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USDA Invites Applications for Storm Damage Recovery and Storm Shelter Construction
Recent Severe Weather Highlights the Need for Storm Recovery and Shelters to Protect Kansans from Injury
TOPEKA, April 30, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Kansas Rural Development invites Kansans from rural communities to apply for loans and grants to repair property damaged during the recent storms. The 504 Home repair program can be used to cover the costs of storm damage repair. The program may also be used for the construction of storm shelters.
The recent severe weather experienced in Kansas shows how important it is to be prepared for weather related disasters. If your property has been damaged recently by severe weather, then the 504 program can help you recover.
Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants
USDA makes funding available for the Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants through regular appropriations from Congress. It provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve, or modernize their homes, or provides grants to elderly, very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. Also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, loans can be granted for as much as $40,000 and grants for as much as $10,000. Loans and grants can be combined for a total amount as high as $50,000.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
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Rungruedee Phuarbthong (Phoo arbthong), commonly known as Nong Brown, passed away Saturday, April 27, 2024, at her home in Derby, Kansas where she resided with Greg and her daughter Thanya.
She was born on November 15, 1975, in Sakon Nakhon Province, Thailand, the daughter of Suporn Phoo-arbthong and Aree Phoo-arbthong. Before and after her cancer diagnosis, Nong was a stay-at-home mother and prioritized her daughter over everything, including her own health. She especially enjoyed gardening, her flowers, and hunting morel mushrooms in the Kansas spring. Well, she did really enjoy shopping, often just walking for hours, looking, and buying nothing.
Survivors include Gregory Thomas and her child, Thanya Thayathon Brown-Thomas. Also surviving are her mother, Aree Phoo-arbthong, and four brothers, Montree Phoo-arbthong, Phongsit Phoo-arbthong, Terasak Phoo-arbthong, and Naret Phoo-arbthong. Nong was preceded in death by her husband Thor Brown and father Suporn Phoo-arbthong.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, May 4th, in the Clarksburg Cemetery, Fort Scott, KS.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel, Fort Scott.
Memorials are suggested to the Nong Brown Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

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Ribbon Cutting for the Gathering Square Pavilion
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Ribbon Cutting for The Gathering Square Pavilion, Home of the Fort Scott Farmer’s Market, Saturday May 4th at 7:45am.
Join us Saturday, May 4th for the Ribbon Cutting at the new Gathering Square Pavilion to kick off the opening day for the Farmer’s Markey season. The Farmer’s Market will be packed this year with 15 returning vendors, 11 new vendors, and several more who have expressed interest in joining. This year over half of the Farmer’s Market will have fresh veggies and farm products along with early spring produce, eggs, beef, and honey. For opening day, they will have some special vendors serving cotton candy, painting faces, and the Fort Scott Garden Club will have their annual plant sale PLUS musicians such as the Neosho River Boys and performer Ashlyn from Galena.
For more information contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 or emailing [email protected].
Rungruedee Phuarbthong (Phoo arbthong), commonly known as Nong Brown, passed away Saturday, April 27, 2024, at her home in Derby, Kansas where she resided with Greg and her daughter Thanya. She was born on November 15, 1975, in Sakon Nakhon Province, Thailand, the daughter of Suporn Phoo-arbthong and Aree Phoo-arbthong.
Before and after her cancer diagnosis, Nong was a stay-at-home mother and prioritized her daughter over everything, including her own health. She especially enjoyed gardening, her flowers, and hunting morel mushrooms in the Kansas spring. Well, she did really enjoy shopping, often just walking for hours, looking, and buying nothing.
Survivors include Gregory Thomas and her child, Thanya Thayathon Brown-Thomas. Also surviving are her mother, Aree Phoo-arbthong, and four brothers, Montree Phoo-arbthong, Phongsit Phoo-arbthong, Terasak Phoo-arbthong, and Naret Phoo-arbthong.
Nong was preceded in death by her husband Thorton (Thor) Brown and father Suporn Phoo-arbthong.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, May 4th, in the Clarksburg Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kansas.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel, Fort Scott.
Memorials are suggested to the Nong Brown Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
Tuesday 4-30-2024 Update from the Bourbon County Emergency Management Director Brian Allen.
The following roads are still closed due to high water:
218th from Native to 235th
Xavier east to the state line
205th from Maple to 54 highway
155th & Limestone is closed in all 4 directions.
Limestone Rd from 145th to 175th
155th from Kansas to Maple.
Highway 31 from Fulton to Mapleton is now open per KDOT.
215th & 54 highway is also now open.
The following roads are closed at this time and will be for a longer period of time.
100th & Soldier (culvert washout)
215th Xavier to Yale (asphalt washout)
North Crawford (road west of Pete’s north store going south towards Walnut Hill. (Asphalt & Culvert)
Hackberry 95th to 112th (culvert washout)
60th from Grand to Hackberry (2 bridges out)
215th from Indian to Hackberry (culvert and road surface)
Express 160th to 170th (bridge out)
115th Xavier to Yale (bridge out)