Fort Scott City Commission Minutes of Sept. 17

CITY OF FORT SCOTT

CITY COMMISSION MEETING

Minutes of September 17th, 2019 Regular Meeting #17

The regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held September 17th, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Room, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas.

ROLL CALL:

Commissioners Adamson, Mitchell and Nichols were present with Commissioner Bartelsmeyer presiding. Mayor Parker was absent.

INVOCATION: Robert Uhler, Community Development Director, said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City, our Government and City officials.

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Robert Uhler, Lindsay Watts, Deb McCoy, Clayton Miller, Travis Shelton, Deb Needleman, Dave Bruner, Kate Sweetser, Patrick Dobyns, Josh Jones, Brian Allen, Kirk Sharp, Shirley Graham, Grace Sweat, Michael Hoyt, Mert Barrows, and representing the press, Jason Silvers of the Fort Scott Tribune.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: Laura Ingalls Wilder Proclamation – Cindy Bartelsmeyer, President of the Commission, read a Proclamation which proclaims August 21, 2020 and every August 21st thereafter to be “Laura Ingalls Wilder Day” in Fort Scott.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND APPROPRIATIONS/CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of September 3rd, 2019.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1246-A totaling $260,336.14.

  1. Certificate of Appropriateness – Sign at 120 E. Wall – Stutesman Action Realty

Mitchell moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED CONSENT AGENDA.

APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE: Kirk Sharp and Mert Barrows, Fort Scott Community College – Request to close 1000 block of Main Street – September 21st, 2019 in conjunction with 100th Anniversary of FSCC – Kirk said that he had two requests tonight. The first request is for the Gordon Parks Celebration which will be held on October 3rd through October 5th. This year’s celebration dinner will be held at the River Room which they are very excited about. Peerless Products is helping sponsor this event. They are honoring some of the original cast members: Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp who were part of The Learning Tree which was filmed in Fort Scott. He requested the north section of Oak Street directly in front of the River Room and the direct east area of the River Room on National be closed off to ensure for ample parking.

Mitchell moved to approve the street closing of the north section of Oak Street in front of the River Room and the direct east area of the River Room on National (parking area) be closed off for parking for this event. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

approved the street closing of the north section of Oak Street in front of the River Room and the direct east area of the River Room on National (Parking area) be closed off for parking for this event.

His next request is for the 100th year Centennial Celebration which is held this Friday, September 20th, 2019 at the River Room. He asked for handicapped parking on the north section of the alley on Oak Street in front of the River Room. On Saturday, September 21st, they would like to have Main Street blocked from the 900 block to the 1000 block so they can have their tailgate party and activities. This would be from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. that date. Also, they would like to have Scott Street blocked off behind the High School from the 900 block to the 1200 block where the practice field is. There will be two Blackhawk helicopters that will be doing a flyover during the game. This would be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Commissioner Bartelsmeyer asked if the College had handicapped signage. City Manager said that the City will work with them on signage.

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the closing of the streets on September 20 and September 21st. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED THE CLOSING OF THE NORTH SECTION OF THE ALLEY ON OAK STREET IN FRONT OF THE RIVER ROOM. APPROVED THE BLOCKING OF MAIN STREET FROM THE 900 TO 1000 BLOCK FROM 1:00 P.M. TO 7:00 P.M. FOR THEIR TAILGATING PARTY. APPROVED TO CLOSE SCOTT STREET BEHIND THE HIGH SCHOOL FROM THE 900 BLOCK TO THE 1200 BLOCK WHERE THE PRACTICE FIELD IS FOR THE LANDING OF THE BLACKHAWK HELICOPTERS.

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute

limit per citizen)

Kate Sweetser – Thanked the Commission for reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder Proclamation. She has some fanatical fans that are coming to Fort Scott and this might attract more.

She also asked about a parking issue in front of her house at 1012 S. National. Parking in front of her house is affected when activities are held at the stadium or the High School. She requested that the City block her driveway with cones when events are held. She would prefer it be blocked with cones rather than people parking and blocking her driveway or parking in her driveway.

City Manager said he would look into this.

Pat Dobyns – City Manager informed him before he began speaking that if he was going to talk about a personnel matter that the Commission has nothing to do with personnel. That is his responsibility. If it is a personnel matter, he asked him not to make any comments and he would gladly meet with him at a later date, tomorrow or whenever, but they have no bearing on personnel matters. With that said, you have three minutes.

Mr. Dobyns said he would contact the City Manager. He said he doesn’t like public speaking and will contact Dave.

Michael Hoyt – Mr. Hoyt remarked that he had read about the reporting of the situation on the attack on Mr. Magee. An issue was brought up that he tried to bring up one time here but ran out of his three minutes. The issue is the person who has dialed 911 and received the wrong operator. He did some research on that and he dialed 911 and received the Fort Scott 911 operator on his phone and was told that they don’t handle Arizona and disconnected the call. He called T-Mobile and in the profile for each phone there is an E911 that says where you are covered. When you’re traveling, how can you be assured you will reach the local 911 operator? He said he travels frequently from here to Pittsburg with his elderly mother and he doesn’t need the 911 operator in Pittsburg. T-Mobile could not give him an answer. He asked if there was a 911 expert at the City that could give him advice on this.

City Manager said that Paul Ballou is the 911 person for the City.

Mr. Hoyt said that if he is traveling he wants to ensure that his phone will connect to the correct 911 operator.

Commissioner Mitchell said that if you’re traveling all over the United States, there is no way the City of Fort Scott could answer that call. Your cell phone will ping off of where you’re traveling close to.

Mr. Hoyt said that he is fine with that but that doesn’t seem to be the way it works.

Dave Bruner said that Dispatch can ping your phone and find your location. When you call 911, your location pops up on their screen.

Mr. Hoyt asked why the young lady or whoever was on the scene at Mr. Magee’s situation not get the Fort Scott 911 operator.

Dave Bruner said he didn’t know but he will find out about that call from the Dispatch Supervisor.

  1. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None

CONSIDERATION:

  1. Consideration of 4 way stop at 6th & Margrave – Travis Shelton, Chief of Police, informed the Commission that last Spring there were some concerned citizens came to a Commission meeting about installing a four way stop sign at 6th and Margrave. Due to public concern and support from the U.S.D. 234 Transportation Director, he asked for permission to place four way stop signs at this location. New signs will be placed at the west side of Margrave and the east side of Margrave. There was some concern regarding trains and congestion but his department will monitor that.

Nichols moved to approve a four way stop at 6th and Margrave. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO INSTALL FOUR WAY STOP SIGNS AT 6TH AND MARGRAVE.

COMMISSION/STAFF:

  1. Director Updates: None

  1. City Commission:

Bartelsmeyer Nothing to report.

Mitchell Nothing to report.

Nichols Nothing to report.

Adamson – Thanked Kate Sweetser for her hard work in researching Fort Scott and keeping history alive.

Parker – Not present.

  1. City Manager:

  1. City Manager said that he informed the Commission at the last meeting that an ordinance prohibiting smoking and alcohol be put in place at the historical downtown parks. He said that this situation has corrected itself and the ordinances are not needed at this time.

  1. Lake Advisory Committee – City Manager said that there are a lot of good applicants and more time is needed to review these.

  1. Fort Scott Booster Club – City Manager said that the Booster Club wants to close off the parking lot by the Aquatic Center on Friday, September 27th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for a fundraiser which is a hamburger and hotdog tailgate party.

Adamson made a motion to approve the parking lot by the Aquatic Center be closed off from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 27th, 2019 for the Booster Club fundraising tailgate party. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

approved the parking lot by the Aquatic Center be closed off from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 27th, 2019 for the Booster Club tailgate fundraising party.

  1. Quiet Zone Update – City Manager said that he has had a couple of people call and inquire about the Quiet Zone. They questioned why it wasn’t moving forward. In 2014, the City Commission moved forward with the design of the Quiet Zone on Wall Street. There was a hotel coming to town and they really needed the Quiet Zone at this location or they would not have come to town. The Quiet Zone on Wall Street cost around $800,000 and that is without right of way land purchases. The quiet zone at 6th Street would require that more property be purchased for right of way. East National quiet zone would require even more right of way purchases. At 6th Street, the traffic signal would need replaced. K.D.O.T. said that it would cost approximately $1,000,000 to replace. K.D.O.T. has no funds for this project. You cannot go to the other end and start and have to go forward in the sequence of lights. This project is on hold until K.D.O.T. can help contribute to the lighting at 6th Street.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mitchell moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:24 p.m. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

ADJOURNED MEETING AT 6:24 P.M.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is to be held on October 1st, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.

RECORDED BY:

DIANE K. CLAY

CITY CLERK

Fort Scott City Commission Agenda for Oct. 1

Fort Scott City Commission meets Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. at city hall, 123 Main.

I. ROLL CALL:

ADAMSON BARTELSMEYER MITCHELL NICHOLS PARKER

II. FLAG SALUTE

III. INVOCATION: Pastor Paul G. Rooks, Grace Baptist Tabernacle

IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:

Recognition of Bobbi Kemna – Second Annual Art in the Yard Event

Healthcare Recognition

V. CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting of September 17th, 2019.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1247-A totaling $1,612,495.39.

  1. Parade Permit – Pioneer Harvest Fiesta – October 17th, 2019

VII. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE:

Penny Pollock Barnes – Tri-Yak-A-Thon – Gunn Park – October 12th, 2019

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute limit per citizen)

C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS:

6:00 p.m. Public Hearing – CDBG Application to apply for Fire Department Ladder Truck

  • Approval of Resolution 20-2019 Certifying Legal Authority to apply for the 2020 Kansas Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program from the Kansas Department of Commerce and Authorizing the Mayor/Commissioner to sign and submit such an application.

  • Approval of Resolution 21-2019 Assuring the Kansas Department of Commerce that funds will be continually provided for the operation and maintenance of improvements to the fire truck to be financed with Community Development Block Grant Funds.

  • Approval of other required documents to submit the application

  • Approval for Administrative Agreement for SEKRPC to administrate the grant if awarded.

VIII. CONSIDERATION:

  1. Purchase of Replacement Vehicles – Police Department (One administrative vehicle – One Lake Patrol truck)

  1. AWOS Grant – (Replace existing A.W.O.S. system at Fort Scott Municipal Airport through a KDOT grant that was approved)

  1. Consideration of approval to obtain bids for a machine shed at the Fort Scott Municipal Airport

IX. COMMENTS:

  1. Director Updates: Robert Uhler

Rhonda Dunn – Sales Tax Update

  1. Commission:
  1. City Manager:

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

I MOVE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE

SESSION FOR ________________________________ IN ORDER TO

(see below justification)

DISCUSS ______________________________________. THE

EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE ___________ MINUTES AND THE OPEN

MEETING TO RESUME AT ________________.

Justifications for Executive Sessions:

  • Personnel matters of non-elected personnel

  • Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

  • Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative or representatives of the body or agency

  • Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

  • Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

X. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL

Friday Night Free Concert: The Prairie Sunflowers

The Prairie Sunflowers, a group of mostly local ladies, will perform on  Friday, October 4th, at the Friday night concert.

The concert begins at 7:00 PM at the downtown Heritage Pavilion.

This group performs gospel, bluegrass, and standards.

The Sunflowers consist of dulcimers, a fiddle, an autoharp, and a guitar. Their music is fun to listen to and very enjoyable. This will prove to be a good concert.

Members of the group include Sandy Hemphill, Marilyn Adcock, Jean Strader, Joyce Love, Diane Spencer, all from Fort Scott, and Charlena Burns from Mound City, and Chery Nelson from Columbus.

In addition to the Prairie Sunflower group, the Woods family, from Prescott, will perform. Kevin, Kathy, and Leia Wood will sing some gospel and some country standards. Sometimes Nevaeh, Leia’s daughter, age 3, sings with the family. This is sure to be a very good concert!  Don’t miss it!

Please bring lawn chairs because there is limited seating.

The Bottom Line by Jimmy Tucker

 

Have You Been to the Woodshed?

My godly parents believed in the saying, “spare the rod, spoil the child.” My parents must have loved me a lot because I sure wasn’t spoiled.

Believers are the children of God, so we should be thankful when our heavenly Father disciplines us. The Bible compares this to how we discipline our own children. As parents, we have a responsibility to train them in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). If we don’t step up to the plate and accept this assignment, we’ll have an undisciplined and untrained child who will grow up to be an adult with these same characteristics.

As born-again Christians, we should accept God’s discipline with joy and quickly make the changes required to become more like the Master. God will always let you know if you’ve done something that displeases Him, and that is your warning light to make the situation right. God’s discipline can be severe and very unpleasant. We tend to ignore Him at first and harden our heart against the pangs of conscience. We need to learn to listen to His voice and obey in order to avoid severe correction.

In Daniel Chapter 4, there’s an amazing Old Testament account of God’s severity. Because of the sin of pride, the King of Babylon spent seven years out behind the woodshed. Daniel 4:29,30 NKJV: “…He (King Nebuchadnezzar) was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?’” The very same hour he spoke those prideful words, God took away his sanity and he was driven from society. He ate grass like a cow and was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws.

When his sanity returned, he was restored as ruler of his kingdom with even greater honor than before. Nebuchadnezzar praised, glorified, and honored the King of kings. It’s astonishing what a radical trip to the woodshed can do for a person. Nebuchadnezzar finally admitted that God’s acts are just and true, and that He is able to humble the proud. The king of Babylon should have humbled himself, thereby avoiding such a severe correction.

The Bible tells believers to examine and judge themselves. “But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:31,32 NLT). If we stubbornly continue in disobedience, the consequences will be severe. Because God loves us, He will discipline us in order to turn our heart back to Him.

The Bottom Line: Humble yourself and obey, or you just might find yourself eating grass behind the woodshed.

Pastor Jimmy Tucker

(620) 223-1483

Diamond Community Church

2591 Jayhawk Road

Fort Scott, KS

Worship 10:45 a.m.

Energy Expo Oct. 2 in Manhattan

Kansas Energy Efficiency Expo planned in Manhattan on October 2

 

What:              Discover how to save energy and money by making your home more efficient. Demonstrations, displays, drawings, giveaways, activities for the kids and live music add to the fun! There will be something for all ages at this free event.

 

When:              Wednesday, October 2, 2019 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.

 

Where:            Blue Earth Plaza, Manhattan, KS

 

Background:    In observance of the 4th annual Energy Efficiency Day, the Kansas Corporation Commission and the Kansas Energy Program are partnering for a fun outdoor event focused on energy efficiency. The event is sponsored in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

 

Numerous vendors will be on hand with demonstrations, displays and giveaways. There will be live music on the plaza by Chappie, a local Manhattan favorite. Food will be available for purchase. (See attached flyer)

 

St. Martin’s Academy Sept. Newsletter

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Dear Friends of St. Martin’s,

Our second year of operations is now underway with 29 young men from all over the country.  In addition to new students our faculty has been growing and I’m pleased to say that the school is as healthy as ever.  Our new building, Theotokos Hall is both beautiful and functional; the farm is bursting with life and benefiting from the attention of the young men who work on it each day; and our classes are in session both here in Kansas and in France where our juniors are travelling for their Trimester Abroad.

In the coming months we will have a flurry of activities here on our campus and around the country.  We are both delivering and hosting lectures, readings, recitals, and fundraising events as we seek pledges to begin construction on the first of our “Bunkhouse” dormitories.  Stay tuned for the details and if you are interested in assisting us by hosting an event or spreading the word, please be in touch.  It would be difficult to overstate how much we need your support as we embark on the next phase of campus construction.  Please join us in taking a stand for the education of young men.

Saint Martin, pray for us!

Duc in Altum,
Daniel Kerr, President
Patrick Whalen, Headmaster

Theotokos Hall

After over a year of construction, our first building, the hearth and home of the Academy, is complete.  Deo Gratias.  Theotokos Hall contains dormitories in the basement, an office, kitchen and dining hall on the first floor, and classrooms and the chapel in its loft.  The building is functioning beautifully and we are grateful to the contractors and benefactors who helped us to erect this noble hall.

The Hall of Fire in Rivendell represents the place where tradition is passed on through story, where meaning is revealed, where language expresses itself in the making and interpretation of worlds.  The ambience of fire, of a friendly hearth where all strangers are made welcome and find consolation, speaks of a place where humanity can take root and flourish, a true home – the “Last Homely House.”  Here prose is subordinate to poetry, and poetry to song.  – Stratford Caldecott, Beauty in the Word

Freshmen in Wyoming

Led by Cor Expeditions and our own intrepid duo of Mr. Ryan Bauer and Mr. Joshua Gieger, the 9th graders began their careers at St. Martin’s Academy on a proper adventure – spending several days in the Wind River mountain range of Wyoming.  Operating at a base altitude of 10,000 ft, the boys logged over 20 miles of hiking through a rough and rugged backcountry, carrying their own provisions on their back and preparing their own meals.

Cor Expeditions, an offshoot of Wyoming Catholic College, provided exceptional programming throughout, including reflections on beauty, wonder and God’s presence in the book of Creation.

Les Garcons en France

The 11th graders are now nearly 3 weeks into their 10-week Study Abroad program in Europe and, to quote Israel Meyers, “it has been a glorious trip” thus far.  Highlights thus far include many hours in le Louvre in Paris, venerating the bones of St. Martin in Tours, and crawling amongst the mortar scarred landscape above Pointe du Hoc at Normandy Beach.  Many thanks to our friends at Chavagne International School for hosting us and organizing our trip to the legendary Puy du Fou, an authentically Catholic and medieval theme park in the Vendee.

Now stationed at the Abbey of Fontgombault in central France, the boys are settling into to stable rhythm of ora et labora in the Benedictine life.  This period of retreat serves as a wonderful counterpoint to the  complex movements of their previous weeks on the road and their future pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
See pictures from the trip here!

Saint Martin, Saint Benedict and Saint James, pray for us!

Above: approaching Mont St-Michel in Normandy

St. Martin’s gear is now available!

The Kingfisher Online Shop is open for business.

Back to school

Whether conducting field observations, singing at Mass, measuring and cutting lumber, or enacting (in earnest) the hand to hand combat in Robin Hood, class at St. Martin’s Academy is back in session.  This is the poetic mode of education where we seek to put a little blood back into the experience of learning which has sadly become, in many cases, an exercise in enervation. We’re proud to be challenging and changing the norms in education for young men.

Down on the Farm

St. Martin’s Farms is bustling with new life.  5 healthy, newborn calves have arrived in the last 3 weeks and we welcomed 50 baby broiler chicks just yesterday.  Current head-count: 16 cows, 19 hogs, 47 sheep, 20 rabbits, 78 laying hens, 4 roosters, 50 broiler chicks, 6 geese and 1 absurdly large Tom turkey.  And growing daily.

Above: Sophomore Joseph Klassen shows proper technique for carrying one of our newborn American Milking Devon calves.

October 26th – Faculty Lecture

Please join us October 26th in Theotokos Hall for our first Faculty Lecture of the 2019-2020 Academic Year.  St. Martin’s President Daniel Kerr will be giving an apologia “for the birds” in discussing his passion for ornithology and how birding is particularly well suited to our pedagogical commitments at St. Martin’s.

RSVP by Oct. 18th to Secretary Danielle Bauer at [email protected]

Above: Mr. Kerr’s Natural History class gathers in Gunn Park for some peak migratory birding last Spring.

Join the Cause!

St. Martin’s is changing the landscape in secondary education and disrupting an ineffective and unimaginative status quo.  Please consider giving generously to our Raise the Rafters Campaign with a one-time gift or pledge.  No gift is too small (or too large!) and will be stewarded carefully as we build a campus for generations to come.

After spending several weeks with him over the summer, we have been able to see the fruits of our son’s experience at St. Martin’s—from his willing and take-charge attitude in helping around the house, to his patience with his siblings (setting a good example by choosing to take the high road when sibling rivalry tiffs come up), to his determined attitude in completing difficult outdoor projects, to his dedication in continuing to study and prepare academically over the summer. Truly, the list could go on and on.

St. Martin’s was an answer to our prayers.

– Megan Banderman, mother of Charles (’21)
Copyright © 2019 St. Martin’s Academy Inc., All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
1950 Indian Rd. Fort Scott, KS 66701

Get Up and Go by Pastor James Collins

Pastor James Collins

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16

You look very familiar to me. Do I know you?” he asked.

I don’t think so.” I replied. “That will be $5.”

Last year, my family volunteered in the 4H building at the county fair. We sold concessions to fundraise for 4H. My wife and kids worked in the kitchen. My job was to run the cash register. The man handed me $10 and I gave him $5 back.

You really look familiar. Didn’t I see you last night at the brewhouse?”

No.”

The brewhouse has got the best beer, and now you can get liquor by the drink there.”

About that time, a young woman walked up to pay for her hamburger. The man stepped aside and stood there. He stared at her.

Wow! She’s hot.” he said as she walked away. He continued expressing how good looking he believed she was with several vulgar words. As he stood there talking to me, he dropped five or ten more cuss words.

Are you sure I don’t know you from somewhere?”

No.”

I can’t get over how familiar you look. What do you do for a living?”

I’m a Baptist preacher. I’m the pastor at First Southern Baptist Church here in Fort Scott.”

I cannot describe the color his face turned at that moment.

He spit, sputtered, and finally said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I read your newspaper column every week. I’m a Baptist too. I’ve even been to your church once or twice. I just don’t go like I ought to.”

There’s a lot of that going around. According to a Pew Research Study, tomorrow morning in America, 70 percent of all those who profess the name of Jesus will not be in church. The same poll found that almost half (46 percent) said the reason they don’t go to church is because they practice their faith in some other way. They believe, as one man once told me, “I don’t have to go to church to be a part of the universal church.”

It is impossible to be a part of the universal church without being part of a local church. To think so, doesn’t make sense. You can’t be part of Kiwanis International without also being a member of a local chapter. You can’t be part of the universal human family without first being a part of a small immediate family.

Every letter in the New Testament was written to Christians in local churches. The phrase “one another” is mentioned 59 times in the New Testament. Fifty-nine times, the Bible gives us a command that we can’t obey without turning to another member of the church and demonstrating the love of God. It is impossible to “one another” by yourself. It is impossible to “one another” in your heart.

The point is: Christianity is not a choose-your-own-path religion. God says you need to go to church. Find a Bible believing church. Then, in the morning, get up and go.

James Collins is pastor of Fort Scott’s First Southern Baptist Church. He can be reached by phone at (620) 223-2986 or by email at [email protected].

Watts and Perrys Are Recognized by Ks. Dept. of Commerce

Image result for ks dept of commerce logo

Minority and women-owned businesses are important to the Kansas economy, said David Toland, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Because of this, the department is recognizing businesses across the state, with two from Bourbon County being honored.

“We greatly value the contributions these businesses and advocates provide to our state, from the jobs they create to the way they enrich communities and lives,” Toland said. “On behalf of Governor Kelly, the Department of Commerce and citizens across the state, thank you for keeping our economy strong and vibrant.”

Lindsey Watts, submitted photo.

Lindsey Watts will be honored as Young Enrepreneur by the department.

Watts and her husband own Smallville Crossfit Center in Fort Scott.

To qualify for the Young Entrepreneur, nominees must:

  • Must be under the age of 30
  • Must be a minority- or woman-owned business
  • Must be a small business located in Kansas
  • Must be in business for at least six months
Thaddeus and Kelly Perry, submitted photos.

Thaddeus and Kelly Perry, owners of Perry’s Pork Rinds, Bronson are honored in the Supplier/Distributor Firm category.

Criteria for this award is they must be a small business located in Kansas, must be a minority or woman women owned business and must be in business for at least one year.

 

“In the judging process we have a committee that rates the nominations we receive,” said Rhonda Harris, Director of the Office of Minority and Women Business Development, at the Ks. Dept. of Commerce. “The ratings are based on the impact the businesses have made in the community i.e. revenues brought to the community and jobs created.  We also look at their growth and development, as well obstacles they have overcome. Their community involvement is also important in the judging process.”

 

The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Minority and Women Business Development will host its 35th Annual Minority and Women Business Awards Luncheon at  Capitol Plaza Hotel’s Emerald Ballroom in Topeka on October 10, 2019, with doors opening at 11:20 am.

The event will take place during Kansas Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week and will recognize 12 minority- and women-owned companies, three individuals and one corporation from across the state for their support and efforts to create new opportunities.

Registration for the luncheon is $45 per person or $360 for a table of eight.

This event is open to the public, but registration is required and must be submitted by October 1.

Please visit KansasCommerce.gov/MEDWeek to register or contact Rhonda Harris, Director of the Office of Minority and Women Business Development, at (785) 296-3425 or [email protected].

Companies being recognized include:

 

Women-Owned Businesses:

Construction Firm
CJ Industries, LLC
Kansas City, KS

Manufacturing Firm
Safely Delicious, LLC
Overland Park, KS

Professional Service Firm
Century Business Technologies, Inc.
Topeka, KS

Retail Firm
Monroe 816
Garnett, KS

Service Industry Firm
Rosewood Services
Great Bend, KS

Supplier Distributor Firm
Technology Group Solutions, LLC
Lenexa, KS

 

Minority-Owned Businesses:

Construction Firm
CJR Construction Group, LLC
Overland Park, KS

Manufacturing Firm
Morning Light Kombucha
Hoyt, KS

Professional Service Firm
SnapIT Solutions, LLC
Overland Park, KS

Retail Firm
E & K Retail, Inc.
Leawood, KS

Service Industry Firm
Loving Arms Childcare and Preschool
Junction City, KS

Supplier/Distributor Firm
Perry’s Pork Rinds, LLC
Bronson, KS

 

Minority Business Advocate
Joyce Christanio
Sprint Corporation
Overland Park, KS

Women Business Advocate
Angela Motsinger
Motsinger CPA Tax & Accounting LLC
Lawrence, KS

Young Entrepreneur
Lindsey Watts
Smallville CrossFit
Fort Scott, KS

Corporation of the Year
Evergy
Topeka, KS

Robin by Patty LaRoche

Patty LaRoche

Recently I spent three days in Charlotte, North Carolina, with my friend, Robin, who makes me laugh like no one else I know. No matter if we were walking, shopping, eating (too much) or just hanging out, our conversation almost always turned to Jesus. (And yes, many times Jesus and laughter existed on the same timeline.)

Robin constantly seems to be in the middle of a predicament in which God blesses her unexpectedly. Sunday was no exception. Her husband told us about an after-church street fair that “stretched for several blocks.” We both love craft shows where booths line the curbs and you can find anything from yard ornaments to fresh tomatoes to crazy-fun jewelry.

Since Robin is as directionally-challenged as I am, I set my phone GPS on the location, and off we went. About six blocks from her house, Robin put on the brakes. “We aren’t going to get on a FREEWAY, are we?” Yes, we were. Her jolting U-turn, accompanied by “I CAN’T DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY!” let me know that I would need to look for an alternate route.

When we finally did arrive, I noticed the perfect parking spot and told Robin, “We won’t get closer than this.” Her answer shouldn’t have surprised me. “I CAN’T PARALLEL PARK!”

You’re not serious!” I said. “What can you do?” Her answer cracked us both up. “Well, I’ve gotten us this far, haven’t I?” Mind you, this is the same person who drove herself into downtown Charlotte a few weeks ago to listen to a band. When the concert ended and she tried to exit the indoor parking facility, the bar (that prevents cars from leaving until the driver pays) would not go up. Thirty minutes after she had alerted everyone but the F.B.I., a parking attendant was sent to fix the problem. Apparently, Robin was sitting at the entrance where you get your ticket and not the exit where you pay. Need I say more?

Anyway, after finding an easier parking spot, we walked around a bend and up a hill, dodging dozens of bikes and strollers as we did. The first booth was occupied by an elderly man with a cassette player, singing “New York, New York” off-key while reading the words from his I-phone. Not exactly the excitement we anticipated.

Six small tents later—two selling snow cones and the other four handing out health information—the booths ended. I stopped a man walking our direction and asked if there were more up the hill and around the bend. He said the booths were scattered for a few miles and questioned what we were looking for. “Crafts and jewelry and things like that.”

This is a bikeathon and a walkathon,” he responded. “There aren’t any crafts here. Just booths with water and some things for kids to do like chalk painting and bubble blowing.” I turned to Robin and said, “Yes indeedy, you’ve gotten us this far, haven’t you?”

All the way home, driving, of course, on back streets, we laughed, a blessing that exceeded any craft expectations. It wasn’t the only time that day that being in the wrong place was the right thing to do, as we found out later that evening. Robin and I exited a downtown Charlotte restaurant and walked towards our parking garage, my friend insisting that we turn left a block before I thought we should. Soon we passed a homeless man crouched against a building, trying to light a cigarette while clutching a box of cereal. A few steps past him, Robin said, “I can’t go on.” I said that was smart because we were on the wrong street. “No,” she answered. “Did you see how skinny that man was?” (I had not; my priority was to find the garage.) We turned around, gave the man money and hugs, and Robin told him that God loved him. He answered that he wasn’t “a religious person,” but he “sure” was grateful.

See?” Robin said. “We weren’t on the wrong street after all. God wanted us here to meet that poor man.” She was right. I mean, maybe my sweet friend can’t drive on a freeway or parallel park or find a craft fair, but she recognizes God’s presence when I miss it. I think we all know which is more important.

Leadership Program Accepting Registrations

LEAD Bourbon County
Leadership Program hosted by the
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
is now accepting registrations for the
2019-2020 class!
Deadline for registration – October 10th.
Minimum of 10 required to make a class.
The class will meet the 3rd Thursday
of each month October to May
8am-3:30pm, including attending the
weekly Chamber Coffee from 8-9am that day.
The morning session covers a principle from
Kansas Leadership Center’s book “Your Leadership Edge: Lead Anytime, Anywhere.”, and the afternoon session includes a community guest speaker & tour related around the leadership topic of the month.
Click here for printable registration form.
Click here for LEAD brochure.
The tuition of $325 plus $50 materials fee
may be sponsored by an employer or paid
directly by the individual/employee.
Tuition includes meals each session
and graduation event in May.
Online registration & info. is available here.
Class Facilitators
We are excited to announce our co-facilitators
for the 2019-20 class will be:
Robert Uhler, City of Fort Scott
Deb McKenney, Fort Scott Broadcasting/
US Cellular/The Electronics Store