U.S. Senator Jerry Moran Newsletter


Wishing Kansans a Happy Labor Day
Kansas is home to hard workers and major industries that support agriculture, aviation, health, science and more across our nation and the world. Thank you to all who contribute to make Kansas a great state to work, live and raise a family.

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Miles Across Kansas
While traveling across Kansas during the August Work Period, I added almost 6600 miles to my truck. Thank you to all the Kansans I met with during my time back home.

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KS Tourism Grants Available

Governor Kelly Announces $1M Available for Tourism Attraction Development Grants

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that $1 million in Attraction Development Grants is available from Kansas Tourism, a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce. Attraction Development Grants are designed to assist in the development of sustainable tourism experiences that influence travel decisions and create economic impact, including new jobs, capital investment, revenue, and increased visitation.

“Kansas tourism is an economic driver that highlights the many reasons why our state is the best place in the nation to live, work, and raise a family,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By investing in our tourism industry, we strengthen our economic growth and Kansas’ placement as a destination state for tourists from around the world.”

A first round of applications is now open with a deadline of October 1, 2023. A second round will open on February 1, 2024. $500,000 will be awarded in each round. Successful grant applications must have an accountable tie to the tourism industry, with funds being used to develop new or enhance existing tourism attractions.

“Investing in the growth and development of our destination-based assets contributes to economic prosperity in communities of all sizes across Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Tourism empowers local communities by creating job opportunities and strengthening the overall business landscape.”

Tourism has a total economic impact of $11.2 billion on the state, which includes $7 billion in direct visitor spending on lodging, dining, transportation, and entertainment. Eligible projects for this grant program include new attraction construction, enhancements to an existing attraction, and new or enhanced exhibits that will improve a visitor’s experience.

“By strategically fostering new tourism development, we are inspiring quality vacation experiences for our visitors,” Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said. “Visitors spend dollars while in our state, and those dollars provide increased tax revenue, new jobs, and a better quality of life for all.”

For more information on the Attraction Development Grant Program, click here or email Kansas Tourism Grant Program Manager Carrie Doud here.

Funding for Kansas Tourism grants, including the Tourism Marketing Grant, is provided by the Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF) from state lottery proceeds.

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The Fort Scott Chamber announces the Annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat Parade!

SPONSORS NEEDED!

The past couple of years the attendance has been growing for the Downtown Trick-or-Treat parade with 600+ kids in attendance! At the end of the parade, we serve a hotdog, chips, and drink to each child who is in costume. We have been very thankful for the gracious donations from you all in the past!

If your business is interested in making a donation, please contact us! Click here to email us or call the

Chamber at 620-223-3566.

We will accept monetary donations or other items such as hot dogs, buns, individually packaged chips, or drinks.

Saturday, October 28, 2023 @ 11:00 AM

10-11am: Walgreens will be taking pictures with a Halloween Backdrop & providing a free 4 x 6 print. The backdrop will also be available throughout the event for pictures with your own camera.

Face painting will be offered by the Fort Scott High School Pride and Thespian Clubs!

11am: Parade will start at La Hacienda, down the west side of Main Street to 2nd, then back down the east side of Main Street to Skubitz Plaza.

Following parade: Hotdog, chips & drink will be served to the kids in costume provided through the generous donation of local businesses!

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***Businesses along Main Street will be handing out candy during the parade, and businesses not on Main Street as well as any community organizations are welcome to set up a table along Main to pass out candy, coupons, promo items, etc.***

Please email the Chamber if your business or organization will be passing out candy so we can plan accordingly.

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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Advance Bourbon County List of Upcoming Entertainment Events

The following is the list of events Advance Bourbon County is putting on or helping with for the rest of 2024.
Tickets for each event can be purchased at www.advancebourboncounty.com
On October 21st  Harley Race  “World League Wrestling” is coming to Fort Scott.

World League Wrestling Showdown airs on 15 stations across the United States.

In 1999, professional wrestling legend Harley Race created WLW. The sport had lost many fans across the world and this company was his way to try and give fans an alternative to what they see on television. WLW takes modern wrestling and traditional wrestling and brings it to a place where everyone can enjoy it.

Jason Scott and The High Heat along with B.J. Pruitt and the Barnstormers will be performing on November 4.
 

Too loud for folk music and too textured for Red Dirt, this is the sound of a genuine band rooted in groove, grit, and its own singular spirit, led by a songwriter whose unique past— a Pentecostal upbringing, years logged as a preacher-in-training, and an eventual crisis of faith — has instilled both a storyteller’s delivery and a unique perspective about life, love, and listlessness in the modern world. Their first full-length album Castle Rock, independently released in February 2022, spent two months in the top 50 reaching all the way to #36 with the help of Angela Backstrom and Rek Room Media.

The band is composed of Jason Scott (guitar, vocals), Gabriel Mor (guitar), Taylor Johnson (guitar, keys), Alberto Roubert (drums), Ryan Magnani (bass), and Garrison Brown (keys).

The Almost Kiss Tribute Band will be in Fort Scott on November 18.

Considered talented enough to be placed on the world-famous “Gene Simmons Family Jewels” in front of an international audience, Almost Kiss caught the eye of the Family Jewels Producers and Executives in 2010 and was one of six tribute bands to be endorsed by Gene Simmons.

Since then this amazing group of four musicians has continued to excite crowds all over the country, growing substantially in popularity.

 
On December 16th Copenhagen Bandit Live will be entertaining in Fort Scott.
Right now Advance Bourbon County is offering a 2-for-1 special: Buy tickets to Harley Race World League Wrestling event and get free tickets to Copenhagen Bandit.

Contact : Josh Jones 620-215-3680

 

Foster, Snyder and Woods Win Purple Ribbons at Kansas State Fair

Picture Left to Right: Ella Snyder and Tex, Makiah Woods and Sadie, Davina Foster and Paris. Submitted photos.
The Bourbon County 4h Dog Project qualified three members for the 2023 Kansas State Fair Dog Agility Competition.
On September 2 in Hutchinson, KS Ella Snyder with Tex, Makiah Woods with Sadie, and Davina Foster with Paris competed in a field of 45 in the Dog Agility 1 competition.
  All three received purple ribbons with Davina Foster placing 4th with a perfect score of 200.
The Bourbon County 4h Dog Project is assisted by volunteers Zach and Aubry Ross of Ross’s Kennels.
They will be holding try-it days in September or October for current and future 4Hers to come and experience the project along with adults as the club fundraises for equipment.
Dates will be announced soon.

Skubitz Plaza Mural Completed

Ist Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment mural. August,2023.

The local historic depiction of the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment is completed.

The mural faces the Fort Scott National Historic Site, the place of the mustering of the regiment during the American Civil War.

St. Louis artist Cbabi Bayoc worked on the mural for a week in August with temperatures over 100 degrees.

The new mural was created by Cbabi Bayoc, pictured here in a submitted photo.

“The project took six days to complete,” Bayoc said in an interview. “I started spray painting the sketch on Monday and made final touches on it Saturday afternoon. The only long day was Wednesday which was crucial in getting it done on schedule.”

He worked from afternoon to evening because of the location of the mural on the north side of the building. That week of August 2023 the community experienced over 100 degrees daily.

“The heat was a definite factor,” Bayoc said. “It cut my days shorter than I am used to spending on murals of this scale. Also the rail and the steps made for some interesting body maneuvering to get the soldier on the left and the banner bottom middle done.”

Bayoc describes his work and its meaning.

“I chose the soldier with the flag because black folks always hoped going to battle for the country would gain their rights and respect as citizens,” he said. “The ad (To Arms! To Arms!) was crucial because putting guns in the hands of black soldiers was crucial to the (Civil War/slavery) times and foreshadowed their being the first regiment to see battle. I like the line created by the rifle and what it adds to the design. Their name and regiment number flank the left side and of course, elements from the battalion flag provide the backdrop.”

 Fort Scott left a good impression on the artist from St. Louis.

“The folks we interacted with were warm and inviting,” he said. “My wife and I thought the downtown was gorgeous. We look forward to returning in October.”
The revealing and acknowledging of the mural will be during the annual Gordon Parks Museum Celebration the first weekend in October.
To learn more about that event:
 

The public is invited to join the “Free To Serve” mural unveiling on Friday, October 6 from 4 to 4:30 p.m.

This is in honor and tribute to the regiment’s sacrifice and willingness to serve during the Civil War.
The mural is located at the north downtown building at 9 South Main St, near Skubitz Plaza, facing the Fort.

“We will veil the mural before out-of-town guests arrive for the Gordon Parks celebration for a more grand reveal, but until then the mural is available to be photographed,” Rachel French, coordinator of the project for the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Downtown Division said.

 

The Kansas Department of Commerce Office of Rural Prosperity awarded funding for the project, along with several local benefactors.

Chamber Coffee at Hare and Crow Barber Shop on Sept. 7

ANNOUNCING THIS WEEK’S
CHAMBER COFFEE
Join us for Chamber Coffee hosted by

Hare & Crow Barbershop

Thursday, September 7th

8am

118 S. Main

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to the Chamber Coffee Thursday, September 7th at 8am hosted by Hare & Crow Barbershop. Matt and Krista Park will be serving their own coffee brand, Branch, along with homemade goodies and treats.

Hare & Crow Barbershop, owned by Matt Park, opened its doors in January of 2022. Barbershops were once gathering places for friends and neighbors. This is the kind of space we set out to create for our community. Along with a full-service barbershop Hare & Crow is also home to a small selection of thoughtfully curated goods, Branch Coffee Roasting and Backroom Art Gallery. We have been hard at work over the last several months on a few new projects that we’re really excited about.

 

Chamber Coffees are held each Thursday at 8am for members to network, make announcements, and learn about the host business or organization. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information or to inquire about available dates for hosting a Coffee.

 

Click here for their Facebook page!

We hope to see you there!

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members
shown below!
FORT SCOTT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
620-223-3566
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Want An Ad For Your Garage Sale This Weekend?

TOWN-WIDE GARAGE SALE

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces the Fall Town-wide Garage Sale is, September 8th, and 9th. The Chamber wants to encourage the community to get garage sales listed on the map and get out to hunt for bargains on clothing, home décor, tools, and more.

The deadline for registration is 8am, Wednesday, September 6th.

Starting Thursday, September 7th at 10am, copies of the official garage sale map may be found at the Chamber office as well as local stores 5 Corners, Bids & Dibs, Casey’s, Don’s Smoke Shop, and all Pete’s locations. The map may also be found on the Chamber website fortscott.com or on Facebook on the

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce page.

Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Uniontown’s Old Settlers Picnic Is Today

The 117th Old Settlers Picnic continues today with a kid’s carnival, lunch, games, and car show.

Here are some moments caught before the parade:

The kid’s carnival area is being set up by Old Settlers Picnic volunteers.
Vendors fill the Uniontown Park Square.
Cars and other vehicles gather at the West Bourbon Elementary School parking lot for a car show. Winners are announced at 2 p.m. today.
Children begin to line up for the children’s parade, which is a half hour before the regular parade.

Onlookers line the streets of Uniontown Square before the parade begins.
The children’s parade was at 10:30 a.m.
Uniontown Cheerleaders gather to walk in the parade at the staging area in the high school football parking lot.
Football boys wait at the staging area for the parade.
The Fort Scott Community College parade entry waits at the staging area for the parade.
Uniontown High footballers wait on their float for the parade to begin.
The class of 1973 waits on the back of Steve William’s trailer, in line for the parade.

Friends of the Fort Scott National Historical Site Annual Meeting: Sept. 11

Friends of the Fort Scott National Historical Site

Reed Hartford, president of the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site tells of some of the support services the group provided the fort to Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce attendees in 2017. Matt Wells is the current president.

 

The Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site, INC. (Friends) will have its Annual Meeting on Monday, September 11, 2023, at 6:00pm in Zimmerman Hall (the basement) in the Presbyterian Church on 3rd and Crawford Street (south entrance). This event is free and open to the public.

 

“The community and all members of the Friends are encouraged to attend,” said Matt Wells, President of the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site, INC. “We will elect new officers, begin planning for next year’s activities, and enjoy refreshments and a special discussion with Fire Chief David Bruner on the 22nd anniversary of 9/11,” continued Wells.

 

The Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site, INC was formed in 2009 to work in cooperation with Fort Scott National Historic Site. Members primary purpose is to support, advocate, and promote the importance of the Fort and its history through education, fundraising

Suicide Prevention Month

Clara Wicoff. Submitted photo 2023

Southwind Extension District

 

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is an alarming health crisis across America and an ongoing issue in Kansas. In 2018, suicide was the 9th leading cause of death in the State of Kansas, and the suicide rate increased by 70% from the year 2000 to 2018. In July 2023, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment released an alert to notify healthcare providers of increased emergency visits related to female suicide attempts. In July alone, there were 162 suicide-related occurrences among Kansas females. These eye-opening statistics testify to the importance of observing Suicide Prevention Month and illustrate the urgent need for community action in addressing this health crisis.

 

Many myths surround suicide, such as the belief that it cannot be prevented. This myth is false. Many suicides can be prevented through asking questions, open conversations, proper mental health treatment, and reducing access to fatal means. In challenging myths like this one, we set the stage to look at the signs and symptoms of suicide, a critical part of suicide prevention.

 

Paying attention to the warning signs of suicide is the first step in saving lives. A few warning signs include, but are not limited to, isolation from others, engaging in risky activities, changes in sleeping or eating habits, giving away personal items for no reason, and talking about not wanting to be alive. Upon noticing warning signs, early intervention and support are needed.

 

Fortunately for those in need of support, there are many resources available.

  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, can be reached by calling or texting 988 or chatting with a counselor online by visiting 988lifeline.org/chat.
  • NAMI Helpline is available Monday-Friday, 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. CST. The helpline can be reached by calling 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), texting “HelpLine” to 62640, or emailing [email protected].
  • Crisis Text Line, available 24 hours a day, can be reached by texting “HOME” to 741741 or visiting www.crisistextline.org.

 

Although there are ways for those contemplating suicide to get help, they may not seek support due to stigma. Some ways to help reduce the stigma of suicide include using respectful and mindful language when talking about suicide and showing compassion for those struggling. By fostering an environment of understanding and providing support, we can encourage others to reach out and seek the help they need.

 

Suicide Prevention Month is an opportunity to spread valuable information and resources while working to destigmatize suicide and mental health conversations. Join in engaging with the K-State Research and Extension Stress and Resiliency Team’s Suicide Prevention Month campaign, beginning September 1st, by visiting facebook.com/KSRE.Stress.Management. Together, we can make a difference.

 

This article was adapted from an article originally written by the K-State Research and Extension Stress and Resiliency Team. The main sources of information came from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Mayo Clinic Health System, Heartland Community Health Center, and SuicideLine Victoria. For more information, please contact me at [email protected] or 620-365-2242.

 

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

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