All posts by Loretta George

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Clean Up Days

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The Bourbon County Commission approved two days when county residents can take their unwanted trash to the county dump for free, including old tires.

If one has, say, old mattresses, unwanted garage sale leftovers, etc. this day will cost nothing but the drive to the dump to rid oneself of the items.

Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 residents may take their trash to the Bourbon Transfer and Recycle Center, 2286 Noble Road, northeast of the city limits.

Normally, the cost of landfill services are $40 a ton for solid waste materials- garbage, County Commissioner Lynne Oharah said.

“For construction and demolition materials it’s $35 a ton,” Oharah said. “It’s all on a graduated scale.”

The free dump day is not for businesses but for residents only, he said.

The landfill can be reached by going north on Hwy. 69 to Native Road, then turning east until 225th, then north to Noble Road, then east to the landfill.

Noxious Weeds Department Moves

The county government also provides noxious weed killer products to clean up weeds on farm properties.

This month the Bourbon County Commission approved the moving of the Noxious Weed Department from Uniontown to the Bourbon County Barn on 215th Street. north of Hwy. 54.

“We’ve increased the hours,” Oharah said.  Hours are Monday, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., Wednesdays, 1 to 3 p.m. and Fridays, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Products to kill noxious weeds can be purchased from county personnel at that time, he said.

“One landowner can purchase for up to 160 acres,” Oharah said.

Josh Lawrence is the noxious weed director and can be reached at 620.215.1569.

Notice on the door of the old Noxious Weed Department in Uniontown.

The old noxious weed building in Uniontown, located just south of the fire department is still being discussed by the commissioners for future use.

Old Bourbon County Noxious Weed Department building in Uniontown.

 

 

Airport, Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

KDOT Awards Fort Scott Airport $152,000

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Seth Simpson, Fort Scott City Airport Manager, as of Dec. 2018.

The Kansas Department of Transportation awarded Fort Scott Airport a grant in the amount of $152,000, with notification being given on April 30.

The grant money is for an Airport Geographic Information System and runway expansion, according to the KDOT announcement.

“We don’t have the contract with details,” Seth Simpson, Fort Scott Airport Manager said Tuesday.

“We will use it for any design, such as the layout of runway extension, possible land acquisition, that type of thing,” he said.

The future impact on this local airport is “huge”, Simpson said.

The airport expansion will allow bigger jets to use the Fort Scott Airport and “it will be better to bring more companies in (Bourbon County),” he said.

“Length of the runway and strengthening for weight purposes will be part of the runway expansion,” Simpson said. “We are coming due for a resurfacing, that will cost less money if we can do it all at once.”

Currently, the runway is 4,400 feet and is to be expanded to 5,500 feet.

Fuel sales increases and medical flights will also be positively impacted by the runway expansion, Simpson said.

During the preliminary phases of the expansion, a Native American archeological dig was held on the northwest section of the airport property on Indian Road, southwest of Fort Scott.

“One tribe said they would like to do more archeological digging,” Simpson said. “To find things pertinent to their tribe.”

“This phase is part of the process,” he said. “We have a series of boxes we have to check off.”

“The City of Fort Scott works closely with KDOT Aviation to improve the runway in Fort Scott,” Fort Scott Economic Director Rachel Pruitt said. “I am encouraged to see continued funding towards our project.  The overall improvement project will take ongoing collaboration at the state and federal levels.  There are still several steps to complete.”
Rachel Pruitt

Upcoming events at the airport:

  • The Fort Scott Airport is the beginning of the Combat Warrior convoy on May 1, with city officials and first responders invited to the airport to welcome the military veterans to town, on their way to the E3 Ranch. The public is invited to welcome the veterans by lining the streets on National Avenue and Wall Streets and waving.
  • The Fort Scott Airport will be hosting the Kansas 2019 Association of Airports Conference on June 25-27.

 

 

 

Airport, Government, Kansas

KDOT announces Kansas airport improvement projects

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Topeka – Forty-one projects totaling a combined award of $5 million have been granted for the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP) funding for planning, constructing or rehabilitating public use general aviation airports.

The aviation industry represents $20.6 billion economic impact and employs more than 92,000 Kansans. In addition, 94 percent of the state’s population is within 30 minutes of air ambulance operations.

“We are proud of the collaboration between our department and airport sponsors to increase safety, enhance economic development and support the transportation needs of Kansans,” said Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz.

The KAIP program requires airport sponsors to share in project costs by paying a portion of the total project. The KDOT Division of Aviation, which manages the program, considered 119 project applications this year with a combined total value of more than $29 million.

“KAIP has not only funded key improvements at local airports, it has helped create a statewide aviation network that enhances both the health and economic wellbeing of the entire state,” said Bob Brock, KDOT Director of Aviation.

Communities selected for funding and the amount requested include:

Anthony – Airports Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) survey and flight check – $52,250

Atchison – Surface seal of runway – $56,925

Atwood – Update fuel card reader – $17,000

Augusta – Reconstruct apron access to community hangar – $76,500

Beloit – Airfield maintenance equipment – $16,250

Benton – 17/35 runway preservation – $321,867

Elkhart – Airports Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) Study – $76,000

Emporia – 1/19 runway sealcoat and preservation –$411,500

Fort Scott – Airports Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) updates and runway extension design – $152,000

Gardner – 8/26 runway/apron/taxilane pavement preservation – $90,000

Garnett – 1/19 runway seal and repair high severity cracks – $40,500

Hiawatha – 10/28 runway edge lighting design – $19,000; 17/35 runway edge lighting design – $19,000; taxilane renovation design and construction – $61,890

Hoxie – Phase II: runway rehab – $303,440

Independence – South apron runup area renovation – $721,500; fuel systems – $36,335

Kingman – Precision approach path indicator (PAPI) replacement – $182,963

Kinsley – construct tiedowns – $10,949

La Crosse – Operations support equipment – $45,000

Lakin – Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) III – $176,250; 14/32 runway mill and overlay design and construction – $303,250

Liberal – Runway marking removal and replacement – $248,500

Oberlin – Height and hazard survey – $38,000

Ottawa – Pavement preservation on parallel and connection taxiway system – $173,250

Pittsburg –Replace Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) ceilometer –$43,200; remove obstructing trees – $18,000

Quinter – Install Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) III – $135,000

Rose Hill – Crack seal– $16,200; upgrade fuel credit card terminal – $14,875; mill and overlay runway 17/35 – $174,600

Salina – Phase II: ramp reconstruction – $720,000

St. Francis – Extend SE taxiway – $133,200

Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Town-Wide Garage Sale Benefits Many

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The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce organizes a town-wide garage sale annually, this year it is May 10-11.
“It’s to bring people to town and provide a fun event for the community,” Lindsay Madison, executive director said. “When people visit Fort Scott for the sale they typically also eat lunch here, get gas and patronize other businesses. The event allows those who have a sale to make money, then go out and purchase more from local retailers and restaurants.”
Lindsay Madison is the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Executive Director.
 “People are just beginning to sign up.  We hope to have at least 30 sales participating so we encourage people to register!  It is a quick and easy way to clean out your closets, garage or storage shed and make some extra cash.
Maps will be available starting Thursday, May 9th at 10 am at the following locations: Bids & Dibs, Casey’s, Don’s Smoke Shop, 5 Corners, and all Pete’s  Convenience Store locations.
 The $10 registration to list each garage sale contributes to the budget for the Chamber to advertise the sale across the region and to print hundreds of copies of the listing and map for the distribution locations.
  Advertising includes radio, newspaper, and paid social media. 
The more sales that are listed the more budget there is to advertise to make the overall sale more successful. 
The Chamber also sells blocks of advertising to businesses and organizations for $25 each which also funds marketing of the sale. 
Businesses and organizations are invited to place an ad along with a coupon if desired.”
The Spring Town-wide Garage Sale is usually planned in conjunction with the Pioneer Harvest Swap Meet at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds which is typically the second weekend in May.

Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Swap Meet

 is May 10-11 at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, west off Hwy. 69 on 23rd St.

Click below for its website:

“The Pioneer Harvest committee mails out several thousand postcards advertising both the swap meet and the town-wide garage sale, so it is a good partnership between the Chamber and that organization,” Madison said.
“The Swap Meet gates will open at 8 a.m. both Friday and Saturday the 10th and 11th and will have something for everyone including antique gas engines, antique auto parts, farm tractors and parts, farm equipment and accessories, and general garage sale items.”
Bourbon County, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office

Female Self Defense: Awareness, Boundary Setting and Combat

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Jill Leiker, Kansas City, center facing the camera, gives combat strategies to females of all ages Saturday at the T.A.K.E. Class at Fort Scott Middle School.
From left: Roger Kemp, initiator of the T.A.K.E. Self Defence Class, Bourbon County Undersheriff Ben Cole, Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin, and Kim Schwab, administrative assistant at the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center show a facsimile of the check that was given to the T.A.K.E. Program before the class began on April 27. The sheriff’s office donated $3,000 to the T.A.K.E. Foundation.

Awareness, boundary setting, and combat strategies were given to  The Ally Kemp Education (T.A.K.E.)class participants on Saturday, April 27 at Fort Scott Middle School.

Ninety-eight females from 12 years old and up participated in the first female self-defense class in Fort Scott by the T.A.K.E. Foundation, Leawood.

Jill Leiker, from Kansas City, was the class instructor,

If someone makes you uncomfortable, “look at them, take a step ahead and look again at their face,” she said.

This is the first step to deter would-be assailants, Leiker said.

Then she showed the class some combat strategies.

The class participants practiced the strategies with a partner.

Leiker said women often have an inner voice that tells of impending danger.

“Don’t ever feel silly about telling Law Enforcement, if you have that gut feeling that something isn’t right,” Leiker said. “Listen to that voice, that gut feeling is most of the time correct.”

“An average predator watches you six to 12 times,” she said.

Before the class, Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin presented T.A.K.E. Foundation Founder Roger Kemp with a check for $3,000.

“A portion of VIN (auto) inspection fees are paid directly to the Sheriff’s office and by statute can be used at the discretion of the sheriff,” said Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin.

“The TAKE program charges a $12 fee for each person who participates,” he said. “Briggs Auto paid the registration fees for anyone stopped by and signed up to attend. Other businesses gave donations to offset any woman having to pay to attend. The amount given to the Kemp  Foundation was $4,787, which included the donation from the sheriff’s office.”

Entertainment, Fort Scott

May The Fourth Be With You: Fort Scott Public Library

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Join Fort Scott Public Library’s Miss Val and fellow Star Wars® fans for a May the 4th be With You® celebration on May 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the library events room.

Make pool noodle light sabers or light saber popsicle holders or craft stick puzzles; bowl stormtroopers over with giant marshmallows; snack on chocolate Darth Vaders and Luke Skywalkers; enjoy a cup of C3P0pcorn while watching a Star Wars DVD, or try your hand at trivia to win a mask. Puzzles, block building challenges, electronic and card games, and other activities will also be provided.

Win prizes, borrow books, and have a great time celebrating the franchise during this special year of closing out the film series with a final movie.

Feel free to dress up in your favorite costume! This event is for all ages and is completely free. Visit the library you must, and May the 4th be With You®!

Bourbon County, Business, Exercise, Health Care, Housing, K-State Extension

Aging With Attitude

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Expo attendees moved around to the vendor’s tables before the first whole group educational panel discussion on the opioid crisis.

Aging with Attitude Regional Expo filled the gym of Community Christian Church on Friday to hear breakout speakers on the opioid crisis, scams against senior citizens, life with partial sight, veteran’s benefits, gardening, farm families in tough times, and getting beyond superficial conversations.

Aaron and Lindsay Watts, Smallville Crossfit owners, facing the camera, lead the group in exercises.

Aaron and Lindsay Watts, owners of Smallville Crossfit, Fort Scott, demonstrated exercises that can even be done from a chair.

Patty LaRoche gave an inspirational speech on “What Matters Most.”

There are four components of aging to find contentment, she said, which include physical, mental, emotional and spiritual issues. She listed humorous and contemplative examples of each component.

Patty LaRoche

And door prizes galore were handed to attendees by vendors, businesses and organizations.

Resource fair vendors were Girard Medical Center, K-State Extension, Hometown Health Care, Moore-Few Care Center, Arrowood Lane Residential Care, Kansas Agricultural Medication Services, Heritage Health Care, Medicalodges Fort Scott, Southeast Kansas Library System, Integrity Home Care and Hospice, Presbyterian Village, Resource Center for Independent Living, State Farm Insurance, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging, Angels Care Home Health, Ascension Via Christi, SKIL Resource Center and Kansas AgrAbility.

A panel session on the opioid crisis was composed of,  from left facing camera: Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin, Pharmacist Craig Campbell, Community Health Center Peer Mentor Heather Burns, Community Health Center Addiction Treatment Amy Phillips, and Fort Scott Police Department Chief Travis Shelton. Moderator is K-State Extension Agent Joy Miller at right.
Ginger Nance and Becky Kellum, Presbyterian Village personnel, visit with a person at their booth.
State Farm Insurance Agent Kale Nelson visits with an attendee.
Denise Groene, director of Wichita Better Business Bureau, leads the session entitled “Scams Against Seniors.”
LaShawn Noel, a social worker with Integrity Home Care and Hospice, leads a session on “Getting Beyond ‘I’m Fine'”.
“Helping You and Your Family Through a Tough Farm Economy,” was a session led by Char Henton, Forrest Buhler and Gary Kepka from Kansas Agricultural Medication Services.
Veteran Services Representative Ryon Knop leads the session “Veteran’s Benefits for Spouse and Dependents.”
“Living a Full Life with Partial Sight” was a session led by Southeast Kansas Library Special Needs Consultant Melissa Frantz and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist Amanda Smith.
K-State Horticulture Agent Krista Harding leads the session “Garden At Any Age.”
Pharmacist Craig Campbell leads an expanded session on the opioid crisis.

Additional support for the expo was provided by Community Christian Church, Dale and Betty Johnson, Cheney Witt Funeral Home.

Helping with introducing the speakers were 15 Fort Scott Community College Ambassadors, with help serving the meal provided by Fort Scott Community College Volleyball Students.

A grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas helped support this expo event.

 

 

Area News, Bourbon County, Government

Uniontown Spruces Up

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Uniontown is located 17 miles west of Fort Scott.

Spring cleaning is the time to clean up your yards, attics, garage and closets.

Next weekend, a small town in the area will be renting huge trash hauling bins to helps its citizens to do just that.

Uniontown City Council helps provide the town’s citizens a way to get rid of unwanted, unsightly items.

The city council rents huge trash hauling bins twice a year,  once before Uniontown High School graduation in May and again before Old Settlers Picnic weekend, in August, this year May 3-5 and August 23-25.

The bins are located on city property near the corner of First and Clay Streets.

The city property where the trash bins will be located for the clean up day.

“This assists our residents with the clean up of their property and to keep our town clean and appealing to visitors,” Sally Johnson, Uniontown City Clerk, said.

Absolutely no tires, batteries, or freon are allowed in the city’s trash hauling bins.

The city will recycle metal.

“There will be an area to the side (of the bins) for metal objects that are then taken for recycling,” Johnson said.

 

The town-wide clean up is for Uniontown residents only.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Get Your BBQ On: April 26 at the Fairgrounds

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Anyone interested in grilling and barbecuing can learn more during BBQ 101, lead by K-State Research and Extension Agent’s Kathy McEwan and Chris Petty, along with Mayco Ace hardware store owner Chris Maycumber on Friday, April 26 at 6 p.m. at the Yeager Building on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.
 “There will be some taste testing, but it’s mostly classroom style education,” Petty said.  “We will have cuts of meat, and grills on display.”
The class is free but limited to 25 people,  and pre-registration is required by calling 620-223-3720.
“Spots are filling up fast,” Petty said.
Bourbon County

Fort Scott’s Women Self Defense Class This Saturday

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Kim Schwab, left, Roger Kemp, and Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin talk with Bourbon County Attorney Jacqui Spradling at the March 29 Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce coffee. Schwab, Kemp, and Martin talked about the upcoming self-defense class initiated by the Sheriff’s Office to coffee attendees.

The Ali Kemp Education Foundation, T.A.K.E.,  will present a class on female self-defense, this Saturday, April 27 at Fort Scott Middle School.

The class is from 10 a.m. to noon.
“The first part of the class is a lecture on safety awareness,” said Kim Schwab, administrative assistant at the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center who is handling the registration for the event.  “The second part is combat training, hands-on techniques done with a partner.”
Schwab has taken the class in another town and highly recommends women take personal responsibility for their own safety.
“We are offering the class because we live in dangerous times and every women’s personal safety is her personal responsibility,” Schwab said. “It is a survival skill that women of every age should know.”
A $12 donation is requested, but it is not required, she said.
“It actually costs more than $12 per person to bring the class to town,” Schwab said.
To register, contact Schwab at the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center at 620-223-1440, extension 270.
Local sponsors of the event are Kale Nelson State Farm Insurance, Stewart-Tucker Realty, The City of Fort Scott, Briggs Auto Dealership, City State Bank, McDonalds Restuarant, Kenny Felt Photography, Martin Rental Properties (Alisha Martin), Liberty Bank, Iron Star Antiques, Fort Scott Inn and Liberty Theater/Crooner’s.
“Seventy-nine have registered so far and you can register clear up until the class on Saturday,” Schwab said.  “Just show up and you can register then. Women under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign for them.”
“Women should wear comfortable clothes and shoes (sneakers) so they can move easily,” Schwab said.
“Roger Kemp will be coming and speaking at the beginning of the class about his foundation, The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation, and the reason his family is doing this for women all across the country,” Schwab said.
Kemp’s daughter was raped and murdered in Leawood, a suburb of Kansas City. Following the tragedy, the Kemp family initiated the foundation to provide self-defense classes to females.
Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott

Dance To the Music of The 1800s April 27

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Submitted photo.

THE ANNUAL CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT ON THE GROUNDS OF FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE WILL BE HELD SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, APRIL TWENTY-SEVENTH AND TWENTY EIGHTH.

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS EVENT, THE  FRIENDS OF FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE WILL BE HOSTING THE SECOND ANNUAL CIVIL WAR CAMP DANCE.

Submitted photo.

 

LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN FORT SCOTT, HISTORIC MEMORIAL HALL WILL BE FILLED WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC FROM THE EIGHTEEN HUNDREDS ALONG WITH WHOOPING AND HOLLERING AND DANCING FEET AT THE CIVIL WAR CAMP DANCE THE EVENING OF SATURDAY, APRIL TWENTY-SEVENTH.

PERIOD DANCES AND MUSIC ARE SURE TO ENTERTAIN PARTICIPANTS AS THEY BRING HISTORY TO LIFE.

 

THE CAMP DANCE IS HELD TO COINCIDE WITH THE CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT WEEKEND AT FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

IT GIVES THE VOLUNTEERS ATTENDING THE ENCAMPMENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER, HAVE A GOOD TIME, AND BRING HISTORY ALIVE IN A SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO COME AND JOIN IN THE DANCING OR JUST TO WATCH.

WE ENCOURAGE, BUT DON’T REQUIRE, THOSE WHO ATTEND TO COME DRESSED IN 1860S CIVIL WAR ATTIRE, OR DRESSED AS1800S WESTERN PIONEERS. IT SETS THE TONE FOR THE EVENING.

Submitted photo.

ALL AGES ARE WELCOME. COME JOIN US AS WE LEARN 1800S DANCES TO 1800S MUSIC.

 

THE DOORS OPEN AT SIX-THIRTY AND DANCING BEGINS AT 7:00 PM.

THE COST OF FIVE DOLLARS PER PERSON COLLECTED AT THE DOOR GOES TO THE FRIENDS OF FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO FACEBOOK AT FORT SCOTT KANSAS EIGHTEEN HUNDREDS DANCING.

Submitted by Dee Young who can be contacted at 913.557.1632 or

[email protected]