Monthly Archives: April 2019

Bourbon County

Pump’n Pete’s For CASA

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CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH CONTINUES WITH

PUMP’N PETES’ FUNDRAISER FOR CASA

April is Child Abuse Prevention month nationally, and Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) has joined with Pump N Pete’s Corp of Erie on a pledge card fundraiser during April. Pete’s operates 47 convenience stores and fuel stations in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma and the effort will benefit 5 CASA organizations in those same areas CASA of the 31st Judicial District, CASA of the 23rd and Bourbon County CASA in Kansas; Child Advocates of Northeast Oklahoma and Southwest Missouri Child Advocates.

“Pinwheels for Prevention – Partners for Children” is an easy, stress-free and fun way to help children in foster care. Pete’s cashiers will ask you to donate and all you do is say YES! You get to sign a Pinwheel Pledge Card and hang it in the store to commemorate your donation. If you donate $5 or more at one time you get a raffle ticket good for a chance at winning a $25 cash prize in each store and the winners from each store will go on to a GRAND PRIZE DRAWING at the end of April for $250 at the Pete’s Corporate Office in Parsons.

The funds raised are used to recruit, train, prepare and support Advocate Volunteers who are appointed by County Judges to help children who have been abused or neglected and found to be in need of care by the court. The Advocates partner with the children, speak up for their best interest in court and guide them successfully through their time in foster care. Once appointed, the CASA is always there for the child until he or she is released from custody. Funds have also been used in emergencies to pay for athletics, music lessons, summer camp, winter coats, Christmas gifts, adoption gifts, life books, special equipment and special clothing for children in the CASA programs. CASA programs are non-profit and must raise their own funds.

The Pinwheel Fundraiser is in its sixth year and Pete’s Corporation has made it a competition between stores, area managers and district managers, even offering corporate incentives to all employees to do their best for CASA. From there the managers and employees have gotten very creative and have taken the competition to heart! All stores do something special or host an event to supplement the fundraiser and many do some truly zany things. Several managers have taken cream pies to the face if the store reaches a set goal or offered to get dunked in a water tank for extra money; others have thrown a BBQ or pizza party when employees post so many pledge cards. There were dueling bake sales between stores in the same town; car washes that got drowned by rain but continued anyway; body painting; dance-a-thons; characters greeting customers; lotto winnings donated by employees and customers and public competition to have the most pinwheels on the wall! At the end CASA throws a luncheon party, awards a trophy and publicly recognizes the top fundraising Pump’n Pete’s Store in each state, both individually and at the following Pump’n Pete’s Corporate meeting at Parsons, KS.

CASA and Pump’n Pete’s invite everyone to join the fun and help unfortunate children at the same time. Children who did nothing wrong but wound up in foster care anyway. Donations to CASA are fully tax deductable and CASA is recognized as a 502(c)(3) charity by the IRS.

Area News, Fort Scott

Nuggets To Live By – Hedghog.INK April 13

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You read his column every Saturday in the Fort Scott Tribune.

See him in person at Hedgehog.INK!

Saturday

April 13 at 2:00 p.m.

In Nuggets to Live By, Pastor George Proctor

uses brief selections from his sermons to create digestible “nuggets” of truths that are brief but poignant thoughts full of inspiration.

Books will be available for sale and for signing following his presentation.

Hedgehog.INK! Gently Used Books

And so much more…

16 S Main Fort Scott, KS 66701

620-670-2752 [email protected]

Website – hedgesbookstore.com

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Civil War Encampment April 27-28 at FSNHS

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Smell, hear and see the Civil War at Fort Scott National Historic Site

Without having to enlist

FORT SCOTT, Kan. – Fort Scott National Historic Site is hosting the Annual Civil War Encampment, 8 a.m. through 5 p.m., April 27 and 28.  Experience artillery, cavalry and infantry troops preparing for battle. Cooking demonstrations will be in the mess hall and the post sutler will be hawking his wares in the sutler store. A Civil War doctor will be promoting period medical practices and reenactors will be discussing surgery of the era, sometimes at the cost of “an arm and a leg.”

“This is our 37th annual encampment,” Superintendent Betty Boyko said. “You feel history come to life through the generous support provided by volunteer members of the Holmes Brigade, 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry, Western Bluecoats Field Hospital, Friends of Fort Scott NHS, Inc., and a host of Fort Scott National Historic Site volunteers.”

Park volunteers and staff will be leading a variety of programs. Saturday: discussions around the importance of the Lunette Blair Block House (adjacent to the park) and stories of Civil War courts martial at Fort Scott. Sunday: period church services and explore the meanings of states’ rights vs federal authority in “Conceived in Liberty.”

Encampment Schedule:

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

  • 9:00 a.m.             Raising the Colors
  • 10:00 a.m.           Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 10:30 a.m.           Lunette Blair Block House Program
  • 10:45 a.m.           Cooking Demonstrations:  (All day)
  • 11:00 a.m.           Cavalry Drill
  • 11:30 a.m.           An Arm and a Leg: The Cost of Surgery
  • 12:00 noon          Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 1:00 p.m.             Ordered  To Be Shot: Civil War Courts Martial
  • 2:00 p.m.             Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 2:30 p.m.             An Arm and a Leg: The Cost of Surgery
  • 3:00 p.m.             Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 4:00 p.m.             Flag Retreat

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

  • 9:00 a.m.              Raising the Colors
  • 10:00 a.m.           Church Service
  • 11:00 a.m.           Cooking Demonstration
  • 11:30 a.m.           Infantry Dress Parade and Inspection
  • 12:00 noon          Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 1:00 p.m.             Cavalry Drill
  • 1:30 p.m.             An Arm and a Leg: The Cost of Surgery
  • 2:00 p.m.             Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 2:30 p.m.             Conceived in Liberty:  An Interpretive Dialog
  • 3:00 p.m.             Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration

-NPS-

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda April 9

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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: April 9th, 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

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks

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

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

Obituary

Obituary of Michael Gene Cooper

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Michael Gene Cooper, age 68, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Saturday, April 6, 2019, at Mercy Hospital Joplin, MO. He was born on February 23, 1951, in Fort Scott, the son of Thomas Gene and Betty JoAnn Rye Cooper. He graduated from Nevada, MO high school with the class of 1969. He married Judy Marshall on May 19, 1969, in Fort Scott. Mike worked for Westar Energy as a designer. He loved his work and had been with the company for 38 years. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing video games. He was a devoted husband who loved spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife Judy of the home; two daughters, Stacy Leachner and husband Chad, Olathe, KS, and Cambria Scharenberg and husband Jeremy, Garland, KS; a son, Matt Cooper, Fort Scott; two sisters, Pam Speer and husband John, Redfield, KS, and Debbie Ebersold and husband Dennis, Cameron, MO; a brother, Thomas Cooper, Deerfield, MO; six grandchildren, Shana Marra, Madison Leachner, Kalen Thompson, Blaine Thompson, Taylor Cooper, and Tyler Cooper; two great grandchildren, Aubreigh Thompson and Solloman Davis; a brother-in-law Shawn Marshall and wife Chana, Fort Scott; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM Friday, April 12th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Thursday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Government, Kansas

Work Zone Awareness Week

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The City Hall building in Topeka was lit in orange last year as part of National Work Zone Awareness Week.

 

This “Go Orange” movement is part of National Work Zone Awareness Week, a national safety campaign KDOT and several partner organizations participate in every year. The campaign highlights the dangers faced by highway workers and motorists in work zones and promotes safer behaviors. People are encouraged to participate by wearing orange on Thursday, April 11, the official Go Orange Day! in Kansas.

Stories will be shared each day by highway workers and law enforcement about their experiences in work zones at http://kansastransportation.blogspot.com/ . Other information can be found on the KDOT website at www.ksdot.org.

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Bourbon County

LaRoche’s Sponsor Vets Weekend With Convoy May 1

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The E3 Foundation is proud to partner again with Combat Warriors Inc.

At 1:30 p.m. May 1 the second annual Fort Scott convoy of veterans will begin to travel through town.

Together we are dedicated to assisting our veterans from all branches of the Armed Forces from injuries sustained in combat.

The E3 Foundation has the privilege of hosting multiple outdoor adventures for our combat warriors every year here in southeast Kansas. These hunts are our way of saying “Thank You” and to serve those who have spent their lives serving us. Our mission is to promote family values, friendship, fellowship, and the love of our country with our hero’s.

On Wednesday, May 1st we will have our second annual warrior convoy through Fort Scott. The overwhelming support our town showed these soldiers last year meant more to them than you will ever know.

We would love your help again by simply standing by the street somewhere along the route from Fort Scott Municipal Airport to the E3 Ranch. (Route- We’ll start east on Lake Road, North on 69 Highway, Left on National through town, right onto Old Fort Blvd, left on Wall street traveling East all the way out of town.)

Feel free to make a sign, wave a flag, salute or just simply wave as we honor these brave men and women.

The convoy will start at 1:30pm on Wednesday, May 1st. Keep an eye on @e3foundation Facebook page for up to date convoy information.

Thank you for your support, The LaRoche Family
PO Box 391 – Fort Scott, KS 66701 – foundation@e3ranch

Government, Kansas

Governor Signs Education Bill

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Governor Kelly commends bipartisan compromise, signs education bill

The following remarks are from Governor Laura Kelly delivered at the bill signing ceremony for Senate Bill 16, the bipartisan education bill:

Throughout the 2018 campaign, I told Kansans I wanted to be the “education governor.” And I meant it. It is my number one priority.

After the election, when I sat down with my budget director to put together my budget recommendation, public education was the very first topic of discussion. We looked at the numbers for a long time.

Using the most recent Supreme Court ruling on school finance as a guide, I adopted a plan that was widely embraced as the best path to ending years of school finance litigation.

On Thursday of this week, the Kansas Legislature endorsed this plan as well. I’m pleased we were able to come to a consensus on this critical issue.

Before I sign this bill, I’d like to commend the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas Senate for their diligent work. Their efforts resulted in overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation that will inject $90 million more into our public schools. It is a true victory for Kansas.

I also want to recognize an important group of legislators – Senators Molly Baumgartner, Anthony Hensley, and Jim Denning, as well as Representative Valdenia Winn, who shepherded this bill through the conference committee process.

They stood strong for our kids. I thank each of them for their hard work and commitment to bringing us closer to a resolution.

After a significant increase in funding last year, this plan addresses the Kansas Supreme Court ruling and represents what we all hope to be the final step towards fully funding our schools – and maintaining adequate funding in the years to come.

It is a reasonable, good-faith effort that is based on the plan put forth by the Kansas Department of Education and endorsed by the State Board of Education.

Of course, there’s a reason we’re all here on a Saturday. We have an urgent deadline to meet, and we simply do not have a minute to lose.

My signature on Senate Bill 16 is not the end of this discussion. It will make its way across the street to the Kansas Supreme Court. Briefs are due on April 15. Oral arguments will take place on May 9.

No one can predict what the court will rule. But one thing is for certain: this legislation represents a significant bipartisan effort to address the last remaining component of last summer’s court ruling. It is a meaningful, reasonable plan that maintains the stability of the rest of the state’s budget.

The saga over public education funding has been long and hard, and it’s time for it to be settled. I believe that this legislation will allow us to finally end the cycle of litigation and move forward.

For this reason, I am so proud today to sign Senate Bill 16.

 

Area News, Bourbon County, Health Care

Vets Shuttle Now Includes Kansas City

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At the Topeka Veterans Administration Luncheon recently are from left to right: Michael Leachner, Darrell Spencer, Roger “Skipper” Brown, Myra Jowers and Carl Jowers. All are veterans although non-veterans have volunteered to be shuttle drivers as well.

Local citizens have signed on to take veterans to doctors appointments for free at two Veterans Administration Medical Centers in Kansas.  And plans are in place to pick up any veteran along the Hwy. 69 corridor from Fort Scott northward.

To register for a shuttle seat, the veteran must

·         Have an appointment at a VA Medical Center between 9 am and 1 p.m. for the day they schedule their shuttle seat.

·         Call 785-925-0261 or email [email protected] to schedule their seat. All seat reservations must be scheduled by 5 p.m., the day prior to their appointment.

The Fort Scott VA Shuttle service is coordinated by Carl Jowers, who commander of the local American Legion Post 25.

Shuttles are provided on Mondays and Tuesdays from Fort Scott to Topeka VA Medical Center; and Wednesdays from Fort Scott to Kansas City VA Medical Center.

Veterans must have an appointment scheduled between 9 am and 1 pm on the day they ride the shuttle.

“The vet should mention that they are a shuttle rider, when calling for a VA medical appointment,” Jowers said.

The shuttle will depart from the designated spot in Fort Scott,  Pete’s 66 Convenience Store, across from Briggs Automall on Hwy. 69 and will return to Fort Scott after the last veteran has completed their appointment. The departure time is based upon the time of the first appointment of the day at the VA Medical Center day. Riders will be notified of the shuttle departure time the evening before their ride.

“The departure time depends upon the time of the appointment of the riders,” Jowers said.” If there is a 9 a.m. appointment, then the shuttle departs at 6:15 a.m. for Topeka or 6:45 a.m. for KC.  If the earliest appointment isn’t until 10:45 a.m., then the departure time is adjusted accordingly. It didn’t make sense to me for a driver to pickup a rider at 6:15 a.m. to arrive in Topeka at 9 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. appointment.”
“As the shuttle coordinator, after the reserved seating has closed out at 5 p.m. for the next day’s schedule, I decide on the shuttle’s departure time and convey this information to both the driver and the rider. It’s extra work on my part, but I think it’s a better use of time for both driver and rider.”

The shuttle does not accommodate wheelchairs or pets. Only certified service dogs are permitted on the shuttle. Oxygen tanks are not permitted on the shuttle. Oxygen concentrators are allowed.

Veterans living along Highway 69 may be picked up at the Casey’s Convenience Store in Pleasanton.

“We are going to make a pick up spot at McDonald’s in Louisburg at the intersection of Hwy. 68 and Hwy. 69 for either the Topeka VA or the Kansas City VA,” Jowers said.

“The Ottawa pickup location will be at Love’s Truck Stop at Highway 68 and I35, going to Topeka,” Jowers said.

” Veterans scheduling rides must be at one of our predetermined stops to ride the shuttle,” he said. “This is a shuttle service, not a taxi service. We have to plan for a group. If a person calls and is at a specific spot, they can ride the shuttle. They have to have a seat reserved.”

The VA shuttle holds five passengers and riders must preregister for a seat by calling 785-925-0261. Seats on the shuttle are open to any area veteran on a first come, first served basis.

Family members may not ride with the Veteran on the shuttle. Those veterans who need a caregiver to accompany them must have a signed note from their doctor attesting that the veteran requires a caregiver to accompany them to and from their appointment.

“Drivers have to pass a comprehensive VA medical and background investigation,” Jowers said. “It’s the same process as if you were being hired by the VA. We’ve had quite a few people step up and two more are awaiting background clearance.”

The list of shuttle drivers is: Roger and Faye Brown, Darrell Spencer, Steve Dean, Michael Martin, Michael Leachner, and Danny Graham. Jowers and his wife, Myra are back-up drivers.

Currently, one veteran a week is using the shuttle to get to their medical appointments, Jowers said.

“While at this time, there are not a lot of riders, I think that this will change as vets become aware of the service and begin making use of it,” Jowers said.