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The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports Feb. 12-13
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Death Notice of Robert Findley
Robert W. Findley, age 70, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, February 11, 2019, at St. Luke’s Hospice House, Kansas City, MO. Services for Robert Findley will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.
Prairie Troubadour: Feb. 22-23
The Prairie Troubadour Symposium is nigh upon us!Rejuvenate your weary soul with a much-needed weekend of mirth and friendship.Program at a glance:
Click here for full details and to register.
“Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine,
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Bourbon County Commission Agenda Feb.14
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Date: February 14th, 2019
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
10:00-Commissioners to attend jail meeting
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
Ranger Positions At FSNHS
Seasonal Park Ranger Position Available at Fort Scott National Historic Site
Fort Scott KS – Fort Scott National Historic Site is recruiting for a GS-05 Park Ranger temporary position Wednesday, February 13th, through Thursday, February 21st, for the summer of 2019. Application information can be found at www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/524354100. Additional park positions will be announced later this spring.
The Park Ranger serves as a front-line representative conducting independent research and developing original, thematic interpretive programs, and presenting interpretive, educational, and living history demonstrations/programs about the area’s cultural and natural resources to audiences ranging in size from 1-200, using a variety of props and techniques. The incumbent operates the park visitor center and ensures visitor safety. They are also responsible for opening and closing the site and basic resource protection tasks including exotic plant control and routine cleaning of museum objects and exhibit spaces. Other duties include making and maintaining interpretive products (such as signs and labels) and caring and accounting for interpretive props (such as living history clothing and equipment). They will work closely with park staff on critical special initiatives including website development, social media, and special events.
The GS-05 Park Ranger generally work a full-time 40-hour week, and is entitled to paid holidays. Holiday, evening, and weekend work is required. A driver’s license is recommended.
This position is expected to start in April and end in September.
For more information about the park in general, contact Fort Scott NHS at (620) 223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.
KDOT Plans in FY2020
During a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Governor Laura Kelly joined Kansas Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz to announce the Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) plans to invest $160 million in revenue that is included in the Governor’s FY 2020 budget for transportation.
With the $160 million in FY 2020, KDOT will:
- Increase the highway preservation investment from $350 – $400 million
- Move forward with four delayed T-WORKS projects (including the U.S. 169 modernization project in Anderson County; for details click the link below)
- Reinstate the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program
- Implement a new cost-share program for state/local partnerships
- Enhance its safety program • Increase City Connecting Link maintenance payments
- Increase funding for modal programs (e.g., transit, aviation, rail and bike/pedestrian)
For further information please go to this link:
Chamber Coffee at Visage Skin Care Feb. 14
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WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
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Hosted by:
Visage Skin Care
Location:
117 E. National Ave.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Click here for Visage Skin Care’s web page.
Chamber members and guests are encouraged to attend for networking, community announcements, and to learn about the hosting business or organization.
Members may pay $1 to make an announcement about an upcoming event, special/sale/discount, or news of any kind.
Upcoming Coffees:
February 21 – Fort Scott Lofts
February 28 – Hole in the Wall Liquor Store/Adventures in Mission
March 7 – Bourbon County Arts Council (Annual Exhibit)
March 14 – Tri-Valley Development Services
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Feb. 13
Fort Scott American Legion Thompson-Harkey Post 25 Scuttlebutt
February 14. Post 25 Color Guard meets at 7 pm in Memorial Hall. All Post members including SAL members are invited to join our growing Color Guard.
February 16. District 2 oratorical contest at Post 153 in Olathe starts at 10 am. All Post 25 members are invited to attend and support our Post 25 oratorical competition winner.
February 19. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 615 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.
February 23. A tentative meeting for the formation of a Post 25 American Legion Riders (ALR) Chapter will be held at Memorial Hall. A time has not been set as the Area Director still works and the meeting time will be set once he knows his schedule.
To join the ALR, you must be a current member of the Legion, Auxiliary or Sal at any Post and own a motorcycle. Past ALR members without motorcycles can be grandfathered in, provided they gave up riding due to heath issues. Contact Post Commander Jowers at [email protected] if interested.
February26. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 615 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.
March 4. Post 25 meet and greet at 6:30 pm in Memorial Hall. Come and enjoy the fellowship of other Veterans. Bring an eligible Veteran to visit our Post.
March 4. Post 25 general membership meeting at 7 pm in Memorial Hall. Our membership meetings are open to all. SAL members are strongly encouraged to attend.
April 1. Post 25 meet and greet at 6:30 pm in Memorial Hall. Come and enjoy the fellowship of other Veterans. Bring an eligible Veteran to visit our Post.
April 1. Post 25 general membership meeting at 7 pm in Memorial Hall. Our membership meetings are open to all. SAL members are strongly encouraged to attend.
Remember to check out Post 25 on Facebook. It contains current information pertaining to Veterans and their families.
Post 25 Legionnaire Russell Vann has transferred to Post Everlasting. Russell was an Air Force Vet and a 20-year member of the American Legion. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
I am proud to announce that once again Fort Scott American Legion Thompson-Harkey Post 25 leads the Department of Kansas in membership this week. Our 2019 goal was 51 members. Our current membership is at 135% and 69 members. We are 18 members over our goal. By way of comparison, Sterling Post 128 in District 7, is in 2nd place for membership at 115%. Thanks to all members who have made Fort Scott Post 25 a highly visible and active Legion Post in the Department of Kansas.
Post 25 received the “Special Certificate of Distinguished Service” at the Legion’s recent Midwinter Forum. The Special Certificate is awarded for “exceeding the Post’s previous year’s final membership by Veterans Day.” Post Commander Jowers’ received the “Post Commander Achievement Award” for “meeting the Post’s previous year’s final membership by Veterans Day.” Commander Jowers noted that without the Post’s membership stepping up and renewing their memberships or recruiting new members, neither award would have possible.
Post Service Officer Myra Jowers will no longer hold office hours on Tuesdays at Memorial Hall. She will meet with anyone, by appointment, who has questions about filing VA claims, who need a second set of eyes to review their claims or help understand VA documents they have received in the mail. Her service is free and is for anyone, Veteran or family member, who wish to file a claim or appeal a denied claim. She can be reached at [email protected] or 620.215.1286 to schedule an appointment.
The District Oratorical competition at American Legion Post 153 in Olathe on February 16th at 10 am. Madison Toth, Post 25 Oratorical winner, will represent Post in the District competition. All Post members are encouraged to attend and support our candidate.
Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle is now in operation. Currently, the shuttle is only operating on Tuesdays. As more drivers are cleared by the VA, additional days will be added to the schedule.
Any area Vet needing a ride for a medical appointment should call 785-925-0261 for more information or to reserve a seat. All Vets riding the shuttle must have medical appointments between 9 am and 1 pm and call by 5 pm Monday to schedule their ride.
Nominations for Post 25 Officers for the 2019 – 2020 Legion year will begin at our March meeting. Any Post 25 Legionnaire who is current on their dues can be nominated for any office. Please give thought to stepping up and being nominated for an office or encourage other members to step up and help guide Post 25’s growth for another year.
The American Legion Department of Kansas new member recruitment incentive is now in operation. Recruit a new member and both you and the new member will be entered into a drawing to win $500 each, plus your Post will also receive $500. If you need recruiting brochures or membership applications, please contact me. I’ll will make arrangements to deliver them to you. A copy of the membership drive rules is attached.
The February State Adjutant’s Newsletter is attached.
Shuttle driver’s meeting at Memorial Hall on Monday, February 11 at 6 pm. The meeting is to review program guidelines and set the shuttle’s operating schedule. The meeting is also open to area residents who would like to learn more about the shuttle program. You do not have to be a Veteran to become a shuttle driver.
Legion merchandise can be ordered through Emblem Sales: https://emblem.legion.org/. Contact me if ordering a Legion cap to insure your cap has the correct lettering.
Carl Jowers. Commander
Fort Scott American Legion Post 25
Telephone: 620.215.1688
Email: [email protected]
Legislative Update By State Senator Caryn Tyson
February 8, 2019
Effort to Stop Growing Government: As a result of 2017 the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, many states, including Kansas, will have to change their tax laws in order to avoid a state tax increase. The Senate passed legislation last year dealing with the issue but it failed in the House. This year the Senate has again picked up the banner in an attempt to pass legislation as quickly as possible so that some taxpayers will not have to file amended returns and to keep the money where it was intended – with the taxpayer. Currently, individual taxpayers cannot itemize on their Kansas tax return unless they itemize on their Federal tax return. Senate Bill (SB) 22 will allow individual taxpayers an option to itemize, which could impact your 2018 taxes since the bill is retro-active. Unfortunately, the bill only allows 50% of medical and mortgage deductions for tax-year 2018. It increases to 75% in tax-year 2019 and to 100% in tax-year 2020. SB 22 also addresses corporate money that has been earned offshore, allowing the money to come to Kansas with no Kansas income tax owed. Most corporations are tax savvy and if Kansas does nothing the money will most likely go elsewhere. The Senate passed SB 22 on a vote of 26 to 14. I voted Yes. The bill must pass the House and not be vetoed by the Governor to become law.
Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS): Senate Bill (SB) 9 will require Kansas to pay the KPERS fund on-time, which will save the State money. It passed the Senate unanimously. Hopefully, the House and the Governor will act quickly so that SB 9 becomes law.
Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) Recognized in the Senate and House for serving Kansans for 100 years. KFB is a grassroots organization that promotes agriculture, education, community, and rural life. It was a pleasure to have KFB President Felts and many others in the Capitol to celebrate.
Hunting and Fishing Fees: Last week I mentioned SB 50, a bill Wildlife and Parks requested to increase almost all hunting and fishing fees by 50% and some 100%. It was announced the bill will not get out of committee. It would be nice to say the issue is dead but that just isn’t the case. However, it does appear it will not get traction this year.
Debt: School bonding debt for new buildings and maintenance of buildings has increased from $5.7 billion to $6.4 in less than three years. From 2008 to 2018 it has increased over $2.6 billion. There has been an attempt to address the continued increase in bonding debt to no avail.
| As of June 30, | Statewide School District Indebtedness | Annual Change | |
| 2008 | 3,777,562,130 | ||
| 2009 | 4,459,650,707 | 682,088,577 | |
| 2010 | 4,602,634,429 | 142,983,722 | |
| 2011 | 4,483,953,136 | -118,681,293 | |
| 2012 | 4,476,413,399 | -7,539,737 | |
| 2013 | 4,659,624,797 | 183,211,398 | |
| 2014 | 5,281,919,283 | 622,294,486 | |
| 2015 | 5,623,047,441 | 341,128,158 | |
| 2016 | 5,790,934,088 | 167,886,647 | |
| 2017 | 6,089,382,797 | 298,448,709 | |
| 2018 | 6,416,193,352 | 326,810,555 | |
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
Emergency Staffing Needed At El Dorado Correctional Facility
KDOC enacts measures to alleviate staffing shortages at El Dorado Correctional Facility
An emergency staffing situation at the El Dorado Correctional Facility (EDCF) has prompted the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) to offer additional pay to hire temporary staff to provide relief.
“This morning I declared an emergency for the El Dorado Correctional Facility due to severe and prolonged staff shortages in the uniformed ranks. Gov. Kelly convened a meeting of legislative leadership this morning in order to brief them on the situation,” said Secretary of Corrections Roger Werholtz. “I am encouraged by the concern expressed by everyone for our employees and the desire to work together to find solutions to this crisis.”
The declaration allows the department flexibility in rostering and hiring staff. The usual staff of 316 full-time equivalents has been depleted and is down by 86 full-time equivalent people, which is forcing them to consistently work excessive amounts of overtime to cover vacant shifts.
“This is a very short-term solution to an immediate problem,” Werholtz said.