FORT SCOTT – The Johnson and Johnson one-dose COVID-19 vaccine will be available to all adults on Wednesday at the CHC/SEK Fort Scott clinic.
The vaccine will be available by appointment from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Currently, the federally allocated vaccine available at CHC/SEK is recommended for people age 18 and older. There is no cost to vaccine recipients.
CHC/SEK created https://chcsek.org/getmyshot where people can reserve their vaccine by filling out a contact form online. Using the web-based tool allows CHC/SEK to plan better for vaccine distribution. However, realizing not everyone has web access, the health center created a toll-free number, 866-888-8650 and a second number for Spanish-speakers 620-240-8940.
*Make your award nominations by April 14th. Click here for the online nomination form. Click here for a printable form. For your reference in making nominations, you may click here to view prior winners, and click here for a full Chamber member listing.
* Make your dinner reservation and/or confirm sponsorship by April 23rd, see pricing options & contact info. below ~
You will need to specify a choice of soup or salad, and
choice of prime rib or chicken when making your reservation.
* Click to email us if your business/organization would like to decorate a table for fun advertising & promotion.
* Click to email us if your business/organization would like to donate a silent or live auction item for advertising & promotion.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
We are looking forward to a fun evening of
celebrating our community!
The Chamber is supported solely by membership investment and fundraising efforts. Proceeds from this event contribute to the work of the Chamber to benefit Fort Scott, Bourbon County, and the surrounding area. Your participation in any way is sincerely appreciated!
USDA Announces Funding Available to Organizations to Assist Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers under Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative
FSA Accepting CFAP 2 Applications Beginning April 5
WASHINGTON, April 5, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the availability of $2 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The funding was made possible by USDA’s new Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, an effort to distribute resources more broadly and to put greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers impacted by the pandemic. Today also marks the reopening of FSA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) signup as part of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Farmers and ranchers will have at least 60 days to apply or make modifications to existing CFAP 2 applications.
Cooperative Agreements
The cooperative agreements will support participation in programs offered by FSA, including those that are part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Interested organizations must submit proposals by May 5, 2021.
“USDA is committed to making financial assistance available to a broader set of producers, including to socially disadvantaged communities, and we know that we need partners to help make that happen,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “This funding will support grassroots organizations and public institutions as we support their producers. I am excited to see their innovative, results-driven proposals to help us reach our producers, especially those who have not taken full advantage of the available assistance.”
The Downtown Division of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce has planned a Downtown Spring Clean on Friday, April 16th from 3 to 6pm. The committee is seeking project ideas and volunteers for the event to spruce up the Downtown Historic District.
The committee is asking for people to submit project ideas, or sign up to volunteer, preferably by this Wednesday, April 7th so projects and materials needed can be organized. All participants will receive a free t-shirt, courtesy of MyOneStop, and businesses/organizations who send a group of volunteers and/or provide a donation for materials, will be listed on the back of the
t-shirt. Donations may be made to the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and dropped off at 231 E. Wall St.
Those with project ideas or interest in volunteering may contact Bailey Lyons, Downtown Division Chair, at 620-224-7795 or email [email protected].
Thank you to Common Ground Coffee Company for hosting the Fort Scott Chamber Downtown Meet & Greet on Tuesday, April 13th.
Join us in the Loading Dock Room from 8:30 am until 9:30 am and enjoy coffee, juice and light refreshments.
These informal, quarterly meetings are hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives, and community members to network and share ideas on events, promotions, and anything related to downtown. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.
THE FORT SCOTT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 620.223.3566 | WWW.FORTSCOTT.COM
Property Tax Transparency – GOOD NEWS FOR PROPERTY TAXPAYERS
Senate Bill 13, stopping automatic property tax increases that result from higher valuations, was signed into law. Local property taxing authorities will have to provide notice of any proposed monetary increase and vote to go forward with the increase only after hearing public comments at an announced meeting. The new law has initial payments for the required notices and software changes, removing any excuse to raise taxes because of an unfunded mandate. It will also allow for normal maintenance on your property without increasing valuations, remove the property tax lid that was not working because of all of the exemptions, and allow county treasurers the option to setup property tax payment plans. It will not stop property tax increases; however, it will allow taxpayers and taxing authorities an opportunity to be heard before increases occur.
I worked diligently for a couple of years on this legislation and other bills to help improve the property tax system. I had meetings in locations away from Topeka where myself and other legislators heard the concerns of property tax paying Kansans from around the State. Senate Bill 13 is the results of those concerns. It’s a victory for Kansas.
Closing Power Plants
Talk about a trojan horse – Senate Substitute for House Bill (S Sub HB) 2072 is definitely one. On the surface the bill looks like it helps utility customers, however, it will eventually result in much higher utility bills and puts us on a path for a similar disaster that occurred in Texas. There were two parts to the bill. First, it allows some natural gas companies to bond the expenses for the extremely high rates during the record-freeze earlier this year and pass the expenses on to customers. Second, it allows utility companies to bond and pass on the expenses of closing plants to retail customers, including closing nuclear or coal plants. Think about it, the current debt and expenses to close the plant will be paid by customers “to the benefit of the bondholders, any assignee, and any other financing parties” until they are paid in full. It literally says that in the bill. It is a trojan horse that looks good but guarantees higher utility bills long-term.
I did what I could to block it. What is even more disappointing, the Chairman of the committee put the language in a house bill and the House concurred on the changes. The bill passed the Senate 33 to 7. I voted no.
Say No To A Veto of SB 50
The Governor is considering a veto of SB 50. Members of her tax study group are putting out messages saying if the bill becomes law Kansas would have to pay back federal money because of Biden’s version of the Cares Act. Twenty-one state Attorney Generals (AG) signed a letter challenging this federal overreach, including our KS AG. Most of the items in SB 50 have been voted on several times since 2018, predating Biden’s legislation. SB 50’s major components are: it addresses state income tax increases that resulted from the 2017 federal tax cuts, it increases the state standard deduction by $500, it provides language for collection of online sales tax (which is already the law), it stops any income tax obligation that results from stolen identity, it lines up the Kansas income tax filing deadline with federal dates while extending corporate filings by 30 days.
Too Many Bills
Over 40 pieces of legislation were worked on the Senate floor last week – too many to cover in this update. All of the legislation is posted online at www.kslegislature.org.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Fort Scott Aglow Lighthouse welcomes guest speaker, DeeAnna Currie, from Topeka, KS, Thursday, April 8th, 2021.
DeeAnna will bring a message of encouragement. She shares:
“I am so blessed and excited to come share with you at Fort Scott!
I have been involved in Aglow since 1979. I had two small children at home at the time and was drawn to every meeting I could attend and grow in Christ. The speakers would come and encourage us to be the best we could be by allowing God to lead us in our life. They came and shared the very character of God and His desire to bless us with becoming more like Him. I was driven without even truly recognizing my desire to fill the void in my life. I received true love from Him through this organization. The growth began with the connection of so many nonjudgmental men and women seeking the same thing, a closer walk with Him.”
Come as we share His purpose for you during these questionable times!
DeeAnna Currie
Area President North Kansas Aglow
Guests are welcome to visit our Lighthouse monthly gathering at 6:30 p.m., Thursday April 8th in the conference room of Fort Scott Inn, 101 State Street.
This is an interdenominational ministry opportunity for women, men and youth to worship, pray, fellowship and grow in unity. The goal of Aglow International is: Every nation touched, every heart changed.
Our Lighthouse desires the body of Christ to come together to meet the needs of those that cannot speak for themselves in Bourbon County. For more information contact Amanda Gilmore at (620) 215-0418 or Bob Reazin at (620) 363-0257.
CHAMBER REQUESTS AWARD NOMINATIONS FOR ANNUAL CELEBRATION
FORT SCOTT – The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce will hold the 2021 Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration Thursday, April 29that The River Room. The evening will be themed “Magic Happens When We Stand Together” as Chamber members, guests and the community come together to recognize businesses, organizations, and individuals who contribute greatly in different ways to benefit Fort Scott and Bourbon County.
The Chamber is now accepting nominations for awards to be presented that evening. Links to both online and printable nomination forms may be found on fortscott.com on the event link. Hard copy forms may be picked up at the Chamber. Nominations are due by Wednesday, April 14th.
Awards to be presented include Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, New Business of the Year, Agri-Business of the Year, Business Person of the Year, Community Spirit Award, and Young Professional of the Year. Additional awards to be presented include the Keystone award, selected by the Chamber Board of Directors, the Mayor’s Citizenship Award selected by the Mayor and City of Fort Scott, and the Community Champion Award selected by the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
The Annual Dinner event will start with a social hour and silent auction at 5:30pm, followed by dinner, awards, and live auction at 6:30pm. Reservations are $35 for individuals, and table pricing is available. Those wanting to attend may contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 or email [email protected].by Friday, April 23rd. Dinner will be catered by Luther’s BBQ with a choice of smoked prime rib or rosemary lemon roasted chicken breast.
The Chamber would like to recognize the Title Sponsor of the event, Apex Clean Energy, making it possible to present Devin Henderson as the guest speaker. Devin will bring out the magic in each of us with a program titled “Something Greater is Always Possible”. More information about Devin may be found on devinhenderson.com or YouTube.
St. Mary’s Catholic School Kindergarten Roundup will be held Wednesday, April 21 by appointment from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
To enter kindergarten, a child must be 5 years of age on or before August 31.
If you would like for your child to attend kindergarten at St. Mary’s next year, please contact the school office at 620-223-6060 to schedule an appointment to be screened on April 21.
On the day of the screening, please bring your child’s social security card, birth certificate, immunization record/physical form, and if Catholic their baptism certificate.
A Kansas Certification of Immunization and/or a Kansas Child Health assessment must be filled out and submitted to the school before admission in the fall of 2021.
Due to Covid restrictions, we cannot allow parents to wait inside the building this year.
Upon arrival at your appointment time, a school staff member will come outside and escort your child into the building. Parents will be asked to wait in their car until the screening is completed. At that point, a staff member will bring the child back out to the car and discuss the results of the screening.
St. Mary’s Catholic School is fully accredited by the state of Kansas and welcomes students of all faiths.
