All posts by Loretta George

Bourbon County, Business, Fair, Fort Scott, Jobs

Peerless Expands Assembly Lines: Needs More Workers

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Peerless Products is hiring.

Peerless Products, 2403 S. Main, is the largest employer in Fort Scott with 420 workers.

And they need more assembly lines to grow their business, according to Dave Elliott, Peerless Products Culture and Morale Manager.

Founded in Fort Scott, Kansas in 1952,  they manufacturer high-performance aluminum architectural and commercial windows for new construction, replacement and historical construction, according to their website.http://www.peerlessproducts.com/Corporate/About-Peerless

“We need to have the capacity to run more products through, to continue to grow,” Elliott said.

“We purchased the old American Standard warehouse in Nevada (MO) on I-49, we will use that as a staging warehouse,” Elliott said. “That frees up space in the Fort Scott facility for another assembly line.”

The employees the company is looking for?

“Somebody that has a good work ethic and a willingness to learn and grow,” Elliott said. In addition, applicants must have a valid driver’s license, and a high school diploma or GED.

The starting-out wage at the plant is $11 per hour, and “they usually work more than 40 hours a week.”

Day shift is from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

“The hours on Friday depends on how much of the product is complete,” Elliott said.

Peerless offers a benefits package that offers health insurance, life insurance, a 401K and an “astounding profit-sharing program,” Elliot said.

Peerless also offers “employee care” activities such as chair massage a couple of times a year and currently are giving employees 20 lb. meat bundles. This processed beef and pork comes from what the company purchases at county fairs of 4-H animals.

Today, Aug. 9, Elliot and Karen Contreras will be at the Ellis Fine Art Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College for a job fair.

Ellis Fine Arts Center

From 2-6 p.m. interested applicants are asked to bring their resume and come for a visit with the two Peerless Products representatives.

 

Area News, Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Health Care

Bourbon County Coalition Highlights Care To Share

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Lavetta Simmons presents information about Care To Share at the Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition on Aug. 9 at the First Baptist Church.

The Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition meets monthly, except July, to allow agencies that help families to network and share what they are all about.

The coalition’s next meeting is Sept. 4 at noon at the First Baptist Church.

The Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition met Aug. 7 with Board President Billie Jo Drake leading the meeting.

The mission of the Bourbon County Coalition Board is to provide children with an environment of security, permanence, and a sense of belonging and being loved. To support the mission, grants are applied for annually. Last year the board received a $1,000 grant from the T. B. Baker Foundation and $2,000 from the Southeast Kansas Community Foundation, Billie Jo Drake, president of the board, said at the opening of the meeting.

“We have also received funds from United Way, Key Charitable Trust, Mercy auxiliary, civic organizations and individuals,” Drake said.

The two projects the board focuses on are 1) rent and utility assistance, vetted through another helping agency, The Beacon and 2) pool passes in the summer for area low-income children.

This month, the local helping organization, Care To Share, took its’ turn telling what services they provide the community.

Lavetta Simmons, who along with Joy O’Neal and Teresa Davenport, helped found the ministry in 2007.

Lavetta Simmons

“I lost my Mom and Dad to cancer,” Simmons said. “Through that experience, I want to reach out to others.”

“Some people have no family,” she said. “Some have no insurance.”

The number-one expense is gasoline for traveling to treatments, Simmons said.

Last year Care To Share helped people 788 times and gave out $68,874 to assist the cancer patients.

Not only gas for medical appointments but assistance with wigs after hair loss, bras after mastectomies and many other personal needs.

Also housecleaning, respite care, mowing of lawns, meal coordination, providing Ensure (a nutritional drink),  and “Sunshine” calls to patients.

Care To Share’s mission is to provide friendship and support through emotional and financial assistance to individuals who are cancer survivors and their caregivers of Southeast Kansas.

For more information contact Simmons at 620-224-8070, Dona  Bauer at 620-224-7075 or Teresa Davenport at 620-362-3042.

The organization has fundraisers throughout the year to support the mission.

In addition, “so many people, businesses, organizations and churches give,” she said.

The ministry is also funded by T.B. Baker Foundation, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, United Way and memorials.

The Care To Share Board is comprised of Dona Bauer, Donna Beerbower, Kathy Clark, Teresa Davenport, Denny Heidrick, Carol Hill, Nancy Hofer, Randy Holt, Richard Long, Dr. Boban Mathew, Sidney Maycumber, Simmons, and Jerry Witt.

Larry Davenport serves as financial advisor to the organization.

Bourbon County, Schools

New UJHS Social Science Teacher: Gabrielle Studer

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Gabrielle Studer. Submitted photo.
The following is part of a series of new teachers in Bourbon County schools.
Uniontown teachers have In-Service on Monday, August 26. The first day with students is Thursday, August 29.
Name: Gabrielle Studer
Age: 41
Title and where you will teach: Junior high social sciences teacher, Uniontown
Experience: Five years of teaching English at Fort Scott High School, two years as an instructional coach at Fort Scott Middle School.
Education: BS in sociology from MSSU, and earned a teaching license through PSU. “I worked as a social worker for several years before moving to Fort Scott in 2004.”
Family: Husband Brian and two kids, Sadie (age 7) and Callum (age 5).
Hobbies/interests:  “I enjoy traveling, reading, snow skiing and of course being with family and friends.”
How did you become an educator?
“I didn’t initially study to be an educator. For several years, I had been enjoying my work in the field of social work. But after moving to Kansas, I found that the private sector required me to have different qualifications than I had. Rather than attending school to gain a similar degree to what I already had, I decided to switch to education. Since high school, I’d always worked in some capacity with youth. It was my niche. So I thought teaching would be fun. And I was right — I love teaching secondary students.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“I enjoy teaching because I love hanging out with teenagers. It’s just a serious bonus that I also get to teach material that I love. I could learn all day about history, archaeology, geography, literature — even grammar. As a teacher, I get to keep learning about the topics that thrill me, and I also get to hang out with teenagers, who are so much fun and always full of surprises. I can’t think of a better job. Besides getting paid to travel the world. I admit that would be better.”
What is the greatest challenge in teaching?
“For me, the greatest challenge to teaching is finding a way to interest every student. But if people are having fun together, they often find interest in whatever they’re doing together — even if it’s learning the Pythagorean theorem or diagramming sentences.”

 

Bourbon County, Elections, Fort Scott

Unofficial Election Results for Bourbon County Primary Election

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Just in from the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office.

Total votes cast for that person is the first number.

     2019 CITY/SCHOOL PRIMARY                           UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
                                                        BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
                                                        AUGUST 6, 2019
     RUN DATE:08/06/19 07:55 PM                                                                                  REPORT-EL45A    PAGE 001
                                                  TOTAL VOTES     %    ELECTION DAY    EARLY VOTE
     
      PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 16) .  .  .  .  .         16  100.00
      REGISTERED VOTERS - TOTAL .  .  .  .  .      9,771
      BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL.  .  .  .  .  .  .      1,340                   814           526
      VOTER TURNOUT - TOTAL  .  .  .  .  .  .              13.71
     
     CITY COMMISSION FORT SCOTT
     VOTE FOR  3
      Cheryl L. Adamson.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        219    7.38           122            97
      Harold (Pete) Allen .  .  .  .  .  .  .        247    8.32           157            90
      Kevin "Skitch" Allen.  .  .  .  .  .  .        301   10.14           213            88
      Cynthia Bartelsmeyer.  .  .  .  .  .  .        333   11.22           179           154
      Casey Bolden  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .         58    1.95            43            15
      Tracy Dancer  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        110    3.70            73            37
      Bobby Duncan  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .         99    3.33            64            35
      Bob Farmer .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        213    7.17           116            97
      Josh Jones .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        215    7.24           133            82
      Deb McCoy  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        329   11.08           195           134
      Diana Morriss .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        198    6.67           118            80
      Jeanie Parker .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        204    6.87           111            93
      Lindsey Watts .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        285    9.60           185           100
      Matthew Wells .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        158    5.32           106            52
     
     
     SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER POSITION 3 USD 234
     VOTE FOR  1
      Kellye Barrows.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        643   49.46           377           266
      Joe Foulk Sr. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .         36    2.77            26            10
      Michael J. Hoyt  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        133   10.23            83            50
      Josh Jones .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        302   23.23           189           113
      Aaron Judy .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        186   14.31           118            68
     #E
Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Attorney Justin Meeks Gets New Office: Ribbon Cutting Aug. 8

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Attorney Justin Meeks is in his new office at 1801 S. National Avenue. The wall behind him was the former outside wall of Lockwoods Steakhouse, he said.

Attorney Justin Meeks has moved into his newly renovated office space at 1801 S. National Avenue after months of hard work.

“It would’ve been way cheaper to tear down and build new,” he said. “But we saved the building….it’s got lots of character.”

Character such as original walls with a hand-painted sign and names sketched in concrete from a different era, which were both preserved.

And a great location with Hwy. 69 and National Avenue in close proximity.

The building was renovated and now is the home to Justin Meeks Attorney at Law and Kale Nelson State Farm Insurance.

Meeks is also the Bourbon County Counselor for the county government, which is a part-time position. The new space is for his private law practice, which is also part-time.

“I moved into this space for my private law practice in late June,” Meeks said. “It’s a very limited private practice: probate, business transactions, human resource issues, contract work, landlord-tenant issues, and banking issues.”

As of October 1, Meeks has been the Bourbon County Counselor for five years. “I’ve been out of private practice for five years,” Meeks said.

“I like helping people, that’s why I’m going back into a limited part-time practice,” Meeks said.

His office hours are Monday through Thursday, appointment only; Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m.

 

History Of The Property

Justin Meeks and Kale Nelson purchased the circa 1925 building last year.

The new office spaces have had many repurposings through the years: a machine shop, Lockwood’s Steakhouse, various liquor store owners including Silver Spur Bar, a pet shop, a vape shop and other business entities.

This handwritten note was discovered in the renovation of the 1925 building, during the era of the machine shop. Meeks left the note on the exposed brick as art for his new office.

 

The renovated building was first used for a machine shop, Meeks was informed by people in the community.

There is a handwritten sign on the exposed brick in his entrance space that says “Leave Tools After Used.”

Then the shop was added onto in the 1960-70s, according to Meeks.

On the concrete floor in a closet, the names Patty Chow and Sharon Manyo are sketched into the concrete.

That’s part of the character of the building that was preserved.

Ribbon Cutting

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce will have a  ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the new location of State Farm Insurance, 1805 S. National Avenue and Meeks Law Firm at 1801 S. National Avenue on Thursday, August 8 following the Chamber of Commerce Coffee, which starts at 8 a.m.

Owner of the property is JK Hold’M Properties, a partnership of Meeks and Nelson.

The public is invited to the ribbon-cutting to view the transformation of the buildings to updated and modernized offices.

Justin Meeks law office is located at 1801 S. National Avenue.
The Meeks and Nelson offices before renovation in July 2018.
Justin Meeks Attorney at Law is next door to Kale Nelson State Farm Insurance on South National Avenue with Hwy. 69 behind the complex. This is the “after photo.”

 

Bourbon County, Elections, Fort Scott

Vote Today for City of Fort Scott and USD 234 BOE Position 3

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The vote here sign sits in front of the north wing of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National.

The Bourbon County Primary Election is today, August 6.

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Exercise your right as a U.S. citizen to vote your conscience in this election.

From the Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason:

“This primary will only be for the City of Fort Scott and USD 234 position 3.  The other schools, cities, FSCC, Extension District, etc. will not be on the Primary ballot.”

The November general election will be for Bourbon County cities, schools and K-State Extension Board positions.

Vote at these sites (taken from the Bourbon County Kansas website)

1st Ward        Community Christian Church                    DRYWOOD        Grace Baptist Church

2nd Ward      Grace Baptist Church                                   FRANKLIN         Mapleton Community Building

3rd Ward       Grace Baptist Church                                   FREEDOM         Fulton Community Building

4th Ward       Community Christian Church                     MARMATON       Redfield City Hall

5th Ward       Community Christian Church                     MILLCREEK      Redfield City Hall

6th Ward       Community Christian Church                     OSAGE               Fulton Community Building

7th Ward       Grace Baptist Church                                   PAWNEE            Redfield City Hall

NORTH SCOTT       Community Christian Church

SOUTH SCOTT       Grace Baptist Church

TIMBERHILL        Mapleton Community Building

The Primary Election will narrow the candidates down to two times the number of positions open.

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Health Care

Public Health Department Moves: New Possibilities In Future

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From left: Rebecca Johnson, BSN, RN, the administrator of SEKMCHD; Alice Maffett, Registered Nurse in Bourbon County and Kristi George, the administrative assistant. They stand in front of the new public health department facility at 6th and Horton.

The local public health department moved from behind the Bourbon County Courthouse to a more spacious building and reopened on July 29 to offer health services to the community.

The new space for Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department is located between 6th and Horton and 6th and Lowman Streets at 524 S. Lowman.

The Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department is located between 6th and Lowman Streets and 6th and Horton Streets.

 

In former years the building has been Mercy Home Health, Curves-a woman’s fitness center, then Cornerstone Bible Church.

The location on two main streets in Fort Scott will be an advantage.

“We hope this location makes people more aware of the health department,” Alice Maffett, health department nurse, said.

Now the employees can serve the community in a larger and more visible building with services such as physicals, immunizations, pregnancy tests, family planning, Kan Be Healthy Screenings, blood pressure and blood glucose checks, hearing and vision screenings, SRS referrals, Sexually Transmitted Disease testing and treatment, and lab/blood draws.

 

The Public Health Department, located at 6th and Horton Street, Fort Scott.

Rebecca Johnson, BSN, RN is the administrator of SEKMCHD and her primary office will be in Fort Scott. Maffett is the Registered Nurse in Bourbon County and Kristi George is the administrative assistant.

A physical exam and current immunizations are required for entrance into kindergarten.

New this year in immunizations, is the state-required meningitis shots for 7th and 11th-grade students, Maffett said, which the department offers.

The WIC program will be utilizing the building and also available are breastfeeding classes.

The health department board is working to build community partnerships.

“It is a great building and we are looking for other community groups or agencies to utilize our conference room.

The conference room is approximately 25 feet by 16 feet and has an adjacent kitchenette for use, she said.

Dave and Jan Elliott will be offering Love and Logic Parenting classes in the future.

The health department board is also interested in exploring the option of telemedicine in the future, Johnson, said.

Another possibility in the future is to hire a Nurse Practitioner, Maffett said.

The hours of operation: Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to noon and 12:30  p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information: 620.223.4464. The fax number is 620.223.1686. or www.sekmchd.com

 

 

Bourbon County Sheriff's Office

The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Inmate Release List Aug.1

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293 E 20th St., Fort Scott, KS 66701
AgencyName Data

Inmate Released List

07/31/2019 to 08/01/2019
MCMULLEN, AMIL RAY 2019-000632
07/03/2019 7/31/19 12:25 PM
34 W M OWN RECOGNANCE
SELF

PASTRICK, WYATT READ 2019-000702
07/30/2019 22 W M 8/1/19 8:00 AM TIME
SERVED
SELF

BEALER, LACY WAYNE 2019-000310
04/02/2019 52 W M 8/1/19 8:02 AM TIME
SERVED
SELF

Total Inmates Released: 3

Bourbon County Sheriff's Office

The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Arrest Report Aug. 1

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07/31/2019 – 08/01/2019
293 E 20th St., Fort Scott, KS 66701
Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office
Arrest Summary Report

Charges, Bond Type, Bond Amt.

TINDILL, CODY MATTHEW. 20, – 2019-000708
Warrant Type
7/31/2019 7:00:00 AM
SENTENCED * YES NO BOND 0.00
Bond Total 0.00

SPEARS, JOHNNY LEE, 32, – 2019-000709
Warrant Type
7/31/2019 7:12:00 AM
WARRANT BOURBON COUNTY ( FAILURE TO APPEAR) * NO 2017-CR-0358 CASH/SURETY 1500.00
Bond Total 1500.00

HOLLADAY, JOSHUA RAYMOND, 35, –
2019-000710
Warrant Type
7/31/2019 11:19:00 AM
INTERFERENCE WITH LEO; OBSTRUCT/RESIST FELONY NO CASH/SURETY 20000.00
POSSESS OPIATES/OPIUM/NARC DRUG AND CERTAIN STIM
NO CASH/SURETY 0.00
USE/POSS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA/HUMAN BODY NO CASH/SURETY 0.00
WARRANT BOURBON COUNTY ( FAILURE TO APPEAR) * NO 2018-CR-000525 CASH/SURETY 500.00
Bond Total 20500.00

GRANT, SHAWN TYREE, 55, – 2019-000711
Warrant Type
8/1/2019 8:00:00 AM
SENTENCED * NO NO BOND 0.00
Bond Total 0.00

Bourbon County, Elections

Polling Places for August 6 Primary Election: City of Fort Scott and USD 234 Position 3

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Voters at the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office.

 

The Bourbon County Primary Election is August 6, next Tuesday.

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Exercise your right as a U.S. citizen to vote your conscience in this election.

Correction from the Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason:

“This primary will only be for the City of Fort Scott and USD 234 position 3.  The other schools, cities, FSCC, Extension District, etc. will not be on the Primary ballot.”

The November general election will be for Bourbon County cities, schools and K-State Extension Board positions.

The following are a list of polling places in the county.

1st Ward        Community Christian Church                    DRYWOOD        Grace Baptist Church

2nd Ward      Grace Baptist Church                                   FRANKLIN         Mapleton Community Building

3rd Ward       Grace Baptist Church                                   FREEDOM         Fulton Community Building

4th Ward       Community Christian Church                     MARMATON       Redfield City Hall

5th Ward       Community Christian Church                     MILLCREEK      Redfield City Hall

6th Ward       Community Christian Church                     OSAGE               Fulton Community Building

7th Ward       Grace Baptist Church                                   PAWNEE            Redfield City Hall

NORTH SCOTT       Community Christian Church

SOUTH SCOTT       Grace Baptist Church

TIMBERHILL        Mapleton Community Building

 

 

 

 

Uncategorized

Craw-Kan Taking Orders for Fiber Optic Internet

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CRAW-KAN,
Your Community Technology Partner asks:
Hey, Fort Scott –
are you in the zone?
Hey Fort Scott –
are you in the zone?
CRAW-KAN is now taking business and residential orders for fiber optic internet, high definition TV and phone service in the GREEN shaded area on the map above.
Call 620-724-8235 to sign up,
or check out www.ruralfiber.org
for packages and pricing;
then click “I WANT FIBER” and enter your info to have us
contact you!
If you aren’t in the GREEN *yet* please be patient…
We are coming to the east side of town next year!!