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TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that more than $10 million in federal funding will be allocated to community-based organizations and local and state agencies providing services directly to crime victims and survivors. This funding comes from the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance grant program.
“These services are vital to the well-being of Kansans impacted by crime,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This funding gives organizations the ability to continue providing the assistance crime victims and survivors deserve as they stabilize their lives, navigate the criminal justice system, and regain a sense of safety and security.”
VOCA grants help organizations in delivering essential services, which include court advocacy and criminal justice support, provided by law enforcement and prosecutors. Other services involve crisis counseling offered by sexual assault and mental health centers, forensic interviews conducted by children’s advocacy centers, as well as shelter, transportation, and transitional housing provided by domestic violence programs.
A total of $10,289,285 was awarded to 65 agencies.
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2025 VOCA Grant Awards |
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County |
Organization Name |
Grant Award |
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Allen |
Hope Unlimited |
$89,696 |
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Barton |
Barton County Attorney’s Office |
$49,984 |
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Barton |
Family Crisis Center |
$188,745 |
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Butler |
Family Life Center |
$34,465 |
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Butler |
Sunlight Children’s Services |
$91,447 |
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Butler |
Tri-County CASA |
$9,950 |
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Cloud |
North Central Kansas CASA |
$18,909 |
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Crawford |
Children’s Advocacy Center |
$29,366 |
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Crawford |
Safehouse Crisis Center |
$115,452 |
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Douglas |
Child Advocacy Center of Douglas County |
$23,545 |
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Douglas |
Douglas County CASA |
$9,653 |
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Douglas |
Douglas County District Attorney’s Office |
$58,809 |
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Douglas |
The Sexual Trauma & Abuse Care Center |
$103,475 |
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Douglas |
The Willow Domestic Violence Center |
$144,488 |
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Ellis |
Options: Domestic & Sexual Violence Services |
$169,028 |
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Finney |
Family Crisis Services |
$114,043 |
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Finney |
Spirit of the Plains CASA |
$12,293 |
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Ford |
CASA-Children Worth Saving |
$22,204 |
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Ford |
Crisis Center of Dodge City |
$46,904 |
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Ford |
Ford County Attorney’s Office |
$189,604 |
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Ford |
Meadowlark House Child Advocacy Center |
$26,157 |
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Geary |
CASA of the 8th Judicial District |
$15,114 |
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Harvey |
CASA: A Voice for Children |
$17,443 |
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Harvey |
Harvey Co. Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Task Force |
$278,923 |
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Harvey |
Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center |
$23,900 |
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Johnson |
CASA of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties |
$63,122 |
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Johnson |
Johnson County District Attorney’s Office |
$128,693 |
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Johnson |
Mothers Against Drunk Driving |
$179,913 |
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Johnson |
Safehome |
$476,194 |
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Johnson |
Sunflower House |
$198,495 |
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Leavenworth |
Alliance Against Family Violence |
$36,694 |
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Leavenworth |
First Judicial District CASA Association |
$73,449 |
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Lyon |
SOS |
$189,996 |
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Reno |
BrightHouse |
$163,944 |
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Reno |
Horizons Mental Health Center Child Advocacy Center |
$52,410 |
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Riley |
Crisis Center |
$64,694 |
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Riley |
Kansas State University |
$228,054 |
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Riley |
Riley County Police Department |
$88,166 |
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Riley |
Sunflower Children’s Collective |
$72,278 |
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Saline |
Child Advocacy & Parenting Services |
$71,497 |
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Saline |
Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas |
$360,296 |
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Scott |
Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center |
$267,447 |
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Sedgwick |
CAC of Sedgwick County |
$274,888 |
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Sedgwick |
Catholic Charities, Harbor House |
$159,780 |
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Sedgwick |
City of Wichita Police Department |
$114,159 |
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Sedgwick |
City of Wichita Prosecutor’s Office |
$142,937 |
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Sedgwick |
ICT SOS |
$89,435 |
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Sedgwick |
Roots & Wings CASA |
$41,990 |
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Sedgwick |
Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office |
$73,288 |
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Sedgwick |
StepStone |
$96,582 |
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Sedgwick |
Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center |
$225,714 |
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Sedgwick |
Wichita Children’s Home |
$299,227 |
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Sedgwick |
Wichita Family Crisis Center |
$249,382 |
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Seward |
Liberal Area Rape Crisis/Domestic Violence Services |
$111,992 |
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Shawnee |
City of Topeka Police Department |
$70,453 |
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Shawnee |
Disability Rights Center of Kansas |
$719,634 |
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Shawnee |
Kansas Department of Corrections |
$856,094 |
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Shawnee |
Kansas Legal Services |
$794,166 |
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Shawnee |
LifeHouse Child Advocacy Center |
$15,644 |
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Shawnee |
YWCA Center for Safety & Empowerment |
$137,366 |
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Wyandotte |
Friends of Yates |
$254,767 |
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Wyandotte |
Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault |
$428,780 |
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Wyandotte |
The Family Conservancy |
$103,736 |
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Wyandotte |
Unified Gov’t of Wyandotte Co/KS City KS–Police Dept. |
$385,332 |
|
Wyandotte |
ReHope (Restoration House) |
$45,000 |
|
TOTAL |
$10,289,285 |
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###

My friend purchased a luxury car…you know, the kind that costs more for its oil change than my entire vehicle cost. She had been driving it for a few hours when a cup of coffee warning sign showed up in her dashboard lights. Alarmed, she pulled off the road to look at her manual. Apparently, this car was so smart, it alerted the driver to take periodic rests in order to prevent an accident.
God created us with a need to rest. I am married to a man who, unlike me, has no trouble with that four-letter word, “rest.” If we are leaving the house in ten minutes, he will say, “Patty, I’m going to take a short nap. Please wake me in five minutes.” And within thirty seconds, his snoring symphony begins. Me, on the other hand? It takes me ten minutes to fluff my pillow and adjust my comforter, figure which side I want to lie on, and try to cease my brain’s frantic activity.
Besides, there are always things to do in those ten minutes: fold the clothes, dry the dishes, make a quick phone call, straighten up my desk, paint a chipped toenail, floss my teeth. I mean, being busy means I’m being productive, right? Not according to scripture. Psalm 23:2 tells me that God leads me beside quiet waters. Dave understands quiet waters. I understand living in a barrel in the middle of Niagara Falls. The psalmist writes his words from the perspective of a shepherd tending his flock of sheep.
A good shepherd recognizes that sheep, as dumb as they are, are not at ease around rushing water. It’s as if God created them to innately know that the weight of their wool—when wet—will drown them. The shepherd must lead his sheep beside still waters, to a place of rest. All the sheep must do is follow.
Author Mary Southerland once blogged about her experience learning the meaning of the word “rest.” She wrote that she began taking piano lessons at the age of five from an elderly, sweet lady, Mrs. McKenzie. “Her hair was slightly blue, her house smelled like lemon drops, and she had clocks that chimed and rang every fifteen minutes. I was so excited and so ready to play the piano like my sister who played for our church worship services…”
When Mary climbed atop the piano bench, she was disappointed when her teacher invited her to open the first page. There were only little, black pictures. “Where are the songs?” Mary asked. For what seemed like hours, Mrs. McKenzie pointed to funny-shaped black symbols, naming them and explaining their meaning.
One was called “a rest.” Mary was frustrated. “Do you know why rests are so important in music?” her teacher persisted. “The music that comes after the rest is the most beautiful music of all.” Rest is a powerful part of our life song. Sometimes, it is the most productive thing we can do for our soul. Just as the rest in music prepares the listener for what comes next, time spent in rest is an invaluable opportunity for preparation and restoration. Yet, we often buy the enemy’s lie that to rest is a waste.
Warren Wiersbe once said, “The ability to calm your soul and wait before God is one of the most difficult things in the Christian life. Our old nature is restless…the world around us is frantically in a hurry. But a restless heart usually leads to a reckless life.” As we enter the Christmas season, we will be tested to live at a frantic pace. We will need to choose: reckless or restful.

This is a reminder that pesticide containers are not to be repurposed after the pesticide has been used. Labels on non-refillable containers state, “Do not reuse or refill this container.” Some containers are refillable, and those labels typically say, “Refill this container with pesticide only. Do not reuse this container for any other purpose.” In some cases, the label may say, “Refill this container with [common chemical name]” or “This is a sealed, refillable container to be used only for [common chemical name],” which indicates that it can be refilled with the same pesticide by a retailer. These labeling statements make every pesticide container, from a 2.5-gallon jug up to a 30-gallon tote, illegal to reuse. Reusing containers for any other purpose is considered pesticide misuse and a violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. A pesticide container, even if it is empty or the label is removed (defaced), remains part of the pesticide product.
After use, pesticide containers should be disposed of properly. Disposal options may be limited by local regulations and ordinances. Containers that have been triple rinsed and crushed and/or punctured may be accepted by sanitary landfills or landfills that accept industrial waste. Check with your landfill operator prior to taking empty containers for disposal. Triple-rinsed containers can also be returned to the supplier. In addition, some counties in Kansas have a plastic pesticide container recycling program. Check with your county’s Extension office or Household Hazardous Waste program for more information.
Lonnie Mengarelli is a K-State Research and Extension Agriculture agent assigned to Southwind District. He may be reached at [email protected] or 620-223-3720
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Sarah Lancaster, Extension Weed Science Specialist
[email protected]
Frannie Miller, Pesticide Safety and IPM Coordinator
[email protected]
TOPEKA – Kansas-based chapters of nonprofit organizations focused on wildlife conservation and promoting the hunting and fishing heritage have a special fundraising opportunity thanks to the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission. Through the Commission Big Game Permit program, eligible organizations can enter a random drawing for one of seven special big game hunting permits, which may then be sold to fund conservation projects. The drawing will take place at the Commission’s meeting on January 30, 2025. Applicants do not need to be present to win.
Applications are due by Jan. 17, 2025. To submit an application:
Each year, the program offers up to seven Commission Big Game permits (no more than one elk and one antelope and up to seven deer permits), depending on applicants’ preferences. Deer permits are either-species/either-sex and are valid statewide during any season with the legal equipment for that season; and, they do not count against other big game permits the license holder may obtain.
Winning organizations keep 15 percent of their sale price of the Commission Big Game Permit to support their missions. The remaining 85 percent is held by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks until a mutually agreed upon conservation project is approved. (If Kansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry is drawn, they may keep 85 percent of their sale price in order to offset donated deer processing fees.) Organizations may not win a Commission Big Game Permit more than once in a three-year period.
For more information, contact Jake George, KDWP Wildlife Division Director, at [email protected].
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The renovations were done by employees at the center, Lucas Kelley the Recreation Director, Dustin Fly the Maintenance Supervisor, and Katie Chipman the Office Manager.




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Nov. 26, 2024 – The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College will celebrate the anniversary of Gordon Parks’ birthday on Thursday, December 5th with the showing of films throughout the day and a speaking presentation and performance by Lem Sheppard, internationally known musician and historian titled “The Music Around Gordon Parks”. The events are free of charge and the public is invited to attend. Parks, born in Fort Scott on November 30, 1912, would have been 112 this year. He died in March 7, 2006 at the age of 93.
The schedule throughout the day will include:
9:25 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. — “Showing of the film Criterion Collection The Learning Tree” in FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center FREE.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. — (Lunch and Learn) “The Music Around Gordon Parks” Join us as Lem Sheppard, internationally known musician and historian will be presenting a program of Jazz, blues, and Spirituals. Gordon Parks was born and grew up during the period that was referred to as the Harlem Renaissance and he will perform music that Gordon would have experienced as a child in Fort Scott, as well as in; St. Paul, Chicago and New York City. Birthday cake and drinks will be provided in the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. FREE.
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. — “Showing of the film Solomon Northup’s Odyssey” in FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. FREE.
Throughout the day, visitors will be able to receive a 25% birthday discount on all apparel items.
For more information contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620- 223-2700, ext. 5850 or by email at [email protected]
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On behalf of our Bourbon County Core Community family I just want to extend our warmest wishes to you and yours as we pause to give thanks for the relationships and growth we have witnessed this past year. We can not do what we do without the generosity of our supporters, volunteers, and donors; so please accept our deepest gratitude for your involvement and support in 2024. You are so appreciated! Happy Thanksgiving.
