Government, Kansas

Kansas Tax Collections Received $66 Million More Than March 2020

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Kansas’s March Total Tax Collections $66.7 Million Ahead of Previous March

TOPEKA – Kansas outperformed the March estimate by $52.3 million, or 9.7%, with $590.1 million received in total tax collections. That is $66.7 million more than last March.

“While this revenue growth is encouraging, we must continue practicing fiscal responsibility – particularly as we’re getting a clearer picture of how federal and state tax legislation could impact the state’s ending balance,” Governor Kelly said. “We cannot risk passing any tax bill that would put Kansas back into a self-inflicted budget crisis, and jeopardize our COVID-19 recovery efforts.”

With the late start of tax season and refunds going out in March, individual income tax collections were lower than the estimate by $4.8 million, or 1.9%, with $255.2 million collected. Corporate income tax collections were $25.3 million, beating the estimate by 26.7%, or $5.3 million.

Consumer spending has not slowed down as both retail sales tax and compensating use tax collections were more than estimated. Retail sales tax collections were up $19.2 million for the month, with $194.2 million collected. Compensating use sales tax was $2.6 million more than the estimate with $42.6 million collected.

The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group will meet later this month to reassess future estimates and consider the impact COVID-19 related federal legislation has on revenue numbers.

Please find the revenue numbers here.

Fort Scott, Schools, Sports

FSHS Girls Swim Team Competes at Osawatomie

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Fort Scott High School Girls Swim Team Competed at Osawatomie on Wednesday against Topeka Hayden, KC Piper, and Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg.

It was a very competitive meet with all four teams evenly matched.  FSHS finished the night in 4th place overall as a team.

Hayden 295pts

Piper  262 pts

O-P-L  234 pts

Fort Scott 213 pts

Several individual swimmers had strong finishes and earned personal best times.

The 200 Yard Medley Relay (Dawna Hudiburg, Annelise Hall, Ashley and Alyssa Smith) took 2nd.

In the 50 Free, Ava Steier 1st with a state consideration time, Dawan Hudiburg 3rd with best time and Ashley Smith took 6th with a best time.

In the 100 Butterfly, Annelise Hall took 4th with a best time.

In the 100 Free, Ashley Smith took 2nd and EmilyDavenport was 7th with a best time.

Annalyse Gilmore and Maia Martin both swam the 500 Free and earned best times.

In the 200 Yard Free Relay, FSHS (Ashley Smith, Dawna Hudiburg, Annelise Hall and Alyssa Smith)  took 3rd with a best time.

In the 100 Back, Ava Steier took 3rd with a best time, Kourtney Flynn and Katelyn Dancer both swam best times.

In the 100 Breast Annelise Hall placed 3rd with a best time, Alyssa Smith finished 5th and Dawna Hudiburg was 6th with a best time.

In the 400 Free Relay (Emily Davenport, Kourtney Flynn, Annalyse Gilmore and Ava Steier) finished 5th.

Obituary

Obituary of Thora Shinn

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Thora May Shinn, age 94, a former resident of Iola, Kansas, and more recently of Uniontown, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.  She was born March 5, 1927, at her grandparents’ home south of Bronson, Kansas, the daughter of Roy Nichols and Mabel Watson Nichols.  Thora graduated from the Bronson High School with the Class of 1944.  Following high school, Thora took the train to Kansas City and worked for a time at Fred Harvey’s Restaurant in Union Station.  She married her high school sweetheart, James O. Shinn on January 24, 1946, after he returned home from serving in World War II.  They later settled in Iola, where Jim worked as a barber and Thora worked as a phlebotomist at the Allen County Hospital.  Thora enjoyed genealogy and compiled several books of family history on both her family as well as her husband’s side of the family.  She also enjoyed bowling.  Following Jim’s death on October 30, 2011, Thora moved to Uniontown to be near her son, Alan, and his family.  She attended the First Missionary Baptist Church of Uniontown.
Survivors include her sons, Alan Shinn and wife, Becky, of Uniontown, Kansas and Jack Shinn, of Pittsburg, Kansas, six grandchildren, Kevin Shinn (Diana), of Uniontown, Kansas, Melissa Gage (Jason), of Louisburg, Kansas, Crystal Shinn, Brett Shinn (Miriah), Tabitha Shinn and Amber Sanchez (Matt), all of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and ten great-grandchildren, Emily Jefferies (Austin), Holly Richwine (Dylan), Lauren Shinn, Brayden, Bryce and Brock Gage, Blade and Aiden Feather, Nichole Schwermer and ShiAnne Sanchez.  Also surviving is a brother, Don Nichols of Wichita, Kansas.    In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Mark Shinn, and two sisters, Reta Jones and Margaret Ruckman.
Rev. Marty Dewitt will conduct graveside services at 2:30 P.M. Wednesday, April 7th at the Turkey Creek Cemetery north of Uniontown.  The family will receive friends at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown on Wednesday from 1:00 P.M until leaving for the cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the First Missionary Baptist Church or the Bronson Alumni Association at FSCC and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Health Care

CHC Closing On Price Chopper Building April 9

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Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd.

 

New buildings/expansions are on the horizon for the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.

 

CHC is working on the purchase plan for moving from its’ Fort Scott present site to the former Price Chopper building on Main Street at  23rd Street.

 

The present site is the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills.

 

“We are… closing on our purchase of the 40,000 sq. ft. Price Chopper Building in Fort Scott on April 9,” Postai said.  “The plan is to combine our walk-in care and main clinic together. The renovation will start as soon as possible, with a goal of completion prior to the expiration of our current lease with Mercy in December 2022.”

Krista Postai. Submitted photo.

 

There is also a new CHC building in Pittsburg.

 

“We have scheduled our groundbreaking for our new Medical Education Building in Pittsburg which will be home to all the students we are/will be training,” Postai said.

 

The groundbreaking will be May 3 at 12:30 p.m. at the John Parolo Education Building, south of the CHC/SEK System Office.

 

“About $5.6 million in donations have been raised to cover the full cost of the building and its furnishings scheduled for completion in the summer of 2022,” she said. “In the meantime, work continues on the establishment of a family practice residency program in Pittsburg in collaboration with Kansas University Medical Center and Via Christi/Ascension; the application for accreditation has been submitted with a ‘virtual’ survey planned this fall.”

 

CHC is planning a clinic in Chanute in the near future.

 

“We also bought 10 acres of land in Chanute on which to build a clinic in Neosho County,” she said. “Given all our other projects, it will probably take us 3-5 years to get this done.”

Continue reading CHC Closing On Price Chopper Building April 9 →

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Critical Pandemic Response Maintained in Kansas

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Governor Laura Kelly Signs Executive Orders to Maintain COVID-19 Response

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today issued several executive orders to ensure Kansas can maintain critical pandemic response efforts to keep Kansans healthy, keep businesses open, and keep kids in school.

The orders Governor Kelly issued today extend provisions put in place by previous executive orders and include some updated provisions.

“Since the pandemic began, my administration has been laser-focused on supporting and protecting our communities and our economy,” Governor Kelly said. “Extending these orders will ensure that our efforts will not have been wasted, and that Kansans and businesses don’t lose the resources they need to get back to normal.”

Several executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic were set to expire on March 31 in conjunction with the expiration of the state of disaster emergency. Senate Bill 40 includes a provision that revoked all executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic yesterday, but the Governor retains the authority to re-issue orders under the new process imposed by the bill.

The Governor today issued the following orders, which will generally remain in effect until rescinded or until the statewide state of disaster emergency expires, whichever is earlier:

Fort Scott, Schools

USD 234 Preschool Roundup May 7

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There will be a USD 234 Preschool Center Roundup on May 7, 2021, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  If your child will be four years old on or before August 31, 2021, and if you can answer “YES” to any of the following questions, your child may be eligible to attend.

 

  1. Does your child qualify for the free lunch program?
  2. Are you a single parent family?
  3. Have you been referred to us through DCF?
  4. When your child was born, was either parent a teen?
  5. Is either parent lacking a high school diploma or GED?
  6. Is the main language spoken in your home NOT English?

 

We also have very limited three-year old slots available for those who qualify.

 

Contact Tammy Catron at 620-223-8965 or by email at [email protected] by May 1, 2021, to schedule an appointment.

You will need to allow 30 to 45 minutes to complete the application process.  Parents will need to bring the following documents to the appointment:

 

  • State-Issued Birth Certificate
  • Immunization Record
  • Social Security Card
  • Medical Card or Insurance Card
COVID-19, Government, Kansas

KS Senate Bill Extends COVID-19 Response Health Care Measures

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Governor Laura Kelly Signs Bill to Maintain Increased Access to Health Care Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today signed a bill to ensure Kansas can maintain pandemic-related provisions that increase Kansans’ access to health care across the state.

Senate Bill 283 extends the following COVID-19 response measures until March 31, 2022:

  • The expanded use of telemedicine,
  • The authority of the Board of Healing Arts to grant certain temporary emergency licenses,
  • And the suspension of certain requirements related to medical care facilities and immunity from civil liability for certain health care providers and certain persons conducting businesses in Kansas for COVID-19 claims.

“The effects of the pandemic are far-reaching and long lasting, and continued support for Kansans is paramount,” Governor Kelly said. “This bill extends critical provisions that have expanded access to health care for a year – provisions that are still necessary to protect Kansans’ safety, keep our businesses open, and keep our kids in school.”

View the bill here.

Obituary

Obituary of Kevin Bryan Shelton

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Kevin Bryan Shelton, age 56, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly, Thursday, March 30, 2021, at his home.

He was born May 14, 1964, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, the son of John Newton Shelton and Geraldine Marsh Shelton.

Kevin had been employed by Smico Norvell, Klein Industries and later for Ft. Scott Greenhouse.

He liked tinkering with electronics and enjoyed HAM radio.  He also enjoyed woodworking and fishing.

 

Survivors include his mother, Geraldine Shelton of Ft. Scott; four brothers, Larry Shelton (Cathy) of Ft. Scott, Steven Shelton (Roxanne), of Woodstock, Illinois, Darryl Shelton (Deb), of Gardner, Kansas, and Don Shelton (Terri) also of Ft. Scott and a sister, Sharon Shelton of Ft. Scott.

He was preceded in death by his father, John Shelton and two brothers, Michael Shelton and James Shelton.

 

There was cremation.  A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the Kevin Shelton Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County, Government

K-39 bridge replacement project starts in Bourbon County

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The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to start work Thursday, April 1, on a project to replace a bridge on K-39 in Bourbon County. The bridge spans Pawnee Creek and is located approximately 7½ miles east of the east K-3/K-39 junction.

 

K-39 traffic will be placed on a state route detour around the work zone. Eastbound traffic, from the K-3/K-39 east junction, will travel south on K-3 to K-47, east on K-47 to K-7, and north on K-7 to K-39. Westbound K-39 traffic should follow the same route in the opposite direction.

 

KDOT awarded the $1.4 million construction contract to B&B Bridge Company of St. Paul. Weather permitting, the project should be completed by November 2021. Persons with questions may contact Iola Area Engineer Troy Howard, (620) 901-6557, or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433.

Bourbon County, Business, Government

Jayhawk Wind Project in Construction in Southwest Bourbon County

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Standing at the bottom of a wind turbine looking up at the clear Kansas sky.

The Jayhawk Wind Project in Bourbon County is in construction.

“We are moving forward,” said Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah. “They are out there now,  putting gravel on roads and widening access on the roads.”

Lynne Oharah. Submitted photo.

To view the map of the wind farm site: JAY_Final_Facilities_Map_20210308

“They are east and north of Porterville, in southwest Bourbon County, around 40th and Eagle Road,” Frank Young, an engineer with Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, said. “I have looked at a couple of culverts for them to see if they will hold up traffic for them.”

Frank Young. From the Agricultural Engineering Associates website.

“They are upgrading some of the roads to be able to get some big rigs down them,” Young said.

Bourbon County Public Works Director Eric Bailey said I.E.A. , the contractor, sends him a plan of the day, every day and yesterday they worked on Eagle Road between 40th and 50th Streets, capping over 2100 linear feet and additionally, 50th from Eagle Road to Hwy. 3 putting over 4200 linear feet.

Eric Bailey. Submitted photo.

“They put on 4-6 inches of gravel,” Bailey said.

Today they are working on 50th from Eagle to Hwy. 39 and 30th from Hwy. 39 going south, he said.

“They have a lay-down yard at (the junction of) Hwy. 39 and Hwy. 3,” Bailey said. “This is where they will have all their job trailers, their starting point every day, where the contractors will report in.”

Young said the area is about 10 acres and is the delivery area as well.

The Jayhawk Wind project will have a capacity of 193.2 Megawatts and can power 65,000 homes, according to the  Apex website.

 

According to the March 3 press release from Apex Clean Energy

“The Jayhawk facility… is expected to be operational later this year, will consist of 70 GE wind turbines totaling an installed capacity of more than 190 MW. The project will provide significant economic benefits for the local and state economies—including the creation of more than 115 construction jobs and 7 long-term operations positions—and will generate over $20 million in landowner payments and $27.2 million in tax revenue.”

To view the press release:

Jayhawk Wind Sold to WEC Energy Group

To see a prior feature:

Jayhawk Wind Project Breaks Ground This Week

Bourbon County Local News