Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Paws and Claws Needs New Facility

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All photos courtesy of Front Door Real Estate. The current Lee’s Paws and Claws Animal Shelter property features numerous dog kennels, quarantine kennels, cat rooms, cat yard, dog play yards, reception area, office and restroom facilities on 19.8 Acres. Contact Jared Leek, Owner/Broker of Front Door Real Estate, Inc., for more information at (620) 224-9787.

The local animal shelter is seeking a new facility and selling the old one located southeast of Fort Scott.

The following is an interview with Treasurer Kathy Dancer and Corresponding Secretary Kate Sweetser, two members of the board of directors of Lee’s Paw and Claws Animal Shelter:

Why the move?

“The current shelter, which was built and then expanded thanks to a generous gift from Lee Weast, is fantastic but has presented two challenges.

One is that fundraising has not provided the income required to run a 4,000 square foot facility.

The other is that the location on a gravel road seven miles from town has made it harder to attract both volunteers and potential adopters.”

“Lee’s Paws and Claws Animal Shelter is owned and operated by the Shirley Yeager Animal Friends Foundation. The foundation’s board of directors has made the decision to transition to a more sustainable business model.”

“Part of this transition involves rightsizing to a smaller, more affordable facility located in the city. Our organization relies on adopters, volunteers, and donors. Being located in Fort Scott will help meet the needs of the humans involved. ”

“Another key part of the transition to a sustainable business model is the implementation of a foster care program for dogs. Dogs who have been in foster care are better socialized and therefore more easily adopted.

Our goal is to have a smaller facility that will serve as a cat shelter, an office, and an intake and adoption area.”

Who made the decision?

“The time and expense associated with maintaining our current facility has been an issue for several years. The current executive board has been exploring options for about a year now. The first decision to offer the current facility for sale was made a few months ago and the board agreed unanimously to sell the current building and acreage.

The second decision was to transition to a foster model and relocate closer to town while the current facility is on the market. Some board members wanted to stay at our current location until it sells and others wanted to transition as soon as possible. The decision was a difficult one and involved lengthy discussions and number-crunching, but in November of 2018, the board voted to begin the downsizing process and transition to a foster program in early 2019.”

“The current executive board consists of Randy Shannon, chair; Matt Messer, vice-chair; Kathy Dancer, treasurer; Rhonda Dunn, recording secretary; and Kate Emmett-Sweetser, corresponding secretary. The general board of directors includes the executive board members as well as Marianne Crane, Barb Ritter, and Rob Shaw. Ann Gillmore-Hoffman is board member emeritus.”

Where is the current facility located?

“We are currently located at 721 240thStreet, between Fort Scott and Garland. The 4,000 square foot facility  (which is for sale) is situated on 19.8 acres which includes a pond and a tornado shelter. “

What are you looking for in town?

“We are looking for 1000-1500 square feet which could house an office, intake room, adoption area, and a few cat suites.  We want a location which is affordable to maintain and easy for volunteers and potential adopters to access.  We have a few potential rental and purchase options which we will discuss at our next executive board session.”

Tell about the animal foster program.

“Our goal is to develop a network of foster homes for dogs waiting for adoption.  A foster home is a better temporary situation for dogs than a shelter because the animals live in a home where they receive more attention and are socialized with family members, both humans and other pets.

The state requires that we inspect and license all animal foster homes, so the process can take several weeks. Once a foster home is approved, they are licensed for a year. When placing a dog in foster care, our organization will have the dog spayed or neutered and vaccinated. The foster family will provide for the daily needs of the dog and coordinate with shelter personnel to give potential adopters opportunities to meet the foster dog. We plan to host adoption events on a regular basis at our new location. Foster applications are available on our website at www.LeesPawsAndClawsShelter.org/fostering.html.”

Business, Kansas

Merger Benefits for Westar/KCPL Customers

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Westar-KCP&L merger already producing benefits
for Kansas customers, communities

Rate study: Kansas rates more competitive as merger efficiencies realized

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 14, 2019 – When Great Plains Energy (the parent company of KCP&L) and Westar Energy merged in June 2018 to form Evergy, the new company promised multiple benefits to customers. As the company enters the first full calendar year combined, Kansas customers have already seen significant benefits from the merger.

Customer credits: In December of 2018, Westar’s customers began receiving credits on their electric bill. These credits were the result of merger efficiencies and the reduction in federal income tax rates. KCP&L’s Kansas customers are scheduled to receive credits on their bills in the weeks ahead. The company anticipates future bill credits as additional merger savings are achieved.

Electric rates reduced: KCP&L and Westar both completed rate reviews in 2018. As a result of ongoing merger savings and the reduction in federal income taxes, the base price of electricity was reduced for all KCP&L and Westar customers. Westar prices decreased about $50 million and KCP&L $4 million.

Rate increase moratorium: Lower base rates enacted in 2018 will remain stable, as the company has committed to no base rate changes for five years (until December 2023).

Increased community investment: Both KCP&L and Westar have well-established histories of community involvement and charitable giving, which they pledged to maintain. Since the merger was completed, in addition to maintaining the companies’ historic levels of charitable giving, Evergy has made an additional $4 million in investments to support key community development projects in Topeka, Wichita and Pittsburg.

No involuntary layoffs: The company has adhered to its pledge of no involuntary layoffs due to the merger and maintained staffing levels in Topeka and Wichita.

Electric rates study, Kansas prices competitive: Stabilizing prices and maintaining local control were key reasons KCP&L and Westar sought to merge. The companies also promised to publish a study of their electricity prices and how they compared with other utilities as part of the merger agreement.

KCP&L and Westar Energy’s rate study filed today with the Kansas Corporation Commission concludes that the companies’ electricity prices are in line with the national average, are entering a period of rate stability and are well-positioned to meet customers’ needs.

“Prices going forward are expected to be more stable. Our merger brings economies of scale to ongoing operations and future investments. We are ahead of many peers in adoption of renewables, meeting state and federal environmental regulations and investing in infrastructure to ensure reliability and economic growth,” said Chuck Caisley, senior vice president, marketing and public affairs. “For example, Oklahoma’s largest utility just filed a rate request to recover costs in making environmental upgrades similar to those we’ve already completed.”

The study showed that a long-term electricity price advantage Kansas enjoyed eroded in the past decade. The rate study points to four primary factors: plunging natural gas prices; declining industrial use, despite billions of dollars of economic development in Kansas; mandated environmental upgrades and renewable energy investment; and investment to modernize the state’s transmission grid.

While low-cost coal benefitted Kansas through the 1970s into the early 2000s, the shale gas boom coupled with the disproportionate effect of environmental regulations on coal-fueled generation provided advantages to utilities that were more reliant on natural gas-fueled power plants. The cost advantage reached retail customers and wholesale markets alike.

Required investment in developing renewables markets and to meet environmental regulations aligned with a national economic downturn that flattened electricity sales. In times of growing sales, investment has less impact on prices because it is spread over broader sales. While electricity sales were down about 0.7 percent for other study utilities in 2017 compared with 2007, for KCP&L Kansas, they were down 5.5 percent and for Westar Energy, 4.1 percent. Despite these declines, Kansas continued to attract business.

“Kansas is drawing new investment. Since 2010, we’ve attracted more than $4.3 billion in industrial investments including major brands like Mars Chocolate, Cargill, Geico and Spirit Aerosystems,” Caisley said. “Prices are important, but customers also want access to renewable energy, which we can now provide at a competitive price. And customers expect excellent reliability. Without that, nothing else matters.”

Additional information about the study

The study uses 2017 prices available from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (the most recent full year available). In 2018, KCP&L and Westar decreased prices and agreed that base prices wouldn’t change for five years. For the study, KCP&L and Westar Energy examined how their prices compare with 35 investor-owned, vertically integrated electric providers. These companies serve more than 11 million customers in 10 Midwestern states. Some other utilities studied are just entering cycles of investment to meet federal environmental mandates and to update transmission infrastructure. Investments that are just beginning to affect their prices.

About KCP&L and Westar Energy:

Serving approximately 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L), KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company and Westar Energy are the electric utilities of Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG). Together we generate nearly half the power we provide to homes and businesses with emission-free sources. We support our local communities where we live and work, and strive to meet the needs of customers through energy savings and innovative solutions.

Investor Contact:

Cody VandeVelde

Director, Investor Relations

Phone: 785-575-8227

[email protected]

 Media Contact:

Gina Penzig

Manager, Media Communications

Phone: 785-575-8089

[email protected]

Media line: 888-613-0003

For more information:

515.18.5163 KS Electric Rate Review Handout_single pages

Fort Scott Community College

HS Junior/Senior Day at FSCC

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Fort Scott Community College invites high school juniors and seniors to Spring Junior/Senior Day on Thursday, March 7th. The event will begin with registration at 9:00 am at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.

 

During the event, students and their parents will have the opportunity to visit and experience FSCC. College faculty, staff, and students will be on hand to show potential students what it’s like to be a Greyhound. The event will also include a free lunch and entertainment.

Pre-registration is not required! HOWEVER, those who do will be entered into a drawing to win prizes. Pre-registration will end on March 6th at 5:00 p.m.  This is an event you won’t want to miss! Go Greyhounds!

Click here to Pre-Register 

Location Danny and Willa Ellis Fine Arts Center
2108 South Horton, Fort Scott, Kansas
Date March 7th
Time 9:00 a.m – 12:00 p.m

 

 

Submitted by Kassie Fugate-Cate

Director of Strategic Communications

& Student Activties

620.223.2700 ext. 5248

[email protected]

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Jan. 15

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

 

Date: January 15th, 2019

 

1st District-Lynne Oharah                                                                Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer                                                                                   Corrected: _______________                                                                                                 

3rd District-Nick Ruhl                                                                                  Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

 

 

          9:00-9:45-Jim Harris

         

          10:00 – Kansas Works

 

          10:30 – Justin Meeks (20 min. Exec. Session, Re: Attorney/Client)

 

          11:00 – Jody Hoener – ABC Trails Plan

 

          12:00 – 1:30 – Commissioners gone to lunch

 

          1:30 – Osage Township Trustee Appointment

 

 

         

 

 

 

                   

 

 Justifications for Executive Session:

          Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

          Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

          Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

          Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

          Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

          Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system

Business, Fort Scott

DISCOVER LOCAL Magazine Coming To Fort Scott

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Discover Local Magazine Publisher Gary Palmer with Editor Rebekah Houser, who is holding a prototype of the magazine.

Inspired by other area magazines, businessman Gary Palmer is launching a magazine called Discover Local.

The target audience will be primarily tourists, he said. “With an emphasis on local services and retailers.”

“The idea came from other magazines like 417 Magazine, which covers all those in the (telephone) area code 417 (in southwest Missouri),” he said. “It talks about the goings-on in the region with a strong emphasis on entertainment and food and what people can enjoy.”

A view of the prototype of Discover Local Magazine.

“It ties those who would be visiting to those locally that are providing services and opportunities to enjoy. It seems there is a void for something like this.”

“The whole idea behind this,” Palmer said. “I want this magazine to be beneficial to all parties involved. I personally feel that our community has an enormous amount of resources and a willingness to help others. This is just a visual way to pair our resources with those seeking to enjoy our community.”

There will be several local authors contributing to the magazine: Larry Gazzaway, Martha Scott, Jody Hoener and others he said.

And why not publish a magazine? Palmer is the owner of Captured Images, a photography business, and owns his own printer that will be publishing the magazine.

“We will be publishing this right here on Main Street,” Palmer said.

The magazine will have no subscription costs for readers but would be paid for by the advertisements that local businesses purchase.

“There may be a small postage charge if people would like us to mail it to them,” he said.

“The subscriptions for advertisers would be billed quarterly and range from $150 up,” Palmer said. “What is very unique about the magazine is we will be asking our advertisers to subscribe annually.

“An annual subscription will include a feature about the advertiser,” Palmer said. “If Capture Images buys one-half page for the year, for example, it would get a full page article at some point, featuring the business.”

There will be four publications annually.

The magazine would be placed in local hotels and the Tourism/Chamber of Commerce Office.

Captured Images Press is located at 118 S. Main and can be contacted at 223-5375.

“Our community needs something positive,” he said. “I hope this builds momentum.”

 

 

 

 

K-State Extension

Grass to Cash Jan 24

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2019 KOMA Beef Cattle Conference “From Grass To Cash”
Southwind Extension District, Cherokee County Extension and Southeast Area Research and Extension Center are partnering to host this conference
January 24, 2019
Registration is at 10:30 a.m., program starts at 11 am. Located in the Community Building at the SEK Education Center Greenbush
(947 W. 47 Hwy., Girard, KS).
Please RSVP by January 18, 2019 to 620-820-6125 ([email protected]) or 620-820-6127 ([email protected]). Lunch provided.
Topics include:
Feeder Cattle Marketing Outlook
Matching Cows to the Environment
Blood-Borne Diseases of Beef Cow Herd
Optimizing Reproductive Performance
Keys to Profitability for Beef Producers
Fort Scott, Government

City Offices Will Close Jan. 21 For Holiday

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The City of Fort Scott City Administrative Offices will be closed on Monday, January 21st, 2019 in observance of the Martin Luther King Day holiday. The offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019.

The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Saturday, January 19th, 2019 for the Martin Luther King Day holiday. It will be open again on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Area News

Kansas Female Veterans Sought

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The United States was plunged into World War II on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese Imperial Navy bombed Pearl Harbor. Thousands of Kansas patriots were among the millions who left their civilian jobs and joined the military in response to a presidential call to arms.

Heroic Kansas women were among those sixteen million females who answered the call to work on assembly lines, farms, in shipyards, airplane factories, and other institutions in support of the military overseas.

Rosie the Riveter became the iconic image of World War II’s working women. She was the star of a campaign to recruit females to work in defense industries. American Legion Auxiliary President Karen Hasting announced an initiative to honor their service and share their stories with future generations of Americans.

“The Auxiliary wants to recognize its Kansas Rosies for their inspiring patriotism and service to Kansas and the United States,” Hasting said. “The Department of Kansas American Legion Auxiliary will honor its known Rosie the Riveters during the American Legion’s Mid-winter Forum.

Auxiliary Vice-president Paula Sellens is spearheading the effort to identify Rosies.

“The Auxiliary is issuing a call for Rosies,” Sellens said. “Our known Rosies will be honored in a ceremony in Dodge City, Kansas on February 1, 2019. We’re asking that everyone that knows of a Kansas Rosie, living or deceased, to call me at 620-255-9339 or send information by email to: [email protected].”

Recipes

From Linderhof’s Kitchen . . .

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Swedish Meatballs

 

I’m not Swedish but we do enjoy a few Swedish foods — spritz cookies, Swedish tea cakes, Swedish pancakes and Swedish meatballs.    They’re easy to make and taste best when served on top of noodles and with lingonberries if you can find them (cranberries are a good substitute if you cannot.)

 

Meatballs:

 

1 pound 80% (or leaner) ground beef
½ pound lean ground pork
1 small onion, finely chopped
¾ c. panko bread crumbs
2 T. finely chopped fresh parsley
½ t. Salt
⅛ t. Pepper
1 t.  Worchestershire sauce
1 egg
½  c. milk

 

Gravy:

 

¼ c. butter
¼ c. flour
1 t. Paprika
¼ t. Salt
⅛ t. Pepper
2 c. water
¼ c. sour cream

 

In a large bowl, mix all meatball ingredients until well blended.     Shape into 1 ½ inch balls. Place meatballs in large skillet, cook over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until browned.     Remove meatballs from skillet; cover to keep them warm.

 

In same skillet, melt butter over medium heat.     With wire whisk, stir in flour, paprika, salt and pepper; cook, stirring until bubbly.    Slowly add water, stirring constantly until mixture boils and thickents. Add meatballs to gravy.    Cook over medium low heat 8 to 10 minutes or until meatballs are throughly cooked. Stir in sour cream until blended and hot.

 

Martha Meinsen Scott is a Fort Scott foodie who creates from her home, called Linderhof.

Bourbon County Local News