Government, Kansas

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

Leave a comment

 

February 24, 2023

 

Removing Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS) 15% limit on alternative investments, Senate Bill (SB) 23, was scheduled for debate on the Senate floor.  Just before the bill was to be debated, it was pulled from the schedule because several of us questioned removing the limit.  We were told the bill was needed because current “alternative” investments are bumping the 15% limit and the KPERS Board would be forced to liquidate some investments at an inopportune time.  After more research, it was discovered that nothing requires liquidation or selling alternative investments at the 15% limit, but the Board is restricted from participating in additional alternate investments.

 

Gun Safety courses would be optional in public schools if SB 116 becomes law.  After a cordial debate, the bill passed the Senate 30 to 8.  I voted yes.

 

County Identifier on License Plates is the intent of SB 130.  It’s helpful to see the two character code identifying a Kansas county on license plates.  Custom plates and specialty plates have not been including the county ID.  SB 130 would require the county ID on these plates.  The county ID will help with people who have wrongly received a ticket or bill from the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) because they have the same number on their license plate as someone from another county.  Many people like seeing the ID.  The bill passed the Senate 32 to 4.

 

Presidential Primary instead of Caucus is a bill that I requested.  Kansas has been holding party caucuses, instead of primary elections for President mainly because of cost.  National party conventions to nominate candidates for President are usually held in July, while Kansas primaries are in August.  Thus, party caucuses are used to decide Kansas nominees for President.  It would make sense to move the Kansas primary so that it could include candidates for President.  This would address the cost issue and allow primary winners more time between the primary and the general elections.

 

Property Tax Relief  Just a reminder about tax relief programs passed by the legislature last year.  The Secretary of Revenue is working on problems people have had using the forms to apply for these programs.  The link for the application for property tax relief for low income seniors and disabled veterans is posted at https://www.ksrevenue.gov/pdf/k-40svr.pdf and the application for some property tax relief for businesses shut-down or negatively impacted by the Governor’s shutdown during COVID is at https://www.kdor.ks.gov/Apps/Misc/PropTaxAssistance/StoreFront

 

You may also call KDOR at 785-368-8222 or e-mail [email protected] with questions about the programs and applications.

 

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Caryn

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting hosted by The Beauty Lounge

Leave a comment

 

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting event Thursday, February 23rd at 8 a.m. hosted by The Beauty Lounge located at 2 S. Main St. in the Downtown Historic District. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served in addition to a door prize drawing.

The Beauty Lounge is a one-stop shop for esthetics, hair, nails, massages, and skin care products. In January, The Beauty Lounge celebrated their one-year anniversary with the grand opening of their new location.

Chamber members and guests are invited to Chamber Coffee events each Thursday at 8 a.m. to network, make announcements, hear about happenings in the community and learn about the host business or organization.  Any member business or organization wanting to host Chamber Coffee in 2023 is encouraged to contact the Chamber to save a date by calling 620-223-3566 or emailing [email protected].

 

 

Obituary

Death Notice of Voneta Lewis

Leave a comment

Voneta V. Lewis, age 96, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Monday, February 20, 2023, at Presbyterian Village, Fort Scott.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, February 27th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 9:30 until 10:00 Monday morning at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association and may be left at Cheney Witt Chapel.

Obituary

Obituary of JoAnn Clark

Leave a comment

 

JoAnn Sylvia Clark, age 88, former resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Friday, February 17, 2023, at The Maples Health & Rehab, Springfield, MO.  She was born September 29, 1934, in Emmeram, KS, the daughter of Joseph and Albina Weigel Doerfler.  She attended schools in Russel, KS, Wichita, KS, and graduated from Fort Scott High School.  She worked for Western Insurance Company/American States Insurance/Lincoln National Insurance for a combined 40 years.

 

Survivors include her two daughters, Sharyl Blackmore, and Carol Clark; nine grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and 2 brothers, Alan, and David Doerfler.  She was preceded in death by her husband James H. Clark, Jr., 2 sisters, 4 brothers, a daughter, Janet Clark, and her parents.

 

There was cremation.  Burial will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery in Fort Scott, KS, at a later date.  Memorials are suggested to the Old Fort Genealogical Society and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at

Fort Scott, Housing

New Apartments on Horizon for Main Street Gallery Building If Grants are Approved

11 Comments
19 S. Main, is on the left, with 23 S. Main on the left. The buildings are located at the corner of First and Main Street.

The City of Fort Scott approved two resolutions  for an apartment project at 19 and 23 S. Main.

Currently Spoiled Brat Beauty Salon and Main Street Vintage and Co. are housed on the main floor of the two buildings.

The Project

Justin Pregont, with Pomeroy Development LLC, of Atchinson, appeared before the Fort Scott City Commission this month to ask for and did receive approval for the submission of a moderate income housing grant application to the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation.

In addition he sought and was approved for submission of a Rural Housing Incentive District and an Industrial Revenue Bond issue in support of the project.

The entire process of a project like this can take several years, Pregont said in an interview, and all plans are contingent on the receiving of the funds from the grants. In late March 2023, he will be notified from the state if he is a winner of the first of the grants, which he said is very competitive.

The Van Fossen Apartments is the name of the project. It is a sixteen  unit adaptive reuse and historic preservation project approximately 16,000 square feet of the second and third floors of the Van Fossen building at 23 S. Main as well as a comprehensive renovation of the second floor of 19 S. Main, which has approximately 3,000 square feet.

Pregont sought the city’s approval to apply for $1,375,000 in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) category, a federal stimulus bill to aid public health and economic recovery.

It is in  the Moderate-Income Housing (MIH) category of the grant. He stated that the city’s responsibility is administrative, because the checks must flow through a local government sponsor.

Pregont told the commission he has similar projects he has done in the past. He stated that he is the sponsor, he is responsible for carrying it through to completion and he is responsible for the compliance, but the funds flow through the city.

To see prior projects of Pregont:

https://www.pomeroydevelopment.com/

“A friend of mine notified me of the real estate listing,” Pregont said. “We like historic buildings, they are superior in architecture to  modern.

The historic tax credits are a big piece of the funding of such projects.

The Apartments

The apartments will be “top of the market”, Pregont said, and the rents will reflect that. “It will provide quality housing for people who want something better.”

He said he knows people are concerned about the increased shortage of parking spaces in the historic downtown area.

“Anytime there is a booming downtown, there is parking distress,” he said. “It’s an indication of success.”

The primary entrance will not be on Main Street, but on First Street near the alley, which should help with the parking issue currently on Main Street, he said.

Whether pets will be allowed in the apartments, Pregont said it is uncertain at this time, although therapy dogs will be, according to laws that are in place.

Many business owners and downtown residents have expressed concern over animal feces in the downtown area.

About the Name

The buildings were built in the 1880s by Van Fossen and Wilcox, Pregont said.  It was originally a dry goods store, but through the years saw many transformations.

“Van Fossen is a unique name, so we went with that,” Pregont said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art, Bourbon County

Bourbon County Arts Council Hosts 31st Fine Arts Exhibit March 2-10

Leave a comment
31st Annual Fine Arts Exhibit!
The Bourbon County Arts Council is hosting their
31st Annual Fine Arts Exhibit!
Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center
Fort Scott Community College
March 2nd- Chamber Coffee 8am
March 2nd- Artist Reception 6pm-8pm
Public Welcome. Light Refreshments Served.

Exhibit Open:

March 2nd-March 10th from 12pm to 7pm

March 11th from 9am to 1pm

The mixed media competition is open to artists of age 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 “DOORWAYS & WINDOWS”. 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 24th, 2023.

Entry forms may be requested by calling Deb Anderson at 620.224.8650, Deb Halsey at 620.224.0684 or emailing [email protected].
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Opinion

Something to Yell About by Carolyn Tucker

Leave a comment

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

 

 

I’ve been providing music for funerals since the early 1970s and I always consider it an honor to be involved in a loved one’s service.  Just when I thought I’d seen and heard it all, I found out I hadn’t. A funeral is no different from any other event that involves people. People are unpredictable, like cattle, and you can never be sure exactly what’s going to happen. Last summer, I played and sang two songs at a lovely memorial service for a dear lady I’d known for many years. I had noticed there was a little girl about two years old that was a bit rowdy, but cute as a bug’s ear. After I finished singing “Peace in the Valley,” I heard her loud and enthusiastic response of “YAY!” There were a few soft chuckles and I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear as I cleared the piano bench. Nope, I didn’t see that coming, but it sure was funny.

 

I wonder if we shouldn’t be more like this little girl. She simply responded with her mouth what she was feeling on the inside. As believers, we have so many good things to yell about. Jesus lovingly used a little child to teach His disciples a big lesson. “Jesus called a little one to His side and said to them, ‘Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable, and learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, you will never be able to enter in’” (Matthew 18:3 TPT). The people of Judah enthusiastically gave God the glory due to His great name. “And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice” (2 Chronicles 20:19 ESV).

 

God created us as three-part beings: spirit, soul, and body. When it comes to the death of a loved one, it affects our spirit and soul. When a loved one dies in Christ, those left behind  understand and rejoice in their spirit that he/she is now in heaven. But when it comes to our soul (mind, will, emotions) we deeply mourn for our loss. But we‘re not on our own in this restoration process. “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4 NLT). This is a “YAY” promise we can take to the bank!

 

I grew up singing in a church that didn’t have a PA system, so I learned to belt it out. Although my mom had a quiet disposition, everything my dad did was loud. We’re born with unchangeable characteristics (like brown eyes) and our personalities are also formed in the womb. I took after Dad with the loud, so it comes natural for me to freely express myself like the little girl at the funeral. I could never hold down a job at the library — I’m sure I’d get fired after the first day. Here are two wonderful scriptures that are worth yelling about: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NLT).

 

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again — rejoice! Don‘t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4,6,7 NLT).

 

The Key: Having peace in the valley and on the mountaintop is something to yell about.

K-State Extension

Dance as a Family Activity

Leave a comment
Jennifer Terrell, K-State Extension Agent

 

 

Over their lifetimes, children grow and become more competent in building their skills in thinking, learning, emotions, and physical development. Dance has the potential to help families and those caring for young children to grow in multiple, healthy ways.

 

The activity of dance provides benefits across the physical, mental, and behavioral areas. Physical benefits include weight loss, increased fitness, energy, and strength. Dance also builds movement skills in young children, and helps their young bodies grow strong. Dance participation has been linked to children having better relationships, better interactions with parents and teachers, and improved school performance. Mentally, adults and children who dance together have both increased physical activity at home and improved healthy eating habits.

 

When dancing together, always try to remember the joy of dancing is in the process. The satisfaction of mastery will never compare to the joy of moving, dancing, singing, clapping, and learning with your child. As adults in this activity, it is up to you to focus on having fun, and letting your children be children. If you can, remember what it is like to be a child, and even let yourself be child-like for a while. There is no safer and more enjoyable time to reconnect with being a child than when you are engaged in fun, physical activities such as dance.

 

The great part of dance is that you can dance virtually anywhere, anytime, and with anyone: inside or outside, in the morning or evening, with boys or with girls, with older adults and very young children. Learn and use tap dance as a fun, healthy, and engaging family activity.

 

Dancing has benefits to the heart, mind, and body, and these are benefits to children of all ages. So, find a great playlist that your children will love and learn some great dance steps of your choice. Tap can be a great first to learn and don’t worry about the mastering it. Dance is just a great excuse to learn something new together. Remember to take breaks, drink plenty of water, listen to your bodies, and laugh a lot!

 

For more information about Youth Development, contact Jennifer K. Terrell, 4-H Youth Development Agent for K-State Research and Extension, Southwind District at southwind.ksu.edu or 620-223-3720.

K-State Extension

Get Moving with Walk Kansas

Leave a comment
Clara Wikoff. Submitted photo.

Did you know that less than half of Kansas adults meet the minimum requirements for physical activity? Or that chronic disease is responsible for more than 70% of healthcare costs? The good news is that practicing healthy lifestyle behaviors can delay or prevent chronic disease! With this in mind, you will want to save the date for Walk Kansas 2023. Walk Kansas is a team-based health initiative program that will encourage you to lead a healthier life by being more active and making better nutrition choices. This year, the program will take place from March 26th to May 20th.

 

Through Walk Kansas, you are part of a six-member team which selects a goal and then supports one another in reaching that goal during the course of the eight-week healthy lifestyle challenge. Teams can be made up of family members, coworkers, friends, community organization members, neighbors, or members of a faith-based community. You don’t have to be in the same town, county, state, or even country. If you don’t have a team, we can assign you to one or you can fly solo!

 

We promote walking because almost anyone can do it and it is good for your heart. However, other types of exercise are beneficial as well so they also count towards Walk Kansas minutes. This includes any moderate or vigorous activity. This physical activity will help boost your mood, sharpen your focus, reduce your stress, and improve your sleep. No matter who you are, you can find safe, fun ways to get active by moving your own way.

 

By participating in Walk Kansas, you gain support in working towards leading a healthier life, including support from your teammates and exclusive membership in a closed Walk Kansas Facebook group. Success increases with supportive relationships. You will also receive weekly newsletters filled with motivational healthy lifestyle information, resources, and recipes. A new component of Walk Kansas this year will be the opportunity to participate in the online “Med Instead of Meds” class! If you’re interested in eating the Mediterranean way but not sure where to start, this weekly class series is perfect for you.

 

So, what are you waiting for? Registration for Walk Kansas opens on March 1st. Register by March 26th online at WalkKansas.org or by contacting your local K-State Research and Extension office. For more information, including about the optional kickoff 5K event on April 1st, please contact Clara Wicoff at 620-365-2242 or [email protected].

Bourbon County Local News