The Bourbon County Primary Election is August 6, next Tuesday.
Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Exercise your right as a U.S. citizen to vote your conscience in this election.
Correction from the Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason:
“This primary will only be for the City of Fort Scott and USD 234 position 3. The other schools, cities, FSCC, Extension District, etc. will not be on the Primary ballot.”
The November general election will be for Bourbon County cities, schools and K-State Extension Board positions.
The following are a list of polling places in the county.
1st Ward Community Christian Church DRYWOOD Grace Baptist Church
2nd Ward Grace Baptist Church FRANKLIN Mapleton Community Building
3rd Ward Grace Baptist Church FREEDOM Fulton Community Building
4th Ward Community Christian Church MARMATON Redfield City Hall
5th Ward Community Christian Church MILLCREEK Redfield City Hall
6th Ward Community Christian Church OSAGE Fulton Community Building
7th Ward Grace Baptist Church PAWNEE Redfield City Hall
“It’s My Very Own” Bags of Love, a ministry to provide children from birth-17 years old some “comfort” and immediate personal care items of their very own, after being removed from their home through the Department of Children and Family Services.
The ministry started in February 2016.
A group of volunteer women donate their time to come to the church and each one has a preference of what they do to help.
“Some sew the comforters, iron the fabric, cut the fabric, make duffle bags, tie the finished comforter or sew on labels or buttons,” said Janet Tucker, organizer of the ministry.
The meeting times are Monday evenings at the Seventh-day Adventist Church at 2308 East Jayhawk Road from 4-8 pm.
Call Janet Tucker, Chapter President at 620-768-9356 to check if the group is meeting that week.
Funding is provided by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.
FSACF serves to fulfill the philanthropic goals that benefit the common good and improve quality of life by providing leadership and programming that is responsive to the interest and needs of the residents of the Fort Scott area.
“Also the Bourbon County Community has been so good to donate from clubs, organizations, to individual’s,” Tucker said. “This mission has been so blessed by a community of giving people.”
Secretary David Toland Awards Community Service Tax Credits to Kansas Non-profits
Topeka, Kan. – Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today the award of Community Service Tax Credits (CSP) to 17 non-profit organizations to support education, healthcare and housing projects across the state.
CSP is a tool that dramatically enhances fundraising efforts, providing a 70% tax credit to qualified donors in rural communities of less than 15,000 population and 50% in larger communities. For example, a donor making a $100 gift in a rural community receives a $70 tax credit when they file their state taxes, making the net cost to the donor only $30.
“These nonprofit organizations provide so much to their communities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We must do everything we can to support them. Community Service Tax Credits will help build stronger communities and a stronger state.”
“Community Service Tax Credits are a powerful tool to fuel the success of important projects that support the quality of life in communities large and small,” Secretary Toland said. “I’m proud that these projects are both a reflection of Governor Kelly’s priorities and of the priorities of the communities. I wish we had the funds to assist everyone who applied. Many more applicants presented important and worthy projects that we were unable to fund this year.”
Awarded companies were chosen through a competitive, score-based selection process.
For this fiscal year, the Department of Commerce is fully disbursing all CSP funds. Due to the amount of funds allocated, 17 of the 39 requested projects (constituting 21.2% of the total funds requested) are being awarded.
The awarded companies and the indicated need for funds are as follows:
Camp Wood Young Men’s Christian Association (Elmdale) – Increasing capacity and safety through the Next Century Campaign, which aims to address both needs and be the final piece of renovations that will have improved every area of the 104-year-old statewide facility.
Carpenter Place, Inc. (Wichita) – Building a new cottage to provide a safe and secure home, provide individualized bedrooms for each resident and increase the capacity of residents. Because this organization serves girls through the age of 18, a potential liability is created when residents must share a bedroom. The new cottage with individualized bedrooms will eliminate this important safety concern.
Center City Academy, Inc. (Wichita) – Purchasing land and building/equipping a building to provide a high-quality early learning experience for children whose parents live and/or work in the downtown area. At least 50% of the children will come from low-income families who cannot afford childcare and preschool education that prepares their children to enter the Wichita public school system.
Florence Crittenton Services of Topeka, Inc. (Topeka) – Increasing Psychiatric Residential Treatment Program (PRTF) capacity by repurposing a residential unit for PRTF beds, finishing an unfinished basement area for more space to accommodate the increase in programming, replacing carpeting/flooring in high traffic areas of the building, and adding additional parking to accommodate increased staff and visitor traffic.
Interfaith Housing & Community Services, Inc. (Hutchinson) – Creating transitional housing in the form of 600 square-foot EcoHomes. The homes will be located in a designated neighborhood re-investment area and on empty lots where public infrastructure is already in place. A potential site has been properly identified through a land bank in Hutchinson and other lots will be considered in rural communities within a 100-mile radius of Hutchinson.
Labette Health (Oswego) – Construction of a Rural Health Clinic and Express Care in Oswego, KS. Located in Southeast Kansas, Oswego is a historically medically underserved community, according to HRSA. On February 14, 2019, Oswego Community Hospital abruptly closed, which left citizens of Oswego without access to primary or express care.
The Minneola Den, Inc. (Minneola) – Renovation of the facility in which The Den operates, to expand the program area to the north space to create a covered/concrete outdoor activity area, and to provide interior furnishing and upgrades to create an accessible restroom and to establish and expand program areas on the main and basement floors. The renovation will include engineering and design, demolition and site preparation, excavation and waterproofing of basement walls, and sheeting of existing walls of The Den on the north and west.
Morris County Hospital Foundation (Council Grove) – Restoration and re-opening of the White City and Alta Vista Clinics, which have been closed for several years.
Moundridge Manor Inc. (Moundridge) – Replacing the HVAC system in two wings to significantly increase the comfort of the frail and disabled seniors by enabling each resident room to have individualized climate control. Residents do not currently have control over the temperature in their room as each side of each wing is controlled by a single thermostat, which results in varying temperatures that are not always to everyone’s comfort.
Pleasant View Home Inc. (Inman) – Replacing the main generator (in place since 1959) and two fire panels (more than 20 years old) in order to ensure the safety of the more than 200 residents living on campus.
See to Learn Foundation (Topeka) – Ensure funding is provided to help provide Kansas children access to appropriate eye care. Vision problems affect one in five children in Kansas schools each year. Left unchecked, they can limit a child’s ability to succeed in school and can lead to self-esteem issues and behavior problems. These vision issues can affect any child, regardless of income or ability to pay.
SOS, Inc. (Lyndon) – Renovation of a newly acquired facility for Advocacy, Education and Outreach Services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Last year SOS, Inc., provided 18,134 services including crisis intervention, court support, safety plans, support groups, therapy services, 24-hour hotline, trauma services and more. This renovation project will bring all Advocacy and Outreach Services under one roof and help streamline operations in order to deliver services to more people in need.
Spearville Senior Living, Inc. (Spearville) – Construction and operations of a 12-bed skilled nursing unit and a 12-apartment assisted living complex using the “Greenhouse” model of resident-centered care. In addition to caring for 24 elderly residents, the new facility intends to offer more than 20 new jobs to residents of the Spearville area.
Starkey, Inc. (Wichita) – Creation of a new 20,000-square foot facility for the Life Enrichment program to support the daily needs of 250 people with goal-setting and skill-building activities. A new purpose-built facility would provide essential supports for the basic needs of the persons served, as well as provide new opportunities for living a full life. Program spaces would include small-group activity rooms where people could focus on specialized activities and tasks, but still have a multipurpose common space for activities and dining.
William Newton Memorial Hospital (Winfield) – Purchasing equipment necessary for a Cath Lab in the new expanded Surgical Center. This equipment will allow the Cath Lab to provide critical services for the area, as this organization would be the only one to offer that service.
Transition Plus Association (Summerfield) – Creation of growing towers that provide state-of-the-art indoor ability to grow vegetables three times faster than usual, allowing for more profit and sustainability of the business. They will be housed in the former school gym, where transitioning military can train in the methods of care, harvest and distribution. They can then take that knowledge with them and become vegetable farmers without needing to own expensive land or costly farm machinery, thereby eliminating two of the greatest barriers to new farmers.
About the Community Service Tax Credit Program (CSP)
Each year since 1994, the Kansas Community Service Program has given nonprofit organizations a way to improve their ability to undertake major capital fundraising drives for various projects. Tax credits are allocated each year and awarded on a competitive application basis to nonprofit organizations.
Projects eligible for tax credit awards include community service, crime prevention, health care, and youth apprenticeship and technical training. Based on the scope and cost of the proposed project, applicants may request up to $250,000 in tax credits. Applicant organizations in rural areas (less than 15,000 population) are eligible for a 70% credit. Applicant organizations in non-rural areas are eligible for a 50% credit.
Scores are tallied based on the following criteria, among others:
Need of the project
Solution compatibility (will this solution solve the need)
American Legion Post 25 Colorguard. Submitted photos.
The new Legion year has begun. The Legion calendar runs from July 1 – June 30 each year. Please consider renewing your Legion membership at this time. By doing so, you keep your mailbox from being cluttered with requests to renew from Legion National and you save the Legion printing and mailing costs that can be used for programs to support our Veterans and their families.
You can mail in the renewal notification you received in the mail. However, the quickest way to renew your membership is to go online to www.legion.org. Just follow the prompts to renew. We’ll be notified of your renewal and will mail you your new Legion card.
Online renewals are safe, easy and are quicker than writing a check, finding a stamp and mailing your renewal in.
You can also pay your 2020 dues at our August 5 meeting as well.
There is a Department membership contest for Posts that reach 75% by mid-September. We are very close to achieving that goal. We’ve been the Number 1 Kansas Post for two consecutive years. Let’s continue to set the bar high for other Posts.
The Legion Act has passed both houses of Congress. As soon as President Trump signs this bill into law, any honorably discharged Veteran who has served since December 7, 1941 can join the American Legion. There are many Bourbon County Veterans who can now join the American Legion and Post 25, in particular. Invite them to our next meeting or contact me for membership applications.
American Legion Post 25 Colorguard in the opening game at LaRoche Stadium, Fort Scott. Submitted photo.
The Post 25 baseball team finished 4th in the zone playoffs in Humboldt. This was the 1st Fort Scott American Legion team in several years. Our players did an outstanding job competing against nearby powerhouses such as Pittsburg and Iola. Kudos to Legionnaire and Vice Commander Earl Adams who pulled together a Legion baseball team and guided it to zone playoffs. Also, we also thank our many corporate and individual donors who helped the team fund its season.
Earl Adams, American Legion Post 25 baseball organizer. Submitted photo.
Next year, Post 25 will get an early start on the Legion’s baseball season and through community and Post 25 support, we hope to recruit and field a Fort Scott Legion baseball team by March, 2020. The American Legion baseball program is based on integrity and develops young men of character for our community and our nation. Our young men never gave up in a game. They played their hearts out until the last inning, even when it was obvious that the “W” was out of reach in a game.
A Past Post Commander of Columbus Post 3 commented how crisp and professional looking the Post 25 Color Guard is. He was very impressed with them and commented how long it’s been since he has observed an American Legion Color Guard presenting colors at an athletic event.
I have attached a copy of the July Department eNewsletter and the quarterly Sunflower. As a cost cutting measure, these publications are now only sent to registered to http://myLegion.org members.
To stay informed about National and Kansas Legion activities and events, go to myLegion.org and set up your own personal myLegion.org account. It’s easy to do and your information is never sold to any third party.
Legionnaires Marvin Taylor and Raymond Kalm are home recovering after being admitted to area hospitals for health issues. Let’s keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. If you are aware of a Legionnaire or a Legion family member in sickness or distress, please let me know so I can inform our Post Chaplain.
Upcoming Events
August 5. 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.
August 5. 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.
August 8. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 25 meets in Memorial Hall at 6 pm this month. All eligible female family members of veterans are invited to attend.
August 8. American Legion Post 25 Color Guard meets in Memorial Hall at 7 pm this month. The Post 25 Color Guard is open to all Post 25 Legionnaires and SAL members.
August17. Homecoming event at Shawnee American Legion Post 327 for Department Commander, Department Auxiliary President and Department SAL Commander. See below flyer for more details.
Remember to check out Post 25 on Facebook. It contains current information pertaining to Veterans and their families.
NEW VA Shuttle August Schedule
VA Shuttle Service between Fort Scott and Topeka/Kansas City VA facilities is now available Mondays – Thursdays.
The VA shuttle departs Fort Scott and depending upon the destination, riders can be picked up in Pleasanton, Louisburg and Ottawa. A rider must be at one the designated pickup locations.
The shuttle will go to either Topeka or Kansas City, but not both cities on the same day. The city destination is based upon the 1st Rider who calls to schedule a seat for either Topeka or Kansas City.
Shuttle seating is limited. Riders must schedule a seat by calling 785-925-0261 and leaving a message with their appointment day and time and a call back telephone number.
Veterans needing a caregiver to ride with them must let the scheduler know. Shuttle seating is limited so only authorized caregivers can accompany the Veteran.
Appointments can also be scheduled by email through [email protected].
Appointments must be between 9 am and 1 pm.
Contact shuttle coordinator Carl Jowers at 785-925-0261 or [email protected] with any questions you might have regarding the shuttle usage or for more information.
CRAW-KAN is now taking business and residential orders for fiber optic internet, high definition TV and phone service in the GREEN shaded area on the map above.
Joy Miller, K-State Research and Extension Southwind District Family and Consumer Science, 620-223-3720 or [email protected]
Replacing Your Social Security Card Just Got Easier in Kansas
Your Social Security card should be kept in a safe place with your other important papers and avoid giving it out unnecessarily. Even with best intentions, it may get misplaced. Keep in mind you may not need a replacement, sometimes simply knowing your Social Security number is enough.
If you do need a replacement, the state of Kansas has made it easier. Kansas residents now have the ability to request a Social Security card replacement online, allowing you to skip the in-person appointment process. Replacing your card is quick, secure, and free.
To replace your card online, first you will need to log in or create your My Social Security account. Your personal information is protected by using identity verification and other security features. To set up an account go to https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/.
To replace your card online, you must also meet certain criteria. This includes being a U.S. Citizen age 18 or older with a U.S. mailing address, cannot be requesting a name change or any other change to your card, and must have a driver’s license or state-issued identification card from one of the states participating in this program.
My Social Security is an online service provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows you to review your earnings history, check current or future benefits, and access other Social Security services. You can also use your My Social Security account to:
Check applications.
Set up direct deposit for your benefit payment.
Change your address or phone number.
Request a benefit verification letter.
Request a replacement of tax forms SSA-1099 or SSA 1042S.
Check the status of a pending claim or appeal of disability.
Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. (Prov. 16:24)
Last week, I wrote about heeding warning signs, especially those given to us by God dealing with choosing the right mate. It took no time at all for Dave to make me crazy. All I asked was for him to look up the definition of a clove of garlic—and yes, I should have known the answer. Bulb or clove, which is which? My brain simply refused to go there. (Sometimes it does that. But that’s a story for another time…provided I can remember it.)
Anyway, I was chopping garlic; Dave was sitting at the kitchen table, playing a word game on his phone. My recipe called for two cloves, but the “bulb-clove” thing confused me, so I asked for help. My sweet hubby needed to finish his game because he was being timed, and I guess he was going to win a kajillion dollars if he won, so I waited patiently. Then he started.
“Patty, did you know that garlic is related to the onion?”
“Lovely. What is a clove?”
“Did you know it comes from the genus Allium?”
“I don’t care where it comes from, Dave. What is a clove?”
“Here’s something interesting. It helps medically. Did you know that?”
“Did you know that I’m about to bang my head on the cutting board?”
“Patty, you’re really cranky, but I’m serious. It’s recommended for gout, snakebites, scalp ringworm, earaches, stomach aches, hemorrhoids…”
“That’s terrific, but unless you are getting a PhD in garlic, all I need to know is the definition of a clove.”
“Wow! It helps treat heart disease, enlarged prostate, chronic fatigue, stress, and…” “Dave, if it’s recommended for stress, I’m going to suck down this whole thing just to get me through this conversation.”
It was then I left Dave, excitedly rattling off all kinds of garlic gobbledegook, and walked into the living room where my computer is located, googled “clove of garlic” and found my answer. As I stopped chopping and tossed my two cloves in with the other ingredients, sweet hubby was still sharing his research.
“Do you want to know how to get rid of garlic breath?”
“Do you want to know how to get rid of a wife, because you’re getting close.”
“Gosh, Patty, I thought you’d find this interesting.”
“About as interesting as swallowing a bowling ball.”
“Cranky, cranky, cranky.”
As I write this, I think of wonderful Christian couples who never would have a conversation like this. Their words are bathed in prayer, and they purpose to edify each other. From the minute sweet hubby said, “Did you know that garlic is related to the onion?” they would have stopped chopping and shown interest. They would have asked for a handout and memorized the spreadsheet. They would have put the other person’s feelings first. I know that’s what God wants me to do. I know that time is short and I won’t have Dave forever (unless, I guess, we eat a whole lot of garlic).
Proverbs 16:24 gives us advice to guide our talk: Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. I need to memorize that scripture. Kind words benefit soul and body.
Then again, I could just chomp on a clove of garlic. If Dave’s lucky, maybe it remedies crankiness.
Hannah Vann, owner of Quick & Clean Auto Detail. Photos Submitted by Erin Vann.
This is part of a series that features area entrepreneurs under 30 years of age.
If you know of someone deserving this publicity, email [email protected] with your name, why you are nominating the entrepreneur, their name and email/phone number.
Hannah Vann of Fort Scott, 16, was nominated to be featured as a young entrepreneur by her aunt, Trisha Newton.
In May 2018 Vann started her business, Quick & Clean Auto Detail, working from her home.
“Last year when trying to work while being involved in sports and school she was finding it hard to find a job that worked well with her schedule,” Newton said. “So she decided to start detailing cars during her spare time.”
Hannah said the original reason for learning to detail cars was an argument with her mom.
“I started my business after my mother and I got into an argument over me being sassy,” Vann said. “As a punishment she made me clean our Suburban.”
“She and my aunt always said it would be nice to have a good clean, rather than a $100 detail, of their cars,” Vann said. “I realized I had an amazing opportunity to start a successful business, that also worked around all of my sports and school activities.”
Hannah is the daughter of Tarrell and Erin Vann.
“The unique part about her detailing is that she is not charging a ton like a normal detail costs, instead making it an affordable, quick clean,” Newton said. “Your basic vacuum/wipe down etc. for those busy people on the go and don’t want to spend an arm and a leg!”
The service includes an interior vacuum, and cleaning of windows, floor mats, dash, console, doors, door and seat trim.
“I charge $35 for cars and trucks and SUV’s start at $45,” Vann said.
“She has kept very busy all summer and continues to work hard for her customers,” Newton said.
The Friday Night Free Concert at Heritage Park this week will feature the Cherry Jammers music ensemble from the Cherry Grove Baptist Church.
It is held at 7 p.m. at the corner of Main and First Street in downtown Fort Scott.
“This group is one of our favorites who have performed for us for many years,” Ralph Carlson, event organizer for the Chamber of Commerce, said. “The group sings hymns and gospel classics. The group combines vocal and various musical instruments.”
Come early and bring a lawn chair as seating is limited.
In the event of bad weather the event will move to The Common Grounds Coffee Shop on Main Street.
