All posts by Loretta George

Kerry and Kenny Wunderly are owners of 1553 Plants & Produce. Submitted photo.

Kenny and Kerry Wunderly saw a need in the community and have started a business to meet that need.

Their business is about helping people with their garden needs.

“With the whole process of lockdown over the past year due to COVID, people seem to be more aware of where their food comes from,” Kerry said. “Originally, we wanted to be the link for folks who have space and the desire to grow their own (garden) but didn’t know where to start. It’s very frustrating to have great goals, plant a garden, have everything come up and then quickly go downhill.”

The problems of weeds, insects, improper site preparation, improper plant selection, or the need for soil amendments can ruin the best intentions for many, she said.

Submitted photos. 1553 Plants & Produce.

“Kenny’s degrees from Kansas State (University) in agribusiness and agronomy have given a wealth of knowledge that we want to share so everyone can be successful and avoid those frustrations,” Kerry said.

The Wunderly farm business name is 1553 Plants & Produce, and it’s located at 1553 205th Street a few miles northwest of Fort Scott. To get there go west on Hwy. 54 and go north on 205th Street almost two miles.

The stand at the Wunderley farm. Submitted photos.

This is the business’s first year, although in the past they have been part of Community Supported Agriculture, she said.

“Community Supported Agriculture consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community’s farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production,” according to https://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/community-supported-agriculture

Kenny works full-time on the farm, and Kerry works full-time as a hospice nurse in Fort Scott.

In addition, Kerry provides all the marketing via social media as well as bookkeeping.

Kenny provides most of the labor and agricultural expertise.

Future Plans

” We have big plans for development,” Kerry said. “Some of the things we are hoping to do this year are garden tours with discussions on appropriate up-to-date topics…(and) date night dinners with meat and produce from our farm with firepit and all.”

“A couple of years down the road we hope to be able to expand our community garden program to accommodate more local growers, expand our own garden site to be able to partner with local food banks and restaurants, and the addition of an on-site greenhouse,” she said.

The 1553 Plants & Produce stand. Submitted photos.

Not just plants and produce are sold by the Wunderly’s.

Here is a list of the other business offerings:

“1. Custom built raised beds to fit size, shape, location and budgets.

2. Garden consults- we visit your site and provide input for the best possible outcomes. The first visit is always free of charge!

3. Started plants- vegetables, herbs, wildflowers, decorative grasses.

4. Fresh vegetables and herbs in season available at our self-serve plant stand. We also have a you-pick section in the garden if you want to pick your own.

5. Rejuvenation of flower or vegetable beds that a grower already has in place.

6. Raised bed rentals through our community garden program.

7. Lawn mowing, maintenance, and clean-up.

8. Custom raised meat chickens on request. We will raise and either deliver live birds to you or to the processor for butchering.”

Contact the business by phone at 785-422-5770

They also have a Facebook page where you can get the latest news:

https://www.facebook.com/1553-Plants-Produce-105478608035108/

Besides their farm business, their community involvement is active membership at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, she said.

Bourbon County, Business

Johnson’s “Super Poop” Business Began As A Hobby

April 12, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

Clint and Angela Johnson, Bronson, are the owners of Root 54.

Their business, in layman’s terms, produces worm poop.

“Everything a worm eats gets digested and comes out as a worm casting,” said business owner Clint Johnson. “Worm castings are packed with minerals that are essential for plant growth, such as concentrated nitrates, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. It also contains manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, borax, iron, carbon, and nitrogen.”

“However, the best of all is that these minerals are immediately available to the plant, without the risk of ever burning the plant,” he said. “Remember that chemical fertilizers have to be broken down in the soil before the plant can absorb them.”

Interest started over 10 years ago when Clint read a book called ‘Worms eat my Garbage’, he said.

“I personally wanted to raise some worms because it looked like a fun hobby and wanted to use a better, more natural fertilizer for my garden,” he said.

Johnson made two eight-foot by three-foot worm beds in an old tin shed in his backyard.

He then got an idea.

” I casually posted a few ads on some social media platforms and within a short amount of time people were coming to buy our castings,” he said. ” We eventually could not keep up with demand, so after much thought, research, collaboration, and scientific testing we decided to partner with a few large worm farms we know very well.”

They have secured the rights to exclusively market their castings to make it their brand “Super Poop.”

“We sell 100% worm castings and compost,” Johnson said. “Super Poop can be purchased in 20-pound bags at any one of our nine dealer locations across Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. You can also purchase large bulk amounts off of our lots here in Bronson.”

The back of a “Super Poop” bag. Submitted photos.

“Our business is a family business, and we get a tremendous amount of support from our immediate family that lives in the area,” he said.

The Johnson family, from left Angela, Alison, Hunter, Clint, and in front, Jett. Submitted photo. The family works together on their business, Root 54.

Root 54 LLC, the Johnson business, was officially established on July 15, 2020.

“We had been selling worm castings out of our back yard for several years before opening the company,” Johnson said.

A couple of hands full of “Super Poop.” Submitted photos.

The Johnson’s grew up in the Bronson community.

“Our vision is to see it thrive for many more years,” he said. “We are always seeking ways to use the resources God has blessed us with, in the Bronson community, by lending a helping hand. Occasionally, you will see our skid steer clearing driveways when it snows or helping our neighbors with heavy lifting and other tasks that are made easy with a machine.”

“There are several other small businesses in Bronson right now and all of them do a great job of being involved in our little town,” Johnson said. “One of our goals here at Root 54, is to help create a better place for our children to grow up, and help out our small community the best way we can.”

The Johnson’s are looking at ways to expand and grow their brand, he said.

“First and foremost, we intend to add a bagged compost for our customers for the 2022 growing season, and have already started the process of designing a bag for it,” he said. ” The name of the compost will be kept in our back pocket until we unveil it later in 2021.”

“Our future plans include adding super soil mixes and other high-quality soils to become a regionally/nationally recognized company,” Clint said. “We are thankful for our loyal customers and the support the community has shown us, and look forward to serving them for many years to come.”

Contact the Johnson’s at 785-229-5217 or their website Root54.com or on their Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/Root54LLC/

The address 511 Pine St. Bronson, Ks 66716

Fort Scott Police Department

Carpenter Begins Career At Fort Scott Police Department

April 9, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

Fort Scott Police Officer Jon Carpenter. Submitted photo.

Jon T. Carpenter, 24, is a new police officer with the Fort Scott Police Department, having started on August 31, 2020.

Carpenter is a 2015 graduate of Fort Scott High School, has an associate of science degree from Fort Scott Community College, and police certification from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.

Before training in law enforcement, he worked at Walmart for three years.

His family is comprised of his wife, Rachel, and father, Jon D., and mom, Kim Carpenter.

Carpenter is involved in the community through his church, Faith Church, as a bassist, an online church manager, and as a leader with the middle school group.

“I got into law enforcement to gain law enforcement experience to possibly transfer to a larger agency in the future,” Carpenter said. “I hope to specialize in identifying, stopping, and investigating human trafficking, but mainly the combative side of stopping it.”

” While in local law enforcement, I would like to find a specialized area to own and develop my skills further in such as DUI enforcement or an armorer capacity.”

Fort Scott, Government

Earles Engineering Hired By City of Fort Scott

April 8, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

Peter Earles is the CEO of Earles Engineering. Photo was taken from Earle Engineering Facebook page.

Earles Engineering and Inspection, headquartered in McPherson, KS, was hired on April 1 to assume the positions of project manager and public works director for the City of Fort Scott.

“They were approved last night ( at the April 6 city commission meeting),” Fort Scott City Manager Jeremy Frazier, said. “We are going to be doing some good things. They will be helping us prepare, by having shovel-ready projects.”

“They have 30 employees,” Frazier said. “We feel like we are in good hands, and will move the city forward.”

As a project manager, the scope of work will be working with the city on various projects, according to the contract with the engineering firm, provided by the city.

They will meet with city staff once a week, a maximum of four hours, to review active maintenance projects, review future maintenance projects, answer questions and look at long-term projects, according to the contract.

Dave Blessant will be the lead project manager, with Jason Dickman available for engineering questions. Fees for this will be $85 an hour, billed on a monthly basis.

Rates will increase 3% automatically, beginning January 2022, according to the contract.

All services will be from Earles Engineering office in Pittsburg and therefore will be no travel charges.

The contract period is for one year from April 6, and will automatically be renewed unless notice to terminate is provided.

Uncategorized

Bourbon County Leaves Mask Mandate to Entities

April 7, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

At the Bourbon County Commission meeting on Tuesday, April 6, the commissioners decided to continue following the federal Center for Disease Control guidelines requiring masks.

The community’s businesses, churches, and other entities can decide for themselves.

“We will continue requiring masks at the courthouse,” Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah said. “As far as the rest of the county, the (Kansas) legislators overrode the governor’s (mask) mandate. It would be up to individual businesses and entities to determine whether or not they want to follow CDC guidelines.”

In county operations other than the courthouse, it will be up to individual elected officials to determine if they will follow the CDC guidelines, he said.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the CDC are still recommending people wearing masks when in public, practicing social distancing, practicing good hygiene, and staying home when sick, Rebecca Johnson, administrator at the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, said.

Governor Kelly reissued the mandate until May 28, but the legislative council overturned the mandate, Johnson said.

The governor has not reissued mitigation protocols for schools, she said.

“But USD 234 had decided to continue to require masks,” Johnson said. “USD 235 has stopped requiring masks.”

Vaccines

The health department is continuing with offering COVID 19 vaccines in its’ office in Fort Scott.

“We do have the Johnson and Johnson vaccine available now,” she said. This vaccine is a one-dose.

As of Monday, April 5, the county health department has administered 2,022 doses of the Moderna vaccine.

Community Health Center and Walmart are also administering vaccines to the community, she said.

If interested in a vaccine, call the health department at 620-223-4464.

County Statistics of COVID-19

Johnson said there have been twenty-five COVID-19 deaths in Bourbon County, statewide-4,927 deaths.

Bourbon County has had 1,347 cases of the virus, 303,227 in the state, she said.

According to the CDC website, there were no deaths from influenza in 2020-2021 in Kansas, Johnson said.

“I believe that is from wearing masks,” Johnson said.

“Flu season runs from September 1-May 31,” she said. “According to CDC, 0 cases reported in Kansas, but I don’t believe all data has been submitted yet. ”

In 2019-2020, there were 118 deaths from influenza, she said.

Fort Scott

Update on Gas Main Break April 5

April 6, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

Fort Scott Fire Chief Dave Bruner gave an update on the gas main break, yesterday April 5.

The gas main break was at the intersection Margrave and Emmert Streets.

It was reported at 9.30 a.m. by a contractor when the contractor hit a gas line while excavating.

Fire units remained on scene until the leak was controlled, Bruner said, and cleared the scene at 2 p.m. on April 5

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Housing

BEDCO Projects: Eco Devo Director, Meat Plant, Arena, Housing

April 6, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

Greg Motley. President of the Bourbon County Economic Development Council. Submitted photo.

Bourbon County Economic Development Council is working to find a full-time economic development director, facilitate the starting of the new meat process plant, facilitate a new multi-purpose arena, and expanding housing in the area, according to Greg Motley, president.

Eco Devo

BEDCO began a search for an economic development director a few months ago and had one narrowed down, but that person has declined the position, Greg Motley, president of BEDCO said.

“The process was restarted,” Motley said. “In the meantime, I will be acting director.”

“We will continue interviews until the position is filled,”he said.

“Since 1992, BEDCO has been at the center of Economic Development in Bourbon County, and under the guidance of a reconstituted board that represents the whole county, we are stronger than ever,” Motley said in a press release.

Economic development services provided by BEDCO are primarily matching resources to the economic needs of county entities and businesses, he said.

Motley gave some details of three other projects on the horizon.

Meat Processing Plant

“Since the Micro-meat processing plant was approved, we are moving forward with facilitating the land/lots swap between KW Cattle, Billy Madison and BEDCO,” he said.

The 7 acres owned by BEDCO is being traded with WK Cattle company for the site on Hwy. 69, south of the KDOT building. The parcel of land is at the corner of Jayhawk Road and Liberty Bell Road in Fort Scott Industrial Park.

“KW Cattle is swapping 46 acres south of the (KDOT )State Highway facility on the east side of 69 Highway for two industrial park tracts,” Motley said. “One is about seven acres, the other is about 18 acres, currently owned by BEDCO. They are located on either side of the Christian Learning Center. The new micro-meat processing facility will pay BEDCO some cash considerations, approximately equal to BEDCO’s expenses in the transaction.”

KW Cattle is doing a trade with BEDCO that is advantageous to the community, Motley said.

“They are trading 46 acres, a nice piece of flat ground, for less valuable property of rough ground of 25 acres,” he said. “They wanted to help Fort Scott and Bourbon County. In addition, they can expand the property they own, Christian Learning Center, in the future.”

“BEDCO will take possession (of the land parcel), then sell to the meat processing plant,” he said. “It should be finalized this month.”

Pictured is the other business adjacent to Christian Learning Center, Reprologix, located at 3200 Liberty Bell Road in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park. Behind the sign, to the south of the parking lot, is the land that will be traded. These 18 acres currently owned by BEDCO are being traded by WK Cattle company for land on Hwy. 69.

Multipurpose Arena

“We are also working with local investors on a potential STAR Bonds project for Bourbon County,” he said. “Some Bourbon County citizens are proposing the issuance of Star Bonds to partially finance a new multipurpose arena in Bourbon County, along with improvements to the downtown central business district.”

“Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bonds are a financing tool that allows Kansas municipalities to issue bonds to finance the development of major commercial, entertainment and tourism projects,” according to https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/community-programs/star-bonds/

“The bonds are paid off through the sales tax revenue generated by the development.”

“The intent is to increase regional and national visitation to Kansas.”

“The bonds would cover about 50% of the project, and private investment, along with bank financing would cover the balance, he said. ” The Star Bonds would be repaid by the increase in sales tax collections in a Star Bond District, whose boundaries are yet to be determined.”

“Atchison, KS, a similar-sized community to Fort Scott and Bourbon County, issued $2.3 million in Star Bonds in 2019 to build a museum,” he said. “Attached is a chart of all Star Bonds approved by the State of Kansas. Preliminary estimates of the size of the Bourbon County project range from $3 million to $6 million.”

City	2019 Pop.	Project	Start Date	Orig. Amt (000)	2019 Out. (000)	Dist. Sales Tax (000)	2019 CO. Pop	10-yr Pop. Trend	2019 CO. Sales Tax (000)	2018-19 % increase	2019 Sales Tax Per Capita	2019 Pull Fact.
Atchison- AT	10,476	Aviation Museum	May-18	$2,370	$2,190	$210	16,073	-5.03%	$12,939	6.30%	819	0.70
Derby- SG	24,943	Dino/Sports Zone	Mar-17	$20,465	$13,230	$5,701	516,042	3.55%	$628,714	4.50%	1,234	1.14
Dodge City- FO	27,104	Power Center	Dec-15	$28,481	$26,395	$1,512	33,619	-0.68%	$37,999	5.10%	1,086	0.99
Garden City- FY	26,408	Mixed Use	Mar-19	$29,540	$29,540	$2,117	36,467	-0.84%	$58,841	10.40%	1,507	1.41
Kansas City- WY	152,960	Youth Soccer	Aug-15	$65,138	$83,138	$1,293	165,429	5.03%	$192,921	4.50%	1,119	0.96
Kansas City- WY	152,960	Mercy Park (SKC)	May-10	$150,289	$0	n/a	165,429	5.03%	$192,921	4.50%	1,119	0.96
Kansas City- WY	152,960	Kansas Speedway	Jan-99	$24,300	$16,835	$1,326	165,429	5.03%	$192,921	4.50%	1,119	0.96
Kansas City- WY	152,960	Schlitterbahn	Oct-13	$85,200	$65,755	$6,514	165,429	5.03%	$192,921	4.50%	1,119	0.96
Manhattan- RL	54,604	Flint Hills Discovery	Dec-09	$50,000	$10,905	$5,586	74,232	4.38%	$61,112	-0.20%	814	0.76
Overland Park- JO	195,494	Prairiefire	Dec-12	$64,990	$64,860	$3,059	602,401	10.70%	$917,056	2.50%	1,485	1.28
Overland Park- JO	195,494	BluHawk Mixed Use	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	602,401	10.70%	$917,056	2.50%	1,485	1.28
Salina- SA	46,550	Fieldhouse	Dec-18	$18,250	$18,250	$862	54,224	-2.49%	$77,717	3.50%	1,380	1.31
Topeka- SH	125,310	Heartland Park	Apr-07	$10,405	$5,025	$334	176,875	-0.60%	$211,893	1.00%	1,178	1.06
Wichita- SG	389,938	River District	Jul-15	$46,980	$42,140	$2,097	516,042	3.55%	$628,714	4.50%	1,234	1.14
Wichita- SG	389,938	Greenwich	Dec-13	$107,631	$59,290	$8,251	516,042	3.55%	$628,714	4.50%	1,234	1.14
Fort Scott- BB	7,697	Arena	Jan-22	n/a	n/a	n/a	14,534	-4.21%	$11,778	-2.20%	795	0.70

“Bottom line, we are looking at what has been successful elsewhere,” Motley said.

Housing

“We are examining possibilities to expand housing in Bourbon County,” Motley said. “BEDCO is in the research and discussions phase. Common sense would dictate that we first examine where the market is hot and see what can be done about enhancing the market in those areas.”

“Many jurisdictions in Kansas have a property improvement tax rebate of some sort, that rebate the increase in taxes property experiences, because of a new build or significant addition,” he said. “Many are reluctant to improve their property because of inherent tax increases…a program like this would rebate the first five years of the increase.”

Motley can be contacted at 620-215-6411.

Bourbon County, Business, Government

County Property Tax Sale Update

April 5, 2021 Loretta George 1 Comment

Patty Love, Bourbon County Treasurer, responded to a request for an update on the future property tax sale.

Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks mailed out the delinquent property tax letter late last year, she said.

“The tax sale preparation report I sent him had about 425 properties on it,” Love said. ” We have had about 50 properties paid.”

So far, over $308,000 has come back into the county from taxes that were delinquent, she said.

“The original report had $1,432,285.43 outstanding taxes, 2016 and prior,” Love said. “We have collected $308,216.92 of these since November 1, 2020.”

There is still an opportunity for those with back taxes due, to keep their property off the tax sale.

“2016 and prior taxes can be paid to keep the property off of the tax sale, up until the date they are filed in court,” she said. “Once they have been filed in court, all delinquent taxes plus a court fee must be paid to keep it from selling. The taxpayer has up until 10:00 a.m. the day of the tax sale to redeem the property.”

The tax sale date is unknown currently.

“The date of the tax sale won’t be set until cases are filed in court,” she said. “At that time we will release a list of all properties on the tax sale.”

“Security 1st Title has completed title work on about 90 of the cases to date,” Love said. “They are working them in, along with being very busy at this time.”

Business, Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott

Boiler Room Brewhaus Offers Live Music Tonight

April 2, 2021 Loretta George 1 Comment

Three Cord Justice performs tonight at the Boiler Room Brewhaus. Submitted photo. From left Jason Richison, Mark Markowitz, Liz Grace and Rick Alumbaugh.

The Boiler Room Brewhaus, 2 S. National Avenue, in historic Fort Scott’s downtown, offers live music throughout the year.

Tonight, Three Chord Justice will be playing classic country music from 7-9 p.m. with a suggested donation of $10.

The original group formed in March 2008 by Liz Grace in San Diego, CA.

“TCJ quickly gained a following of two-steppers and lovers of country music in Southern California,” according to information provided by Liz Grace.

“The short of it is, for Mark ( Markowitz )and I, gigging is what we do,” Grace said. “It’s what we love best and we can’t help but do it as much as possible. It’s church.”

Mark Markowitz and Liz Grace. Submitted photo.

“We met when he came to audition for the band in 2008,” Grace said. “He played the heck out of a train beat!”

“On New Years Eve 2012 he proposed onstage, in front of all our family, friends and fans,” she said. “April 2021 will be our 7th anniversary. Love and music keep us together!”

“In May of 2020, Mark and I moved the band to Grove, Oklahoma, reformed with guitarist Jason Richison and bassist Rick Alumbaugh just a couple months later,” she said. “We couldn’t be more blessed to have our health and a busy calendar in 2021.”

The band features LeeRoy Whisenhunt on pedal steel, she said.

Hailing from Missoula Montana singer/songwriter Grace leads the group through a mix of classic country-influenced originals and handpicked covers from the likes of Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, Patsy Cline and other country greats, she said.

“I got an early start singing in bars and honky-tonks, far before legal age, having to wait in alleys during band breaks,” Grace said.

Here is the entertainment/food truck schedule for the Boiler Room Brewhaus:

Friday, April 2^nd 7-9 p.m. Three Chord Justice

Friday, April 2^nd4 p.m.to sell out, Ghetto Taco Food Truck

Friday, April 16^th 7-9 p.m. David Loving Music

Saturday, May 1^st 8-10 p.m. Leyton Flatt Comedy Show

Saturday, May 8^th 7-9 p.m., Ashtyn Barbee

Saturday May 8^th 4 p.m. to sell out, Blue Spoon Food Truck

Saturday, May 22^nd 7-9 p.m., Hoo Doo Band

Saturday June 4^th 7-9 p.m., Sarah Loethen

Saturday, July 10^th 7-9 p.m., Alyssa Galvin

Friday, August 6^th, 7-11 p.m. Left of Center Band

Brewmaster Bryan Ritter holds a handful of toasted malt barley in the brewroom of the Boiler Room Brewhaus in 2018.

https://boileroombrewhaus.com/

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Health Care

CHC Closing On Price Chopper Building April 9

April 1, 2021 Loretta George 2 Comments

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd.

New buildings/expansions are on the horizon for the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.

CHC is working on the purchase plan for moving from its’ Fort Scott present site to the former Price Chopper building on Main Street at 23rd Street.

The present site is the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills.

“We are… closing on our purchase of the 40,000 sq. ft. Price Chopper Building in Fort Scott on April 9,” Postai said. “The plan is to combine our walk-in care and main clinic together. The renovation will start as soon as possible, with a goal of completion prior to the expiration of our current lease with Mercy in December 2022.”

There is also a new CHC building in Pittsburg.

“We have scheduled our groundbreaking for our new Medical Education Building in Pittsburg which will be home to all the students we are/will be training,” Postai said.

The groundbreaking will be May 3 at 12:30 p.m. at the John Parolo Education Building, south of the CHC/SEK System Office.

“About $5.6 million in donations have been raised to cover the full cost of the building and its furnishings scheduled for completion in the summer of 2022,” she said. “In the meantime, work continues on the establishment of a family practice residency program in Pittsburg in collaboration with Kansas University Medical Center and Via Christi/Ascension; the application for accreditation has been submitted with a ‘virtual’ survey planned this fall.”

CHC is planning a clinic in Chanute in the near future.

“We also bought 10 acres of land in Chanute on which to build a clinic in Neosho County,” she said. “Given all our other projects, it will probably take us 3-5 years to get this done.”

Continue reading CHC Closing On Price Chopper Building April 9 →

Bourbon County, Business, Government

Jayhawk Wind Project in Construction in Southwest Bourbon County

March 31, 2021 Loretta George 1 Comment

Standing at the bottom of a wind turbine looking up at the clear Kansas sky.

The Jayhawk Wind Project in Bourbon County is in construction.

“We are moving forward,” said Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah. “They are out there now, putting gravel on roads and widening access on the roads.”

To view the map of the wind farm site: JAY_Final_Facilities_Map_20210308

“They are east and north of Porterville, in southwest Bourbon County, around 40th and Eagle Road,” Frank Young, an engineer with Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, said. “I have looked at a couple of culverts for them to see if they will hold up traffic for them.”

Frank Young. From the Agricultural Engineering Associates website.

“They are upgrading some of the roads to be able to get some big rigs down them,” Young said.

Bourbon County Public Works Director Eric Bailey said I.E.A. , the contractor, sends him a plan of the day, every day and yesterday they worked on Eagle Road between 40th and 50th Streets, capping over 2100 linear feet and additionally, 50th from Eagle Road to Hwy. 3 putting over 4200 linear feet.

Eric Bailey. Submitted photo.

“They put on 4-6 inches of gravel,” Bailey said.

Today they are working on 50th from Eagle to Hwy. 39 and 30th from Hwy. 39 going south, he said.

“They have a lay-down yard at (the junction of) Hwy. 39 and Hwy. 3,” Bailey said. “This is where they will have all their job trailers, their starting point every day, where the contractors will report in.”

Young said the area is about 10 acres and is the delivery area as well.

The Jayhawk Wind project will have a capacity of 193.2 Megawatts and can power 65,000 homes, according to the Apex website.

According to the March 3 press release from Apex Clean Energy

“The Jayhawk facility… is expected to be operational later this year, will consist of 70 GE wind turbines totaling an installed capacity of more than 190 MW. The project will provide significant economic benefits for the local and state economies—including the creation of more than 115 construction jobs and 7 long-term operations positions—and will generate over $20 million in landowner payments and $27.2 million in tax revenue.”

To view the press release:

Jayhawk Wind Sold to WEC Energy Group

To see a prior feature:

Jayhawk Wind Project Breaks Ground This Week

Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Fall 2021 Students Will Pay No General Fees

March 30, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

Fort Scott Community College President Alysia Johnston.

The federal government has created a relief fund to help college students attain their goal of higher education.

Fort Scott Community College is a recipient of the fund.

The college administration will not charge per credit hour fees for the fall semester, 2021.

Following is an email interview with FSCC President Alysia Johnston.

“The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IHE/Student Aid provides funding to institutions to provide students with financial assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We feel not charging general fees of $55 per credit hour will financially benefit the most students.”

How much will this save the average student with say 9-12 hours per semester?

“If a student was enrolled in 12 hours they would save $660 for the semester ($55 x number of credit hours).”

How does a student get started on the process of enrolling with this program?

“Visit the Fort Scott website at fortscott.edu to apply and enroll. Contact the admissions office at [email protected] with any questions.”

What has been the response thus far?

“We just released the information last week and I have not heard much feedback yet.”

Any changes in curriculum for next year?

“This past year we had protocols in place to mitigate COVID-19, such as masks and social distancing; however, we did not alter our schedule much, and remained face-to-face for the majority of our classes. Due to the fact we did not change our schedule it will look very similar to past semesters and the majority of classes are ‘in-person.'”

According to the college website:

“The mission statement Fort Scott Community College is an institution of higher learning with a long history of culture and diversity that provides affordable academic, technical, and occupational programs to meet student needs while fostering a mutually supportive relationship between the college and its communities.”

Fort Scott Biz