Registration Closing Friday for Governor’s Water Conference
Register by Friday, October 25
Registration for the 2024 Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas closes this Friday, October 25. The conference will take place on Wednesday, November 13 and Thursday, November 14 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan, KS. Register here before Friday to reserve your spot.
The conference will feature presentations on:
- Surface and Groundwater Issues
- Emerging Issues and Research
- Education and Outreach
For more information, including the draft conference agenda and speaker bios, visit the Governor’s Water Conference page at kwo.ks.gov under the News & Events section.
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As the state’s water office, KWO conducts water planning, policy coordination and water marketing as well as facilitates public input throughout the state.
The agency prepares the KANSAS WATER PLAN, a plan for water resources development, management and conservation.
Grants to Revitalize Dilapidated Downtown Buildings Available
Commerce Announces New Round of Funding for HEAL Grants
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that $1.5 million is available for a fifth round of Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grants to revitalize dilapidated and underutilized downtown buildings in small communities across the state. These grants help close the financial gaps for communities striving to make their downtown districts economically vibrant.
Since Commerce launched the program in 2021, nearly $5 million has been awarded to fund 87 different community projects throughout Kansas.
“In order to succeed, brick and mortar businesses need the brick and mortar – and all the parts of their building – to be in good condition,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “With $20 billion of new private investment pushing into all parts of Kansas, HEAL grants give communities a chance to create their own momentum, turning downtown buildings that were once storage or pigeon roosts into stores, coffee shops and upper floor lofts.”
The HEAL grant helps communities bring revitalize downtown buildings as spaces for new or expanding businesses, housing, arts and culture, civic engagement, childcare or entrepreneurial activities.
Submitted projects must show potential to be economic drivers in the community and demonstrate that the space will be occupied by the end of the project. There must be proof of 1:1 matching funds from the building owner that will be required at the time of application.
The application opens November 1 and closes January 31, 2025. Awardees will be notified in April. Communities that received HEAL grants in spring 2023 or fall 2024 are not eligible to apply for this round of funding.
A virtual webinar about the specifics of the program is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Monday, November 4. Registration is required for the webinar. A Zoom link will be provided after registration is completed. To register for the webinar, please click here.
For additional information about HEAL grants, the webinar and the online application, please visit here.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
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Obituary of JoAnn Copelin
JoAnn Copelin, age 89, of Mansfield, TX passed away peacefully, Saturday, October 12, 2024 at her home in the Isle at Watercrest Mansfield. She was born June 23, 1935 in Enid, Oklahoma, the daughter of Alfred and Dulsa Clark. She graduated from Rogers High School in Arkansas with the class of 1953. Shortly after, she married the love of her life, Buddy Copelin, on May 18, 1953. They built a life in the Kansas City area and had 69 wonderful years together. She worked as a cosmetologist at Mr. Emery’s Salon for over 30 years. JoAnn enjoyed gardening, sewing, knitting, oil painting and spending precious time with family and friends. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Peculiar for 50 years where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir.
JoAnn will be lovingly missed by her daughter, Debbie Taylor, (husband, Steve), her 3 grandsons, Nathan Taylor, (wife, Sonya), Nick Copelin, (wife, Jennie), and Zack Copelin; 3 great-grandchildren, Presley, Foster and Judah Copelin; 2 sisters, Esther Tanner; Wanda Daniels, (husband, Tom), brother, Dean Clark, (wife Ardythe), and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Preceded in death by her parents; 2 sisters, Ruby Rounds and Melva Varnell; a brother, Eugene Clark and her husband, Buddy and son, Randy.
Graveside services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Thursday, October 24th at the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel on Thursday prior to leaving for the cemetery at 1:15 P.M. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary of Jacquin Provence
Jacquin “Jacki” Lorraine Provence went home to meet our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Tuesday October 15th, 2024, at KU Medical Center.
Jacki was born on May 5th, 1952, in Lenexa, KS to Donald and Neva Provence. Jacki grew up in Kansas City, KS but she spent many of her favorite childhood summers in Fort Scott, where she decided to move and raise her two children, Nic and Erika Provence.
Jacki worked as an insurance claims processor for Cobalt MedPlans/First Source until she retired and moved from Fort Scott, back to the Kansas City area.
She was an avid movie lover and frequent attendee of many cinemas across multiple cities. She will be remembered for not only her big laugh, but her even bigger heart. Anyone who frequented her household were not only guests but were welcomed with open arms into what many considered a second home, and this home will live on in the hearts of everyone she loved.
Jacki is survived by her oldest son Nicolas and wife Kelly Provence of Springfield, MO, their children Niccon Provence and Christian Provence-Harmon and husband Garret of Springfield, daughter Erika Provence and children Gideon Provence of Gardner as well as Isabella Virtue and husband Shaun of Topeka. She is also survived by her beloved sister and one of her best friends Trudy Briones of Kansas City, as well as nephews Isreal Briones and Angelo Briones, Angelo’s children Gisele and Gian Briones as well as niece Jessica Briones and son Zekiah Briones Hardgraves all of the Kansas City area.
She was preceded in death by her parents Donald and Neva.
A celebration of life will be held in her honor at a later date and time to be announced. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
Rachel Carpenter: New FS Employee Relations and Special Project Coordinator
Rachel Carpenter started as the new Fort Scott Employee Relations and Special Project Manager on October 10.
Her office is located in City Hall, and she can be reached at [email protected] or 620-215-2562.
“With three years of experience at The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, I bring a strong background in grant writing, community change, and relationship-building,” she said.
“The City of Fort Scott is engaged in many exciting projects, and I look forward to building on the momentum I see,” she said. “My goal is to bring additional resources and funding to our community and to collaborate with other organizations to foster positive change. After all, we are #BetterTogether.”
Carpenter graduated from Fort Hays State University (FHSU) in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and also holds certificates in Grant Writing, Program Evaluation, and Community Development.
In her role at the City, her responsibilities will include:
- Maintaining and monitoring project plans, schedules, scopes of work, budgets, and expenditures
- Research, obtain, and monitor grants for projects
- Assisting the City Manager with various projects
- Meet with project leaders to assess their needs and define project requirements
- Preparing budgets
- Scheduling stakeholder meetings, documenting discussions, and generating reports
- Promoting a positive work culture
- Recruit and retain employees
- Conducting regular training sessions for employees
- Managing workers’ compensation claims
- Handling citizen insurance claims
Downtown Halloween Parade This Saturday, Oct. 26
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Early Voting Begins Today, Oct. 21 at the Bourbon County Courthouse
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Oct. 21
Obituary of Alma Jean Wright
“In the twinkling of an eye” on October 12, 2024, Alma Jean (Heer) Wright of Gardner, Kansas, slipped from this world and entered Heaven’s joys. The automobile accident that claimed her earthly life had no control over her eternal destiny. She is, without a doubt, present with the Lord whom she loved so well.
Alma Jean was born February 7, 1945, in Marion, Indiana, into the home of Leo Andrew and Alma Mae (Allison) Heer. As her father was a minister, the family lived in several locations throughout Alma Jean’s childhood.
Alma Jean graduated from high school in Eskridge, Kansas. After graduation, Alma Jean attended Kansas City College & Bible School for a year. Her jobs included telephone operator at Southwestern Bell, cook in the KCCBS cafeteria, and clerk in the KCCBS business office.
In 1963, Alma Jean moved to Kansas City and lived with some other young ladies – Kathy Wright among them. A young Joe Russell prodded Kathy’s younger brother Gary toward Alma Jean by saying, “You need to ask that girl for a date! She’s dying to date you.”
Gary calmly answered, “I could…I’ll think about it.” On June 1, 1968, the day after Gary’s college graduation, Gary and Alma Jean were married in Chanute, Kansas.
Life in Overland Park, Kansas, saw Alma Jean and Gary welcoming their daughter Sharmen Sue into their family, followed by their son Michael Jay the next year. Son Jonathan Lee completed their family unit seven years later. The family’s home on Craig Drive in Overland Park, KS, was the site of many family gatherings. 2008 brought change and a move to Gardner, KS, but no matter where she lived, Alma Jean LOVED having company. Family events sometimes included slideshows, but they always included memories and laughter. Lots of laughter.
Alma Jean may not have worked outside the home while raising her children, but she was rarely idle. She prioritized her family and shepherded her children well, modeling how to love God and people.
Alma Jean had several hobbies – genealogy, scrapbooking, quilting, and more – but she was passionate about ministry. Her pet projects have included Women Alive, 60+, vacation Bible school, and more than forty years of Sunday school teaching. She blessed many with calls, texts, personal visits, and her monthly newsletters. She sent letters to college students, missionaries, prisoners, and shut-ins for years. Alma Jean’s big heart had her and Gary visiting many hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons.
Alma Jean has served well in every church she has attended. Most recently, the Olathe Church of God (Holiness) has benefited from her project vision, organizational skills, and outreach efforts. One ministry very close to Alma Jean’s heart was Samaritan’s Purse and their Operation Christmas Child shoebox distribution project.
Alma Jean Wright is enjoying the glorious sights of Heaven alongside her parents Leo and Alma Heer, her aunt Ila Heer, her son Michael Wright, and her son-in-law Rob McCollum.
Survivors include Gary Wright of Gardner, Kansas; daughter Sharmen McCollum, son Jonathan (Darla) Wright, and daughter-in-law Shawna Wright; grandchildren Luanna (Austin) Tolley, Esther (Timothy) Replogle, Julianna Wright, Joseph Wright, Karson Wright, and Leo Wright; great-grandchildren Evelyn Jay Tolley and Gage Harrison Tolley; and truly a host of family and friends, all of whom look forward to meeting Alma Jean Wright in Heaven someday.
Visitation will be held from 4:30-6:30 PM on October 24, 2024, at the Overland Park Church of God (Holiness), 6801 W 74th St., Overland Park, KS. The funeral will be held at the same location at 10 AM on October 25, 2024. Interment at Memory Gardens of Bourbon County, 2193 Indian Rd., Fort Scott, KS, will follow at 2:00 PM, October 25, 2024.
Obituary of Robert McCollum
Robert Merrill McCollum, 72, of Gardner, Kansas, passed away on October 12, 2024, as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He gave so much of himself to us, and the family is devastated that such a kind, creative, and loving soul has left this earth.
Rob was born January 22, 1952, in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Walter Leroy & Nela Mae (Rodgers) McCollum. He graduated from Shawnee Heights High School in 1970.
Rob married Lora Jane Lewis in Olathe, Kansas, on July 29, 1972. They had been married for forty-three years when Lora preceded him in death on October 7, 2015. Rob and Lora shared two children: Brandon Michael McCollum and Jeffrey Allen McCollum.
Later in life, Rob was fortunate enough to fall in love with Sharmen Sue Wright, and he went on to marry her on May 4, 2019. They shared a home outside Gardner, Kansas. They liked traveling, gardening, and spending time with family.
Rob worked for Cities Service Gas Company (now Southern Star Gas Company) for thirty-eight years, retiring from there in 2011. For over thirty years, Rob also had an upholstery business in addition to his normal day job.
Rob especially liked riding his motorcycle and working on classic cars. He enjoyed driving his 1956 Chevy Bel Air and taking it to car shows.
Rob was a member of New Life Community Church in Gardner. He served as a deacon and was an important member of the men’s Bible study group.
Remaining to cherish Rob’s memory are his spouse, Sharmen Sue Wright McCollum; children Brandon (Karen) McCollum and Jeffrey (Stacy) McCollum; grandchildren Ty (Lauren) Thorp, Tyler (Karie) McCollum, Chance Thorp, Austin McCollum, Jarit (Alexis) Sparks, Carter McCollum, Ryan McCollum, and Emma McCollum; ten great-grandchildren; brothers Rodger (Tina) McCollum and Rodney McCollum; nieces and nephews Scott (Heather) McCollum, Drew (Melody) McCollum, and Sara (Miguel) McCollum.
Preceding Robert in death are his spouse Lora McCollum and parents Walter Leroy McCollum and Nela Mae McCollum.
Visitation will be held Saturday, October 26 at 10 AM at the New Life Community Church, 29200 W 188th St., Gardner, KS 66030. A funeral service will follow at 11 AM in the same location. Interment will be at 2:30 PM in Memorial Park Cemetery, 3616 SW 6th, Topeka, KS 66606.
Memorial donations in Robert’s memory may be directed to the New Life Community Church of Gardner, Kansas and may be left in care of the church or 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.
Do It Now by Carolyn Tucker
Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker
Do It Now
When my kids were young and I would give them instructions to perform a chore, they had a tendency to just keep playing. They weren’t ignoring me or being rebellious, they were simply waiting a few more minutes before they acted. Well, my dad was a World War II Army staff sergeant, and I seem to possess some of those same qualities. I explained to Mariam and Aaron that I expected them to get up and move as soon as I finished the instructions. It was for their good and my sanity that they learned prompt obedience. The result of this old-school upbringing caused them to revere God, be respectful of authority, and also cultivated a seed of excellence for their future careers. Plus it kept me out of the insane asylum.
I cannot treat God like a child and try to order Him around. In truth, I’m His child and He’s my Father. Life will never go well if I try to reverse those divinely-established roles. Believers are supposed to go to the Father with our needs and then patiently trust Him. “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT). God hears, cares, and acts with well-timed help, coming just when we need it.
While we’re waiting on God’s help, our job is to keep “steady on” in patience. Galatians 6:9 NKJV states, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” I used to think that meant, “Don’t get burned out while doing good.” But I believe it also means, “Don’t give up on God while you wait.“ We’re “doing good” when we wait on God with a courageous faith-filled attitude. So don’t be deceived or disheartened — keep on trusting and persevering.
When God’s answer is taking longer than we expected, it’s a good idea to take inventory of what’s inside us. He could actually be waiting on us to totally surrender the “thing” that’s stressing us so He can take it and do what only He can do. God won’t do anything with our messes, stresses, and sorrows until we relinquish our hold on them. We can’t receive a gift until the individual releases it into our hand. We can’t receive the peace of God that passes understanding until we release the entirety of the care to Him — it’s like a Divine trade. Honesty and a broken heart are two things God will not ignore.
We live life one hour at a time as we focus forward and wait for answers to our humble requests for help. Patience is a virtue but perseverance is a choice. Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church to encourage them to hold fast to their faith, knowing that God would act on their behalf. “Now may the Lord move your hearts into a greater understanding of God’s pure love for you and into Christ’s steadfast endurance” (2 Thessalonians 3:5 TPT). Don’t stop believin’ that your breakthrough is just about ready to knock on your door. Don’t get stuck in the middle of going through a trial. Winston Churchill said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” Paul and Winston would surely have been good friends had they lived at the same time.
If you’re waiting on God to send help, you’re in good company. In Psalm 23, King David reminds us that God will restore our soul.
The Key: Your help is on the way. Never, never, never give up on God.