All posts by Submitted Story

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Resources and Action Steps for Suicide Prevention Month

Leave a comment

Resources and Action Steps for Suicide Prevention Month

 

By Clara Wicoff

Southwind Extension District

 

Two weeks ago, I attended an agent update in Manhattan where I was presented with some sobering statistics about youth depression and suicide in the state of Kansas. According to a 2022 report from the Kansas Communities That Care student survey, nearly one in three youth surveyed in Kansas responded “yes” when asked if they had ever seriously thought about killing themselves. Youth are not alone in this.

According to that same report, suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in our state (and the second leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 34).

With the month of September designated as Suicide Prevention Month and September 10th designated as World Suicide Prevention Day, it is an appropriate time to review some of the wellbeing and mental health resources available to you as well as some of the action steps we can all take to help prevent suicide.

 

First of all, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if you or someone you know is in need of immediate assistance. You can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org/chat. This free service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States.

 

Kansans working in agriculture may also benefit from the resources available at KansasAgStress.org. This webpage has a list of resources compiled to help Kansas farmers, ranchers, and their families with their wellbeing.

 

In addition to being aware of available resources, what else can we do to help prevent suicide this month and beyond?

According to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we can all take action by talking about suicide and following up with loved ones.

#BeThe1To is the Lifeline’s five-step message for communicating with someone who may be suicidal.

The five #BeThe1To steps are: Ask, Be There, Keep Them Safe, Help Them Connect, and Follow Up. Start by asking if they are thinking about suicide. Listen to their answers, while never promising to keep their thoughts of suicide a secret. Secondly, be there for them. Next, help keep them safe by putting time and distance between the individual and their chosen method for a suicide attempt. Help them connect with ongoing supports (such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline as well as resources in their community). Finally, follow up to see how they are doing.

While this is a brief overview, you can learn more about these five crucial steps at bethe1to.com.

Obituary

Obituary of John Gray

Leave a comment

obituary image

John Gregory Gray, age 60, a former resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas and more recently of Stockton, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, August 30, 2022, in Stockton. He was born August 21, 1962, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the son of Thirle Gray and Luella Green Gray.
John graduated from high school in Jonesboro and went to college at Ft. Scott Community College on a baseball scholarship. While in Ft. Scott, he met his future wife, Jill Reinecker. John and Jill were married on August 6, 1983, and together they had three daughters, Bailey, Afton and Delane.
John worked as a territory manager for Lifetouch National School Studios for many years. Among a number of recognitions during his career in the school photo industry, John was awarded territory manager of the year in 2002 and again in 2005, a distinguished honor that he was proud of.

John was good hearted, engaging, and charismatic. He will be remembered for his outgoing and likeable personality and his ability to make friends with anyone – he didn’t know a stranger.

John was an avid sportsman, both as a competitor and a spectator, and he loved the outdoors. He enjoyed golfing, shooting pool, hunting, boating, and camping. He was an enthusiastic fan of the KU Jayhawks, the Kansas City Chiefs, and any team his daughters or grandkids were playing on.
John had recently retired to Stockton, Missouri to enjoy life on the lake. He treasured his relationships with his Lifetouch friends and golfing buddies, and above all, he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his daughters, Bailey Lyons (Nate), Afton Hyer (Coy) and Delane Godden (Brady) and six grandchildren, Addison, Jhett, Jaxon, Blaise, Lute and True all of Ft. Scott. Also surviving are his former wife, Jill Ruby of Ft. Scott; a sister, Karletta Burrows (Steve) of Jonesboro, Arkansas and numerous, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thirle and Luella Gray.

A celebration of John’s life will be held at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, September 8th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Private burial will take place at a later date in the Swifton Cemetery in Swifton, Arkansas. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Catholic School, where all of his girls went to school, and his grandchildren currently attend.
They may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to then online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Government

Sen. Marshall Warns of Dangers of Fentanyl and Social Media

Leave a comment

Sen. Marshall Warns of Dangers of Fentanyl and Social Media

(Topeka, KS, August 31, 2022) – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. today released a video on International Overdose Awareness Day warning about the dangers of fentanyl poisoning and social media where counterfeit or fake drugs are often purchased and laced with fentanyl. While you may click HERE , Senator Marshall said,“Everywhere we go we try to share the message that just one pill can kill. That most every day in Kansas somebody dies from fentanyl poisoning. As kids go back to school, I want parents to understand the challenges out there: your children through social media, including through Snapchat are able to purchase one tablet of fentanyl, which can kill them. Please, parents, teachers, talk to your children about the dangers out there of fentanyl and stay in communication with your children whenever you can.”

Senator Marshall is a cosponsor of a Senate resolution to designate May 10, 2022 as National Fentanyl Awareness Day. The resolution supports the mission and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 2022, including increasing individual and public awareness of the impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl-related substances on families and young people.

 

 

Business, Government, Kansas

COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Is Coming

Leave a comment

Governor Laura Kelly Urges Kansas Small Businesses to Prepare for COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Program

TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly announced that her administration is launching the application process for the COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief program in October. She urged Kansas small business owners to verify they are registered for a federal Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) ahead of the application process opening.

“The financial assistance provided through this program will give Kansas entrepreneurs resources to continue to grow and invest in their businesses,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “Proactively verifying UEI registration will help small business owners receive this relief quickly and efficiently once the program’s application portal opens in October.”

In June, Governor Kelly signed bipartisan House Bill 2136, investing $50 million to help small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Program is funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which requires a UEI registration to be completed for a business to be eligible to receive assistance. UEI registration ensures the accuracy of information and the security of funding being used for this program.

The UEI is a unique 12-character identifier assigned to all entities and is used as the primary means of entity identification for Federal awards and for those doing business with the federal government. The UEI is issued at no cost through the federal System for Award Management website (SAM.gov).

If a business is already registered in SAM.gov, no additional action is needed to obtain a UEI. UEI registration can be confirmed by logging into SAM.gov and verifying that the business’ Entity Status states “Active Registration.”

Please note that due to recent increases in the number of entities registering with SAM.gov it may take up to 25 business days for new registrations to be processed. For any issues related to registering with SAM.gov or obtaining a UEI the Federal Service Desk can be reached at 866-606-8220.

Information detailing the application process and dates for the COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Program is forthcoming from the Kansas Department of Revenue. The application will provide definitions, explain the assistance process in detail, and will specify exactly what information must be submitted in support of the application.

Claimants will have until April 15, 2023, to file an application for this financial assistance.

Fort Scott, Government

Traffic Signal Upgrade on Hwy. 69 Beginning Sept. 6

Leave a comment

The City of Fort Scott in conjunction with Kansas Department of Transportation will be upgrading traffic signals along Highway 69 beginning September 6th, 2022.  This project will be done in four phases:  3rd Street, 6th Street, 12th Street, and 25th Street.  There may be times when traffic lanes are shut down as well as the intersections at these locations.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any questions or concerns, please call City Hall at 620-223-0550.

 

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee Sept. 1 at Perry’s Store in Bronson

Leave a comment
Join us for the Chamber Coffee & Ribbon Cutting this week
hosted by Perry’s Pork Rinds & Country Store!
Thursday, September 1st, 8am
702 Pine Street, Bronson, KS.
Click herefor their Facebook page to learn more about them!
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Jobs

Need Money: Job Fair Today at FSCC’s Elllis Center

Leave a comment
JOB FAIR

FORT SCOTT – BOURBON COUNTY

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31ST

10AM-2PM

ELLIS FINE ARTS CENTER ON THE CAMPUS OF

FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE

2108 S. HORTON ST.

STOP BY TO APPLY OR JUST VISIT WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS!  ALL ARE WELCOME!
Employers registered include the following,

for a printable flyer click here:

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)

Ascension Via Christi

CHC/SEK – Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

Crossland Construction

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

Fort Scott Presbyterian Village

Heartland Behavioral Health

Integrity Home Care and Hospice

Kansas Department of Transportation

Labconco

MyShift, Inc.

Nevada Regional Medical Center

Niece Products

Peerless Products

Sharky’s Pub & Grub

Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center

T-Mobile

Twister Trailer

USD-234 School District

Valu Merchandisers Company

Walmart

Ward-Kraft, Inc.
Positions Available

Thank you to the employers below who have

registered to have a booth at the Job Fair!
THANK YOU TO OUR CHAMBER CHAMPION MEMBERS!
Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Fort Scott, Government

FS City Offices Closed On Sept. 5

Leave a comment

The City of Fort Scott Administrative Offices will be closed on Monday, September 5th, 2022 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.  The offices will reopen on Tuesday, September 6th, 2022.

 

The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Saturday, September 3rd, 2022 for the Labor Day holiday.  It will be open again on Tuesday, September 6th, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott National Historic Site, History

Labors and Leisure on the Frontier: Ft. Scott National Historic Site Sept. 3-5

Leave a comment
The bike rack at Fort Scott National Historic Site.

Labors and Leisure on the Frontier

 

Labor Day Weekend at Fort Scott

 

Fort Scott Kan. – Saturday, September 3 through Monday, September 5, 2022, Fort Scott National Historic Site will take you on an exploration of the labors and leisure on an 1840s frontier post. Labor Day weekend activities include artillery demonstrations, 1840s baseball, candle making, breadmaking, construction skill demonstrations, historic yard games, and a variety of interpretive programs. Visit with soldiers, and an officer and his wife and find out about the labors of the fort and the  leisure activities. All programs are free and open to the public.

 

Saturday, September 3, 2022

 

10:00 am – Guided Tour

11:00 am – Artillery Demonstration

Noon – Beam Me Up: Historic Construction Demonstration

1:00  pm – Guided  Tour

2:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration

3:00 pm – Saws and Scalpels: Frontier Medical Program

 

Sunday, September 4, 2022

 

10:00 am – Guided Tour

11:00 am – Artillery Demonstration

Noon – Hitting Home:  Baseball on the Frontier

1:00  pm – Guided  Tour

2:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration

3:00 pm – Let the Games Begin:  Historic Games Program

 

Monday, September 5, 2022

 

10:00 am – Guided Tour

11:00 am – Artillery Demonstration

Noon – Small Arms Drill (Children’s’ Program)

1:00  pm – From the Crack Post of the Frontier, Construction Tour of Fort Scott

2:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration

3:00 pm – Beam Me Up:  Historic Construction Demonstration

 

 

From April 1-October 31, Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open for its summer hours of operation.  The site exhibit areas and visitor center are open daily from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Grand Opening of Lowell Milken Park and 15th Anniversary Celebration for LMC

Leave a comment
The Lowell Milken Park. Submitted photo.

Lowell Milken Center Special Events

 

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes will be celebrating two important milestone events on September 12-13, 2022. Those dates will mark the official Grand Opening of the Lowell Milken Park, as well as the commemoration of the 15th Anniversary of the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. A Community Open House is scheduled for Monday, September 12th from 1:00 – 5:00 pm and Tuesday, September 13th from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. The public is invited to view the new Unsung Hero exhibits, both in the beautiful Lowell Milken Park and in the Hall of Unsung Heroes.

Special events for the afternoon of Monday, September 12th, include the following four sessions with honored guests recognizing special Unsung Heroes:

1:00 pm – Family of WWII Navajo Code Talker Chester Nez

2:00 pm – Rwandan Rescuer Carl Wilkens

3:00 pm – Family of WWII Boat Developer Andrew Jackson Higgins

4:00 pm – Family of Astrogeologist Gene Shoemaker (whose ashes are    buried on the moon)

Seating for the presentations is limited.

The Lowell Milken Center is a non-profit 501 © (3) that works with students and educators within a range of diverse academic disciplines, to develop projects focused on unsung heroes.