Click below for the Fort Scott Police Department daily reports. They are located at 1604 S. National, Fort Scott, KS 66701 and can be reached at 620-223-1700.
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Bourbon County Declared In A Drought Emergency
Drought Declarations Updated in Kansas Counties
The Governor’s Drought Team examines declining surface water conditions
Topeka – While there have been some recent rains, drought conditions for many areas of the state, especially eastern Kansas, continue to worsen.
Declining livestock water and feed supply continue to be reported. This has resulted in emergency status being added in eastern Kansas for any county with a U.S. Drought Monitor Severe Drought (D3) status, contiguous counties and reported issues. This now moves 10 counties into Emergency status from a Watch and 12 into Emergency from a Warning. Below are the counties listed in Bold indicating these changes.
Drought Watch counties (18): Cheyenne, Cloud, Decatur, Gove, Graham, Jewell, Logan, Mitchell, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Rooks, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas
Drought Warning counties (15): Allen, Chautauqua, Elk, Ellis, Greeley, Lane, Ness, Rush, Russell, Scott, Trego, Wallace, Wichita, Wilson, Woodson
Drought Emergency counties (72): Anderson, Atchison, Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Brown, Butler, Chase, Cherokee, Clark, Clay, Coffey, Comanche, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Edwards, Ellsworth, Finney, Ford, Franklin, Geary, Grant, Gray, Greenwood, Hamilton, Harper, Harvey, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Kearny, Kingman, Kiowa, Labette, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Linn, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Meade, Miami, Montgomery, Morris, Morton, Nemaha, Neosho, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Seward, Shawnee, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Sumner, Wabaunsee, Washington, Wyandotte
Counties in emergency stage are eligible for emergency use of water from certain state fishing lakes. They also become eligible for water in some Federal reservoirs.
Individuals and communities need to contact the Kansas Water Office (KWO) for a water supply request prior to any withdrawals from lakes. They will in turn be referred to the appropriate office to obtain the necessary permit to withdraw the water.
The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to watch the situation closely and work to minimize the effects the drought has on Kansans.
For more detailed information about current conditions, see the Kansas Climate Summary and Drought Report on the KWO website at: www.kwo.ks.gov.
Note to Editor: The Americans with Disabilities Act, (42 U.S.C. 12101), requires the Kansas Water Office to print the reasonable accommodations messages.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports August 14
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at (620) 223-2380.
Click here:
Patio Concert Series August 18: Flagship Romance
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The Bourbon County Commission Agenda for August 14
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
2nd Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: August 14th, 2018
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
Consideration of agreement between BNSF Railway Company
Report on Inspection and Analysis of Off System and RS Bridges
10:00-11:00-Commissioners to discuss County Health Insurance
11:00-11:15-Executive Session-Privileged in the attorney-client relationship
11:15-Handbook
11:20-NRP
11:00-12:00-Commissioner to work on 2019 Budget
12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch
1:30-Lora Holdridge-Executive Session-Justin and the Commissioners
2:00-2:15-Bobby Reed-Parking on north side of Courthouse
2:15-4:30-Commissioners to work on 2019 Budget
Justifications for Executive Session:
Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel
Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property
Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system
Counting of Provisional Ballots In 2018 Elections
Governor’s Chief Counsel Issues Legal Opinion Regarding Counting of Provisional Ballots
Topeka- This morning the Governor’s chief counsel issued the following opinion, which was sent to all county election officials.
LEGAL OPINION FROM
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF COUNSEL
The Governor has requested that I issue this legal opinion regarding interpretation of Kansas election law provisions concerning unaffiliated primary voters casting of provisional ballots.
Kansas law provides that an unaffiliated voter must be permitted to affiliate with a party on primary election day and vote in a party’s primary. K.S.A. 25-3301(c). However, sometimes when an unaffiliated voter seeks to affiliate and vote in a party primary, a poll worker (often a volunteer) simply instructs the unaffiliated voter to fill out a provisional party ballot rather than a party affiliation statement. Kansas law requires canvassers to look to the intent of the voter to correct this technical error by the poll worker and count the primary vote.
Specifically, Kansas law expressly provides that such poll worker errors should be disregarded by the county canvassing board: “No ballot, or any portion thereof, shall be invalidated by any technical error unless it is impossible to determine the voter’s intention. Determination of the voter’s intention shall rest in the discretion of the board canvassing in the case of a canvass.” K.S.A. 25-3002(b)(1). This guiding principle has special importance in elections for governor: “[Even though] provisions of law may not have been fully complied with in noticing and conducting the election . . . the real will of the people may not be defeated by any technical irregularity of any officer.” K.S.A. 25-702(b).
Accordingly, Kansas law requires that provisional ballots cast by unaffiliated voters in a primary election be construed as evidence of voter intent and must be counted. Canvassers should look not to the technical statutory requirement of a party affiliation statement, but rather to the intent of the voter, as is compelled by other statutory law.
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Brant M. Laue
Chief Counsel
Office of the Governor
Issued: August 13, 2018
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports August 13
Click below for the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office daily reports. Contact at (620) 223-2380.
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports Aug. 9-12
Click below for the Fort Scott Police Department daily reports.
They can be reached at 1604 S. National, Fort Scott, KS 66701 or
620-223-1700.
Leadership, Exploration and Development: Lead Bourbon County Sign Up
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NOW TAKING REGISTRATIONS!
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| What is LEAD Bourbon County?
A program designed to develop and engage the leadership skills of potential and current leaders through exposing participants to diverse aspects of our local community. The program includes 9-sessions that run from September to May. Sessions are the second Thursday of the month (8am to 3:30pm) and held at various locations throughout Bourbon County, with Mercy Hospital as the main site. Who should participate? LEAD Bourbon County is open to all community members, all ages, all positions. A company may sponsor one or more employees to participate, or a person may register individually on their own. What should participants expect? The sessions held on the 2nd Thursday of each month begin with the class attending the weekly Chamber Coffee at a local business at 8am, then convening at Mercy Hospital for a morning session following the curriculum of the Kansas Leadership Center (KLC), A guest speaker will be featured at each afternoon session which will often include a tour of a business or community attraction to exemplify leadership in action. Robert Uhler and Deborah Needleman are co-facilitators of the program. KLC’s principles include that anyone can lead anytime, anywhere. Leadership is not a position, it is an action. |
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| Click here for more information and to download the printable registration form. Registrations are requested by Friday, August 24th. The first session will be September 13th. |
Summertime Gardening Got You Down?
The “dog days of summer” is often a drab time of year for our landscapes. The heat has taken its toll on many annuals, perennials have already done their thing for the year and lots gardens have been overtaken by weeds. In thinking ahead to next year’s planting, there are shrubs that flower later in the growing season that you may want to put in the landscape to brighten it during the summer.
- Rose of Sharon – a tall shrub that produces single or double flowers. Colors range from white to red, purple or violet, or combinations depending on the variety.
- Crapemyrtle – dwarf to tall shrubs or trees. Flower color varies from white, pink, to purple or deep red on different plants.
- Bluebeard – this is also known as blue-spirea, blue-mist shrub, or caryopteris. It is usually found with blue flowers, but some cultivars have a bluish-violet to violet flower color.
- Sweet Autumn Clematis – this is a vigorous vine with large masses of small, white flowers that have a wonderful fragrance. However, use caution as it can outgrow its bounds.
- Davidiana Clematis – this is a bush-type clematis with small but interesting violet-blue flowers. Female plants bear interesting fluffy seed heads into the winter.
- The PeeGee Hydrangea – a coarse plant that develops large clusters of white flowers. It can be trained into a tree-like form.
Even though the summer growing season is winding down, it is the perfect time to think about putting in a fall garden. I know it can be hard to think about getting out in the garden and starting over when it is 90+ degrees out, but fall is a fantastic time to garden!
Salad crops such as lettuce, radishes, spinach, turnips, mustard and other greens can be planted from mid-August to early September for fall harvest. Plant seeds slightly deeper than you did in the spring. This will keep the seed slightly cooler though still warm and the soil should retain moisture longer. Water frequently until seedlings start to emerge. Once the plants emerge, reduce the frequency of watering.
And if you’re needing to improve your “green thumb,” consider taking the Master Gardener training class that will be offered in Chanute this fall. Applications are being accepted until August 27th. The fall training class will begin September 10th and will be every Monday through October 15th from 9 am until 4 pm. Area resident are welcome to attend the training, and one does not need to reside in Neosho county. The Master Gardener training consists of 50 hours of instruction in all aspects of horticulture. Instructors include state specialists from Kansas State University. After training is completed, individuals donate and equivalent number of hours of service as was received in instruction.
Applications can be picked up at the Extension office, e-mailed or mailed to you. The fee for the course is $85 which covers the cost of the Master Gardener course notebook.
Don’t let the summer blahs get you down! There is still plenty of growing season left. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.
Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District.
Free Screenings August 31 at West Bourbon Elementary School
Developmental screening will be available for all children from birth to age five, who may be in need of special education and related services in West Bourbon county on Friday, August 31 at West Bourbon Elementary in Uniontown.
Vision, hearing, speech, and developmental screenings will be conducted for children birth to age five, at no cost.
This free screening is sponsored by the Southeast Kansas Interlocal #637 and the local school district.
Appointments are necessary and can be arranged. To schedule an appointment for children ages 3-5, please contact Jennifer Vaughn at (620) 704-6549.
Submitted by Vance Eden, Principal -West Bourbon Elementary School, Uniontown, Ks. Phone :620-756-4335
Obituary of Virginia McKenna
Virginia Marie Gillen McKenna died Wednesday, August 8, 2018, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, Kansas at the age of 80.
Virginia was born July 14, 1938, in Harper County, Kansas, to Arnold P. and Margaret A. (Goetz) Gillen. She grew up on a farm near Willowdale where she and her eight siblings played hide-n-seek and red rover outside on the wide prairie. Because the family could not attend daily mass, they added the phrase, “All for the honor and glory of God today” to the end of their daily meal prayer. This is a tradition that continues to this day in the Gillen and McKenna families.
Virginia graduated from Kingman High School in 1956 and married Michael J. McKenna at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kingman, Kansas on December 29, 1959. They lived in Mishawaka, Indiana and in Kansas City, Kansas while Mike attended Notre Dame and then the University of Kansas Medical School. They had three children: Jennifer Ann, Edward Christopher, and Michael Joseph, before settling in Fort Scott where Dr. McKenna worked with Dr. James Basham at the Basham McKenna clinic before starting his own practice. When her husband was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, she became his sole caregiver. Virginia and Mike were married for 41 years before he died in 2000.
The simple things in life gave Virginia the most joy. Each day, she looked forward to her daughter Jennifer and grand-dogs coming to say hello. She doted on her granddaughter Maude. In past years, she loved spending time at the McKenna cabin in Kingman with family members. She was an avid reader who also enjoyed birdwatching, sketching, and playing bridge with friends. A lifelong gardener, she could often be found puttering in the yard. She loved spending time on her front porch visiting with family, neighbors, and friends. Virginia was a member of P.E.O. and the St. Anne Altar Society. For years, she participated in the 24-hour adoration at Mary Queen of Angels. Most recently, she particularly enjoyed her daily drives with her son Ed (Chris) to Lake Fort Scott and Gunn Park.
Virginia is survived by her children Jennifer McKenna of Fort Scott, Ed McKenna of Fort Scott, Mike McKenna and wife Steph, and her granddaughter Maude of Boise, ID; her sisters Rosella Thissen and husband Bob of Augusta, KS, Lorraine Yalong of Fresno, CA, and her brother Fred Gillen and wife Margaret of Kingman, KS. She was preceded in death by her husband Michael, her parents Arnold and Margaret Gillen, sisters Esther Ross, Louise Steffen, Catherine Lauener, and Mary Odell, and her brothers James Gillen and Robert Gillen.
Following cremation, Father Robert Wachter will celebrate the Funeral Mass 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church with Rosary at 9:30 a.m., under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Burial will take place on Thursday at the Walnut Hill Cemetery in Kingman, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation at msfocus.org, the National Breast Cancer Foundation at nationalbreastcancer.org, or the St. Mary’s school in Fort Scott. Memorial contributions may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.