Author Leon Perry will be featured during a book signing this Saturday, Feb. 25 at 1:30 p.m. at Hedgehog INK bookstore, 16 S. Main, Fort Scott.
Leon Perry. Submitted photo.
Perry was a young child when his family came to Fort Scott in the 1950s to look for employment. They were staying in a motel in Belltown, on the city’s north side, when there was explosion in their room that killed his parents and a sibling.
Perry chronicles the kindness and help that he and his remaining sibling received from the community as he recovered from severe burns to his body and the loss of his parents.
He and brother, Ernie, were taken to the Goodlander Children’s Home, where they stayed until they were adopted by a local farm couple.
He tells of the life on the farm, school, 4-H and FFA that allows readers to understand life in Bourbon County during that era of time. He went on to be an educator and school administrator in Kansas and Missouri.
New applications to be reviewed, processed subject to availability of funds
The Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund (KHAF), a federally funded, temporary emergency program to support homeowners experiencing hardship during the COVID pandemic, has dispersed nearly all program funds and will close soon. KHAF was established with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help qualifying Kansas homeowners get current on their mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure. Since the program launched in April 2022, KHAF has provided $42,599,772 to 3,797 households.
The KHAF program is now in the Hold Phase, the second of three closure phases. On January 30, 2023, households were encouraged to apply for assistance as soon as possible. The program has now received enough applications to exhaust all current funds, ending Final Funding phase. Applications submitted during Final Funding Phase will still be reviewed and processed, subject to available funding.
The closure process will follow three phases. Here’s what this means for Kansas homeowners in need of assistance:
1. Final Funding Phase: On Jan. 30, 2023, homeowners seeking KHAF support were encouraged to apply to be considered for final funding.
2. Hold Phase: The program has received enough applications to fully expend all KHAF funds. Applications submitted during Hold Phase will be placed on hold and will not be reviewed or processed unless sufficient program funds are available.
3. Closure Phase: When all program funds are exhausted the program will close and will stop accepting new applications.
The KHAF program is now in Hold Phase. The length and dates of each phase will be subject to a variety of factors, including application volume and amount of assistance requested. Each program closure phase will be announced on the KHAF webpage.
For more questions, applicants can reach KHAF customer service at 855-307-KHAF (5423), or review the KHAF closure FAQs. KHRC’s ongoing housing programs will continue to serve Kansans beyond the closure of the KHAF program.
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The KHAF program is administered by Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), a self-supporting, nonprofit, public corporation committed to helping Kansans access the safe, affordable housing they need and the dignity they deserve. KHRC serves as the state’s housing finance agency, administering essential housing and community programs to serve Kansans.
The Starlite FCE held its February meeting at the Presbyterian Village meeting room. President Glenda Miller called the meeting to order. Joyce Allen led the club in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Club Collect. Nine members and one guest were in attendance and reported that they had volunteered for twelve hours and had recycled thirty-five pounds.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Doris Ericson presented the treasurer’s report, and Karen Peery announced that the Area Recognition Day will be April 18th at the Methodist Church in Humboldt.
Old business consisted of a report that the Valentines we had signed were delivered and that we had received a thank you from the VA hospital.
New business was planning the March meeting on Men’s health, which we are opening up to the community. Glenda Miller and Deb are presenting the program, Doris Ericson will be providing the paper products, Terri Williams will provide refreshment of cobbles, chocolate cake, and ice cream, Joyce Allen will provide the drinks and Betty Johnson the sugar and creamer. Glenda Miller also announced the Jack Jackson will be presenting the program for the Uniontown Ruritan meeting on March 20th.
Glenda Miller asked that all the members bring a dozen filled Easter eggs to the March meeting to be taken to Tri-Valley.
Doris Ericson moved the meeting be adjourned, Taylor Bailey seconded the motion, meeting adjourned. After the meeting the club enjoyed a program on Woman to Woman searching for Chocolate (Hearth Fire lesson #7) presented by Karen Peery. The lesson gave the history of chocolate. Karen also had candy bar fortunes and identify the candy games.
Refreshments of a layered chocolate dessert, assorted chocolates and water were prepared by Karen Peery and Betty Johnson and enjoyed by all.
Removing Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS) 15% limit on alternative investments, Senate Bill (SB) 23, was scheduled for debate on the Senate floor. Just before the bill was to be debated, it was pulled from the schedule because several of us questioned removing the limit. We were told the bill was needed because current “alternative” investments are bumping the 15% limit and the KPERS Board would be forced to liquidate some investments at an inopportune time. After more research, it was discovered that nothing requires liquidation or selling alternative investments at the 15% limit, but the Board is restricted from participating in additional alternate investments.
Gun Safety courses would be optional in public schools if SB 116 becomes law. After a cordial debate, the bill passed the Senate 30 to 8. I voted yes.
County Identifier on License Plates is the intent of SB 130. It’s helpful to see the two character code identifying a Kansas county on license plates. Custom plates and specialty plates have not been including the county ID. SB 130 would require the county ID on these plates. The county ID will help with people who have wrongly received a ticket or bill from the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) because they have the same number on their license plate as someone from another county. Many people like seeing the ID. The bill passed the Senate 32 to 4.
Presidential Primary instead of Caucus is a bill that I requested. Kansas has been holding party caucuses, instead of primary elections for President mainly because of cost. National party conventions to nominate candidates for President are usually held in July, while Kansas primaries are in August. Thus, party caucuses are used to decide Kansas nominees for President. It would make sense to move the Kansas primary so that it could include candidates for President. This would address the cost issue and allow primary winners more time between the primary and the general elections.
Property Tax Relief Just a reminder about tax relief programs passed by the legislature last year. The Secretary of Revenue is working on problems people have had using the forms to apply for these programs. The link for the application for property tax relief for low income seniors and disabled veterans is posted at https://www.ksrevenue.gov/pdf/k-40svr.pdf and the application for some property tax relief for businesses shut-down or negatively impacted by the Governor’s shutdown during COVID is at https://www.kdor.ks.gov/Apps/Misc/PropTaxAssistance/StoreFront
You may also call KDOR at 785-368-8222 or e-mail [email protected] with questions about the programs and applications.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting event Thursday, February 23rd at 8 a.m. hosted by The Beauty Lounge located at 2 S. Main St. in the Downtown Historic District. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served in addition to a door prize drawing.
The Beauty Lounge is a one-stop shop for esthetics, hair, nails, massages, and skin care products. In January, The Beauty Lounge celebrated their one-year anniversary with the grand opening of their new location.
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 and learn about the host business or organization. Any member business or organization wanting to host Chamber Coffee in 2023 is encouraged to contact the Chamber to save a date by calling 620-223-3566 or emailing [email protected].
Voneta V. Lewis, age 96, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Monday, February 20, 2023, at Presbyterian Village, Fort Scott. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, February 27th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9:30 until 10:00 Monday morning at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association and may be left at Cheney Witt Chapel.
JoAnn Sylvia Clark, age 88, former resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Friday, February 17, 2023, at The Maples Health & Rehab, Springfield, MO. She was born September 29, 1934, in Emmeram, KS, the daughter of Joseph and Albina Weigel Doerfler. She attended schools in Russel, KS, Wichita, KS, and graduated from Fort Scott High School. She worked for Western Insurance Company/American States Insurance/Lincoln National Insurance for a combined 40 years.
Survivors include her two daughters, Sharyl Blackmore, and Carol Clark; nine grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and 2 brothers, Alan, and David Doerfler. She was preceded in death by her husband James H. Clark, Jr., 2 sisters, 4 brothers, a daughter, Janet Clark, and her parents.
There was cremation. Burial will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery in Fort Scott, KS, at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Old Fort Genealogical Society and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at
19 S. Main, is on the left, with 23 S. Main on the left. The buildings are located at the corner of First and Main Street.
The City of Fort Scott approved two resolutions for an apartment project at 19 and 23 S. Main.
Currently Spoiled Brat Beauty Salon and Main Street Vintage and Co. are housed on the main floor of the two buildings.
The Project
Justin Pregont, with Pomeroy Development LLC, of Atchinson, appeared before the Fort Scott City Commission this month to ask for and did receive approval for the submission of a moderate income housing grant application to the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation.
In addition he sought and was approved for submission of a Rural Housing Incentive District and an Industrial Revenue Bond issue in support of the project.
The entire process of a project like this can take several years, Pregont said in an interview, and all plans are contingent on the receiving of the funds from the grants. In late March 2023, he will be notified from the state if he is a winner of the first of the grants, which he said is very competitive.
The Van Fossen Apartments is the name of the project. It is a sixteen unit adaptive reuse and historic preservation project approximately 16,000 square feet of the second and third floors of the Van Fossen building at 23 S. Main as well as a comprehensive renovation of the second floor of 19 S. Main, which has approximately 3,000 square feet.
Pregont sought the city’s approval to apply for $1,375,000 in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) category, a federal stimulus bill to aid public health and economic recovery.
It is in the Moderate-Income Housing (MIH) category of the grant. He stated that the city’s responsibility is administrative, because the checks must flow through a local government sponsor.
Pregont told the commission he has similar projects he has done in the past. He stated that he is the sponsor, he is responsible for carrying it through to completion and he is responsible for the compliance, but the funds flow through the city.
“A friend of mine notified me of the real estate listing,” Pregont said. “We like historic buildings, they are superior in architecture to modern.
The historic tax credits are a big piece of the funding of such projects.
The Apartments
The apartments will be “top of the market”, Pregont said, and the rents will reflect that. “It will provide quality housing for people who want something better.”
He said he knows people are concerned about the increased shortage of parking spaces in the historic downtown area.
“Anytime there is a booming downtown, there is parking distress,” he said. “It’s an indication of success.”
The primary entrance will not be on Main Street, but on First Street near the alley, which should help with the parking issue currently on Main Street, he said.
Whether pets will be allowed in the apartments, Pregont said it is uncertain at this time, although therapy dogs will be, according to laws that are in place.
Many business owners and downtown residents have expressed concern over animal feces in the downtown area.
About the Name
The buildings were built in the 1880s by Van Fossen and Wilcox, Pregont said. It was originally a dry goods store, but through the years saw many transformations.
“Van Fossen is a unique name, so we went with that,” Pregont said.
The mixed media competition is open to artists of age 16 and older. Categories include Ceramics, Drawing and Graphics (Pencil, Pen, Ink), Fiber Art, Glasswork, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting (Oil & Acrylic), Pastel, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Watercolor.
A new themed category has been included; the theme this year is “DOORWAYS & WINDOWS”. An artist may create a piece in any of the above media categories, as it relates to the theme.
Entry fees are $7.50 per piece for Bourbon County Arts Council members and $10.00 per piece for non-members. Artists may enter up to five pieces, but only three in any one category. Entry deadline and payment are due by February 24th, 2023.
Entry forms may be requested by calling Deb Anderson at 620.224.8650, Deb Halsey at 620.224.0684 or emailing [email protected].
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
I’ve been providing music for funerals since the early 1970s and I always consider it an honor to be involved in a loved one’s service. Just when I thought I’d seen and heard it all, I found out I hadn’t. A funeral is no different from any other event that involves people. People are unpredictable, like cattle, and you can never be sure exactly what’s going to happen. Last summer, I played and sang two songs at a lovely memorial service for a dear lady I’d known for many years. I had noticed there was a little girl about two years old that was a bit rowdy, but cute as a bug’s ear. After I finished singing “Peace in the Valley,” I heard her loud and enthusiastic response of “YAY!” There were a few soft chuckles and I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear as I cleared the piano bench. Nope, I didn’t see that coming, but it sure was funny.
I wonder if we shouldn’t be more like this little girl. She simply responded with her mouth what she was feeling on the inside. As believers, we have so many good things to yell about. Jesus lovingly used a little child to teach His disciples a big lesson. “Jesus called a little one to His side and said to them, ‘Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable, and learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, you will never be able to enter in’” (Matthew 18:3 TPT). The people of Judah enthusiastically gave God the glory due to His great name. “And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice” (2 Chronicles 20:19 ESV).
God created us as three-part beings: spirit, soul, and body. When it comes to the death of a loved one, it affects our spirit and soul. When a loved one dies in Christ, those left behind understand and rejoice in their spirit that he/she is now in heaven. But when it comes to our soul (mind, will, emotions) we deeply mourn for our loss. But we‘re not on our own in this restoration process. “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4 NLT). This is a “YAY” promise we can take to the bank!
I grew up singing in a church that didn’t have a PA system, so I learned to belt it out. Although my mom had a quiet disposition, everything my dad did was loud. We’re born with unchangeable characteristics (like brown eyes) and our personalities are also formed in the womb. I took after Dad with the loud, so it comes natural for me to freely express myself like the little girl at the funeral. I could never hold down a job at the library — I’m sure I’d get fired after the first day. Here are two wonderful scriptures that are worth yelling about: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NLT).
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again — rejoice! Don‘t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4,6,7 NLT).
The Key: Having peace in the valley and on the mountaintop is something to yell about.
