Monthly Archives: February 2021

Government, Kansas

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

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Caryn Tyson

 

January 29, 2021

 

Resolution to change the Kansas Constitution

Who has the authority to write laws addressing abortion in Kansas? House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 5003 titled Value Them Both (VTB) passed the Senate on a vote of 28 to 11. I was one of the 28 who voted yes to pass the Resolution and allow voters the opportunity to change the Kansas Constitution on the August 2022 ballot, making it clear the legislature has the authority to write laws on abortion, not the courts.

 

In 2015, the legislature passed SB 95 with a supermajority, banning dismemberment abortion in Kansas.  After becoming law, the Kansas Supreme Court nullified the law by issuing an extreme ruling that the Kansas Constitution allows dismemberment abortion.  You can read the Kansas Constitution and try to find where it says that.  I did and I couldn’t find it.  Do you think our Christian ancestors who wrote the Constitution in the 1800s were wanting to endorse abortion?  I’m pretty certain that protecting dismemberment abortion wasn’t on their agenda.

 

During debate, I used the words of dissenting Justice Stegall who spoke against the court’s decision, “Today we issue the most significant and far-reaching decision this court has ever made.  The majority’s decision is so consequential because it fundamentally alters the structure of our government to magnify the power of the state….”  We have a rogue Court.

 

Property Tax Transparency (SB 13) passed the Senate 34 to 1 and will be debated in the House.  The current version of the bill would take effect immediately if it becomes law.  Government authorities argue against the bill taking effect this year, but we have delayed addressing our run-away property taxes long enough.  Presently, as property valuations are increased your property taxes automatically increase.  This bill simply does not allow this automatic tax increase.  The government can still raise your property taxes but it will require that they do so by a vote witnessed by the taxpayers.

 

Hopefully, House members will understand this and take into consideration the taxpayers.  Taxpayers who have had their property tax increased by double digits year after year.  Taxpayers who are on a fixed income.  Taxpayers who are struggling to make ends meet.  SB 13 does not lower taxes but it will provide transparency and an opportunity for taxpayers to have a say before their taxes increase.

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Caryn

 

Obituary

Obituary of Larry D. Allison

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Larry Dale Allison, was born August 19, 1950, to Frank E. Allison and Alma A. (Lord) Allison in Fort Scott, Kansas.

Larry passed away in his sleep on January 26, 2021, following prolonged health issues.

Larry attended Eugene Ware Elementary School, Fort Scott Junior High and Fort Scott High School. He earned an Associate’s Degree from Pittsburg State College in Diesel Mechanics. He worked at Midwest Express and B&D in Fort Scott, then later with Prime Trucking in Springfield, Missouri. He raised cattle and farmed and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Larry also loved to play softball and did carpentry and other handyman jobs. He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Fort Scott.

 

Larry is survived by his sister, Janet E. Beal (Marshall, Texas) and brothers Lester E. Allison (Wichita, Kansas) Michael K. Allison (Springfield, Missouri), nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles. Larry was preceded in death by his mother Alma, Father Frank, and his brother Joseph.

 

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, February 4, 2021, at the Memory Gardens Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary

Obituary of David N. Woodall

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David Nolen Woodall

David Nolen Woodall, age 60, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Saturday, January 30, 2021, at Ascension Via Christi ER in Ft. Scott. He was born July 19, 1960, in Ft. Scott, the son of David A. and Sylvia Henderson Woodall. He worked for Mechanical Systems in North Carolina and construction work until his disability. He greatly enjoyed training horses. David liked to fish, hunt, raise chickens and dogs, and vegetable garden. He liked to joke around with people but would do anything for someone in need.

Survivors include his lifelong partner, Pamela Riggs, Ft. Scott; 3 daughters, Racheal Fountain, Olathe, KS, Michele Lee, Ft. Scott, and Ashley Woodall, Orlando, FL; 2 brothers, John Woodall, Ft. Scott, and Robert Woodall, Branchville, SC; a sister, Beverly Rast, AZ; his mother, Sylvia Woodall, Uniontown, KS; and 11 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Susan Marchant; and his father.

There was cremation. Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the David Woodall Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Entertainment

Motorcycle Riders To Stop at Veterans Memorial in Fort Scott

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Photo from the Tour of Honor Facebook page.

A nation-wide group of motorcyclists is stopping at the Veteran’s Memorial on Skubitz Plaza in downtown Fort Scott when the warm weather gets here, a part of a self-directed ride to selected memorial sites across the nation.

 

“We’ll be featuring the veterans memorial at 2 Old Fort Blvd. this year — one of seven in Kansas — and you can expect riders visiting there between April 1 and October 31, usually solo but sometimes in groups of 2 or 3,” Steve Brooks, with Tour of Honor LLC, said. “They’ll be stopping there to pay respects and taking photos of their rally flag and motorcycles.”

 

The Tour of Honor Motorcycle is a self-directed ride to selected memorial sites that honor American heroes and will have approximately 1,000 riders in 2021, according to  Brooks.

 

“Fort Scott was selected by Kansas state sponsor Alexander Schmidt because of the veterans memorial there,” Brooks said. “All states have state sponsors that wish to share more of their state.”

 

“Not all riders are veterans, but all are patriots and support veterans,” he said.

“Tour of Honor is a great reason to hit the open road, honor our nation’s heroes, and contribute to a few good charities, according to the website tourofhonor.com “The event is a season-long, self-directed ride to memorials and monuments around the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii. Beginning April 1, visit as many sites as you want, with any route you choose.

2021 will have an all-new set of memorial sites to visit, with new roads and new experiences for any avid motorcyclist!”

 

 

Bourbon County

American Legion Update

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Submitted by Carl Jowers

Post 25 Update

Membership

American Legion Fort Scott Thompson-Harkey Post 25 is in 2nd place in Second District membership. As of January 28, 2021, Post 25 has 101.9% membership with 93 members. This makes the FOURTH consecutive year that Post 25 has reached 100% membership and continuous membership growth.

Personal Note

This week marks Myra and my last full week as Fort Scotians. We close on our new Joplin home and our current Fort Scott home this week.  As a reminder, we will continue to fulfill our Kansas Legion obligations through May, when new Officers are installed. We thank everyone who has supported the Fort Scott American Legion and our community programs these past four years

Volunteer Needs

I have had several requests for the Fort Scott American Legion to participate in a baseball tournament. However, we need a Baseball Chair to pull together a team. If you have played baseball in any capacity and would be interested in organizing a Fort Scott American Legion baseball team, please let me know. Fort Scott has had a reputation as an American Legion baseball powerhouse for many years.

February 1. Post 25 meet and greet starts at 630 pm in Memorial Hall.

February 1. Post 25 general membership meeting starts at 7 pm in Memorial Hall.

February 11. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 25 meets at 600 pm in Memorial Hall.

February 11. American Legion Post 25 Color Guard meets at 715 pm in Memorial Hall. All Post 25 Legion family members can join the Post 25 Color Guard. This includes Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion Squadron members.

February 27. American Legion Riders Chapter 25 is scheduled to meet at 10 am in Memorial Hall. However, there is a possibility that the Riders may meet with the Chanute Riders in lieu of a local meeting. An update will be provided once details are known.

Bring a new or prospective member to tonight’s meeting. There are several hundred Veterans in Bourbon County who have never been asked to join or who let their membership lapse. Our Post can only grow and thrive with your support.

Bourbon County, Business, Jobs

Bourbon County Workforce and Entrepreneur Resource Center Receives Donation

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A donation of $5500 toward a downtown program working to address urgent business and community needs.

A program that originated to address the urgent needs of business, childcare centers, food insecurity, and employment will continue through 2021 as a result of an anonymous donation to the Bourbon County Workforce and Entrepreneur Resource Center (BWERC).

Because of the generous donation, these critical services will continue to be provided to Bourbon County and City of Fort Scott residents and business free of charge.

The center is located in the Historic Downtown Fort Scott in the upstairs of 17 South Main Fort Scott KS.

It is a “one-stop shop” for business, employment, food, telework and distance learning needs.

Current businesses, and those looking to start a business, have a physical location to meet with a person.

Additionally, services are available for those seeking employment, developing soft skills (i.e. interviewing), or other job seeking help.

Businesses are encouraged and welcome to contact Southeast KANSASWORKS to see how they can connect with those looking for employment.
An overview of services BWERC provides Bourbon County:

• WORKERS & FAMILIES:
o Distance Learning and Telework Space
o Training & Job Seeking Assistance
o Increasing Access to Healthy Food
o Building Capacity for Local Food Assistance

• ADDRESSING CHILDCARE:
o Relief in Fulfilling Educational Requirements for Centers
o Incentives for Becoming a Legal Childcare Provider

• BUSINESS TOOLS & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:
o Get Businesses Online via new Websites & Social Media
o Loans & Grants
o Special COVID Programs & Resources
Background of BWERC:
Originally funded by a county SPARKS grant, the BWERC was created through a multi-partner collaboration of Bourbon County Economic Development, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, PSU Small Business Development Center (PSU SBDC), Southeast KANSASWORKS, and BAJA Investments. The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team has since joined the partnership in an effort to address the social determinants of health. The BWERC provides a location, with high speed internet, and all the needed technology for our partners to meet face-to-face or virtually with community residents and business owners.

Through the collaboration childcare centers receive relief in fulfilling educational requirements and illegal childcare is incentivized to become legal. PSU SBDC is available to
business to provide the technical assistance needed to obtain capital, develop marketing strategy, and more.

Southeast KANSASWORKS provides assistance to those seeking employment and to businesses looking for employees. The partnerships with CHC/SEK and BAJA Investments are
actively working to address health inequities and food insecurity throughout the county.

Contact information:
Jody Hoener, Economic Development Director, Bourbon County
President, Healthy Bourbon County Action Team
620-215-5725
[email protected]

Amy Kauffman, Career Advisor, Southeast KANSASWORKS
[email protected]
620-231-4250

Dacia Clark, Assistant Director, PSU SBDC
[email protected]
785-445-2537

Lindsay Madison, President and CEO, The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
[email protected]
(620) 223-3566

Fort Scott, Government

Land Bank Meeting Today at 5:30 p.m.

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There will be a meeting of the Fort Scott Land Bank held on Monday, February 1st, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to discuss the building at 10 N. National Avenue. There will be a majority of the City Commissioners present, but no City Commission business will be conducted.

This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.

Fort Scott

Fly The Flag: Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site

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Flag Project by the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site. Submitted photo.

Friends Now Accepting New and Renewed Subscriptions for U.S. Flags

The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site Inc. is taking new subscriptions and renewals for their Fly the Flag project. The project provides homeowners and businesses, within the city limits of Fort Scott, the opportunity to fly the Stars and Stripes on five different flag holidays during 2021 without the hassle of purchasing, placing, and storing a flag and pole. You don’t even have to remember the holiday!

For $35 annually, the Friends will install a 3’x5′ flag on a 12 foot staff at your home or business on each of the following Flag Holidays :

Memorial Day, May 31st

Flag Day, June 14th

Fourth of July, July 4th

Labor Day, September 6th

Veteran’s Day, November 11th

Agreements for new subscriptions can be obtained at the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce or can be requested by phone or text. Contact Kelley Collins at 417-684-2484. Renewals notices are being mailed/e-mailed to 2020 subscribers. Questions can be directed to Kelley or Martha Scott at 620-224-9924.

New agreements must be returned by March 1, 2021 to allow time for acquisition of supplies and placement of in ground flag holders.

All proceeds support programs at Fort Scott National Historic Site. These include: Symbols of Sacrifice, a Citizenship Ceremony, Candlelight Tour, Youth Engagement, and many others.

Show your patriotism and help our local National Park by lining the streets of Fort Scott with our nation’s symbol!

The Fly the Flag project is a yearly project sponsored by the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site. Once signed up, you will receive the option to renew annually.

 

Fort Scott, Government

Land Bank Meeting Feb. 9

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There will be a meeting of the Fort Scott Land Bank held on Tuesday, February 9th, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. There will be a majority of the City Commissioners present, but no City Commission business will be conducted.

This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.