Kansas Governor Sam Brownback on Friday issued a proclamation declaring Tuesday, January 30, 2018 a “Day of Prayer and Fasting” in Kansas, and issued the following statement:
“President George Washington, in his 1795 Proclamation for a Day of Public Thanksgiving called on Americans “to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God and to implore Him to continue and confirm the blessings we experience.””
“I personally feel blessed by the time I have spent serving our great state and would like to observe a time of prayer and fasting before God takes me on to the next part of my journey. I invite all Kansans to join me as we pray for our state and our nation.”
This is Governor Brownback’s final proclamation signed as Governor of Kansas.
The agenda for the Bourbon County Commission, which meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 at the courthouse, 210 S. National Ave.
9:00-9:45-Jim Harris9:45-10:15- Commissioners consider and take action on any and all question regarding the law enforcement project10:00-Attorney-client privilege
11:00-11:15-Justin Meeks-acquisition of real property
12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch
2:00-Review deposit process for R & B Accounts
Tax sale/timeline
Health Insurance dept. head meeting update
Petition on drugs
Response from landowners about rock quarry
Fire Districts
2:30-Employee Handbook
1st District is Lynne Oharah,2nd District-Jeff Fischer,3rd District-Nick Ruhl, County Clerk-Kendell Mason.
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
Gina Shelton, president of United Way of Bourbon County speaks to the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Thursday during its weekly coffee.
The United Way of Bourbon County kicked off its campaign at the Jan. 25 Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee, which was hosted by Mercy Hospital.
Gina Shelton, president of the local United Way Board, said the best way to help in the fundraising is a payroll deduction.
She said the cost of a purchased soft drink, $1 if it was payroll deducted by many people, would help the agency meet its 2018 Campaign goal of $50,000.
The agency helps these entities in the county:
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition Board provides rental and utility payment assistance and provides family season passes to the Fort Scott Aquatic Center. Telephone: 620-223-5946
Bourbon County Senior Citizens provides Meals On Wheels to the elderly, general transportation and distributes commodities. 620-223-0750
Bourbon County 4-H Fair provides the annual fair and collaborates with the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce on special events, as well as partners with Fort Scott Community College for parking during the annual rodeo. 620-547-2571
Kansas Legal Services provides legal representation to obtain restraining orders, provides advice on custody and child support and coordinates services with Safehouse and others. 620-232-1330
Keyhole Youth Center provides youth with games, TV, pool tables, ping pong and regular parties and get-togethers. The facility is located across from the Fort Scott High School. 620-223-4700
Mother to Mother Ministries helps women build friendships across economic barriers as well as self-esteem and parenting skills. Diapers, baby supplies, and food to mothers in need are also provided. 620-224-0809 or 620-215-0924.
Fort Scott Ministerial Alliance Hospitality Fund assists transients in their travel through the area by providing gas, food, bus transportation, rooms and auto repairs, as well as meet other physical needs of Bourbon County residents. 620-223-3862
Southeast Kansas Respite Service provides people to come into the home to give caregivers a break. Also provided are cleaning services, errands, and transportation services. 620-421-6550 Ext. 1642
Tri-Valley Developmental Services provides employment and retirement services, residential services and horticultural Therapy Programs. 620-431-7401
The Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas provides financial aid with assistive technology and medical equipment and assistance with selecting the technology, along with specialized seating systems for wheelchair users. 316-688-1888
Members of the United Way Board of Directors are Shelton, president; Dee Anne Miller, vice-president; Alene Jolly/Jodi Johnson, secretary; Devin Tally, treasurer; Jessica Werner; Vickie Chaplin; Amanda Lancaster; Mitzi Davis; Mert Barrows: Cindy Bowman; and Charli Bolinger.
New Vegetables to Try in 2018 by Krista Harding, District Agriculture Extension Agent, Southwind District. Call 620-244-3826, cell: 620-496-8786
Each year, the All-America Selections (AAS) tests and introduces new flowers and vegetables to home gardeners. These plants have proven themselves to do well in trials across North America. The AAS winner label is like a stamp of approval.
The vegetable descriptions were taken from All-American Selections material.
Corn, Sweet American Dream – with its excellent germination, very tender, super sweet kernels, this newbie will make a great addition to the home garden. American Dream matures slightly earlier than the comparisons and produces vigorous, healthy plants with cobs that have good tip fill of bi-colored kernels. Plants grow 6-7 feet tall and mature in 77 days after planting the seeds. It is perfect fresh, roasted, grilled, canned or frozen.
Pak Choi, Asian Delight F1 – Asian Delight F1 Pak Choi (or Bok Choy) is a Chinese Cabbage that outperformed the comparisons by leaps and bounds. This Pak Choi did not bolt like the comparisons, even weeks after other varieties went to seed. That means the yield from this AAS winner can be double or even higher than that of other Pak Choi on the market. Asian Delight forms small to mid-size heads that have a tasty, tender white rib and dark green, textured leaves.
Pepper cayenne, Red Ember F1 – this pepper winner won judges over by being earlier to mature than the comparison varieties. Red Ember produces a large number of rounded end fruits on durable, medium-sized plants. Judges described the thick-walled fruits as spicy, but tastier than the traditional cayenne, with just enough pungency for interest.
Pepper habanero, Roulette F1 – Routlette F1 resembles a traditional habanero pepper in every way (fruit shape, size and color, and plant type) with one exception – NO HEAT! The fruits are red with thick walls at maturity and have a nice citrusy (no heat) habanero flavor. This pepper is an early producer of large, uniform fruit and a very high yield.
Tomato, cocktail Red Racer F1 – this cocktail size tomato produces small, uniform fruits with a great taste. Cocktail tomatoes have a good sweet/acid balance and are a smaller variety tomato (although larger than cherry or grape tomatoes). These tomatoes are uniform in size and mature as a cluster of fruit. The compact determinate plants produced a huge yield 7-10 earlier than the comparisons. They are ideal for small spaces and container gardens. It is available in both organic and conventional seeds.
Tomato, Valentine F1 – hands down, the judges agreed this was the most appealing grape tomato they trialed. It has a deep red color and a very sweet taste. It held on the vine longer without cracking or losing the excellent eating quality. This tomato was quite prolific and matured earlier than the comparisons used for this entry. Valentine F1 is an indeterminate vine so it should be staked for best results. Tomato lovers will appreciate the sweet, firm flesh that is meaty enough to resemble a Roma tomato but in a smaller, grape-type fruit.
I will cover the 2018 AAS flowers in my next column. For a complete description of the 2018 All America Selections, visit www.all-americaselections.org.
Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at 620-244-3826 or [email protected].
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Stay Strong, Stay Health Strength Training Class for Older Adults at Buck Run Community Center 8:30 am620-223-3720.
26-27
Livestock Sale, Fort Scott Livestock Market, 2131 Maple Rd., 10 am
26
FSHS FR/JV/V Basketball VS Girard (Homecoming) 4:30pm -9:30pm
27
FSHS JV Wrestling Tournament at FS High School Gym 9:00am – 3:30pm
27
Jack & Jill Scottish Doubles Pool Tournament at Holmtown Pub 11am – 4pm. Proceeds o Care to Share
27
FSCC Hounds Women’s Basketball VS Labette 2:00 pm
27
FSCC Hounds Men’s Basketball VS Labette 4:00 pm
29
Celebrate Kansas Day with your Local Kansas owned Businesses! Visit a participating Chamber member retailer wearing a Sunflower or the word Kansas on your apparel to receive 10% off of your purchase.
**Participating businesses will have a
sunflower placed in the front of their store and include: Bids & Dibs, Common Ground Coffee Co., Country Cupboard, Courtland Hotel & Spa, Iron Star Antiques & Such, J&W Sports Shop, Main Street Gallery & Gifts, Papa Don’s Pizza, Shirt Shack, Ruddick’s Furniture, Sekan’s Occasion Shop, Sunshine Boutique and Trader Dave’s.
30
SEK Day on the Hill. A breakfast with legislators from 7:30 am to 9:30 am in Topeka.
30
Westar will be at the Fort Scott Area Chamber LIEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program)Application Assistance 9am-3pm
*Please bring utility account numbers, proof of income & SS# for all members of the household.
30
Kiwanis Meeting- FSCC Heritage Room- 12 pm
30
Story Time: Snow -Featuring the ever-popular cotton ball “snowball” fight – 10 am – 11:00 am – Fort Scott Public Library – Enjoy stories, songs, crafts, and snacks -Downstairs event room.
31
Story Time: Snow – Featuring the popular cotton ball “snowball” fight. 10 am – 11:00 am – Fort Scott Public Library – Enjoy stories, songs, crafts, and snacks -Downstairs event room.
31
Rotary Meeting – Presbyterian Church – 12:00pm -1:00pm
Feb 1
Chamber Coffee hosted by Liberty Theatre /Crooner’s Lounge, 117 S. Main St.
2/1 -3/31
New Face, New Neighbors – Fort Scott National Historic Site Art Exhibit.
Kids will create textile works of art that encompass the change of Fort Scott NHS throughout its history.
1
Kiwanis Pioneer Club – FSCC Heritage Room -12pm- 12:00pm -1:00pm
1
Gordon Parks Museum presents “When Freedom Changed America”
Guest speaker: John Edgar Tidwell, Professor at KU and a member of the Kansas Humanities Council’s Speaker’s Series. 12 pm – 1 pm at the Gordon Parks Museum on FSCC campus. (This is the MLK Day program that was previously scheduled for January and rescheduled due to weather)
1
Thursday Card Players, Buck Run Community Center, 6-9pm
Fort Scott National Historic Site located off North Main Street, downtown.
Do you like art and history?
Come to Fort Scott National Historic Site (NHS) and learn the history of the site as told by art that was created by youth from across the United States and throughout the world.
The art exhibit, titled “New Faces, New Neighbors”, will consist of 60 different pieces of textiles.
The exhibit will be on display from Thursday, February 1 through Saturday, March 31, 2018. It will be located on the second floor of the Infantry Barracks Museum in the hallway next to the theater.
“New Faces, New Neighbors” is a theme that has resonated throughout the history of Fort Scott. Soldiers and American Indians found themselves as new neighbors and had to face many challenges and adaptions along the way. During the Bleeding Kansas era, conflict evolved among neighbors, as the topic of slavery became an issue that divided the town of Fort Scott and Kansas Territory. During the Civil War, Fort Scott saw new faces as American Indians and African Americans enlisted to fight for the Union Army. In addition, Fort Scott became a place of refuge for many people of diverse backgrounds. Caring for these refugees provided an opportunity for the town’s residents to work together for a common cause. After the Civil War, more new neighbors came to Fort Scott with the railroads as the town transformed into a regional trade center. This story of settlement and resettlement, promises made and broken, dreams built and shattered, and facing challenges with new neighbors can all be seen through the creative minds of youth in the “New Faces, New Neighbors” art exhibit. We welcome you to come join us and explore this amazing story of Fort Scott.
In order to create this wonderful art exhibit, Fort Scott NHS has collaborated with the International Fiber Collaborative (IFC), INC. based out of Topeka, KS. The IFC is a nonprofit organization that works to create deeper learning experiences through art and cross-curricular themed-based programs. The IFC also promotes programs designed to link arts to science, math, engineering, and the humanities. For information, a schedule of events and other projects associated with the IFC can be found at https://ifcprojects.com.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 National Park Service areas and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.
Governor Sam Brownback and Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer on Wednesday announced plans to stop KanCare 2.0 and address concerns raised by legislators and other stakeholders regarding increased costs and the State’s ability to absorb those costs in future budgets.
As a result, they will be seeking to make improvements to the current KanCare program by either extending the contracts of the current three managed care companies for a period of three years or evaluating proposals received in response to the current bid solicitation without the cost increase drivers which have raised these concerns. The Administration will work with the Kansas Legislature to determine the best path forward and provide certainty and improvements to the current program.
In either scenario, the State will seek to implement budget neutral improvements to KanCare such as work requirements, an IMD exclusion waiver, foster care pilots, behavioral health and primary care integration and improved work opportunities.
Additionally, the new Secretary of KDHE, Jeff Andersen will renew the agency’s focus on addressing problems with the program’s eligibility process. A backlog of applications had slowed down the approval process for participants and reimbursement for providers. The state is in the process of issuing a letter of noncompliance to the contractor in charge of the eligibility clearinghouse where applications are processed.
The plan would call for continued meetings and involvement by the KanCare Process Improvement Working Group. The group will hold quarterly meetings with KDHE where participants and providers can discuss improvements and provide feedback.
“Keeping Kansans healthy continues to be a top priority,” said Governor Brownback, “We’re going to continue to work hard to make sure we have a program that works for Kansas.”
“With improvements to the current system of KanCare I feel we can continue serving Kansans by helping improve their health and well-being. We will continue to listen to participants and providers and work with the legislature to ensure we are increasing the quality of care and outcomes under KanCare,” said Lt. Governor Colyer.
Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission now accepting applications for grant programs
TOPEKA — The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission is now accepting applications for its two main grant categories, The Strategic Investment Program and The Arts Integration Program.
The Strategic Investment Program recognizes the important role creative organizations play in building and sustaining cultural and economic vibrancy in Kansas. By funding a variety of professional and organizational development opportunities that impact cultural programming, these grants support initiatives that use the arts to enhance community vitality, revitalize neighborhoods, generate local business, create and preserve job opportunities and impact tourism.
The Arts Integration Programs support the role the arts play in all levels of education, community service, and workforce development. This program provides funding for educational institutions, arts organizations, and community service non-profits to use the arts to increase student success, foster creative thinking, develop critical job skills, and enhance community development.
The deadline for application submission is March 30, 2018, with review dates in early-mid April 2018. The main grant period is from May 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, however, projects with an end date prior to June 30, 2018 may have a start date of Jan. 1, 2018. This will be the final round of the fiscal year.
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM
Strategic Investment Program grants are awarded in three categories:
Organizational Development:This category provides funding for professional development opportunities for Kansas based arts organizations that help strengthen business practices, increase organizational viability and promote long-term sustainability.
New and Expanded Works:This program provides funding for new or significantly expanded productions, exhibitions, programs or events by Kansas-based nonprofit arts organizations. Projects should either be an entirely new type of program for the organization designed to diversify its services or an expansion of an existing program designed to significantly enhance the quality of current offerings.
Equipment and Technology: This program provides funding to purchase equipment, materials, and/or technology upgrades to expand or improve an applicant’s organization.
Applicants for a grant under the Strategic Investment Program must make a compelling case as to why this particular self-identified activity or opportunity was selected, how it will have a substantial impact on their work and community, and how it will enhance the national reputation of Kansas.
Arts Integration Programs are awarded in three categories:
Visiting Artists:This category provides funding for eligible organizations to engage and deepen the impact of arts programming on local and underserved audiences through exposure to and interaction with professional visiting arts. Presenters may book artists in any discipline, not just in performing arts. Projects should strive to integrate an arts discipline into non-arts content areas; help interpret an exhibition, performance, or presentation; and support community development goals and objectives. Booking artists on the Kansas Touring Roster allow for a $1,000 credit for the applicant organization: http://www.kansascommerce.gov/705/KS-Roster
Note: KCAIC will review applications for roster inclusion in early March. Please check the website at that time for an expanded list and encourage qualified artists to apply. In addition, Visiting Artists grants featuring roster artists will be accepted and reviewed year round up to 30 days prior to proposed activities.
Integrated Arts Education:This category supports new or expanded educational programming that integrates arts learning into the non-arts curriculum and content areas to address emerging technologies, areas of skills shortages, STEM curricula, workforce readiness, and increase student performance.
Innovative Partnerships:This category supports innovative programming between arts organizations and non-arts organizations to impact a variety of community and/or economic development goals. Arts organizations are encouraged to partner with other community entities (hospitals, prisons, etc.) to develop arts-centered programs that address community needs such as public health, transportation, tourism, unemployment, aging, corrections, etc.
To review the application process, as well as program and category specific policies and guidelines visit KansasCommerce.gov/CAIC. Applications can be submitted online at https://kansascaic.submittable.com .
Grants will be reviewed by peer panel and awarded at the quarterly commission meeting in April.
All grants are made possible through a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and are subject to KCAIC and NEA standards and regulations.
Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) is accepting bids for the sale of four cabins built by the FSCC Construction Trades program in LaHarpe, Kan.
Cabins are available to be viewed at the former Diebolt Lumber location at 2665 Nebraska Rd. in LaHarpe.
Bids are being accepted online at our Cabin Auction Form. Only those bids submitted on-line through this link will be accepted, all others will be considered null and void.
The minimum bit is $2,500. Highest bidder and dollar amount will be updated once daily each business day by 10 a.m. on the website. Bidding will end Friday, February 9 at 10 a.m. at which time the bidder will be notified by the FSCC business office and arrangements made for payment. Payment is expected in full by 5 p.m., Friday, February 16. The bidding forms can be found at fortscott.edu/auction.
No removal of property is allowed until payment has been made in full. Purchaser is responsible for removal and any equipment needed to remove cabin.
FSCC reserves the right to refuse any and all bids. Removal to be completed by purchaser by February 28. For more information, please contact Julie Eichenberger at 620.223.2700 ext. 5130 or [email protected].
The agenda for today’s Bourbon County Commission meeting at 9 a.m. at the courthouse, 210 S. National is below.
9:00-9:45-Jim Harris
9:45-10:15- Commissioners consider and take action on any and all question regarding the law enforcement project
11:00-11:15-Justin Meeks
11:15-1:30-Jail Update Meeting in Commissioners Room
1:30-Jail Project balance
2:30-Employee Handbook
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
1st District Commissioner is Lynne Oharah; 2nd District-Jeff Fischer; 3rd District-Nick Ruhl; County Clerk-Kendell Mason
