The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to the Chamber Coffee this Thursday, July 27th at 8am.
This week’s coffee will be hosted by Woodland Hills Golf Course located at 2414 Horton St.
Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Fort Scott’s Woodland Hills Golf Course was named a Top 10 golf course in Kansas by Best Things Kansas and number 6 in the entire state.
Woodland Hills has also been named one of the best municipal courses in Kansas. Woodland Hills is an 18-hole park-style course, winding through beautiful scenery, with elevation changes and some of the best views in Bourbon County.
Come enjoy one of Southeast Kansas’s hidden treasures at the Woodland Hills Golf Course.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.
KCC to hold final public hearing in Evergy
rate increase request this week in Wichita
TOPEKA – Evergy customers will have one more opportunity to attend a public hearing to learn about the company’s rate increase request, ask questions and make comments before the Kansas Corporation Commission. The third and final public hearing will be held this Thursday at Wichita State University’s Lowe Auditorium at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, 5014 SE 29th St. North, beginning at 6 p.m.
The application, filed with the KCC on April 25, requests an average monthly rate increase of $14.24 for Evergy Central customers and $3.47 for Evergy Metro customers. Commission approval is required before a regulated utility can change its rates.
For those unable to attend the hearing in person, a virtual option via Zoom is available to allow remote participants to comment. Advance registration on the KCC’s website is required for those participating by Zoom. The hearings will be broadcast on the KCC’s YouTube channel for those wanting to view the hearing without participating.
The Commission is also accepting written comments regarding the rate increase request through 5 p.m., September 29, 2023, on its website, by mail to the Commission’s Office at 1500 SW Arrowhead Rd, Topeka, KS 66604-4027 or by calling the KCC’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 785-271-3140 or 800-662-0027.
The Evergy Central service area includes Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence, Olathe, Leavenworth, Atchison, Manhattan, Salina, Hutchinson, Emporia, Parsons, Arkansas City, El Dorado, Newton, Fort Scott, Pittsburg and Independence, among other towns and rural areas. The Every Metro service area includes Lenexa, Overland Park and other communities near the Kansas City metro area.
Hearings were previously held in Topeka on July 11 and Overland Park on July 13. Recordings of both hearings are available on the KCC’s YouTube channel.
This week marks the beginning of enrollment for the school year in U.S.D. 235.
Enrollment for Uniontown’s school district is two days:
Thursday, July 27th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, July 28th from noon to 7 p.m.
The district’s open house is August 15 from 4 to 6 p.m.
The first day of class for students is August 16.
New teachers in the district are Amanda Ostrander-preschool, Lakyn Rucker-first grade, Tyler Ericson-fourth grade, Jacy Walker-six grade, Alex Chesney-West Bourbon Elementary School Music, Ian Ballinger, high school social studies, Christal Martin-high school science student teacher, Abby Onelio, high school Spanish/,Multi-Tiered Systems of Support( she will work to support students struggling academically)and Carrie Sutcliffe-high school science.
Rebecca Sutterby is the new high school digital media contact and Nick Trim is the new School Resource Officer.
A series featuring new teachers for U235 started with new junior high/senior high principal Robert Onelio on July 17. Watch for profiles of the new teachers in the coming weeks.
“The district continues to consider bringing a bond to the voters for consideration,” said Superintendent Vance Eden. “We will start the strategic planning with the community this fall to try to establish some short and long-term, up to five year, goals. We’ll continue to work to improve ourselves as a district and support new hires as they join our team this fall.”
In May, the following retired from the district:
Rhonda Allen-elementary music, Jeanne Camac- jr/sr high counselor, Jean Cook-jr. high English and Language Arts, Betty Dennis-nurse, Amber Ericson-fourth grade, and Bonnie Rathbun-sixth grade.
Because it’s been so long ago, I can’t remember whose pump organ I played as a young girl. But I do remember the effort and coordination it took to coax the instrument into action and make the thing sing. It had about 17 knobs (stops) that could be pulled out to select the desired sound. If I pulled out all the stops, it was as full and loud as I could get it (as long as my ankles didn’t wear out). It’s a hoot to play one of these grand old gems. The Beverly Hillbillies was a favorite show of mine and I was always impressed with the delightful music cousin Pearl got out of her pump organ.
All my life I’ve been surrounded by the enthralling sound of music. In the church sanctuary, many of us have sung the lyrics by Judson W. Van DeVenter: “All to Jesus I surrender; all to Him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live. I surrender all. I surrender all. All to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.” That’s quite a bold testimony song that’ll change your life if you truly mean what you sing. All for Jesus means none for Satan — zero, he gets nothin’. Nothin’ from nothin’ leaves nothin’.
As followers of Jesus, we must determine to “go for it” and pull out all the stops as we live for Him and represent Him. The account of Lot’s wife is a good example of a bad example. Her feet left Sodom, but her heart stayed. “When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, ’Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley’” (Genesis 19:17 NLT). She chose poorly when she disobeyed and looked back — and was promptly turned into a salt shaker. She’d been duly warned, but ignored it. Believers have three choices and we better choose excellently: Get in, get out, or get run over. Mrs. Lot started out in the right direction, but then her loyalty and determination fizzled out. She simply wasn’t all in for God and His plan for her life.
If believers will determine to do their part and live “full-court press,” God will provide all the tools we need to stand firm against the devil. With Jesus living inside us, being a Christian is “no hill for a climber.” But we have to make the decision that we’re going to love and trust Jesus totally, no matter how tired we get pumping that instrument. We don’t want to quit before life’s song is over because we need to finish what we started.
“Surrendering all” and living full bore is absolutely possible. “I withstand [the enemy]; I am firm in faith [against his onset — rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to my brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world (1 Peter 5:9 AMP).
After choosing Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord, we must make up our mind to never give up, look back, or turn around. “And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that He is real and that He rewards the faith of those who passionately seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 TPT).
The Key: Be determined not to wind up on the kitchen table in a salt shaker.
So Now What? Tips for Managing Life after Retirement
Your finances are all in order and your bucket list is complete. You are officially ready to retire, right? Not so fast. Research has shown that we need to be concerned about more than just money before and during retirement.
Leaving the workforce has implications for your wallet, of course, but it can also affect relationships, physical and emotional health, and even your ability to live independently for longer periods of time. The good news? You can make a difference in all of these areas by being aware and making smarter, well-informed choices.
Researchers at Kansas State University worked to understand steps individuals can take to live a successful, healthy retirement. Here are four key steps that help avoid common challenges and improve the overall retirement experience.
1. Focus on your fundamental relationships. Retirement can have a significant impact on your most meaningful relationships. It is crucial to have conversations that will establish expectations, lay out plans, and allow others to provide input about their role in your well-deserved free-time.
2. Live a healthy lifestyle. Research shows that retirement has the ability to either improve your health or send you packing to the doctor. Whether you choose the path of pajamas and relaxation or activities galore, it is important to ensure that you are taking adequate care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. It is never too late to develop a healthy lifestyle!
3. Find your balance. Leaving a 40-hour workweek can be tough, and establishing a new normal may not be a breeze for everyone. Some may dive head-first into volunteering, babysitting, socializing, and doing all of their long-desired hobbies. Others might be unsure of what to do with all of their time. Establishing a balance that works for you is an important factor of living a successful retirement.
4. Continue planning for the future. Just because your retirement funds are set does not mean you are done planning and preparing for the years ahead. It is valuable to identify ways in which you can continue to manage your finances, prepare for future medical crises, and prepare your home for long-term living.
Looking to the future can be exciting and stressful all at the same time! It’s never too early to start action planning, taking goals one step at a time, asking for help when needed, and remember to celebrate what you accomplish along the way. Use retirement as a time to thrive and enjoy life, but also to take care of your relationships, yourself, and your future — you deserve it!
For more information, contact Tara Solomon-Smith, [email protected], or by calling 620-244-3826.
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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director of K-State Research and Extension, Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts.
Magician Jeff Quinn will travel from Nebraska to Fort Scott for the first time, to wow the community with his interactive magic show, tailored to the summer reading theme. He will perform on July 26 at 10 a.m. at Memorial Hall.
Library performances are free and open to the public. This event is part of the library’s summer reading program. Learn more about and register for the program at: https://forms.gle/suanVpb2pYH3PwyX8
This performance is made possible by the Dollar General Literacy Grant.
Governor Kelly to Welcome Dolly Parton to Kansas for Imagination Library of Kansas
Statewide Celebration
TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly announced today that on Monday, August 14, 2023, American icon Dolly Parton will visit Kansas to celebrate the statewide success of her Imagination Library program at a closed event hosted by the Imagination Library of Kansas.
Starting today, every child in Kansas from birth to age five can receive free books every month from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This is made possible through increased funding provided to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund by Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Legislature. These funds supplement local and regional resources to ensure equitable opportunity across the state. The Imagination Library has gifted over 200 million books worldwide since its launch in 1995.
“I am pleased that we have reached this amazing milestone – being able to provide the gift of reading for children and families across Kansas,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “We know that a child’s first five years are critical for health development and childhood literacy. By increasing access to the Imagination Library, we will be nurturing a love for reading and supporting the foundation of a child’s social-emotional, physical, and cognitive future. I urge all eligible Kansas families to sign their children up for the Imagination Library of Kansas.”
The early childhood period (birth to five years) is the most influential for a child’s future, providing the foundation for a child to grow, learn, and thrive. Leaders across Kansas have been focused on developing strategies to promote early literacy and support educators, parents, and families in fostering commitments to reading. Forming an Imagination Library of Kansas is a significant step towards actualizing these goals by placing books directly in the child’s home.
Pratt, Kansas, has the distinction of starting the first Imagination Library site outside Tennessee in 2005. Today, Kansas is celebrating over 52,200 children enrolled and celebrating the milestone of gifting more than 3.8 million books to children since 2005.
Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Dolly Parton started her Imagination Library in 1995 to foster a love of reading for the children within her home county. Today, her program mails over 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month until their fifth birthday – at no cost to families. The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.
VanHoecke K. Harrington E. Woellhof M. Guns M. Wells
Pledge of Allegiance & Invocation: Led by M. Wells
III. Approval of Agenda:
Consent Agenda:
Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 11, 2023
Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1339-A — $717,956.29
Request to Pay – Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – 2022 CDBG Sanitary Sewer Project – Inspection Services –
May 31, 2023 – Invoice #16604 – $17,063.90
July 5, 2023 – Invoice #16678 – $16,602.75
Request to Pay – Ray Lindsey Co. – Grit Removal System $151,752.76
Request to Pay – Haynes for WWTP Booster Station – $27,800.00
July Financials
Public Comment:
Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission’s discretion.
Old Business:
Approval of Contract with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton to audit financial statement of the City for the year ended December 31, 2022 – $18,150.00 – presented by Terence Sercer, CPA
Consideration of parking lease agreement for DCF building – B. Farmer
Consideration to accept responsibility of Splash Pad – J. Jones and B. Lyons
VII. Appearances:
IT Service Proposal for City of Fort Scott – Shawn Latimer – PCnet
HBCAT: Downtown Arch Project – seeking approval from the City Commission
HBCAT: Amendment to MOU – 3rd Street Park and Downtown Arch Project
Cory Bryars: Care to Share Event
Dakota Rusk and Austin Alfaro: Rumble on the Bricks – Temporary Street Closure on Old Fort Blvd (includes all of Skubitz Plaza)
VIII. Public Hearing: Petition to Vacate East 21st Street – Marvin A. Lewis – Norman Nation to present petition
New Business:
Consideration of bids for Evergy Sanitary Sewer Relocation Project for Infantry Substation – J. Dickman
Consideration to Eliminate Inactive Accounts – B. Hart
Larry Clarence Farris, 71, of Arma, Kansas, passed away Saturday, July 15, 2023, at the Medicalodge of Frontenac, Kansas. Larry was born on August 21, 1951, in Russell, Kansas, the son of Fred Warren Farris and Alice Marie (Coles) Farris.
Larry is survived by several cousins, including Jo Thompson, of Hugoton, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his two brothers, Kenneth Ray Farris, and Gary Leonard Farris.
Following cremation, Larry will be interred with his parents and brothers in the Richland Cemetery, Mound City, Kansas, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.
The family will hold private memorial services at a later date. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
