The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports April 9-12
Weekly Newsletter by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran
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Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson
April 9, 2021
Protecting Elections
Every vote is important. “Voting is the most precious right of every citizen, and we have a moral obligation to ensure the integrity of our voting process.” Hilary Clinton. So why are so many Democrats in Kansas trying to block legislation to protect our elections? Even worse, the U.S. House passed legislation that will destroy the integrity of our state elections (H.R.1, For the People Act of 2021). Hopefully, HR-1 dies in the U.S. Senate. The Kansas legislature passed HCR 5015 rejecting H.R.1 and S.1 (the senate version of H.R.1).
Kansas didn’t have the problems that other states had in the November 2020 elections but there is room for improvement. Elections are too important and we need 100% accuracy. The legislature passed Conference Committee Report (CCR) 2183 and CCR 2332.
CCR 2183 will limit ballot harvesting, make it unlawful to alter postmarks on mailed ballots, and require signature verification on mailed ballots. It would also make it a crime to act like or try to appear to be a county clerk or Secretary Of State (SOS). In November 2020, there were advance ballot applications and websites that appeared to be official. They were not and just confused voters. The bill would also require the SOS to post registered voter data and stop county clerks from accepting money from 3rd parties for elections – an example would be the Zuckerberg money that some clerks applied for and received in Kansas. The CCR passed the Senate 27 to 11.
The legislature also passed CCR 2332 that would require residential and mailing addresses to be maintained and strengthen requirements for advance ballot applications, including signature verification. The CCR passed 27 to 11.
I was able to strengthen election legislation with amendments through the chairman in committee and on the senate floor. Some Senators argued these CCRs and the HCR promote voter suppression and that they are not needed. That is not even true. They help protect the integrity of our elections. To paraphrase a friend, “What voter integrity checks would they ever support? When will they opine that banks don’t need safeguards since bank robbery is so rare?”
Hopefully, the Governor will not veto these important bills.
Women’s Sports
CCR 55, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, would stop anyone who is not a biological female from participating in sports designated for females, women, or girls. The CCR passed the House and Senate. I was one of 26 who voted yes in the Senate. There were 11 no votes. We’ll see what the Governor does with the bill.
Legislature Break
While the legislature is on break for the next few weeks, I will continue to update you on topics covered during session. All of the legislation is posted online at www.kslegislature.org.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet April 13
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FS City Commissioners Will Attend USD234 Board Meeting This Evening
There may be a majority of City Commissioners present at the USD #234 School Board meeting held on April 12th, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. at the Middle School, but no City business will be conducted.
Johnson’s “Super Poop” Business Began As A Hobby
Clint and Angela Johnson, Bronson, are the owners of Root 54.
Their business, in layman’s terms, produces worm poop.
“Everything a worm eats gets digested and comes out as a worm casting,” said business owner Clint Johnson. “Worm castings are packed with minerals that are essential for plant growth, such as concentrated nitrates, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. It also contains manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, borax, iron, carbon, and nitrogen.”
“However, the best of all is that these minerals are immediately available to the plant, without the risk of ever burning the plant,” he said. “Remember that chemical fertilizers have to be broken down in the soil before the plant can absorb them.”
Interest started over 10 years ago when Clint read a book called ‘Worms eat my Garbage’, he said.
“I personally wanted to raise some worms because it looked like a fun hobby and wanted to use a better, more natural fertilizer for my garden,” he said.
Johnson made two eight-foot by three-foot worm beds in an old tin shed in his backyard.
He then got an idea.
” I casually posted a few ads on some social media platforms and within a short amount of time people were coming to buy our castings,” he said. ” We eventually could not keep up with demand, so after much thought, research, collaboration, and scientific testing we decided to partner with a few large worm farms we know very well.”
They have secured the rights to exclusively market their castings to make it their brand “Super Poop.”
“We sell 100% worm castings and compost,” Johnson said. “Super Poop can be purchased in 20-pound bags at any one of our nine dealer locations across Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. You can also purchase large bulk amounts off of our lots here in Bronson.”
“Our business is a family business, and we get a tremendous amount of support from our immediate family that lives in the area,” he said.
Root 54 LLC, the Johnson business, was officially established on July 15, 2020.
“We had been selling worm castings out of our back yard for several years before opening the company,” Johnson said.
The Johnson’s grew up in the Bronson community.
“Our vision is to see it thrive for many more years,” he said. “We are always seeking ways to use the resources God has blessed us with, in the Bronson community, by lending a helping hand. Occasionally, you will see our skid steer clearing driveways when it snows or helping our neighbors with heavy lifting and other tasks that are made easy with a machine.”
“There are several other small businesses in Bronson right now and all of them do a great job of being involved in our little town,” Johnson said. “One of our goals here at Root 54, is to help create a better place for our children to grow up, and help out our small community the best way we can.”
The Johnson’s are looking at ways to expand and grow their brand, he said.
“First and foremost, we intend to add a bagged compost for our customers for the 2022 growing season, and have already started the process of designing a bag for it,” he said. ” The name of the compost will be kept in our back pocket until we unveil it later in 2021.”
“Our future plans include adding super soil mixes and other high-quality soils to become a regionally/nationally recognized company,” Clint said. “We are thankful for our loyal customers and the support the community has shown us, and look forward to serving them for many years to come.”
Contact the Johnson’s at 785-229-5217 or their website Root54.com or on their Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/Root54LLC/
The address 511 Pine St. Bronson, Ks 66716
FS Design Review Board Meets April 14
The Design Review Board will meet on Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Hall Commission Meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to consider the painting of crosswalks in the downtown area and any other matters that may come up before the Board.
This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports April 12
Democrats Meet April 18
The Bourbon County Democratic Party
meeting will be at 1:30 pm on Sunday, April 18th, 2021 at
Shelter House #1, Gunn Park.
Vicki Hiatt, Chair of the Kansas Democratic Party will be speaking
Contact [email protected]
Submitted by:
Dwight Moore
Chair, Bourbon Co.
Democrats
Dad’s Peanut Butter and Syrup by Carolyn Tucker
Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Tucker
The other day I found a nearly-empty jug of maple syrup in the refrigerator. I thought for a moment how to get rid of it in order to make more storage available in the fridge. So I pulled out a jar of peanut butter and whomped up a concoction my Dad used to eat on hot homemade biscuits. (He also ate pancakes with peanut butter and syrup.) Since I didn‘t have any biscuits or pancakes, I just ate it like pudding. I can’t remember the last time I ate peanut butter and syrup on a biscuit. Somehow, through the passing of time, I’d forgotten all about this lip-smacking treat! How could I forget something that yummy?
God knows that humans have a tendency to forget, so we’re reminded of His loving benefits in the following verses: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV).
Believers are to bless and praise the Lord with our whole being (soul). Our entire life is to bring glory to God as we continually remember the great things He’s done for us. Worship is a 24-7 lifestyle and everyday is an opportunity to show the lost and broken that someone on earth and Someone they can’t see loves them. The other day while driving, I was listening to Glen Campbell sing, “Try a Little Kindness.” As I absorbed the lyrics I thought, “This is a song you could sing in church.“ Here’s verse 2: “Don’t walk around the down and out, lend a helping hand instead of doubt. And the kindness that you show every day will help someone along their way.” That sounds an awful lot like Luke 20:25-37. And at the end of the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.” We need to remember this teaching.
As children of God, we shouldn’t forget why He created us. We’re God’s visible reps, thinking and acting as He would. God also desired fellowship with mankind. To me, one of the saddest verses in the Bible is Genesis 3:8 NKJV: “And they [Adam and Eve] heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” The moral of this story is to remember to fellowship with the Good One and not the evil one. When the serpent (Satan) began his deceptive conversation with Eve, she should have said, “Shut up, Liar!” and walked straight into God’s rock-solid arms. God wanted fellowship, but the devil only wanted to destroy a loving relationship.
There are numerous scriptures regarding the importance of not forgetting. “Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” (Hebrews 13:1,2 NLT). To say you’ve never seen an angel may very well be an untruth. “And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God” (Hebrews 13:16 NLT). All believers have a mission and shouldn’t be standing around scratching their heads wondering what they’re supposed to do for God. It’s plain and simple: Do good and share.
The Key: Don’t forget all of God’s benefits and remember to bless His holy name.
Governor Signs 14 New Bills
Governor Laura Kelly Signs Several Pieces of Bipartisan Legislation
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today signed several bipartisan bills that will implement meaningful changes for Kansans, communities, and businesses.
“I want to thank the Legislature for their work to get these pieces of bipartisan, commonsense legislation to my desk,” Governor Kelly said. “These bills are a testament to what we can get done for Kansans when we work together, toward mutually-agreeable solutions, to make life better for the people in our state.”
Senate Bill 52 establishes the Sedgwick County Urban Area Nuisance Abatement Act. It authorizes the Board of County Commissioners to order the removal or abatement of any nuisance from any property in the unincorporated area of Sedgwick County. All costs associated with the abatement are the responsibility of the property owner.
Before the abatement process could begin, the bill requires the County to first obtain a conviction for a county code violation regarding the nuisance no more than 12 months before the issuance of the abatement order.
Senate Bill 172 amends the Kansas Criminal Code regarding crimes involving property by eliminating the crime of tampering with a pipeline and establishing four new crimes: trespassing on a critical infrastructure facility (CIF), aggravated trespassing on a CIF, criminal damage to a CIF, and aggravated criminal damage to a CIF. The bill also allows a judge to order restitution for property damage to any victim of the four new crimes.
HB 2022 amend laws concerning the filing of complaints and investigations pertaining to abandoned wells, responsible parties for plugging abandoned wells, and funds used by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) for plugging abandoned wells.
House Bill 2050 amends statutes to remove requirements that the following reports and certifications be provided to the Legislative Division of Post Audit (LPA), the Post Auditor, or the Legislative Post Audit Committee:
- An audited statement of actual expenditures incurred by a Kansas nonprofit corporation providing legal services to indigent inmates of Kansas correctional institutions;
- A certified summary of the write-off of any accounts receivable or taxes receivable by the Director of Account and Reports;
- An annual audit of corporations who contract with the Board of Regents (Board) or any state educational institution and are substantially controlled by the Board or such institution; and
- An annual report by the Secretary of Revenue regarding tax abatements that reduce final tax liability by $5,000 or more.
Additionally, the bill makes technical amendments to ensure consistency in statutory phrasing and remove an outdated retroactivity provision.
HB 2070 allows private, not-for-profit postsecondary educational institutions in Kansas to collect a surcharge on credit card payments. The Kansas Uniform Consumer Credit Code bars sellers from collecting a surcharge on credit card payments, with certain exceptions that currently include Kansas public institutions, municipal universities, community colleges, technical colleges, and vocational schools.
Senate Substitute for House Bill 2072
Senate Sub. for House Bill 2072 creates the Utility Financing and Securitization Act (UFSA), which allows for the securitization of utility assets to recover energy transition costs for electric public utilities whose retail rates are subject to the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC).
The UFSA also allows electric and natural gas public utilities whose retail rates are subject to the KCC to pursue securitization to help finance qualified extraordinary expenses, such as fuel costs incurred during extreme weather events.
House Bill 2112 permits online advertisement and sales of abandoned property by self-storage rental unit operators; provides for the designation by occupants of an alternate contact; and limits claims for loss or damage of stored property to the property value limit provided in the rental agreement.
House Bill 2126 provides immunity from civil liability for COVID-19 claims for certain covered facilities, including adult care homes, community mental health centers, crisis intervention centers, community service providers and community developmental disability organizations.
House Bill 2145 exempts the retail sale of electricity by public utilities for electric vehicle charging stations from the jurisdiction of the state corporation commission.
House Bill 2155 provides for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment response operations for water and soil pollutant release, discharge, or escape.
House Bill 2162 amends and repeals reapportionment census data laws to conform with 2019 amendments to the Kansas constitution and to remove certain obsolete provisions.
House Bill 2214 authorizes the Secretary of Administration on behalf of the Department of Corrections to convey land in Mitchell county to the city of Beloit.
House Bill 2298 changes requirements for service of process on nonresident drivers and clarifying service of process on certain business entities.
House Bill 2367 authorizes the state corporation commission to regulate certain transmission line wire stringing activities.