Monthly Archives: June 2019

Bourbon County, Government, Uncategorized

Bourbon County Commission June 11 Agenda: Evening Hours Scheduled

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

Date: June 11th, 2019

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

1:00-1:30-County Disaster Declaration

1:30-1:40-Health Department

1:45-2:00-Lora Holdridge-Budget Question

2:00-2:30-Jody Hoener- Tabacco Cessation-Employee Policy

2:30-3:00-Jerad Heckman

3:00-3:30-Jacqie Spradling- Attorney Budget

3:30-4:15-Justin Meeks

3:30-3:40-Executive Session-Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

3:40-4:15-Executive Session-Privileged in the attorney-client relationship

4:15-4:30-Clerk and Election Budget

**Evening Commission Meeting: 5:30-7:30**

5:30-6:00-Jim Harris

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

Government, Kansas

Aging and Disability Services Requests Waiver

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KDADS to Request HCBS Waiver Extension, Conduct Additional Stakeholder Engagement

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) is submitting a request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to extend its current Intellectual/Developmental Disability (I/DD) waiver, set to renew July 1, 2019, in order to allow additional time for discussions with stakeholders.

 

It is anticipated the Frail Elderly (FE) and Physical Disability (PD) waivers, scheduled to renew January 1, 2020, will require further engagement with stakeholders to address concerns and a similar request to extend these programs will submitted to CMS.

 

Requesting an extension from CMS will allow the waivers to stand as written and approved today while the agency works with stakeholders to ensure the waiver renewal submissions support choice and community inclusion.

 

“KDADS’s decision will provide an opportunity to re-engage stakeholders, consumers and families as concerns continue to be raised,” said Amy Penrod, Commissioner of the Aging & Disability Community Services & Programs. “We want to continue the initial conversations we’ve had and take the time to thoroughly evaluate every opportunity to incorporate changes that are best for Kansas.”

 

Kansas has always been at the forefront of home and community-based services and supports. Since taking over leadership of the agency less than six months ago, Secretary Laura Howard has laid out a strategic vision that includes enhanced collaboration to ensure the state continues to be innovative in the way it addresses the health care needs of Kansans.

 

“Requesting additional time to collaborate with partners and incorporate the wisdom and contributions others bring to the table will ensure Kansas uses these waiver renewals to continue its long-standing leadership in home and community-based services,” said Secretary Howard. “Taking a step back provides an opportunity to approach these waivers with a new perspective of putting people first, incorporating innovations and supporting self-determination and community inclusion.”

 

Rocky Nichols, Executive Director of the Disability Rights Center of Kansas, and Mike Burgess, Director of Policy & Outreach, said in a joint statement, “We very much appreciate the decision by KDADS to delay implementation of these waivers and instead reengage with stakeholders to make positive changes. Kansas self-advocates with disabilities, families and service providers expressed concerns about the current versions of the waivers and KDADS listened. They are to be commended for their prudent action to slow this process down to get this right and we look forward to working to improve these waiver submissions.”

 

These actions do not impact the Brain Injury (BI) waiver, which is set to include the expanded populations of adult and youth with acquired brain injuries.

 

In 2014, CMS published final regulations affecting 1915(c) waiver programs. The purpose of the regulations was to ensure individuals receive HCBS in settings that are integrated in and support full access to the greater community. The regulations also aimed to ensure that individuals have a free choice of where they live and who provides services to them, and that individual rights and freedoms are not restricted. CMS has moved away from defining HCBS settings based on specific locations, geography, or physical characteristics, to defining them by the nature and quality of the individual’s experiences. Fundamentally, the regulations set higher standards for HCBS settings in which it is permissible for states to pay for services using federal financial participation under Medicaid, known in Kansas as KanCare.

 

 

Cara Sloan

Public Information Officer / Website Administrator
Office of the Secretary

Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services

503 S. Kansas Ave

Topeka, KS 66603

Office: (785) 296-0807

Cell: (785) 249-6234

[email protected]

Bourbon County, Business

New Union Station Owners Welcomed by Ruritan

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Uniontown Ruritan sponsored a ribbon cutting for Union Station Convenience Store on May 11. From left: Ruritan member Joe George, Ruriteen member Luke George, Ruritan members Lawrence and Raymond George, owners Ronni and Dane Clayton, Ruritan members Henry Homan and Mark Warren and community member Linda Wilson.

Uniontown Ruritan sponsored a ribbon cutting to welcome the new convenience store owners, Ronni and Dane Clayton.

The Clayton’s took over ownership of Union Station Convenience Store from Ron and Susan Eldridge in April 2019.

The store sells gasoline, food, and beer and is located on Hwy. 3, one mile south of the Hwy. 54 junction.

The store is a gathering place for locals in the morning, unofficially called “The Liars Club.”

Hours are 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information: 620-756-4884.

 

Bourbon County, Sports

National Bike Race Coming To Fort Scott

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SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND CHEER RIDERS ON AS THEY PASS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY!

History
RAAM is an annual event that has been held every year since 1982. Cyclists from around the world compete to see who will be the fastest to pedal 3,000 miles coast-to-coast across the USA. The clock never stops during the race. There are solo and team divisions. Each participant is required to have a support crew. The winning solo riders will cross the country in less than 9 days, cycling over 300 miles per day, and teams will do it in 6 days, riding over 500 miles per day.

The Route
RAAM starts in Oceanside, California and finishes in Annapolis, Maryland. The route passes through 12 states: California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland

Estimated Arrival Times
The estimated arrival times for riders to pass through Fort Scott are:

Women: 6/17 05:32 through 6/18 20:23
Men: 6/15 23:02 through 6/18 08:34
Eight racer teams: 6/18 16:32
Four Racer Teams: 6/19 03:07
Two Racer Teams: 6/19 15:21
All Teams: 6/20 16:15

Need More Information?
To learn more about RAAM go to their website: www.raceacrossamerica.org

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Get Ready for the Bagworm Invasion

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Krista Harding
District Extension Agent, Horticulture
Southwind Extension District
111 S. Butler
Erie, KS 66733
Office: 620-244-3826
Cell: 620-496-8786

 

Bagworms are a yearly pest in our area and can cause considerable damage. Most homeowners typically don’t get too concerned about bagworm control until they see large bags present on plants. By then it is too late and the damage is already done! Now is the time to get your treatment game plan ready.

Bagworms overwinter as eggs deposited in the female bags. From mid-May through mid-June, larvae hatch from the eggs and exit from the bottom opening of the old bag. Larvae begin constructing their miniature silk-lined bags immediately. Only after the bags have been completed do the larvae begin actual feeding activities. And as the larvae grow, so do their bags. By mid-to late August when feeding activities are complete, larvae firmly anchor their bags to the twigs and branches on which they were feeding.

Bagworms are most commonly found on eastern red cedar and junipers. However, bagworms can attack arborvitae, spruce and pine. Broadleaf trees, shrubs and ornamentals can also serve as a host to bagworms. After bagworms have defoliated a host plant, they are capable of migrating in search of additional food sources. They may attack the same species from which they came or a completely different species.

The damage caused by bagworm feeding can be minimal to severe. As larvae enter their later development stages, they require greater amounts of food. Sometimes in what seems to be just overnight, bagworms can completely defoliate a tree. Several successive years of heavy foliar feeding can result in the death a tree, especially with conifers.

There are two ways to control bagworms – cultural and chemical. Cultural practice is used by those who do not want to utilize insecticidal sprays to control bagworms. Instead, bagworms are eliminated by handpicking individual bags from plants. This is best done in the winter months when bags stand out against a trees background color. Keep in mind that a single missed bag could result in a thousand new bagworm larvae. Of course handpicking becomes impractical when a host is literally covered with bags or it is too tall to make handpicking possible.

Chemical control is most effective when larvae are in their early developmental stages. Generally, bagworm larvae will begin emerging from the overwintering bag by mid-to late May. Hatching does not happen overnight. Instead, hatching can continue for 4 to 5 weeks. Controls applied in late summer are often a waste of time and expense because the larvae are large, tough and may have stopped feeding. Now is the time to find the correct insecticide and get the sprayers out and ready for the job ahead.

For more information on bagworm control, please contact me at one of our Southwind Extension District office locations.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Opinion

Get Rid of the Frogs…Now! By Pastor Jimmy Tucker

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The Bottom Line

 

 

Do you have a habit of putting off a dreaded chore until you feel like doing it? One thing on my to-do list is cleaning the garage, and that’s the one job I tend to move down to the bottom of the list. If I procrastinate too long, it becomes even harder to get done. I’ve learned that it’s better to keep it clean than to wait until it’s an overwhelming mess. If you’re not careful, your whole life can become cluttered and miserable with problems that you put off until “tomorrow.“ You have to quit putting things off because it only makes matters worse.

In the Book of Exodus, God sent Moses to deliver the children of Israel. The time had come for the Israelites to be set free from their 400 years of bondage in Egypt. Ten plagues were sent by God to make Pharaoh let His people go. The second plague was a mob of frogs that covered the entire land. Just imagine what it would be like to have slimy frogs knee-deep and jumping everywhere! Frogs were in their beds and in their drinking water. They were in their mixing bowls, pots and pans, and ovens. They were on the table and in their food — millions of frogs everywhere.

So Pharaoh begged Moses to plead with the Lord to take away the frogs. Moses asked him when he wanted to get rid of the frogs and Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow.“ Wow — that meant he had to spend another night with frogs in his bed. Why in the world would he put it off until tomorrow? I don’t know — maybe for the same reason people wait until later to do something that will change their life for the better. How long are you willing to let “frogs” make your life miserable? Those frogs will stick around as long as you let them, so get rid of them now!

Problems and/or sin in your life are stealing your peace and joy and they’re like those frogs. You know you should stop and deal with them; you want to do what you ought to do but you don’t. This is one way the devil traps you. “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it (James 4:17 NLT). If you don’t deal with sin and problems now, they’ll dominate your life and continue to get worse until they completely destroy you. Pharaoh is a good example of procrastination because he said he would let the people go nine times, but didn’t. Not until after the final plague, which was the death of every Egyptian firstborn son — even the son of Pharaoh died.

It’s your decision whether to keep the frogs a little longer or get rid of them. Don’t delay another day! The Bible says that you can’t free yourself from sin without God’s help. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 KJV). God can do anything. He rolled the Red Sea back so the Israelites could cross on dry land, and then He caused it to return to normal and all the pursuing army of Pharaoh drowned. God will deliver you just as He delivered the Israelites from Egypt. God will remove the frogs, but He waits for your decision to trust Him.

The Bottom Line: It’s your move. You set the time. Will it be now or ….

Pastor Jimmy Tucker

(620) 223-1483

Diamond Community Church

2591 Jayhawk Road

10:45 a.m. Worship

Obituary

Obituary of Irene Schooley

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Irene Clara Schooley

Irene Clara Schooley, age 87, a resident of rural Walnut, Kansas, passed away Friday, June 7, 2019, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.

She was born July 4, 1931, near Hepler, Kansas, the daughter of Charles Grannemann and Amanda Kroenke Grannemann.

She married Warren Schooley on April 27, 1952, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hepler.

Irene worked for many years as secretary at the Uniontown High School. In addition to working at the school, she also helped her husband with the work on their farm. She always grew a large garden to provide for the needs of her family. She also enjoyed sewing and often made clothes for her daughters. She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hepler.

Survivors include her husband, Warren and her two daughters, Jan Reimer and husband, Cal, of Topeka, Kansas and Bev Nelson and husband, Rod, of Ft. Scott, Kansas; six grandchildren, Seth Reimer (Jennifer), Kelly Reimer (Natasha), Cassi Kuhn (Scott), Stacy Jackson (Chris), Kristen Pope (Dustin), and Blake Nelson (Cori) and thirteen great-grandchildren, J. T., Kinslee, Anton, Alisa, Hunter, Makenzie, Brooklyn, Mason, Kaden, Kennedy and triplets, Maddox, Zander, and Bryson who share their birthday of July 4th with their great-grandmother. Also surviving are two sisters, Ella and Helen.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Ben and two sisters, Selma and Florence.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, June 12th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Immanuel Lutheran Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Opinion

Remodeling God’s House by Pastor James Colllins

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Pastor James Collins

Remodeling God’s House

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

1 Corinthians 3:16

The two most important things I have learned in my life are: Number one, Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. And number two, if Momma ain’t happy there ain’t nobody happy.

The other day, I heard a terrible slamming noise from the kitchen. I walked in and my wife, Amanda, was slamming a cabinet door. I could tell from the expression on her face that she was upset. I asked, “Sweetie, what’s wrong?” She glared at me and growled, “Nothing.”

Amanda and I grew up together. I have known her for many years. When she says that “nothing” is wrong, it means that something is terribly wrong. It usually means that I messed up somehow. Furthermore, it means I should know what I did to mess things up.

My mind began to race. What did I do? I was pretty sure that I had not forgotten a birthday or an anniversary. I took out the trash. I put the toilet seat down. What did I do? Then it hit me. She is upset about the kitchen.

When Amanda and I moved to Fort Scott, Kansas, we purchased a Victorian House that was built in 1887. The kitchen had been remodeled numerous times over the years. It is in desperate need of remodeling again. Amanda was not happy with the old kitchen. So, I went to work. For the past two weeks, I have been remodeling the kitchen.

Remodeling is different from building a new home. When you build a new home, workers go out and pour a slab. Then they begin the construction. The great thing about building a new house is you live somewhere else while all the construction is happening. The difficult thing about remodeling a house is you live there during the construction.

When you remodel, you must take some things out before you can put in the new. It gets messy. It is messy when you tear apart a home while you are living there so you can rebuild the inside and make it more beautiful.

Amanda and I have completely remodeled five homes since we have been married. We have ripped up floors. Then we have put new tile and new wood floors in the place of the old. We have torn out walls. Then we have hung new sheetrock. We have ripped out cabinets. Then we have hung new ones. While we were doing the remodeling, we lived in all that mess.

The Bible says if you are a Christian, then you are the house of God. Do you need to take some things out of your life as part of God’s remodeling project? Put down that beer. Don’t smoke that joint. Turn off that pornography. Don’t go to bed with that person. Refuse to give up on your marriage. Get out of that alternative lifestyle. Quit telling those lies. Say, “no” to sin.

Remember, it is messy when you remodel. Giving up those sins will be messy. The devil wants you to stay trapped in sin. He will throw everything he can at you to keep you in sin. The devil wants you to stay addicted. The devil wants your marriage to end. The devil wants you to be defeated. But the Holy Spirit lives within you. Greater is He that is within you, than he that is in the world.

The point is: Everyone could use a little remodeling. Allow God to do an extreme makeover from the inside out. Let the Lord transform you today.

Pastor James Collins serves at Fort Scott’s First Southern Baptist Church. He can be reached at (620) 223-2986 or through the webpage www.thepointis.net.

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Lowell Milken Center Celebrates D-Day

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The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes celebrated the 75th
D-Day anniversary events throughout the day of June 6th.

The Center honored unsung hero, Andrew Jackson Higgins with the following events: 8 am Chamber Coffee, 10 am unveiling of the new Higgins children’s book by author, Cathy Werling, 3 pm Question and Answer with Skipper Higgins and a 4 pm Wine and Cheese.

All events were at the Center, 1 South Main Street
in Fort Scott.

The following were submitted photos:

Bourbon County, Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott

What’s Happening in Fort Scott This Week by the Chamber of Commerce

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Kids Eat Free Lunch At The Keyhole, noon to 1pm, Mon.-Fri., now through July 26th!! 10th & Main St., across from the Fort Scott High School

Sack lunches will be provided to those under 18. Children check in, no need to give names, and then pick up a lunch of shelf-stable meals. Open to all kids, regardless of income; no need to reside in Fort Scott
Care to Share (“The Sharing Bucket”) will be hosting the 5th Annual “TaTa” Ride on June 15th, 2019 and an “AR-15 Gun Raffle”. Raffle tickets are $5 each and on sale now! ATF Regulations apply. Contact Stacey Wright for tickets or more info. (See flyer below)
Hedgehog.INK now has gardening books on the sale rack in the front of the store – These books are FREE, for a donation to Fort Scott High School Thespians. Funds raised will help send students to the international competition in late June
Benefit Bass Fishing Tournaments & Raffles for Class of ’91 Grad Chad Elmer – Entry fees will go toward’s Chad’s upcoming expenses and prize money. Raffles include fishing and outdoor gear, ammo, an AR15 gun, and more! (See flyer below for complete details)
7-8
Weekly Livestock Sale at Fort Scott Livestock Market. Starting at 10am on both Fridays & Saturdays
Fridays:  Cows, Pairs, Big Bulls
Saturdays:  Stocker & Feeder Cattle, followed by any cows & bulls that come in late Friday & Saturday. Cafe open both sale days. You don’t have to be a buyer, just to come watch the sale and visit the cafe!
7 YPL First Friday Luncheon (Young Professional’s League of Bourbon County) – Papa Don’s,
10 N. Main St., 12-1pm

Open to YPL members or anyone interested in the organization
7 Friday Night Concert in the Park – Heritage Park Pavillion, 1st & Main St., 7-8pm

This Friday’s show will feature the local favorite band “The Eastsiders”. The band does Christian, gospel and classic rock. Many of the songs are originals written by lead singer Danny Brown. The crowd loves this band!

The concerts are organized by Ralph Carlson. If you or someone you know is interested in performing, contact Ralph at [email protected]

Bring your lawn chair as seating is limited. In the event of rain, we will move to Common Ground Coffee Co., at
116 S. Main St.
8 Farmer’s Market – Skubitz Plaza (in front of the historic fort)

Saturday Mornings, 8:00am – 12:00pm

Fort Scott Farmers’ Market is a farmer driven and run market. The farmers work hard to produce the very finest produce available. We also provide a great venue for community organizations to promote their mission and raise funds

We are focused on fresh locally produce farm products
8 Kiwanis 3-Person Scholarship Scramble – Woodland Hills Golf Course, 2414 S. Horton, 9am-2pm

Contact Shannon O’Neil for more information/registration: 620-223-5060
8 Storytime at Hedgehog.INK – 16 S. Main St., 10:30am

Join Addisyn for a celebration of fairy tales! (See flyer below)

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/hedgesbookstore/
8
5th Annual Fire Department Benefit Ride – this year’s ride will benefit local family, Jack & Stephanie Lockwood. Stephanie is battling leukemia (See flyer below)

Schedule:
12pm – register at Fire Station 1
1pm – 100 mile ride begins at Fire Station 1 (1604 S. National Ave.), ends at Holmtown Pub (206 N. National Ave.)
5pm – Live music by Royce Hyer
6pm – Live music by the Dirty Bourbon Band

There will be a gun raffle inbetween bands. Come on out and help support the Lockwood family!

To watch a Dirty Bourbon Band video, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DirtyBourbonBand/
8
Cinema Saturdays at the Gordon Parks Museum – FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center, 2108 S. Horton, 12-2pm

The Gordon Parks Museum will show the films of Gordon Parks on Saturdays this summer starting on June 8 at 12:00 p.m. in the museum on the FSCC campus.  This free event will feature Mr. Parks’ films and one of Kevin Willmott’s films
8
Barks & Brews at Boiler Room Brewhaus – 2 S. National Ave.

Join Paws and Claws as we celebrate the release of the Farm Dog Pils from The Boiler Room Brewhaus. In addition to a great, local craft beer, there will be sodas, food, and live music. A portion of proceeds from Farm Dog sales will be donated to Paws and Claws. Hot dogs and sides available for a free will donation. We will even have a few furry critters available for adoption and some great pet products to raffle off!
8 BBQ Fundraiser for Hammond Community Center Maintenance – Hammond Community Center, 2275 Soldier Rd., 5-7pm

Please help us maintain our beloved community building!

Free Will Offering * Take Out Available

Menu: Smoked Ham/Pulled Park, Baked Beans,
Coleslaw, Bread, Dessert, Tea/Water/Lemonade
9 Team Trivia at the Boiler Room Brewhaus – 10 S. National,
3-5pm

Exciting, fun and challenging team trivia. Put your team together (maximum of 8 teams, maximum of 5 members on a team)

$5 per person. Cash prizes for winning team. Pre-register at the tap room