Monthly Archives: August 2020

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Community Foundation: Resource For Local Organizations

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Recipients of FSACF grants in 2018.

The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation is a funding resource for local organizations whose goal is to improve the quality of life in Bourbon County, according to Carla Farmer, FSACF Chairperson.

Applications are being received until August 31.

“In 2019, FSACF received 33 grant applications totaling over $106,000,” said Greg Motley, Grant Committee Chairperson.  “The grant committee awarded over $33,000 for projects in our community, such as musical instruments and interesting field trips for elementary school children, food and clothing to serve the disadvantaged in our area, writing, music and art projects to support the arts in our community, amenities for parks and schools, critical medical equipment for our emergency room and equipment for high school girls’ athletics, to name a few.”

“The grant application period for 2020 ends August 31,” Motley said. “This year, we have over $42,000 in available grant money to be awarded during the October 29th Fort Scott Area Chamber Coffee at Landmark National Bank, 200 S. Main at 8:00 AM.”

For an application and copy of FSACF’s Grant Evaluation Guidelines, please email Gregg Motley, Grant Committee Chairman, at [email protected] .

 

 

History of FSACF, provided by Carla Farmer.

The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2007.  The Foundation, led by a local, volunteer board, was created to meet the needs of greater Bourbon County.  Its mission is to partner with and be a resource to organizations whose goal is to improve the quality of life in Bourbon County.  The Foundation strives to create connections between donors and a variety of worthwhile causes.

With assets over $9 million, the FSACF provides a tax-exempt vehicle for donations to be given to charitable groups and government agencies of the donor’s choice. Donations, large and small, are gratefully accepted from individuals living within Bourbon County or around the world.  The Foundation offers a variety of giving options from gifts of cash, securities, stock, to planned gifts.

FSACF operates as an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas.

“The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation exists to support the good work being accomplished by our not-for-profit organizations in Bourbon County and to address the needs of our most vulnerable citizens. Board members recognize that the needs in our community and county continue to increase.  The annual grants awarded by the Foundation is one tool for placing funds directly back into the hands of not-for-profits to meet these needs,” said Farmer.

“These are challenging times in our community and the country.  The Foundation offers opportunities for creating many types of funds that can continue to benefit our citizens for generations to come.  If you have questions about giving to the Foundation, please contact me or any board member,” added Farmer.

You may visit www.fsacf.com for more information or call 620-224-6500.

 

 

 

 

 

Government, Kansas

EBT Online Purchasing Now Available

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Kansas Benefits Card can be used to purchase groceries online at Amazon and Walmart

 

The Kansas Department for Children and Families announced today that EBT Online has been fully implemented, and Kansas food assistance recipients now have the option of purchasing groceries online using a Kansas Benefits Card, also known as an EBT card, at Amazon and Walmart.

 

“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, this new online purchasing program offers a contactless, safe, and secure way for Kansans to get their groceries,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard.

 

Governor Laura Kelly announced in June 2020 that the United States Department of Agriculture approved the DCF proposal to offer EBT Online to Kansans.

 

When using the EBT card to purchase groceries online, the card will function like a debit card, and the same guidelines will apply. SNAP recipients should note that while they can now use their EBT card to pay for groceries online, they cannot use their card to cover the cost of grocery delivery.

 

Kansas food assistance, or SNAP, provides monthly food benefits that help individuals and families buy healthy, nutritious food. Even if temporary, individuals and families who have experienced a change in their circumstances and need additional help may apply for food assistance benefits.

 

Kansas currently has more than 208,000 individuals who receive food assistance benefits totaling $291 million annually.

 

Kansans can visit https://cssp.kees.ks.gov/apspssp/sspNonMed.portal to apply for food assistance or call 1-888- 369-4777. You can also find your local office at http://www.dcf.ks.gov.

 

Learn more about EBT Online at http://www.dcf.ks.gov/pages/ebt-online.aspx.

Fort Scott, Government

Public Servant Profile: Firefighter Grant Moberly

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FSFD Firefighter Grant Moberly. Submitted photo.
This is part of a series of City of Fort Scott and Bourbon County public servant profiles. If you would like to nominate a person to be featured, please send their email address to [email protected].
 Grant Moberly, 21, is a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician for the Fort Scott Fire Department.
He graduated from Mill Valley High School and is pursuing an associate’s degree in fire science from Johnson County Community College, having obtained his EMT from JCCC.
Moberly is a  first-year firefighter, who works from Station 2.
What are your duties?
“Fire suppression, EMS assist, vehicle and station maintenance, fire prevention training, rescue calls.”
Community involvement, interests or hobbies:

Hunting and fishing, gardening and mini-tree farming.

 

Why did you pursue your career?
“To make a difference in the community.”

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Art Masterpiece Winners

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Three local artists among
Art is Ageless® masterpiece level winners

FORT SCOTT, Kan. — Three winning artists in Fort Scott Presbyterian Village’s annual Art is Ageless® juried competition will be featured in the 2021 Art is Ageless calendar produced by PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America).

“Druzy & Diamonds,” a mixed media/crafts entry by John Bartelsmeyer, “Gossip,” a painting by Carolyn Munsell, and “Star of Bethlehem Shawl,” a fiber arts entry by Jean Strader, will appear in the calendar when it is released this fall.

In addition, “His Word,” a mixed media/crafts entry by Tony Fornelli and “The Cottage,” a painting by Glenda Stevicks, will be featured on the Art is Ageless greeting cards.

Art is Ageless, open exclusively to people age 65 and older, is a copyrighted program of PMMA. For the competition, works must have been completed in the past five years.

Works by local winners are automatically entered into a masterpiece level competition with winning art from 15 other PMMA communities. More than 160 entries were received for this year’s masterpiece competition. The winners are featured in the Art is Ageless calendar with pull-out postcards and greeting cards.

 

PMMA’s Art is Ageless program encourages Fort Scott Presbyterian Village residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year.

Started in 1980, Art is Ageless is an extension of PMMA’s wellness programs, which focus on mental, physical, social and spiritual health. Residents and friends of PMMA’s Art is Ageless program are proving that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.

For more information about Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, contact Becky Kellum, marketing director, at 620-223-5550 or [email protected]. For more on Art is Ageless, visit ArtIsAgeless.org.

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Bourbon County, Fort Scott National Historic Site, Government

FSNHS Increasing Access

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Photo submitted by Carl Brenner, NPS

Fort Scott National Historic Site is beginning to increase recreational access to Historic Buildings

 

Fort Scott Kan. – Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Fort Scott National Historic Site is increasing recreational access and programming. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.

 

Beginning Wednesday, August 19, Fort Scott National Historic Site will reopen access to:

  • All public buildings for self-guided visitation.
  • Resume park guided tours at 10 am and 1 pm.

 

In addition, the following spaces continue to be available:

  • All trails, walkways, sidewalks, grounds, and the tallgrass prairie.

 

With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed at this time:

  • The Western National Parks Association store and information desk.

 

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continue to be paramount. At Fort Scott National Historic Site, our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.

 

While these areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services may be limited. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding, and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.

 

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19, and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.

 

We have amazing virtual tours of Fort Scott National Historic Site, all of the time, so for people who are still homeschooling or not traveling at this time check out www.nps.gov/fosc/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtour.htm.

 

Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website www.nps.gov/fosc and social media channels. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

 

From April 1-October 31, Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, will be open for its summer hours of operation.  The site exhibit areas are open daily from 8:00 am-5:00 pm. The park grounds are open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or learn more at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

-NPS-

 

Bourbon County, Entertainment

Labor Day Rodeos On: No Old Settlers Picnic

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4D Rafter H: Travis and Kellie Duncan, Justin, and Megan Hahner from last year’s Old Settlers Picnic Ranch Rodeo.Submitted photos by Julia Hall.

Even though there will be no traditional Uniontown Old Settlers Picnic activities in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be rodeo events at the arena west of Uniontown.

“This virus has things shut down,” Wayne Hall, contact for the rodeos, said. “The rodeos are an outside event. We have hand sanitizer in the bathroom. We encourage people to not get too close. We find families stay together.”

Team Roping

On Friday, September 4, there will be a team roping contest at the Uniontown arena.

“It’s open to anybody that wants too,” Levi Motley, contact for the team roping said. “They’ll enter with people when they get here, find a partner and enter up,” although he added, “This isn’t a spectator sport.”

Teams compete for a jackpot prize, he said.

“Team roping begins at 7 p.m. and lasts about two hours,” Motley said.

Contact Motley at 620-768-9166.

 

Ranch Rodeo

Top Woman at the 2019 Old Settlers Ranch Rodeo was Shanna Eck. Submitted photo.

 

The 34th Annual Co-Ed Ranch Rodeo will happen on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.

There are four people on a team.

“Two people on the team have to be a woman or kids,” Hall said. “The crowds enjoy it.”

“Last year we had eight teams,” Hall said. “Local teams mostly. But I’ve had calls from up around Topeka (this year).”

Each team pays $200 to compete.

“There is a 100 percent payback other than a stock charge,” Hall said. “The person who provides livestock for the events gets paid a fee.”

Contact Hall at 620-363-4206 for both rodeos.

Olson Ranch: Wally and Jennifer Olson,
Travis and Kellie Duncan. Submitted photos from last year’s Old Settlers Picnic Ranch Rodeo.
Top man at the 2019 Old Settlers Ranch Rodeo was Kolby Stock. Submitted photo.
2019 Top Youth at the Old Settlers Ranch Rodeo was Kara Stock. Submitted photos.

 

 

Old Settlers Youth Rodeo

The 54th Annual Old Settlers Youth Rodeo begins on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. with the registration of events at 5:30 p.m. It is also located in the arena west of Uniontown on Hwy. 3.

Youth who are high school senior age and younger can register to do barrel racing, pole bending, steer riding,  ewe busting, a “little kids stick horse race”, calf roping, team roping, goat tying, and a flag race, Hall said.

The 2019 Stick Horse Race winners at the Old Settlers Youth Rodeo. Submitted photos.

Costs to enter each contest is from $4 to $10 per person, per event.

COVID-19, Government, Housing, Kansas

Relief For Evictions, Foreclosures and Motor Carriers

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Governor Kelly Announces Executive Orders Temporarily Prohibiting Evictions and Foreclosures, Extending Motor Carrier Relief 

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today signed Executive Orders #20-61 and #20-62 as part of her administration’s commitment to protecting Kansans’ health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Executive Order #20-61 temporarily prohibits initiating any mortgage foreclosure or judicial proceedings, and any commercial or residential eviction efforts or judicial proceedings due to financial hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic until September 15, 2020.

 

“COVID-19 remains a threat in our communities and is creating challenges for businesses and employees alike,” Governor Kelly said. “Kansas families who miss mortgage or rent payments due to lost wages will need our support until the Senate extends unemployment assistance. I will continue to do everything I can to make sure the people in our state can stay in their homes and protect their businesses.”

 

Executive Order #20-62 extends temporary relief for motor carriers from certain rules and regulations until rescinded, until September 14, 2020, or until the statewide State of Disaster Emergency expires, whichever is earlier. It is an extension of measures put in place by Executive Order #20-57.

 

“This order will allow our motor carriers to continue delivering much-needed supplies to Kansans who need them, and ease the burden on those who have a critical role in our state’s response to COVID-19,” Governor Kelly said.

 

The order lifts certain weight restrictions and permitting requirements to allow needed medical supplies, food shipments and other items to move through Kansas as quickly as possible. These exceptions apply only to motor carriers actively participating in COVID-19 response effort. 

 

To view E.O. #20-61, click here.

 

To view E.O. #20-62, click here.