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Fort Scott, Government

FS Design Review Board Meets Aug. 25

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The Design Review Board will meet on Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at the City Hall Commission Meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to discuss a Certificate of Appropriateness for a sign at 19 S. National, a Certificate of Appropriateness for signage in the downtown area for the walking trail, and a Certificate of Appropriateness for signage at 124 E. Wall and any others matters to be brought before the Board. This meeting is open to the public.

This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.

Fort Scott, Government

FS Planning Commission Meets Aug. 24

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The Fort Scott Planning Commission will meet on Monday, August 24th, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to consider a Conditional Use Permit for a telecommunications tower to be located north of the Water Treatment Plant located at 910 Burke Street.

This meeting is open to the public. This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.

Obituary

Obituary of Orville Shinn

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Orval Edward “Dan” Shinn, age 72, a resident of rural Bronson, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at his home.

He was born March 12, 1948, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the son of Danny L. Shinn and Wilma M. Eastwood Shinn.  At a young age, the family moved to Stinnett, Texas, where Orval graduated from the Stinnett High School with the Class of 1966.

Orval later served a tour of duty with the United States Army in Vietnam.  He later reenlisted as served as an air traffic controller for the Army.

Following his retirement from military service, he went on to receive his Bachelor’s Degree in Archeology from Troy University in Alabama and went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Archeology from the University of Alabama.  He was employed by the engineering firm of Burns & McDonnell where he worked in the Archeology Department.  This job had him working on construction sites throughout the United States.

Orval first married Jane Forgoress and they had a son, Gabriel.  They were divorced.

Orval later married Carla Morris on October 22, 2011, at Overland Park, Kansas.

Orval loved football and because of the time spent in Alabama was an avid fan of the Crimson Tide.  He also enjoyed golfing, fishing and hunting.

Throughout his life, both Orval and his dad, Danny, maintained a love for the Shinn family farm near Turkey Creek.  They often spent summers working on the farm.  Following his retirement, Orval and Carla built their retirement home on the farm.

He was a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown, Kansas.

 

Survivors include his wife, Carla, of the home; his son, Gabe and wife, Tracy of Mebane, North Carolina; Carla’s sons, Bryan Ballard and wife, Lynn, of Lathrop, Missouri and Sean Ballard and wife, Jackie, of Kenilworth, Illinois; seven grandchildren, Grayson and Parker Shinn and Kyle, Matthew, Blake, Evan and Addie Ballard and a great-grandson, Gunner.  Also surviving are two sisters, Dana Eudey, of Tulia, Texas and Lorrain Cook of Yuma, Arizona.

 

Rev. Marty DeWitt will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, August 22nd at the First Missionary Baptist Church.  Burial with military honors will take place in the Turkey Creek Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, PO Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Government, Kansas

EBT Online Purchasing Now Available

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Kansas Benefits Card can be used to purchase groceries online at Amazon and Walmart

 

The Kansas Department for Children and Families announced today that EBT Online has been fully implemented, and Kansas food assistance recipients now have the option of purchasing groceries online using a Kansas Benefits Card, also known as an EBT card, at Amazon and Walmart.

 

“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, this new online purchasing program offers a contactless, safe, and secure way for Kansans to get their groceries,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard.

 

Governor Laura Kelly announced in June 2020 that the United States Department of Agriculture approved the DCF proposal to offer EBT Online to Kansans.

 

When using the EBT card to purchase groceries online, the card will function like a debit card, and the same guidelines will apply. SNAP recipients should note that while they can now use their EBT card to pay for groceries online, they cannot use their card to cover the cost of grocery delivery.

 

Kansas food assistance, or SNAP, provides monthly food benefits that help individuals and families buy healthy, nutritious food. Even if temporary, individuals and families who have experienced a change in their circumstances and need additional help may apply for food assistance benefits.

 

Kansas currently has more than 208,000 individuals who receive food assistance benefits totaling $291 million annually.

 

Kansans can visit https://cssp.kees.ks.gov/apspssp/sspNonMed.portal to apply for food assistance or call 1-888- 369-4777. You can also find your local office at http://www.dcf.ks.gov.

 

Learn more about EBT Online at http://www.dcf.ks.gov/pages/ebt-online.aspx.

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Art Masterpiece Winners

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Three local artists among
Art is Ageless® masterpiece level winners

FORT SCOTT, Kan. — Three winning artists in Fort Scott Presbyterian Village’s annual Art is Ageless® juried competition will be featured in the 2021 Art is Ageless calendar produced by PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America).

“Druzy & Diamonds,” a mixed media/crafts entry by John Bartelsmeyer, “Gossip,” a painting by Carolyn Munsell, and “Star of Bethlehem Shawl,” a fiber arts entry by Jean Strader, will appear in the calendar when it is released this fall.

In addition, “His Word,” a mixed media/crafts entry by Tony Fornelli and “The Cottage,” a painting by Glenda Stevicks, will be featured on the Art is Ageless greeting cards.

Art is Ageless, open exclusively to people age 65 and older, is a copyrighted program of PMMA. For the competition, works must have been completed in the past five years.

Works by local winners are automatically entered into a masterpiece level competition with winning art from 15 other PMMA communities. More than 160 entries were received for this year’s masterpiece competition. The winners are featured in the Art is Ageless calendar with pull-out postcards and greeting cards.

 

PMMA’s Art is Ageless program encourages Fort Scott Presbyterian Village residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year.

Started in 1980, Art is Ageless is an extension of PMMA’s wellness programs, which focus on mental, physical, social and spiritual health. Residents and friends of PMMA’s Art is Ageless program are proving that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.

For more information about Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, contact Becky Kellum, marketing director, at 620-223-5550 or [email protected]. For more on Art is Ageless, visit ArtIsAgeless.org.

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Bourbon County, Fort Scott National Historic Site, Government

FSNHS Increasing Access

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Photo submitted by Carl Brenner, NPS

Fort Scott National Historic Site is beginning to increase recreational access to Historic Buildings

 

Fort Scott Kan. – Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Fort Scott National Historic Site is increasing recreational access and programming. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.

 

Beginning Wednesday, August 19, Fort Scott National Historic Site will reopen access to:

  • All public buildings for self-guided visitation.
  • Resume park guided tours at 10 am and 1 pm.

 

In addition, the following spaces continue to be available:

  • All trails, walkways, sidewalks, grounds, and the tallgrass prairie.

 

With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed at this time:

  • The Western National Parks Association store and information desk.

 

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continue to be paramount. At Fort Scott National Historic Site, our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.

 

While these areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services may be limited. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding, and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.

 

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19, and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.

 

We have amazing virtual tours of Fort Scott National Historic Site, all of the time, so for people who are still homeschooling or not traveling at this time check out www.nps.gov/fosc/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtour.htm.

 

Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website www.nps.gov/fosc and social media channels. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

 

From April 1-October 31, Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, will be open for its summer hours of operation.  The site exhibit areas are open daily from 8:00 am-5:00 pm. The park grounds are open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or learn more at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

-NPS-

 

COVID-19, Government, Housing, Kansas

Relief For Evictions, Foreclosures and Motor Carriers

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Governor Kelly Announces Executive Orders Temporarily Prohibiting Evictions and Foreclosures, Extending Motor Carrier Relief 

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today signed Executive Orders #20-61 and #20-62 as part of her administration’s commitment to protecting Kansans’ health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Executive Order #20-61 temporarily prohibits initiating any mortgage foreclosure or judicial proceedings, and any commercial or residential eviction efforts or judicial proceedings due to financial hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic until September 15, 2020.

 

“COVID-19 remains a threat in our communities and is creating challenges for businesses and employees alike,” Governor Kelly said. “Kansas families who miss mortgage or rent payments due to lost wages will need our support until the Senate extends unemployment assistance. I will continue to do everything I can to make sure the people in our state can stay in their homes and protect their businesses.”

 

Executive Order #20-62 extends temporary relief for motor carriers from certain rules and regulations until rescinded, until September 14, 2020, or until the statewide State of Disaster Emergency expires, whichever is earlier. It is an extension of measures put in place by Executive Order #20-57.

 

“This order will allow our motor carriers to continue delivering much-needed supplies to Kansans who need them, and ease the burden on those who have a critical role in our state’s response to COVID-19,” Governor Kelly said.

 

The order lifts certain weight restrictions and permitting requirements to allow needed medical supplies, food shipments and other items to move through Kansas as quickly as possible. These exceptions apply only to motor carriers actively participating in COVID-19 response effort. 

 

To view E.O. #20-61, click here.

 

To view E.O. #20-62, click here.