Pete’s north c-store (formerly Cowen’s) approx. 1/4 mile,
location is on your left –
2-story home with historic rock building
in rear which is The Pot Pantry)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 8:00 a.m.
Notes for the Coffee:
* Rain is predicted, bring an umbrella or rain jacket
* Get your breakfast in the main house, enter through orange porch
* Then, come to adjacent rock Pot Pantry for the networking/Coffee
* Take a selfie photo with some awesome paintings!
* Save the date for Art in the Yard ~ flyer below!
Study area identified and drinking water testing opportunities available
More than 15 years ago data was collected by the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) on the declining quality of groundwater in the Arkansas River region due to naturally occurring sources. The Kansas Water Office along with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Kansas Department of Agriculture will be working with KGS and Groundwater Management District No. 3 in a two-year study to collect current, updated data in the areas adjacent to the river and surface irrigation canals in Hamilton, Kearny, Finney, Gray, and Ford counties in response to a legislative resolution passed this past 2019 session, Senate Resolution No. 1729.
In an effort to help update data, a study area has been identified and the state of Kansas is providing the opportunity for domestic well owners in those areas who use their well(s) for drinking water purposes to have their water tested for free. Test results will be provided back to the well owner and used in the broader study to determine overall regional groundwater quality. Please note, water from public water supply systems is routinely tested and meets all safe drinking water standards, and therefore is not included in this study.
The state is working with the five listed county health departments and conservation districts have water sampling kits available to private well owners. This will be a phased approach starting with Hamilton County, followed by Kearny, Finney, Gray and Ford. Those who use their well(s) for drinking water purposes are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to help update the water quality data in this study area. Participation in this study is voluntary.
Sample kits will be available beginning in Hamilton County on August 19 with the other counties to follow.
Jean Isaac, 81, formerly of Uniontown, Kansas, passed away Tuesday morning, July 30, 2019, in Mission, Kansas. She was born February 18, 1938, in Uniontown, Kansas, the daughter of Earl and Iva (Holt) Wittsell.
Jean was a school teacher for twenty-five years, retiring in 2000 from the Uniontown School District, USD235. Her life centered around her children and grandchildren, and teaching.
Jean is survived by her children, Kim Irby and husband Steve of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Kelly Goss and husband Randall of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Barry Isaac & wife Frankie of Pittsburg, Kansas, Tammy Townsend and husband Mike of Fort Scott, Kansas, and Cody Isaac and partner Randy McPherson of Mission, Kansas; twelve grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her son, Randy Isaac.
Following cremation, the family will receive friends for a visitation Saturday afternoon, August 3, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Memorial contributions are suggested to USD235 and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
The 911 text console located in the Fort Scott Police Department Dispatch Center. Submitted photo.
The Fort Scott Police Department launched a service to help people who might not be able to talk in an emergency situation.
“Text to 911 Service is a service that is now available for individuals to be able to text 911 calls if they do not have the ability to call,” Traci Reed, Fort Scott Police Department Dispatch Center Manager, said. ” For example if an individual is somewhere and they may not want someone to hear them making the call because of immediate danger, they have the ability to text the information instead of calling, or a caller may not be able to get through on a phone call due to service, but may be able to get through as a text.”
The service, Text to 911, was launched on April 12, 2018.
“We integrated the NG911 system on this date as well and the Text to 911 was one of the services that were included in the system,” Reed said.
“The Text to 911 benefits the citizens of Bourbon County ensuring the safety of our community, which is our number one priority,” she said. “Citizens know that they not only have the option to call 911 in a time of need but they have the ability to text as well. Text 911 then you send a message just like you do when sending any other text. Our emergency dispatcher types back and forth to the sender requesting information the same as when an individual calls in.
The system is located in the Fort Scott Police Department Dispatcher Center, 1604 S. National Avenue.
The Fort Scott Police Department electric sign stands outsite the department, located at 1604 S. National Avenue.
Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office
Arrest Summary Report includes
Charges, Bond Type, Bond Amt.
BOURBON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Warrant No
PASTRICK, WYATT READ, 22, – 2019-000702
Warrant Type
7/30/2019 8:00:00 AM
SENTENCED * NO BOND 0.00 NO
0.00Bond Total
Charges Bond Type Bond Amt.
BOURBON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Warrant No
ALDERSON, CODY Z, 31, – 2019-000703
Warrant Type
7/30/2019 11:45:00 AM
DOMESTIC BATTERY; KNOWING/RECKLESS BODILY HARM
CASH/SURETY 1000.00NO
1000.00Bond Total
Charges Bond Type Bond Amt.
FORT SCOTT POLICE DEPARTMENT
Warrant No
JOHNSON, PATRICK LEE, 55, – 2019-000704
Warrant Type
7/30/2019 12:33:00 PM 7/30/2019 2:51:00 PM
DRIVING WHILE HABITUAL VIOLATOR CASH/SURETY 1250.00 NO DWS; MISDEMEANOR; UNK CONV CASH/SURETY 1250.00 NO
2500.00Bond Total
Charges Bond Type Bond Amt.
FORT SCOTT POLICE DEPARTMENT
Warrant No
STATON, KRISTEN RANAE, 38, – 2019-000705
Warrant Type
7/30/2019 2:56:00 PM
WARRANT BOURBON COUNTY ( BOND REVOKE) * NO BOND 0.00 2018-CR-504NO
0.00Bond Total
Charges Bond Type Bond Amt.
BOURBON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Warrant No
BACON, LUKE MICHAEL, 28, – 2019-000706
Warrant Type
7/30/2019 3:00:00 PM
WARRANT BOURBON COUNTY ( FAILURE TO APPEAR) * NO BOND 0.00 2019-CR-000289NO
0.00Bond Total
Charges Bond Type Bond Amt.
BOURBON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Warrant No
HYER, DANIELLE VICTORIA, 33, – 2019-000707
Warrant Type
7/30/2019 4:26:00 PM
WARRANT BOURBON COUNTY ( BOND REVOKE) * NO BOND 0.00 18-CR-296NO WARRANT BOURBON COUNTY ( BOND REVOKE) * NO BOND 0.00 19-CR-221NO
0.00Bond Total
Charges Bond Type Bond Amt.
BOURBON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Warrant No
TINDILL, CODY MATTHEW, 20, – 2019-000708
Warrant Type
7/31/2019 7:00:00 AM
SENTENCED * NO BOND 0.00 NO
0.00Bond Total
In a significant legislative victory for The American Legion, President Trump signed a bill July 30 that declares the United States has been in a state of war since Dec. 7, 1941.
The American Legion sought the declaration as a way to honor approximately 1,600 U.S. service members who were killed or wounded during previously undeclared periods of war.
The LEGION Act (Let Everyone Get Involved In Opportunities for National Service Act) also opens the door for approximately 6 million veterans to access American Legion programs and benefits for which they previously had not been eligible.
“Recognizing the service of these wartime veterans is the right thing do and it is long overdue,” National Commander Brett Reistad said. “The families of those who were killed or wounded during these wartime acts should take pride in knowing that we recognize their sacrifice and service. Moreover, we are proud to welcome any of the six million living veterans from the previously unrecognized periods into our organization and call them ‘Legionnaires.’”
Now that the legislation has been signed, The American Legion’s eligibility criteria immediately changes from seven war eras to two: April 6, 1917, to Nov. 11, 1918, and Dec. 7, 1941 to a time later determined by the federal government. No other restrictions to American Legion membership are changed.
The law’s journey began on Feb. 14 when Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., introduced S. 504, along with Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. A companion measure, H.R. 1641, was introduced in the House by Reps. Lou Correa, D-Calif., and Ben Cline, R-Va.
Reistad expressed gratitude to the bipartisan members of Congress for passing the legislation.
“We are grateful that President Trump fully acknowledges the importance of The American Legion by signing the LEGION Act in the White House today – just one week after it passed the House of Representatives,” Reistad said. “In an era of partisan gridlock, Republicans and Democrats in Congress overwhelmingly recognized the importance of allowing thousands of honorable but previously ineligible veterans the right to join the largest and most influential veterans organization in the country.”
Reistad pointed out that existing American Legion membership applications are in the process of being updated but can still be used. “In the meantime, I recommend that prospective Legionnaires and recruiters write ‘LEGION Act’ in the eligibility date section of American Legion membership applications if they fall outside the previous war eras,” Reistad said. “The larger pool of veterans now eligible for The American Legion will also open their family members to eligibility in the Sons of the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary as well.”
Any Veteran who has served one day on active duty and was honorably discharged can now join the American Legion.
We have quite a few Bourbon County Veterans who can now join the Fort Scott American Legion. I already have four area Veterans ready to join our Post. Reach out to Veterans you know and ask them to join us.
Contact me for membership applications OR invite them to our next meeting on Monday, August 5 at 7 pm. All they need in order to join our Post is proof of honorable service and their first year’s dues of $40
The public hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 regarding the rate increase for Lake Fort Scott sewer customers has been cancelled. It will be rescheduled with the next City sewer rate increase.
Board members approved an Early Retirement and 4030) Employer Match Plan
Provisions and Groups for licensed employees and Match Plan
Provisions and Groups for classified employees for the 2019-20 school year.
In addition, the board approved a revised
2019-20 school calendar and ratified the 2019-20 negotiated agreement.
There were no sealed bids received for the sale of the property at 21 3 Scott Avenue.
The board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel, returned to open meeting, and approved the following employment matters:
A. Resignation of Curt Toll, high school teacher aide, effective at the end of the 2018-19 school year
B. Resignation of Debra Baimi, middle school paraprofessional, effective August 16,
2019
C. Resignation of Gary Floyd, high school paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2018-19 school year
D. Resignation of Alyssa Park, high school cook, effective July 24, 2019
E. Transfer of Brenda Hill, Eugene Ware instructional coach, to elementary instructional coach for the 20 1 9-20 school year
F. Contract extension for Josh Messer, high school counselor, for the 20 I 9-20 school year
G. Appointment of Robyn Kelso as the high school attendance officer for the 2019-20 school year
H. Employment of Emily Elliott for high school vocal presentations and musical music director/middle school vocal presentations for the 2019-20 school year
I. Employment ofDelynn Abati as high school play assistant for the 2019-20 school year
J. Employment of Taylor Qualls as high school play assistant for the 2019-20 school year
K. Resignation of Stewart Guss, Eugene Ware custodian/bus driver, from his bus driver duties only, for the 2019-20 school year
L. Employment of Amy Harper as high school sophomore sponsor for the 201 9-20 school year
M. Resignation of Stacey Dawson, high school custodian, effective at the end of the 2018-19 school year
The board approved a 5% raise for administrative and classified employees for the 2019-20 school year.
Fort Scott Community College Greyhounds continue with academic awesomeness! Over 200 students made it on either the Honor Roll list (GPA 3.5-3.74), Vice President’s list (GPA 3.75-3.99), or President’s list (GPA 4.0+) for the spring 2019 semester!
“The Fort Scott Community College Administration and Faculty
are extremely proud of our students. Congratulations on your outstanding academic achievement during the spring 2019 semester”, says VP of Student Services, Janet Fancher.
FSCC students, keep up the hard work and dedication. We cannot wait to see what our centennial class has to offer in the fall of 2019!!
Congrats Greyhounds!!!
#GoGreyhounds
To review the full list(s) of honorees, please click HERE.
Hay bales, wheat, soybeans, and corn, those are the normal scenes in rural Kansas during the summertime.
But a new alternative crop is possible in the summer of 2019.
Hemp production has come to Kansas following Former Governor John Colyer’s enactment of the Alternative Crop Research Act in April 2018.
Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks, of the Bourbon County Commission, was asked to provide information to the commission on hemp.
“Hemp is not marijuana,” Meeks said. “The size is different, the hemp plant is much bigger. And you can’t get high from hemp.”
There are three people, called licensees, legally planting hemp in Bourbon County, according to Jason Walker, Public Relations Director for the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
Regulations and procedures for planting hemp in Kansas are quite rigorous, Meeks stated.
None the less, there are those who have started planting.
“As of July 22, 2019, the Kansas Department of Agriculture has received the notification, through required planting reports, that roughly 1170 acres of industrial hemp have been planted in Kansas,” Walker said. He noted that 65 acres are licensed (potential) acres in Bourbon County.
Joe Bisogno, Jr. started growing hemp on eight acres on a small acreage in Bourbon County this month, he said.
He prefers not to give the location of the area where he is growing the hemp “So people won’t try to come to look at it,” he said.
“When you license to grow hemp, you can’t have anybody in the designated area, they can’t come on the property,” Bisogno said.
“The application process involves each person that touches the field (where hemp is produced) has to get a background check,” Meeks said.
Bisogno said he traveled the country to see how to plant, process and harvest the plant first hand, before taking the plunge into growing hemp.
“Joe Bisogno Jr. and Joe Bisogno Sr. have done a lot of work at the legislative level for hemp production,” Meeks said. “They deserve credit for that.”
The recent planting on Joe Jr.’s small acreage is for research purposes, he said.
“I’m doing research on the hemp,” he said. “I plan to compare how hemp grows in two different soil types.”
Bisogno is planting the hemp for economic reasons.
“You can make money on a small acreage,” he said.
“It’s easily a billion-dollar industry,” Meeks, said. “There are thousands of articles that can be made from hemp, such as flooring and clothing.”
Here is the history of how Kansans came to grow hemp, provided by Kansas government links.
Then-Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. signed Senate Bill 263 ( K.S.A. 2-3901 et seq.) in April 2018, which enacted the Alternative Crop Research Act allowing the Kansas Department of Agriculture to oversee the cultivation of industrial hemp in a research program, according to the website https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/plant-protect-weed-control/industrial-hemp
“The KDA legal staff and plant protection and weed control program staff quickly began the process of developing regulations and other administrative documents and procedures to guide the Alternative Crop Research Act, according to the website.
“Since that time, KDA staff participated in more than 14 public outreach events across the state, which began with an open dialogue and information exchange at a public forum May 11 and included a public hearing prior to publishing the regulations.
“The regulations were approved by the Department of Administration and the Attorney General and reviewed by the Legislative Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations before final regulations were published in the Kansas Register on Jan. 24, 2019. They became effective on Feb. 8, 2019, 15 days following their publication.
“The Industrial Hemp Research Program became possible because the 2014 Farm Bill included a section to allow for universities and state departments of agriculture to begin cultivating industrial hemp for purposes of research, provided that the growing and cultivating of industrial hemp is allowed under state law.
“Industrial hemp is defined by SB 263 as all parts and varieties of the plant cannabis sativa L that contain a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of no more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.
“The recent passage of the 2018 Farm Bill removed federal restrictions on the establishment of commercial hemp programs and allows individual states to develop a plan to license the commercial production of hemp and further directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a plan for states that do not do so.
“In order to establish a program for the commercial production of industrial hemp, Kansas must develop a plan through KDA, in consultation with the Governor and Attorney General. Any such plan must be submitted to USDA for approval.
“The opportunity to grow a new specialty oilseed crop in Kansas offers potential for diversification for Kansas farmers looking for an alternative crop, or for new farming enterprises interested in cultivating industrial hemp.
“The Kansas agriculture industry has developed a statewide strategic growth plan in recent years, and is committed to pursuing new and innovative opportunities to grow agriculture.
“The research generated by participants of this new industrial hemp program will be valuable data in identifying the growth potential offered in this sector.”
