The Design Review Board will meet on Wednesday, August 5th, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at the City Hall Commission Meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to discuss a Certificate of Appropriateness for a sign at 19 S. National and a Certificate of Appropriateness for signage in the downtown area for the walking trail and any others matters to be brought before the Board. This meeting is open to the public.
This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the Kansas State University Land Use Survey Program has published the 2020 Custom Rates Survey, a summary of rates paid for custom work. The survey and report are released on a biennial basis.
The report details the average rates paid by Kansas farmers and ranchers for custom work performed on their operation in 2020. Rates reflect fair market value for custom services either rendered or hired and can be used by Kansas farmers and ranchers as they make decisions about rate charges.
“We view the Kansas Custom Rates Survey as a very valuable tool for farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses to access as they enter into new and negotiate existing contracts and agriculture service arrangements,” said Secretary Mike Beam. “KDA works to provide support and assistance to help make Kansas agriculture more successful, and we are pleased to partner with K-State to publish this biennial survey.”
Last published in 2018, the new report indicates average custom rates have increased; it also includes historical tables and graphs which show results from previous surveys. Prices in the report should not be regarded as official or established rates.
Advance voting at the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Avenue continues until noon, August 3.
The hours of the county clerk’s office are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 pm. There is a plexiglass barrier between the voter and poll worker and employees are sanitizing after each voter, Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason said.
“Masks are not required, but we strongly encourage people to wear them to help keep everyone safe,” Mason said.” Masks and hand sanitizer will be available at all polling places.”
This is part of a series of features on the candidates running for offices in Bourbon County. The Bourbon County Primary Election will be held, Tuesday, August 4, 2020.
Name:
Jeff Fischer
What position you are running for:
County Commissioner 2nd District
Age:
59 Years
Education:
Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering
Masters of Science Civil Engineering
Post Graduate Studies Civil Engineering
Experience:
3.5 years of experience in the role of Commissioner
10 years of leading corporate and collegiate learning experiences
20 years of construction engineering experience
What skills do you bring to the position if elected or re-elected?
If my constituents re-elect me to serve again as their commissioner I bring the skills from the past as outlined in my educational background: Professional Civil Engineer, Experience with heavy construction, Experience speaking to large audiences on a wide range of topics from the medical service sector to roads and bridge rehabilitation. I am a skilled researcher and seek to understand complex issues by drawing from a broad band of knowledge, before narrowing down to reaching a decision for the good of the present with a look to future growth and development. I have the skills of a pastor who nurtures the flock in my pastoral duties in my church. As a leader in the ministerial community I have gained the skill of listening and the skill of humbling myself. I learn from my mistakes. I seek input from others and try to make amends for wrongs foolishly committed. I have a genuine love for the future growth of Fort Scott and Bourbon County. My public speaking skills at local, regional, state and national levels are a valued asset to our community. I can represent Bourbon County in the Committee meetings across the globe, if necessary, to gain access to outsiders planning to locate their businesses in rural America. I am skilled at financial planning and can assist in helping department heads when they seek guidance in yearly budgets. I have a unique skill in historical memories of Fort Scott, remembering what our great-grand parents envisioned for us and dreamed for our children. My skills are varied, yes, through years of formal education and also life experiences. My constituents afforded me an opportunity to serve Bourbon County four years ago. Thank you for your vote of confidence in 2016. Please review what the commission as a body has accomplished. I humbly ask your forgiveness for my stumbles. I seek the chance to continue in service to the community we all love.
What is your priority on day one?
Listen carefully.
Secure additional anchor tenants to realize the capacity and benefits of the Medical Mall concept.
Develop and implement a strategic plan for county infrastructure.
To ensure the health and safety of our visitors, students, and community with these uncertain times of Covid-19, the Annual Gordon Parks Celebration has been cancelled for this year.
We have rescheduled the event for October 2021.
This was a very hard decision to make as we were looking forward to this year’s celebration, but the health and safety of everyone is our top priority.
We are already making plans for next year’s celebration to be even better, so please save the dates of October 7 -9, 2021.
We would like thank all of our donors and supporters for their support and patience during these challenging times.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions, 620-223-2700 ext. 5850or email [email protected].
State Finance Council Approves $254 Million of the Coronavirus Relief Fund
TOPEKA – Today, the State Finance Council (SFC) unanimously approved the public health, education and economic development proposals recommended by the Executive Committee of the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce for a total of $254,444,911.
“I want to thank the State Finance Council for approving these funds that will provide aid to Kansans who need it the most, help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate our economic recovery,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “Both rural and urban areas of our state will benefit from these dollars.”
Executive Committee Chair Lyle Butler presented the round 2 proposals, which were crafted by the SPARK Taskforce with help from state agency working groups for the following amounts:
Public Health
$100,909,138
Economic Development
$78,600,000
Education
$74,935,773
Connectivity
$60,000,000
“SPARK identified public health, education, economic development, and connectivity as the top priorities for supporting the recovery of the state,” said Lyle Butler. “I want to thank SFC for their support addressing our most pressing needs.”
The SFC will reconsider the Connectivity proposals following the Legislative Budget Committee meeting on August 3, where stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide more input on the proposals.
“We’re committed to making the best investments possible, being accountable to Kansans and operating with the urgency necessary to utilize these funds by the December 30 deadline,” said Recovery Office Executive Director Julie Lorenz. “We look forward to working with SPARK members, legislators and Kansans to ensure that happens.”
This is the second major allocation of the $1,034,052,049 the State received through the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Previously, $400 million was allocated to Kansas counties.
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met in the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, July 27, for a special meeting.
President David Stewart opened the meeting. Gina Shelton, Business Manager, presented budget workshop information. Board members approved the 2020-21 Negotiated Agreement and the Coronavirus Relief Fund Memorandum of Understanding.
The board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting.
The board approved the following employment matters:
A. Resignation of Jessica Reichard, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year
B. Employment of Hannah Dunn as a central office accounts payable/secretary for the 2020-21 school year
Superintendent Ted Hessong discussed the 2020-21 school year. Administrators from individual buildings presented learning options. The board approved September 9, 2020, as a start day for school with teachers reporting on August 14, 2020.
Downtown Historic District held at the Empress Event Center
Attendees may wear mask at their own Discretion
Let’s talk about: SPARK FUNDING
The Bourbon County Commission received $2.9M in CARES Act funds through the State of Kansas SPARK funding. This funding is designed to help the county with the health and economic emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information about the funding, visit https://www.bourboncountyks.org/spark/.
Danny Larsen is the new physical education teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
Larsen earned his bachelor of science in education with a strength and conditioning emphasis; and a bachelor of arts in psychology.
He has two years of experience teaching as an At-Risk Teacher, this is his first physical education position, he said.
Larsen’s hometown is Fort Scott and is married to Jamie Larsen. They have three children: Noah who will be a senior, Malachi an 8th-grader, and Madeline a 5th- grader.
What are your hobbies/interests/community involvements?
“I love spending time with my family as much as possible. I also like to coach, work in my shop (woodworking), and play basketball.”
How did you become an educator?
“I’ve always enjoyed working with kids and being a mentor, either through coaching sports or volunteering at school or church.”
Is there someone who inspired you to teach?
“There were so many teachers who played a big role in my decision to pursue teaching as a career. These include teachers I had while I was in school and those who have taught my kids.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“For me, the best part of teaching is connecting with a kid who has struggled either academically, emotionally, or in some way that makes their life and school more difficult. Once you see that tension disappear from their face and it’s replaced by a smile, there’s nothing else like it!”
What are the greatest challenges?
“Right now, the great challenge is being a new teacher where kids are looking for familiarity and normalcy. Fortunately, I do well in those situations and look forward to teaching in Fort Scott.”
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has been awarded a grant to support safer suicide care in behavioral health and healthcare systems in Kansas. The grant, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is for implementation of Zero Suicide in Health Systems.
Zero Suicide is a model and framework that believes suicide deaths for individuals under the care of health and behavioral health systems are preventable. For systems dedicated to improving patient safety, Zero Suicide presents a framework for system-wide transformation toward safer suicide care.
KDHE will work with key partners across the state, including Veterans Affairs and the 26 licensed Community Mental Health Care Systems that have more than 4,500 staff providing mental health services in every county (120+ locations) to more than 140,000 Kansans annually. Besides the policies, protocols and practices the Zero Suicide model supports, objectives include providing evidence-based trainings and practices to support a prepared, competent and confident mental health workforce and coordinated suicide prevention efforts across the state. This award will bring $700,000 per year for five years.
Suicide is a serious public health problem that has far reaching medical, economical and psychosocial implications for Kansas. Between 1999 and 2018, the rate of suicide deaths in Kansas increased 70% from 11.3 to 19.2 per 100,000 persons. The 2018 suicide rate was the highest in the last 20 years & is higher than the national rate (14.2 per 100,000 persons) which increased 35% during the same time period. In 2018, suicide was the 9th leading cause of death among all ages and the second leading cause of death following unintentional injuries for those age 15-34 years in Kansas. From 2016 to 2018, emergency department visit and hospitalization rates increased for suicide ideation-related injuries.
