Obituary

Obituary of Terry Culp

Leave a comment

 

Terry Terry Lee Culp, 70, of Eureka, Kansas, passed away Friday, February 4, 2022, after battling liver disease.

He was born in Fort Scott, Kansas, on November 27, 1951.

  He married Diane Culp on January 12, 1974, in Hooper, Nebraska, they later divorced.

They have a son, Billie Culp (Carrmann), of Ackworth, Iowa, and grandchildren Blake Culp of Claremore, Oklahoma and Kristin Culp of Newton, Iowa; a daughter, Buffy Weber (Ryan) of Eureka, Kansas, and grandchildren Kaitlynn Smith (Jeff) of Madison, Kansas, and Trenton Kuhn of Eureka; a daughter, Terri Spigarelli (Jeff) of Frontenac, Kansas, and grandchildren Jay Karleskint, Becca Karleskint, and Gianna Spigarelli of Frontenac, and great-grandchildren Bowen & Lylah Smith.

He later married Andrea Carr, on June 28, 2002.

Terry served thirty years in the U.S. Army/Army Reserves as a mechanic, including a station in Germany from 1975-1977 with his wife and children.

He enjoyed repairing vehicles as well as helping friends and family with various projects. He was always a jokester and loved telling jokes and playing tricks on everyone he met. Who all fell for his “dog jaw” prank?!

Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday, February 11, 2022, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, Fort Scott, Kansas, with burial following at the Fort Scott National Cemetery.

Military Honors will be presented by the US Army Funeral Honors Detail, Fort Riley, Kansas, at the Cemetery.

Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Business

KGS Reponds to KCC Order

Leave a comment

Kansas Gas Service is pleased with the Order from the Kansas Corporation Commission on its securitization mechanism to recover costs from the February 2021 winter storm. We prioritize keeping our customers safe and warm during these extreme weather events and aim to recover the unprecedented costs from the high natural gas prices due to the storm with fairness and minimal impact to customers.

 Submitted by:

Bailey McBride
Public Relations Manager, ONE Gas
Business, Government, Kansas

KCC Approves KGS Recovering Winter Storm Costs

Leave a comment

KCC approves settlement agreement allowing Kansas Gas Service to recover winter storm costs over time, using low interest bonds

TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has approved a settlement agreement outlining how Kansas Gas Service (KGS) will recover $366 million in deferred natural gas costs incurred during last February’s winter weather event. The utility, like others regulated by the KCC, was ordered to do everything possible to continue providing natural gas service to its customers, defer the charges, and then develop a plan to allow customers to pay the unusually high costs over time to minimize the financial impact.

Under the terms of the agreement, KGS will apply for Securitized Utility Tariff Bonds to obtain the most favorable financing to reduce costs to ratepayers. The 2021 Kansas Legislature passed the Utility Financing and Securitization Act, which allows utilities to use securitized bonds to pay for extraordinary costs at more favorable terms than traditional financing.  The KCC will review the plan to ensure the lowest possible bond costs will be passed on to customers. The application and review process could take six to eight months.

Until the securitization process is complete, the exact dollar amount KGS customers will see on their monthly bills or the length of the payment period is unknown. Estimates range anywhere from $5 to $7 per month for a period of 5-10 years.

The Commission emphasized it was in the public interest for KGS to incur the extraordinary costs to ensure the integrity of the gas system and ensure continuous service to its customers.

“A lesser response could have resulted in catastrophic property damage and serious public safety implications, including potential loss of life.  When extraordinary costs are unavoidable and necessary to benefit the public, it is in the public interest to allow recovery of such costs.”

Feb. 8 order states that any proceeds received by KGS from ongoing federal or state investigations into market manipulation, price gouging or civil suits will be passed on to customers. In addition, KGS has agreed to file a plan to assist low-income customers in its service territory by December 31, 2022.

A second order, addressing a proposed unanimous settlement on a waiver of penalties for gas marketers and transportation customers (large volume users that buy gas directly through natural gas suppliers or marketers using KGS to deliver the fuel) under KGS’ Tariff will be issued by March 7. A hearing on that settlement was held February 4.

Today’s order is available at:
http://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx?Id=172a1653-5e64-4ecd-84d9-b42bd4da664a

A recording of today’s Business Meeting featuring comments by Commissioners on this order, is available on the KCC YouTube channel.

 

Area News

Gently Used Dresses For Sale For Prom

Leave a comment
Submitted photo.

Note corrected date.

Because proms are coming in a few months, a 4-H group in Nevada is having a special-date dress sale event of gently worn dresses on Feb. 19.
Beginning at 10 a.m. on Feb. 19, area young women can look over an anticipated 100 dresses for their special prom night.
The location of the sale is the Vernon County Fairgrounds Diner Building,1488 E. Ashland, Nevada MO.
Seller registration for the event is from 8 a.m. to 9:20 a.m.
“Hustler 4-H out of Vernon County Missouri is hosting the event as a fundraiser for their club,” said Tonya Cliffman, whose niece is in the club.  “It is open for all communities to participate and not limited to Vernon County or Missourians.  We have dress owners from Fort Scott and Pleasanton taking advantage of this organized event so Kansas is invited.”
“This event allows both seller and buyer the opportunity to come together and move amazing dresses into new closets,” she said.  “It allows these dresses to be more than one-time use and is pocketbook-friendly.”
The cost is $5 per dress to have it on display.  Shoes and jewelry can also be displayed for $3 each.
“Prom Dress Event allows young ladies wanting to purchase a dress for this year’s formal events at a reasonably discounted price,” she said.  ” This will be a cash-only event.  While some sellers may have electronic payment options of Venmo/Paypal, this is not guaranteed and you should be prepared to pay in cash.”
“A local seamstress will be on hand to offer expertise on whether a dress can be altered or fitted to the buyer,” she said.  “However,  alterations will not be completed on-site the day of the event.
All sales are between sellers and buyers and are NOT the responsibility of the Hustler 4H Club.
To view the event Facebook page:
Government, Kansas

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

Leave a comment
Caryn Tyson

February 3, 2022

 

John Wayne was asked in one of his movies if he was having a “day off” and his response was “off day”.  That definitely applied to the fourth week of session.  Because of the winter storm, most meetings and session were canceled Wednesday and Thursday.  One would think it would mean a few days off, however, that was not the case.  There were hundreds of emails and phone calls, plus work to be completed on legislation.

 

Last year the legislature passed property tax transparency almost unanimously (after the Governor vetoed it the previous year).  It has been reported that as a result of passing Senate Bill (SB) 13, over 50% of local governments didn’t increase property taxes last year.  It is a major win for Kansas taxpayers.  I was humbled to receive Legislator of the Year from a national organization for my leadership in passing this legislation and my work in the Senate.  There is a website that lists local governments and if they collected more in property taxes than the previous year or remained revenue neutral. The information can be found at www.KansasOpenGov.org.  Click on the ‘County’ button and select ‘2022 Property Tax Increase/Decrease’ in the Report drop-down.  SB 13 provides government transparency, which is critical for a government of “We the people”.

 

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

Caryn

Obituary

Obituary of Sandra Rich

1 Comment

 

Sandra Lee Rich, age 64, a resident of rural Uniontown, Kansas, passed away early Saturday, February 5, 2022, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. She was born December 8, 1957, in Bryan, Texas, the daughter of Kenneth K. Young and Leona M. Murray Young. Sandy graduated from the Guntersville High School in Guntersville, Alabama with the Class of 1976. She went on to receive an Associates Degree from Gadsden State Junior College. She married Bobby Rich on July 1, 1979, at Guntersville, Alabama. Following their marriage Bobby and Sandy moved to the farm near Uniontown. Together they worked side by side as over the road truck drivers for many years. In 1997, Sandy began employment with Key Work Clothes where she worked in the shipping and receiving department. She was still working in this capacity at the time of her death. Sandy accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and was an active member of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Uniontown where she served on various committees and as a church trustee. She had a zest for life and a love for adventure. Together, she and Bobby had traveled to all fifty states and made trips to Europe and Australia. She also enjoyed quilting, cross-stitch and sewing. In spite of the many health issues Sandy has had over the years, she will be remembered for her positive outlook on life.

Survivors include her husband, Bobby, of the home and her sister, Marilyn Swallow, of Franklin, Texas. Also surviving are her mother-in-law, Ivanell Thompson of Gadsden, Alabama and brothers-in-law, Randy Rich of Uniontown and Ted Rich and wife, Barbara Hartman, of Savonburg, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Rev. Marty Dewitt will conduct funeral services at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 12th at the Frist Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown. Burial will follow at the Hatch Cemetery Southwest of Uniontown. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to the First Missionary Baptist Church and may be left in care of 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.

COVID-19, Fort Scott

Fund Raiser for Kennedy Bosley-Leihsing

Leave a comment
Kennedy Leihsing. Submitted photo.

A fundraiser to help pay for the funeral costs of Kennedy Bosley-Leihsing is on Feb. 13 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Empress Event Center, 7 N. Main.

It is a  free-will donation pancake feed that includes two pancakes with sausage links, butter, and syrup. One can dine-in, or take to-go.

For more information call Lori Brown, at 620-215-3600.

“We’re hopeful that our community does what it normally does and comes together to support a family that’s going through a very difficult time,” said Bill Michaud, owner of Sleep Inn, whose staff is hosting the pancake benefit feed.

About Kennedy

Leihsing, 15, was a sophomore at Fort Scott High School who died unexpectedly on January 25  from COVID-19 in the Ascension Via Christi Emergency Department.

A great aunt, Iris Byrd, started a GoFundMe for the family as there was no insurance to pay for the funeral, according to the GoFundMe page.

“She was raised along with the other grandchildren by her grandparents, both of whom are on disability for various medical conditions. This is yet another reason why help is so desperately needed,” Byrd said on the GoFundMe page.

“Kennedy was so smart and kind, and she loved life and always put others before herself. She was beautiful in all respects,” Byrd said on the fundraising page.

Kennedy’s best friend Elizabeth has a mom, Lori Brown, who works at the Sleep Inn Hotel in Fort Scott. The Sleep Inn team is hosting a pancake feed to benefit the family because the GoFund Me goal to help with funeral expenses has not been met yet.

Elizabeth Brown left,  and Kennedy Leihsing October 2021. Submitted photo

Kennedy’s funeral was on February 4.

Sleep Inn. Submitted photo. The employees of the hotel are hosting the fundraiser, which will be located at the Empress Event Center, 7 N. Main.

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County Local News