The Uniontown 4-H Club met on October 10, 2021, at the Uniontown City Hall for the regular monthly meeting. Before the meeting the club attended the Mount Opurum Church service as part of their national 4-H week activities.
The newly elected club officers were installed into their new positions. The new officers are; President Kendyl Bloesser, Vice President Seth Shadden, Secretary Ziggy Barbour, Treasurer Austin Maycumber, Reporter Marley Sutton, Historian Makiah Woods, Parliamentarian Hailey Shadden, Song and Recreation Leaders Zane, and Zeb Barbour. MaKinlee Bloesser, Marley Sutton, Austin Maycumber, and Kendyl Bloesser will serve as the 4-H council representatives.
When I was about seven years old, my Dad borrowed our neighbor’s Shetland pony for the evening.
When I mounted that thing, he was totally uncontrollable and headed for every low-lying branch on our place. He dragged me off his back and I landed hard on the ground seven times. That Shetland had a mean streak a mile long and by the end of the night I pretty-much hated him.
I can’t say exactly what the point of this episode was but, because Dad was a horse lover, I think it was to see if I’d be interested in riding horses. I’m happy to say he never borrowed that crazy little hairy varmint again.
That Shetland pony was a really bad representation of what a good horse is like. I’m glad I didn’t give up on all horses, thinking they were all alike. If I would have had that wrong mindset, I would have never ridden a horse again, and I would’ve missed out on wonderful times with my father.
We enjoyed riding around the Hayward Rancho where I learned the difference between a running walk and a foxtrot. We were members of the Stockton Saddle Club and trailered our horses to the arena to ride with our friends on Monday nights. We rode together in the Stockton Walnut Festival parade and went on trail rides. Spending time with my Dad was a very special benefit for me. I wouldn’t trade those experiences and memories for a farm in Texas or all the gold in California.
Jack Hayward (U.S. flag) and daughter Carolyn awaiting the start of the Stockton Walnut Festival parade in the 1970s.
Not all Christians are alike either. I’m very saddened when I hear this scenario: Q: “Where do you go to church?” A: “I don’t go to church. I used to, but someone offended me and I’ve never been back. All Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites.”
Unfortunately, this similar conversation is repeated by people all over the world.
It’s true that Christians are not perfect in everything we do or say all the time. But serious Christ followers have a perfect heart toward pleasing their heavenly Father. “But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said,’ I have found David son of Jesse, a man after My own heart. He will do everything I want him to do’” (Acts 13:22 NLT). King David loved God with all his heart. However, there were a few times he didn‘t do everything right. But because his heart was tender toward his heavenly Father, David repented, practiced obedience, and did mighty exploits for God’s Kingdom.
If I’ve got a box of truffles and one piece is messed up, it’s not going to keep me from enjoying the rest of the chocolates. If Mom burned the biscuits once, that’s not going to stop me from eating future mouth-watering biscuits that are baked to perfection. Give the devil a black eye and do yourself a favor — receive the imperfect and loving people that God has placed on your trail to lead you home.
Don’t miss out on the wonderfully- blessed life you were designed to have with your heavenly Father.
If you’ve been thrown for a loop, get back in the saddle again and ride into a personal relationship with Jesus. You can grow and enjoy the trail ride with other like-minded and like-hearted believers.
When your horse throws a shoe, you don’t shoot the horse! You make the necessary repairs and replace the shoe. You keep on riding the trail with all the others. When you’ve got the best Trail Boss and a lot of friendly imperfect riders to help you along, you’ll eventually get to your destination even if you’re riding drag.
The Key: Genuine representations of Christ are everywhere and they’re in the church too.
Gregg Motley. President of the Regional Economic Development, Inc. Submitted photo.
In the news and on social media, one often hears phrases such as “tax the rich” and “the rich should pay their fair share.” It seems fair that the wealthy pay most of the taxes because they don’t need all that extra money. Is it good to have a large number of high income and high net worth Americans? How much do the rich pay? Is taxing the rich the answer to our deficit?
Let me start with the last question first; if every American who made over $1 million per year paid 100% of their income in taxes, the IRS would take in about $612 billion. This number represents about one-third of our deficit; the Federal government could not even balance the budget with a 100% tax on high earners. By itself, the “tax the rich” approach is not the answer.
How much do the rich pay? According to an August 2021 report by the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, the top 1% of earners pay 40% of all taxes collected, the next 38% of earners pay 60% of all taxes, and the bottom 61% of American households paid zero taxes in 2020. That means that over 100 million Americans paid no income tax in 2020.
The new proposal by the majority party in Congress this year is to tax the accumulated wealth of Americans. For example, when the stock price of Tesla goes up, Elon Musk becomes wealthier, but does not pay taxes on the growth because he has not sold the stock. Accordingly, when your 401K goes up in value, the IRS will expect you to send a percentage of this unrealized gain in with your income tax due. Conversely, can you imagine the government sending out large refund checks to millions of Americans when stock prices fall like they did in 2008?
Why is accumulated wealth a good thing for all Americans? Because that is where the bulk of the investment capital comes from to grow existing businesses and start new ones. Without the investment of cash by a handful of Bourbon County residents who had accumulated wealth, we would not have the Sleep Inn. Some of our large businesses like Ward-Kraft, Extrusions, and Peerless would not have had the capital to expand and diversify their product offerings as they have done in recent years. Noble Health would not be in a position to reopen our hospital without the accumulated wealth of the company and its owners. Excess cash by the rich puts the capital in capitalism.
For economic development to occur in Bourbon County, we need people with accumulated wealth to invest in us. Yes, we can apply for grants, and we have. However, sustained economic growth is accomplished by those with accumulated wealth who believe in our communities and want to invest in who we are and what we can be. We over-tax the rich to our peril.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office has been chosen as the recipient of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Champions Award, granted by Special Olympics Kansas.
Woodland Hills Golf Course, 2414 S. Horton, Fort Scott.
“The presentation will be at Woodland Hills Golf Course at 1 pm on November 16th,” Erin Fletcher, Director of Grants and Development at Special Olympics Kansas, said. “Ben Cole and Steve Anthony will accept the award for their outreach during the year and fundraising at the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Golf Scramble.”
This award is given to members of the LETR community that have gone above and beyond to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Kansas. Only one award is given out yearly throughout the entire state of Kansas.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office also won the Southeast Kansas Regional Organization of the Year in 2020.
“This award recognizes all the hard work, dedication, commitment, and care they have provided for the Law Enforcement Torch Run and our Kansas Athletes,” said Fletcher. “This continued commitment to improving the quality of life for all athletes is greatly appreciated and we are thrilled to honor them with the Law Enforcement Torch Run of Kansas Champions Award.”
Among other fundraisers, the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office recently raised over $32,000 from their Bourbon County Golf Scramble held in July 2021.
ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS KANSAS Special Olympics Kansas (SOKS) is dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports competitions, health and nutrition programs, and leadership development. SOKS is a non-profit organization supported almost entirely by corporate and individual gifts, and events. The generosity of Kansas organizations, individuals, and statewide businesses enable the program to continue.
ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN (LETR) The Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1981 with founder Wichita Police Chief Richard LaMunyon and five law enforcement officers carrying the torch for the Special Olympics Kansas Summer Games in Wichita. The LETR has since evolved to a volunteer partnership with Special Olympics to champion acceptance and inclusion. It has become a worldwide community of law enforcement officers rallying to support Special Olympics, the impetus for millions of new friendships around the world, and a series of events including Torch Runs, Polar Plunge fundraisers, and Tip-A-Cop® events. The LETR is the largest grassroots fundraiser for Special Olympics with more than 100,000 law enforcement participants around the world. Visit LETR.org for more information. www.facebook.com/specialolympicskansas www.flickr.com/specialolympicskansas Twitter @sokansas Instagram @sokansas ###
PITTSBURG — The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has approved the KU-CHC/SEK Rural Family Medicine Residency, completing the final step to becoming a place to grow and retain the next generation of rural family physicians.
“We are excited to begin the residency program,” saidReta Baker, CHC/SEK vice president of clinical education. “Southeast Kansas has a need for more physicians and certainly welcome them to our community.”
The rural family medicine residency is a collaborative initiative between the University Of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) in Kansas City, Kansas, and the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) in Pittsburg. Applications for the residency will be accepted in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), and should be available by Nov. 10.
By selecting this residency experience the learning and training environments will provide the best of two worlds; urban and rural. Year one residents will be based at the KU academic medical center in Kansas City, Kansas. The curriculum will provide experience in an academic institution providing a solid foundation in preparation for the transition to rural training in years two and three.
The primary residency site for rural training will be with the FQHC of CHC/SEK. All of the resources needed for this underserved rural community will be found under one roof along with the Residency Continuity Clinic. Residents will also train at Pittsburg’s Ascension Via Christi Hospital to learn care of the acute patient in a rural setting.
Unique benefits and features of the FQHC based residency experience include but are not limited to: learning to manage complex care patients and access specialty care and consultation from a rural environment; being the only residency in the community eliminates competition for procedures and experiences as well as focused support and attention from faculty, and access to a multidisciplinary team on-site to immediately address your patients’ needs may include but not be limited to such services as; dental, behavioral health, wellness, diagnostics, population health, community health worker and care management to name some.
“Having a Family Medicine residency in Pittsburg has been a dream for many years and we are thrilled to see it become a reality,” Associate Program Director Bethany Enoch, MD, said. “Training excellent family doctors has been my passion for a long time, and the ability to do it in southeast Kansas where these physicians are so needed will be another great step toward excellent health for all of us in southeast Kansas.”
To learn more about the residency program people can visit its website at chcsekresidency.org.
The Board of Trustees of Fort Scott Community College will meet in regular session on Monday, November 8, 2021. The meeting will be held in Cleaver-Burris-Boileau Hall at Fort Scott Community College.
5:00 p.m. Dinner in Cleaver-Burris-Boileau Hall at 5:00 followed by regular board meeting at 5:30 p.m.
THE AGENDA
5:00 DINNER
5:30 ROLL CALL, 3
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
CALL TO ORDER, 4
A. Comments from the Chair, 4
CONSENT AGENDA, 5
A. Approval of Agenda, 5
B. Approval of Minutes of previous Regular Board Meeting conducted on October 18,
2021, 6
C. Approval of Treasurer’s Report, Bills, and Claims, 8
D. Approval of Personnel Actions, 5
ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS, 61
A. Approval of Rescheduled Notice of Sale and Close Dates, 61
ITEMS FOR REVIEW, 62
REPORTS, 65
A. Administrative Updates, 66
EXECUTIVE SESSION, 75
ADJOURNMENT, 76
Consent Agenda
A. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
1) Attached are the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting conducted on October 18, 2021.
C. APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT, BILLS and CLAIMS
Attached are the Treasurer’s Report and the Bills and Claims Report.
D. APPROVAL OF PERSONNEL ACTIONS
1) Additions
a) Ben Cole, Assistant Golf Coach, effective November 1, 2021
2) Separations
a) Yazmin Batch, Assistant Basketball Coach, effective October 31, 2021
FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
October 18, 2021
PRESENT: John Bartelsmeyer, Dave Elliott, Jim Fewins, Kirk Hart, and Robert Nelson
ALSO PRESENT: Alysia Johnston, President, Juley McDaniel, Board Clerk, faculty, and staff
Chairman Bartelsmeyer called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm in Cleaver-Burris-Boileau Hall. The meeting was opened
with the Pledge of Allegiance.
COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR: None from Bartelsmeyer. Board member Nelson said the Gordon Parks Celebration was a great event and very well put together.
PERKINS RECOGNITION: Adam Borth presented Darlene Wood with a plaque from Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR). KBOR honored Darlene with their Perkins Grant Excellence Award. Darlene has coordinated FSCC and PSUs Perkins data for the past 13 years.
CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Elliott, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the consent agenda.
ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:
A. A motion was made by Elliott seconded by Nelson and carried by unanimous vote to approve the call for sale of certificate of participation for baseball and softball turf financing.
B. A motion was made by Hart seconded by Fewins and carried by unanimous vote to approve the bid from Dynamic Fitness & Strength for weight room equipment.
ITEMS FOR REVIEW: The Board reviewed letters of correspondence.
REPORTS:
A. ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES: The Board reviewed and heard reports from Grants and Special Projects, Student Services, Instruction, Finance and Operations, and the President.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Trustees, a motion to adjourn was made at 6:29 p.m. by Elliott seconded by Hart, and carried by unanimous vote.
Chairman Clerk
The City of Fort Scott will hold a public hearing on Monday, November 8, 2021, at 6:00 p.m., in the Fort Scott City Hall, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas, to discuss the City’s submission of an Urgent Need application for the Kansas Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
The maximum Urgent Need grant that may be requested is $400,000.
No involuntary displacement of persons will be proposed.
For the Urgent Need application, the City proposes to address concerns on 8 and 16 North National Avenue including: the loose and deteriorated masonry at the top of the walls, joint reinforcement, framing shoring, installment of parapet caps, reconstruction/repair of building corners, removal of all interior plaster and finishes from the exterior face of the walls, repoint and patch old joist pockets, install anchors over entire wall surface, and remove old joist ties from the exterior face of the wall.
Proposed financing is $400,000 from CDBG funds, and $285,000 from City funds.
Other project proposals introduced at the hearing will be considered.
Oral and written comments will be recorded and become a part of the City of Fort Scott’s CDBG Citizen Participation Plan. Reasonable accommodations will be made available to persons with disabilities. Requests should be submitted to the City of Fort Scott Clerk’s Office at 620-223-0550.
The Fort Scott High School Performing Arts Department presents the new musical “Ranked” by Kyle Holmes and David Taylor Gomes.
Performances are Nov. 9, and 11 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 13 at 2 and 7 p.m. at the FSHS Auditorium. Over fifty FSHS students are involved in the acting, singing, dancing, and technical aspects of the show.
“Ranked” presents a dystopian high school where the theme, “Buy your grades. Buy your future. But what happens when the rest of the world finds out?” comes to the surface.
Rankedmusical.com describes the plot this way: “Lily is Above the Average, barely. Soon the giant, and very public, academic leaderboards will update everyone’s class rank, and for another day, everyone will know their place. If you fall Below the Average – say goodbye to college, and pretty much everything else… In the face of an intense and perverse culture of performance, Lily must find her place in the status quo as she watches friends and enemies alike destroy themselves and each other to score their way to the top. When an impossible lie is discovered, the fate of these students’ futures hangs in the balance.”
Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for those under 18. Reserved tickets are available at fortscotthighschool.ludus.com or at the door. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Parental guidance is suggested.
Once an anchor store in Fort Scott Historic Downtown, Country Cupboard staff is opening the store at 12 N. Main on Saturdays only until the end of the year in a liquidation sale, according to employees.
Home decor, jewelry, clothing, cards, old fashion candy were among the offerings of the store, as well as Kansas State University accessories.
“Judy (Renard, the owner) was a true K-State fan,” a 20-year employee Sheila Blubaugh, said.
Judy Renard was the owner of the County Cupboard.
“We had the latest trends in merchandise,” Blubaugh, said. “Judy had a good ability to pick out something that was going to be popular. People came from lots of places, to shop here.”
“Judy was good at, if somebody wanted something we didn’t have, she would try to get it for them,” Marie Wiley, an almost 30-year employee, said. “She was a good boss, as well.”
Judy’s husband, John, had a shoe repair business inside the shop.
John died in December 2019, and Judy died this year in September.
In the last few years, the shop has been opened only rarely, as Judy had been ill.
Since the Good Ol Days Event this year in June, the shop has been open on Saturdays, Wiley said.
Now until the end of the year, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, shoppers can purchase antiques, store displays, former consignment items, and store merchandise that is for sale.
All are included in the liquidation sale.
“We have boxes of old consignment items,” Wiley said. “Some are being given away.”
The Renard family has listed the business property with real estate agent, Crystal Mason, Blubaugh said.
The family is comprised of Renard’s four children, Jim, Dallas, TX; Ron, Marshall, MO; David, Mapleton, and Dee Anne Miller, Fort Scott.
The building has two stories and a basement, Wiley said.
History of the business
Judy Renard started her business as the Calico Cottage, in a different building on Main Street, Blubaugh said.
“The shop featured handmade items, sold on consignment,” Blubaugh said.
Then Judy and John purchased the current location at 12 N. Main, about 40 years ago, Wiley said.
The building was originally a men’s clothing store, then A & P Grocery Store and then a men’s Western shop-when the Renard’s bought it, Wiley said.
