Monthly Archives: April 2019

Bourbon County, Government

Minutes of the Bourbon County Commissio March 28

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This is first in a series of minutes of the Bourbon County Commission provided as a public service. They will be published as they become available.

To see previous minutes click:

http://bourboncountyks.org/index.php/commission-minutes-2019

 

March 28, 2019                                               Tuesday 9:00 am

The Bourbon County Commission met for a special meeting, the Commissioners, the County Counselor and the County Clerk were present.

Lynne made a motion to go into a 30 minute executive session for consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship, Nick seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Justin Meeks and Shane Walker). After the session, Nick made a motion that Lynne Oharah be the contact person regarding the list of incomplete items at the new jail facility, Jeff seconded and all approved.

The Commissioners plan to discuss the jail facility and the list of incomplete items on April 2nd at 10:00 am.

At 10:19, Nick made a motion to adjourn, Jeff seconded and all approved.

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS

(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman

(ss) Jeff Fischer, Commissioner

(ss) Nick Ruhl, Commissioner

ATTEST:

Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk

04/02/2019, Approved Date

 

March 26, 2019                                                         Tuesday 9:00 am

The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners and the County Clerk present.

Jody Hoener, Economic Development Director, met with the Commissioners; she asked permission to attend the Kansas Rural Opportunity Conference in Dodge City, she estimated this to cost up to $300 for the conference registration fee and hotel. Nick made a motion for her to attend, Jeff seconded and all approved.

Nick made a motion to go into a 15 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel, Jeff seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Jim Harris). No action was taken.

Nick asked Jim Harris to move the Patcher machine to the Industrial Park to do patching there.

Darrin Petrowsky with KDOT met with the Commissioners to give an update and proposed schedule for the 69 Highway project. He said in March they plan to finish the pavement removal, grade for Lime and CTB, prepare and place intersections at Calvary, Deer and Fern, begin Lime and possibly CTB, do signing and Polymer overlay. In April they plan to finish CTB, begin paving the mainline and begin shoulder work. In May they plan to finish paving the mainline, finish shoulder rock, do guardrail work, switch traffic to unrestricted the last week of May and do striping and rumble strips. In June they plan to remove the temporary crossovers, do clean up and do seeding.   He said they should be opening Deer and Fern Road soon.

Mr. Petrowsky said Bourbon County will have several 1R maintenance projects, one of the 1R projects will be from the 59 Junction to the K7 Junction. He said they will be working on a bridge in Bourbon County.   Jeff questioned how KDOT assigns the priority hard surface road projects; Darren said they have a pavement health system. He said they have a van that will drive every mile of the 10,000+ miles in Kansas; this van measures the roughness and cracking in the roads as well as other items, KDOT uses the report that is produced from the van measurements. When KDOT gets funding the wish list areas submitted for repairs by the local KDOT offices are driven by officials and the officials then recommend and approve some of the wish list projects.

Lynne made a motion that the Commissioners meet with Jim Harris and Norm Bowers to view the Industrial Park on March 27th and possible solutions to the road there, Jeff seconded and all approved.

Jeff discussed a culvert for Becky Howard; Jim Harris said the culvert is on the list.

Lynne discussed a pothole at 95th & 54 Highway; Jim Harris said this would be a KDOT issue.

Jim Harris reported that KCAMP gave Bourbon County $2,000 for the risk avoidance grant, this money helped purchase the grill guard and safety lights for the new R&B department pickup truck and the road temperature sensor.

Lynne made a motion to go into a 5 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel, Nick seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners). No action was taken.

Lynne made a motion to go into a 10 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel, Nick seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Jim Harris). No action was taken.

Alice Maffet with the SEK Multi Health Department presented a memorandum of Understanding for the SEK Multi County Health Department regarding ambulance service to the Commissioners for approval; Jeff made a motion that Lynne sign the document, Nick seconded and Lynne signed the document.

Nancy Van Etten briefly met with the Commissioners. She questioned how the Ambulance building was progressing; Nick said they are hanging the sheetrock this week and the building will likely be finished by April 15th. Nancy questioned the progress at the SEK Multi County Health Department; Jeff said they will probably move into the building May 1st.

Kevin Gleason met with the Commissioners; he said the road crew was doing a great job.

Jody Hoener met with the Commissioners; she asked permission to spend up to $150 for supplies for the Chamber of Commerce Coffee on March 28th; Lynne made a motion to spend up to $150 out of the Commission budget for supplies, Nick seconded and all approved.

Jody Hoener said she is on the board for the Sunflower Trail, she said the dues are $100 and asked for the Commissioners to vote to spend the $100; Lynne said he didn’t feel they needed to vote on this expense since it will be paid out of Economic Development.

Jody Hoener discussed the Farmers Market sign located at the Wall Street and the Old Fort entrance, she said the sign is faded and needed replaced. She said two bids have been provided to replace the sign; one for $200 (which is re-doing the sign that is there) and a bid for $400 (which would be a new metal sign); she asked if the Commissioners wanted to help fund a portion of the $400 sign to help promote shopping local. Jeff made a motion to support up to $200 for the sign for Economic Development, Nick seconded and all approved.

At 11:35, Lynne made a motion to break for lunch and reconvene at 1:30, Nick seconded and all approved.

Nick made a motion to go into a 10 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel, Jeff seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Jim Harris, Krista Goltra, Jody Hoener and Justin Meeks). No action was taken.

Nick made a motion to go into a 10 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel, Jeff seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Jim Harris, Krista Goltra, Jody Hoener and Justin Meeks). No action was taken.

Nick Ruhl said he had heard that Kansas Rock’s had poured a large slab of concrete to place a sign in the County right-of-way.

Lynne made a motion to go into a 30 minute executive session for consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship, Jeff seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Justin Meeks). No action was taken.

Greg Schick met with the Commissioners; he said he had read in the newspaper where the County had waived the dump fees for the debris from the demolition of the Stout building, he asked if the County would consider waiving fees for a project he is doing on Wall Street (the old lumber yard buildings), the Commissioners said they waived the fees when the City of Fort Scott approached them. He questioned if they would be taking bids to tear down the building, the Commissioners did not know if they had taken bids. Mr. Schick said he had received zero help from the City of Fort Scott for his projects. Mr. Schick said he would like to use the road easement in an area on Musket Road; Justin Meeks said he would review this road and discuss this again next week.

Lynne made a motion to approve Resolution 10-19, a wage resolution adding the wages for an EMT 1, EMT 2 and a Paramedic for the Ambulance, Nick seconded and all approved.

Nick made a motion to go into a 5 minute executive session for consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship, Jeff seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Justin Meeks). No action was taken.

Nick made a motion that all of the Commissioners attend the Chamber Coffee at the Courthouse on March 28th, Jeff seconded and all approved.

Nick left the meeting to continue working on the ambulance barn.

Jeff and Lynne reviewed a list of incomplete items at the Law Enforcement Center; Lynne planned to provide the list of items to Justin Meeks, Jeff Fischer and Nick Ruhl for input once compiled.

At 4:39, Lynne made a motion to adjourn and Jeff seconded, meeting adjourned.

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS

(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman

(ss) Jeff Fischer, Commissioner

(ss) Nick Ruhl, Commissioner

ATTEST:

Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk

04/02/2019, Approved Date

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott Community College, Schools

FSCC Celebrates 100 Years In the Community

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Alysia Johntson announced the Centennial Celebration of Fort Scott Community College at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee Thursday at the college gym.

The school is oldest continually operating community college in Kansas and will celebrate one hundred years of existence September 20 and 21, Johnston told the coffee attendees.

Fort Scott Community College President Alysia Johnston.

“Fort Scott Community College started in Fort Scott High School in 1919,” Johnston told the coffee attendees.

That move allowed students who wanted to start college, but not have to go out of the community, to attend college, said Mert Barrows, a member of the Centennial Committee.

The college moved to the present site on South Horton Street in 1967, Johnston said.

“Today we provide online degrees and also have one of the best occupational areas around,” Johnston said.

“I was a student here for the 50th anniversary (of the college),” Harold Hicks, Centennial Committee Chairman, said.

“This college has a special place in my heart,” Hicks said. “Several members of the committee are graduates and much of our success in life, the seeds were planted here.”

To celebrate the centennial, there is a banquet and tailgate party planned for the community.

The celebration will kick off Friday evening, September 20, with a banquet for graduates, employees, and their families, according to a press release from FSCC. Saturday afternoon, Sept. 21, will feature a tailgate party at the stadium for all members of the community and conclude with the Homecoming game at 7 p.m.

Other activities planned include the burial of a time capsule, a series of featured articles in the newspaper, display cases around the campus, cake celebration, a video depicting campus activities, and appearances at local fairs and other community events, and other activities in the works, according to the press release.

Fort Scott Community College (then Fort Scott Junior College) was voted into existence on November 8, 1918, in a city-wide election. Rees Hughes, principal at Fort Scott High School, administered the newly formed college with fully qualified teachers to teach a program of consisting of foreign languages, English, mathematics, and science that would be identical to that offered by the University of Kansas, according to the press release.

According to a Fort Scott Tribune article published in April 1918, “By establishing the two years of college work in Fort Scott, it offers an unusual opportunity for students in Fort Scott and Bourbon County and adjacent counties to secure two years of normal school or college work while near home. The work done in the Fort Scott Junior College will be fully accredited at any of the colleges, normal schools or universities of the state,” according to the press release.

Centennial Committee members: Hicks, Barrows, Carolyn Sinn, Valetta Cannon, Bernita Hill, Robert Nelson, Bob Cable, Lori Cable, Rhonda Bailey, Ellen Fairchild, Leslie Damien, Karri Johnson, Marcel Normand and Kassie Feugate-Cate.

Contact person for the Centennial Committee is Harold W. Hicks, [email protected], Fort Scott Community College, 2108 South Horton, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Tel: 620.223.2700 X3150

 

Government, Kansas

Governor Supports School Funding Package

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Governor applauds passage of school finance conference committee report

 

The following statement is from Governor Laura Kelly following the passage of the school funding package:

“The Kansas Legislature took an important step today towards addressing the needs of our students, supporting our teachers and fully funding our schools. I’m proud this reasonable, commonsense plan was embraced with bipartisan support today. Kansans want their leaders to work together to move our state forward.

“By investing in our local schools, we can ensure that all Kansas children – no matter who they are or where they live – have the opportunity to succeed.”

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Opinion

Air Travel by Patty LaRoche

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Patty LaRoche

If ever I doubted where I stand in the Skyways caste system, the major airlines have gone to impressive lengths to make it clear. They accomplish that with boarding labels, starting with the most elite and ending with commoners–like me. One airline takes it one step further and uses two rugs—one “blue” for passengers with status, and one “green” for the underlings–leaving no doubt where we stand (literally).

I know the rigamarole and loiter as close to the red, velvet, rug-divider-rope as possible, so that when my group is called, I might have some chance of squeezing my overhead bag into the space hogged by those who ignore the flight attendant’s announcement that only one item goes there. Other carry-ons are supposed to go under the seat in front of them, leaving foot space for individuals with a size-six shoe or less (perhaps if I cut off my toes).

Take American Airlines’ hierarchy, for example. The first blue-carpet group called is for passengers needing special assistance (I could fake it, but who wants to risk that kind of a sin 35,000 feet above sea level?) and passengers with kiddies under two years old (You know, the howling ones inevitably seated next to me).

While they board, Concierge Key holders of the airlines’ “elite” credit card line up. They are followed by Group 1 made up of first-class passengers, active duty U.S. military members (who, in my opinion, should get free flights and deserve special treatment), and business class passengers. Group 2 includes Platinum credit card holders, One World Emerald members (no idea what that means), and business class passengers who have paid extra for their seats. (Think every seat three or more rows from the restrooms.)

Group 3 is for Platinum Pro and Platinum credit card holders and one more jewel: the OneWorld Sapphire member. The Group 4 Boarding group continues with the Ruby members, the Gold AAdvantage members, AirPass members, premium economy passengers, American Executive cardmembers, and passengers who have purchased priority boarding, although I fail to see what the priority is, considering three-fourth of the plane seats now are taken.

Are you seeing a pattern here? The more people who are given elite status, the more obvious it becomes that those remaining—guess who—should thank our lucky stars not to end up on the wings. One time, I watched an elderly woman walk forward and wait on the blue carpet. When the agent looked at her ticket, she was told to backpedal five steps, circle the dividing rope and enter on the green one. I cringed as I watched her face turn the color of the velvet. She and I both laughed when I approached her and said, “So, take that!” The agent, mind you, did not find my comment as funny.

Group 5, also called “Preferred Boarding” for lack of a more fitting term like “Cubic Zirconiums,” is for basic economy tickets, Eligible credit card members, and Eligible corporate travelers. Somewhere between Group 7 and 9, the five of us remaining passengers board and take a seat located in the bowels of the plane by the restrooms.

Now, I get the different groupings. Some people paid $1000 for my $200 one…which is why their perks include a buffet of drinks and appetizers while the rest of us settle for a thimble-sized bag of 4 miniature pretzels and three sips of coke, not to mention we annoy our seat neighbors when we ask them to move their legs so we can cross ours.

The truth is, I poke fun at the airlines’ attempt to honor its passengers because my identity does not come from where I sit on a plane. It comes from where I stand by knowing Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:10–For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

For me, those “good things” include me walking by all the passengers seated before me and praying they know the same.

Obituary

Obituary of Jackie Darell Link

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Jackie Darell Link

Jackie Darell Link, age 78, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, died Sunday, March 24, 2019, at his home at Lake Ft. Scott.

He was born February 11, 1941, to Merry Grace (Maxwell) Link and Thomas E. Link of Northeast Kansas City.

At the age of fourteen he started working at the Benton View Drug Store where he met Koyle June Kern. Her mother worked with Jack. He worked at the drug store all through high school and graduated from Northeast High in 1959. While in high school he was a member of the choir and the Northeast High School ROTC program where he served as the Lt. Commander his senior year.

After high school he joined the Air Force where he served for four years and learned the technical training that got him a job at IBM in 1966. He worked for IBM for thirty years.

He married Koyle Steele on July 20, 1991, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He enjoyed coaching his sons’ little league basketball and baseball teams, and photography.

Koyle owned and operated a home day care. Jack often taught her day care children to swim. Koyle had rules, but when Jack was in charge her rules did not count. He loved children. He and Koyle moved to Lee’s Summit in 1991.

Jack was a 32nd degree Mason and joined the Shrine where he served in the patrol unit. That was where he developed his love of guns and became a sharp shooter. He was a stickler for gun safety. He won the ARRAT Shrine Temple CSSA sharp shooter championship in 2003.

He taught his five grandchildren gun safety and how to shoot and Koyle knew he had made an impression when the kids came back from going shooting with him and each one grabbed a dog and sat them down and gave them a shooting lesson.

Jack and Koyle moved to Lake Fort Scott in 2007. He loved playing cards and dominoes with his Lake Fort Scott neighbors. He joined the First United Methodist Church where he helped with Feeding Families in His Name serving drinks and continuing his soda jerk career. He enjoyed singing in the church choir.

He loved the nature and wildlife at the lake and enjoyed taking pictures. He also enjoyed traveling and seeing new places.
He is survived by sons, Scott Steele (Alison), and daughters, Krishelle Steele Sims (Brian) and Cynthia Steele; five granddaughters, Susan Lynn Steele, Rena VanDeusen, Madeline Allen (Kenny), Samantha Steele and Abigail Bennett; one grandson, Gavin Sims; two great-grandsons, Knox Allen and Nolan Rada and one great-granddaughter, Charlotte Heine; brother-in-law, James R. Kern and a host of friends, Jack and Keith Link.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, April 13th at the First United Methodist Church in Ft. Scott, with the Rev. Steve Cole officiating.

Honorary pallbearers will be Scott Steele, Brian Sims, Christopher Gilchrist and Kenny Allen.

Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church Feeding Families in His Name or the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS S66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary

Obituary of Sandra Wrench

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Sandra T. Wrench

Sandra T. Wrench, age 78, resident of Kansas City, MO, formerly of Ft. Scott, KS, passed away on Friday, March 29, 2019, at home.

She was born to Emma Perry of Plymouth, Massachusetts on November 28, 1940. Sandra, who went by the name of Sandy, was adopted at a young age and was raised by a group of Nuns in SF Harbor N.Y.

Sandy began her formal education at Tuller School of Tucson, Arizona. She continued her education and graduated from the University of Arizona, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Theater and Drama.

Later, Sandy attended Fort Scott Community College and received her nursing RN degree.

Sandy had a heart for working with children and a passion for building the future leaders of tomorrow. She expressed that passion through her professions as a principal in Anchorage, Alaska, a teacher in Westbury, New York, and a Deputy Juvenile Officer in Kansas City, Missouri.

After her tenure as a Deputy Juvenile Officer, Sandy and the love of her life Morris moved to Arizona where Sandy was a Registered Assessment Nurse for the State of Arizona. She held that position for ten years until she retired and began her next passion in life, which was to travel.

Sandy traveled all over the world! She loved an adventure along with her “partner in crime,” her husband, Morris, who is now deceased. Sandy loved to read and do crossword puzzles and did a lot of volunteering in her spare time.

Sandy was a member of the St Augustine Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Missouri, where she loved attending service and looked forward to morning coffee and fellowship with the ladies of the church.

Survivors who cherish her memory are a sister-In-Law, Winnie;  two Brothers-In-Law. Kim and Edmond; five Step-Children Morris, Terry, Larry, Rene, and Sherry; 13 Grandchildren, 18 Great-Grandchildren, one Great-Great Grandchild, three nieces, a host of cousins, and many loving family members and friends.

There was cremation.

Rev. Jerry Miller and Rev. Daryl Gaddy will conduct memorials services at 11:00 AM Saturday, April 20th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS.

The family will receive friends from 10:30 AM until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County, Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott

Home Show Starts April 5: “More Vendors Than Ever”

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Approximately 60 vendors focusing on home,  sport, farm and garden, plus booths of community entities, await you at the  KOMB-FM 103.9 Home Show this weekend.

Fort Scott Broadcasting Company, owner of KOMB-FM and KMDO-FM is having its annual home show this Friday from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m to 3 p.m. at  Arnold Arena on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

Tim McKinney tells the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee attendees about the home show this weekend. Deb McKinney listens in the background.

“We will have tons of giveaways and great food,” McKinney told the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee, which they hosted at the show site. “We have more vendors than we have ever had.”

Participating vendors:

Advantage Metals, Albers Marine, Ascension Via Christi, Autumn Exteriors, Bath Innovations, Blue Valley Trailers, Briggs Auto, Bourbon County Conservation District, BN Hunting Supplies, Busy Bugs Pest Control, Care to Share, Community Health Center, City of Fort Scott, Common Ground/Astra Coffee, Country Place Senior Living, Covey Garage Doors, The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce/Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, FSCC Centennial Committee, Hague Quality Water, Heidricks Tru Value, Home Depot, Home Pro, Jim’s Sales, K-State/Southwind Extension District, LeafFilter, Live Local, Miller Feed & Farm, Momentum Indoor Training, Nemesis Contracting, Norris Heating and Air, O’Malley Implement, Phillip’s Lawn Care, Perry’s Pork Rinds, Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, Pro Active Agriculture, R II Concrete Construction, R&R Equipment, Redbud Farms, Rolox Home Service, Ruddick’s Furniture, Satellite Center, Seal Smart, Sharky’s Pub & Grub, Shirt Shack, SIT Solutions, Skitch’s Hauling & Excavating, Stewart Realty, Stutesman’s Action Realty, Sunscape Pool & Backyard, Thrasher, Inc., Tractor Supply Co., Twister Trailer, Visit Fort Scott, Wreath Ride, U.S. Cellular, and Yutzy Construction.

In conjunction with the home show, Fort Scott Community College is providing a kids fair from 9 a.m. to noon on April 6. Parents can leave their children at the kids fair and enjoy the home show, said Fort Scott Communication Director Kassie Cate.

 

Tim and Deb McKinney, owners of Fort Scott Broadcasting and Central Communications.

McKinney said his family opened the station in 1954 and the radio station is known for its local news, sports, talk and podcasts, live stream events, live play by play sports and more.

It is headquartered at 2 N. National Avenue and can be contacted at (620) 223-4500.