The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that reservations are now being taken for the 2022 Dolly Hollyday Christmas Light Trolley Tours. The 50-minute tour is a fun outing for families, friends, or co-workers to see the most festive Christmas lights in Fort Scott.
Tours will run nightly from Friday, December 9th through Friday, December 23rd. There will be two tours each evening at 5:45 and 7pm. There will be an additional 8:15pm tour on the included Friday and Saturday nights.
The cost of tour is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under or the whole trolley may be booked for $125, seating up to twenty-two passengers. Those taking the tour are invited to arrive at the Chamber early for complimentary cookies, hot cocoa, and glow necklaces for the ride.
Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for more information at 620-223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.
Celebrating This Season of Giving Thanks Wishing You a Happy Thanksgiving
Robba and I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving and that the holiday was a blessed one spent with your friends, family and loved ones.
We also want to express our gratitude for the servicemembers, law enforcement, first responders and many others who are serving their country and community this holiday season. We are grateful for their sacrifices and are praying for their safety.
Serving Thanksgiving Meals to Fort Riley Soldiers
This week, I had the honor of serving Thanksgiving meals to Fort Riley soldiers and their families. I am thankful for the men and women at Fort Riley and throughout our armed forces who are serving and sacrificing to protect our nation at home and abroad.
Special thanks to First Infantry Division Deputy Commanding General Niave Knell for inviting me to join her for this special occasion and thanks to chef leader SSG Rodrigo Espana who helped coordinate the Thanksgiving meal for 1,000 soldiers, families and community members.
Helping Process Food Donations at Hays Community Center
On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to help process food donations at the Hays Community Assistance Center. I appreciate Kansans who generously give groceries to food banks and community centers around the state to help make certain families had a meal on Thanksgiving Day. Thank you to all the volunteers, donors and Director Theresa Hill for giving back to the Hays community.
Thanking Volunteers Packaging Food at Northern Rice County Food Bank
On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to thank volunteers helping package food at the Northern Rice County Food Bank in Lyons. The days before Thanksgiving are the busiest time of year for this food bank as they work hard to provide groceries and meals to families across the region.
I was encouraged and humbled by the people who gave their time and donated food to help feed their neighbors. Thank you to Director Robert Johnson for the work he does to organize the food bank and feed Kansas families.
Visiting Horse Solider Monument and 9/11 Memorial
Earlier this week, I visited the Mark Nutsch Horse Soldier Monument and 9/11 Memorial in downtown Washington to honor those who courageously risked their lives serving our country as a part of the Special Forces team known as the “Horse Soldiers” that fought alongside Afghanistan’s Northern Alliance. The newly-added monument recognizes the heroism of Washington native Mark Nutsch. Captain Nutsch was chosen to lead the first unit to go into Afghanistan in response to 9/11 – known as the Task Force Dagger mission.
Growing up on a cattle ranch in Kansas, Captain Mark Nutsch may have never expected he would use the skill of horseback riding during his time serving as a Green Beret in the United States military. However, on October 19, 2001, as part of a mission following the September 11 terrorist attacks, Nutsch and his team of 11 with the 5th Special Forces Group’s Operational Detachment Alpha 595 were ordered into Afghanistan to liberate the region from the Taliban. In this mission, they did not have tanks or trucks – only horses. Each of these soldiers embodied true courage, service and selflessness, playing a critical role in the fight against terrorism.
I want to thank everyone from the Washington area who joined me for this visit. Special thanks to organizer Ron Nutz for his work to coordinate this moving tribute to one of Washington’s finest and the team who rode with him.
Giving Keynote Address at Washington Rotary Club While in Washington, I also visited the Rotary Club to give the keynote address for their meeting. I appreciated the opportunity to discuss a number of issues and to hear from local residents and community leaders. Civic organizations like the Washington Rotary Club play a vital role in maintaining thriving local communities, and I always enjoy the chance to visit these groups.
I want to thank Club President Ron Nutz for inviting me and for his leadership in these important efforts for the Washington Rotary Club. Thanks as well to all of the local residents from Washington who joined during the holiday week.
Visiting Linn High School
This week, I visited Linn High School to hear from students and faculty members about the opportunities this school provides and the resources offered to make certain young Kansans have a bright future.
The students I met with impressed me with their knowledge, talent and plans after graduation. Thank you to Principal Jeff Edwards for arranging this visit and to each of these students for an excellent tour.
Touring Textron eAviation in Wichita On Tuesday, I was in Wichita to visit Textron’s recently created eAviation division which focuses on sustainable aircraft for urban air mobility, general aviation, cargo and special mission roles. I appreciated the opportunity to learn how Textron is utilizing assets across its aerospace and defense businesses to develop new opportunities and take advantage of its fixed-wing and rotorcraft expertise in emerging technologies.
As co-chair of the Senate Aerospace Caucus and a member of the Commerce Committee which oversees civil aviation, I will work to make certain that Wichita and Kansas remain leaders in sustainable air mobility. Thanks to Textron eAviation Chief Executive Officer Rob Scholl and his team for an informative tour and conversation. Special thanks to Textron Chairman Scott Donnelly for bringing this important company mission to Wichita.
Honored to Serve You in Washington It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a form of letter, a Facebook comment or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard.
Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email by clicking here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.
Very truly yours,
Jerry
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please click here.
Hays
1200 Main St.,
Suite 402
P.O. Box 249
Hays, KS 67601
Phone: (785) 628-6401
In collaboration with USD 234 & USD 235, Bourbon County officially declared the week of November 28th as Bourbon County Reads to Preschoolers Week during the County Commission meeting on Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
This proclamation coincides with Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Month, which is an annual event celebrated in November to promote reading to children under the age of five.
USD 234 & USD 235 encourage the reading of books to students of all ages but stress the importance of reading as a part of early childhood development. Early childhood education is critical to a student’s future success in school.
“This week we will be celebrating reading to preschoolers,”
The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College returns to full public accessibility this week upon the completion of repairs to its air-conditioning unit; executive director Kirk Sharp has announced.
The museum, devoted to Fort Scott native Parks, an esteemed photographer, writer, composer and filmmaker, remains open until Dec. 15 when the campus closes for Christmas break. The museum, now with all collections back on display, reopens Jan. 5.
Sharp cited “supply-chain issues” as the cause for the delayed repairs.
“We want to thank everyone for their support and patience,” he said. “We had a difficult time dealing with supply-chain issues that delayed the arrival of the part (air compressor) we needed.”
To schedule a visit or tour call (620) 223-2700, ext. 5850, or email [email protected]
CITY OF FORT SCOTT NEWS RELEASE November 28th , 2022 The Land Bank Advisory Board will hold a special meeting on Thursday, December 1st , 2022 at 4 p.m. at the City Hall Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting is open to the public. The meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
Fort Scott native Gordon Parks was among a dozen photographers inducted by the Kansas Press Association into the Kansas Photojournalism Hall of Fame during a ceremony recently in Topeka.
As a member of the inaugural class, Parks joins Rich Clarkson, CarlDavaz, Jeff Jacobsen, Chris Johns, Brian Lanker, Sandra Milburn, Jim Richardson, Charlie Riedel, Gary Settle, Pete Souza and Bill Snead in the newly minted hall of fame.
Kirk Sharp, executive director of the Gordon Parks Museum in Fort Scott, was asked byParks’ son, David, to represent the family in accepting the award, which the family entrusted to the museum. “It was an honor and a privilege to not only represent the family and to accept the award, but to also have the award on display in our museum forvisitors to see,” Sharp said.
Ella Parks and Charles Cooksey, great–niece and nephew of Gordon Parks, were also in attendance at the ceremonial banquet Nov. 19 at the Beacon Building. ###
Sending on Behalf of Chamber Member Landmark National Bank…
Free Filing Cabinets
Landmark National Bank is cleaning out and has multiple filing cabinets they are giving away for free at their main branch, 200 S. Main St., downtown Fort Scott.
Must be able to pick up and load
Contact Kellye Barrows with any questions;
Direct phone: 620.768.2340
Thank you!
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Bronson Pride Committee is having a fundraiser this Saturday.
Visits with Santa start at 11 am to noon.
Soups, drinks, dessert will be served from 11 am-2 pm for a free will donation.
All money collected will be used for future Bronson Day events!
Several gift certificates & gift baskets are available for raffle as well you do not need to be present to win.
We will have a variety of things going on and volunteers are needed for serving food as well as donations for any desserts would be appreciated.
“As always we encourage all our community members to step in and help participate as much as they can to make our small community the best it can be,” said Kelly Perry, secretary for the Bronson Day organization. ” Serving together with purpose.”
The county clerk’s office released an amended agenda for Nov. 29, along with several attachments, which can be seen below.
Agenda Bourbon County Commission Room 1stFloor, County Courthouse 210 S. National Avenue Fort Scott, KS 66701 Date:November29, 2022 1stDistrict–Nelson BlytheMinutes:Approved:_______________ 2ndDistrict–JimHarrisCorrected: _______________________ 3rdDistrict–Clifton BethAdjourned at: _______________ County Clerk–Ashley Shelton MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOMBEGINNINGat 9:00AM. Call to Order •Flag Salute •Approval of Minutes from previous meeting •Eric Bailey–Road &Bridge Report •Ashley Shelton–Executive Session KSA 75–4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy •Terry Sercer–2021 Audit •Approval of Accounts Payable •Ashley Shelton–Emergency Management Position •Susan Bancroft–Chief Financial Officer •Justin Meeks–County Counselor Comment •Shane Walker–Chief Information Officer Comment •Public Comment •CommissionComment
This representation letter is provided in in connection with your audit of the financial statement of Bourbon County, Kansas as of December 31, 2021 and for the year then ended, and the related notes to the financial statement, for the purpose of expressing an opinion as to whether the financial statement is presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with the regulatory basis of accounting as prescribed by the KMAAG (Kansas Municipal Audit and Accounting Guide).
Certain representations in this letter are described as being limited to matters that are material. Items are considered material, regardless of size, if they involve an omission or misstatement of accounting information that, in light of surrounding circumstances, makes it probable that the judgment of a reasonable person relying on the information would be changed or influenced by the omission or misstatement. An omission or misstatement that is monetarily small in amount could be considered material as a result of qualitative factors.
We confirm, to the best of our knowledge and belief, the following representations made to you during your audit.
Financial Statement
We have fulfilled our responsibilities, as set out in the terms of the audit engagement letter dated May 5, 2022, including our responsibility for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statement and for preparation of the supplementary information in accordance with the applicable criteria.
The financial statement referred to above is fairly presented in conformity with the regulatory basis of accounting and includes all properly classified funds and other financial information of the government and all related municipal entities required by the regulatory basis of accounting to be included in the financial reporting entity.
We acknowledge our responsibility for the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of a financial statement that is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
We acknowledge our responsibility for the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control to prevent and detect fraud.
Significant assumptions we used in making accounting estimates are reasonable.
Related party relationships and transactions, including revenues, expenditures/expenses, loans, transfers, leasing arrangements, and guarantees, and amounts from or payable to related parties have been appropriately accounted for and disclosed in accordance with the requirements of the regulatory basis of accounting.
Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPAs PA Page 2
Fort Scott, Kansas
Adjustments or disclosures have been made for all events, including instances of noncompliance, subsequent to the date of the financial statements that would require adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statements or in the schedule of findings and questioned costs.
All events subsequent to the date of the financial statement and for which the regulatory basis of accounting requires adjustment or disclosure have been adjusted or disclosed. No events, including instances of noncompliance, have occurred subsequent to the financial statement date and through the date of this letter that would require adjustment to or disclosure in the aforementioned financial statement or in the schedule of findings and questioned costs.
The effects of all known actual or possible litigation, claims, and assessments have been accounted for and disclosed in accordance with the regulatory basis of accounting.
Guarantees, whether written or oral, under which the County is contingently liable, if any, have been properly recorded or disclosed.
Information Provided
We have provided you with:
Access to all information, of which we are aware, that is relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statement, such as records, documentation, and other matters and all audit or relevant monitoring reports, if any, received from funding sources.
Additional information that you have requested from us for the purpose of the audit.
Unrestricted access to persons within the entity from whom you determined it necessary to obtain audit evidence.
Minutes of the meetings of the County Commission or summaries of actions or recent meetings for which minutes have not yet been prepared.
All material transactions have been recorded in the accounting records and are reflected in the financial statement and the schedule of expenditures of federal awards.
We have disclosed to you the results of our assessment of the risk that the financial statement may be materially misstated as a result of fraud.
We have no knowledge of any fraud or suspected fraud that affects the entity and involves:
Management,
Employees who have significant roles in internal control, or
Others where the fraud could have a material effect on the financial statement.
We have no knowledge of any allegations of fraud or suspected fraud affecting the entity’s financial statement communicated by employees, former employees, regulators, or others.
Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPAs PA Page 3
Fort Scott, Kansas
We have no knowledge of instances of noncompliance or suspected noncompliance with provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, or grant agreements, or abuse, whose effects should be considered when preparing financial statements.
We have disclosed to you all known actual or possible litigation, claims, and assessments whose effects should be considered when preparing the financial statement.
We have disclosed to you the identity of the entity’s related parties and all the related party relationships and transactions of which we are aware.
Government—specific
There have been no communications from regulatory agencies concerning noncompliance with, or deficiencies in, financial reporting practices.
We have taken timely and appropriate steps to remedy fraud, noncompliance with provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements, or abuse that you have reported to us.
We have a process to track the status of audit findings and recommendations.
We have identified to you any previous audits, attestation engagements, and other studies related to the audit objectives and whether related recommendations have been implemented.
We have provided our views on reported findings, conclusions, and recommendations, as well as our planned corrective actions, for the report.
The County has no plans or intentions that may materially affect the carrying value or classification of the financial statement.
We are responsible for compliance with the laws, regulations, and provisions of contracts and grant agreements applicable to us, including tax or debt limits and debt contracts; and we have identified and disclosed to you all laws, regulations and provisions of contracts and grant agreements that we believe have a direct and material effect on the determination of financial statement amounts or other financial data significant to the audit objectives, including legal and contractual provisions for reporting specific activities in separate funds.
We have identified and disclosed to you all instances that have occurred or are likely to have occurred, of fraud and noncompliance with provisions of laws and regulations that we believe have a material effect on the financial statements or other financial data significant to the audit objectives, and any other instances that warrant the attention of those charged with governance.
We have identified and disclosed to you all instances, which have occurred or are likely to have occurred, of noncompliance with provisions of contracts and grant agreements that we believe have a material effect on the determination of financial statement amounts or other financial data significant to the audit objectives.
Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPAs PA Page 4
Fort Scott, Kansas
We have identified and disclosed to you all instances that have occurred or are likely to have occurred, of abuse that could be quantitatively or qualitatively material to the financial statements or other financial data significant to the audit objectives.
There are no violations or possible violations of budget ordinances, laws and regulations (including those pertaining to adopting, approving, and amending budgets), provisions of contracts and grant agreements, tax or debt limits, and any related debt covenants whose effects should be considered for disclosure in the financial statements, or as a basis for recording a loss contingency, or for reporting on noncompliance.
As part of your audit, you assisted with preparation of the financial statement and related notes and schedule of expenditures of federal awards. We have designated an individual with suitable skill, knowledge, or experience to oversee your services and have assumed all management responsibilities. We have reviewed, approved, and accepted responsibility for the financial statement and related notes and schedule of expenditures of federal awards.
The County has satisfactory title to all owned assets, and there are no liens or encumbrances on such assets nor has any asset been pledged as collateral except as disclosed in the financial statements.
The County has complied with all aspects of contractual agreements that would have a material effect on the financial statement in the event of noncompliance.
We have followed all applicable laws and regulations in adopting, approving, and amending budgets.
The financial statement includes all related municipal entities, and properly disclose other related organizations.
The financial statement properly classifies all funds and activities.
Investments are properly valued.
Expenses have been appropriately classified in the financial statement.
Revenues are appropriately classified in the financial statement.
Interfund, internal, and intra-entity activity and balances have been classified and reported.
Deposits and investment securities are properly classified as to risk and are properly disclosed.
We acknowledge our responsibility for the regulatory-required supplementary information (RRSI). The RRSI is measured and presented within prescribed guidelines and the methods of measurement and presentation have not changed from those used in the prior period. We have disclosed to you any significant assumptions and interpretations underlying the measurement and presentation of the RRSI.
Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPAs PA Page 5
Fort Scott, Kansas
With respect to the Summary of Expenditures – Actual and Budget, Regulatory Basis, the Schedules of Receipts and Expenditures – Actual and Budget, Regulatory Basis, and the Schedule of Receipts and Disbursements, Agency Funds, Regulatory Basis (RRSI) and the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards:
We acknowledge our responsibility for presenting the supplementary information in accordance with the regulatory basis of accounting, and we believe the Schedules are fairly presented in accordance with the regulatory basis of accounting. The methods of measurement and presentation of the Schedules have not changed from those used in the prior period, and we have disclosed to you any significant assumptions or interpretations underlying the measurement and presentation of the supplementary information.
If the Regulatory-Required Supplemental Schedules are not presented with the audited financial statement, we will make the audited financial statement readily available to the intended users of the supplementary information no later than the date we issue the supplementary information and the auditor’s report thereon.
With respect to federal award programs:
We are responsible for understanding and complying with and have complied with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), including requirements relating to preparation of the schedule of expenditures of federal awards.
We acknowledge our responsibility for presenting the schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) and related notes in accordance with the requirements of Uniform Guidance, and we believe the SEFA, including its form and content, is fairly presented in accordance with Uniform Guidance. The methods of measurement or presentation of the SEFA have not changed from those used in the prior period and we have disclosed to you any significant assumptions and interpretations underlying the measurement or presentation of the SEFA.
If the SEFA is not presented with the audited financial statement, we will make the audited financial statement readily available to the intended users of the SEFA no later than the date we issue the SEFA and the auditor’s report thereon.
We have identified and disclosed to you all of our government programs and related activities subject to Uniform Guidance compliance audit, and have included in the SEFA, expenditures made during the audit period for all awards provided by federal agencies in the form of federal awards, , federal cost-reimbursement contracts, loans, loan guarantees, property (including donated surplus property), cooperative agreements, interest subsidies, insurance, food commodities, direct appropriations, and other direct assistance.
We are responsible for understanding and complying with, and have complied with, the requirements of laws, regulations, and the provisions of contracts and grant agreements related to each of our federal programs and have identified and disclosed to you the requirements of laws, regulations, and the provisions of contracts and grant agreements that are considered to have a direct and material effect on each major program.
Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPAs PA Page 6
Fort Scott, Kansas
We are responsible for establishing and maintaining, and have established and maintained, effective internal control over compliance requirements applicable to federal programs that provides reasonable assurance that we are managing our federal awards in compliance with laws, regulations, and the provisions of contracts and grant agreements that could have a material effect on our federal programs. We believe the internal control system is adequate and is functioning as intended.
We have made available to you all contracts and grant agreements (including amendments, if any) and any other correspondence with federal agencies or pass-through entities relevant to federal programs and related activities.
We have received no requests from a federal agency to audit one or more specific programs as a major program.
We have complied with the direct and material compliance requirements (except for noncompliance disclosed to you), including when applicable, those set forth in the OMB Compliance Supplement, relating to federal awards and have identified and disclosed to you all amounts questioned and all known noncompliance with the direct and material compliance requirements of federal awards or confirm that there were no amounts questions and no known noncompliance with the direct and material compliance requirements of federal awards.
We have disclosed any communications from grantors and pass-through entities concerning possible noncompliance with the direct and material compliance requirements, including communications received from the end of the period covered by the compliance audit to the date of the auditor’s report.
We have disclosed to you the findings received and related corrective actions taken for previous audits, attestation engagements, and internal or external monitoring that directly related to the objectives of the compliance audit, including findings received and corrective actions taken from the end of the period covered by the compliance audit to the date of the auditor’s report.
Amounts claimed or used for matching were determined in accordance with relevant guidelines in OMB’s Uniform Guidance (2 CFR part 200, subpart E) and OMB Circular A-87, Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments, if applicable.
We have disclosed to you our interpretation of compliance requirements that may have varying interpretations.
We have made available to you all documentation related to compliance with the direct material compliance requirements, including information related to federal program financial reports and claims for advances and reimbursements.
We have disclosed to you the nature of any subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the end of the reporting period affecting noncompliance during the reporting period.
There are no such known instances of noncompliance with direct and material compliance requirements that occurred subsequent to the period covered by the auditor’s report.
No changes have been made in internal control over compliance or other factors that might significantly affect internal control, including any corrective action we have taken regarding significant deficiencies in internal control over compliance (including material weaknesses in internal control over compliance), have occurred subsequent to the date as of which compliance was audited.
Federal program financial reports and claims for advances and reimbursements are supported by the books and records from which the financial statements have been prepared.
Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPAs P.A. Page 7
Fort Scott, Kansas
The copies of federal program financial reports provided you are true copies of the reports submitted, or electronically transmitted, to the respective federal agency or pass-through entity, as applicable.
We have charged costs to federal awards in accordance with applicable cost principles.
We are responsible for and have accurately prepared the summary schedule of prior audit findings to include all findings required to be included by the Uniform Guidance, and we have provided you with all information on the status of the follow-up on prior audit findings by federal awarding agencies and pass-through entities, including all management decisions.
We are responsible for and have accurately prepared the auditee section of the Data Collection Form as required by the Uniform Guidance.
We are responsible for taking corrective action on each audit finding of the compliance audit and have developed a corrective action plan that meets the requirements of the Uniform Guidance.
