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Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Milken Center Reopens June 4

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Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Scheduled to Re-Open June 4th.

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes plans to re-open for tours on Thursday, June 4th. We will be following the State of Kansas guidelines for our re-opening. Until then we can be reached at 620-223-1312, [email protected], as well as through social media.

Our work continues and we invite you to follow us on social media for daily inspirational stories of Unsung Heroes.

We also invite you to take our virtual tour, read about Unsung Hero projects, learn how to enter our Discovery Award and ArtEffect Project competitions, and utilize our lesson plans and Unsung Hero curriculum.

Our work as a non-profit organization depends on donors like you. Your donations are important to us as we remain committed to providing educational resources which empower students to create positive change in their communities. Thank you for your support.

We look forward to re-opening and seeing you at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes soon!

About the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes:

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes works with students and educators across diverse academic disciplines to develop history projects that highlight role models who demonstrate courage, compassion and respect. Through our unique project-based learning approach, students discover, develop and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes who have made a profound and positive impact on the course of history. By championing these Unsung Heroes, students, educators and communities discover their own power and responsibility to effect positive change in the world. Visit www.lowellmilkencenter.org to learn more.

Government, Kansas

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

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Caryn Tyson

May 22, 2020

 

Session 2020 Ends  May 21.  A majority of the legislation remaining during the long layoff was stuffed into this last day of session.  The session gaveled in at 8AM and ended 23 hours later.  It seemed like there were 165 legislators with differing views as leadership was determining how to proceed.

 

As Senate tax chair I worked hard for over a year putting together a property tax bill that would stop the ever-increasing property appraisal values from automatically increasing your property taxes.  It’s called property tax transparency, but it is more than that.  Your property taxes can still be raised, but Conference Committee Report (CCR 2702) requires a vote by the governing body to do so.  No more automatic property tax increases.  I carried this important bill on the floor.  It not only contained the property tax transparency, but the bill also removed penalties and interest on property and income taxes during the pandemic, and allows county treasurers the option to setup property tax payment plans.

 

While I was carrying the first bill of the day on the floor, the ranking from the minority party on the Senate Tax Committee introduced an amendment to freeze property taxes for low income seniors and disabled veterans, sometimes referred to as the Golden Years.  This is good legislation as I amended the Golden Years into a bill that passed the Senate in 2019, but it was dead in the House.  No matter how good the amendment, to add it would kill this important bill.  We had just this one day to thread the needle of what would pass the Senate, the House, and the Governor.  The ranking democrat just wanted what he called a postcard vote; a vote to send out postcards against legislators who voted no.  He denied it on the floor but he is recorded before the debate saying he had amendments for ‘postcards’.  The final bill passed the Senate 35 Yes to 2 No votes; the House 89 Yes and 28 No.  It passed by super majority in both chambers.  Now we wait to see what the Governor does; sign it to become law, allow it to become law without her signature, or veto?

 

Liability and Government Control  CCR 2054 was a measured response to your concerns on government overreach, especially during the pandemic.  The Governor ordered a second emergency declaration.  The Attorney General’s position is that the Governor does not have legal authority for the second emergency declaration.

 

CCR 2054 would clarify the Governor’s authority, establishing that the Governor can issue another state-of-emergency with the support of six of eight legislative leaders on the State Finance Council (the Governor is a member with legislative leadership).  CCR 2054 also gives county commissioners the authority to set their own parameters.  They may decide if more or less stringent orders need to be issued and provide oversight to local county health officers.  CCR 2054 establishes a process to get the $1.2 billion federal money where it is needed.  It establishes liability protection from frivolous COVID-19 lawsuits, codifies the Governor’s orders on tele-health, licensing, and other helpful provisions during the shutdown.  There will be an interim committee to study the need for all of these items long term, since the legislation expires in 2021.  It passed with 27 Yes votes and 11 No in the Senate.  I voted Yes.

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Caryn

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Obituary

Obituary of Susan Schnichels

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Susan Kay Schnichels, age 68, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Saturday, May 23, 2020, at Yates Center Health and Rehab in Yates Center, KS.

She was born on September 18, 1951, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Donald and Betty Powell Wiggans.

She married Paul Morris, Sr. in 1974. They later divorced. She married Mark Schnichels on January 4, 1980. He preceded her in death on February 6, 2007.

Susan worked for Tri-Valley Developmental Center for 10 years. She loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Survivors include a son, Paul Morris, Jr., Ft. Scott; 3 daughters, Brandi Johnson, Yates Center; Kayla Schnichels, Ft. Scott, and Kara Schnichels, Pittsburg, KS; a step son, Mark Schnichels, Ft. Scott; 3 step daughers, Annette Blevins, Colorado, Frankie Kimmel, Iowa, and Sara Schnichels, Ft. Scott; her mother, Betty Wiggans, Ft. Scott; a sister, Carla Fowler and husband Mike, Ft. Scott; one brother, William Wiggans and wife Amy, Ft. Scott; 17 grandchildren; 13 step grandchildren; and 1 great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by a son, Richard Wiggans; 2 sisters, Mary Sampson and Dawnie Sharp; a granddaughter, Mia Johnson; and her father.

Graveside services will be held at 11:30 Tuesday, June 2nd, in the Clarksburg Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting for Old Fort Auto June 4

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You are invited!
Grand Opening &
Ribbon Cutting for
Old Fort Auto!
Thursday, June 4th, 2020
5:15 to 6:30pm
(Remarks & Ribbon Cutting 5:30pm)
213 Scott Ave. in the
Downtown Historic District
Business partners Rich Aydelotte &
Matt Harvey will be eager
to meet everyone, and share their
business & community goals!
Featuring used cars, trucks & SUV’s!
Click here to visit them on Facebook,
Click here to visit their website!
Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government

SEK COVID 19 Update

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SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

May 26, 2020

Allen County

Current Positive Cases 1
Current Recovered Cases 0
Total Positives Since Testing 1
Deaths 0

Anderson County

Current Positive Cases 0
Current Recovered Cases 1
Total Positives Since Testing 1
Deaths 0

Bourbon County

Current Positive Cases 1
Current Recovered Cases 5
Total Positives Since Testing 7
Deaths 1

Woodson County

Current Positive Cases 0
Current Recovered Cases 6
Total Positives Since Testing 6
Deaths 0

Recovered cases are based on dates of onset of symptoms, not on day testing results are received.

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Quarantine If You Traveled to Lake of the Ozarks

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KDHE recommends self-quarantine for Kansans who traveled to Lake of the Ozarks

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is recommending voluntary 14-day self-quarantine for those Kansans who traveled to Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, over the Memorial Day weekend and did not use protective measures, such as social distancing and face masks. 

 

Over the holiday weekend, large crowds were reported at the Lake of the Ozarks with no protective practices being followed.

 

“The reckless behavior displayed during this weekend risks setting our community back substantially for the progress we’ve already made in slowing the spread of COVID-19,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “If you traveled to Lake of the Ozarks over the weekend, we urge you to act responsibly and self-quarantine to protect your neighbors, co-workers and family.”

 

While Lake of the Ozarks is not currently on the mandated travel list, KDHE urges those who traveled over the Memorial Day weekend to self-quarantine for 14 days upon return to Kansas.

 

A list of states on the mandated travel advisory is available at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus.

COVID-19, Government

Farmers/Ranchers: USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

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Farmers and Ranchers in Kansas Can Now Apply for Financial Assistance through USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

Online Tools and Toll-Free Number Available to Assist Producers

Manhattan, KS, May 26, 2020 – Agricultural producers can now apply for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which provides direct payments to offset impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. The application and a payment calculator are now available online, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff members are available via phone, fax and online tools to help producers complete applications. The agency set up a call center in order to simplify how they serve new customers across the nation.

“We know Kansas producers are facing a tough time now, and we are making every effort to provide much needed support as quickly as possible,” said David Schemm, State Executive Director for FSA in Kansas. “FSA is available over the phone and virtually to walk you through the application process, whether it’s the first time you’ve worked with FSA, or if you know us quite well.”

Applications will be accepted through August 28, 2020. Through CFAP, USDA is making available $16 billion for vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities.

“We also want to remind producers that the program is structured to ensure the availability of funding for all eligible producers who apply,” SED Schemm said.

In order to do this, producers will receive 80 percent of their maximum total payment upon approval of the application. The remaining portion of the payment, not to exceed the payment limit, will be paid at a later date nationwide, as funds remain available.

Producers can download the CFAP application and other eligibility forms from farmers.gov/cfap. Also, on that webpage, producers can find a payment calculator to help identify sales and inventory records needed to apply and calculate potential payments.

Additionally, producers in search of one-on-one support with the CFAP application process can call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance. This is a good first step before a producer engages the team at the FSA county office at their local USDA Service Center.

Applying for Assistance

Producers of all eligible commodities will apply through their local FSA office. Those who use the online calculator tool will be able to print off a pre-filled CFAP application, sign, and submit to your local FSA office either electronically or via hand delivery. Please contact your local office to determine the preferred method. Find contact information for your local office at farmers.gov/cfap.

Documentation to support the producer’s application and certification may be requested after the application is filed. FSA has streamlined the signup process to not require an acreage report at the time of application and a USDA farm number may not be immediately needed.

Additional Commodities

USDA is also establishing a process for the public to identify additional commodities for potential inclusion in CFAP. Specifically, USDA is looking for data on agricultural commodities, that are not currently eligible for CFAP, that the public believes to have either:

  1. suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline between mid-January and mid-April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,
  2. shipped but subsequently spoiled due to loss of marketing channel, or
  3. not left the farm or remained unharvested as mature crops.


More information about this process is available on farmers.gov/cfap.

More Information

To find the latest information on CFAP, visit farmers.gov/cfap or call 877-508-8364.

USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only, and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with producers by phone and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

 

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government

Bourbon County Commission Meeting Today Changed to Commission Room, Broadcasted on Facebook

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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: May 26, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

DUE TO WEATHER THE COMMISSION MEETING IS MOVED INTO THE COMMISSION ROOM AND WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ON FACEBOOK

 

9:00 – 9:45 Jim Harris

9:45 Discuss Re-opening of the Courthouse

Obituary

Obituary of Nadyne Walker

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Nadyne Marie Walker, age 92, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Sunday, May 24, 2020, at her home.

She was born August 25, 1927, in Uniontown, KS, the daughter of Herbert and Beulah Neth Holt. She graduated from Uniontown high school with the class of 1946.

She married Don Walker on April 28, 1963, in Uniontown.

He preceded in death in 2000.

 Nadyne worked for Western Insurance Company for several years. She then worked in the office for Key Industries for 38 years. She was a member of the Community Christian Church and more recently attended Rinehart Christian Church in Richards, MO.

Survivors include a son, Kenneth Campbell and wife Vicki, Flora, IL; a stepdaughter, Donna Wray and husband Harry, Columbia, MO; 2 granddaughters Nichole McFarland and Lisa Sampley; 2 step-grandsons; 1 step-granddaughter; numerous nephews and 1 niece; and special friend Jim Henning.

Besides her husband Don, she was preceded in death by a nephew, Brad Holt; a brother, George Holt; and a sister, Marilyn Brown.

There was cremation.

Private burial will take place in Memory Gardens Cemetery, Ft. Scott.

Memorials are suggested to Rinehart Christian Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.