Business, Government, Kansas

KCC Approves KGS Recovering Winter Storm Costs

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

Gordon Parks Museum, History

Many Fires This Time: Black History Month Film at Gordon Parks Museum

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Many Fires This Time. Submitted photo.

Gordon Parks Museum Black History Month Celebration: Featuring Film Screening: Many Fires This Time: We The 100 Million and Open Mic Afternoon Event
Fort Scott-The Gordon Parks Museum in celebration of Black History Month, will feature a film screening of
the film Many Fires This Time: We The 100 Million and an open mic event. The open mic afternoon event will start at 2:00pm and the film screening will start at 3:30p.m at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on Sunday, February 20th, 2022. This event is supported in part by the Fort Scott Community College Endowment Foundation.

Gordon Parks Museum is located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College.

The film Many Fires This Time: We the 100 Million is an award-winning documentary film that received the Gordon Parks Black Film Excellence Honorable Mention Award at the Tallgrass Film Festival in Wichita, KS. Directed by Jason R.A. Foster, and produced by Michael “Quess?” Moore and Jeremy Liu, Many Fires This Time: We The 100 Million is a poetic documentary about the 1 in 3 Americans, and counting, living in economic insecurity. It follows the journey of poet and activist A Scribe Called Quess? as he connects with fellow activist poets and the communities they represent, from Oakland to Chicago to Kentucky to his hometown of New Orleans.
The open mic afternoon event will take place prior to the film screening and is for any poets, rappers, musicians, or artists of all ages to read their work. Bring your friends, your poetry, your instruments, your beats, your inspirations, your creativity, and your talent! No sign-up necessary, just hop on the mic when you’re ready! Filmmakers Jason R.A. Foster and Michael “Quess?” Moore will be here in Fort Scott to showcase their film and visit with the audience and also M.C. the open mic event. Both the open mic event and film screening is free to attend and participate.
“We are thrilled and fortunate to be able to have both of these very talented filmmakers and artists, Jason and Quess? here in Fort Scott to showcase their award winning film and to help host the open mic event for current and inspiring artist and enthusiasts. ” said Kirk Sharp, Gordon Parks Museum Director.

Jason R.A. Foster. Submitted photo.

Jason R.A. is an actor, filmmaker and photographer born in Kingston, Jamaica, and has lived the majority of his life in the American South. He has had roles in films Hot Tub Time Machine 2, Get Hard, and 22 Jump Street. He is the co-founder of FosterBear Films. His short documentaries and films include: Seeing Sounds, Requiem for a Season, Alfred Marshall, A Conversation with John O’Neal , Greater than the Sum (Rethink), Rethink: Restorative Justice. Residual, Neegro’s: And What Happened After That?, and Explanation. Jason’s music videos’ include: Tank and the Bangas: Quick, Sunni Patterson; Black Back, Come Home, Modern Romance, and Brighton Beach: Marce’ Reazon Ft. Ro Ransom.
Jason has taught film classes to the New Orleans community through the New Orleans Video Access Center
and Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools. His nomadic lifestyle has contributed to his ability to tell stories
and connect with people from all walks of life.

A Scribe Called Quess. Submitted photo.

A Scribe Called Quess? Aka Michael “Quess?” Moore is a poet, educator, actor, playwright, activist, and
organizer in that order. He is a two-time national poetry slam champion and founding member of Team SNO
(Slam New Orleans), New Orleans’ three-time national poetry slam championship team. His poetry has been
published or featured by Pluck!, Nike, Congo TV, Balcony TV, Button Poetry, Write About Now Poetry, Spotify,
Mic, Redbull, and other platforms, and has earned him honors from the mayor and city council of New
Orleans. His words led him to the classroom where he served for 11 years as an educator. His work as an
educator has been highlighted on NPR in the Voices of Educators series as well as taken him to Oxford
University to speak on school reform.
For more information about the events contact the Gordon Parks Museum by phone (620) – 223-2700, ext.
5850 or by email [email protected].

Area News, Ascension Via Christi, Health Care

Ascension Via Christi Cancer Center in Pittsburg Completes Renovations

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The renovation of the Ascension Via Christi Cancer Center is now complete, giving Pittsburg-area patients who are battling cancer close-to-home access to advanced technology in a patient- and family-friendly environment.

The outpatient cancer center opened 26 years ago, funded entirely by donations to the Mount Carmel Foundation’s “Legacy of Hope” campaign.

The $1 million renovation also was funded entirely by
community donations, this time to the “Legacy of Hope II” campaign led by Johnna Norton, the foundation’s executive director.

“I am so proud to live and serve in such a giving community and with a team that throughout the pandemic has continued to provide exceptional care to our patients,” said Charlotte Russell, director of
operations for the Ascension Via Christi Cancer Center and Ascension Medical Group Via Christi physician practices in Pittsburg.

Through the community’s generosity, the chemotherapy area now has seven private treatment suites and the entire cancer center was updated to create a brighter and more welcoming environment. The patient and family resource room was also refurbished, providing a comfortable space for the patient and family education, nutritional counseling and spiritual and emotional support services.

Ascension Via Christi Hospital also made a significant investment in the cancer center, spending $1.5 million to acquire a new state-of-the-art TrueBeam linear accelerator, allowing patients to receive highly precise radiation therapy in a shorter period of time.
In January, the hospital added medical oncologists James Moore, MD, and Michael Cannon, MD, to its medical staff. Drs. Moore and Cannon, both with Cancer Center of Kansas, join medical oncologist Mickey Xun, MD, with Ascension Medical Group Via Christi, and radiation oncologist Duane Myers, MD, with Radiation Oncology Associates, in providing southeast Kansas residents ready access to comprehensive cancer care.

“We now have a beautiful space, an outstanding team of physicians and the advanced technology we need to continue our legacy as the community’s cancer care partner,” said Drew Talbott, president of
Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg. “Like Charlotte, I am tremendously grateful and proud of our community and staff.”
For more information about Ascension Via Christi in Pittsburg, visit ascension.org/PittsburgKS.

Via Christi Cancer Center Chemotherapy Bays. Submitted photo

About Ascension Via Christi
In Kansas, Ascension Via Christi operates seven hospitals and 75 other sites of care and employs nearly
6,400 associates. Across the state, Ascension Via Christi provided nearly $89 million in community
benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2021. Serving Kansas for more than 135 years,
Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized
care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the
leading non-profit and Catholic health system in the U.S., operating more than 2,600 sites of care –
including 145 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states and the District of
Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org.
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Bourbon County Local News