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Monthly Archives: April 2021
FSHS Talent Show This Saturday
Fort Scott High School To Host Talent Show and Pageant
The annual FSHS Talent Show and Miss(ter) FSHS Pageant is this Saturday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at the FSHS Auditorium.
The event features singers, actors, dancers, musicians, and comedy. The first-place winner receives $50, second place earns $40, and third place takes home $30.
This year’s emcees are junior Thespian President Christina King and junior Thespian Secretary Jenna Stockstill. Judges include high school teachers William Hall, Reyna Valenzuela, and Sara Jackman.
The Miss(ter) FSHS Pageant features senior males from various high school sports and activities escorted by a senior female. They model their “sports attire” as they perform a short talent and then model their evening gowns. The contestants compete for the title based on audience response.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited and the $6 tickets must be purchased at fortscotthighschool.ludus.com. Masks are required.
Harper Retires As Bronson City Clerk After 34 Years Service
Ellen Harper has seen many changes since she began working as the Bronson City Clerk, in Oct. 1986, over 34 years ago.
“Government is constantly changing,” she said. “There’s a lot more demands and red tape. Technology has advanced, I’ve gone from paper and pencil to everything computerized. Even community has changed, it’s difficult seeing the struggles a small town faces trying to survive, businesses and organizations closings, but I’ve been involved in assisting with many positive projects to keep our town viable with upgrades to our utility systems, streets, parks, a new fire station, community center, and library.”
Her duties have included ‘just about everything!” she said. “I always said, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to be an accountant, teacher, or do social work, and being a city clerk you do all that and more.”
“It’s not just sending out utility bills and answering the phone,” Harper said. “There are so many different aspects to the job. You work with the governing body, keep records, ordinances, accounting, utilities, human resources, reporting, court records, take citizen’s complaints -that’s a tough one-and anything else necessary to serve the community. I’ve learned that with the government you never learn everything and what you do, they change it. You have to do the best you can and accept you can’t please everyone.”
“Working in public service is challenging and sometimes you deal with adverse situations,” she said. “I enjoy meeting people and being part of helping the community on a local level, but I’ve also met many great people through the state agencies I’ve worked with and colleagues from other cities throughout the state. We have some great state organizations to help us grow personally and professionally and just be there to help each other out.”
Harper pursued her career because she needed a job, but it became so much more, she said.
“This was close to home while raising our children, but it became so much more,” Harper said. “I grew up here and I care about the community.”
Fort Scott City Clerk Diane Clay sent the news tip of Harper retiring.
” We both attended the Wichita State University City Clerk School and graduated together in 2003,” Clay said. “We have attended numerous city clerk functions and trainings together as well as many court clerk trainings. We have traveled together to many trainings and I enjoy her company.”
Harper has been a member of the City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers Association of Kansas, the International Institution of Municipal Clerks from which she obtained a Municipal Clerk Certification, and a member of the Kansas Association for Court Management, she said.
She is also involved in her community.
“I was a volunteer member of the Bronson Fire Dept., which later became Bourbon County District 3,” she said. “I’ve helped organize activities and fundraisers and volunteer time and labor in refurbishing our park. I’m a member of the Bronson United Methodist Church in which I hold several positions.”
Following her retirement on April 16, Harper is looking forward to more free time with family and friends, gardening, and traveling.
In addition, “‘ll be riding the trails and sand dunes in our RZR and taking trips on our trike.”
The Bronson City Council had a retirement luncheon for Harper on April 14, which was open to the public.
“She knew what she was doing and did it patiently,” said longtime council member Geraldine Reeder of Clerk Harper. “She put in all in her job, she just did.”
CHC/SEK to host Pfizer vaccine clinic on April 25
People aged 16 and older can now receive the Pfizer vaccine with parental consent through Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.
CHC/SEK will host a Pfizer vaccine clinic from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 25, at the 924 N Broadway. The clinic will be by appointment only. This is a two-dose vaccine that is given 21 days apart.
Individuals can request a vaccine appointment on the CHC/SEK website chcsek.org. Click the COVID Vaccine Request button. After selecting the “first dose” button, there is an option to select the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. CHC/SEK representatives will contact the recipients to schedule a date for the vaccine.
For those without web access, the health center has a toll-free number, 866-888-8650 and a second number for Spanish-speakers 620-240-8940 to make vaccination appointments.
As with all COVID-19 vaccines, there is no out-of-pocket costs to vaccine recipients.
Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson
April 16, 2021
Governor Vetoes Tax RELIEF that would Slow Government Growth
It is not a surprise but disappointing the Governor vetoed Senate Bill (SB) 50. The bill would provide some RELIEF for Kansas taxpayers by allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned money. There were several items in the bill. There are too many to list but here are a few key items. It would give Kansas taxpayers the option to itemize whether they itemize on their federal return or not. The bill would also increase state standard deductions by $500 so individual deductions would increase to $3,500 and married filing jointly to $8,000. It also would allow a deduction on money spent on business meals. Additionally, it would allow net operating losses to be carried forward and would allow all to expense tangible property deductions, something corporations in Kansas can already do. It would also extend the corporate filing deadline by 30 days past the IRS deadline.
The Governor called the bill “irresponsible”. Since when is it irresponsible to lower the tax burden for Kansans, especially since taxes collected from July 2020 to March 2021 are up $232.8 million above estimates. The Department of Revenue estimates that SB 50 will decrease taxes collect by $94 million. The responsible action would be to make SB 50 the law decreasing taxpayers’ burden, especially with the hardships they have faced this past year. There will be an attempt at a veto override in early May when the legislature returns to Topeka.
Unemployment
The Kansas unemployment system has been one of the largest mismanaged disasters in Kansas. It did not happen overnight. It has been building for years and when the Governor shut down most businesses last year, the system that had been a failure became a complete disaster. Over the years the legislature has allocated money to update the system, but it was never completed. Kansas had one of the highest numbers of known fraudulent unemployment applications in the nations. The unemployment funds have been depleted and businesses that pay unemployment tax were looking at major increased payment obligations.
Senate Substitute for House Bill (Sen Sub HB) 2196 addresses all these issues. Representative Sean Tarwater lead the effort and I was glad to help. We spent many hours on this legislation. It is unique because we were trying to mandate a new unemployment system. The bill establishes an oversight council that is a major stakeholder in the project to help keep the system update on target. The bill also changes the tax table for businesses and shores up funds with federal corona virus relief aid. The bill passed both chambers unanimously.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
Walgreens Fort Scott Is Offering Pfizer COVID 19 Vaccinations
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Chamber Coffee hosted by Bourbon County Conservation District on April 22
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guest to a Chamber Coffee hosted by Bourbon County Conservation District, Thursday, April 22nd (Earth Day) at 8 a.m. will be held at inside the 4-H building at the at the Bourbon County Fair Grounds Fort Scott, KS.
Coffee, donuts, juice and snack like fruit and cheese will be served, and attendees may register to win a special drawing. Also, they will have the Soil Tunnel Trailer set up for everyone to view and it is part of their educational Conservation Day that happens annually.
Attendees are strongly encouraged wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.
Chamber members and guests are invited to Chamber Coffee events each Thursday at 8 a.m. to network, make announcements, hear about happenings in the community as well as learn about the host business or organization.
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Obituary of Otis Wayne Atkins
Otis Wayne Atkins of Nixa, Missouri, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2021, surrounded by his loving children and grandchildren. Wayne was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on January 11, 1944, to Ola Wilma Owens and Otis F. Atkins. He had one sister, Coleen Leavel. Wayne attended public schools and graduated from Appleton City High School in Appleton City Missouri in 1961.
Wayne earned a football scholarship and attended Fort Scott, Kansas Community College from 1961-1963. From Fort Scott, Wayne attended Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri, on a football scholarship from 1963-1965. Wayne returned to Fort Scott in 1965 after college and went to work for Mid-Continental Restoration Company. He had loved the time spent in Fort Scott while going to college and was happy to return. He worked in the waterproofing industry from 1965-2018 when he retired from Atkins Weatherproofing, a family business.
In 1971, Wayne met and married Karen Mabery, a hometown Fort Scott girl. They had two children: Karalee Michelle Taylor and Frank Dewayne Atkins, both of Nixa, Missouri. Wayne was a loving father to both of his children. He never missed a school function or sporting event for his kids. They will always remember their father as their biggest cheerleader. He was a doting grandfather to Madison, Tru, and Kelby. AND, an adoring great-grandfather to Sophie, Taxen, and Asher. He took pride in everything his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren did and accomplished.
Wayne had a special relationship with Karen’s family. He considered Frank and Faye Mayberry as his other parents. He loved them dearly. He felt a special bond with the entire Duncan “clan.” He had loving aunts in Lois and Ruth and hunting buds in uncles Hurschel and Livian.
Wayne Atkins was a hard-working man who dearly loved his family. They WERE his life and his greatest accomplishment. All he achieved was for his family. Wayne was a man who didn’t ask for much and appreciated all he had. He was a great example to the men who he worked with in his younger years and to his employees in his later years. He worked hard and taught by example. He was a gentle man who never raised his voice to make his point. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Graveside services for Wayne will be 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at Memory Gardens under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center and left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Walker Starts Facebook Page As A Ministry
Jana Walker started the Facebook group, Buy Nothing Bourbon County, in August of 2020.
“When feeling I could not communicate well enough that this group is a reflection of Christ’s love in us and for us, I asked God that when I opened my Bible, I would find his words to express the reasoning behind and the heart of this group,” Walker said. “I opened my Bible blindly to, 1 Corinthians 4:1. It says, ‘Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.'”
“There were things in our home that we no longer wanted or needed, but there was not a local place to donate the items to, on a daily basis,” Walker said.
“When people are cleaning out their homes or purging most would rather not store their unwanted things for a garage sale once or twice a year,” she said. “We have such a throw-away society. This gives people an option to share their resources instead of tossing it in the trash or donating the items to a nearby community when there are people in Bourbon County who could benefit and appreciate the kindness from their friends and neighbors.”
“After realizing that there was a need and benefit for sharing with people in our county, it was only a matter of figuring out how to go about advertising and exchanging,” Walker said. “There are large followings on other local Facebook pages that are for buying and selling, and there are members who occasionally offer free items there, but why not promote this as only free items to really be a quick resource to meet the needs of both the givers and receivers?”
“This also gives community members the opportunity to ask if someone might have an item they are no longer using and might want to pass on, or even ask to borrow something,” she said.
Everything has value to someone, she found.
“Group members have shared joy through splitting plants and sharing new starts, listing a dining room table so now a family can sit together and enjoy a meal, home decor, used furniture, old magazines to be used for recipes or collages, children’s bikes, sports equipment, empty egg cartons for chicken owners, and so much more,” she said.
“No money may exchange hands in this group, and local free resources can be listed,” she said. “There are wonderful opportunities to both donate to and benefit from that we want the community to know about!”
“Most people exchange by porch pick up at their home, but each party can make their own arrangements according to their preference,” Walker said.
Members of this Facebook page have listed the following resources for the community, according to Walker.
A small free food pantry is located in a yard on 4th Street (underneath a willow tree) that one can give to or take from.
It has all kinds of donated non-perishable foods, she said.
The Washeteria, 5th Street and National Avenue accepts used clothing, washes them and people can ‘shop’ the clothing in the sheds at the business, Walker said. They are currently operating by appointment only. They request that you call ahead with requests and sizes. They prepare clothing in those sizes for you to go through at your appointment, and it is a totally free service they offer! The other option is they set out clothing of all sizes on the third Saturday of each month for people to come and ‘shop’ at their location.
They have adult, children, and baby sizes.
Bids and Dibs, 108 Scott Avenue, also accepts donations of gently used clothing and then sells them as regular stock, then the proceeds or credit for merchandise go to local groups, such as Care to Share, documented fire victims, the Beacon, and others, she said.
Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries assists community members in need of heaters, coats, hats, gloves, and blankets, Walker said.
Angel Gifts Facebook page was created in December 2020 to provide family adoptions for Christmas, she said.
“The people of Bourbon County are just amazing,” Walker said. “We are blessed to live in this community!”
Here are the rules for Buy Nothing Bourbon County
Drug Take-Back Day April 24
Drug take-back day designed to counter pill abuse, environmental contamination
[Bourbon County, Kansas] – Local agencies are partnering with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration April 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for the 20th annual Drug Take Back Day. The event is designed to prevent pill abuse and environmental contamination by ridding homes of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
Prescription drug abuse and disposal are both a public and environmental health threat. Improper disposal of medications via sewers or landfills leads to surface water contamination. Returning unused or unwanted medications to a pharmacy, or bringing them to a law enforcement agency are reliable methods for keeping these substances from entering the water supply.
Bourbon County residents are encouraged to bring unwanted drugs to these area locations for disposal:
Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy
421 W Main St, Chanute, KS 66720
Nevada Police Department
120 South Ash St., Nevada, MO 64772
Pittsburg Police Department
201 N. Pine St., Pittsburg, KS 66762
Sites cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked. Collection sites will follow local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations.
With funding from the USDA, the K-State Pollution Prevention Institute (PPI) is offering education and outreach sessions to various communities in Kansas and Missouri with a focus on rural access to safe drug and sharps disposal. If your organization or community would like to learn more about safe disposal as a way to prevent drug abuse and keep toxic waste out of landfills, contact PPI by calling 800-578-8898.
For more information about proper disposal of prescription drugs or the Take Back Day event, visit www.sbeap.org/safe-disposal.
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The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports April 15-18
FS Street Advisory Board Meets April 22
The Street Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. at the City Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street. 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.