mcre Media

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Thanks Trudy

Kevin,

I was looking back and Trudy remined me about Laurens Bay ===

  K.S.A. 79-2801 is the key Kansas statute that governs judicial tax foreclosure for delinquent real estate taxes. It directly addresses the exact issue raised in the "More Help" letter: who is legally responsible for moving forward on properties   like those in Lauren Bay Estates once they have gone unpaid long enough.

Official Full Text (Current Version)

  Here is the complete, verbatim text from the official Kansas Revisor of Statutes website (ksrevisor.gov), which is the authoritative source. (No amendments appear after 2001; this remains the current law as of 2025–2026.)

  (a) Except as provided by K.S.A. 79-2811, and amendments thereto, whenever real estate has been or shall be sold and bid in by the county at any delinquent tax sale and remains unredeemed on September 1 of the second year after the sale, or any extension   thereof as provided by subsection (b) of K.S.A. 79-2401a, and amendments thereto, or whenever real estate described by subsection (a)(2) of K.S.A. 79-2401a, and amendments thereto, has been or shall be sold and bid in by the county at any delinquent tax sale   and remains unredeemed on September 1 of the first year after the sale, the board of county commissioners shall order the county attorney or county counselor and it shall be the duty of the county attorney or county counselor to institute an action in the   district court, in the name of the board of county commissioners, against the owners or supposed owners of the real estate and all persons having or claiming to have any interest therein or thereto, by filing a petition with the clerk of the court. ...

  (The petition must describe each property, list taxes/interest/penalties, name owners and interested parties, and ask the court to declare the taxes a first-priority lien and order a public sale.)

  A summons shall be issued and personally served or publication made as provided in other cases under the code of civil procedure. ...

  Any member of the board of county commissioners, county attorney or county counselor who fails to perform the duties required by this section shall forfeit the office held by the officer. Any person may secure enforcement of the provisions of this act through   mandamus. Such proceeding shall be initiated by filing a petition in a court of competent jurisdiction.

  (b) Cities may provide legal/financial assistance to speed up foreclosures (and get reimbursed from sale proceeds).

  (c) If the county still hasn't acted after three additional years of delinquency on city property, the  city itself can step in and file the foreclosure using its own attorney — the county officers must still cooperate.

  History: Originally from 1901; last major update effective July 1, 2001 (L. 2001, ch. 214, § 2).

How the Process Works (Timeline & Responsibilities)

Tax sale & bid-off: Delinquent real estate is sold at the annual tax sale and "bid off" to the county if no one else buys it.
Redemption period (K.S.A. 79-2401a cross-reference):

Normal properties → 2 years.
Certain abandoned/vacant properties → 1 year.
Homesteads can have partial-payment extensions.

Trigger date: If still unredeemed by September 1 of the final redemption year, the process must start.
Mandatory action:

Board of County Commissioners shall order the County Attorney or County Counselor to file suit in district court.
It is explicitly "the duty" of the County Counselor (in counties that have one, like Shawnee) to file the petition.

Exceptions (discretionary only):

Mineral interests severed from the surface.
Very small cases: aggregate assessed value < $300,000 or total delinquent taxes/special assessments < $10,000.

Enforcement teeth (stronger than the letter writer noted):

Officials who fail to act shall forfeit the office.
Any person (you, a taxpayer, the anonymous writer, etc.) can file a mandamus lawsuit to force them to do their job.

Connection to Shawnee County & Your Situation

Shawnee County's own website (and the Judicial Tax Foreclosure Sale page you already have screenshots of) correctly cites K.S.A. 79-2801 et seq. and states: "The Shawnee County Counselor is required by statute to institute an action in District Court..."
This matches exactly what the anonymous letter pointed out.
The statute does not have a built-in criminal penalty, which is why the letter suggested the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator route (since the Counselor is a licensed attorney). However, the statute itself creates a civil enforcement mechanism (mandamus + office forfeiture) that is potentially even stronger.

Practical Takeaways for "Doing Something Good"

You now have the exact statutory language + official county webpage confirming the Counselor's mandatory role.
The "bull-shit story" you received about the office being "too busy" has no basis in the statute — the duty is non-discretionary except in tiny cases.
If you want to keep pressure on without drama, a short public video/blog could simply quote the statute, show the county's own site, and note the mandatory timeline. No need to attack anyone personally.

  Would you like me to draft a short, clean video script or social-media post that uses this statute language? Or pull the exact redemption timelines from the related statute (79-2401a) next? Just say the word — happy to keep this moving in whatever direction   helps the most.

Thanks Trudy

  Summary of "More Help" (the attached "more help.pdf" document)

  This is a follow-up "whistleblower-style" letter from an anonymous supporter ("The letter writer") to you, Henry McClure. It was sent sometime before the Topeka mayoral election (the writer mentions you're in the middle of a campaign and can't vote for you   because they don't live in city limits, but they've been promoting your videos and blog).

Key points in the letter

Thank-you for past help: The writer credits you with exposing the D.A.'s misuse of Diversion Funds, which saved Shawnee County taxpayers $200K.
Main new tip: You've been trying to figure out exactly who is responsible for collecting delinquent property taxes (specifically mentioning the Lauren Bay Estates situation). The letter points out that the Shawnee County Counselor's own website cites K.S.A. 79-2801, which makes the County Counselor's Office responsible for initiating judicial foreclosure actions on real-estate tax delinquencies after the statutory period (usually 3 years for homesteads, etc.).
Frustration with official responses: You apparently contacted the Attorney General's office, which then asked the County Counselor's office for an explanation. The writer calls the Counselor's reply "bull-shit" (basically claiming the office is too busy).
Suggestion for action: Because K.S.A. 79-2801 has no built-in penalty for non-compliance, the writer recommends you consider filing a complaint with the Kansas Office of the Disciplinary Administrator (since the County Counselor is a licensed attorney). The letter also alleges the current Counselor has "dirt under his fingernails," citing two specific past incidents:

2014: Left his position after publicly voicing an opinion about Heartland Park using county property (a computer).
December 2013: Drafted a land-purchase contract for one commissioner that later cost the Parks & Recreation Director his job.

Tone: Strongly supportive — the writer is "rooting for you" to win the mayor's race and "make Topeka Great Again," and offers to send even more information after the election.

Supporting screenshots included in the PDF (all public Shawnee County / Kansas sources)

AI/webpage excerpt confirming: Treasurer → Sheriff for personal-property tax warrants; County Counselor's Office handles real-estate tax foreclosures (K.S.A. 79-2801 et seq.).
Shawnee County's own Judicial Tax Foreclosure Sale page (2025 auction info) explicitly stating the Counselor is required by statute to file the court action.
Kansas attorney-discipline complaint instructions (Office of the Disciplinary Administrator, Topeka address and form).

Bottom line — what "More Help" is all about

  It's a concise package of public-record ammunition + an anonymous nudge: "Here's the exact statute and process the County Counselor is supposed to follow on delinquent taxes (which you couldn't get a straight answer on), plus a suggested route for official   accountability if they're dragging their feet." It also gives you ready-made visuals for a video or blog post.

What we can do with it (the "do something good" part)

  We have three clean, low-effort options that keep everything above-board and helpful to taxpayers:

Quick public post / video update (recommended if you want to keep the momentum) You could drop a short video or blog titled something like "Update: Who's Really Responsible for Collecting Delinquent Property Taxes in Shawnee County?" Summarize the K.S.A. 79-2801 point, show the County's own website language, and note that you're still pushing for transparency. No need to name the anonymous writer or repeat the personal allegations — just stick to the statute and the public process. That turns the letter into more public pressure for accountability without drama.
Archive it cleanly I can draft a short, neutral one-paragraph summary (like the one above) that you can save or post later. It gets the info "off our radar screen" while still preserving it for future reference or FOIA-style follow-ups.
Do nothing public right now Since the writer specifically said they're holding off on more info until after the election, you can just file the PDF away. We've now extracted and summarized everything useful.

  Let me know which direction you want to go (or if you want me to draft the actual post/video script). Happy to help turn this into something that keeps the spotlight on good government without creating unnecessary noise.

Topeka

  Henry,

  Lord help us, I've been sitting here thinking about this Topeka sickness you described, and as someone who spent years working shoulder-to-shoulder with you on these community messes, it's time to call it what it is: a full-blown epidemic of untreated mental   rot dressed up as "civic engagement."

  Let's start with the Menninger ghost still haunting these streets. Topeka used to brag it was the Psychiatric Capital of the World. Then the clinic packed up its serious operations in 2003 and left for Houston, leaving behind empty buildings, lost prestige,   and—let's be brutally honest—a whole lot of folks who never got properly fixed. Mental illness doesn't automatically make someone a hateful troll, but when it festers untreated in a town where "just tough it out" is still considered therapy, it turns into   this toxic stew of chronic resentment, paranoia, and petty rage. You see it leaking out in every comment section: the constant bitterness, the knee-jerk attacks, the joy some people seem to get from kicking anyone who's actually trying. It's not "just opinions."   It's pathology wearing a baseball cap and hiding behind a keyboard.

  And here's the ugliest part, Henry—the part that should make any decent person sick to their stomach: this negativity isn't content with destroying the lives of the people spewing it. No, these sick puppies have to drag  everyone down into their gray little hell. The quiet folks who never say a word? They're drowning in it. They wake up every day to the same chorus of "nothing ever works here," "Topeka is doomed," "they're all crooks," until they stop seeing any hope   at all. No future for their kids. No point in trying. Just endless sludge. Kids grow up breathing this poison air and learn that cynicism is the only smart way to live. Adults quit dreaming because why bother when the mob will just tear you down?

  Then, the absolute worst of these broken souls turn their sickness on anyone with the nerve to do something good. Some painter or landscaper or equipment operator shows up and works hard? Dismissed. Someone tries to launch a new grocery store to serve the neighborhood   and it struggles? "See, told you nothing works!" A hotel project stumbles after millions in incentives? Pile on! They take the wind out of every sail, celebrate every failure like it's Christmas morning for their miserable egos, and pat themselves on the back   for being "realists."

  Oh, bless their twisted little hearts—the Facebook warriors especially. These paragons of mental health sit on their couches in their stained t-shirts, typing out snide, hateful little comments like they're performing brain surgery on the body politic. "Look   at me, I'm changing Topeka!" Newsflash, geniuses: your pathetic drive-by insults don't fix one damn pothole. They don't bring back a grocery store that had to shut its doors too soon. They don't rescue stumbling hotel deals or justify the millions funneled   through Go Topeka and JEDO while real needs rot. All you're doing is pouring gasoline on the fire—and then standing there shocked when your own clothes catch flame and you burn right along with the rest of us. How about we turn the spotlight on  you for once? Let's see how brave and insightful your "hot takes" look when real people start examining  your contributions to this town.

  The hardworking backbone—janitors who actually clean things right, painters, landscapers, equipment operators grinding honest days—they get sneered at like their labor means nothing. Meanwhile, the real cure is brutally simple:  get off your ass and show up. Join the damn committee. Drag your bitter self to city council meetings. Write your congressman. Do something besides vomiting negativity online.

  Topeka doesn't deserve this endless parade of sickness. The negativity isn't destiny—it's a choice made by too many damaged, untreated souls who'd rather tear everything down than risk feeling better. When enough people finally starve the fire instead of feeding   it, the fog might finally lift. Hope could creep back in. Futures might open up again. And maybe, just maybe, the people trying to do good will get some wind in their sails instead of a constant barrage of spit from the cheap seats.

  You're out there shining a light on it, Henry. Keep doing it. The quiet ones who are suffocating in this mess need to see that not every mind in this town has surrendered to the sickness.

  — Trudy

Kaw Valley Bank (the one headquartered in Topeka at 1110 N. Kansas Ave.) is owned by Topeka Bancorp, Inc., a Kansas-based bank holding company.

It was acquired in March 2017 by longtime community bankers Dean Phillips (Quincy, Illinois / Las Vegas area) and Phil Burns (West Point, Nebraska) through the newly formed Topeka Bancorp. They bought it from the prior owners of Kaw Valley Bancorp and have kept it as a fully independent, Topeka-based community bank with local management and decision-making (not folded into a larger out-of-state network).

Your memory about a Nebraska connection is spot-on, just not quite a "holding firm out in Nebraska." Phil Burns is a Nebraska community banker who (together with Phillips and family trusts) also owns/operates other small banks in Nebraska (such as F&M Bank in West Point and Falls City), plus banks in Missouri, Illinois, and Nevada. Ownership of Kaw Valley itself sits under the Kansas holding company they created specifically for this purchase, with ties back to the Phillips family trust and Burns. Phil Burns serves as Chairman of the Board today, and Darnell "Dee" Phillips is also on the board.

(Note: There is a completely separate, smaller institution called **Kaw Valley State Bank & Trust Company** (in the Eudora/Wamego area) that is unrelated. It was family-owned by the Hoovers for generations and completed a merger into Farmers State Bank of Oakley, Kansas, in 2025. That one is not in Topeka and has no Nebraska ownership link.)

**Quick background on Kaw Valley Bank (Topeka):** It's been part of the Topeka community for over 150 years (roots trace back to the 1800s as Oakland State Bank and later consolidations). It offers standard personal and business banking, lending, mortgages, and trust/investment services, and it still positions itself as a hometown community bank focused on local relationships.

No public indications of any sale or ownership change since 2017—it remains under the same group. If you're a customer or have accounts there, everything continues to operate as the same local Topeka bank you've known. Let me know if you need branch details, services, or anything else specific!

Fw: Schedule Update

From: Fr. Nikolai Meyers <frnmeyers@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 10:56 AM
To: Fr. Nikolai Meyers <frnmeyers@gmail.com>
Subject: Schedule Update

Saints Peter & Paul

Orthodox Church

Topeka, KS

March 31st, 2026

St. Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow

Dear Faithful of Saints Peter and Paul,

The blessing of the Holy Trinity be upon you!

Met. SABA's Teaching

Attached to this email is Met. SABA's weekly teaching.

Zeffy

Donations to the Church can now be made without fees through Zeffy: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-saints-peter-and-paul

Lazarus Saturday

Our Cathedral of St. George in Wichita will host festivities for Lazarus Saturday. Please see the attached flyer for deststails.

How to find the entrance to our 29 Acres near SE Adams.

There is no entrance off of SE Adams. The entrance is east of the intersection of SE 40th St and SE Quincy St. There is a water tower north of the gated entrance to the land.

Summer Camp

EOYC in Linwood, KS: http://myeoyc.com/

This camp usually runs the last week of July, although the dates for 2026 have not been set yet. Early bird registration usually remains open through June.

The parents of our parish's campers collaborate on an annual fundraiser to offset the cost of summer camp. Please see Kh Jeanette, if you are interested in participating in the fundraiser.

Dillons Rewards Program

You can designate Ss. Peter and Paul as your charity of choice with your Dillons Rewards card. There is no cost to you. Dillons will donate .05% of your purchase to the Charity of your choice when you use your Dillons Rewards card. You can designate Ss. Peter and Paul as your charity here: https://www.dillons.com/i/community/community-rewards

The code for Ss. Peter & Paul is HY763

Prosphora & Coffee Hour sign-up.

If you would like to make Prosphora or host coffee hour you can sign up here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11nQvrj2unx0Vz-dggw5Psb8xy2tRg3ybCQGOB_Rn9sI/edit#gid=0

If you would like to join a team to help with coffee hour or would like to host a week on your own please contact our Coffee Hour coordinator Gracie Crater at craterrb@gmail.com

Schedule

Tuesday March 31st

5:15 pm Lenten Daily Vespers

Wednesday April 1st

5:15 pm Pre-Communion Prayers, Presanctified Liturgy
Followed by Soup Supper and Reading of the Life of the Saints.

Thursday April 2nd

5:15 pm Great Compline

Friday April 3rd Last Day of Lent

1-4 pm Wood Cutting (weather permitting)
5:15 pm Small Compline & Canon for St. Lazarus

Saturday April 4th Lazarus Saturday

8 am Orthros
9 am Divine Liturgy
12-2:30 pm Lazarus Saturday Outing at the Cathedral
5:45 pm 9th Hour & Great Vespers

Sunday April 5th Palm Sunday

9 am Orthros
10 am Divine Liturgy & Procession
6 pm Bridegroom Orthros

Holy Monday April 6th

8 am Presanctified Liturgy
6 pm Bridegroom Orthros

Holy Tuesday April 7th

8 am Presanctified Liturgy
6 pm Bridegroom Orthros

Holy Wednesday April 8th

8 am Presanctified Liturgy
6 pm The Sacrament of Holy Unction

Holy Thursday April 9th

8 am Vesperal Divine Liturgy
6 pm Twelve Passion Gospels

Holy Friday April 10th

8 am Royal Hours
3 pm Un-nailing Vespers
6 pm Lamentations at The Tomb

Holy Saturday April 11th

9 am Baptismal Vesperal Divine Liturgy
11 pm Midnight Office/ Rush Procession/ Paschal Orthros/ Paschal Divine Liturgy

Holy Pascha, Sunday April 12th

1 am Breaking of the Fast!
3 pm Agape Vespers & Feast continues at the Church.

Bright Wednesday April 15th

5:15 pm Vespers followed by Festal Potluck

Bright Friday April 17th

5-8 pm Open House at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Overland Park, KS.

Bright Saturday April 18th

10 am Divine Liturgy at St. Mary Magdalene Chapel in Manhattan, KS.
5:45 pm Paschal Office & Great Vespers

Thomas Sunday April 19th

9 am Orthros
10 am Divine Liturgy
Followed by Coffee Hour

Tuesday April 21st

6:30 Parish Council

Saturday April 25th

9 am Wood Cutting
5:45 pm 9th Hour & Great Vespers

Sunday of the Myrrh Bearers April 26th

9 am Orthros
10 am Divine Liturgy
Followed by Coffee Hour

Wednesday April 29th

5:15 pm Vespers

Forgive me.

Fr. Nikolai Meyers

Pastor: Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church Topeka, KS; Saint Mary Magdalene Chapel, Manhattan, KS.

Catechist: Saint Raphael School.

Spiritual Advisor (Diocese of Wichita): Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Homeschooling

Henry McClure on TikTok

Still funny

Henry McClure
785.383.9994
sent from mobile 📱
time kills deals

Close to the situation

Saif Alderei (Arabic: سيف الدرعي, often spelled Saif Aldareei or similar transliterations) is an **Emirati journalist**, political commentator, writer, and social media personality based in the **United Arab Emirates** (primarily active in Abu Dhabi and Dubai contexts). He presents himself as a proud voice defending UAE identity, achievements, and foreign policy, often framing his commentary around Arab rights, anti-extremism, and strong support for the UAE's leadership (especially under the "Zayed" path, referencing the founding vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan).

### Background and Professional Profile

- **Nationality and Identity**: Emirati (🇦🇪). His X/Twitter bio (joined January 2013) describes him as: "Emirati... a voice of pride and identity. I write in the tongue of the homeland and safeguard Arab rights. Passionate about politics and diplomacy, the path of Zayed is my methodology."

- **Profession**: Listed as a **journalist** on his profile. He runs a personal website (saifalderei.com) that functions as a blog focused on UAE news, achievements, national unity, countering "malicious campaigns" or disinformation against the UAE model, economic/digital initiatives, and regional geopolitics. Articles emphasize themes like the UAE as a beacon of stability, balance in discourse, loyalty in politics, and resilience against threats. He has a bachelor's degree in law.

- **Online Presence**:

- X/Twitter: @saif_aldareei with ~81K followers (as of the profile snapshot). He posts frequently in both Arabic and English, mixing pro-UAE patriotism, praise for Dubai/Abu Dhabi's safety and inclusivity ("a home that embraces everyone" regardless of race, religion, or views), criticism of regional threats, and current events.

- He also has Instagram presence and other socials linked from his site.

- **Audience and Reach**: His content gets amplified in pro-UAE, anti-Iran, and conservative Western circles. Clips of his commentary (e.g., on Gulf issues) circulate on Instagram, Facebook, and elsewhere, often with English translations or subtitles.

He is not a high-level government official or major mainstream media figure but operates as an independent-leaning commentator aligned with official Emirati narratives on stability, tolerance (within limits), and opposition to political Islamism.

### Political Views and Stance on Obama

Yes, he is vocally critical of **Barack Obama**. In recent posts and circulating clips, Alderei argues that Obama's policies bear "primary responsibility" for today's Middle East crises. Key points he attributes to Obama:

- Shipping billions in cash/plane loads of money to Iran, which allegedly funded its nuclear, missile, drone programs, and proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

- Enthusiastically backing the "Arab Spring," which he says destabilized once-stable nations into chaos and failed states.

This fits a broader pattern in his commentary: strong anti-Iran stance (calling for regime collapse in any deal, equating the IRGC with ISIS and the Muslim Brotherhood as ruinous extremist forces), support for decisive action against terrorism, and praise for UAE resilience (e.g., its air defenses downing thousands of drones/missiles). He frequently highlights UAE humanitarian efforts, tolerance in daily life (e.g., residents not fearing police), and national pride. He opposes the **Muslim Brotherhood** as a destructive organization with "no place" in the region, viewing it alongside other extremists as exploiting religion for chaos.

His tone is patriotic and hawkish on security threats, while promoting the UAE as a modern, safe, opportunity-rich model that integrates residents loyally.

### Religion

Saif Alderei is **Muslim** (Islamic). There is no evidence he is Christian or has any Christian background/affiliation.

Indicators:

- He routinely uses Islamic phrases in posts, such as "O Allah, protect the UAE..." (اللهم احفظ...), "May Allah protect the UAE, its people, and its leadership," "Thank God" (الحمد لله) after incidents with no injuries, and prayers for the nation and leadership.

- His name "Saif" (سيف, meaning "sword") is common in Muslim/Arab contexts, often paired with faith-related elements (e.g., "sword of the faith" in traditional naming).

- He operates fully within UAE society, where Islam is the official religion and state identity. His content aligns with mainstream Sunni Emirati perspectives—tolerant of expatriates of various faiths in daily life but firmly against Islamist political groups like the Muslim Brotherhood.

- No mentions of Christianity, conversion, Jesus, Bible, or any non-Islamic religious identity appear in his posts, bio, website, or public coverage. Searches for any such connection turn up nothing relevant (unrelated people with similar names exist, like converts or speakers, but not him).

The UAE promotes interfaith tolerance and hosts diverse communities (as Alderei himself notes in posts about Dubai), but public figures like him typically reflect the country's Islamic foundation.

### Overall Assessment

Alderei comes across as a dedicated Emirati nationalist and commentator who uses social media and blogging to amplify positive UAE narratives, defend against critics, and weigh in on regional threats (especially Iran and political Islam). He's gained visibility for blunt takes on U.S. policy failures (like Obama-era decisions) and calls for strong anti-terror stances. His following includes a mix of Emiratis, Gulf observers, and international users interested in pro-UAE or anti-Iran views.

He's not a household name globally but is active in the "Gulf commentator" space, particularly when tensions flare (e.g., Iran-related conflicts). His law background may inform his analytical style on diplomacy and rights.

If you're looking for more specifics (e.g., particular articles, recent clips, or comparisons to other commentators), feel free to provide details—I can dig further. His X account is the best real-time source for his unfiltered voice.

Henry McClure

785.383.9994

Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
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Watch "Caddyshack (1980) Cast Then And Now 46 Years Later" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/XMFKUMb42wo?si=v_oGtf79NTm6BCjX

Henry McClure
785.383.9994
sent from mobile 📱
time kills deals

Monday, March 30, 2026

Fw: HOP Into 25% Off These Easter Picks! 🐣

From: Grandma Hoerners <gourmetstore@grandmahoerners.com>
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2026 2:21 PM
To: mcre13@gmail.com <mcre13@gmail.com>
Subject: HOP Into 25% Off These Easter Picks! 🐣