Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson
January 12, 2024
New Session new hope. Anything is possible. I have high hope for a successful session for Kansas. The Senate has passed exempting Social Security from state income tax several times in the past few years. It’s nice the Governor has seen how important this is to Kansans and has joined in support. There are many other items I have been leading an effort to pass into law. We lost most of the provisions last year because some people want their way or the “highway”, not what they claim is the middle of the road. Hopefully, others will join me in putting our constituents first.
Working with the House Tax Chairman and others, we will put together a tax plan to simplify the income tax code. It will be a sustainable tax cut for all and help those in need. Leadership provided a ‘vehicle’, a bill that allows Tax Conference Committee to meet and work on a tax package. It is unusual for conference this early in session, but it makes sense because Kansas legislators have recently debated and passed the policy being considered.
A Property Tax Freeze program for seniors in need and disabled veterans, named Homestead II, passed in 2022. Last year the legislature passed expansion of the program so more people would qualify. The Governor vetoed it and there wasn’t time for an override. I’m working with others to pass this legislation into law.
Property Taxable Valuation Limits on Increases passed the Senate last year in a Constitutional Amendment. We started at a 3% limit in SCR 1610. It fell one vote short, so we passed a 4% limit in SCR 1611. It requires 2/3 majority in both chambers to get it on the ballot for voters to decide. It passed with a super majority 28 to 11. Hopefully, the House and Senate will lower the limit and pass the SCR giving voters a chance to be heard on taxable valuation increases.
Transparency – bills, hearings, floor debate, and other information can be found at www.KSLegislature.org. I can be reached by email at [email protected] or phone 785.296.6838 during session.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
Witts Take Ownership of Hedgehog INK on February 1
With support from her husband, Jordan, and three kids, Randi Witt, Ivan, Ava, and Lydia will take ownership of the Hedgehog.INK! bookstore at 16 S. Main on February 1.
The phone number will remain the same (620) 670-2752 but the email: [email protected] is new. Both the website and Facebook page will remain the same.
“We will take over running those on Feb. 1,” Randi said.
The store was opened by Jan and Dick Hedges in 2018, and Dick died in 2022. Jan announced in December 2023 that she was selling the bookstore.
“I heard about Jan planning to sell the store, and I knew this was the opportunity I had been waiting for,” Randi said. “Jan and Dick created a magical space that makes you feel good when you walk inside. The store has something for everyone, from books to unique items and gifts.”
The whole family enjoys bookstores.
“In college, Jordan and I would frequently visit a used bookstore in downtown Lawrence,” she said. “Now we enjoy taking our kids to bookstores. Hopefully, our bookstore can give others the same memorable experience and be a place they want to frequently visit.”
The name of the bookstore will remain the same.
“Even though I will be the new owner, I see this as a continuation of the amazing bookstore Jan and Dick brought to our community,” she said. ” I plan to put my own spin on the space and expand our offerings over time. I will continue to accept books for credit or donation. In addition to books, you can purchase journals, art supplies, candy, handmade purses, goat milk soaps, and lavender products. We definitely want to continue supporting local authors. Please follow us on social media for updates as we grow!”
“I am going to explore expanding hours of operation and will announce that on social media,” she said.
The current hours of operation will be Monday 10 am – 2 pm and Tuesday through Saturday 10 am – 5 pm.
“I will be running the store day to day, and I will rely on help from my kids,” Randi said. “This is definitely a family venture.”
Outcasts and Misfits by Carolyn Tucker
Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker
My earliest memory of feeling sorry and sad for someone who was considered a misfit was hearing the song “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Music has always deeply affected me. The specific lyrics I’m referring to are: “All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names. They wouldn’t let poor Rudolph play in any reindeer games.“ My little child heart was tender and compassionate and the thought of Rudolph being treated as a misfit, just because he was different, really hurt me.
I think that the manner in which this Christmas song affected me as a young child is partially what Jesus was referring to in these scriptures: “Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. Then He said, ’I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven‘“ (Matthew 18:2-4.) Jesus taught that all believers must be childlike (innocent, trusting, tender). He is not condoning a childish (immature) lifestyle; there’s a ton of difference between childlike and childish.
Jesus said, “…I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts” (Matthew 9:13 TEV.) If you don’t feel like you fit in, be comforted in knowing that Jesus came for you too. You’re not left out — you’re wanted and included. Jesus loves you enough that He was willing to die for you so you could have an overflowing life of God’s goodness. The Prince of Peace came to piece together the broken lives of outcasts, misfits, and sinners. Jesus makes it clear that all are sinners who need to come to Him for salvation. However, those who think they’re already on the right path will reject Jesus’ invitation to a restored life. Jesus’ unmerited mercy transforms everyone who comes to Him for salvation.
If friends have thrown you under the bus, Jesus will reach under it and pull you out. If family have rejected you and made you feel like you don’t fit in, Jesus will accept you. If life has slammed you to the floor, Jesus will pick you up and walk with you all the way to heaven. If you think Jesus’ true-blue promise of restoration is too good to be true, just ask Him and find out for yourself. “…I [Jesus] came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 RSV.)
Whether you’re an outcast, misfit, sinner, or the nicest person in the whole world, Jesus came for you. His own mother, the virgin Mary, was ostracized when the news broke out that she was with child and unmarried. Although she and Joseph knew that the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit, society rejected the truth of this supernatural birth. Nevertheless, Mary praised the Lord, realized she was blessed, and delivered the Messiah according to God’s perfect plan of redemption.
Jesus loves you without exception and He will accept you as you are. You don’t have to try to be righteous first; simply accept His invitation and come to Him in honest confession and repentance. The Savior is an expert at taking the broken pieces of outcasts, misfits, and sinners and making them whole and holy.
The Key: Jesus can make a misfit fit perfectly on earth and in the Kingdom of Heaven.
St. Mary’s Fundraiser for Church Rebuilding
Call for Entries – Bourbon County Arts Council Fine Art Exhibit – 2024
The Bourbon County Arts Council announces its 32nd Annual Fine Arts Competition and Exhibit, to be held at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, Thursday, February 29th, through Saturday, March 9th.
The mixed media competition is open to artists aged 16 and older. Categories include Ceramics, Drawing and Graphics (Pencil, Pen, Ink), Fiber Art, Glasswork, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting (Oil & Acrylic), Pastel, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Watercolor.
A new themed category has been included; the theme this year is “ART OF EVERYDAY LIFE”. An artist may create a piece in any of the above media categories, as it relates to the theme.
Entry fees are $7.50 per piece for Bourbon County Arts Council members and $10.00 per piece for non-members.
Artists may enter up to five pieces, but only three in any one category. Entry deadline and payment are due by February 23rd, 2024.
Cash awards totaling over $3500.00 will be made, for Best of Show in 2D and 3D, First and Second Place winners in each category, and a Popular Vote winner.
Entry requested by calling Deb Anderson at 620-224-8650, Deb Halsey at (620)224-0684, or e-mailing [email protected].
PLEASE NOTE: We are no longer accepting pieces shipped to BCAC for entry into the exhibit.
The schedule for this year’s Exhibit is as follows: Entry forms and payment, as stated above, are due by February 23rd
. No late entries will be accepted. Artwork will be accepted at the Ellis Fine Arts Center on Sunday February 25th, between 1 and 4 pm.
Juror critique of the artwork will occur on Wednesday February 28th; this is closed to artists and the public.
The BCAC will host a Chamber Coffee Thursday February 29th at 8:00 am at the Ellis Center.
A reception, open to the public, will be held for participating artists and the Juror that evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
The Exhibit will be open for public viewing on Thursday, February 29th through Friday March 8th, from 12:00 pm until 7:00 pm, and on Saturday, March 9th, from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm.
The Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center is located at 2108 Horton St., Fort Scott, Kansas.
Fight the Post-Holiday Blues
By Clara Misenhelter
Southwind Extension District
The transition from the holidays to the start of a new year can be difficult to navigate for many reasons. Post-holiday blues are just one reason why you might be feeling down this time of year. Do you remember Garfield the cat’s famous hate for Mondays? Post-holiday blues have been compared to these “Sunday scaries” or the “Sunday blues,” which are the letdown feelings that some people experience on Sunday because their weekend is ending. Similarly, post-holiday blues are the letdown feeling that many people experience after the holidays. According to Colorado State University, this can be accompanied by lower energy, increased fatigue, and resistance to going back to work.
So, what can be done to combat the post-holiday blues? Dr. Crystal Schiller, an associate professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, recommends planning to spend time with a friend you did not see over the holidays, doing something small (like listening to your favorite music) to bring yourself joy, and getting tasks done. The final item in this list can help raise your spirits by bringing you a sense of accomplishment. Other things you can try to combat post-holiday blues include practicing gratitude daily, engaging in physical activity, and watching something funny. Both physical activity and laughter release endorphins, which have been described as “the body’s natural painkillers” in one article from Harvard Health Publishing.
Practicing mindfulness is yet another thing you can try to combat post-holiday blues. In his book “Wherever You Go, There You Are,” Jon Kabat-Zinn writes: “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally. This kind of attention nurtures greater awareness, clarity, and acceptance of present-moment reality.” He also writes that it “provides a simple but powerful route for getting ourselves unstuck.” This route to getting unstuck is one that may be particularly useful in fighting post-holiday blues. Try committing just five minutes of your day to practicing mindfulness by focusing on your breathing and letting your thoughts float away like clouds. To learn more about practicing mindfulness, visit bit.ly/southwindmindfulness.
It is important to note that post-holiday blues differ from depression. If your symptoms worsen or do not go away, seek professional help. If you or someone you know is in crisis or seeking emotional support, call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also chat with them online at 988lifeline.org/chat.
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
No Bourbon County Commission Meeting on January 15
Bourbon County Courthouse
210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800
Fax: 620-223-5832
Bourbon County, Kansas
Nelson Blythe
1st District Commissioner
Jim Harris, Chairman
2nd District Commissioner
Clifton Beth
3rd District Commissioner
Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
There will not be a meeting held on Monday, January 15, 2024 due to the courthouse being closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Executive Session Justifications:
KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the
attorney-client relationship.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the
representative(s) of the body or agency.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships
KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting
would jeopardize such security measures.
What’s Happening in Fort Scott
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Governor Kelly’s Disaster Declaration Temporarily Lifts Certain Commercial Vehicle Regulations
TOPEKA – As severe winter weather conditions continue impacting Kansas roadways, Governor Kelly announced today that her recent disaster declaration temporarily lifts certain hours of service regulations typically imposed on commercial motor vehicles.
In accordance with 49 C.F.R. 390.23(b), the disaster declaration made on January 8, 2024, temporarily lifts the hours of service regulations found in 49 C.F.R. 395.3-5 for motor carriers or drivers operating commercial motor vehicles so long as the motor carriers or drivers are providing direct assistance during the emergency.
The temporary lifting of the regulations lasts until the emergency ends or 14 days from the date of the disaster declaration, whichever is less.
“Temporarily lifting these regulations ensures necessary supplies and relief from the extreme winter weather can reach communities as quickly as possible,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I encourage all Kansans to use caution over the coming days, including reconsidering travel, to be safe and warm.”
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Jennifer Gum-Fowler Starts As Director of Fort Scott Public Library on January 18
Jennifer Gum-Fowler will start as the director of the Fort Scott Public Library on January 18.
“I have already begun to plan some programming for the coming year,” Gum-Fowler said. “I have many ideas that I want to try. I am also thinking of ways to make the community as excited about libraries as I am.”
“As the Library Director, I am responsible for the everyday running of the library, of course,” she said. “I am also responsible for the outreach and partnerships with the library. On top of that, I get to do adult programming and will curate the adult collections. I will also do the interlibrary loans.”
For her, the best part of being a library director is collaborating with the community and being able to bring all kinds of programming and partnerships to the library. “I love it when people come into the library and say, ‘I didn’t know that libraries did that.’ Libraries have gone through a real renaissance and are not what your great-grandparents would have thought of.”
” The biggest challenge is changing how people view libraries,” she said. “There is the idea that libraries are no longer relevant today, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Libraries are vital parts of growing and healthy communities. They are not places one goes for shushing but for information, programs, and community connection. Books are just the beginning of what libraries offer communities.”
Gum Fowler received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Washburn University.
“When I started my library journey, I completed the state APPLE training for new directors in the Southeast Kansas Library System,” she said. “After finishing that, I realized I wanted to do more in libraries, so I returned to school and got my master’s in library science (MLS) from Emporia State University. While there, I was invited to join the Beta Phi Mu Honor Society, an international professional society for accomplished librarians.”
“In 2014, I got the library in Kincaid voted in as an actual library,” she said. “Since then, I have worked hard to get it as part of the national and state library organizations. ”
Under her direction, Kincaid Public Library has grown to be a part of the community, she said.
She has been a member of the Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) and the Kansas Library Association (KLA) since 2017. She is a part of the Intellectual Freedom Committee for the KLA and is the Southeast Kansas Library System (SEKLS) Executive Board Vice-President.
She has been married to Chad Fowler for 28 years and has three adult children “and way too many cats,” she said.
The family was an active part of 4-H when the children were younger, she said. “I personally enjoy weaving, needle felting, and watercolors. I grew up doing pre-1840 reenacting and still love primitive camping. I am also an avid geek and love Dr. Who, Marvel, Firefly, and Star Wars. All that said, I also love reading, with high fantasy and sci-fi being my favorites.”
Currently, she is commuting to Fort Scott.
“I live around 10 miles from the Bourbon line in Anderson County,”
she said. “It is a fast and enjoyable commute to work. I will use the time to listen to some audiobooks. I can’t wait to start working in Fort Scott. It is a beautiful city.”
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on January 17
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