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Government, Kansas

January is Kansas Radon Action Month

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KDHE urges you to have your home and school tested

 

TOPEKA – Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) proclaimed January 2019 “Kansas Radon Action Month” to help educate Kansans about the dangers of radon exposure and to encourage actions to identify and address radon problems.

 

“Radon risk comes from prolonged exposure to elevated levels,” said KDHE Environmental Specialist Mark Ungerer. “Mitigation is a small cost compared to the risk posed by living in a home with elevated radon and can be easily accomplished in most cases. KDHE recommends everyone test their homes and encourage their school boards and superintendents to test their schools to have the most complete information about their radon exposure.”

 

Radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soils across Kansas. Outdoors, radon is diluted to low concentrations, but once inside a building, radon can accumulate, exposing the occupants to elevated levels. Radon is the first leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause in smokers.

 

The only way to know if radon is elevated in a building is to test.  KDHE encourages all Kansans to test their homes for radon to make sure they are not being exposed to elevated levels. KDHE maintains a list of certified radon professionals who can perform radon measurements. Do-it-yourself radon test kits can also be purchased at local hardware and builder’s supply stores, as well as from county extension offices throughout Kansas. Elevated radon levels have been found across Kansas with about one in four measurements being high (above 4 picoCuries per liter).

 

While the majority of radon exposure comes from the home, Kansans should also be aware of potential radon exposure in other places where they, or their children, may be exposed. Children have smaller lungs and a more rapid breathing rate and are thought to be more susceptible to the risks presented by exposure to elevated radon levels. Kansas law does not require that schools be tested for radon, but Kansans are encouraged to contact their school board or district superintendent to find out if their local school has been tested.

 

Elevated radon levels can be fixed or reduced through mitigation.  Homeowners are encouraged to contact a certified radon professional if their radon test has a result of over 4 pCi/l.  Additional information about radon and a list of certified radon contractors is available at www.KansasRadonProgram.org  or by calling the Kansas Radon Hotline at 800-693-KDHE (800-693-5343).

Business, Fort Scott

Hedgehog Bookstore Presents Artist Al Letner and Author Cathy Werling

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Hedgehog.INK Presents Two Events:
Children’s Storytime and Special Activity With Author Cathy Werling on January 12th at 10:30 a.m.
Meet the Artist, Al Letner of Chicopee Pottery, January 19th at 3:00 p.m.
Join us for two very special events at Hedgehog.INK, located at 16 S. Main St. in Fort Scott! For more information, contact Jan Hedges at 620-670-2752 or email [email protected]. Visit our Facebook page by clicking here.
Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Schools

Volunteers Needed for State Debate Tournament at FSHS

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the
Hospitality Lounge for the
State Debate Tournament
to be held here this weekend
January 11-12, 2019!
Diana Mitchell is chairing this
hospitality project on behalf of the
Chamber and Youth Activities Team.
We could use your time in volunteering
to work the lounge or your donations
of items listed below.
Cell: 620-224-3633
THANK YOU to those businesses and individuals who have already committed to volunteering or donating items.
Times Volunteers are Needed:
Friday @ Fort Scott Middle School:
11am to 1pm
1:30pm to 4:00pm
4pm to 7:30pm
Friday @ Fort Scott High School
11am to 1:30pm
1:30pm to 4pm
4pm to 7:30pm
Saturday @ Fort Scott Middle School
7am to 11am
11am to 1:30pm
Saturday @ Fort Scott High School
7am to 11am
11am to 5pm
ITEMS REQUESTED TO BE DONATED:
Dry Coffee Creamer
Coffee Stirrers
10-12 Lg. Bags of Chips
Oranges, Apples, Bananas
Cookies, Brownies, Sweets
Bottled Water
Coffee
Clorox Wipes
Please click here to email Diana with times you can work or items you can donate. Monetary donations also welcome, made payable to the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, and we can purchase items needed.
Physical items or monetary donations may be dropped off at the Chamber through 5pm Thursday.
__________
Contact Lindsay Madison at the Chamber with any questions, 620-223-3566, or [email protected].
Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Jan. 7

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: January 7th, 2019

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00-9:45-Jim Harris

9:15-Discussion of agreement on Cedar Creek with Rural Water District #2

10:00-Lora Holdridge and Clint Anderson-Information Officers Job

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks

Executive Session-Privileged in the attorney-client relationship-20 min.

12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch

1:30-Shane Walker and Rhonda Cole

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

A Ticket to Better Health

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Joy Miller, RD, LD Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent Adult Development and Aging Family Resource Management K-State Research and Extension Southwind Extension District 210 S. National Fort Scott, KS 66701 Office: 620-223-3720 Fax: 620-223-0332 [email protected]

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy Strength Training Program for Older Adults,

Your Ticket to Better Health

Our bodies are made for activity, but modern conveniences allow us to be increasingly inactive. Building strength promotes quality of life and independence, especially for adults over 50. Here’s the good news, Stay Strong, Stay Healthy strength training program is being offered in your community.

This eight week program can help you get started on the road to better health. Stay Strong, Stay Healthy is built on simple, strength- building exercises that will improve balance and flexibility, too. No one is too inactive to participate. You’ll start at a level that’s right for you. Instruction is provided by Joy Miller, Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent with K-State Research and Extension Southwind District.

The class meets for one hour, two times each week at Buck Run Community Center on Monday and Friday at 8:30 a.m. The fee is $20 for the eight week series. Registration and first session will be held Monday, January 21st. Call Joy Miller at 620-223-3720 for more details.

Obituary

Obituary for Shelby Frank Rice

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Shelby Frank Rice

Shelby Frank Rice, age 87, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Sunday, January 6, 2019, at his home. He was born June 12, 1931, in Valiant, Oklahoma, the son of Frank Rice and Nelia Thompson Rice. He married Sandra Brown in 1963. Following high school, Shelby graduated from barber school in Oklahoma.

He worked as a barber for several years and also worked for the Tulsa Fire Department. In addition to working for the fire department, Shelby also operated the Rice Cattle Company.

Following his retirement from the fire department, the Rice family moved from Oklahoma to a ranch west of Farlington, Kansas. They lived there for several years before moving to Ft. Scott in 1984.


Survivors include a son, Terry Rice, of San Francisco, California and a daughter, Nancy Boore and husband, Mark, of Pittsburg, Kansas and three grandchildren, Chelsea Kropp and husband, Caleb, of Parsons, Kansas, Morgan Samuels and husband, Preston, of Osawatomie, Kansas and and Aaron Boore, of Kansas City, Kansas.

His wife, Sandra, preceded him in death on March 6, 2016. He was also preceded in death by two sons, Ted Rice and David Comozzie and four sisters, Uela Gragg, Melba Songer, Betty Sullivent and Dorothy Rice.


There was cremation. A memorial service for both Shelby and Sandra will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Fort Scott, Government

City of Fort Scott Response to Price Chopper Closing

8 Comments

“The City was made aware of the Price Chopper closing on Sunday, January 6th. We are committed to maintaining a close relationship with Associated Wholesale Groceries, AWG, to assist in finding a suitable replacement as soon as possible.”

“I know how hard of a decision this was for Barry (Queen),” Dave Martin, City Manager. “He thinks a lot of Fort Scott. We will work hard to get another business in the building.”

“We are grateful to the Queen family for their investment in our community and wish them as well as their employees the very best during this difficult time.”

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

BUSINESS LOCATOR MAP ADS ON SALE

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FORT SCOTT – The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is preparing to publish a new Business Locator City Map for 2019 and announces advertising space is available.

The map will be printed in full-color, double-sided, and sized 11” x 17”. The front of the map will feature a listing of the advertising businesses with pinpoint locators for those businesses. The back will display 24 business card sized ad spaces. Businesses included on the front should be in the categories of Shop-Dine-Stay-Play and those advertising on the back only may be any type of business or organization. The deadline to reserve an ad is January 25th and artwork is requested by February 1st.

The maps will be printed on pads that may be torn off and taken by locals or visitors. The pads will be distributed by the Chamber, the Visitors Bureau/Tourism Center, in Visitor/Relocation Packets, and will be available digitally on the Chamber’s website. Participating businesses will be given a supply of the maps to distribute as well.

For pricing information or to reserve your ad space, contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 or email [email protected].

Submitted by:
Lindsay Madison, Executive Director, [email protected]

Monica Walden, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

Phone: (620) 223-3566

 

Government, Kansas

KDOT Accepting Nominations

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KDOT accepting Transportation Safety Recognition Award nominations

Topeka – Nominations for 2019 Transportation Safety Recognition Awards are now being accepted by the Kansas Department of Transportation. Traffic safety advocates can be nominated in one of two categories – People Saving People Award and the Hero Award.

 

The People Saving People Award recognizes an individual or organization that has made outstanding contributions to the improvement of transportation safety behavior in Kansas. The Hero Award honors the individual who has risked his or her own life to save someone else when they happened upon a crash or while trying to prevent the likelihood of a crash in a one-time traffic safety-related incident.

 

More details about the awards and nomination forms can be found at www.ktsro.org.  Nominations must be submitted online or by mail by 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 2.

 

The awards will be presented April 2 and 3 at the annual Kansas Transportation Safety Conference in Wichita.

 

The 2018 winners include:

Jeff Collier for his efforts as state coordinator for the Drug Recognition Expert and the Standardized Field Sobriety Testing training programs.

 

Kevin Gamble for advancing traffic safety issues – Gamble manages more than 58 State Farm grants to Kansas traffic safety programs, including the SAFE program, for a monetary amount exceeding $560,000.

 

Christopher Mann for providing legal representation to drunk driving victims and their families in lawsuits against the drunk drivers. Mann helped to pass DUI ignition interlock law that requires first-time offenders to install ignition interlocks on their vehicles.

 

Kendall Schoenekase for visiting Kansas universities to promote the “Don’t Text and Drive, Just Drive” pledge campaign as well as 40 Kansas high schools to promote the SAFE program.

 

Deputy Jason Klepac for running after a moving vehicle and saving the life of its unconscious driver.

 

Lieutenant Tom Reddin for entering a crashed vehicle setting on its side with smoke coming from its engine compartment and helping the three occupants exit safely.