All posts by Loretta George

Opinion

Oh Where, O Where Can He Be?

Leave a comment
Carolyn Tucker. Submitted photo.

 

Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Tucker


My first dog was an adorable little black and white Rat Terrier. We named him Stormy because he was born on a stormy night and Dad brought him home on a stormy night. And then there was Davy, a smart grayish-black Poodle. I hadn’t had him very long when he simply disappeared; we never figured out what happened to him. And then in 2012, the same thing happened to Gus, my son’s beloved fawn Boxer. He was a beautiful and loyal friend, but one day he simply disappeared and we never saw him again.

No one lives forever on planet earth. For everything there is a season — a time to live and a time to die. Living and dying are eternally connected because the way you live determines where you go after you die. Your physical body returns to dust, but your spirit lives on forever in either heaven or hell. And it doesn’t matter whether you believe there’s a heaven or a hell; you will spend eternity in one place or the other because God‘s Word says so. God’s truth will trump man’s false opinion every time.

By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul tells us, “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people“ (Hebrews 9:27,28a NLT). God’s perfect plan is for everyone (who believes in Jesus and obeys His Word) to have an eternal home in heaven (John 14:1-4). You can take it to the bank — God is loving and full of mercy!

Jesus speaks of the judgment that comes after death: “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels‘…And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:41,46 NKJV). It’s important to understand that hell was not made for people. However, when an individual chooses not to become born again and rejects Jesus as Savior and Lord, he has damned himself to spend eternity in hell.

Paul wrote to the Christians in the province of Galatia: “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21 ESV). If any of these things are active in your life, then earnestly repent and receive God’s forgiveness now. You may not have tomorrow.

Oh where, oh where will you be after you take your last breath? If you think you’re simply going to disappear and take a long snooze, you’re sadly mistaken. When I was a young girl, I used to play and sing a song in church entitled, “Where Will You Be?” Here’s the first verse: “Just one life to live on earth and it swiftly passes by. From the moment of our birth ’til our time has come to die; God has given us this choice to decide our destiny. In a million years, where will you be?”

The Key: Heaven is as wonderful as hell is horrible. You better get to livin’ like there’s no tomorrow, because at the end of your life there’s only one thing that will matter.

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Fireworks on Halloween

Leave a comment

Community Christian Church’s usual Fall-O-Ween festivities will look a little different this year due to COVID-19.

Presenting: Fall-O-Works!

This will be a 15-20 minute firework show on Oct. 31 for the whole community to enjoy.

Community Christian will not have trunk-or-treat or serve any food, but anyone in the community is welcome to find a spot, your normal July 3rd spot will be perfect, and enjoy this show as one of your Halloween thrills.

The fireworks will begin around 7:45 p.m. and will be shot off from Ty Cullor Field on the campus of Fort Scott Community College.

Bourbon County, COVID-19

SPARK Projects in Bourbon County Are Varied

Leave a comment
Bourbon County, KS

Recently a whole slate of Bourbon County businesses, organizations, school districts, churches and other categories of entities received grants to help with COVID-19 expenses.

The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) taskforce plan is to lead Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, according to its’ website,https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/

SPARK is responsible for the statewide distribution of the U.S. Coronavirus Relief Fund.

The total amount of grants disbursed in Bourbon County:
$2,835,212.86

The following received Bourbon County SPARK Funds on October 21, 2020, according to Bourbon County Economic Director Jody Hoener.

Listed below are the names of the businesses, the category they are under and the amount received from SPARK.

4 State Sanitation, Small Business, $3,500.00
5 Corners Mini Mart, Small Business, $4,250.00

Ascension Via Christi Pittsburg Inc., Health Care, $203,150.00

Baja Management Corp, Collaborative, $450,000.00
Bartelsmeyer Jewelry, Small Business, $3,750.00
Beacon Incorporated, Small Business, $1,500.00
Bids and Dibs, Small Business, $4,000.00
BN Hunting, Small Business, $1,250.00
Bourbon County, Preapproved, $263,684.65
Bourbon County 4-H Council, Small Business, $2,000.00
Bourbon County District Court, Preapproved, $3,457.00
Bourbon County Information Technology Economic Development, $51,250.00
Bourbon County Kansas Health Care, $91,000.00

Care to Share Cancer Support, Small Business, $500.00
Cheney Witt Chapel, Inc., Small Business, $2,500.00
Chicken Shak, Small Business, $2,500.00
City of Bronson Economic Development, $111.32
City of Bronson Health Care, $1,200.00
City of Fort Scott Economic Development, $142,000.00
City of Fort Scott Economic Development, $9,974.78
City of Uniontown Economic Development, $39,041.00
City of Uniontown Economic Development, $225.33
Clayton’s Inc DBA Union Station Economic Development, $20,000.00
Clifton’s Chiropractic LLC, Small Business, $2,000.00
Community Christian Church, Small Business, $4,500.00
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Inc,. Health Care, $19,985.00
Compass Counseling Services, Small Business, $1,000.00
Crawford Dental LLC, Health Care, $15,000.00
Crossroads Camping & Cabins/Yellow Brick Road Invest., Small Business $2,000.00

Dairy Queen, Small Business, $5,000.00
Diamonds in the Marketplace Small Business $2,750.00

Findley Auto & Body, Small Business, $3,000.00
Fort Cinema, Small Business, $4,250.00
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, Small Business, $3,250.00
Fort Scott Broadcasting Co, Economic Development, $50,000.00
Fort Scott Christian Heights, Education, $4,199.00
Fort Scott Community Closet, Small Business,$2,000.00
Fort Scott Community College, Education, $287,760.78
Fort Scott Family Medicine, Health Care, $5,150.00
Fort Scott Hospitality Co., Small Business, $2,250.00
Fort Scott Motors LLC, Small Business, $3,250.00
Fort Scott Nazarene, Small Business ,$2,250.00
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, Health Care, $84,520.00

HairBow Center, Small Business, $5,000.00
HB Salon, LLC Small Business $2,500.00
Hedgehog.Ink! Small Business $3,250.00
Holmtown Pub Small Business $5,000.00
Hot Wok Inc Small Business $4,500.00

I Am Rehab and Fitness Small Business $4,500.00
Imagination Station LLC Education $17,500.00

J&W Sport Shop Small Business $2,500.00
Jamie’s Beauty Shop Small Business $2,500.00

KANROCKS Recreation Small Business $5,000.00
Kenny Felt Photography Small Business $2,750.00
Khris & Karina LLC Small Business $1,000.00
Kings Way Inn Small Business $1,750.00
KW Cattle Company dba Reprologix Small Business $5,000.00

Lana’s Daycare Education $2,000.00
Leah’s Daycare Education $2,000.00
Liberty Theater Inc Small Business $4,500.00
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Small Business $5,000.00
Luther’s BBQ Small Business $5,000.00

Mayco Ace Hardware Small Business $4,750.00
Momentum Indoor Training Small Business $2,500.00
New Generation, Inc. Education $17,500.00
Niece Equipment Products of Kansas Inc. Small Business $5,000.00
Norvell Company, Inc. Small Business $5,000.00

O’Brien Cattle Co., Inc. Small Business $2,500.00
Opie’s Inc. Small Business $2,500.00

Papa Don’s Small Business $4,000.00
Peerless Products Economic Development $50,247.00
Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, Inc. Small Business $500.00
Ponderosa Farm Collaborative $10,000.00

Re:freshed Aesthetics Small Business $2,500.00
Re:new with Julie Small Business $2,500.00
Rejuvenate with Kayla Small Business $2,500.00
RH Ventures LLC Small Business $2,000.00
RII Concrete Small Business $5,000.00
RockBallet Small Business $2,500.00

Santana’s LLC Small Business $4,500.00
SASS Inc, Hillside Guest Home Health Care $12,600.00
Sawyer Automotive Small Business $1,500.00
SEK Multi-County Health Department Health Care $7,500.00
SEKAN Printing Company, Inc. Small Business $5,000.00
Sharky’s Pub & Grub Small Business $5,000.00
Sleep Inn and Suites – Fort Scott Small Business $5,000.00
Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center Health Care $122,458.00
Spoiled Brat Small Business $2,500.00
St Mary’s School Education $80,000.00
Structure Small Business $2,500.00
Sunbeam Christian Preschool Education $10,000.00

TFI Family Services Education $50,000.00
The After Affect Salon Small Business $2,500.00
The Boiler Room Brewhaus Small Business $3,250.00
The Christian Learning Center Foundation Education $8,199.00
Two Sisters Cleaning Service Small Business $2,250.00

Unified School District 234 Education $306,000.00
USD 235 Uniontown Collaborative $88,000.00
USD 235 Uniontown Education $102,000.00

Velocity Manufacturing Small Business $5,000.00

Wise Tax and Accounting Small Business $1,750.00

Total amount of grants:
$2,835,212.86

Bourbon County, Government

County Commission Meetings Now On Youtube

Leave a comment
The Bourbon County Commission room, September 2018.

Bourbon County provides a service for those who wish to be in the know about the weekly commission meetings but do not wish to come in person due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

A YouTube channel was set up by Shane Walker, the information technology director.

YouTube is a  video-sharing website on the internet.

“The (Bourbon County) YouTube channel is for nothing more than to broadcast the commission meetings during the pandemic,” Walker said.  “We have a small area for meetings.  It made sense to set it up so that citizens could view meetings without risk.”

” We are working hard to keep people safe and still allow us to do business for everyone and this is just another part of that effort,” he said.

YouTube will not be used election night because the system had to be taken down so that the Bourbon County Clerk could use the commission room for voting and election duties, he said.

“All Bourbon County employees have access, and can edit our web page and also our Facebook page,” Walker said.  “All of our department heads have this ability to put information out to the public.”

The unofficial November 3, 2020 General  Election results will be posted on the county website that evening when they have them, according to Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk.

 

 

About the Bourbon County  Information Technology Department. taken from its’ website:

Walker is the Director of Information Technology

The office is located in the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S National Ave., Office 12, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Contact: 620-223-3800 X127 or email at
[email protected]

The Bourbon County Information Technology Department provides services to county departments to aid in the effective delivery of IT services that support the business needs of the county. County information technology is a vital part of the organization, providing faster and better ways for our employees to do their jobs and for our residents to access our services. They continue to keep technology current and to work with members and management of all departments to provide the computing capabilities that are needed.

Vision 
The vision is to enable each county department to better serve the public through the best and highest use of appropriate technology, using creative, progressive, and economical IT solutions with uncompromising quality, reliability, and efficiency.

Mission
To provide organizational and individual leadership in IT by researching, evaluating, planning, implementing, and supporting appropriate technologies, designed to assist county departments in accomplishing their visions and missions and to apply technology and best practices that make the delivery of government services affordable, efficient, accessible, and responsive to the citizens of Bourbon County.

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government

City Of Bronson Receives SPARK Grant

Leave a comment
Bronson City Hall. Submitted photo.

The City of Bronson received grant funds to better serve its’ community safely during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In mid-October, City Clerk Ellen Harper received a SPARK Grant in the amount of $1,200 for providing help to safely serve the town, located in western Bourbon County.

The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) program is charged with leading Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, according to its’ website.https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/

SPARK Committees are distributing money from the U.S. Coronavirus Relief Fund.

The City of Bronson will use it to provide masks, sanitizers and cleaning products to mitigate the spread of the virus at city hall.

“We put a shield up in our office for when we interact with customers,” Harper said.  “And we sanitize.”

In addition, the city is recommending wearing masks and social distancing as part of the plan.

“This is for employees, city council members, or anybody that comes in and wants to use it for council meetings,” Harper said.

As in the rest of America, the way meetings are organized, or if held at all, have changed.

Bronson has already cancelled its annual town-wide event, Bronson Day, because of the virus and will probably cancell the annual Christmas fundraiser as well, Harper said.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Health Care

CHC Offers Rapid COVID-19 Testing

Leave a comment
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Fort Scott..

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Fort Scott now offers rapid testing for the COVID-19 virus for those with symptoms.

On October 9, 2020, the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center announced there were 33 who tested positive for COVID-19 at the jail, the biggest spike in the county since the pandemic started in March 2020.

As of October 20, there have been 303 people who have tested positive for the virus in Bourbon County, according to the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department.

To see the latest COVID-19 updates, click below:

Kansashttps://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas

 

“I can confirm we have finally received the test kits to now do rapid testing in Fort Scott for COVID-19,” Krista Postai, CHC/SEK CEO, said.  “Because of the limited supply, we have allocated these for those individuals with symptoms.”

Krista Postai. Submitted photo.

Because of the limited amount of tests, it is at the discretion of the health care provider and the availability of the test, according to a spokeswoman at CHC.

“We have standing orders to cover the testing,” Postai said.

COVID-19 testing takes about 20 minutes in total.

The test is done with nasal swabs.

The cost is $100 and covered by insurance and/or a government program for those with symptoms, Postai said.

 

“For those without symptoms, an alternative rapid test is available for $50 cash and is not covered by insurance,” she said. “However, if the test comes up positive we are required to send it off for confirmatory testing which costs another $100 cash and takes another couple of days.”

Bourbon County, Elections, Government

Bourbon County Ballot For Nov. 3

1 Comment

COUNTY CLERK’S NOTICE OF CANDIDATES TO BE VOTED ON

AT THE GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 2020

 

State of Kansas County of Bourbon

 

In compliance with K.S.A. 25-105, and the General Election Laws of the State of Kansas, I submit herewith the list of National, State and District Candidates certified to me by the Secretary of State, and the list of those filed as candidates in Bourbon County in the forthcoming General Election to be held, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

 

And, I hereby give further notice that the election will be held in the voting places listed below in Bourbon County, Kansas, and that the polls will be opened and closed at the regular time specified by law for the conduct of elections.  All precincts in the county will open at 7:00 am and will close at 7:00 pm.

 

Sales Tax Question on the ballot:

 

To vote in favor of any question

submitted upon the ballot, darken

the oval to the left of the word

“YES”;

to vote against it, darken

the oval to the left of the word

“NO”.

 

Shall the following be adopted?

Shall Bourbon County, Kansas,

levy (renew) a one percent

countywide retailers’ sales tax to

take effect on July 1, 2021, and

expire on June 30, 2031, with the

allocated shares pursuant to

K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-192 to be

used as follows: (1) to Bourbon

County, for the purpose of

maintenance and construction of

hard surface roads, and (2) to

each city located in Bourbon

County, for the purpose of

providing funding for public

services?

 

Residents living in the City of Fort Scott vote at the following locations:

1st Ward       Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

2nd Ward       Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

3rd Ward       Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

4th Ward       Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

5th Ward       Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

6th Ward       Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

7th Ward       Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

 

Residents living out in the county vote at the following locations:

Drywood       Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

Franklin        Mapleton Community Building – 565 Eldora, Mapleton, KS

Freedom      Fulton Community Building – 408 West Osage, Fulton, KS

East Marion  Uniontown City Hall – 206 Sherman Street, Uniontown, KS

West Marion Bronson Community Building – 504 Clay Street, Bronson, KS

Marmaton     Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS

Millcreek       Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS

Osage          Fulton Community Building – 408 West Osage, Fulton, KS

Pawnee       Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS

North Scott   Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

South Scott  Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

Timberhill      Mapleton Community Building – 565 Eldora, Mapleton, KS

Walnut         Uniontown City Hall – 206 Sherman Street, Uniontown, KS

 

NATIONAL AND STATE OFFICES
For President and Vice-President of the United States
Joseph R. Biden / Kamala D. Harris 1209 Barley Mill Road

Wilmington, DE 19807

 Democratic
Donald J. Trump / Michael R. Pence                     1100 S. Ocean Blvd.

Palm Beach, FL 33480

 Republican
Jo Jorgensen / Jeremy “Spike” Cohen Greenville, SC Libertarian
For United States Senate
  Barbara Bollier 6910 Overhill Road

Mission Hills, KS 66208

 Democratic
  Roger Marshall PO Box 1588

Great Bend, KS 67530

 Republican
  Jason Buckley 8828 Marty Ln

Overland Park, KS 66212

 Libertarian
For US House of Representatives – District 2
Michelle De La Isla 3250 SW Briarwood Dr

Topeka, KS 66611

 Democratic
Jake LaTurner 2329 SW Ashworth Pl

Topeka, KS 66614

 Republican
Robert Garrard 2287 N 300 Rd

Edgerton, KS 66021

 Libertarian
Kansas Senate, District 12
Mike Bruner 1002 Pecan St.

Humboldt, KS 66748

 Democratic
Caryn Tyson PO Box 191

Parker, KS 66072

 Republican
Kansas Senate, District 13
Nancy J. Ingle 511 E. 21st

Pittsburg, KS 66762

 Democratic
Richard Hilderbrand 240 Cleveland Ave

Baxter Springs, KS 66713

 Republican
 Kansas House of Representatives, District 2
  Lynn D. Grant 202 S. Appleton

Frontenac, KS 66763

 Democratic
  Kenneth Collins 102 E First Street

Mulberry, KS 66756

 Republican
Kansas House of Representatives, District 4
  Bill Meyer 14 Golfview Drive

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Democratic
  Trevor Jacobs 1927 Locust Road

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
For County Commissioner – District 2
  Jim Harris 2302 Jayhawk Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
For County Commissioner – District 3
  Clifton Beth 2236 215th,

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
  Phillip G. Hoyt 2422 242nd Terrace

Fulton, KS 66738

 Democratic
For County Clerk
  Kendell Dawn Mason 2 S Eddy

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
For County Treasurer
  Patty Love 901 Shepherd St

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
For Register of Deeds
  Lora Holdridge 1814 Richards Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
For County Attorney
  Jacqie Spradling PO Box 576

Spring Hill, KS 66083

 Republican
For County Sheriff
  Mike Feagins 1964 Justice Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Democratic
  Bill Martin 502 Meadow Ln

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
Drywood Richard Cullison, Jr. 506 260th

Garland, KS 66741

 Republican
Franklin Tony Bradbury 631 Soldier Rd.

Bronson, KS 66716

 Republican
Freedom Janice Seested 2330 215th St.

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
Marion Steve Geiger 1121 Hwy 3

Uniontown, KS 66779

 Republican
Marmaton David Duffey 1201 Locust Rd

Redfield, KS 66769

 Republican
Millcreek Yvonne Beck 1821 159th Street

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
Osage Brian Wade 2618 Soldier Rd.

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Democratic
Pawnee Karen A. Endicott-Coyan 1635 Fern Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
Scott Jim Sackett 2019 Maple Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
Timberhill Dan Laughlin 2275 105th St.

Mapleton, KS 66754

 Republican
Walnut No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
TOWNSHIP TREASURER
Drywood No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
Franklin No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
Freedom Karen A. Paddock 608 W Cedar St.

Fulton, KS 66738

 Republican
Marion Rex Wilson 905 Clay St.

Bronson, KS 66716

 Republican
Marmaton Wilma K. Graham 102 W 4th

Redfield, KS 66769

 Democratic
Millcreek Betty L. Graham 1458 Tomahawk Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Democratic
Osage Kathleen Valentine 2638 Tomahawk Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
Pawnee Sharon Middleton 1374 Eagle Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Democratic
Scott Harold Rogers 2189 Ironwood Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
Timberhill David Scharenberg 1045 Yale Rd

Mapleton, KS 66754

 Republican
Walnut No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
 
STATE OF KANSAS OFFICIAL JUDICIAL BALLOT
Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judges, District Court Judges and District Magistrate Judge
Question #1, Shall the following Supreme Court Justice be retained in office?
Eric S. Rosen 1928 S.W. Indian Woods Ln.

Topeka, KS 66611

 Position 4
Question #2, Shall the following Court of Appeals Judges be retained in office?
Sarah E. Warner Kansas Judicial Center

301 SW 10th Ave

Topeka, KS 66612

 Position 4
David E. Bruns Olathe Position 6
G. Gordon Atcheson 301 SW 10th Ave

Topeka, KS 66612

 Position 8
Karen M. Arnold-Burger 301 SW 10th Ave

Topeka, KS 66612

 Position 9
Kathryn Gardner 301 SW 10th Ave

Topeka, KS 66612

 Position 14
 
Question #3, Shall the following Judges of the District Court be retained in office?
  Terri L Johnson PO Box 311

Pleasanton, KS 66075

 District 6, Division 2
  Mark A. Ward 829 190th St

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 District 6, Division 3

 
  Steven C. Montgomery 22404 S. Roosevelt St.

Spring Hill, KS 66083

 District 6, Division 4
 
Question #4, Shall the following Judge of the District Magistrate be retained in office?
  Valorie R. Leblanc 210 S. National

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 District 6
Shall the following be adopted?

Shall Bourbon County, Kansas,

levy (renew) a one percent

countywide retailers’ sales tax to

take effect on July 1, 2021, and

expire on June 30, 2031, with the

allocated shares pursuant to

K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-192 to be

used as follows: (1) to Bourbon

county, for the purpose of

maintenance and construction of

hard surface roads, and (2) to

each city located in Bourbon

county, for the purpose of

providing funding for public services?

Kendell Mason, County Clerk &

(SEAL)                                                              Bourbon County Election Officer

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Rural Business Relief Grants Available Until Nov. 2

Leave a comment
North Main Street, downtown Fort Scott.

A new round of grants for small businesses is available online as of today, Oct. 26, according to Jody Hoener, Bourbon County’s Economic Director.

This is a NEW grant opportunity for for-profit business and she advised applying before the Nov. 2 deadline, next week, she said.

“I haven’t applied for this specific grant and it is online,” Hoener said.  “If anyone needs any help though, I would be more than willing to help.”  Contact her at [email protected]

“Only small businesses located in rural communities are eligible at this time,” according to the website https://www.lisc.org/covid-19/small-business-assistance/rural-relief-small-business-grants/?fbclid=IwAR32Hywr90-CMVmhziFOfkQGynQQ–i3KqlfYX8Tvz-IH5bOfArVqtx3XGE  “Rural communities are defined as having a population of 50,000 or less. A community is defined as the city/town/village where your business address is located. If the business is mobile (a food truck, fishing boat, rideshare driver, etc) please use the address where your vehicle is stored during non-business hours.”

All potential applicants are encouraged to review this FAQ and grant information before applying.

Non-profit organizations are ineligible for the relief funding program at this time but may be eligible for later rounds of funding.

Rural Relief Small Business Grants
Grants range from $5,000-$20,000 to for-profit businesses.
Grants will not need to be repaid. They can be used for:
• Payables to include rent and utilities
• Meeting payroll (to include yourself the applicant)
• Paying outstanding debt to vendors
• Other immediate operational costs
This “round” is open October 26-November 2.
Please see the link below to apply and for more information.
Bourbon County, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office

Slick Roads Today

Leave a comment
Sleet on streets and roads make driving difficult today..
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to be cautious driving, according to its’ Facebook page.
The office states that roads are slick and one can stay updated on road conditions by visiting the KanDrive website: www.kandrive.org 
KanDrive
kandrive.org
KanDrive
Reports regarding traffic incidents, winter road conditions, traffic cameras, active and planned construction, etc.
Bourbon County, COVID-19, Health Care

Uniontown Health Clinic Moving Forward To Open in 2021

Leave a comment
The building for the medical clinic is south of the Uniontown High School Football Field.

Uniontown will soon have a health clinic.

The small town in western Bourbon County, population approximately 300, is 20 miles away from health care in Fort Scott and 25 miles from Iola, the two largest towns with clinics nearby.

 

Spearheaded by Uniontown Ruritan, and the vision of several members of the community, the Uniontown health clinic is a collaboration of Ruritan, USD 235 School District, the Bourbon County Commission, the City of Uniontown and Girard Medical Center.

To see a prior fortscott.biz story on the clinic, click below:

Uniontown Collaboration: New Health Clinic Coming

Girard Medical Clinic, Girard, Ks. Photo from its’ website.

“We at GMC want to partner with the local community there in Uniontown to offer primary care services for an area where it is difficult to access those services currently,” Ruth Duling, Girard Medical Center CEO said.

The project is moving forward quicker since receiving U.S. coronavirus emergency funds which is distributed locally through the Bourbon County SPARK program. That program is to spur on the Kansas economy following the devastating effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) grant was applied for by Uniontown’s school district, which owns the property for the health clinic. The building is the former superintendent’s office.

Mark Warren, Uniontown Ruritan member, opens the door of the medical clinic building just south of the Uniontown High School football field.

“The school district applied for SPARK funding because the property to be renovated for use as the clinic,  belongs to the school,” Duling said.

“Completion will be after the first of the year,” Duling said. ” I don’t have any idea yet on a date when the clinic will be fully operational.  Since the renovation stage is being completed by mostly volunteer work and the availability of that workforce, it’s just difficult to say until we get further in the process…the renovation is in the very early stages.”

Uniontown Ruritan MemberJoe George has taken the lead on the renovation project with input from Girard Medical Center Engineering staff Judd Pride and Pat Holt and its’ Director of Clinic Operations Candi Adams, Duling said.

 

History The Clinic

Uniontown Mayor Larry Jurgensen explored a health clinic in the town with Fort Scott Mercy Hospital, Mark Warren said.
“At the time the Marathon Valley Nursing Home shut down,” he said.
” Mercy told him they didn’t want to explore a clinic out here because we were close enough to go to Ft. Scott, but instead put clinics in Arma and Pleasanton which were approximately the same distance from Ft. Scott ,” Warren said.  “This irritated people out here. The matter was then dropped for a period of years.”
Warren then visited with Holly Koch, Chief Financial Officer of Girard Medical Center and a resident of Uniontown.
He shared with Koch about the possibility of a Girard Medical Center satellite clinic.
After Koch spoke with Duling, meetings were organized which included the City of Uniontown, Ruritan, Girard Medical Center, Senator Jerry Moran’s office, Uniontown citizens, a Pittsburg doctor, Bourbon County Commissioner Lynn O’Harah, and Bourbon County Economic Director Jodi Hoener.
When Mercy Hospital closed in Dec. 2018 things began to progress, Warren said.
“We had residents here now (who were) a longer distance from health services,” Warren said.  “Girard went to work then.  Ruth asked me and I asked Larry and Judy Jurgensen both to come with me to a Girard Hospital board meeting.  Larry gave the historical timeline of his interaction with Mercy to them of which we left that meeting feeling we had their support.  The only thing left was funding.”
“The  Uniontown Ruritan Club offered to help fundraise but as federal SPARK money became available and Jayhawk Wind ( a wind energy company) heard about it, we found we could still fundraise but possibly not have to work so hard at it.  Jayhawk and SPARK money was the final piece of the puzzle to get this project finally started and going and to make a Uniontown clinic a reality.”
Jayhawk Wind contributed a $20,000 grant to help fund the Uniontown Clinic, which will also serve the towns in nearby communities, according to its’ website: http://www.jayhawkwind.com/
The SPARK Grant was for $88,000, according to Warren.

 

 

 

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Pioneer Kiwanis Initiates Collaboration For Community Friendship Swing

Leave a comment
A photo of a Friendship Swing, much like the Fort Scott Pioneer Kiwanis are collaborating with others to install in a Fort Scott park in 2021. Submitted photo.

Fort Scott Pioneer Kiwanis, a service organization helping the children of Bourbon County, has started a project in memory of a longtime member.

A Pioneer Kiwanis meeting, taken from its’ Facebook page.

The Joyce True Memorial Project for children began following the passing of True in July 2019, according to a press release sent by Gayle Sackett and Kelley Collins, spokespeople for the group.

Collins is secretary for the organization, Sackett is a board member.

“The club began looking for a suitable project to honor her that would benefit children of the community. The Friendship Swing seemed to meet the criteria.”

“The multi-user, one size fits all swing offers a unique opportunity for area children and families to engage in healthy outdoor play together and help youth to develop and a variety of physical and social skills,” according to the press release.

Funding for the project was multi-faceted.

“To supplement the memorial, the club decided to contribute money that had been raised previously for playground equipment. They applied for and received a grant from the Kiwanis Kansas District Foundation. Lastly, they partnered with the City of Fort Scott and jointly applied for a Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Grant.”

That FSACF grant, awarding of a generous $2,000, allowed the project to be on track for a completion date in spring 2021.

The project is truly a community collaboration.

The group will also need hands-on volunteer involvement when the installation begins.

The swing will be located in an agreed-upon location in a Fort Scott park.

To learn more about the company that makes the chair:

Search Results