Monthly Archives: July 2021

Bourbon County, Government

County Accepts Bids on The Kress Building

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The Star Emporium Downtown General Store, 17 S. Main, January 2021.

A remodeled downtown building is being sold on August 10 to the highest bidder.

“The Bourbon County Commission took the (Kress) building over… Tuesday, July 13, and on July 19, during a special meeting, the county approved to publicize the sale of the Kress building at 17 S. Main, through a sealed bidding process,” Commissioner Lynne Oharah said.
“At this time BAJA Investments is still the owner of the building,” said Bourbon County Economic Director Rob Harrington. “However they are working with the county at this time to find a new owner of the building.”
“It (the bidding process for the building)) will appear in the paper (The Fort Scott Tribune) three consecutive weeks with the bids being opened on August 10,” Oharah said. “Two scenarios are being advertised. The bids can be for the property and contents or bids can be for the property only.”
Those interested in the property at 17 S. Main should send sealed bids addressed to the Bourbon County Clerk, 210 S National, Fort Scott, KS, 66701 clearly marking the envelope, Oharah said.
The building housed the Star Emporium Downtown General Store from January to May 2021, which was owned by BAJA Investments.
BAJA Investments was granted funds from the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas program for $450,000 for the project. SPARK grants were a part of the monies given to Kansas from the federal government to help with the ongoing effects of COVID-19, according to a prior interview.
To view prior stories on the business: Star Emporium Downtown General Store to Open Next Week
The Star Emporium Downtown General Store, 17 S. Main.
Area News, Government, Kansas

KCC Investigates High Gas Prices During February 2021

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KCC approves AG’s request to join winter weather gas cost dockets

TOPEKA – This morning the Kansas Corporation Commission approved Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s request to participate in three dockets investigating unusually high natural gas prices during the February winter weather event and how gas utilities plan to recoup the charges. The three dockets involve costs incurred by Kansas Gas Service, Atmos Energy and Black Hills Energy and their respective customer payment plan proposals.

“While our jurisdictional responsibilities are distinct, the KCC and Attorney General have a good track record of working together on behalf of Kansas customers. I welcome the AG’s participation in these proceedings to support its ongoing investigations,” said Commission Chair Andrew French.

On February 15, the Commission instructed all jurisdictional utilities to do everything necessary to ensure continued service to Kansas customers. The costs were deferred and each utility was required to file a proposal for recouping those charges, which must be approved by the Commission.

Around the same time, the Attorney General’s office announced an investigation to determine whether the unprecedented gas prices violated state consumer protection laws. That investigation continues.

On July 19, the Attorney General’s office filed a petition to intervene in the KCC cases citing the authority to enforce the Kansas Consumer Protection Act and protect consumers from suppliers who commit deceptive practices.

As an intervenor in the KCC cases, the Attorney General will have access to all documents filed, have the ability to file testimony, question witnesses and participate in any scheduled proceedings.

Area News, Government, Kansas

Resurfacing to begin on U.S. 69 in August

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Monday, Aug. 2, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) expects to begin a resurfacing project on U.S. 69 and U.S. 69B in Crawford County. Project activity includes a mill and overlay on U.S. 69 between U.S. 400 and K-47, excluding the section within the Pittsburg city limits. U.S. 69B is being resurfaced through the communities of Franklin and Arma.

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Work will start on U.S. 69B and then proceed south on U.S. 69 from the K-47 junction. Flaggers and a pilot car will direct one-lane traffic through the work zone; expect delays of 15 minutes or less.

Weather permitting, the project should be finished by early September.   KDOT awarded the construction contract of $2.3 million to Heckert Construction, Pittsburg. Persons with questions may contact KDOT Construction Engineer Kyler Farmer, (620) 308-7617, or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433.

 

Obituary

Obituary of James Allen Johnson

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James Allen Johnson, age 72, of Pleasanton, Kansas passed away on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas after a brief illness.

Allen was born on July 7, 1949, at Moran, Kansas, the son of Leroy Robert Raymond Johnson and Ruby Matilda (Nelson) Johnson. He grew up in the Elsmore, Kansas area and attended Elsmore Grade School, and graduated from Marmaton Valley High School in 1967. Allen was an outstanding athlete and played football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated from Allen County Community College and received a Bachelor of Education degree from Pittsburg State University. He taught and coached in various schools in Kansas for many years. After his teaching career, he worked in sales and manufacturing.

Allen married Terri Lynne Wilson on October 25, 1987, in Elsmore, Kansas. They were blessed with two sons, Daniel Joseph and Samuel Dean. Allen loved his family and was so proud of his sons and their families. He loved his grandchildren, Kipling Alan, Ivy May, and Olivia Ann. Allen was always an unwavering supporter of his wife and always stood by her side.

Allen was a sports fan, particularly of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals.  He was very interested in world events and enjoyed watching the History Channel and Fox News. He also loved visiting with friends and family and in recent years particularly enjoyed going to the Elk’s Lodge in Nevada Missouri with a friend, Richard Perry.

Allen is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Raymond Lorraine, Charles Dean, Robert Lee, Raymond Edward, and his sisters, Phyllis Jean and Amaryllis Ann.

He is survived by his wife, Terri, his sons, Daniel and his wife Stephanie of South Amboy, New Jersey, and Samuel and his wife Lauren of Leawood, Kansas; sisters Pauline JoAnn Wolfe of Savonburg, Kansas and Donna Arlene Franklin and husband Robert Franklin of Shawnee, Kansas; sisters-in-law, Judith Wilson, Kandi Wilson, and Patricia Johnson of Chanute, Kansas; brothers-in-law, William Wilson of Walnut, Kansas, William Otto and wife JoNita of LeRoy, Kansas and Thomas Breiner of Knightdale, North Carolina; three grandchildren, Kipling Alan Johnson, Ivy May Johnson, and Olivia Ann Johnson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Rev. Kevin Moyers and Pastor Ralph Peters will conduct funeral services at 11:00 A.M. Friday, July 30th at the Elsmore United Methodist Church.

Burial will follow in the Elsmore Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Elsmore United Methodist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Elections, Government, Kansas

Caryn Tyson Launches Campaign For State Treasurer

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Caryn Tyson

(Topeka) – As a leading conservative, Kansas Senator Caryn Tyson officially launched her campaign for State Treasurer with supporters from across the state at Ravenwood Lodge, Topeka. Tyson, who currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee, told the audience, as State Treasurer she will lead the fight to keep government accountable.

“As a legislator, I work diligently to represent you and my record proves it.  Kansas needs a State Treasurer that will fight for your liberties by providing transparency and a watchdog on state spending and investments; We need a State Treasurer that will put Kansas First – that is exactly what I am going to do. From defending our Constitution, including the First and Second Amendment Rights, I don’t just talk the talk, I have and will continue to walk the walk.  I am the conservative leader who can deliver results as Kansas State Treasurer.  You can count on me to work for you,” stated Tyson.

Tyson works diligently for smaller, smarter government and to stop wasteful spending. Even before her time in the legislator her attention for detail and ability to get the job done in the field of Information Technology earned her awards for achievement and teamwork, including for her work on space shuttle support for NASA.

Representative Highland, inductee to the United States Army Officer Candidate School, said in supporting Tyson for State Treasurer, “I’ve worked with Caryn for going on 10 years.  I both respect and trust Caryn.  She never gives up.  She’ll fight.  One thing I like about Caryn is she respects the people she serves and she works for them, not for herself.”

“Caryn is actually trying to fight for you and put more money in your pocket.  And she truly believes in less government and I do too.  She’s one of those kind of people who doesn’t care who gets the pat on the back, just as long as the truck gets loaded and you save money.  She knows how to fight and true a conservative that will fight for you.” State Representative Ken Corbet.

Caryn Tyson has math and computer science degrees from Kansas State and a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from KU. Caryn Tyson has a long career as a manager and lead in high level Information Technology, including financial systems. She is currently serving as a citizen legislator being elected for a third term in the Kansas Senate, after serving a term in the Kansas House.

Caryn and her husband, Tim – both fifth generation Kansans – own and operate Tyson Ranch in Linn County, established in 1871.

 

 
Bourbon County, Fort Scott, History, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Fort Scott’s Frontline Pandemic Workers Honored

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Lowell Milken Center Announces New Banner Exhibits Honoring Fort Scott’s Frontline Workers

 

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes invites all community members to visit the Center beginning Wednesday, July 28, 2021, to see its newest exhibit, “Fort Scott’s Frontline Heroes.” Three new banners will be part of the exhibit, highlighting three groups of frontline workers – First Responders, Health Care Workers, and Educators. This new exhibit has been made possible with funds received from a Fort Scott Area Community Foundation grant.

The Lowell Milken Center’s “Fort Scott’s Frontline Heroes” project highlights frontline professions within our community who have been directly dealing with pandemic issues in order to provide safe and direct action for our citizens. The following three groups have been recognized in the new banner exhibits: FIRST RESPONDERS (Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officers, EMS Workers), HEALTH CARE WORKERS (CHCSEK, Ascension/Via Christi ER, Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, Long Term Care Facilities, Assisted/Independent Living Facilities), and EDUCATORS (Public and Private Schools).

The LMC believes these groups of workers are truly Fort Scott’s “unsung heroes,” as they have given so much of themselves to our community’s citizens during the pandemic and continue to do so. We encourage all Fort Scott area citizens to support these heroes by viewing the new exhibits at the Lowell Milken Center, sharing words of gratitude and support in the LMC guest book and through the LMC’s social media pages on Facebook – www.facebook.com/LowellMilkenCenter, Twitter – https://twitter.com/LowellMilkenCtr, and Instagram – www.instagram.com/LowellMilkenCtr.

About the Lowell Milken Center: The Lowell Milken Center is a non-profit 501 © (3) that works with students and educators within a range of diverse academic disciplines, to develop projects focused on unsung heroes. Once their projects are finished, the student’s unsung heroes are shared in the Hall of Unsung Heroes or on the website, encouraging people all over the world to discover their individual influence and obligation to take actions that improve the lives of others. The Hall of Unsung Heroes is proudly located in Southeast Kansas and showcases some of the top projects developed in collaboration with the Center.

 

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Government, Health Care

Former Mercy Hospital Building Being Considered By Noble Health

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The west end of the former Mercy Hospital, located on South Horton Street at Jayhawk Road.

The Fort Scott City Commission and the Bourbon County Commission signed a contract last week to facilitate Noble Health Corp’s feasibility study of the former Mercy Hospital building.

Mercy Hospital closed its doors in December 2018, following declining patient numbers and shrinking reimbursement.

To view Mercy’s closing announcement:

https://fortscott.biz/news/mercy-hospital-fort-scott-to-close

The building is located just off Hwy. 69 on Fort Scott’s south side at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.

It currently houses the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas clinic and the Via Christi Emergency Department. Their leases are ending in 2022.

Noble Health Corp., Kansas City,  announced on June 25, 2021, that it will explore the possibility of reopening an acute care hospital facility in Fort Scott, Kansas.

To view the Noble Health Corp. announcement:

Reopening An Acute Care Hospital In Fort Scott Being Explored by Noble Health

The city will contribute $200,000, the county $800,000 towards the feasibility study,  according to the contract. The local government entities will be using American Rescue Plan money from the federal government for the project, according to Bourbon County Commissioner Clifton Beth.

The American Rescue Plan Act 2021 can be viewed at ARP Act SxS – as of 02.22.21.pdf (house.gov)

The feasibility study will investigate the condition of title to the development property, the physical condition of the property, the zoning, the economic feasibility, and all matters relevant to the acquisition, usage, operation, valuation, and marketability of the property and the project, as the developer deems appropriate

Should the project prove feasible, the county agrees to contribute at least $2,000,000 to finance certain costs and expenses related to and associated with the project, according to the contract.

The following is the agreement that the Fort Scott City Commission and the Bourbon County Commissioners signed with Access Medical Advisors LLC and Noble Health Corp. on July 21, 2021.

Continue reading Former Mercy Hospital Building Being Considered By Noble Health →

Area News

Free Substance Abuse Prevention Skills Training Aug. 24-27

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KSAPS (Kansas Substance Abuse Prevention Skills Training) is Free

(This training provides the steps for the Strategic Prevention Framework model used in prevention efforts.)  It truly helps to guide efforts that are data driven and will make a difference in prevention efforts.

Survey and Registration
August 24-27, 2021

Courtyard by Marriott

Salina, KS 


  • PLEASE NOTE: We are asking that everyone planning to attend respond by 12:00pm (noon) on August 13, 2021, and respond to these few questions.

 

Registration Link: https://wichitastate.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0pUnrj7v6qHfXpk

Prevention is better together and together we are stronger!

 

Dena Kemp, MSW, CPP

Southeast Kansas Community Support Specialist

Community Based Services Division

104 ½ W 9th Street, Suite 424

Winfield, KS 67156

620.670.2814 (Office)

620.218.2878 (Cell)

www.DCCCA.org