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Sharky’s Pub Open Today from 11 a.m to 2 a.m.
All posts by Loretta George
Fort Scott/Bourbon County’s Dispatch Moved For Security, Space Issues
Those who answer emergency calls for the Bourbon County community have been moved to a more secure and bigger space from the Hawkins Public Safety facility at 1604 South National Avenue.
People and equipment in Fort Scott/Bourbon County Dispatch Department moved to 207 S. Judson, on June 22, 2021. The site is the former correctional facility adjacent to the Bourbon County Courthouse.
“We answer all incoming 911 emergency calls and dispatch the appropriate agencies such as police, deputies, fire, and Emergency Medical Services,” Traci Reed, communications manager, said. Reed has been in this position for ten years and in the dispatch department for 14 years.
“We also answer all calls that require calls for service for the community,” she said.
Why the move?
“Personal and structural safety has always been a concern for our dispatch facility,” Reed said. “The Hawkins building housed police, fire, and dispatch, and the shortage of room was an issue as well.”
“The public has access to the Hawkins Building and dispatch should not be physically accessible to the public due to safety reasons,” she said.
“Fortification of dispatch is very important due to bad weather or any other kind of disaster that may occur,” Reed said. “If any disaster would take place dispatch has to be able to continue communications with all agencies to ensure the safety for our citizens of the city and county.”
“The benefit (to the community) is that dispatch can and will continue to run efficiently and serve this community to the best of our ability to ensure safety for not only our citizens but also our First Responders,” she said.
Jobs
Currently, there are seven full-time employees with one part-time employee.
There is one full-time vacancy at this time, she said.
Qualifications for employment require passing a background check, being able to multi-task, have listening skills, and being able to handle stressful situations, Reed said.
To apply go to the City of Fort Scott Website at www.fscity.org to fill out an application.
FSCC Women’s Flag Football Recruitment Begins
Women’s Flag Football is coming to Fort Scott Community College.
“Flag football is an emerging sport which has gained popularity across the country in recent years,” Tom Havron, FSCC’s Athletic Director said. “Many NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) schools in the region have started the programs, and FSCC is proud to be one of the founding members at the NJCAA level.”
“Flag football will be a female sport, consisting of 15-20 team members,” he said. “We will have students at FSCC fall of 2022, but the inaugural season will be a spring sport starting in 2023.”
“Women’s Flag Football has been a growing commodity across the nation and FSCC intends to provide an opportunity for these student-athletes to continue their passion for the sport while pursuing their education at the collegiate level.”
“Similar to the Fort Scott youth flag football program, the FSCC team will feature women who play the game at a high level,” he said.
“FSCC is currently recruiting students to start competition in the fall of 2022,” Havron said.
“As flag football is an emerging sport, there are not many people who have much experience in the region,” Havron said. “We have communicated with the area NAIA schools who have started the program in the past few years and hope to learn and grow with them. FSCC was awarded a $10,000 grant from the NFL and NJCAA. Part of this will be used to seek professional development activities for our coaching staff. ”
“We will practice on the FSCC campus at the turf field, and hope to play our games at Frary Field as well as other regional institutions,” he said.
City Hires New HR Director: Brad Matkin
Brad Matkin, 51, is the new Fort Scott Director of Human Resources. His start day was August 2, 2021.
“I will be recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding new members,” Matkin said. “Working on member benefits, challenging our benefit resources to give us better opportunities/pricing, working with the department managers to provide management/leadership training, and being the ears for the city members, and several other things too numerous to list.”
Matkin believes a good human resource person is the backbone of a company/organization, working on policies, processes, and helping create a good working environment for the members, he said.
“With that, I just kept working getting my education and gaining the knowledge it would take to be successful in a position like this… Director of Human Resources for the City of Fort Scott.”
The best part of the career is working with the members of the entity, he said. “I really enjoy the interaction with them even if the situation is sometimes not a good one. I feel members need to be able to voice their opinion to someone that can be confidential but also someone that can possibly help.”
The COVID-19 Pandemic has created challenges in a human resource person’s job.
“Hiring and retaining members is everybody’s challenge currently but I feel the challenge is exciting,” Matkin said. “I feel getting the right mix of people that will create a good team environment plus treating them fair will make them happy to come to work. “Communication is key to retaining members, yes wages and benefits are important also, but if you can make members feel important and create a bond between the groups you will be much more successful. The old saying that members leave their boss not the job is very true.”
Matkin earned a master’s degree in business administration at Pittsburg State University with an emphasis in human resources. He has over twenty years in business management and four years in a human resource and recruiting role.
He is married ” to my wonderful wife of 28 years, Tammy” and they have three grown children and two grandsons, he said.
Outside of his career Matkin enjoys spending time with family and collects sports memorabilia. “I also like watching KC Chiefs football and KC Royals baseball,” he said.
Bryce Eck: World Champion In Junior Rodeo Bareback Riding
Bryce Eck, 17, comes from a family of bucking horse riders.
“My Dad (Andy) rode bucking horses when he was younger,” Eck said. “My older brother, Colt (19 years old) rides as well.”
All that practice, and talent, paid off for Bryce when he won the 2021 World Championship Junior Rodeo in the bareback riding event, this year held in Guthrie, OK from July 29-31.
“The top eight (contenders) make it back to finals on the third day,” Eck said. “The winner rides on Thursday, Friday, Saturday at noon then that evening.”
“You have to be under 19 years old to go to this rodeo, (and) you have to make it back each round with your score and how well you rode,” he said.
“A good ride is to have the horse bucking and the rider spurring the ride,” Eck said. “You have to stay on for eight seconds.”
At home on the Eck farm, Bryce pitches in.
During the interview yesterday, he was hauling hay for his dad on their cattle farm, near Redfield.
The hay will be for winter feed for the animals on the Eck farm.
“We raise cattle and we have a colt training business,” Eck said. “We train the horses to be ridden.”
Friday Night Free Concert: Cherry Grove Baptist Church Trio
Friday Night Concert
This week’s Friday Night Concert will be presented by Marilyn Adcock, Melissa Brown, and Sherry Payne Sisney, all members of Cherry Grove Baptist Church. The vocal and instrumental performance will feature a variety of folk tunes and gospel favorites. Marilyn plays autoharp, Melissa plays the trumpet, and Sherry plays keyboard.
“These three ladies will delight the crowd with their instruments, vocal solos, and great harmonies as a trio,” concert series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “Come out and join us for a special opportunity to see friends and support the gift of music in our area. We are pleased to welcome Marilyn, Melissa, and Sherry to the park pavilion.“
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, are free and open to the public. Dave Oas of Parsons serves as sound technician each week. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.
New Employee Profile: Josh Hays
Josh Hays, 40, recently began a new chapter in his life: a realtor at Stewart Realty Co., 1707 S. National Avenue.
The broker of the company, Diann Tucker, has encouraged Hays to join her for years, Hays said.
“One of her boys is my best friend,” he said. “She wanted me to do it for a long time.”
He is currently a farrier as well.
“I’m still shoeing horses,” Hays said. “I’m a journeyman farrier.”
A farrier is a craftsman who trims and shoes horses’ hooves.
Hays said the farrier career has limitations.
“The physical aches,” he said. “I’m tired of crawling under a horse and shoeing horses.”
“Real estate is one of those things you can work into,” he said. “I still have flexibility. It’s a good career path to transition into.”
Hays has already listed his first property with Stewart Realty Co.
The property is at 1780 Indian Road, Fort Scott, KS 66701. The link is:
Fort more information, call or send him a text (620) 215-5621
In addition to horses, his family has a cow-calf operation south of Fort Scott.
Hays and his wife, April, have two daughters, Isabel, 11 years old, and Dally, 4.
They like to attend rodeos together and Josh is a roper.
“I like roping when I can, I enjoy it,” he said.
Hays is a 1999 graduate of Fort Scott High School, a 2004 graduate of Pittsburg State University with a major in history, and graduated from farrier school in 2010.
K-3 section closed Wednesday and Thursday
K-3 section closed Wednesday and Thursday
This week the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to close a section of K-3 in Bourbon County to replace crossroad pipes. K-3 will be closed between the Crawford-Bourbon county line and Birch Road on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 4-5. The closure will be in effect from 7:15 a.m. until 6 p.m. both days.
Traffic should use alternate routes. Persons with questions may call KDOT Area Superintendent Derrick Shannon at (620) 901-6550 or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433.
The Compulsive Keeper
The Compulsive Keeper
Putting things away after the fair reminded me of how stuff just seems to multiply and collect. Statements such as, “We might need that someday,” repeatedly come to mind.
Yes, we were sorting through things from a specific event. Yet it reminded me how we tend to “over keep” things, especially in our own personal living spaces. Things accumulate with little effort. Without some self-control, our homes can be reduced to pathways or overstuffed drawers and closets. Then it becomes an overwhelming task when we really get the urge to purge.
How do we know if our ‘collections’ have gotten out-of-control? A collector is proud to show off their collections and will keep them neat and organized. However, if a large group of unrelated items is stashed away out-of-sight, we might be leaning toward the cluttered category. If it is in plain sight and in a state of disarray, we could be on the verge of hoarding.
Hoarding can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or economic status. It often starts in adolescence and gets progressively worse with age. It’s usually a personal and private behavior making it difficult for others to know the seriousness of the situation.
Individuals are more likely to hoard if they have a family member who keeps everything. Often these individuals are withdrawn from society because they are isolated or lonely. They may struggle with obsessiveness and worry about making the right decision whether to keep something or not. The process of trying to decide whether to keep or dispose creates distress, so they may avoid making any decision at all. Thus, everything is kept.
Other characteristics that can indicate a tendency to hoarding include:
–Difficulty or anxiety with letting go of possessions, regardless of their value.
–Unable to find important papers or money in the clutter.
–Buying things because they are seen as a bargain with a desire to stock up.
–Not inviting family and friends to their home due to shame or embarrassment.
–Refusing to let people into their homes to do needed repairs.
Compulsive keepers often have a poor sense of time. They may be late or absent frequently in the workplace. Missing important deadlines and a reduction of productivity are other signs that often create havoc for businesses.
How can we support a family member or friend who has stuff they can’t seem to deal with? Even though we might want to help clear out some clutter, we need to ask first and develop trust with the compulsive keeper. They need to be ready to make some lifestyle changes.
Be sympathetic, listen, and try to understand the emotion and meaning behind all of the things they have chosen to keep. If safety is an issue, work together to create ways to make doorways and hallways safe and clear. Celebrate the successful small steps.
We all have different standards as to what is clutter and what is not. If you were to step into my office right now, you would likely question my clutter status. Yes, it’s time for me to do some serious housecleaning!
More information on clutter control is available through K-State Research and Extension Southwind offices, and by contacting Barbara at 620-625-8620 or by email to [email protected].
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Wiffle Ball Tournament Today On Burke Street
Some area youth have organized a tournament in their neighborhood.
The Burke Street Wiffle Ball Classic 2021 starts at 2 p.m. today and is estimated to run until approximately 7:30 p.m., according to event organizer Dryden Cosens, age 17.
The event is located on Burke Street, adjacent to the Cosens’ home at 1320 Marblecrest Drive.
“It’s on a lot between Ralph Hall’s and Frank Halsey’s houses, our neighbors,” Cosens said.
A wiffle ball is a light perforated ball used in a type of baseball.
“The rules are watered down,” Cosens said. “It’s a fun thing to do in the backyard with family and friends.”
But today it is a tournament, that approximately nine teams will be competing in, with around 35-40 people.
The name of the league is Burke Street Wiffle Ball, he said.
“Anybody can come and watch,” Cosens said. “There are some shade trees, but bring your own lawn chairs.”
To aid players on this humid July day with temperatures expected to be near 100 degrees, Cosens and his brother Cal, will have popcicles and a tent set up, along with water.
The Cosen brothers have been playing wiffle ball since Dryden was in sixth-grade, he said. He is now 17, and Cal is 15.
“In 2015, we had our first tournament,” Dryden said. “We made a Youtube channel, but kind of gave it up when we got busy with playing baseball.”
A friend, Rocco Loffredo, came to Dryden, with the idea of restarting the tournament.
“I talked to Cal, and we decided it would be a good idea,” he said.
The Bourbon County Commission Minutes of July 23
July 23, 2021 Friday 9:00 am
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with Lynne and Jim present, Clifton was on the telephone, the County Counselor and the County Clerk were also present.
Also present were the following: Susan Bancroft and Clifton Walker.
Lynne said they were having the meeting dealing with the transfer of funds to Noble Health.
Justin said they needed a motion to make sure Lynne has the authority to sign the Noble Health agreement and a motion that the wire transfer of $800,000 be done today, he said the City approved this yesterday and their funds had already been wired. Jim made a motion that a wire transfer to Noble Health be done regarding the possibility of a future health care facility in the amount of $800,000 including the authority of Lynne Oharah to sign the document and that the transfer needs to be done today, Clifton seconded and all approved, motion carried.
At 9:05, Jim made a motion to adjourn, Clifton seconded and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
___________________, Chairman
(ss) Jim Harris, Commissioner
(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk
July 27, 2021, Approved Date
The Bourbon County Commission Minutes of July 19
July 19, 2021 Monday 3:00 pm
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session for a special meeting; present were Lynne, Jim and Kendell. Clifton, Rob Harrington and Justin attended by telephone.
Also present were the following: Jason Silvers with the Fort Scott Tribune, Susan Bancroft, Will Wallis, Shane Walker and Robert Coon.
Susan Bancroft discussed the new budget law regarding exceeding the RNR rate; she said she anticipated that Bourbon County would exceed the RNR rate for the 2022 budget. She said notice needed to be provided to the Clerk that they anticipate exceeding the RNR rate and said the hearing is scheduled for September 7th, she said the County couldn’t exceed the anticipated mill levy rate (the worst-case scenario for the mill rate is 66.263), but could drop down the rate. Jim Harris questioned if they didn’t have a RNR hearing did that mean they weren’t going to do it, and said if we don’t have the hearing, we can’t exceed the RNR, Susan said they would have the hearing and said it was possible they wouldn’t exceed the RNR, and said by having a hearing this gave the County more time to work on their budget. Lynne made a motion to adopt the intent to exceed the RNR rate and said the proposed mill rate is 66.263, with a hearing date set for September 7th; Lynne said the 66.263 is based on the additional $450,000 requested during the budget process but not approved, Jim seconded and all approved.
Lynne said that last week the County made a motion to take over the Cress building and said this week they have the opportunity to publicize for bids for the sale of the Cress building; Susan said the notice for the newspaper would need to be in 3 consecutive publications, Justin suggested the sealed bids would include the building with equipment or the building without the equipment, the Commissioners agreed. Jim made a motion to advertise and publicize the sale of the Cress building by sealed bids and said one bid would be for just the building and the second bid would be for the equipment inside the building, they will open the sealed bids on August 10th, Clifton seconded and all approved. On 7/19/2021 Susan Bancroft notified the Tribune to place the following notice for 3 consecutive weeks… “Bourbon County will be accepting sealed bids until August 10, 2021, 9:00 AM for the purchase of 17 South Main. Please send all bid documents to the Bourbon County Clerk, 210 S National, Fort Scott, KS 66701 clearly marking the envelope, 17 South Main Bid. Interested parties may bid on the property and contents as a package or provide an alternate bid for just the property.”
Lynne said they had a special meeting on July 16th concerning the Eagle Block building and the declaration needed; Lynne made a motion to adopt Resolution 21-21; a flooding and hazardous weather emergency declaration, Jim questioned if the Resolution covered the whole County, Will Wallis said the Resolution covers all of the County, Jim seconded and all approved.
At 3:23, Jim made a motion to adjourn, Clifton seconded and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
___________________, Chairman
(ss) Jim Harris, Commissioner
(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk
July 27, 2021, Approved Date