Area Happenings - Week of August 27, 2017

Here are the upcoming events that the Gazette has been made aware of as of  August 19, 2017.  To submit an item to the community events calendar, please email it to press@baldwingazette.com.

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August 29, 2017

 JOIN the Chamber Community in Welcoming

Peggy and Matt Keller, CEOs, 

PK Therapy, LLC to Baldwin City. 

Learn more about PK Therapy, LLC. 

Tuesday, August 29, 2017 

5-6:30 P.M.  

811 Grove  

Refreshments Served  

5:45 P.M. Remarks and Ribbon Cutting  

www.pktherapyOT.com

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September 5, 2017Baldwin City Council Meeting
Location: Baldwin City Library
800 7th Street
Baldwin City, KS
7 P.M.

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September 13, 2017

The Library Board, the Friends of the Library, and the Library staff will be hosting a Celebration for Kathy Johnston to recognize her many years of service to the Library.

When: Wednesday, September 13th 

Time: 4 P.M - 6 P.M. 

Where: Baldwin City Library.

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September 16-17, 2017

2017 Kansas Capital Quilt Show

 This year's Kansas Capital Quilt Show theme is Comfort, Warmth, Beauty and Love.  Select a favorite in our Silent Auction. Come to shop, learn and be inspired about new patterns, techniques and fabrics.

Time: Saturday, September 16 at 10 AM - 5 PM
           Sunday,  September 17 at Noon - 5 PM

Admission: $6

Location: The Women's Guild of Topeka
5221 SW West Drive (just northwest of 9th and Fairlawn)
Topeka, Kansas 66606

More Information:
(785) 640-2480

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September 19, 2017
Baldwin City Council Meeting
Location: Baldwin City Library
800 7th Street
Baldwin City, KS
7 P.M.

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September 29, 2017

Luke Bryant Concert

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 October 21-22, 2017

Maple Leaf Festival



Downtown Baldwin City

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 October 28, 2017

COME AND ENJOY OUR
COMMUNITY DINNER  & FELLOWSHIP
          TO BE HELD  AT 6:00  to?



HOST
VINLAND UNITED CHURCH
1724 N 692 RD
BALDWIN CITY, KS 6600

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 December 29, 2017

COME AND ENJOY OUR
COMMUNITY DINNER  & FELLOWSHIP
          TO BE HELD  AT 6:00  to?


HOST
VINLAND UNITED CHURCH
1724 N 692 RD
BALDWIN CITY, KS 6600

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Third Friday Art Walk and Farmers Market

Downtown Baldwin City

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Every 4th Thursday of the Month
10 A.M. - 11 A.M.
Mobile Food Bank
Baldwin City New Life Assembly of God
118 5th St  Baldwin City, KS
Stay in car, line up and drive through

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Every Tuesday through October  
Eudora Local Gardening Farmer’s Market
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm Tuesdays
through October 2016
1402 Church Street
Eudora, KS.
In the parking lot of Gene’s Hartland Foods.
Local, fresh produce and foods offered by local growers and producers!

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Every Wednesday through October
De Soto Farmer’s Market (Fresh Promise’s Market)
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Wednesdays through October 2016
at The Barn at Kill Creek Farm
9200 Kill Creek Road
De Soto, KS
Local, fresh produce and foods offered by local growers and producers!

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Every Thursday through October 
Cottin's Hardware Farmer's Market on Thursdays from
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
through September
at Cottin's Hardware & Rental back parking lot
1832 Massachusetts Street
Lawrence, KS
Local vendors offer a variety of goods including produce, baked items, hot foods, meats, eggs, soaps, jams, jellies, herbs, fudge and much more!;

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Every Friday through October
Perry Lecompton Farmers' Market
Fridays from 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
at Bernie's parking lot
24 Hwy and Ferguson Road
Perry, KS
Visit the market to find fresh vegetables, fruits, homemade jams and jellies, baked goods, honey, fresh cut flowers, farm fresh eggs, handmade crafts and more!

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Live TV Coverage of Heart of America Football on MC22

Press Release

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BALDWIN CITY, KS – Mediacom channel MC22 will televise 5 live Heart of America football games beginning Saturday, September 2 at 11 a.m. The college football games will televise live Saturdays at 11 a.m. on Mediacom’s local channel 22 (HD channels 822 or 722) and feature teams from Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri.
The Heart of America Athletic Conference was founded in 1971 and consists of 12 conference schools with colleges from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa.
            Heart of America Football -- 2017 Television Schedule on MC22:
Home

Sept. 2             Baker University                                 Grandview University

Sept. 9             Baker University                                 Culver-Stockton College

Oct. 7              Graceland University                          Evangel University

Oct. 14            MidAmerica Nazarene University      Baker University

Nov. 4             Evangel University                              Avila University

 

Leading Autism Advocate Appointed to International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards Executive Board

NewsWire

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla.  - The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), the world’s leading training and certification provider for autism and cognitive disorders, announced today the appointment of award-winning disability advocate Kerry Magro to their executive panel of board members.

“IBCCES does incredible work around the world,” said Magro. “It’s wonderful now to be part of this team as a board member.”

As a self-advocate, Magro was completely non-verbal until the age of two and a half and was diagnosed with autism at 4-years-old. He is now a best-selling author of three books, a movie consultant of two autism films and a nonprofit founder that has given over 45 scholarships for students with autism for college. Magro additionally presented at the International Symposium on Cognitive Disorders in February and is expected to speak at the 2018 event held at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida.

“Working with the great team at IBCCES, I can use my expertise and knowledge to help make the world a more accommodating place for everyone,” said Magro. “Inclusion is key in our society today.”

IBCCES focuses on cognitive disorder training and certification around the world, with members now in 42 countries and expanding. IBCCES just launched AutismTravel.com, of which Magro will be a regular guest contributor in order to bring greater knowledge and options for families traveling with autism. IBCCES additionally trains and certifies school districts, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement worldwide.

“Kerry’s expertise in autism and enthusiasm for creating positive change is aligned with our goal to increase awareness and education in cognitive disorders throughout the world, and we are excited to have him on our team,” said IBCCES Board Chairman Myron Pincomb.

Magro added that he is looking forward to collaborative opportunities with IBCCES. “We have the opportunity to impact the lives of so many,” he explained. “There are exciting times ahead.”

Magro currently travels around the country as a motivational speaker and disability advocate, including presenting at two TEDx Talks. In 2014, he received accreditation from the National Speakers Association as one of the only professionally certified speakers with autism in the country. Magro is now the host of a local cable program that focuses on individuals who overcome adversity called the "Different is Beautiful Show," and has begun interviewing individuals for a new video series that highlights people with special needs, disease and those who have overcome obstacles in their lives called “A Special Community of Love and Acceptance.” Magro has additionally worked with brands including CBS News, Inside Edition, Upworthy, BBC News, HuffPost Live, HuffPost, American Express, J.P Morgan Chase, NBA.com and more.

“It’s been a dream to travel the world as a professional speaker, but the greatest achievement is being able to mentor and work with people with special needs,” said Magro. “I didn’t have any role models with autism growing up, so being able to help the next generation of kids is what I love.”

Presidents Weekly Address

Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy Ask KCC to Approve Merger of Equals; Missouri Filling to be Submitted by August 31

Press Release

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TOPEKA, KS and KANSAS CITY, MO – Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) and Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE: GXP) today asked the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) to approve their proposed merger. The neighboring utilities intend to apply for Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC) approval by Aug. 31. The revised transaction is a stock-for-stock merger of equals that would create a new company serving 1.6 million customers with a combined equity value of approximately $14 billion.
“The KCC recognized the unique value of bringing Westar and Great Plains together. We appreciate the opportunity to present this new merger of equals for their consideration,” said Mark Ruelle, president and chief executive officer of Westar Energy. “Our customers will have a stronger company with less pressure on prices. Our shareholders will see a dividend increase and opportunity for long-term growth.”
The companies announced their intent to pursue a new transaction on July 10. Filing applications with the KCC, MPSC and other regulators formalizes the companies’ request for approvals for Great Plains Energy and Westar Energy to merge to form a new holding company, which will operate regulated electric utilities in Kansas and Missouri. Operating headquarters will be in both Topeka, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri. Corporate headquarters will be in Kansas City, Missouri.
“This merger unlocks savings and financial benefits for our customers, shareholders, communities, and employees,” said Terry Bassham, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Great Plains Energy. “We carefully listened to the KCC’s concerns with our original transaction and crafted a new merger agreement using the KCC’s earlier order for guidance to bring better value to customers and shareholders of both utilities compared with remaining stand alone. We look forward to working with the KCC, MPSC and other stakeholders as we seek approval.”
For the past year, the companies have been planning their combination and have identified initial savings of about $28 million in 2018, growing to $160 million per year by 2022. While the merger savings will be reflected in future electricity rates, the companies also propose $50 million in customer bill credits to retail customers in both Missouri and Kansas soon after the merger closes.
The merger better positions the companies to invest in programs and infrastructure to maintain and potentially improve customer service with less impact on prices. The companies’ have committed to maintaining community charitable contributions and to no involuntary job losses resulting from the merger.
With no cash premium paid and no transaction debt, the new company is expected to remain financially strong, aiding its ability to provide reliable service to customers and attractive returns to shareholders. The size created by merging should improve access to capital markets and leverage with suppliers, providing future savings for customers.
Great Plains and Westar anticipate filing their merger application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) before the end of August. The companies expect to have necessary approvals in the first half of next year.
On July 10, the companies announced that both companies’ boards of directors unanimously approved a revised transaction that involves no control premium, no transaction debt, no exchange of cash, and is a stock-for-stock merger of equals. Recognizing the stock price differences in the exchange, Westar shareholders will exchange their shares on a ratio of 1 WR share for 1 share of the new company; Great Plains shareholders will exchange their shares on a ratio of 1 GXP shares for 0.5981 share of the new company. The new, combined company will provide electric utility service to approximately 1 million Kansas customers and nearly 600,000 customers in Missouri. The combined company will have a new name, yet to be established. Read the full announcement.
About Westar Energy
As Kansas’ largest electric utility, Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WR) provides customers the safe, reliable electricity needed to power their businesses and homes. Half the electricity supplied to the company’s 700,000 customers comes from emissions-free sources – nuclear, wind and solar - with a third coming from renewables. Westar is a leader in electric transmission in Kansas, coordinating a network of lines and substations that support one of the largest consolidations of wind energy in the nation. For more information about Westar Energy, visit www.WestarEnergy.com.
About Great Plains Energy
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE: GXP) is the holding company of Kansas City Power & Light Company and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company, two of the leading regulated providers of electricity in the Midwest. Kansas City Power & Light Company and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company use KCP&L as a brand name.

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation Announce at least $1 million towards Hurricane Harvey Relief and Recovery

BusinessWire

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Bentonville, AR - In anticipation of Hurricane Harvey, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have made a commitment to provide support for relief efforts through cash and product donations of at least $1 million to organizations helping in response to the severe weather impacting Texas and Louisiana. As a part of this commitment, Walmart is working closely with organizations like the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Convoy of Hope while coordinating efforts with elected officials and governmental entities to help meet the needs of those affected. We are supporting these organizations in addressing immediate needs in the community and will continue to monitor in the coming days to provide additional assistance.
“We are concerned for the people in the path of this potentially devastating storm,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, Chief Sustainability Officer at Walmart and President of the Walmart Foundation. “We are actively supporting local response efforts and will continue to be there for our customers, friends, family, fellow associates and neighbors in the Gulf Coast.”
Walmart has a long history of providing aid in times of disasters, helping communities prepare and recover by donating emergency supplies, such as food and water, home and personal products. Since 2005, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have donated more than $60 million in cash and in-kind donations in response to disaster events.

Kansas Reading Program to Improve Proficiency Expands

Press Release

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TOPEKA– Four new Kansas-inspired programs will be launched in the Mississippi Delta this fall. Four schools in the Coahoma County School District—Friars Point, Jonestown, Lyon, and Sherard—will begin a partnership with the Kansas Reading Roadmap to further increase early reading proficiency across the district. The Kansas Reading Roadmap program was commissioned by Governor Sam Brownback in 2013 and is funded by the Kansas Department for Children and Families, through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds, to help increase reading proficiency among children. This poverty-prevention measure has been successful in Kansas, and now the Coahoma County District will seek to replicate the success of Kansas schools from the Kansas Reading Roadmap in Mississippi.

The Kansas Reading Roadmap model aligns after school and family engagement with school-day instruction and intervention to build upon school efforts to promote early reading proficiency. Coahoma County schools use a school-wide strategy of assessments, instruction, and intervention to teach children to read. 

“The Reading Roadmap seeks to innovate how schools use out-of-school programs to drive greater achievement in early reading proficiency,” said Andrew Hysell, Director the Reading Roadmap. “Through science-based early reading strategies aligned with school interventions and data, after-school learning can help schools better achieve third-grade reading goals.”

At the heart of the Kansas Reading Roadmap is its partnership with the Kansas State Department of Education’s Technical Assistance Systems Network (TASN). TASN supports Kansas schools to implement the Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS). Kansas MTSS helps schools organize data and instruction to provide individualized instruction and intervention for all children. The Reading Roadmap aligns out-of-school programs with the Kansas MTSS system.

Currently, the Reading Roadmap partners with more than 60 schools and Boys & Girls Clubs in Kansas to expand science-based reading strategies to all students in out-of-school environments, including afterschool, summer and family engagement programming. The mission of the Reading Roadmap is to integrate and align out-of-school programs with data and instruction to enhance school efforts promoting early reading proficiency.

According to an independent, longitudinal evaluation of 30 sites, children attending Reading Roadmap after school programs experienced 57 percent greater growth than their peers—as measured by school assessments.

“Kansas Reading Roadmap has been very successful in the State of Kansas, so I am thrilled that Mississippi is adopting similar programs,” said Secretary Phyllis Gilmore. “Early reading proficiency is important because it arms children with the tools they need to have a successful and bright future.”

Third-grade reading is a critical point in a child’s life when they transition from learning to read to reading to learn. Early reading proficiency is correlated with school and lifetime success. Research consistently shows that children who are not proficient readers by the fourth grade are four times less likely to graduate on time from high school. 

Former Green Beret Kevin Jones Announces Campaign for Congress

Press Release

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WELLSVILLE – On August 17, 2017, State Representative Kevin Jones launched his campaign to seek the Republican nomination for Kansas’ Second Congressional District.  Jones noted that many of the problems facing district families and seniors are not homegrown Kansas problems.  Instead, he pointed to the red tape, debt, burdensome taxes, and insecurity created in Washington as being responsible for the struggles many Kansas families and small businesses are now facing.

Kevin Jones

“I learned long ago that to solve a problem, you have to face it head-on and resolve it at the source,” Jones said. “I am running for Congress to take the fight to the source of our problems – Washington, D.C. – this is our mission and we cannot fail.”

On the home front, Jones will focus on jobs and financial security for American families.  Specifically, Jones will work to remove federal barriers to innovation, business expansion and most importantly, job creation.

“Our families need jobs, not red tape,” Jones said. “The focus and concern of our small businesses should be successful growth and job creation, not overbearing government compliance.”

Jones further noted that unleashing America’s economic potential is also dependent on reversing Washington’s culture of debt. He highlighted that the national debt has grown to an unsustainable level, crowding out resources for vital functions and undermining our economic security.

“We can only break this culture of debt with a renewed, true commitment to fiscal restraint and policies to fuel robust economic growth that raises the quality of life and financial security for all Americans,” Jones stated.  “There must be commonsense pro-growth tax reform, coupled with equally common sense spending reforms.”

Jones served in the U.S. Army as a Special Forces Operator deployed to hot spots across the globe, including Iraq. His entry into the race brings the perspective of contemporary combat experience to the contest at a time of growing international tensions.

“National security is a constitutionally mandated duty of our federal leaders, yet that obligation is not being met as politicians have for nearly a decade gutted our military and implemented a haphazard foreign policy,” said Jones.  “I will fight to ensure a strong United States military, while also seeking to restore the lost tactical leadership resulting from the purge of combat experienced officers and frontline servicemen and women during the Obama Administration.”

Kevin Jones grew up in the heart of the Second Congressional District in Wellsville, where he and his wife Nicole now raise their own family.  Returning home from his service in the U.S. Army, Jones was elected as a Kansas State Representative for House District 5, and now also serves on the Wellsville Board of Education and the Franklin County Planning Commission.  Jones is a Realtor® and small business owner.  Jones holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the University of Kansas, and a Master of Ministry degree from Southwestern Christian University.  Jones is an ordained minister and worked as an associate pastor prior to his military service.

Governor Brownback, Kansas Department of Corrections Announce Increased Pay for State’s Correctional Officers Under New Pay Plan

Press Release

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El Dorado – Governor Sam Brownback was joined by Corrections Secretary Joe Norwood at El Dorado Correctional Facility today to announce changes to the Kansas Department of Corrections’ pay structure to address correctional officer retention and increase recruitment of new candidates.

Under the new structure, all uniformed corrections staff will receive an approximately 5 percent increase. In addition, the hiring rate for entry-level corrections officers will rise from $13.95 per hour to $14.66 per hour. At El Dorado Correctional Facility, the hiring rate will rise from $13.95 per hour to $15.75 per hour. All uniformed staff making less than the newly established hiring rates will have their pay increased to the new rates, resulting in a majority of uniformed staff receiving total increases of at least 10 percent.

Gov. Brownback described the pay increase as a significant first step towards making pay competitive in an effort to retain experienced correctional officers at the state’s correctional facilities where vacancy rates have increased amid dwindling new officer recruitment.

“First and foremost, I want to thank the men and women of the Department of Corrections for all of their hard work,” Gov. Brownback said. “This job is an exceptionally difficult one--and the state appreciates their sacrifices.”

The state will notify union officials today to offer an opportunity for discussion regarding the effective date of the increases. 

“Addressing recruitment and retention will require commitment from the legislature, and I encourage them to work with the Department of Corrections in the 2018 legislation session,” Gov. Brownback said.

Corrections Secretary Norwood thanked Governor Brownback for his support of the Department of Corrections staff and for personally addressing the critical need at the state’s correctional facilities.

“I also would like to thank the Kansas DOC staff for the great work they do day-in and day-out to the keep the citizens of Kansas safe.” he said. “Correctional work is difficult and it takes special people who are willing to take on such an important public safety role.”

Norwood said the department looks forward to working with the Governor’s office and the legislature on continuing to strengthen compensation for DOC staff to include uniformed, non-uniformed and parole staff who contribute so greatly to public safety in Kansas.

The Sun and Moon are Topics for Story Time

Kevin Surbaugh

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Heidi Johnston (rear), Easton (right) and Edan (left)
Photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Thomas Cooper and his daughter Madison
Photographer Kevin Surbaugh

On Monday August 14, 2017, the Baldwin City Library hosted an event, "Don't be Afraid of the Dark," ahead of the eclipse on the 21st.
Librarians read a couple of stories about the sun and moon to three kids and their parents.  The two books read were "Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky," by Elphinstone Dayrell and "Sun and Moon," by Lindsey Yankey.
Afterwards the kids made pin hole cameras (to view the eclipse with) and dragons.   The kids (and adults to) then enjoyed sugar cookies, decorated in yellow icing as the sun with black sunglasses.