Valentine’s Day is a fun and romantic way to build a meaningful relationship with your spouse or partner. Building and strengthening relationships is also done in necessary and practical ways, such as talking about finances. How often are you and your spouse or partner talking about money?
Fidelity completed a study in 2021 and found that 44% of couples admit to arguing about money and 18% identify money as the greatest challenge in their relationship. Couples may delegate all financial activities and decisions to one person or over time everything is on autopilot and discussion is limited. The truth is, we all need to be talking about finances more.
Schedule financial dates. Whether it be a nice meal or a long car ride for a weekend getaway, find a time and a place to have these conversations. Keep a list of items you want to discuss so you do not forget, you may choose one or two items at a time. Topics may be life events such as having children, buying a house, or retirement. Other subjects may include switching healthcare plans, paying too much for cable, re-allocating retirement funds, or the purchase of a new flat-screen.
Dream out loud. The best part of being a couple is dreaming together. Setting financial goals is a form of dreaming. One way to approach financial goals is for both people to make an individual list of all their short- and long-term goals. After the list is complete, divide them into two categories, the ‘must haves’ that are essential and the ‘nice to have’ flexible ones. Discuss what matters most as individuals and as a couple. The purpose of this is to determine what matters most. Creating a shared sense of purpose helps couples rally together about what their financial future will look like.
Having open and regular discussions about money helps couples feel more closely aligned, increases confidence, and better prepares them to take on the future. Getting started is the hardest step.
For more information, please contact Joy Miller, Family Resource Management Extension Agent, at [email protected] or by calling 620-223-3720.
# # # K – State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: February 15, 2022
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Ashley Shelton
MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM
Call to Order
• Flag Salute
• Approval of Minutes from previous meeting
• Eric Bailey – Road and Bridge Report
• County Counselor Comment
• Susan Bancroft, Finance Director Comment
• Public Comment
• Elected Officials Comment
• Commission Comment
The Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site are inviting the public to join them in saying goodbye to long-time Superintendent Betty Boyko.
The Friends will host a reception on Wednesday, February 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Crooner’s Restaurant, 117 S. Main, to honor Boyko.
Boyko is leaving her Fort Scott post to accept the Superintendent position at Homestead National Historic Park in Beatrice, Nebraska, which is closer to her family.
“Betty has been an active part of our community since she became Superintendent in May 2006, and she will be missed,” Martha Scott, member of the Friends group said.
“Come by, say goodbye to Betty and grab a Crooner’s Cakery cupcake and a glass of punch as we say farewell to this longtime Fort Scott National Historic Site Superintendent,” Scott said.
“Betty has great administrative and people skills,” Scott said. “She also has been active in Rotary Club and her church.”
“Betty has always been open to ideas that were still part of the mission of the historic site, but thinks outside the box,” she said.
Such ideas as the Symbols of Sacrifice, which are flags placed on the parade ground to honor veterans, and the U.S. Naturalization Ceremony that happens annually now.
Symbols of Sacrifice event, Sept. 2015
Recently, it was Betty who suggested that the Fort needed a boundary expansion so that the Block House could be included as part of The Fort Scott National Historic Site.
“Since it is government, we have to be careful because there are things that the fort and its employees cannot do — like the boundary expansion. She can’t actively work on it. It’s a fine line — government!” Scott said.
Boyko made the events happen with help from residents of the community.
To begin with, she gave information to local citizens on how a Friends group is beneficial to a historic site.
“She was instrumental in suggesting that we start a Friends of the Fort group,” Scott said. “She said it would be beneficial to the park.”
About the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site
The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site’s mission is to support the National Historic Site in a partnership through activities that may include fundraising, volunteerism, education, advocacy, and research.
The Friends have provided the lunch for the newly naturalized citizens after the Naturalization Ceremony held at the fort, provided the treats at the end of the annual Christmas Candlelight Tour, and made homemade ice cream for visitors for the 4th of July as well as many Friends members spending countless hours as a volunteer at the Fort.
Advertising for the Fort on a local, regional, state, or national level is done by the Friends group and they were instrumental in lobbying for the boundary expansion which resulted in the Block House becoming part of the Fort.
A group of citizens in 2009 came together to discuss forming a Friends group. They were Cheryl Adamson, Darlene Doherty, Sandra Haimerl, Herbert Haimerl, Reed Hartford, Ken Lunt, Dale Johnson, Caroly Lydic, Cynthia McFarlin, James Pitt, Jim Scott, Martha Scott, James Smith, and Paulette Smith.
From this grassroots meeting, the Friends group was born. That initial group served as officers and board members during the early years.
Current board members and officers are Reed Hartford, President; Matt Wells, Vice President; Martha Scott, Secretary; Marlene Braker, Treasurer. Vonnie Rickerson, Kelley Collins, Frankie Ruggerio, Shay Lynn Clements, Carol MacArthur, Judy Earp, Ronda Hassig, and Kaitlyn Wilson serve as the current board.
Funds for the activities that the Friends do are provided in two ways: the Flag subscriptions and membership dues.
The Flag subscriptions are a service that the Friends provide to residents within the city limits of Fort Scott, where they place a full-size flag on a 12-foot pole in a residents front yard five times a year — on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Veterans Day.
Subscriptions are $35.00 per year and are due by the 20th of March. If interested in this subscription, please contact Kelley Collins at 417-684-2484 for more information.
“If you are interested in helping place those flags on the flag holidays, please call Kelley Collins to let her know that you’d like to help,” Scott said. “We are a small group of dedicated volunteers, we flag placers, and it is a worthwhile way to begin a holiday day.”
Membership in Friends is easy, Scott said.
The four membership levels are: $35 is Corporal, $50 Sergeant, $75.00 Quartermaster, $100 Sergeant Major.
If interested, mail a check to Membership Chairman, Martha Scott, 1208 S. National, Fort Scott, Kansas.
Quinn Robertson, NXTUS; Miguel Johns, mmnt* (formerly known as KingFit), Mary Beth Jarvis, NXTUS; Ian Worrell, NXTUS; Virginia Barnes, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. Miguel was one of NXTSTAGE’s 2021 winners and is currently doing pilot projects with Hunter Health and BCBSKS.
2022 NXTSTAGE Community Health & Vibrancy Pilot Competition Launches with Multi-Year Support from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
Wichita, Kan. – February 10, 2022 – NXTUS, Inc. officials kicked off the 2022 NXTSTAGE season today by launching the NXTSTAGE Community Health and Vibrancy Pilot Competition, backed by a multi-year presenting sponsorship from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS).
This innovation program allows startups from around the region and the world to present their technology solutions to Kansas organizations focused on improving the health of Kansans and removing barriers to community growth. By participating in the pilot competition, startups hope to earn pilot projects and gain customers; the community partners hope to access value-added technology solutions and use innovation to ‘work smarter’ to tackle key challenges in the state.
BCBSKS was the competition’s presenting sponsor in 2021 and has committed $240,000, spread over the next three years, to help cover program costs and enable community health and economic development entities from around the state to implement promising technologies. “We have served our state for 80 years, and while we’re pleased with the ways we’ve been able to help improve the health of Kansans, we know that we can do even more,” said Virginia Barnes, director, BCBSKS Blue Health Initiatives. “This competition matches new technology with real health issues faced by our communities. We look forward to seeing the partnerships formed to solve health disparities.”
The 2021 NXTSTAGE Community Health and Vibrancy Pilot Competition, presented by BCBSKS, created great momentum in improving the health of Kansans:
– It attracted 126 diverse competitors. Eighty two percent had minority or female founders, and the applicants hailed from 28 states and 15 countries.
– The program’s 12 finalists offered technology tools tackling key issues such as access to health care, seniors aging in place, child-care capacity, diabetes management and alleviating Kansans’ medical debt.
– The finalists were from 10 states plus Montreal, Canada, and 83 percent had minority or female founders.
– Five pilot projects have been implemented since the competition’s innovation showcase was held in August at Botanica, the Wichita Gardens.
One of the 2021 pilot winners was Phoenix-based Televeda, which offers a technology platform designed to help seniors ‘aging in place’ and all community members improve their physical and mental health and keep them connected in their communities. The NXTSTAGE program helped expand Televeda’s reach to Kansas and provided the startup with market feedback pointing them to additional growth paths.
Shruti Gurudanti, Televeda Co-Founder, said, “This program is a phenomenal opportunity because it gives startups a chance to meet and talk to local leaders, learn their most pressing problems, and then implement a solution to positively impact the most number of people. It’s what every startup wants!”
“Our goal is to connect Kansas’ forward-thinking organizations with tools that are helping communities elsewhere
get stronger and healthier,” said Mary Beth Jarvis, NXTUS executive director. “We think our state can be a great
proving ground for game-changing technologies, and this competition offers a triple win: we grow young companies,
we build up the state’s innovation culture, and we address high-priority challenges to improve the health of Kansans
and their communities,” Jarvis said.
The current competition launches with five pilot partners that will evaluate the offerings of startups from around
the world to find innovative technology solutions they believe can add value in their communities:
• Healthy Bourbon County
• Hodgeman County Economic Development
• LiveWell Northwest Kansas
• Scott City Economic Development Committee
• Thrive Allen County
The BCBSKS grant, along with support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, will help NXTSTAGE achieve
its overall goals of boosting the growth of young tech companies and accelerating the pace of innovation in the
region.
Applications for the 2022 NXTSTAGE Community Health and Vibrancy Competition, presented by BCBSKS, are
now being accepted on the f6s startup platform.
About:
NXTUS, Inc is a catalyst for the Wichita startup ecosystem by generating and collaborating on many efforts to
support the region’s entrepreneurs. The organization helps startup founders launch and grow highly scalable
businesses and connects the business community with the innovation that startups provide. NXTUS manages
Accelerate Venture Partners, a fast-growing regional Angel investor syndicate, and the NXTSTAGE Pilot
Competition, aimed at connecting startups that have products in the market to mature businesses and regional
partners looking to become customers for their technologies.
For the past 80 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has built a reputation of trust with its members and
contracting providers by providing outstanding customer service while quickly and accurately processing claims;
fairly administering benefit plans and contracts; offering programs, services and tools to help members improve
or maintain their health; and operating under the highest ethical standards while being good stewards of
premium dollars. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield
Association and is the state’s largest insurer, serving all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte. NXTUS
and the NXTSTAGE Community Health and Vibrancy Competition are not affiliated with Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Kansas.
# # #
The Bourbon County Democrats are canceling their February 20th regular meeting.
Instead, it’s a good time to familiarize ourselves with Cannabis in Kansas by watching the three YouTube videos from Inspire: Cannabis in Kansas–on the history of cannabis, medicinal uses, and the economy of cannabis in Kansas.
Barbara Stockebrand. K-State Extension Agent. Submitted photo.
If you were going to invest now in your future best self, where would you put your time and energy? Research has shown that most would answer this question with activities that would bring success and wealth. Our worldly pressures push us to work harder so we can achieve more to reach those successes to have a better life.
I would challenge you to think about successful and wealthy vs. happy and healthy. For over 75 years, The Harvard Study of Adult Development has tracked the lives of 724 men — following their work, their home lives, and their health. Sixty of the 724 still live with most of them in their 90’s.
One group of the men studied finished the Harvard college, and most of those went on to serve in World War II. The second group consisted of a group of boys from the poorest neighborhoods in Boston, specifically chosen because they were from some of the most disadvantaged families in that city in the 1930’s.
Whole families were interviewed at the beginning of the study. These men entered adulthood in all walks of life. Some climbed the social ladder all the way to the top. Some went the opposite direction.
Follow-up continues with the remaining men, with interviews taking place in their own homes with them individually and with their families, studying their medical records, and questioning their doctors. What they have discovered so far, is that having a good life doesn’t have anything to do with wealth or fame or working harder, but simply that good relationships keep us happier and healthier.
Here are three main lessons learned:
Firstly, social connections are really good for us, and loneliness stifles. Those more socially connected to family, friends, and their community are happier, healthier, and they live longer. Loneliness is toxic. They are less happy, their health declines earlier in mid-life, and their brain function declines sooner.
Secondly, the quality of close relationships matters. Living in the midst of conflict is bad for our health. Living in the midst of warm relationships is protective. When the men had been followed into their mid-80’s, a look-back into the two groups was done to see if at age 50, a prediction could be made as to how they would grow old. It wasn’t their mid-life cholesterol levels that forecasted how they were going to age, it was how satisfied they were in their relationships. Those most satisfied with their relationships at 50 were the healthiest at 80. Good relationships add a protective factor from other life crises.
Thirdly, good relationships protect our brains in addition to our bodies. Being in a securely attached relationship to another person in your 80’s — where one can really count on the other person in times of need, is protective. Memories stay sharper longer. Bickering aside, when things got tough, they knew they could still count on that other person, and those arguments would not take a toll on their memories.
This isn’t new information. We are human and all like a quick fix. However, relationships are built over time. They require dedication, can be complicated, and take work over a lifetime to achieve meaningful relationships.
In the study those that were happiest going into retirement were those that replaced their friends from the work place with new friends in retirement. What might that look like? Replace screen time or being holed up in your home environment with spending time with people. Doing something new together with your spouse or a special someone, or reaching out to someone you haven’t spoken to in years. Feuds take a toll on those who hold grudges.
While acquaintances and friendships of all kinds are important, meaningful relationships can provide an increased sense of satisfaction and well-being. For more information on relationship building, contact a Southwind District Extension Office with locations in Erie, Fort Scott, Iola and Yates Center.
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The Southwind Extension District will host a free information meeting on Old World Bluestem at the Bressner Hall on the Woodson County Fairgrounds on February 16, 2022 at 2:30 p.m..
Old World Bluestems are a group of introduced grasses into the United States in the late 1920’s as improved grasses. While these grasses are called bluestems they are not closely related to Big Bluestem or Little Bluestem. Old World Bluestem are survivors of centuries of overgrazing. They are drought tolerant, aggressive, and prolific seed producers which sounds great until you add they are unpalatable to livestock in relation to our desired native grasses. They can become invasive anytime our natives species are stressed.
Dr. Walt Fick, Kansas State University Range Specialist, will discuss identification and control of Old World Bluestem. Also on the program will be Jarrod McVey, Woodson County Noxious Weed Director, discussing ways his department can help you with your noxious weed problems.
Beef/cow/calf Risk Management
The Southwind Extension District will be hosting Beef Cow/Calf Risk Management meeting on February 23, 2022 , at 5:30 at two locations. This is a hands-on evening workshop that will teach principles of determining cost of production for a cow/calf operation. Learn strategies for cattle marketing, and insurance products for price risk management. Participants will work with a case farm to apply these topics to a real-world cattle operation. The goal is for participants to acquire risk management skills they can apply directly to their own operations.
Registration fee is $15, payable that night. To guarantee a meal and informational packet call the Southwind Extension in Yates Center 620-625-8620 to register.
The Iola location is at the Southwind Extension Office at 1006 N. State Street in Iola. Fort Scott location is at Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Office at 104 N. National Ave in Fort Scott. Dinner will start at 5:30 pm with the program starting at 6:00. Program is scheduled to end at 8:30 pm
Due to winter storm and parking conditions the prom dress event has been rescheduled for Feb 19th. Please share with our Ft. Scott/Bourbon County residents.
This event is being rescheduled for February 19th.
Location, registration and selling times will remain the same.
The organizers have been on site today and the ice, snow and drifting in the parking areas are not favorable for the amount of vehicle traffic and parking that is expected with this event.
We apologize for the inconvenience of a re-schedule but we want this to be a positive experience for everyone, seller and buyer.
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: February 8, 2022
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Ashley Shelton
MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM
Call to Order
• Flag Salute
• Approval of Minutes from previous meeting
• Eric Bailey – Road and Bridge Report
• Mowing & Snow Removal Bids for Medical Building
• County Counselor Comment
• Susan Bancroft, Finance Director Comment
▫ Ascension Via Christi 1 year Lease Agreement Renewal
▫ State Setoff Agreement
• Public Comment
• Elected Officials Comment
• Commission Comment
Justifications for Executive Session: KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy KSA 75-4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship KSA 75-4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency KSA 75-4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships KSA 75-4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property KSA 75-4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.
The City of Fort Scott is like other employers nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have many positions to fill to be fully staffed.
The financial director position is one.
Last year, Susan Bancroft was hired as the Bourbon County Financial Director and also the Human Resource Director, in addition to her position as the City of Fort Scott Financial Director to combine services between the city and the county.
She has since given her resignation notice to the City of Fort Scott but has remained part-time financial director until a replacement can be found there, she said in an email.
“We are looking at applicants (for this position) and will be interviewing over the next couple of weeks,” Fort Scott’s Human Resource Director Brad Matkin said.
“Under the general supervision of the City Manager, the Director of Finance performs financial reports, payroll, and retirement records; assists in the preparation of the city budget; monitors city revenues and expenditures and maintains all related records; supervises personnel in performing related accounting, utility billing systems, and clerical work”.
Matkin said some recently hired new city employees are Erica Mahder, dispatch; Melanie Enloe, dispatch; Tyler Cook, Woodland Hills Golf Course Groundsman, and Garret Rash, street sweeper.
Currently there are two unfilled vacancies at the city’s wastewater treatment plant, two in the public works department, one to two police officers, one to two firemen and Emergency Medical Services personnel and one to two paramedics, Matkin said.
