurance allows for there to be more doctors able to perform tasks without charge and have more flexible payments for people who cannot afford treatment. This offsets costs from catastrophic injuries and sickness. If we can cut enough government spending, and Medicaid expansion passes the house and senate, I will sign the bill for expansion. I will work to ensure expansion does not create more red tape and operates closer to a free market than having corporate or government monopolies on health care.
5) Give views on abortion and Planned Parenthood:
I would like to keep abortion laws the same as they are. To stop polarizing politics, I support allowing Kansans to choose where their tax dollars are spent. If a citizen does not want their tax dollars to go to Planned Parenthood, they should not be forced to fund Planned Parenthood. Furthermore, if a citizen believes in funding Planned Parenthood, they should be allowed to direct their tax dollars to Planned Parenthood.
Bourbon County, Elections, Kansas

Introducing the Candidates: Marci Francisco

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This is part of a series of candidates for the November 6 election.

State Treasurer (vote for one)

Marci Francisco 1101 Ohio Lawrence 66044 Democratic

Jake LaTurner P.O. Box 67177 Topeka 66667 Republican

Name: Marci Francisco

Age: 68

Candidate for the position of Kansas State Treasurer

Place of residence: Lawrence, KS

Current occupation:

  • Kansas State Senator, 2nd District
  • Small business owner – My husband, Joe Bickford, and I renovate distressed properties to create quality affordable housing

Community involvement: As a member of the Lawrence City Commission from 1979-1983 and two-term Mayor from 1981-1983, I led efforts to protect the city’s vibrant downtown, revitalize existing neighborhoods, plan for new development, and start the city’s recycling program. I have remained involved in my community and state, serving as a member of my neighborhood association, the League of Women Voters of Lawrence-Douglas County and of Kansas, the Kansas Grassroots Arts Association, the Lawrence Preservation Alliance, the Kansas Preservation Alliance, the University of Kansas Student Housing Association, Depot Redux, as a member of the Lawrence Advisory Board of Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc., and as the Chair of my congregation’s Endowment Committee.

Party affiliation: Kansas Democratic Party

What is the biggest issue, if elected, and how do you plan to address it: The State Treasurer must ensure that all programs overseen by the office are managed responsibly. I do believe that it will be vital for legislators and the public to have an accurate picture of the state’s finances so we can plan appropriately to dig ourselves out of the fiscal hole created by the failed Brownback/Kobach tax experiment. Towards that end, all reports generated by the office must be made publicly available along with information about contracts and personnel expenditures made by the state. The legislature and the public need to have a good understanding of the state’s financial health and be able to address any concerns regarding inappropriate expenditures.

I am also concerned about reports indicating the state’s Learning Quest program, overseen by the State Treasurer, is among one of the poorest performings in the nation. Although the state should be encouraging families to save for post-high-school education, I would examine opportunities to restructure and rebid the program before advertising it more widely. One of my goals as Treasurer would be to increase the interest earned by its investments and its productivity for participants. I also will explore alternative opportunities to provide every child in Kansas an education savings account.

Give your views on food sales-tax: The sales tax on food is regressive, and as a Kansas State Senator, I have voted for amendments to reduce it. As Treasurer, however, I will only have an advisory role. With that in mind, I would advise the legislature to consider the impact on municipalities, alternative income possibilities such as a tax on internet sales, and an intermediate step to restore refundability to the food-tax sales rebate program to provide financial help for at-risk, low-income Kansans.

Give your views on legalizing marijuana: As a State Senator, I have supported the availability of medical marijuana for individuals whose medical conditions warrant such treatment.

Give your views on healthcare – including Medicaid: Healthful habits and healthcare are both important in maintaining and active and engaged population. As a State Senator I have voted to expand Medicaid; doing so would increase opportunities for insurance coverage, provide needed support for our hospitals, and create more jobs in healthcare. As Treasurer, I would publish information about the costs and the benefits of expanding the program in our state.

Give your views on abortion and Planned Parenthood: Federal law entitles women to direct their own healthcare in consultation with their physician. The public should be aware that no tax dollars are being used in Kansas to perform abortions. Planned Parenthood is one of many organizations that run clinics in our state to provide needed healthcare services for men and women; their services include reproductive health care for women and couples who are hoping to start a family.

Bourbon County, Elections, Government, Kansas

Introducing the Candidates: Kelly Standley

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This is part of a series on the candidates for the general election November 6.

United States House of Representatives, 2nd District (vote for one)

Paul Davis P.O. Box 944 Lawrence 66044 Democratic

Laura Kelly/Lynn Rogers P.O. Box 2098 Topeka 66601 Democratic

Steve Watkins 6021 SW 29th St, Ste A Box 150 Topeka 66614 Republican

Name: Kelly Standley

Age: 49

Candidate for the position of U.S. House of Representatives 2nd District Kansas

Place of residence: Saint Paul, Kansas

Current occupation: Business owner and job creator

Community involvement:

Homeless shelter where we help to clothe, feed, find jobs and give them a place to stay while doing all this.

Party affiliation: Libertarian

  1. What is the biggest issue, if elected, and how do you plan to address it? The biggest issue I see for Kansas is we need more jobs in the rural areas. Right now if people in the rural areas of Kansas want a job they may have to move to a larger city. We need jobs available to our residents, not that farming does not employ a large number of people but as we automate there will be a need for jobs that do not involve farming. As a Federal Representative for the people in the 2nd District, I will seek out companies looking to expand and help guide them to the right areas of Kansas that need those jobs.

2) Give your views on food sales tax:

Considering the fact that Kansans pay a higher sales tax on food than most other States I am for lowering the tax. Here is my problem with doing that though, will the stores take advantage of that and see an opportunity to raise prices on products so they can have a better bottom line? Some large retail stores advertise they are lowering prices on products but what they don’t say is that when they lower prices on select items they raise prices on other items to make up the difference. I know this to be true, I have worked large retail before and I never thought that was fair to the consumer.

 

3) Give your views on legalizing marijuana:

I lived in Colorado for several years and I saw the downside to legalizing it, but I can say that the downside came when they made it open for recreational use. At the same time I saw new schools being built, a larger number of law enforcement agencies having staff and supplies they needed. I saw hospitals not worrying about how patients were going to pay a bill. I would support putting this option on a national ballot for the people in each state to vote on and decide if it is what they want. The Federal Government has no place regulating this product and it should be left up to the states individually.

4) Give your views on health care for our state, including Medicaid:

Medicaid needs to be addressed and no more hospitals like Mercy in Fort Scott, Independence should have to close down because of Medicaid shortfalls. I would like to see the State of Kansas come up with a solution that works for the hospitals instead of against them. Hospitals in rural areas are very important to their communities and we have no time to play around when lives are at risk!

5) Give views on abortion and Planned Parenthood:

I’m for women having choices to do what they want with their bodies but I am also not for abortion. What I would like to see is instead of the Federal Government pushing Planned Parenthood agencies to have specific quota numbers for abortions. It would be more beneficial to see Planned Parenthood work with adoption agencies to get children adopted and not aborted.

Bourbon County, Elections, Kansas

Introduction to the Candidates: Steve Watkins

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This is part of a series featuring candidates for the Nov. 6 election.

United States House of Representatives, 2nd District (vote for one)

Paul Davis P.O. Box 944 Lawrence 66044 Democratic

Laura Kelly/Lynn Rogers P.O. Box 2098 Topeka 66601 Democratic

Steve Watkins 6021 SW 29th St, Ste A Box 150 Topeka 66614 Republican

 

Steve Watkins

Name: Steve Watkins

Age: 42

Candidate for the position of U.S. House of Representatives, KS-02

Place of Residence: Topeka, Kansas

Current Occupation: Engineer

Community involvement: Member, Philip Billard VFW Post 1650
Party affiliation: Republican

Policy Questions
1. What is the biggest issue, if elected, and how do you plan to address it?

The most important and biggest issues our nation faces today are protecting Social Security and Medicare, keeping taxes low, and securing our southern border. What stands in the way of these pivotal issues for the American people is the partisan obstruction by Democrats. As a Captain in the U.S. Army, I spent years leading diverse groups of people through difficult situations. In order to work toward solutions to our most prevalent issues, we must elect leaders that are willing to work across the aisle and put aside their party labels for the betterment of the American people.

2. Give your views on a food sales tax:

While I personally oppose sales tax on food, there are currently no sales taxes on food or anything else at the federal level. Sales taxes are all levied at the state a local level, so those are the choices of state and local leaders. In Congress, I would oppose any
efforts to impose a federal sales tax. Further, while my opponent has advocated to repeal some of the recent tax cuts signed into law by President Trump. I would seek to make them permanent for hard working Kansans.

3. Give your views on legalizing marijuana:

Although I am not personally in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational use, I am also a strong believer in the 10th Amendment to the Constitution and I believe this is an ultimately a state’s rights issue. However, I am sympathetic to the push to legalize
marijuana strictly for medicinal purposes. As a Veteran myself, I have read many studies that suggest medical marijuana can help veterans struggling with PTSD, as well as to treat symptoms of serious illness and other conditions. I believe further research
should be done in this area.

4. Give your views on health care in our state, including Medicaid:

First and foremost, Congress must repeal and replace Obamacare and work together toward a patient-centered healthcare system that protects those with pre-existing conditions, reduces costs, promotes competition in the marketplace, and gives patients
more control over their health care. Obamacare did the opposite. Introducing crippling tax mandates and excessive regulations that were geared more toward an urban setting than a rural setting. This has unfairly targeted rural areas and has had a very negative
impact on our rural hospitals leading to a loss of access as was recently demonstrated here in Fort Scott. Lower quality of health care, fewer choices, and skyrocketing premiums is not “Affordable Care”. While Medicaid expansion is one possible short term
fix, the real solution to our healthcare system is building a new system that allows for more choices and more adaptability to the individual patient and the individual healthcare setting.

5. Give views on abortion and Planned Parenthood:
I am and always have been committed to protecting the sanctity of life, at all costs. By signing the National Right To Life Pledge, I vowed to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood and to never vote for pro-choice legislation in Washington. My opponent, on
the other hand, has a long record of voting against life, including votes in support of late-term abortions. Planned Parenthood, a major donor to the Democratic Party, is the largest provider of abortions in the U.S. It is unacceptable that over 500 million
taxpayer dollars is given to Planned Parenthood year after year. I have been endorsed by both Kansans for Life and the National Right to Life Committee. As your congressman, I will never vote for the pro-choice legislation.

Fort Scott, Government

City Commission Approves Raise For Martin

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Dave Martin

The Fort Scott City Commission budgeted this year for a three-percent raise for the city employees.

“When the commission approves the budget, we build in what we can for the employees, a three-percent raise,” City Manager Dave Martin said. “It takes effect on the anniversary date of when they started.”

Martin started in August 2010.

Fort Scott City Mayor JoLynne Mitchell introduced the City Manager’s Employment Agreement to the city commission Oct 2 at their regular meeting, according to the minutes of the meeting.

She asked each commissioner to speak to City Manager Dave Martin about his evaluation.

Commissioner Cindy Bartelsmeyer thanked Martin for his leadership and for the “hard work” he has provided. Ongoing improvements in street conditions need to be addressed, she said, according to the minutes.

Commissioner  Jeanne Parker said she” can’t remember a person who has taken such great strides with the city… and he has done a terrific job.”

Commissioner Randy Nichols said that the Martin is very “forward thinking” and  has a “great staff that works with him and is very positive.”

Mayor Mitchell said he does “a tremendous job.” She said that they “sometimes don’t speak the same language but they get along great.” She hopes that Martin recognizes that he has a “great City Commission” behind him.

The City Commission then approved a raise for Martin.

He received a three-percent increase in salary bringing his salary to $107,462.78.

One year was added to his contract, which will take his employment through August 21, 2023.

If Martin should leave, he would be paid for his sick leave and vacation time.

All members of the commission voted to approve the raise, with the stipulations listed.

Martin thanked the commission and said that he “appreciates the opportunity to serve the city and the city commission.” He said he “couldn’t do this job without his good team of employees.”

Fort Scott, Mercy Hospital

Mercy Home Health and Hospice Merger with Integrity Still on Track

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Mercy Fort Scott Home Health and Hospice continues to work with Integrity Home Care + Hospice to transition all home health and hospice services within the next several months. Last Thursday, leaders from Integrity met with the Mercy team in Fort Scott to provide an update and implementation timeline. The goal is to make a seamless transfer of all services complete by January 31, 2019.

In July, Mercy announced Integrity Home Care + Hospice would merge locally-based home health and hospice services. Once finalized, Mercy co-workers will change employment to Integrity.

“Not all health care happens in a hospital or a doctor’s office, said Becky Davied, Mercy Fort Scott Home Health and Hospice director. “Patients who head home after a surgery or serious illness often require some time to continue healing at home, and chronically-ill patients must manage their conditions at home daily.”

For patients in either situation, having quality health care in their home can be the key to living their best life.

“Our patients in southeast Kansas can find comfort in knowing they have one of the best home health and hospice teams caring for them,” Davied added.

For six of the past eight years, Mercy Fort Scott Home Health has received the HomeCare Elite award for being one of the most successful home care providers in the United States. The award recognizes the top 25 percent of agencies based on performance measures including quality of care, quality improvement, patient experience, best practices implementation and financial management.

As a partner, Mercy will become a shareholder of Integrity and a member of the board of directors. While the company’s name will remain Integrity Home Care + Hospice, the logo will include information about its partnership with Mercy. Together, the two systems will become an even stronger home care and hospice team to serve Bourbon County, Kansas, and Kansas residents within a 50 mile radius of Fort Scott.

“Home health and hospice care are important to the entire spectrum of health care services, said Reta Baker, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott president. “We want to reassure our current patients and the area residents that home health and hospice services will continue to operate just under a different name.” 

Bourbon County, Government, Kansas

Introducing the Candidates: Rob Hodgkinson

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This part of a series on the candidates for the November 6 election.

Secretary of State (vote for one)                              

Brian “BAM” McClendon1200 Oread Avenue #703 Lawrence 66044 Democratic

Scott Schwab 14953 W 140th Terr. Olathe 66062 Republican

Rob Hodgkinson 7111 W 151st St #104 Overland Park 66223 Libertarian

Jordan Photography 913-814-7740 www.jordanphotography.com

Name:  Rob Hodgkinson

Age:  59

Candidate for the position of Kansas Secretary of State

Place of residence: Stilwell Kansas

Current occupation: Realtor

Community involvement: Immediate past State Chair for the Libertarian Party of Kansas

Party affiliation: Libertarian

1) What is the biggest issue, if elected, and how do you plan to address it?

Improve transparency of the office.

Making elections accessible, accountable and secure.

I see this in three parts for elections – voter registration, voter participation and numbers of candidates. Voter registration needs to be much simpler/easier than in the past. Voter participation needs to increase candidates: I love the fact we have five candidates in the governor’s race this year – I will work to have many candidates all the way through the ballot. When we have many candidates, rather than throwing mud and being negative, we get the chance to hear about issues.

Strengthen the new regulations for audits in elections (effective 1/2019). The current wording of the audit requirements leaves a lot of wiggle room as to how they will be done.

Ending Crosscheck, this program is faulty and not used by all 50 states making its intended purpose useless
.
Lobbying to have the election commissioner of the four big counties election offices locally elected rather than being appointed by the Secretary of State.

Updating the KSSoS website, today it is not mobile friendly, the navigation is awkward, and is hard to read due to too much legal language being used rather than plain tone it should use.

 

I believe the KSSoS can do a similar thing to what the State Treasurer does with the 529 college savings plans to help improve voter registrations and voter turnout, that is to make public announcements about voting: Here is how you register to vote, here are the important dates, remember that there is an early voting option that can be used, etc.

2)Give your views on food sales tax:

 

As Secretary of State, I cannot affect this issue

 

3) Give your views on legalizing marijuana:

 

As Secretary of State, I cannot affect this issue

 

4) Give your views on health care for our state, including Medicaid:

 

As Secretary of State, I cannot affect this issue

 

5) Give views on abortion and Planned Parenthood:

As Secretary of State, I cannot affect this issue

6). Why should voters consider you the most qualified candidate? What in your background most prepares you to serve in this office?

I have an IT background with experience being responsible for a company’s entire IT/IS enterprise. I also have small business experience and an exterior remodeling company I was a partner/owner in; tripled in size during the recession. I have election experience from a third party “Outsider” perspective. I will not be wearing the uniform of one of the 2 big political parties We need the KSSoS office to be fair in its election dispute settlements to Kansans, not parties.

Bourbon County, Elections

Introducing The Candidates: Patty Love

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This is part of a series introducing the candidates in the November 6 election.

Patty Love does not have a challenger in the election.

Patty Love

Name:  Patricia (Patty) Love

Candidate for the position of  Bourbon County Treasurer

Place of residence:  Fort Scott, Kansas

Current occupation:  Bourbon County Treasurer

Community Involvement:  Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Bourbon County Republican Committee, Kansas County Treasurers Association

Party affiliation:  Republican

What is the biggest issue, if elected, and do you plan to address it?

The biggest issue that Bourbon County currently faces is the high property and vehicle taxes.  It is my goal as county treasurer to make sure that tax collection and vehicle registrations are carried out in an accurate, courteous and efficient manner while keeping office expense within budget and cut expenses where possible.

Entertainment, Fort Scott Community College

Gilligan’s Island Comes To FSCC by Briana Blandamer

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Fort Scott Community College Theatre and Music Departments are presenting Gilligan’s Island: The Musical on October 19 and 20 at 7:30 pm and then again on the 21 at 2:00 pm. All show times will be on stage in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.

Tickets are $5 for the community. All students, staff and faculty have free admission to the show.

The show is directed by Allen Twitchell, Head of the Theatre Department and Seth Ernst, Head of the Music Department.

Twitchell chose Gilligan’s Island: The Musical because it had been at least four years or more since FSCC put on a musical. He had checked out a book from the library about the original making of the Gilligan Island series and had read that there was a musical version. He thought it was a great choice to get a musical brought back to FSCC because it has a very small cast number and it is something familiar to the community.

The cast has been working on the show for about six weeks now, with one week left till showtime.

Jared Oshel, former FSCC student from Richmond is playing Skipper. Oshel said, “My favorite part about acting, in general, is the fact that I get to get away from the stresses of life and work and get to come to the stage and become another person for a little while.”

Katelynn Coe, a student at FSCC, is the show’s stage manager. She is in charge of the set making, light and sound cues, and so much more. Katelynn says her favorite part of her job is that she gets to watch a show come to life from the very beginning and watch all the actors bring their individual characters to life in their own way.

The complete cast includes Aiden Ballinger, a freshman from Pleasanton, as Gilligan;  Oshel,  as the Skipper; FSCC instructor Harold Hicks as the millionaire, Thurston Howell; FSCC staff member Karri Johnson as Mrs. Howell; Fayelyn Kmiec, a freshman from Farlington, as movie star Ginger; Jasper Dunn, a sophomore from Whitehall, Wis., as the Professor; Katie Button, a freshman from Fort Scott, as Mary Ann; and Marcus Robinson, a freshman from Paola, as the Alien.

Come out and watch Gilligan’s Island come to life on the stage here at FSCC!

Bourbon County, Elections

Introducing the Candidates: Bryan Hoffman

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This is part of a series on introducing the candidates for the November 6 election.

Kansas Senate, 13th District (vote for one)

Bryan Hoffman 370 N. 250th St. Mulberry 66756 Democratic

Richard Hilderbrand 10337 SE 107th Terr. Galena 66763 Republican

Sam Habjan 300 N Cherokee St. Frontenac 66763 Libertarian

Name: Bryan Hoffman


Age: 35


Candidate for the position of Kansas Senate District 13


Place of residence: Mulberry, KS


Current occupation: Job Superintendent – Construction of Roads and Bridges


Community involvement: I have coached little league and I am a member of the producers cooperative in Girard.


Party affiliation: Democrat

1) What is the biggest issue, if elected, and how do you plan to address it?

The biggest issue is expanding access to affordable healthcare with Medicaid expansion. Southeast Kansas needs a leader who will fight to provide Southeast Kansans with access to healthcare by protecting our community hospitals and clinics. We must ensure federal tax dollars paid by Kansas taxpayers are returned and invested right here at home.

2) Give your views on food sales tax:

Kansas has the highest food sales tax in the country, and that’s not okay. I am in favor of lowering the food sales tax rate in order to reduce the burden on hardworking Kansas families.

3) Give your views on legalizing marijuana:

I would be willing to consider legalizing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. I would not be in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana.

4) Give your views on health care for our state, including Medicaid:

Providing Southeast Kansans with access to affordable healthcare means a healthier and more productive workforce. I support expanding Medicaid. In addition to providing more Kansans with access to healthcare, it creates more good-paying jobs and stimulates our economy.

5) Give views on abortion and Planned Parenthood:

I am pro-life. However, abortion is a federal issue because Roe v. Wade is the law of the land.

Bourbon County, Elections

Introduction To The Candidates: Richard Hilderbrand

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This is part of a series  introducing the candidates for the November 6 election.

Kansas Senate, 13th District (vote for one)

Bryan Hoffman 370 N. 250th St. Mulberry 66756 Democratic

Richard Hilderbrand 10337 SE 107th Terr. Galena 66763 Republican

Sam Habjan 300 N Cherokee St. Frontenac 66763 Libertarian

Name: Richard Hilderbrand
Age: 49
Candidate for the position of Kansas State Senate, District 13
Place of residence: Galena, KS
Current occupation: Small Business Owner
Community involvement: Local Business Owner, Economic Development, Lions Club, Masonic Lodge #71
Party affiliation: Republican
1) What is the biggest issue, if elected, and how do you plan to address it?
We need fiscal accountability in Topeka.
The biggest issue that we are facing in Kansas is the out of control spending and high taxes. I will continue to fight against the out of control spending budgets that increase spending by $1.1 billion; continue to rob $355 million from our employee’s retirement, and $580 million from our highway funding; cuts $114 million from education funding, and still out spends our revenue by $304 million over two years. I will continue to fight to lower taxes in the state of Kansas, especially our high property taxes, and sales tax.
2 )Give your views on food sales tax:
We are 1 of only 12 states that tax food sales. We have the second highest food sales tax in the nation. This is just down right embarrassing. We have to control our state spending so that we can lower this.
3) Give your views on legalizing marijuana:
I do no support it.
4) Give your views on health care for our state, including Medicaid:
Healthcare like everything else, is becoming more urbanized.
When Obamacare was passed, it cut reimbursement rates for our elderly and disabled by $1 trillion to set up Medicaid expansion to the able-bodied. We have to restore those cuts, so that we can give the most vulnerable the care that they need. We have to continue to cut regulations on hospitals so that they can offer more services in rural areas, such as telemedicine.
5) Give views on abortion and Planned Parenthood:
I am endorsed by Kansans For Life. I would vote in favor of any legislation that would ban, or make it more difficult to kill an innocent unborn child. I don’t have any positive views on Planned Parenthood.
Bourbon County, Schools

New Fitness Center Opens at Uniontown

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The ribbon cutting of the new USD 235 fitness center was led by Jake Steinfeld, Thursday morning, Oct. 11.

Jake Steinfeld, Chairman of the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils,  along with students and local dignitaries cut the ribbon on Uniontown’s new $100,000 DON’T QUIT! Fitness Center, during a ceremony in the West Bourbon Elementary School gym.

Fitness ambassador students get a run-through before the ribbon cutting with Don Payne, Equipment Director for TuffStuff Fitness Int.
Four students from each grade, 4th through 12th, were randomly selected to be student fitness ambassadors. They were given prior training in the weeks leading up to the official ribbon cutting.

During the opening speech before the students, teachers, and guests, Steinfeld said that exercise helps students stay focused and therefore improves student learning.

He encouraged the students to stay active their whole lives.

“When you have your health and you have hope, that’s what I believe the American dream is all about,” Steinfeld said.

The opening of the new USD 235 Fitness Center created excitement at the West Bourbon Elementary School Thursday morning, not only for students but the Uniontown community.

The reason: Community members will be using the equipment in the future, as well as students.

Last month USD 235 Superintendent Brett Howard was uncertain if the community would be able to use the equipment in addition to the students as originally planned, due to liability insurance issues.

The insurance issues were resolved at the board meeting this week, WBE Principal Vance Eden, said in an interview.

 
In a later email to fortscott.biz, Eden said community members will need to come to the office of WBE to pay and get their card for the fitness center from him.

The details of the public use of the fitness center will be worked on this week, and it will be open to the public next week, according to Howard in an interview.

The ceremony moved from the elementary school gym to the site of the new fitness center across the road at the junior high school, where the ribbon cutting took place. The center is housed in the former library of the school.

The Uniontown High School former library, pictured here, is the site of the new center.

 

Uniontown High School 2018

The USD 235 students starting at 4th grade will begin using the facility next week, Physical Education Teacher Jackie Hall said.

“We are so excited for our kids to have this opportunity,” she said.