Fort Scott, Kan. Jan. 30, 2024 – The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College, will host “Tribute Panel Exhibit” to celebrate Black History Month. This consist of over 100 different posters, photos, and information of the some of the great and important Black innovators and Leaders throughout history. The exhibit also features some inspiring and moving quotes on display each day by different people.
The “Quote of the Day” provides a great opportunity to promote educational activities throughout the month to keep black history and diversity at the forefront along with encouraging opportunities to learn more.
The free exhibit will be on display throughout each day and evening hours from February 1 – 22, 2024 in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.
For more information about “Black History Month Tribute Panel Exhibit” contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620-223-2700 ext. 5850, email [email protected] or visit http:www.gordonparkscenter.org/
Radio Auction is back and better then EVER! Get your bid numbers and join Deb and Tim on 103.9 FM or 98.3 FM every Thursday and Friday starting at 3 pm.
You can listen and bid on the radio or online at kombfm.com.
You must have a bid number, in order to get a bid number you can call 620.223.4500 or stop in to the station at 2 N. National.
To place a bid on an item in advance call the office at 620.223.4500, to bid during auction time call 620.223.5580,4545,4544. You can also send bids via text to 620.224.7962
Bid in increments of no less then $1 at a time, $5 at a time for items valued over $100. A tax of 9.4% will be added to some items.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Funds for the program are awarded to the agency by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
The grant funds are in turn granted to projects and organizations to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops; assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops; expanding availability and access to specialty crops; and addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers. Specialty crops are defined by the USDA as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture.”
Applications will be evaluated by a team of external reviewers. The team will rate proposals on their ability to successfully enhance the competitiveness of the specialty crop industry in Kansas and make a positive impact on the Kansas economy. Those recommendations will be submitted to the Kansas Secretary of Agriculture, who will make the final awards.
Applications are due to KDA no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 15, 2024. For more information, please download and carefully read the 2024 Kansas Request for Applications document from the KDA website: agriculture.ks.gov/specialtycrop.
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funding from USDA–AMS is awarded to states based on recent value and acreage of specialty crops in the state. In 2024, Kansas will receive approximately $330,000.
The vision of the Kansas Department of Agriculture is to provide an ideal environment for long-term, sustainable agricultural prosperity and statewide economic growth. The agency will achieve this by advocating for sectors at all levels and providing industry outreach.
Tax relief was vetoed by the Governor. A bipartisan vote sent CCR 2284 to the Governor’s desk. The Governor vetoed the legislation the same day it was put on her desk – blocking major tax cuts that would:
Eliminate state income taxes for over 340,000 low income tax filers
Eliminate state income tax on Social Security
Increase standard deductions to offset inflation
Increase personal income tax exemptions to offset inflation
Increase personal exemption increase for Veterans with 100% disability to offset inflation
Provide property tax relief to over one million residents – increased each year to offset inflation
Eliminate the state sales tax on groceries in April 1, 2024, instead of 2025
It is disappointing the Governor has given over $1 billion in tax breaks to one foreign company, but she vetoes tax bills that will help Kansans. In 2021, she vetoed a tax bill saying it was reckless and would break the state. The legislature overrode the veto and there is still over $3 billion in the state coffers. She favors major corporations over Kansans struggling to pay their bills. Last year she vetoed two tax bills that she said would “break the state” or “had too many provisions” – her words. Yet she signed tax bills with more provisions into law and gave billions in tax breaks to corporations. Her actions speak volumes.
You would think there would be a sure path to a veto override. We will find out where legislators stand on this important issue. The Governor says she will not sign a bill with a flat tax and that it only helps the rich. How can eliminating state income tax for over 340,000 low income Kansans be helping the rich? Also, it is not a flat tax even though people are using that terminology. Check the facts.
Committee work is the main focus early in session. It is an important part of the legislative process. Hearings are held. Legislators listen and ask questions before debating and voting on bills. All bills can be found at www.kslegislature.org.
Protect the Border there is legislation being worked on to send the Kansas National Guard to Texas to help secure the border and build the wall. A few of us are working to secure funds to support Texas in their efforts and a resolution is also being drafted. There is also legislation being written to model Texas which would say you cannot reside in Kansas if you entered this country illegally. It is controversial, but we must stop this border crisis and I am doing what I can as a state legislator.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Johnny Lee Spears, Sr., age 65, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, January 29, 2024, at the Freeman West Health Center in Joplin, Missouri. He was born September 30, 1958, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Marion Lee “John” Spears and Elsie Shaffer Spears. Johnny grew up in Kansas City and later moved to Ft. Scott where he graduated from Ft. Scott High School in 1976. Following graduation, he enlisted with the United States Navy. He served with the Navy for nine and a half years and was stationed in Connecticut and Virginia. He served as a missile technician on submarine crews. Johnny married Kathy Seal in June 1983. Following his discharge from military service, the family relocated to Texas for several years prior to returning to the Ft. Scott area. Johnny completed the Harley Davidson program at Ft. Scott Community College. He worked for a year at a Harley Davidson dealership in Louisiana. Johnny loved listening to music and reading. In earlier years he enjoyed fishing and recently had taken up the hobby of grilling and smoking meat. He was a great fan of the Las Vegas Raiders and of NASCAR. He also loved spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Kathy, of the home; three children, April Sloan (Robert) of Pittsburg, Kansas, Jennifer Spears of Covington, Kentucky and Johnny L. Spears, Jr., of Ft. Scott; eight grandchildren, Michael Woodward, Michelle Robinson, Kyle, Brady and Scott Sloan, and Aliziegh, Marley and Astonia Spears and three great-grandchildren, Anthony, Avery and Alexander Robinson. Also surviving are four brothers, Danny Spears, Warsaw, Missouri, Kenny Spears Fulton, Kansas, Jessee Spears, Pleasanton, Kansas and John Jenkins, of Nevada, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Crystal White and a sister, Lillian Vanderford.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 A.M. Thursday, February 1st at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Johnny Spears Memorial Fund 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.
Amy Sawyer from the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Facebook page.
Amy Sawyer is the new Small Business Advisor at Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center
The services she will be providing to the Fort Scott community:
Start Up – LLC & EIN registration
Loan & Grant Prep – Business Plan & Cash flow
Accounting – Quickbooks, Wave Accounting, Etc.
Sales Tax – Registering & Paying
Marketing & Sales
HR/Employees
Strategic Planning
Business Protection
Government Contracting
Exit Planning
“I started with the Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State University in October,” Sawyer said. “I have spent the last three months alongside Dacia Clark learning my job duties, as well as learning about Fort Scott and what is important to Fort Scott. There are a lot of exciting things going on here, and I am so happy to be a part of it!”
“The best part of my new job at SBDC is that I get to help people all day long!” she said. ” I get to help people make their dreams come true. There are many services that we offer at the SBDC, and most of them are at no charge to the client. So, please reach out and see if we can help you, in any way. I am happy to visit with you at your business, as well! I look forward to meeting you!”
Her contact info: [email protected] 620-235-4921 or call the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team office.
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is located at 104 N. National Avenue, Fort Scott.
Hours available in Fort Scott are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 am-4 pm.
Originally from Winfield, which has the same namesake as Ft. Scott, she noted, Pittsburg has been her home for over 20 years.
“I developed a love for downtown and community service while in high school,” she said in a press release. “Winfield was a Main Street town, and I had the opportunity to work on a project for the organization. My Mother has always been involved in the chamber and business community, so it was natural for me to make those things an important part of my professional career.”
She attended Pittsburg State University and majored in Communications and minored in Business Administration.
After college, she started a career with Names and Numbers telephone directories and worked there for 13 years.
“I had the opportunity to gain experience and grow as a leader,” she said. “I started as a Graphic Designer (I was not the best), but I quickly developed an interest in operations. I was blessed with leaders who saw my fire and intrigue, and they were gracious enough to invest in me. Ultimately, I was named Director of Production at Names and Numbers, and I really enjoyed the big picture and strategic side of the business, as well as the opportunity to grow other leaders.”
“For the last two years, I worked for the United States Senate. In that role, I did community outreach for an 11-county area in Southeast Kansas. This role allowed me to work with business and community leaders across the SEK region.”
She has been an active member of the Pittsburg Area Young Professionals for 10 years and was a past president; served on the Salvation Army Board of Advisors, Pittsburg Downtown Advisory Board (Past Chair), as well as Pittsburg Sunrise Rotary.
In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and spending time at Table Rock Lake.
Join Museum of Creativity as they go back to a simpler time when jump rope and jacks were the main source of play!
The Museum of Creativity will have a sixties ambiance for the whole weekend of February 8th, 9th, and 10th. They will have music of the decade playing in the background as you remaster your hula hoop skills plus lots of new old toys for the whole family to experience!
Schedule of events:
Friday February 9th:
Belt out to classics at the Karaoke party from 7pm-10pm
Saturday, February 10th:
Jump Rope Contest at 11am-how many times can you jump rope?
Hula Hoop Contest at 1:00pm – how long can you keep it in motion off the ground?
Bubblegum Blowing Contest at 2:00pm – how big are you bubbles?
Entrance for this event starting Friday night @7pm will be
$5/person ages 3 to 103+
2 and under are free
Entrance includes participation in all competitions/activities and an ice cream float using Braum’s vanilla ice cream with a variety of soda to choose from.
There will be a prize for anyone who shows up in 60’s era attire.
Our hours of operation are:
Thursday 4:00pm – 8:00pm
Friday 9:00am – 10:00pm
Saturday 10:00am – 4:00pm
Contact the museum to get your name on the competition roster!
A screening clinic for 2024-2025 kindergarten students has been scheduled for Monday, March 18 at West Bourbon Elementary. To be eligible for kindergarten, your child must be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2024.
Students who will be new to WBE will sign up for a 30 minute slot to be assessed on March 18. Please bring in your child’s birth certificate and immunization record. The agenda for the child will include kindergarten skills assessment, vision, hearing, speech, and checking health records.
Kindergarten children are required to have a physical exam within 12 months of beginning school and have all current immunizations. The Bourbon County Health Department will be onsite providing immunizations and physicals.
Due to the screenings, there will be no Kindergarten class on March 18th.
For the best testing environment for your child, we ask that you not bring brothers or sisters.
David Doerfler, age 90, went home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, January 27, 2024. He was born on August 16, 1933, in Emmeram, KS, the son of Joseph and Albina Doerfler, the 7th of 10 children. As a child, the family moved from Hays, KS to Wichita, KS where he had childhood jobs such as shining shoes at the barber shop at age 12 and working with the Vornado fan company. The family still has 3 green Vornado fans that still work. In his teen years his family moved to Fort Scott, KS where he attended high school and worked at the NuGrill.
David served in the United States Army from 1954 – 1956 where he was stationed in Germany. He had to eat a lot of liver and onions and thankfully that was a meal that was never allowed in our house when the family was growing up. Upon returning home he took over the family-owned D & D Café, next to the railroad depot. Hamburgers were 5 for $1.00. He also met Kathryn Kalm at the Cottage – Inn and they were married in 1958.
Pam was born in 1960, being their only child. In 1968, he sold the D & D Café to begin his postal career and retired as supervisor in 1992. David enjoyed his free time on the golf course. Back in the day at the Fort Scott Country Club, there were many tournaments, and he was club champion 5 times with 5 hole-in-ones to his credit. He passed his passion for golf on to his grandsons, Nick, and Alex, and relished the fact that they both played on the Jayhawk Linn high school golf team. He was a member of the Community Christian Church. Most of all he enjoyed the time spent with family.
Survivors include his wife, Kathy; daughter Pam Clark and husband David; grandsons Nicolas and Alex (Ellen) Clark; 2 great grandsons, Landen, and Arthur Clark; and a brother, Alan Doerfler, St. Louis, MO.
He was preceded in death by an infant grandson, Logan Clark; 4 brothers; 4 sisters; and his parents.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, January 31st, at the U. S. National Cemetery in Fort Scott.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM Wednesday until leaving for the cemetery at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to either Children’s Mercy Neo-Natal Unit or Community Christian Church 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 online at cheneywitt.com.
