Obituary

Obituary for Wilda I. Insley

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Wilda I. Insley, age 87, of Fort Scott, KS, more recently of Olathe, KS, passed away Sunday afternoon, April 29, 2018, at The University of Kansas Medical Center.

She was born January 22, 1931, in Fort Scott, KS, the daughter of Joseph Richard Crystal and Elva Pauline Beerbower Crystal.

Wilda graduated from Arcadia High School with the class of 1948. Following her graduation, she worked that summer as a nurse’s aide for Mercy Hospital.

She married Curtis Richard Insley on August 23, 1950, in Bentonville, AR.

She was later employed by The Western Insurance Company and Montgomery Ward. Her employment with the City of Fort Scott included 16 years as a clerk with the water department. Then on May 18, 1979, she became the City Clerk where she served for 13 years until her retirement in 1992.

Wilda, and husband Curtis enjoyed traveling and genealogy research. Their travels included the annual reunion of The Company A of the United States Army Fifth Combat Engineer Battalion. These trips included travels around the United States which were hosted by the former soldiers and their families. Wilda and Curtis hosted the event in Fort Scott on two different occasions.

She was a long-time member of the Fort Scott Lioness Club and a member of The First Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed playing card games and dominoes with family and friends and attending sporting activities for the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

Wilda is survived by daughters Sondra Cowen and husband Larry of Fort Scott, KS, and Karen O’Bryan and husband Joseph of Olathe, KS; three grandchildren, Monica Harvey and husband David of Blue Springs, MO, Afton Brown and husband Chad of Fort Scott, KS, and Dustin Willard of Olathe, KS; three great grandchildren, Banks and Madison Brown of Fort Scott, KS, and Noah Harvey of Blue Springs, MO; one brother Frank Crystal and Yvonne Beck, and one sister Carolyn Crystal, all of Fort Scott, KS; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Curtis; an infant sister Darlene Faye Crystal; her brother James Dale Crystal; and sister-in-law Juanita Jo Crystal.

Pastor Jeff Dillow will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Friday, May 4th, at the First Presbyterian Church, Ft. Scott.

Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Thursday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to either the American Diabetes Association or the First Presbyterian Church and may be left in the care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Seeking Good Ol Days Parade Entries

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Jared Leek leads the Good Ol Days parade in a prior year.

The Good Ol Days Parade is just one month away, so speak to your employees, organizations or friends to put on “thinking caps” for a creative entry in it.

The parade theme this year is “Fins, Feathers, & Furs” Celebrating the Great Outdoors. Categories are float, golf cart, foot unit, horse unit, classic car, antique car, tractor and other (no prize is awarded for this).

Tractors are one category in the Good Ol Days annual parade.

The parade will be Friday, June 1, at 6 p.m. beginning at 7th and Main.

Entries without registration entry form completed will not be allowed in the parade.

The place registration number must be attached to the right side of the parade entry.

Information on placement in the parade will be available prior to the line-up at 5 p.m. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce, 321 E. Wall.

Absolutely NO candy, gum or goodies can be thrown to the crowd from your float. For the safety of children, it must be handed out by someone on foot.

A float in a prior year’s Good Ol Days parade.

The deadline to enter is Wednesday, May 30, 2018.

Deliver or mail entry to Chamber of Commerce, 231 E Wall, Fort Scott, KS 66701
OR fax entry to (620) 223.3574, or email to [email protected]

First place prizes will be awarded and mailed to the winners in each category.

Click here for the parade entry form, then click to enlarge:
Parade Entry Form 2018(4)

Children ride a float in a prior year’s Good Ol Days parade.
Area News, Schools, Submitted

FS Christian Heights School Country Store, Auction and Fun Walk May 5

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The annual Country Store and Auction at Fort Scott Christian Heights School, 1101 S. Barbee is May 5.

This is the annual fundraiser for the school.

Included is a 5K race/two-mile fun walk, which begins at 7:30 a.m.

The country store is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be a supper offered from 4-6 p.m. and an auction at 6 p.m.

For more information call 620-223-4330, or view the school’s Facebook page.

Government, Kansas

Governor Ensures Job Seekers Not Asked About Criminal Record

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Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. Issues Executive Order to “Ban the Box” on Executive Branch Employment Applications

 TOPEKA, KS – Governor Jeff Colyer today issued Executive Order 18-12 regarding state employment practices. The order instructs all Executive Branch departments, agencies, boards, and commissions under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Governor to ensure that job applicants are not asked about their criminal record during the initial stage of a state employment application.

“Studies have shown that gainful employment is a major factor in reducing recidivism rate among former offenders,” said Gov. Colyer. “This is simply about treating people as individuals and allowing them to explain their circumstances at a later point in the process”.

The executive order notes that individuals with criminal records often experience obstacles when trying to rejoin society, such as the practice of automatically disqualifying those with criminal records from consideration. The ‘Ban the Box’ initiative, which has been adopted in numerous other states, allows applicants to explain their unique facts and circumstances to potential employers while still allowing employers to inquire about a criminal background in later stages of the process.

The order does not prevent employers from conducting criminal background checks or from excluding such applicants if a law or regulation prohibits those with criminal records from holding that specific position.

Studies show that recidivism rates fall substantially when ex-offenders achieve gainful employment. Many other states have adopted policies revising their state employment practices to lower the barriers to individuals with criminal histories seeking to enter the state workforce, including more than 30 that have adopted some form of “Ban the Box” policy. The national “Ban the Box” initiative has brought renewed attention to the value of discussing applicants’ criminal history later in the hiring process and providing applicants with an opportunity to explain their unique facts and circumstances to potential employers.

Fort Scott

Prayer Breakfast May 3 At FSCC

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The National Day of Prayer Breakfast is Thursday, May 3, at the Ellis Fine Arts Center, 2108 S. Horton, on the campus of Fort Scott Community College.
Breakfast will be served at 7:30 am.
The program begins at 8:00 am, entitled “Unity” by Danny Brown Sr.
The event is sponsored by Cheney Witt Chapel, Pioneer Kiwanis, Fort Scott Ministerial Alliance, and Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.
The weekly Chamber of Commerce Coffee attendees are invited to attend this event in place of the coffee.
Upcoming Chamber of Commerce Coffees will be:
May 10th – Woodland Hills Golf Course
May 17th – Riverfront Park
Fort Scott

Bike Share Coming To Fort Scott

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Courtesy photo. New bikes stand at the Bike Share spot at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce office.
Bike Share is coming soon to Fort Scott, in fact, the bikes are here!
“It all started with a group of us visiting Thrive Allen County’s Bike Share program and deciding the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce would take it on under their wing,” Jody Hoener, Mercy Hospital Clinic Quality and Community Benefit Liaison, said.

 ” Lindsay Madison (Executive Director of the Chamber) has done an exceptional job coordinating it all.”
The bikes are made possible through a grant from Blue Cross/Blue Shield Kansas Insurance.
For more information about this $500,000 grant awarded to the Bourbon County Action Team click here:
Allen County Bike Share is a free program that allows people to borrow bikes to explore the streets and trails of our communities, according to its website.
To learn more about the Thrive Allen County Bike Share, click here:
The bikes in Fort Scott will be available at spots around the city.
The bike pick-up spots will be the Chamber office, 321 E. Wall and Peerless Products Inc., 2403 S. Main.
“Then we need to decide the other spots,” Hoener said. “There were several community members who are also part of Gunn Park Volunteers who joined us originally.”
Courtesy photo. Frank Halsey backs up a bike into his company trailer to bring all the newly purchased bikes to Fort Scott Tuesday. Halsey is an avid mountain biker and is president of Mid-Continental Restoration Co. Fort Scott.
Frank Halsey, who has spearheaded creating new bike trails in the community with others in the Gunn Park Volunteers, has been a part of the effort.

Courtesy photo. Frank Halsey, Gunn Park Volunteers, Jody Hoener,  and Lindsay Madison, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.
Hoener, Madison, and Halsey picked up the bikes May 1 from Velo+ Bicycle Shop in Iola.
Courtesy photo. Lindsay Madison, Frank Halsey, and Jody Hoener packing the bikes in the trailer for transport from Iola to Fort Scott.
“The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team participated in bringing the bike share program here and paid for 10 bikes,” Hoener said. “Peerless is going to take two of them at that end of town!”
Members of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team are:
Reta Baker, Sherise Beckham, Craig Campbell, Alice Maffet, Rachel Pruitt, David Martin, Alysia Johnston, Madison, Joy Miller, Kathy McEwan, Mark McCoy, Rhonda Hoener, Pam Brown, Janet Braun, Rhonda Dunn, Dr. Randy Nichols,  and Hoener.
Business, Fort Scott

Good Samaritan Auction and Dinner Today

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Presbyterian Village, 2401 S. Horton, Fort Scott.

The Good Samaritan Auction and Dinner is today, Wednesday, May 2.

The annual event is to benefit senior citizens who have outlived their resources at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village.

Chicken Mary’s dinners are served from 4:30-6:30 p.m. along with homemade desserts and the auction begins at 5:00.

The village is located at 2401 S. Horton, Fort Scott, KS. Call (620) 223-5550 or stop by for meal tickets. Meal tickets were $8.50 in advance and $12 today. Carry out is available.

“We started this specific fundraising event in 2003 doing an auction and dinner, however, we have had a Good Samaritan fund ever since the first Presbyterian Manor opened,” Ginger Nance, executive director of the local assisted living facility, said. “Each year our fundraising event gains momentum as people learn more about the mission of our organization and how the funds are used.  Every dollar raised is used to help seniors who have a financial need to pay for the care that they need if they should outlive their resources, through no fault of their own.  All money stays local in Fort Scott.  We have never asked someone to move out due to lack of resources.  This is a commitment we make to people when they move in.”

All money donated to the Good Samaritan program is tax-deductible.

The Presbyterian Village is a not-for-profit, Christian mission organization.

Nance is asking the community to get involved.

“An event of this caliber cannot happen without the help of hundreds of volunteers who donate their time, talents and resources,” Nance said. “Our community understands that a program like this is only sustainable through the commitment of supporters… who reach out to help.  One never knows when it might be them who needs the help in return one day. ”

This year there will be a drawing to win a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Drawing tickets are $5 each or three for $10. One need not be present to enter this drawing.

The New Mexico adventure is into the beauty of 7,000-foot Rocky Mountain vistas of Santa Fe. Ancient native culture mixed with modern arts and legendary cuisine is part of the visit, according to information provided by Nance.
There are many attractions… numerous art galleries, historic sites, museums, shops,  and plenty of places to hike, cycle or climb nearby, and winter skiing at the Santa Fe Ski Basin.

“The donor of the trip is a local person who has supported the mission of the Village for many years,” Nance said. ” He and many others have seen firsthand the benefits that the Village can provide family members in their time of need.”

The auction, at 5 p.m. May 2, is a large one.

“We have many super great items for the auction,”  Nance said.  ” We have started lining things up but we are a long way from done.”

Pictured are a few of the auction items:

Items are still being accepted for the auction.

“If people have things they are no longer using, or simply don’t need, we’d love to have them donated to the auction,” Nance said. “Sometimes people have a boat just sitting around that they haven’t used, maybe a motorcycle, a vehicle, a piece of furniture, golf cart, tractors, you name it, we can use it!  We can provide a receipt to the donor and it is a tax-deductible contribution for them.  Everyone wins in this situation.  The person who donates their items, the person who buys a nice item they would love to own, and the seniors who benefit from this awesome fund.”

“More than anything, I hope people can understand that each person can make a positive difference in the lives of seniors in need Nance said. ” Every meal sold, every item donated, every ticket purchased, every item bought at the auction, every smile and word of encouragement means the world.  Come out and see what a great time it is!”

 

 

 

Bourbon County, K-State Extension, Submitted

Canning Season Begins Soon

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Kathy S. McEwan,Family, and Consumer Sciences Agent Foods & Nutrition, SNAP-Ed Coordinator, Southwind Extension District – Iola Office, P.O. Box 845, Iola KS 66749, 620-365-224, [email protected]

Time to get ready for canning season

Fresh pickles, ripe tomatoes, and other garden goodies may still be months away, but if you plan on canning those foods, now’s a good time to check on your supplies.

And if that includes buying a new canner, Kansas State University food safety specialist Karen Blakeslee says there is a lot to think about before selecting a canner.

“The first thing to think about is what kind of cooktop do you have on your stove,” said Blakeslee, who is also the director of the university’s Rapid Response Center. “The cooktop is going to dictate what type of canner you’re going to get.”

She said most canners will work on a gas stove or a coil-type stove. But the newer, smooth top stoves could create some problems with some canners.

“Some of the smooth top stoves have automatic shutoffs on them if they get too hot,” which could mean the food is not properly heated and thus preserved, according to Blakeslee.

“The other thing to think about is the weight that you’re putting on that stove top. Canners are heavy, and when you add water and full jars of food, that increases weight, and you could end up cracking your stovetop because of the weight and the heat.”

She recommends following the stove manufacturer’s recommendations for using canners on a smooth stovetop.

“There are some canners that I would not recommend using on a smooth top surface,” Blakeslee said. “One example is a water bath canner like the old Granite-Ware, which are speckled blue or black enamel canners. Many people have them and they work great, but the problem with those is they have the bumpy bottoms. On a smooth cooktop surface, you do not get maximum heat contact from the burner into the canner, so it takes forever to heat up water.”

Blakeslee, who teaches classes on canning through K-State Research and Extension offices in the state, suggests a stainless steel water bath canner sold by the Ball company that has a flat bottom. Presto is another company that says its product can be used on a smooth top, but Blakeslee says “make sure that your burner is as large as possible.”

She adds that the bottom of the canner should not extend beyond the burner more than one inch to get maximum heat transfer from the burner into the canner.

Canners sold by All American and Mirro warn consumers not to use them on a smooth cooktop.

“An alternative to using your stove top for water bath canners is an electric water bath canner sold by the Ball company,” Blakeslee said. “This is a stand-alone canner; it has its own heater/burner system and is separate from your stove, so you don’t have to worry about what kind of canner to use on top of your stove.

“This is a good investment if you do a lot of water bath canning. It can also be used for general cooking such as making soup or stew.”

Blakeslee has some other timely tips leading up to canning season:

Use a canner that is recommended for the type of food you want to can. “If you’re canning plain vegetables, like green beans, you have to use a pressure canner because green beans are low acid foods,” she said. “Plain vegetables like green beans, carrots, corn, even meat…those types of foods must be pressure canned.”

She added that you can use a water bath canner for such foods as fruits, jams, jellies, and pickles.

“A pressure canner can be used like a water bath canner. Just leave the weight off so the pressure is not applied,” Blakeslee said.

Have your dial gauge tested.  Southwind Extension offers this service for free. Gauge brands that can be tested include Presto, National, Magic Seal and Maid of Honor dial gauge pressure canners.

“Check dial gauges every year so you know how accurate the gauge is reading,” she said.

Check your canning supplies. The food safety specialist says you should check to make sure jars are not scratched or chipped and that the rims of jars are not damaged. A damaged jar could crack inside a canner, “and that’s not good,” she said.

Other supplies you may need to have in stock include pectin for jams and jellies; lemon juice or citric acid for tomatoes; and other supplies that vary based on the type of food you plan to can.

“We want you to be smart and safe when it comes to home canning,” Blakeslee said. “It’s a great way to preserve produce you grow or buy from a farmer’s market. Be smart about how you’re canning food. While there are some things that haven’t changed over the years, there are some procedures and methods that have changed, so make sure you’re up to date on what you’re doing when it comes to home canning.”

As part of our Grow, It Prepare It series, I will be offering preservation classes in Iola beginning May 9 with Preservation 101.  This class is a pre-requisite for the other “hands-on” classes to follow.  For more information or to register for the Preservation 101 class, call Kathy at 620-365-2242.  Class details are available on the Southwind District website at www.southwind.kus.edu.

Kansas, Submitted

Sen. Hilderbrand’s Weekly Newsletter April 27

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State senator Richard Hilderbrand 13th district

communications from the state capitol

April 27, 2018, ∙ Week Twelve

Quote of the Week:


“On every occasion [of Constitutional interpretation] let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying [to force] what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, [instead let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Johnson, 12 June 1823

HARD FACTS:

Student Success Skills Center helps students develop skills that are vital for success in high school, college, and in life. This online resource from the State Library of Kansas has interactive tutorials on multi-tasking, time management, and information literacy. Skills featured for new high school students cover study and classroom skills, finding good sources, and how to cite work and avoid plagiarism. College students receive tutorials on organizational strategies, using campus resources, and personal skills like money management, healthy habits, and understanding insurance, credit, and taxes. Go to https://kslib.info/LEL and click on the tile for Student Success Skills.

If the page above asks for a Kansas Library eCard number, you may get one at any library in Kansas.  Most people will be automatically recognized as being in Kansas and will not need this step. Easy registration and self-supplied password are necessary in order to save your work and revisit any practice tests or tutorials.  Questions: [email protected] or 785-296-3296.

WEEKLY OVERVIEW:

The legislature reconvened on Thursday, April 26th for the start of Veto Session. This week the Senate voted on eight Conference Committee Reports and two bills. The Senate will continue to work until Sine Die on Friday, May 4th.

FLOOR ACTION:

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS (HB 2438): House Bill 2438 would prohibit state agencies from contracting with a vendor on an information technology project if that vendor prepared or assisted with:

  • The preparation of the program statement;
  • The project planning documents;
  • Any other project plans prepared prior to approval of the project by the Chief Information Technology Officer of the relevant branch of government.

Information technology projects with estimated cumulative costs less than $50 million would be exempted from the provisions of the bill. This bill passed the Senate 38-0.

KANSAS RACETRACKS AND CASINOS (SB 427): Senate Bill 427 would amend the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act and the Kansas Pari-mutuel Racing Act concerning racetrack gaming facilities and lottery gaming facilities. SB 427 would require racetracks with slot machines to pay back about 22 percent of their earnings to the state, the same as state-owned casinos. Currently, racetracks are required to pay 40 percent of earnings back to the state. SB 427 would also allow for greyhound and horse racing in Kansas. This bill failed on a vote of 17-20. (I voted against this bill. I had many concerns with this bill. The treatment of the greyhound dogs. This bill had a clause that would allow the owner of the race tracks the ability not to open any facilities if they were not able to open the Wichita track. There is also some concern that the Wichita track will be the only track that opens.)

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORTS:

(SB 56): Senate Bill 56 would create the Kansas Cybersecurity Act and would amend the membership and the frequency of required meetings for the Information Technology Executive Council (ITEC). The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 37-2. (I voted against this bill. I had some concerns about the cybersecurity reports being open to KORA.)

(SB 217): Senate Bill 217 would update several statutory references in accordance with enacted 2016 SB 449 and Executive Reorganization Order No. 41. The bill would replace the term “mentally retarded and other handicapped persons” in statutes with “individuals with intellectual or other disabilities” in accordance with current law. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 39-0.

(SB 272): Senate Bill 272 would amend the Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways regarding the passing of waste collection vehicles, length and weight limits for certain vehicles, the fine for improper passing of a school bus, and operation of golf carts on city streets. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 35-4. (I voted for this bill)

(SB 282): Senate Bill 282 would amend the Uniform Controlled Substances Act and certain statutes pertaining to crimes involving controlled substances. The bill would amend the definition of “marijuana” to exempt cannabidiol. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 39-0.

(SB 307): Senate Bill 307 would make amendments to the Kansas Amusement Ride Act. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 37-1. (I voted for this bill)

(SB 331): Senate Bill 331 would add to the list of designated state parks the Flint Hills Trail State Park located in Miami, Franklin, Osage, Lyon, Morris, and Dickinson counties, and Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park located in Logan County. SB 331 would also establish the Flint Hills Advisory Council, which would study and assess the development, staffing, maintenance, and promotion of the Flint Hills Nature Trail. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 27-12. (I voted against this bill. I think that the state shouldn’t be taking control of private property and the land should be reverted to the landowners. There are over 117 miles of land that will be affected by this. There are also concerns that the state has accepted the liability of some ongoing issues regarding land usage.)

(SB 335): Senate Bill 335 would amend the State Banking Code related to savings and loan associations, savings banks, and the Kansas Money Transmitter Act. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 39-0.

(SB 348): Senate Bill 348 would authorize electronic delivery as the standard method of delivery for certain health insurance related documents and require the State Employees Health Care Commission to provide coverage for amino acid-based elemental formula, as specified. The Conference Committee Report was adopted by a vote of 35-4. (I voted against this bill. It has language in it that will mandate and expand the state’s role in medical insurance.)

Below are links to make it easy for constituents to follow the Kansas Legislature:

Website – www.kslegislature.org. It is great for looking up bills, calendars, journals, as well as, the roster in each Chamber.

YouTube of Legislature – http://bit.ly/2CZj9O0 Did you know the legislature is now streaming its proceedings? The YouTube page has an archive of the sessions thus far – including the State of the State and the State of the Judiciary.

Committee Streaming – http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/ The Kansas Legislature is also streaming committees, with every committee room equipped with audio streaming technology.

Thank You for Engaging

Thank you for all your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. Constituent correspondence helps inform my decision-making process and is taken into great consideration when I cast my vote in the Kansas Senate. I hope you’ll continue to engage with me on the issues that matter most to you, your family, and our community. If you are on Twitter or Facebook, I encourage you to follow along with the #ksleg hashtag for real-time updates on legislative happenings in Topeka.

Please know that I am fully committed to addressing the current issues in our state, and I am proud to be your voice in the Kansas Senate.

Kansas, Submitted

Foster Care Month Highlights Need for More Foster Families

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DCF announces event and outlines efforts to increase placement options for Kansas kids

TOPEKA –  Currently, there are more than 7,500 children in foster care. Sadly, these children have been placed outside of their home by the court for safety reasons. As the number of children in foster care continues to rise, following the national trend, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is actively recruiting foster families in all parts of the state, to ensure children can remain in their home communities while the agency and its contractors work with birth families to address safety issues and promote reunification.

“It has become abundantly clear that we need more foster families, especially those who are willing to accept older youth, sibling groups and children with special needs,” said DCF Secretary Meier-Hummel. “We are actively working to strengthen the continuum of care.”

At this time, there are more than 2,600 foster homes in Kansas. Ensuring appropriate accommodations for children in care has been and remains a top priority for Secretary Meier-Hummel. However, some solutions to address the shortage of homes and facilities require additional funding. Governor Jeff Colyer, in January, proposed a DCF budget enhancement of $16.5 million to address this and other urgent issues to help Kansas families in crisis.

“I remain hopeful that the Kansas Legislature will respond to these needs by fully funding this request,” said Governor Colyer. “As a State, we have a duty to care for children deemed unsafe in their own homes. Without adequate resources, we jeopardize our ability to address the problems facing the child welfare system.”

With the current resources, Secretary Meier-Hummel continues to seek solutions to the placement-option shortage. In recent months, she has worked diligently with DCF staff and others to address the immediate issue of placing youth, to prevent overnight stays in contractor offices. She is also directing staff to quickly eliminate identified barriers in the placement process. Kinship care approvals are being expedited. Reviews and investigations of foster homes are being moved through. And provider agreements are being fast tracked to increase bed availability. These steps are being taken, all while ensuring child safety is not compromised.

While it’s important to focus on the immediate need for placement options, it’s also important to relay our appreciation for the foster and kinship families who are taking on the tremendous responsibility of caring for youth removed from their homes. Governor Colyer has signed a proclamation designating May as Foster Care Month.

At 5:30 p.m., on May 12, DCF will host a foster family appreciation night at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center. The event will kick off with a news conference, to include Lieutenant Governor Tracey Mann, Secretary Meier-Hummel, foster families and others. Foster care information will be available at more than a dozen booths, and family-friendly activities will be available throughout the zoo grounds. A cook-out dinner will be provided to attendees. (Please do not promote in advance, as this event will be open to the media and invited guests only.)

Additionally, throughout the month of May, foster care contractors, KVC Kansas and Saint Francis Community Services, will host other appreciation events for families.

For more information about foster care in Kansas, visit www.FosterKSKids.org or call 1-844-380-2009.

Bourbon County Local News