Monthly Archives: January 2024

Bourbon County, Youth

Barnstormers 4-H Club Minutes of December 13

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  On December 13 the Barnstormers 4-H club called the meeting and annual Christmas party to order at 6:06 p.m.
The roll call was , “What is your favorite Christmas tradition?”  which 18 members answered and 11 parents were also in attendance.  The secretary minutes and treasures report were given and stood as read.
All members were informed of the upcoming 4-H days and the club received $210.00 from Producers Cooperative of Girard as a donation.
Emroy Ellis gave his demonstration project talk how to make slime and allowed everyone to feel it.
  The Barnstormers ended the meeting at 6:32 p.m. with Gracyn Pitts making a motion and Olive Ellis seconding.
Following the adjournment everyone gathered for some Christmas games with snacks and desserts to eat brought from families.  This year’s club shirts were collected prior to leaving.
Jewel Endicott
Barnstormers 4-H club secretary
Jack Endicott
Barnstormers 4-H club reporter
Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Ribbon Cutting at Freedom Fitness Before Chamber Coffee on January 11

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Join us for a Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting

Freedom Fitness

Thursday, January 11th

8:00 am

15 S. National

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting Thursday, January 11th at 8 a.m. hosted by Freedom Fitness which will be held at their new business, 15 S. National Street. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

Lindsay and John Hill, owners and coaches of the new business called Freedom Fitness opened their doors on January 1st, 2024. Freedom Fitness offers fitness classes for all ages and fitness levels, plus the option for a regular gym membership for patrons to come in and lift during certain hours and use equipment/facilities. Lindsay and John look forward to serving Fort Scott with a Faith.Family.Freedom.Fitness environment.

Any member business or organization wanting to host a Chamber Coffee in 2024 is encouraged to contact the Chamber to save a date by calling 620-223-3566 or email [email protected].

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
Facebook  Twitter
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Bourbon County, Government

Minutes of the December 18 Bo Co Commission

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December 18, 2023                                                                  Monday, 5:30 p.m.

 

The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners and the County Clerk present.

 

Jason Silvers, Patty Ropp, Lora Holdridge, and Michael Hoyt were present for some or all of the meeting.

 

Jim Harris opened the meeting with the flag salute.

 

Jim made a motion to open the 2023 budget amendment hearing. Clifton seconded the motion and all approved. Jennifer explained the funds of Road and Bridge, Road and Bridge Sales Tax, and EMS were going to be amended to give budget authority to spend the additional funds that have came in this year. Jim opened the public comments section of the hearing. There were no public comments. Clifton made a motion to close the 2023 budget amendment hearing. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Clifton made a motion to approve the 2023 budget amendment. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.

 

Jennifer Hawkins, County Clerk, presented an application of membership with Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative. The county has been a part of the cooperative for many years, however; Heartland REC requested the county complete the application that they did not have on file. Clifton made a motion to allow Chairman Harris to sign the application of membership for Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. The county received an invitation to the Bourbon County REDI Gala that will be held on December 30. Jennifer asked if there would be more than one Commissioner in attendance that evening and after discussion the Commissioners decided they would not be attending. Jennifer stated that due to the upcoming holidays falling on Monday this would be the last regularly scheduled meeting until January 8th. Jennifer and Patty Love, Treasurer, discussed a KORA request that was made for information regarding their non-elected employees and questioned how the individual who submitted the KORA request received the information about bonuses in their departments when some employees did not even know they were receiving a bonus yet.

 

Clifton made amotion to reconvene the meeting at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd at 6:00. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.

 

Jim reconvened the meeting a 6:00.

 

Clifton made a motion to go into a 60-mnute executive session under KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships to include all three Commissioners, the County Counselor, REDI Board President and three board members, all five members of the Fort Scott Board of City Commissioners, City Attorney, and City Manager. Garth Herman and Greg Cotton will also be present via Zoom. The executive session will remain in the conference room until 7:03 with the members of the public exiting to the lobby. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Clifton made a motion to resume normal session at 7:03 with no action. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.

 

Clifton made a motion to amend the agenda to add an executive session. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.

 

Clifton made a motion to go into a 10-mnute executive session under KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships to include all three Commissioners, the County Counselor, REDI Board President and three board members, all five members of the Fort Scott Board of City Commissioners, City Attorney, and City Manager. Garth Herman and Greg Cotton will also be present via Zoom. The executive session will remain in the conference room until 7:15 with the members of the public exiting to the lobby. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Clifton made a motion to resume normal session at 7:15 with no action. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.

 

 

Clifton made a motion to approve the consent agenda which includes approval of minutes from 12-11-23, approval of payroll totaling $290,776.36, and approval of accounts payable totaling $448,457.08. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.

 

Eric Bailey, Public Works Director, notified the Commissioners that the #140 Mack truck would be back from the shop tomorrow. Eric said there was an issue with the sight triangle at 245th & Soldier Road. They have removed trees so now traffic can see from the intersection. Eric presented an agreement for bridge 26.0-Y-1.0, which is located south of Garland, that outlines bridge inspections with Vernon County, MO. The county line goes down the middle of the bridge and currently both counties are having bridge inspections preformed, but the State and Federal government are requiring an agreement outlining how inspections will be handled. Clifton made a motion to allow all three Commissioners to sign the agreement with Vernon County on bridge 26.0-Y-1.0. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Eric updated the Commissioners on a software issued that happened last Thursday which now has them locked out of CIC PublicWorks. Eric said billings will be delayed until the company can get them back in. Dustin Hall, Assistant Public Works Director, spoke about a 2008 Bomag landfill compactor they have found on Purple Wave with a current bid of $20,500. Dustin said a new machine would be around $600,000. Dustin went to view the machine in El Dorado and drove it. The company that owns it purchased it new and the engine has been replaced and has approximately 2006 hours on it. Dustin said machine will help extend the life of our landfill by potentially 40% and will hold up better that the dozer we currently use for the construction and demolition material. Dustin said they are asking permission to spend up to $100,000 on the machine. Jim said the dozer is not equipped for using it at the landfill and will save dozer repairs and add years of life to the landfill. Clifton asked how they plan on paying for it. Dustin said they have some funds in the landfill account that they were going to use to pay the building off early in March but they feel this will help our landfill out. Clifton made a motion to allow Public Works to bid up to $100,000 for a Bomag landfill compactor on Purple Wave. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Nelson said he was informed by a resident that west of Highway 3 on Grand Road is very muddy.

 

Clifton thanked the City of Fort Scott Commissioners for coming. Clifton asked Sheriff Martin and Undersheriff Davidson if they use CIC. Sheriff Martin said they use it for payroll and accounts payable. Jim stated that as Chairman he is to run the meeting and stated the agenda is a guideline that can be amended at any time and any Commissioner can ask to amend the agenda. Nelson stated they have been praying at every meeting and he has been advised today they could be sued for it. Justin said anyone can pray, but when a government entity prays, they have to give everyone the chance to pray because my beliefs may be different than your beliefs. There was discussion held regarding if prayer would be added back to the agenda. Nelson stated during his Commission comment time he would pray to Jesus and anyone who wished to join him could do so. Jim and Clifton thanked Nelson after he held a prayer.

 

Nelson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:47. Clifton seconded the motion and all approved.

 

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS

___________________, Chairman

___________________, Commissioner

ATTEST:                                                                                   ___________________, Commissioner

 

Jennifer Hawkins, Bourbon County Clerk

1-8-2024                     Approved Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Fire Suppression System Is Being Replaced at the Fort Scott National Historic Site in 2024

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Fort Scott National Historic Site is beginning a year-long Fire Suppression System replacement in nine buildings.

The first two buildings are the Dragoon Barracks and Post Hospital/Visitor Center.

While work is being completed in the Post Hospital, the Visitor Center’s information desk has been temporarily moved into the West Infantry Barracks next door.

The park’s bookstore will be closed until the Post Hospital is reopened.

The contractor will be spending about two months on each pair of buildings.

Once they have completed the Post Hospital and Dragoon Barracks at the end of February, they will move to the Post Headquarters and the Quartermaster’s Storehouse.

The third set will be Officer’s Quarters #1 and the Stables beginning in early May, then Officers Quarters #4 and the West Infantry Barracks.

The final building will be the East Infantry Barracks and Grand Hall.

Each set of building will be closed during construction.

While buildings are closed, we encourage you to take advantage of the many digital tools already available to explore Fort Scott National Historic Site, including: virtual tours, photo galleries, mobile app, Facebook, and Instagram.

This project will be replacing the entire Fire Suppression system in each of these nine buildings including all valves, piping, sprinkler heads, wiring, and the exterior connection to the main water line.

This project is funded through Fee Recreation monies not tax dollars.

When you pay an entrance fee at a national park, 80% of that money stays in that park. The remaining 20% is available to parks without entrance fees like Fort Scott.

Fort Scott National Historic Site’s, a unit of the National Park Service, exhibit areas and temporary visitor center are open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Fort Scott National Historic Site Temporarily Reduces Its Hours

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Photo: NPS

Fort Scott National Historic Site is temporarily reducing its hours of operation to 8:30am-4:30pm Friday through Tuesday tentatively through the end of March.

The park grounds will not be closing, only the park’s public buildings and Visitor Center on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Due to an extended staffing shortage the park is temporarily unable to provide adequate operational coverage and visitor services.

The staff shortage  “appears to be a combination of a smaller applicant pool at all levels which is also leading to staffing shortages in the Human Resources offices at the regional and national levels,” said Carl Brenner, FSNHS Program Manager for Interpretation and Resource Management.

Administrative and facility operations will continue as normal. By the end of March, the park projects returning to normal operations seven days each week.

We encourage you to take advantage of the many digital tools already available to explore Fort Scott National Historic Site, including: virtual tours, photo galleries, mobile app, Facebook, and Instagram.

Fort Scott National Historic Site’s, a unit of the National Park Service, exhibit areas and temporary visitor center are open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset.

 

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

January 9 Downtown Meet and Greet Postponed Due to Inclement Weather

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Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet RESCHEDULED for January 23rd!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Downtown Meet & Greet will be held  January 23rd from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Papa Don’s, 10 N. Main St.

These informal, quarterly meetings are hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives, and community members to network and share ideas on events, promotion and anything related to downtown.

Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Obituary

Service Notice for Dustin Wiggans

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Dustin Ray Wiggans, age 46, resident of Knox City, TX formerly of Fort Scott, KS passed away unexpectedly on December 14, 2023, at his home. There was cremation.

Interment in the U. S. Natioal Cemetery will take place at 1:30 PM Tuesday, January 16th.  Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Words of remembrance may be left online at cheneywitt.com.

 

 

Obituary

Obituary of Arlene Thomson

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Arlene Joan Thomson, age 83, a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away to a better place on December 5, 2023.  She was under hospice care at her daughter and son-in-law’s home.  Abana, Thaddeus, and their two daughters, Sarah and Zipporah, together gave her wonderful care until her time on earth was over.

 

Survivors include one brother, Ronald Williams (Jane) of Ft. Scott; a son, Mark Thomson (Shin-Shin) of Las Vegas; two daughters, Abana Stephenson (Thaddeus) of Las Vegas and Leah Yamazaki of California; four grandchildren, Sarah, Zipporah and Leah Stephenson and Wade Yamazaki.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband, Wilfred “Bill” Thomson, her parents, Orman and Lula Williams and a brother, Donald “Pete” Williams.

 

The Rosary will be recited at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, January 13th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. A memorial service will immediately follow the Rosary.

A private burial will take place at a later date at the Worsley Cemetery west of Bronaugh, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Paws & Claws Shelter 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.

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

How to Avoid Scams and Fraud this Thursday

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Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Landmark National Bank…..

Protect Your Money!

How to Avoid Scams and Fraudsters

Join Landmark and Bank Manager Matthew Chaplin to learn how to spot a scam and SAY NO!

*Grandparent Scams

*Microsoft Scams

*Lottery Scams

*P2P Scams

*and MORE!

Date: Thursday, January 11th

Time: 2pm

Place: Fort Scott Presbyterian Village

It is important to RSVP as Presbyterian Village needs to know how many people are attending for seating.

RSVP by January 10th: Marla Heckman 620.223.5550
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Ownership Change at Bourbon County Cars

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Dave Shepherd and Josh Jones. Submitted photo.

 

David Shepherd has turned ownership of Bourbon County Cars  over to Josh Jones.

 

Bourbon County Cars.Submitted photos.

Shepherd started Boubon County Cars, Inc. in 2013 after he sold Shepherd Team Auto Plaza to Briggs Auto Group in 2016.  He sold his used car business to Josh Jones, the company’s General Manager for the last seven and a half years on January 3.

Shepherd said “Josh and I have been discussing and working toward this sale for the last 12 months or so.  He has done a great job running our company, takes excellent care of customers, and has a very good business mind.  I’m confident that he will successfully own and operate Bourbon County Cars and continue to serve the transportation needs of our community.”

In 2008 Josh Jones and his father purchased Fort Scott Sanitation, and in 2010 he bought out his father in the business, then sold the business in 2014 to a national company.

“Then I got into property rentals and started with Bourbon County Cars in 2016,” Jones said. “I sold most of my rentals in 2022.”

“Everything will be run the same,” Jones said. “Since I started David has let me  have full control.”

“I knew at a young age I wanted to be a business owner, I had a hard time working a regular job,” he said. “Then I started working for David, he’s the best.”

Shepherd has been in the automobile business in Fort Scott for 52 years.  After 44 years, he sold Shepherd Team Auto Plaza to the Briggs Auto Group in 2016.  Both Shepherd and Jones are lifelong residents of Fort Scott and graduates of Fort Scott High School.
“I will pop into the store for a bit almost daily; mostly staying out of the way,, to see if I can help in any way,” Shepherd said. ” I will continue to be a part of several organizations like the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, Community Health Center  Board, and CORE Community. I’ll stay busy.”
Bourbon County Cars has three other employees:  Josh Binford, Dale Gauthier, and Bud Hall and it is located at the intersection of South National and 69 Highway bypass across from Briggs of Fort Scott.
The business phone number is 620-223-1435 and hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Food, Government, Kansas

Kansas Fish Consumption Advisories for 2024

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TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (collectively, “Kansas”) is issuing fish consumption advisories for 2024. The following advisories identify types of fish, or other aquatic species, that should be eaten in limited quantities or, in some cases, avoided altogether because of contamination. General advice and internet resources are provided to aid the public in making informed decisions regarding the benefits and risks associated with eating locally caught fish from Kansas waters.

Definitions/Servings:

  • Bottom-feeding fish: buffalo, carp, catfish, sturgeon and suckers
  • Shellfish: mussels, clams and crayfish

Serving size (skinless fish fillets before cooking):

  • Adults and children age 13 and older = 8 ounces
  • Children age 6 to 12 = 4 ounces
  • Children younger than 6 = 2 ounces

Statewide Mercury Advisories for Fish:

There are many health benefits associated with going outside and catching and consuming fish; however, all fish contain some amount of mercury. Consumption of mercury-rich fish can harm the development of fetuses, nursing babies, and growing children. As a result, anyone who routinely eats fish or serves fish to children, including store-bought fish, should carefully consider the type and amount of fish eaten. Therefore, mercury-sensitive individuals (women who are pregnant, nursing, or may become pregnant, and children 17 or younger) should follow the guidelines presented below for eating Kansas-caught fish.

Fishing and Eating Guidelines:

  • Eat smaller portions – a fillet about the size of your palm.
  • Eat fish species with less mercury (see “Preferred Choice Fish” chart below).
  • If you don’t know what type or size of fish you’ve eaten, wait at least one week before eating fish again.
  • When fishing, keep fish shorter than your forearm (fingertips to elbow) or less than 20 inches, as regulations allow. Visit Fishing Regulations / Fishing / KDWP – KDWP (ksoutdoors.com) for more information.
Preferred Choice Fish Servings
Blue and Channel Catfish

Common Carp

Crappies

White Bass, White Perch, Wiper, Striped Bass

Walleye, Sauger, Saugeye

Bullhead Catfish

Drum

Sunfish (Bluegill, Green, Redear, etc.)

 1 or 2

per week

Second Choice Fish Servings
Buffalo (Black, Bigmouth, Smallmouth)

Flathead Catfish

Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted)

 1 or 2

per month

Reduce the recommendations above if you tend to keep fish larger than 20 inches to:

  • Preferred Choice Fish – not more than 1 serving per week
  • Second Choice Fish – not more than 1 serving per month

For specific questions or concerns about mercury in Kansas-caught fish, contact KDHE. For information about mercury in fish caught in other states, store-bought fish, and other types of seafood, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Food and Drug Administration EPA-FDA Advice about Eating Fish and Shellfish | US EPA website.

Waterbody specific advisories for all consumers:

Kansas recommends restricting consumption of bottom-feeding fish to 2 servings per month from the following location because of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs):

  • Little Arkansas River from the Main Street Bridge immediately west of Valley Center to the confluence with the Arkansas River in Wichita (Sedgwick County).

Kansas recommends restricting consumption of bottom-feeding fish to 1 serving per month from the following locations because of PCBs:

  • Cow Creek in Hutchinson and downstream to the confluence with the Arkansas River (Reno County).
  • K-96 Lake in Wichita (Sedgwick County).

Kansas recommends restricting consumption of bottom-feeding fish to 1 serving per month from the following location because of arsenic:

  • Mill Creek from Madison Road east of Morrowville to confluence with Little Blue River (Washington County).

Kansas recommends not eating specified fish or aquatic life from the following locations:

  • Antioch Park Lake South in Antioch Park, Overland Park (Johnson County); all fish due to pesticides dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, chlordane and dichlorophenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs).
  • Arkalon Park Lakes in Liberal (Seward County) – Kansas recommends not eating any aquatic life because the lakes are sustained solely by treated municipal wastewater.
  • Arkansas River from the Lincoln Street dam in Wichita downstream to the confluence with Cowskin Creek near Belle Plaine (Sedgwick and Sumner counties); bottom-feeding fish due to PCBs.
  • Kansas River from Lawrence (below Bowersock Dam) downstream to Eudora at the confluence of the Wakarusa River (Douglas and Leavenworth counties); bottom-feeding fish due to PCBs.
  • Mill Creek from Washington (below 18th Road) downstream to confluence of Little Blue River (Washington County); shellfish due to arsenic.
  • Shoal Creek from the Missouri/Kansas border to Empire Lake (Cherokee County); shellfish due to lead and cadmium.
  • Spring River from the confluence of Center Creek to the Kansas/Oklahoma border (Cherokee County); shellfish due to lead and cadmium.

Waterbodies affected by harmful algae blooms:

To date, measured algal toxin levels in fish samples collected from waters affected by harmful algal blooms suggest the fish are safe to eat.  However, please take the following precautions:

  • Avoid skin contact with water.
  • Wear gloves when handling wet fish and equipment.
  • Rinse fish with clean water.
  • Remove skin from fillets and rinse with clean water prior to cooking or freezing.
  • Eat only skinless fillets.
  • Do not eat shellfish.

General advice for reducing exposure to chemicals in fish:

  • Keep smaller fish to eat (regulations permitting) and let the big ones go.
  • Avoid eating fish parts other than fillets.
  • Trim fat from fillets and/or use cooking methods that allows fat to drip away.
  • Avoid subsistence fishing (relying on wild-caught fish for daily nutritional needs) in rivers within or immediately downstream of large urban/industrial areas.
  • Do not eat fish or aquatic life from wastewater outfalls, waste treatment lagoons or stormwater retention ponds.

Other information from KDHE, KDWP, EPA, and the American Heart Association

To view the advisories online – and for information about KDHE’s Fish Tissue Contaminant Monitoring Program –  Fish Tissue Contaminant Monitoring Program | KDHE, KS.

For information about fishing in Kansas – including licensing, regulations, fishing reports and forecasts –  Fishing in Kansas | KDWP.

For information about the health benefits and risks of including fish in your diet, visit Eating fish twice a week reduces heart, stroke risk | American Heart Association.

For technical information regarding the U.S. EPA risk assessment methods used to determine advisory consumption limits, visit EPA Guidance for Developing Fish Advisories | US EPA.

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