Monthly Archives: February 2019

Area News

KU’s Willmott Wins Oscar

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Kirk Sharp, director of the Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College shared a  link about the 2016 Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award winner, Kevin Willmott.

Willmott is a KU Professor and filmmaker that won an Oscar on Feb. 24 for Best Adapted Screenplay for the movie ‘BlacKkKlansman’ that  he co-wrote with Spike Lee, Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz.

Click below for the link.

https://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/movies-news-reviews/article226740399.html

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Meeting Agenda Feb. 26

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

 

Date: February 26th, 2019

 

1st District-Lynne Oharah                                                                Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer                                                                                   Corrected: _______________                                                                                                 

3rd District-Nick Ruhl                                                                                  Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

 

 

               9:00-9:45 – Jim Harris

 

               10:30 – Jody Hoener & Justin Meeks – EMS Crew Requirements

 

               11:00-11:10 – Justin Meeks – Executive Session – Attorney Client

              

11:10 -11:20 – Justin Meeks – Executive Session – Personnel Matters

 

               11:20 – 12:00-Justin Meeks

 

12:00 – 1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch

 

               2:00 – 4:00 – Commissioners to have a 2019 hard surface road planning session

 

              

 

 

 

 

Justifications for Executive Session:

          Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

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

          Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

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

          Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

          Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system

 

 
Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Talking Tigers Take First

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Photo: top row: left to right: Ashton Nave, Dalton Womeldorff, Grant Feagins Middle Row: L-R Jonie Antonio, Audra McFarland, Jakob Slinkard, Jorden Willard, Landon Doherty, Jade Bailey, Karina Kantilal, Takia Page, Natalie Eaton, Brooklyn Miller. Bottom Row: Reaghn Dowell, Shekhar Gugnani, Thade Yates, Elizabeth Ngatia, Brooklyn Lyons, Rebekah Sweyko, Hunter Adamson, Neil Gugnani, Zach Mundhenke

The Fort Scott High School Talking Tigers Forensics Team competed on February 23 and took first place in the sweeps, with 202 points. The event was held at Pittsburg High School.

“For not being able to go out in over a month due to bad weather, this team really did an outstanding job!,” said forensics teacher, Angella Curran.

 

The following students placed:
(* indicates state qualifiers)

 

*Brooklyn Lyons placed 4th in prose and 1st in Program Oral Interpretation

*Elizabeth Ngatia place 2nd in poetry and 1st in Original Oratory.

*Hunter Adamson placed 2nd in Dramatic Interpretation.

*Karina Kantilal placed 2nd in Program Oral Interpretation.

*Rebekah Sweyko placed 1st in impromptu and 2nd in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking.

*Shekhar Gugnani placed 1st in Foreign Extemporaneous.

*Reaghn Dowell placed 2nd in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking.

Neil Gugnani placed 6th in Impromptu.

Karina Kantilal and Audra McFarland placed 5th in duo.

Thade Yates placed 3rd in Info 10.

Audra McFarland placed 6th in Dramatic Interpretation.

Dalton Womeldorff placed 5th in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking.

 

 

Government, Kansas

Senator Hilderbrand’s Weekly Newsletter Feb. 22

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February 22, 2019∙ Week Six
HARD FACTS
·       The Kansas Department of Corrections recently discovered that 591 inmates have tested positive for Hepatitis C, an infection that damages the liver. It is estimated that treatment for inmates will be roughly $9 million (Wichita Eagle).
Learn Online with Universal Class
Universal Class https://kslib.info/uclass offers over 500 lifelong learning courses in more than 30 areas of study at no charge. Join a full course with instructors and readings or just watch the lecture videos to brush up on a topic. The wide range of courses offers something for everyone: from accounting to yoga, babysitting to parenting, cake decorating to computer training.
Easy registration and self-supplied password is necessary to use this resource and allows you to resume your work. If the page above asks for a Kansas Library eCard number, you may get one at any library in Kansas. Most people will be automatically recognized as being in Kansas and will not need this step.  Questions: contact the State Library at [email protected] or 785-296-3296.
FLOOR ACTION
EXPIRATION DATE OF RISK-BASED CAPITAL INSTRUCTIONS(SB 28): Senate Bill 28 changes the date specified in the Insurance Code for risk-based capital (RBC) instructions promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for property and casualty companies and for life insurance companies. The instructions currently specified became effective on December 31, 2017. The bill would update the effective date on the RBC instructions to December 31, 2018. This bill passed the Senate 40-0(I voted in favor of this bill).
EXEMPTING CERTAIN DOMESTIC INSURERS FROM FILING ENTERPRISE RISK REPORTS (SB 66): Senate Bill 66 modifies registration requirements in the Insurance Holding Company Act related to filing exemptions for enterprise risk reports. SB 66 requires enterprise risk reports filed by the controlling person of every insurer subject to registration, to be appropriate to the nature, scale, and complexity of the insurer. The bill also exempts the ultimate controlling person of domestic insurance from submitting an enterprise risk report if the domestic insurer is authorized, admitted, or eligible to engage in the business of insurance only in Kansas with total direct and assumed annual premiums less than $300 million; unless the ultimate controlling person of the domestic insurer also controls other insurers not meeting the requirements of the section. Stating that an insurer is not considered to be authorized, admitted, or eligible to engage in the business of insurance only in Kansas if the insurer directly or indirectly writes or assumes insurance in any other manner in another state. This bill passed the Senate 40-0(I voted in favor of this bill).
M DRIVER’S LICENSES OPERATING UNDER TEMPORARY PERMIT (SB 17): Senate Bill 17 removes an exception for motorcycles operated with a temporary registration permit from requirement for each operator of a motor vehicle in Kansas to hold a license classified for the operation of the motor vehicle. Previous law stated that any person operating a motorcycle registered in Kansas shall be the holder of a class M driver’s license; except when any person is operating a motorcycle that is registered under a temporary permit. This bill passed the Senate 40-0(I voted in favor of this bill).
CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE (SB 25): Senate bill 25 authorizes expenditures of $82,886 in FY 2019 to pay claims against the State of Kansas. This bill passed the Senate 40-0(I voted in favor of this bill).
APPROACH OF AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE (SB 40): Senate Bill 40 removes language requiring a law enforcement officer to issue a warning citation from, and after, the effective date of the act, and prior to July 1, 2001. This is for provisions requiring a driver to move into a nonadjacent lane or, if changing lanes is not possible or unsafe, proceed with due caution upon approaching an authorized emergency vehicle or police vehicle using flashing or hazard warning lights. This bill was passed and placed on the Consent Calendar 40-0(I voted in favor of this bill).
SEAT BELT USE IN TRAFFIC INFRACTION (SB 41): Senate Bill 41 amends the Uniform Act Regulating Traffic to specify the violation of law that requires seat belt use by occupants ages 14 and older in passenger cars or autocycles. This will now be considered a traffic infraction. This bill was passed and placed on the Consent Calendar 40-0(I voted in favor of this bill).
KANSAS FARM BUREAU MEMBER HEALTH CARE BENEFITS (SB 32): Senate Bill 32 allows the Kansas Farm Bureau to establish a health care benefit that offers coverage specifically for Farm Bureau members in Kansas. Senate Bill 32 aims to reduce the number of uninsured Kansans by creating competition and free-market options for health care. Senate Bill 32 is the Farm Bureau’s solution to addressing the critical need for KFB members to find affordable health care coverage. A recent study pointed out that 65 percent of agriculture producers view health care as the number one threat to the future of their operation. This bill passed the Senate 28-11(I voted in favor of this bill).
REPORTING OF MISSING FOSTER CARE CHILDREN
On Thursday, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee held hearings for Senate Bill 162, which would require foster care contractors to inform the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) within 24 hours if any child in the foster care system goes missing. The bill would give DCF 48 hours to then inform legislators, the governor and media about missing children. In addition, SB 162 would compel DCF to fine their private contractors $500 daily for violations of the proposed disclosure law.
The legislation, which was drafted by Senator Molly Baumgardner (R-Louisburg), comes after multiple reports over previous years about missing children in DCF. Sen. Baumgardner expressed the need for the Kansas Legislature to address this crisis within the state. Currently, there are around 7,500 children within the Kansas foster care system.
ONLINE EDUCATION AND DEDICATED MCO FOR FOSTER CARE CHILDREN
On Wednesday, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee held hearings for Senate Bill 122. Senate Bill 122 would require the Kansas Department of Education to track academic records, make online access available and provide a laptop for high school students in the foster care system as they transfer from one school to the next. SB 122 would also have a nonprofit managed care organization (MCO) serve Kansas foster care children under the umbrella of Medicaid.
NEXT WEEK
Monday –
·      Hearing on: Senate Bill 178, sales tax exemption for nonprofit integrated community care – [Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee; February 25 at 9:30 am]
·      Hearing on: Senate Bill 179, increasing the married tax filer income threshold for the subtraction modification for social security income – [Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee; February 25 at 9:30 am]
·      Hearing on: Senate Bill 93, establishing restrictions on the use of step therapy protocols by health insurance plans – [Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee; February 25 at 9:30 am]
·      Hearing on: Senate Bill 124, prohibiting the state corporation commission from authorizing certain charges for electric service – [Senate Utilities Committee; February 25 at 1:30 pm]
Tuesday –
·      ON FLOOR ALL DAY
Wednesday –
·      ON FLOOR ALL DAY
Thursday –
·      ON FLOOR ALL DAY
Friday –
·      NO SESSION
Thank You for Engaging
Thank you for all your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. Constituent correspondence helps inform my decision-making process and is taken into great consideration when I cast my vote in the Kansas Senate. I hope you’ll continue to engage with me on the issues that matter most to you, your family, and our community. If you are on Twitter or Facebook, I encourage you to follow along with the #ksleg hashtag for real-time updates on legislative happenings in Topeka.
Please know that I am fully committed to addressing the current issues in our state, and I am proud to be your voice in the Kansas Senate.
Area News

U.S. 69 Hwy. Closed South of K-7 and K-39 Junction

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US-69: ROAD CLOSED between 0.4 miles south of Junction Kansas 7 South and Kansas 39 and Junction US 69 Business Route and Kansas 57-Franklin.

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Bourbon County

Act Against Child Abuse

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Christa Horn Program Director Bourbon County CASA 620-223-2407

Bourbon County CASA Urges Residents to Act Against Child Abuse

Fort Scott, KS– In preparation for National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, Bourbon County CASA challenges residents of Southeast Kansas to stand against child abuse and take action to support children who have been abused or neglected.

At any given time, there are over 7,000 children in foster care in the state of Kansas. These children come into the child welfare system through no fault of their own.

“Children continue to come into care and we aim to meet that need,” said Christa Horn, Program Director, Bourbon County CASA. “Every child deserves the support of caring, consistent, trained adult to help them find a safe, loving home where they can heal and thrive.”

Throughout the year Bourbon County CASA is calling on members of the community to help our program serve more of Bourbon County’s most vulnerable children.

Without intervention, the odds are stacked against children in foster care. A child with a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, however, spends 20 percent less time in foster care, on average, compared to a child without a CASA volunteer. Studies show children with a CASA volunteer receive more services that are critical to their wellbeing and are four times more likely to find a permanent home.

“CASA volunteers are a constant for the child in a time of chaos,” said Horn. “A child may have multiple social workers, therapists and foster placements throughout the life of the case but only one CASA volunteer, which can make all the difference for the child’s future.”

Bourbon County CASA is a member of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (National CASA), a nationwide network of programs in nearly 1,000 communities. At the heart of the movement are nearly 87,000 highly trained volunteers who advocate for the best interests of more than 280,000 of America’s children who have been abused or neglected. In Bourbon County, there are 22 volunteer advocates fighting for the best interests of 75 children (annually) but many more children need the care and support of a CASA volunteer.
For more information on becoming a CASA volunteer, contact Christa Horn at 620-2232407 or email [email protected]. New volunteer training begins April 1.

Area News

Fort Scott American Legion Post 25 Scuttlebutt

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 Upcoming Events

 

February 26. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 6:15 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.

 

February 28. Post 25 Executive Committee meets at 6 pm in Memorial Hall.

 

March 4. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 6:15 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.

 

March 4. Post 25 meet and greet at 6:30 pm in Memorial Hall. Come and enjoy the fellowship of other Veterans. Bring an eligible Veteran to visit our Post.

 

March 4. Post 25 general membership meeting at 7 pm in Memorial Hall. Our membership meetings are open to all. SAL members are strongly encouraged to attend.

 

March 5. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 6:15 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.

 

March 11. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 6:15 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.

 

March 12. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 6:15 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.

 

March 14. Post 25 Color Guard meets at 7 pm in Memorial Hall. All Post members including SAL members are invited to join our growing Color Guard.

 

March 18. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 6:15 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.

 

March 19. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 6:15 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.

 

March 23. Department of Kansas District 2 Convention at Gardner Post 19 starts at 8 am. Districts will meet in Convention for the purpose of conducting its business and electing officers for the 2019-20 membership year which begins on July 1. All Legionnaires in good standing are invited and encouraged to attend District and Department conventions.

 

March 25. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 6:15 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.

 

March 26. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 6:15 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.

 

April 1. Post 25 meet and greet at 6:30 pm in Memorial Hall. Come and enjoy the fellowship of other Veterans. Bring an eligible Veteran to visit our Post.

 

April 1. Post 25 general membership meeting at 7 pm in Memorial Hall. Our membership meetings are open to all. SAL members are strongly encouraged to attend.

 

I am pleased to announce that once again Fort Scott American Legion Thompson-Harkey Post 25 leads the Department of Kansas in membership this week. Our 2019 goal was 51 members. Our current membership is at 143% and 73 members. We are 22 members over our goal. By way of comparison, Sterling Post 128 in District 7 is in 2nd place for membership at 121%. Thanks to all members who have made Fort Scott Post 25 a highly visible and active Legion Post in the Department of Kansas.

 

Recruit a new Legion member and both you and the new member will be entered into a drawing where each of you could win $500. This new member contest runs until May. Bringing in a past member whose membership expired in 2017 or earlier would also count towards the $500 drawing. If you need recruiting brochures or membership applications, please contact me. I’ll make arrangements to deliver them to you. A copy of the membership drive rules is attached.

 

Post Service Officer Myra Jowers will no longer hold office hours on Tuesdays at Memorial Hall. She will meet with anyone, by appointment, who has questions about filing VA claims, who need a second set of eyes to review their claims or help understand VA documents they have received in the mail. Her service is free and is for anyone, Veteran or family member, who wishes to file a claim or appeal a denied claim. She can be reached at [email protected] or 620.215.1286 to schedule an appointment.

 

Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle is now in operation. Currently, the shuttle is only operating on Tuesdays. As more drivers are cleared by the VA, additional days will be added to the schedule. Monday shuttle runs will start on Monday, March 4.th.

 

Any area Vet needing a ride for a medical appointment should call 785-925-0261 for more information or to reserve a seat. All Vets riding the shuttle must have medical appointments between 9 am and 1 pm and call by 5 pm the day before their appointment to schedule their ride.

 

We are moving towards starting an American Legion Riders. An organizational meeting will be scheduled in mid-March. The date and time will be based upon ALR District Officers availability. If you are interested in joining the Post 25 Riders Chapter, contact Post Commander Carl Jowers to be placed on a meeting notification list. The requirements to join the ALR are on the attached flyer.

 

Nominations for Post 25 Officers for the 2019 – 2020 Legion year will begin at our March meeting. Any Post 25 Legionnaire who is current on their dues can be nominated for any office. Please give thought to stepping up and being nominated for an office or encourage other members to step up and help guide Post 25’s growth for another year.

 

Legion merchandise can be ordered through Emblem Sales: https://emblem.legion.org/.  Contact me if ordering a Legion cap to insure your cap has the correct lettering.

 

 

Remember to check out Post 25 on Facebook. It contains current information pertaining to Veterans and their families.

 

American Legion Fort Scott Post 25 American Legion Riders 022219

Carl Jowers. Commander

Telephone: 620.215.1688