Governor Laura Kelly signs Bill in Response to Federal Vaccine Mandate
TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly signed CCR for HB 2001 into law, the bill passed during Kansas’ 2021 Special Session, which requires exemptions and eligibility for unemployment benefits.
The following statement can be attributed to Governor Laura Kelly:
“I have been clear that I believe it is too late to impose a federal standard. States have been leading the fight against COVID-19 for nearly two years. I know there are Kansans who believe this legislation goes too far, and there are others who believe this legislation doesn’t go far enough. But I was elected to lead, and leadership means seeking compromise.
“This bill is the result of compromise in action. Now that it is signed, we need to turn our attention towards pressing issues like growing our economy and passing my plan to Axe the Food Tax, so we can put money back into everyday Kansans’ pockets.”
More information about CCR for HB 2001 can be found here.
The KCC weighs in on Evergy’s Sustainability Transformation Plan emphasizing the need for regionally competitive rates, reliable service
TOPEKA – In an order issued this morning, the Kansas Corporation Commission noted concerns with Evergy’s Sustainability Transformation Plan (STP) and added reporting requirements to evaluate whether the STP is making progress toward regionally competitive rates and reliable electric service.
Today’s order does not attempt to decide the merits of the program or associated investments, those issues will be decided in Evergy’s future rate cases. However, the Commission did outline the following questions and concerns:
How will the costs associated with the STP impact rates? It is important to achieve and maintain regionally competitive retail rates, and it is unclear at this time whether the STP improves or worsens the trajectory of rates.
More transparency is needed on Evergy’s projections of future spending increases. The original STP envisioned $8.9 billion in capital expenditure spending from 2020 through 2024. However, in its September 21, 2021 Investor Presentation, Evergy extended its projections through 2025, increasing its proposed 5-year spending to $10.4 billion.
The Commission remains concerned over Elliott Management’s role in encouraging and developing the STP, noting that as a regulated utility, Evergy should not prioritize shareholder interests to the detriment of ratepayer interests.
Evergy developed the plan after entering into an agreement with Elliott Management to increase shareholder values through a standalone plan to cut expenses and increase capital expenditures, or a merger transaction. In response, the Commission opened a general investigation to protect the interests of ratepayers and provide KCC staff, stakeholders and Evergy an opportunity to collaborate and evaluate the STP. Four informational workshops were held and 1,472 members of the public submitted comments.
Today’s order directs Evergy to explain the increased spending in its 5-year projections and the impact it will have on rates in a Capital Plan filing due on February 28, 2022. In addition, Evergy is required to file reports on its key performance indicators so the Commission can determine if the company is executing the STP successfully and making progress toward regionally competitive rates and reliable electric service.
PRATT – There’s no better deal than “free” and this Friday, there’s no better place to snag that deal than at a Kansas state park. This Black Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, entrance fees will be waived at all Kansas state parks as part of the nationwide #OptOutside initiative.
Those who visit any of Kansas’ 28 state parks on Nov. 26 will also have a chance to win a free night’s stay in a Kansas state park cabin of their choice. To enter, visitors must simply take a “selfie” within any Kansas state park and share it on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the tags #OptOutside and #MyKsStatePark.
#OptOutside – the brainchild of outdoor retail giant REI – began after REI executives closed all 150-plus stores for a day in 2015 and paid more than 13,000 employees to instead spend the day outside. It’s since become an annual event for REI, state parks across America and the millions of people who opt to spend the day outside and enjoy nature.
“We couldn’t be more excited to once again offer free entrance to Kansas’ state parks on Black Friday,” said Linda Lanterman, director of Kansas State Parks. “Being outside in nature does wonders for our physical and mental health, so I hope everyone opts to go outside this year and enjoy a Kansas state park as part of their holiday experience.”
To find a Kansas state park nearest you, and to make camping reservations year-round, visit www.ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks.
The Artificers 5th Annual Christmas Show, a new artshow to Fort Scott this year, is Friday, Dec. 3, and Saturday, Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 119 S. Main.
“Once a year Trent and I create Christmas and holiday-themed (art) work,” Kate Freeman said. “We invite some artists’ friends to share their offerings as well.”
The Freeman’s, from the Kansas City area, purchased the building north of the radio station 8 North National Avenue in Fort Scott and were renovating it, but had a few setbacks, Kate said.
“Jared Leek, the owner of Front Door Realty, was kind enough to give our show a home when we weren’t able to open our studio in time for our annual show,” Kate said. “We were hoping to be open for business, but due to some setbacks our space isn’t finished.”
This year seven artists are participating in this event.
“I hand-picked them for their craftsmanship and diverse mediums,” she said. “There is sure to be something special for everyone on your Christmas list!”
The artists include Trent and Kate Freeman, in the medium of sculpture: Andrea Latham, Kansas City, Kansas, ceramic pottery; Erin Shevling, Edwardsville, Kansas, functional pottery;
Tim Kienzle, Bonner Springs, Kansas, copper jewelry;
Darrell Williams, Kirksville, Missouri, airbrush art; and
Julie Snitker, Kansas City, Missouri, mixed media collage.
Some of the artists work:
The Artificers studio is progressing on National Avenue.
“Slowly but surely,” she said. “There is progress on all fronts, it just feels like a snail’s pace when we are so excited to share our space and art with our new community.”
Below is a link to sign up for updates and emails for classes and events.
This newsletter about new books is distributed to people who are registered adult users at a southeast Kansas library participating in the SEKnFind catalog. We hope you find it useful, but if you don’t wish to receive this anymore, you can click on the “Manage Subscriptions or Unsubscribe” link at the bottom.
All the books included in this newsletter are new additions in one or more SEKnFind libraries–and since the catalog is shared, that means they are available to you whether they are in your local library or not! Just place a hold on the item(s) you want. If you don’t know how, your librarian can show you.
New Fiction
The neighbor’s secret
by L. Alison HellerWhen late-night acts of vandalism target the women of the Cottonwood Book Club in increasingly violent and personal ways, they are forced to decide just how far they will go to keep their secrets and protect their children—even if it means someone has to die. 75,000 first printing.
Sleigh bells ring
by RaeAnne ThayneWhen Tate Sheridan unexpectedly returns home to Angel’s View Ranch, caretaker Annie McCade is shocked when he lets her to stay in exchange for posing as his long-lost love to keep his busybody matchmaking grandmother off his back—a ruse that leads to something more. 10,000 first printing.
When two feathers fell from the sky
by Margaret Verble”Louise Erdrich meets Karen Russell in this deliciously strange and daringly original novel from Pulitzer Prize finalist Margaret Verble: set in 1926 Nashville, it follows a death-defying young Cherokee horse-diver who, with her companions from the Glendale Park Zoo, must get to the bottom of a mystery that spans centuries”
56 days
by Catherine Ryan Howard”No one even knew they were together. Now one of them is dead. 56 DAYS AGO. Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin and start dating the same week COVID-19 reaches Irish shores. 35 DAYS AGO. When lockdown threatens to keep them apart, Oliver suggests they move in together. Ciara sees a unique opportunity for a relationship to flourish without the scrutiny of family and friends. Oliver sees a chance to hide who-and what-he really is. TODAY. Detectives arrive at Oliver’s apartment to discover a decomposing body inside. Can they determine what really happened, or has lockdown created an opportunity for someone to commit the perfect crime?”
Riverbend Gap
by Denise HunterMoving to a small North Carolina town to be near her new boyfriend, Katelyn Loveland, after a chance encounter, finds herself falling in love with local sheriff’s deputy Cooper Robinson—her boyfriend’s brother—and stands to lose everything. Original.
A flicker of light
by Katie PownerWidower Mitch Jensen is at a loss with how to handle his mother’s odd, forgetful behaviors and his daughter’s sudden return, but when his mother reveals a long-held secret about her past, their lives will never be the same. Original.
These bones
by Kayla Chenault”In a neighborhood known as the Bramble Patch, the Lyons family endures despite poverty, racism, and the ghoulish appetites of an underworld kingpin called the Barghest. As the years pass and the neighborhood falls into decay, along with the town that surrounds it, what’s left of the Bramble Patch will learn the saying is true: These bones are gonna rise again”
Trashlands
by Alison StinePlucking plastic, which is now currency, from rivers and fields to sell or trade, artist Coral is forced to dance at Trashlands to recoup her savings in an attempt to rescue her son from the recycling factories, in this love story to survival in an unloved place. 50,000 first printing.
The body scout : a novel
by Lincoln Michel”Kobo has some problems. His cybernetics are a decade out of date, he’s got a pair of twin sister loan sharks knocking on his door, and his work scouting for a baseball league run by pharmaceutical companies is about to go belly-up. Things couldn’t get much worse. Then his childhood best friend–Monsanto Mets slugger J.J. Zunz–is murdered at home plate. Determined to find the killer, Kobo plunges into the dark corners and glittering cloud condos of a world ravaged by climate change and repeat pandemics,and where genetic editing and advanced drugs mean you can have any body you want–as long as you can afford it. But even among the philosophical Neanderthals, zootech weapons, and genetically modified CEOs, there’s a curveball he never could have called”
Hyde
by Craig RussellThe chief detective of Edinburgh in Victorian Scotland is shocked and appalled when he finds himself at the scene of a grisly murder, with no idea how he got there in this reimagining of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Down range : a novel
by Taylor MooreAn elite, undercover DEA officer helps out a formerly-peaceful ranching community in Texas who are under assault by a group of criminals controlled by a rich, entitled businessmen with ties to law enforcement and local businesses. 100,000 first printing.
Winter wolves
by Matthew P. Mayo””One man’s quest to lose himself in the West.” Roamer’s long-planned winter snowshoe trek to the high, lonesome peaks of the Bitterroots takes a hard turn when the big loner of a woodsman finds his mentor, cantankerous mountain man Maple Jack, savaged, terrorized, and raving about the Alooknok, blood-eyed demons who absconded with his cold-weather mate, Winter Woman, a no-nonsense healer and midwife. It’s up to Roamer to rescue her. He takes to the trail in the wake of a blizzard, battling winter-starved timber wolves and the unforgiving elements. Tracking him, the addled Maple Jack falls prey to a trio of greasy wolfers. Then the very demons Roamer seeks find him-and force him deep into the belly of the beast, a foreboding, grim place in the raw mountains where sunlight never shines. A brutal battle among friends, enemies, and Alooknok will seal their fates and haunt the few survivors . . . forever”
New Nonfiction
Around the world in 80 books
by David Damrosch”A transporting and illuminating voyage around the globe, through classic and modern literary works that are in conversation with one another and with the world around them”
The age of AI : and our human future
by Henry KissingerThree leading thinkers put their heads together to explore Artificial Intelligence and how it will change our relationships with knowledge, politics and the societies in which we live. 100,000 first printing.
The book of hope : a survival guide for trying times
by Jane GoodallTold through stories from an extraordinary career and fascinating research, this urgent book, written by the world’s most famous living naturalist and an internationally best-selling author, explores one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human nature—hope. 300,000 first printing.
Frequently asked questions about the universe
by Jorge ChamYou’ve got questions: about space, time, gravity, and your odds of meeting your older self inside a wormhole, and all the answers you need are right here. Illustrations.
Immune : A Journey into the Mysterious System That Keeps You Alive
by Philipp DettmerThe creator of a popular educational YouTube channel presents and illustrated journey through the human body’s immune system, with each chapter focusing on an element including defenses like antibodies and inflammation as well as threats like bacteria, allergies and cancer. Illustrations.
Gastro obscura : a food adventurer’s guide
by Cecily WongThe team behind Atlas Obscura, a friendly tour-guide to the world’s most amazing places, presents incredible ingredients, food adventures and edible wonders from around the world, including Chilean beer made from fog and 2,000-year-old egg ovens. 250,000 first printing. Illustrations.
Pottery for beginners : projects for beautiful ceramic bowls, mugs, vases and more
by Kara Leigh Ford”If you ever daydream about delving into pottery but aren’t sure where to begin, this is your book. Professional potter Kara Leigh Ford will be your personal pottery guide, helping you to overcome any doubts about your abilities. All you need are curiosity and a few simple tools to mold stunning stoneware with confidence. Inspiring projects and primers on equipment, technique, clay types and setting up a workspace make pottery approachable for complete newcomers, as well as budding potters who want to hone their skills. Plus, gorgeous photos from Kara’s studio offer visual guidance every step of the way”
Code name Badass : the true story of Virginia Hall
by Heather DemetriosThis rebellious and revolutionary biography of the most dangerous of all Allied spies follows Virginia Hall as she plays a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Hitler’s henchman, becoming the Gestapo’s most wanted spy. 30,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations.
Bucket list USA
by Fodor’s TravelA trave guide packed with 500 carefully curated “must” lists to see and do in the United States, including Grand Canyon camping, cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, walking through sunflowers in Kansas and partying at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Original. Illustrations. Maps.
Even more reading suggestions
NextReads Sneak Peek
Looking for something else to read? Try subscribing to our free NextReads newsletters. Newsletters are divided into a variety of genres and topics so you can get recommendations tailored to your interests sent directly to your inbox every month to two months.
Each issue contains around 9 to 10 reading suggestions. If we don’t have a copy, make a purchase suggestion or ask your library about in
Fort Scott–The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College will celebrate the anniversary of Gordon Parks’ birthday on Tuesday, November 30th with the showing of films by or about Parks throughout the day along with cupcakes for visitors.
The event is free of charge and the public is invited to attend.
The schedule of showings throughout the day will include:
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – “The Learning Tree,” (Filmed in Fort Scott) 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – “Half Past Autumn” 2:30 p.m. –4:30 p.m. – “Solomon Northup’s Odyssey”
Parks, born in Fort Scott on November 30, 1912, would have been 109 this year. He died in March, 2006 at the age of 93. For more information contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620-223-2700, ext.5850 or by email at [email protected].
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The City of Fort Scott Administrative offices will be closed on Thursday, November 25th and Friday, November 26th, 2021 in observance of the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. The regular offices will reopen on Monday, November 29th, 2021.
The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Thursday, November 25th, and Saturday, November 27th, 2021 for the Thanksgiving Day holiday. It will be open again on Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health is a national nonprofit membership organizationthat represents the 50 state Offices of Rural Health aroundthe nation and promotes a healthy rural America throughstateandcommunityleadership.
“Jody Hoener is a prime example of how one person canmakeamassiveimpactonthelivesofthousandsofpeople,” according to the NOSORH award presentation. “Though she may not be a household name to the roughly7,500 residents of Fort Scott, her dedication, passion,strategic planning and grant writing skills, and deepcommitment to addressing the community’s healthdisparities are evident every place you turn in BourbonCounty,Kansas.”
ThisDayisanopportunityto‘celebratethepowerofrural’byhonoring the selfless, community-minded spirit that prevailsinruralAmerica.Learnmore:https:/www.powerofrural.org
The HealthyBourbonCountyAction TeamNewsletter
Table o fContents
CEO’sMessageP.2
GrantProgramP.3
BronsonBikewayPlanP.4
KANSASWORKS
HighlightP.5
HBCAT.ORG
JodyHoener
AMessagefromtheCEO
AtTheHealthyBourbonCountyActionTeam,wearecelebratingandgivingthanks.Wehaveseenaconsiderablenumberoflargewinsin2021andweareeternallythankfulforthe BCBS Pathways to Healthy Kansas Grant that helped our organization get off theground in 2016.We have built lasting relationships as they continue to support us andourworktobuildhealthier,thrivingcommunities.
We remain steadfast to our mission and purpose to support our local food systems,advocateforincreasedaccesstorecreationandphysicalactivity,workwithallsectorsofBourbonCountyoncreatinghealthierenvironmentsandmakingthehealthychoicethedefault.
Our community has been awarded almost $1 million from the BCBS Pathways toHealthy Kansas Grant since 2016.This solid foundation has given us the capacity togrow our organization and address challenges head on with strength anddetermination.Thisyearwehavecelebratedbuildingourprogramtoaddresspovertyat the Center for Economic Growth with the $78,175 award from USDA Rural BusinessDevelopment and then a $560,140 award from the Patterson Family Foundation toexpand.
Thisfundingiscriticaltoourworkinaddressingthesocialdeterminantsofhealth.Thehealth of a community – and its people – is dependent on a number of social, political,economic, and environmental conditions. We believe in investing in our people.Todaywe recognize the gifts of our collaborations and grateful for our partners at PittsburgState Small Business Development Center, Southeast KANSASWORKS, and The FortScott Area Chamber of Commerce.These relationships have shown to be mutuallybeneficial while making measurable impacts on the lives of individuals and thecommunityasawhole.
WEARETHANKFUL
HBCAT’S
GrantProgram
TheHealthyBourbonCountyActionTeam(HBCAT)wasrecentlyawardedthePattersonFamilyFoundationGrant.ThroughthisgrantHBCATcreatedthreegrantprograms:Startupbusinesses,Restaurantsandfoodretail,andFarmers/Ranchers.Ahealthyworkforceisaprerequisiteforeconomicsuccessinanyindustry and in all cities. Through thesegrant programs, the HBCAT is supportinglocal entrepreneurs and building up moreresilientfoodsystems.
All applicants must enroll with PSU SmallBusinessDevelopmentCenter(SBDC)atTheAction Team’s Center forEconomic Growth.TheservicesthatSBDCprovidesare,butnotlimited to, developing business plans,financialcashflowprojections,registeringfor LLC, applying for EIN, Marketing, andsettingupKSSalesTaxPayableAccount.
DaciaClark,theAssistantDirector,isinFortScott’s HBCAT office Mondays and Fridays oravailablebyappointmentviaZoom.
GrantapplicationscanbepickedupatHBCAT’sofficelocatedat104NNationalFortScott, KS or at The Chamberof Commerce.
Any questions regarding the Grant Programcan be directed to Rachel Carpenter at 620-215-2562 orthroughemailat[email protected].
A special thanks to Fort ScottCommunityCollege’sCheerleadersforhanding out Community Health NeedsSurvey flyers at Walmart! TheCommunityHealthNeeds
Surveygathersdata,solicitscommunity member perspectives, andcollects information about thecommunity’s resources. Moreinformation will be gathered throughfocus groups. It will measure health andwellness beliefs/perceptions aboutneeds and resources, the communityenvironments,anddemographics.Itwillensure programs, policies, and systemschanges are designed, planned, andcarried out in a coordinated mannerthat benefits the entire county. Thankyou for taking the time to fill out thesurvey and sharing yourvoice on theneedsofthecommunity.
CityofBronsonOpts-IntoTri-CountyBikewayPlan
PrairiePathwayshasmademajorprogresswith theapprovalofsignplacementfrombothCityofUniontown and City of Bronson Councilmembers.
Prairie Pathways began as ABC Trails in 2018when leaders of Thrive Allen County, TheHealthy Bourbon County Action Team, and LiveWellCrawfordCountyinitiatedconversationstobuildatri-countybikewaytrail system. Funding was soon obtained from theSunflower Foundation to turn the idea into astrategicplanningdocument.
GrantfundsfromHBCAT’sBCBSPathwaystoHealthyKansasGrantwasawardedforbrandingand implementation of the transportation plan.ABC Trails was re-branded to PrairiePathways.ThriveAllenCountyobtainedadditionalfundingthroughaCDRRgranttopurchasesigns. HBCAT worked with Bourbon County’s Public Works Department to purchase signpostswithBCBSPathwaysgrantfundsandinstallthesigns.
TheHealthyBourbonCountyActionTeamwasawardeda$4,000grantonbehalfofUninontown’s Saddle Club from The Fort Scott Area Cmmunity Foundation. Thegrant funds are going to be used to add 8 new RV electrical receptacles that therodeo contestants will be able to utilize. This affordable housing option will allowany visitors to stay in Uniontown year round and increases access to outdoorrecreation!
The house at 512 S. Judson has recently been approved for the Kansas State Historical Register.
The current owner, Ronda Hassig, and husband, Rob, moved in in February 2019.
“We are both history teachers and moved from Olathe to Lawrence for retirement,” Ronda said.
They were there for one year when a native of this area and friend, Carmen Streeter Misse, showed her the house.
“We drove right down and bought it outright,” she said. “It was the house we had always dreamed of owning and putting our Victorian antique furniture in.”
It had been up for auction two times since Ken Lunt died, she said.
Ken and his wife, Charlotte, were well-known volunteers in the community. Lunt who was the mayor of Fort Scott died in 2013, Charlotte in 2007.
“Both times (it went up for auction) there was interest from a salvage company in Kansas City,” she said. “We decided to get it on the Kansas Historical Register, once we settled in. Once on the register, it would be protected from such a fate.”
Ronda was a middle school librarian, and is a historical fiction author and “all-around research nerd,” she said and began researching the history of the house.
Ronda Hassig. Taken from the Lowell Milken Center Facebook page.
History of the house
“The Thomas and Anna Herbert house sits at 512 Judson Street, the sign on the house says it was built in 1887, but it was built in 1888,” she said. “Thomas bought the property in 1870 and married Anna in 1873. They waited a while to build the house though.”
“He owned a successful home design business at 2nd and Wall and sold paint, wallpaper, household items from all over the world, and anything dealing with decorating your home,” she said. “He was a painter. In my research, I found that he helped decorate some of the most beautiful homes in Fort Scott.”
The couple had no children and Thomas died in 1913. Anna sold the house in 1917 to a banker, C.D. Sample.
In seeking to be on the register, Hassig thought she could do the architecture piece on the application.
“It became apparent after trying to use the dictionary for every other word when explaining the features of the house, that this was a job for a professional,” she said.
Hassig hired Susan Fort, a preservationist, and architect from Kansas City, Missouri to help her with the application.
On November 13, 2021, she found out the application was approved.
Now it is on the Kansas State Historial Register, but is heading to the U.S. Park Service for approval for the National Register of Places, she said.
“We should know in three to six months,” she said. “Then a plaque will be put on its’ beautiful facade.”
“I hope that Ken and Charlotte Lunt are happy in heaven with the exciting news and won’t mind too terribly that the house will now be called the Thomas and Anna Herbert House,” she said.
From the Office of the
BOURBON COUNTY SHERIFF
293 East 20th Street
Fort Scott, Kansas 66701
[620] 223-1440 (office) or [620] 223-0055 (fax)
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office (Law Enforcement Center) is taking bids that will address any and all issues with the heating, ventilation, and airconditioning (HVAC) system together with the electrical conduit related to the HVAC system or other electrical conduit that needs to be corrected, adjusted or repaired.
An inspection was conducted on August 24th, 2021 finding the following issues that need to be addressed, including but not limited to:
* Numerous electrical conduits that are mounted on the roof feeding multiple pieces of mechanical equipment has threaded joint connectors that were not securely fastened and have multiple open slices causing the water inside of the conduit to freeze during the winter months.
* There are some electrical conduit connectors that have gasket access covers that were not sealed properly, or the proper material was not used.
* Most of the HVAC equipment locations have standing water in the units causing inadequate drainage.
* The HVAC systems are not changing over from heat to cool, cool to heat. The temperature has been as low as 64 degrees in the winter and as high as 80 plus degrees in the summer.
* Other issues that need to be addressed according to the inspection that was conducted on August 24, 2021. A copy of the inspection can be obtained upon request.
These are some of the issues and the bidder/contractor can make an appointment to review and inspect the area and equipment that will need to be fixed or replaced.
We ask that if your company can address all issues that you make the choice if you want to split the work in a separate bid or have a (complete) package.
We ask that the bid be broken down by line item. What item is being used for what?
The bidder/contractor will provide/present a sealed bid in person or by designee to the Board of County Commissioner. The commission will be opening bids and making the choice of contractor/bidder and during the November 30, 2021, public meeting at or around 10:00 am.
If the contractor/bidder would like to submit the bid by mail, the bid should arrive no later than the postmark date of November 26, 2021. The contractor/bidder or a designee is encouraged to attend
the Bourbon County Commission meeting, in case there are any question(s) asked of the commission.
The bid can be mailed to the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center at 293 East 20th Street Fort Scott Kansas 66701: attention Bill Martin, Sheriff.
If you have any question, please feel free to call me at the above listed phone number.
