Monthly Archives: February 2020
2020 Spring Job Fair April 9
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Legislative Update By State Senator Caryn Tyson
February 21, 2020
You may have seen reports on the Gallup ‘Mood of the Nation’ poll conducted in January, stating that 86% of American’s are satisfied with their personal life and that confidence in the U.S. economy is at a 20 year high. We are blessed to be in Kansas, the heartland of America.
Legislation 101 Senate Bill (SB) 294, the bill we are following in these updates, that brings transparency to your property tax increases, did not have any movement to date. Hopefully, the majority leader will bring the bill above the line for a debate on the senate floor. We are almost to the half-way point of session, known as turnaround. Bills that have not been in an exempt committee or passed the originating chamber before turnaround will die. SB 294 is an exempt bill because Tax is an exempt committee. Therefore, it could be worked on the Senate floor after turnaround. I’ll keep you posted.
Kansas law allows for online driver license renewal under certain conditions. SB 326 would change the upper age limit for online renewals from 50 to 65 years of age. The bill passed 39 Yes to 0 No.
SB 342 would provide Kansans an option to receive electronic notification for driver’s license renewal notices. I offered an amendment to the bill in committee that would allow you to op-out of electronic notifications, so that future notices would be sent by mail. The amendment passed without objection. The bill passed the Senate 39 Yes to 0 No.
SB 58 would allow a citizen to file a petition requesting a district court grand jury. A judge would review the petition. If a judge finds the petition is in proper form a grand jury will be called within 60 days. If the petition is denied, the person who filed it can appeal the judge’s decision not to summon a grand jury. The bill passed the Senate on a vote of 28 Yes and 11 No. I voted Yes.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
Talk to Your Government Representatives Feb. 29 In Fort Scott
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Bourbon County Art Council Exhibition and Art Sale March 5-7
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Gordmans Celebrates Those Born on Feb. 29
On Feb. 29, Gordmans is throwing a birthday party for anyone with a Leap Year birthday. The fun festivities will include birthday hats, streamers, balloons plus cupcakes and a special gift for the Leap Year birthday gal or guy.
Gordmans is putting the fun back into shopping by having special events like celebrating Leap Year birthdays. Special in-store activities for those celebrating their birthday on February 29 include:
Special Gift – Guests and their friends celebrating a Leap Year birthday will receive a special gift on Feb. 29. Remember to bring a valid ID to the store to receive your gift.
Cupcakes & More – No birthday is complete without treats, hats, streamers and balloons.
Birthday Shout Outs – Gordmans associates will acknowledge guests with Leap Year birthdays over the PA system, wishing them a special day and thanking them for shopping at Gordmans.
Style Circle Rewards – For guests not celebrating a Leap Year birthday, there’s still something for you: sign up for Gordmans’ Style Circle Rewards program so you will receive a special gift on your birthday, in addition to perks and payback rewards every time you shop at Gordmans.
Gordmans, part of the Stage community of stores, is delivering a whole new shopping experience. Gordmans is an off-price retailer, which means Gordmans offers popular name brand apparel, on-trend home décor and other merchandise for the entire family at prices that are lower than department stores.
Because consumers are responding positively to Gordmans’ off-price concept, Stage is converting its department stores to Gordmans off-price stores during 2020. In addition, for further convenience, customers can ship their Amazon orders to Gordmans’ in-store Amazon Counter for fast, flexible and secure package pick-up.
If you or someone you know is celebrating a Leap Year birthday, come on over to Gordmans on Feb. 29 and join the party!
Obituary of Marilyn Bruner
Marilyn Louise Bruner, age 76, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, February 24, 2020, at her home. She was born November 5, 1943, in Mapleton, KS, the daughter of Walter Eberly and Agnes Mackie Bruner.
Marilyn loved spending time with her family, especially her nieces and nephews. She and her brother Joe always planted a large garden. She enjoyed baking, cooking, dancing, gardening, playing cards and board games. She also enjoyed attending church and dining out with friends. Her CB handle was “Dancing Queen”.
Survivors include a sister, Venita Miller, Kincaid, KS; two sisters in law, Darla Bruner, Ft. Scott, KS, and Freda Bruner, Mound City, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by five sisters, Pauline Seitz, Lorraine Wilcox, Leora Ross, Shirley Ball, and an infant sister; three brothers, Virgil, Joseph, and Willard Bruner; and her parents.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, February 29th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Sunny Slope Cemetery, Blue Mound, KS.
The family will receive friends from 9:30 AM until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Marilyn Bruner memorial fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Bourbon County Commission Agenda For February 25
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: February 25, 2020
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
9:00-9:45 – Jim Harris
9:45-10:15 – Justin Meeks, Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
1:30-2:15 – Jody Hoener, Healthcare Presentation
2:15-2:30 – Rachel Martin, Windmills
2:30-2:45 – Deb Lust, Windmills
2:45-3:00 – Barb Peine, Windmills
3:00-3:15 – Joe Ludlum, Windmills
Fostering Fiscal and Economic Growth in the Community: Public Invited on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26
The public is invited to be a part of planning for community economic and fiscal health on Feb. 25 from 6-7 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the River Room Event Center, located above Luther’s BBQ at National Avenue and Oak Stree.
“Tuesday evening is a presentation and the actual workshop is on Wednesday,” Fort Scott Community Development Director Robert Uhler said.
Smart Growth America is coming to Fort Scott.
Smart Growth America empowers communities through technical assistance, advocacy and thought leadership to create livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity, according to its’ website:
https://smartgrowthamerica.org/
“We first met the Smart Growth people when we went on our first trip to DC in March of 2019, working with Strategic Implementation plan,” Uhler said.
“Smart growth policy can help communities save money now, reduce their liabilities for the future and use targeted investment to spur economic development,” Uhler noted. “The ‘planning for economic and fiscal health’ workshop draws on successful private and public sector lessons to help local leaders foster smart growth communities that cost their taxpayers less to build, run and maintain.”
“This workshop first brings you the latest lessons in how smart growth saves money for local governments, makes money for businesses and is integral for the long-term fiscal and economic health of the community,” he said. “Using an interactive and hands-on method, the workshop then shows how to apply these lessons in your community.”
The first half of the technical assistance workshop on Wednesday focuses on how approaches save the community money, including increasing tax revenues and reducing tax burdens, attracting new businesses, increasing the efficiency of the labor market, providing greater stability in times of uncertainty and rising energy costs, investing public funds to stimulate private investment, increasing local capital circulation and providing a foundation for long term fiscal and economic health and competitiveness, according to information provided by Uhler.
Participants also learn how to overcome barriers to starting community smart growth including a lack of understanding of the relationship between development and municipal costs and revenues, the importance of growing small and mid-size businesses and the role of nearness to value creation, according to info provided by Uhler.
In the second half of the day, the technical assistance team joins participating community members to look at the community’s economic development plans and projects to evaluate how the current situation compares to smart growth principles.
Working with the community, the team will create specific changes to strategy and identify next steps in planning for fiscal and economic health that makes sense for the community, which may include suggestions for changes to the capital budgeting process, permitting process, regulatory framework and direction of economic development incentives, according to the information provided.
A follow-up memo will measure progress and leave the community with further next steps.
The hoped outcome is better understanding of how we prepare and plan for growth in our community, Uhler said.
The local people who have been involved in the presentation and workshop planning process are FS Economic Development Director Rachel Pruitt, FS Tourism Director Alley Turvey and Uhler.
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports Feb. 20-23
Click below:
The Bourbon County Sheriff Office Daily Report Feb. 24
Fruit Trees Should Be Pruned Now
District Extension Agent, Horticulture
Southwind Extension District
111 S. Butler
Erie, KS 66733
Office: 620-244-3826
Cell: 620-496-8786
It’s been a long winter. I can remember many times when February brought stretches of really nice spring-like weather. Not this year! Are you itching to get out of the house and do something productive in the landscape? If you have fruit trees, now is the time to prune. A little planning ahead with fruit trees, such as pruning, can mean big rewards later in the growing season.
Are you like many who are “afraid” to prune? Don’t be. When done correctly, pruning is an essential component of growing a healthy, productive fruit tree. Fruit trees should be pruned every year and for several reasons. The first is the development of a strong tree structure. Pruning should begin when the tree is planted and continued each year thereafter. Another reason to prune is the increased penetration of sunlight for the development of fruit buds and for the fruit to mature properly.
Trees can be pruned this early (winter) because they are dormant. This can be done in January, February and even early March. Pruning when trees are dormant makes it easier to see undesirable branches because leaves aren’t present. It is important to do any pruning before dormant sprays are applied, to avoid spraying some of the wood that will later be removed. Total spray coverage of limbs, branches and shoots will be increased after pruning. Do not prune if temperatures are below 20°F because this can cause tissue damage.
Have your fruit trees been neglected for quite some time? If so, pruning can seem like an overwhelming task; where to start, how much wood to remove, etc. But a neglected tree can be revitalized.
The first step in revitalizing a neglected tree is to prune wood around the trunk area and near the ground. Remove all sucker growth around the trunk by cutting as close as possible to the point of origin. Next, remove all branches that hang below a 4-foot level. Prune them off at the supporting limb. Stand back and study the tree and decide the next cut to make. Retain scaffolds that are growing away from the tree center at wide angles with the trunk. Scaffolds are one of the main branches making the basic framework of a tree. They should be positioned on different sides of the tree for good distribution of the fruit crop.
The right tools are needed for proper pruning. Tools always need to be sharp so clean cuts can be made. Cuts that result in bark tears, stubs, or jagged surfaces are slow to heal and may even not completely heal. A scissor type of hand shear is used to prune small size wood, usually ¼ inch in diameter. Long handled loppers should be used to cut ¼ to ½ inch wood. These will need to be used generally by the third year of tree growth. For branches larger than ½ inch, use a fine-toothed pruning saw.
The Extension office has a couple of publications on pruning fruit trees that explain in more detail how to prune depending on the species and age of the tree. These publications have diagrams that demonstrate how and where pruning cuts should be made. As with most Extension services, this publication is free of charge.
If you would like me to evaluate your trees, give me a call and a home visit can be scheduled.
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.