|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monthly Archives: September 2021
Bourbon County Commission Agenda For Sept. 28
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: September 28, 2021
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM
Call to Order
-
- Flag Salute
- Approval of Minutes from previous meeting
- Eric Bailey – Road and Bridge Report
- County Counselor Comment
- Susan Bancroft, Finance Director Comment
- Public Comment
- Elected Officials Comment
- Commission Comment
Justifications for Executive Session:
KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy
KSA 75-4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
KSA 75-4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
KSA 75-4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships
KSA 75-4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property
KSA 75-4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.
Was It Worth It? by Carolyn Tucker
Keys to the Kingdom – By Carolyn Tucker
When I was expecting our first child, my Mom tried to encourage me with these wise words, “After a woman has a baby and she sees and holds it for the first time, she forgets all about the pain.” So I was banking on that to happen when I delivered my first child. I don’t know what was wrong with me, but my amnesia never did kick in. That’s the only time my Mom lied to me. However, I can honestly say that it was worth it — both times.
Christ followers have to keep on and stand strong in the pain of adversities. We have His promises and the privilege of going boldly to God’s throne for whatever we need. We mustn’t give up or give in when the going gets rough.
Believers need to make up their minds and purpose in their hearts that no matter what, they’re going to be radically dedicated to Jesus. Tough times don’t last, but tough people do. Endurance is defined as the ability to last, continue, or remain. “For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy” (James 5:10,11 NLT).
“The path of the godly leads away from evil; he who follows that path is safe” (Proverbs 16:17 TLB). Should you wander off the good path, don’t despair. One of Satan’s meanest tricks is to try to convince you that you’re a big fat fail and you might as well give up. The enemy of your soul doesn’t want you to know God‘s Word: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand” (Psalm 37:23,24 NKJV).
One of my favorite songs, “I Won’t Turn Back,” was written by Geron Davis, Tim Pedigo, and Janet Paschal. The lyrics encourage me to keep going. “It’s a struggle for survival, we daily meet the foe. Out there on the battlefield sometimes we stand alone. That‘s when I reach for my holy armor; I pick up my shield of faith and I march onto the battlefield — I take up my sword and say, ‘The mountain is high but it’s not too steep. The battle is rough but I’m not too weak. And I won’t turn back, oh no, I won’t turn back! The road is hot but it’s not too long. And the enemy is near but he’s not too strong. And I won’t turn back, oh no, I won’t turn back.’ In the face of strong resistance, we press on through the night. For often on the battlefield we walk by faith not sight. We march through persecution, determined come what may. We have to fight a good fight; we have to keep the faith!”
“The godly have a refuge when they die” (Proverbs 14:32 TLB). I love to use my husband’s preaching Bible. Jimmy underlined the following verse: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2 Timothy 4:7 NLT). If I could ask him today, “Was it worth it?” I know he would answer, “Oh my, yes!”
The Key: When you’ve run your final race and you see your Savior’s face, it will be worth it all.
Fall Tidy Up in the Yard and Garden
District Extension Agent, Horticulture
Southwind Extension District
111 S. Butler
Erie, KS 66733
Office: 620-244-3826
Cell: 620-496-8786
Fall – Time to Tidy Up, Store Summer Bulbs and Plan for Next Year
The change of from summer to fall – I always look forward to it. Although I’m sad to see my summer annuals begin to fade away, I do enjoy the fall scenery – mums, pumpkins, and the leaves putting on their colorful show. Fall also brings the time to do some tidying up around the home, storing summer bulbs, and yes – start making plans for the next growing season.
Don’t forget to dig your summer flowering bulbs and store those that will not survive Kansas winters. Bulbs such as gladiolus, caladium, dahlia, tuberous begonia, calla lily, and canna lily need to be dug and stored so they can be planted next year.
All of these plants should be dug after frost has browned the foliage. They should be allowed to dry for about a week in a shady, well-ventilated site such as a garage or tool shed. Any excess soil should be removed. The bulbs should be packed away in peat moss or perlite. When packing, make sure the bulbs don’t touch each other. That way if one decays, the rot won’t spread onto neighboring bulbs. Dusting the bulbs with fungicide before storing will help prevent them from rotting.
Caladium should be stored between 50 and 60 degrees F. The rest of the bulbs mentioned should be stored near 40 degrees. Finding a good storage spot may be tricky. A basement wall away from a furnace is often a good location.
As for spring flowering bulbs (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, allium) now is the time to establish into the landscape. If you have never planted allium, give it a try! You won’t be disappointed with the unique look and purple bloom (attention K-State fans!).
It is also time to fertilize spring-flowering bulbs. With an established bulb bed that has been fertilized in the past, there is probably plenty of phosphorus and potassium present in the soil to grow the plants next spring.
If you’re not sure, take a soil test. A complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 9-9-6 at the rate of 2.5 pounds per 100 square feet should be used if the soil needs phosphorus and potassium. This would also equal 1 rounded teaspoon per square foot.
While you’re out and about in your yard this fall fertilizing bulbs, you may want to take the time to clean up the iris beds as well. Iris are known for a couple of very common problems: a fungus known as iris leaf spot and an insect named iris borer.
Though both cause problems in the spring, now is the time to start control measurers. Both the fungus and eggs of the borer overwinter on old, dead leaves. Removing iris leaves and other landscape debris from the iris bed this fall will significantly reduce problems next spring.
On a side not away from flowers, October is a good time to plant garlic if you want large cloves next summer. The soil should be fertilized before planting with three pounds of a 10-10-10 fertilizer, per 100 square feet, and mixed into the soil.
Cloves should be planted point up and spaced three inches apart and one to two inches deep. The larger the clove planted, the larger the bulb for harvesting next summer. Once planted, water in well and
mulch with straw to conserve soil warmth and encourage good establishment.
The garlic will be ready for harvest next summer when most of the foliage has browned.
Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to
Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Division by Gregg Motley
Abraham Lincoln famously paraphrased the Good Book in a speech to the Illinois State Republican convention with regard to the deep divisions he witnessed in our nation over slavery just prior to the Civil War: “A house divided against itself will not stand.” This timeless wisdom, which is still true today, holds sway over Bourbon County and several of our communities. We are divided east and west, by socio-economic factors, politics, local issues, national issues, old grudges, urban and rural, and the list goes on.
These divisions seem more pronounced because of social media and YouTube broadcasting public forums, but it remains true that the lack of ability or effort to reach a consensus over basic issues has prevented us from solving problems. At times our county and our cities have looked chaotic.
All these dynamics are the enemies of trust, which is a critical ingredient in moving organizations and communities forward. Unfortunately, outsiders see these dark lines drawn throughout our communities and want no part of it.
Thankfully, positive developments are occurring around our area; the county and the city are working to reduce the expenses of both by working together and sharing resources. Benevolent men, women, and organizations are charting paths to work together to address the needs of the community. More is achieved when resources are shared and pooled.
This is effort is vital as we face megatrends, the impact of which are challenging to mitigate. These are difficult opponents to face as a team, much more so as divided communities. The need to swallow our collective pride and work to repair old rifts and grudges is critical. We are all in the same boat, navigating the turbulent waters faced by rural America. We cannot afford the luxury of division.
Bourbon County REDI is looking to be a catalyst for cooperation, reconciliation, and positive change. If you have ideas as to how we can better eliminate division, please email our Economic Development Director, Rob Harrington at [email protected]. We would very much appreciate your thoughts.
HBCAT Seeks Program Coordinator
POSITION AVAILABLE with the energetic and mission driven Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc. dedicated to creating a healthier Bourbon County. This position features a flexible work schedule and competitive salary. The position is ideal for a service-driven, mission-minded, flexible professional seeking variety in day-to-day work.
Title: Program Coordinator – flexibility with remote/in office
Salary: $40-$45,000, dependent upon education and experience
Position: full-time, 40 hours per week, 2 year, temporary, grant-funded
Summary: This position will focus on efforts to engage and build relationships with community stakeholders, implement placemaking activities and support programming for the Center for Economic Growth. The coordinator will oversee the Patterson Family Foundation Grant and activities as outlined in the awarded proposal. The coordinator may work directly with the HBCAT president, HBCAT Board, and a cross sector of community partners to address the social determinants of health through policy, systems, and environmental changes.
Program Coordinator will manage, coordinate, and oversee programs and projects. The successful coordinator will have the following responsibilities:
• To support HBCAT efforts to grow our response to Bourbon County’s challenges, including the social determinants of health, scarcity of resources, and working to create a culture of health.
• To perform outreach duties to engage with the local community and our target market of low income, minority, and female demographics.
• To support the development of effective relationships with other key organizations to meet the mission of HBCAT through development of partnership activities that educate and inform stakeholders and key partners.
• To maintain records pertaining to program activities. Provide data monitoring and tracking for all activities, including developing, implementing, and maintaining a tracking system, ensuring accurate measure, reporting and benchmarking.
• To recruit and supervise volunteers
• To coordinate the activities of the program and set priorities for managing the program.
• To manage marketing and outreach to the community. Assist in the preparation of information and clear monthly reports for the community and board.
• To prepare or assist in the preparation of grant requests and funding continuation from outside sponsors.
• To represent HBCAT at various conferences, meetings and during conference calls.
• To complete other assigned duties
Environment: HBCAT is dedicated to increase access to physical activity and healthy eating, promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance quality of life, and encourage economic growth. The HBCAT staff works as a team. Each staff person has responsibility for a wide variety of activities.
Relationships: The coordinator reports to the President and CEO. This support position works closely with multiple members, partners, contractors, and committees to achieve program objectives. The coordinator must have the ability to quickly establish and nurture working relationships and the ability to provide customized, need-based levels of support and engagement.
Education: bachelor’s degree in a related field or combination of education and related experience
Requirements: This position requires an understanding of the social determinants of health, as well as policy, systems, and environmental changes to address health outcomes. The coordinator will have some experience working to improve rural systems and addressing the needs of a rural community. Applicant must have proficiency in customer service and community data-driven programming. Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, are required. Applicant must be proficient in MS Office 365 and provide an appropriate remote office (when working remotely) with the basic equipment needed to maintain a confidential, professional representation of the organization. An understanding of federally funded rural programs is preferred. Travel by car may be required.
HBCAT is an equal opportunity employer.
Submit a letter of interest, resume, salary requirements and references to Jody Hoener, President and CEO, at [email protected], no later than October 1, 2021
Kansans Encouraged to Receive Pfizer COVID-19 Booster
KDHE Encourages Eligible Kansans to Receive Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot
TOPEKA – Today, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has authorized all COVID-19 vaccine providers in Kansas to begin administering the Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot to eligible Kansans following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) authorization this morning.
“We have over 2,000 COVID-19 vaccine providers across the state who are ready to provide the booster dose to eligible Kansans,” said Lee Norman, M.D., Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. “This booster dose will help protect Kansans who are more vulnerable for severe infection and hospitalization due to their position of working on the front lines, age or an underlying medical condition. It will take all of us doing our part by getting the vaccine to end this pandemic.”
The vaccine booster dose only applies to individuals who completed the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine series at least 6 months ago. Proof of previous COVID-19 vaccination is not required. The authorization does not allow for providing a booster dose to anyone who has previously been vaccinated with the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Eligibility for a booster dose based on an underlying medical condition will only require self-attestation – a prescription or assessment from a health care provider is not required.
Eligible Populations
- People aged 65 years and older, regardless of a medical condition, should receive a Pfizer booster shot
- Residents in long-term care settings should receive a Pfizer booster shot
- People aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a Pfizer booster shot
- People aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a Pfizer booster shot
- People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a Pfizer booster shot, based on their individual benefits and risks. (Occupational or institutional settings are not specifically defined in the CDC recommendation, however, it is intended to include health workers, teachers, grocery store, workers, congregant settings, etc.)
The COVID-19 vaccine is the most direct path to ending this pandemic. Kansans who qualify for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose, please find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic visit Vaccines.gov.
FS Golf Course Advisory Board Meets Sept. 27
The Golf Course Advisory Board will be held on Monday, September 27th, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at Woodland Hills Golf Course, 2414 S. Horton. The meeting will take place in the clubhouse. This meeting is open to the public.
Obituary of Norma Cowan
Norma Jean Cowan, 89, of Nevada, Missouri and formerly of Devon, passed away late Tuesday evening, September 21, 2021, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. She was born May 30, 1932, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Archie Jesse and Irma E. (Shoemaker) Riggs. She married Billy Joe Cowan on August 12, 1951, in Devon, Kansas, and he survives of the home.
Norma worked as a secretary and bookkeeper, for National Land Bank in Fort Scott, as well as The Western Insurance Company.
Together, Norma and Bill and the family,owned and operated the Devon Oil Co., from 1954 through 1972. They made their home in Devon, Kansas from 1954 until 1998, then moved to Nevada, Missouri. Norma was a member of the Nevada United Methodist Church.
In addition to her husband Bill, Norma is also survived by her children, Diana S. Cowan of Beaufort, North Carolina, and Phillip Alan Cowan and wife Lisa of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two grandchildren, Zachary Cowan and Seth Cowan, and one great-grandchild.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Gerald Riggs, and Harold “Bud” Riggs; sister, Wanda Higgins, and step-grandson, Daniel Mace.
Rev. Sharon Freeman will conduct funeral services at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.
Burial will follow in the Centerville Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Nevada United Methodist Church and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Obituary of James Hoover
James Eldon “Jim” Hoover, 60, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away September 20, 2021, at his home. He was born October 19, 1960, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Eldon Lee and Forestine Rosetta (Miller) Hoover.
Jim served in the US Army and was a Respiratory Therapist. He loved riding his Victory motorcycle.
Jim is survived by his children, Jeremy Hoover, Fort Scott, John Hoover, and Erica Hoover, both of Miami, Oklahoma; four sisters, Denise Imel (Chuck) of Tampa, Florida, Teresa Maki of Alma, Missouri, Linda Prior (Ian) of Tampa, Florida, and Sandra Fagan (Ed) of Honolulu, Hawaii; thirteen grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Cheryl Ann Hoover; a brother-in-law, John Maki; a son, Gabe Hoover, and a grandson, Canaan Hoover.
Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at the Fort Scott National Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends Monday evening, September 27, 2021, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Military Honors will be presented by the Kansas National Guard Military Honors Funeral Detail.
Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Flu Vaccine Drive-Thru Today and Tomorrow
Pfizer Booster Shots Available Today in Kansas
Kansas Adopts CDC’s Pfizer Booster Shot Recommendation
~~COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and free~~
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced Kansas will adopt the CDC’s Booster Recommendations and has authorized all COVID-19 vaccine providers to begin administering Pfizer booster shots to all eligible Kansans today.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is free, safe, effective, and it is our best tool to beat this virus,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Today’s announcement from the CDC will provide additional protection to the most vulnerable Kansans and our frontline healthcare workers. But our work to defeat this pandemic is not done. The best way for us to get out of this pandemic is to work together to ensure our friends, neighbors, and communities are all vaccinated against COVID-19.”
After thorough review, the CDC now recommends the Pfizer booster shot for the following Kansans whom have completed their primary Pfizer series:
- People aged 65 years and older, regardless of a medical condition, should receive a Pfizer booster shot
- Residents in long-term care settings should receive a Pfizer booster shot
- People aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a Pfizer booster shot
- People aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a Pfizer booster shot
- People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a Pfizer booster shot, based on their individual benefits and risks.
The vaccine booster dose only applies to individuals who completed the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine series at least 6 months ago. Eligibility for a booster dose based on an underlying medical condition will only require self-attestation – a prescription or assessment from a health care provider is not required.
The COVID-19 vaccine is the most direct path to ending this pandemic. To find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic visit Vaccines.gov.