The BB CO REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE will meet
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022 at 6:00 PM in EMPRESS EVENT CENTER, 7 N. MAIN FT SCOTT
REPUBLICANS & INDEPENDENTS are CORDIALLY INVITED
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Category Archives: Bourbon County
Lassoed Memories Opens New Studio:Grand Opening March 12
Erika George, 26, owner of Lassoed Memories – Erika George Photography has opened a new studio in downtown Fort Scott.
She started her business in 2016 and provides portraits, family photos, headshots, children, newborns, boudoir, Western lifestyle, and weddings photo sessions.
She chose the new location for her business, at 116 S. Main because of the ambiance.
“It is the old Common Ground Coffee Company and the old Hound Nutrition location,” she said. “I loved all of the different walls and aspects of the building. There is lots of room for different types of sessions within the area.”
George will be hosting a grand opening at the studio on March 12 from 2-4:30 p.m.
As a part of her grand opening, she will be offering $30 mini-sessions, local vendor shopping booths, and giveaways, she said.
“I love to connect with other people and capture memories that they can hold onto forever,” she said. “I especially love kid’s sessions and to interact with all of the different ages! I meet all different types of people and get to interact with all ages through many steps of life and love every minute of it!”
To contact George, phone: 620-381-4783 her Facebook page: Erika George Photography or by email: [email protected]
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition Meeting Minutes of March 2
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Minutes
March 2, 2022
- Welcome: Billie Jo welcomed ten members representing eleven agencies. She shared that applications for the 2022 Family Swim Pass program would be available at Buck Run and Beacon within the next week. She also noted that the Coalition Board was seeking a volunteer to fill the board position left open by Nancy Van Etten’s resignation.
- Member Introductions and Announcements:
- Michelle Stevenson sent word to the group that FSECP was thriving and growing; she now has ten pre-natal clients participating. She continues to accept referrals to her programs.
- Sandy Haggard, RSVP, announced that she had just received word that her grant had been extended for three additional years; her grant goals continue to be focused on food distribution and opioid cessation; she is also looking into partnerships with area museums as a place for seniors to volunteer.
- Sandy also updated the group on the Recovery House in Iola, SEK Substance Misuse Prevention Coalition project spearheaded by April Jackson.
- Christine Abbott, SEK Works, reminded members that she has funds available to help 16-24 year old young adults with GED funding, work experience, etc.; there are public computers available for use at the Fort Scott office.
- David Gillen, Beacon, noted that they were gearing up for an inspection from the food bank organization; he also invited members to come view the new concrete drive on the west side of the Beacon building.
- Allen Schellack, Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries and Salvation Army, mentioned that he is able to help with emergency lodging, taxi passes, etc. He also has heaters, bedding, towels available.
- Hannah Geneva, SEK Multi-County Health Department, shared that the department had received a generous donation of diapers from the Nazarene Church. They had also received a Tiller grant that allows them to provide birth control for uninsured women. Hannah also reminded members that Holly Fritter continues to hold “Mommy and Me” classes on the third Thursday of each month.
- Gabby Gier, CHC, 620-223-8015, is partnering with the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to work on tobacco cessation in Bourbon County. Gabby will present our May program to give details.
- Patty Simpson, Fort Scott Housing Authority, does have vacancies for two bedroom apartments; there is a waiting list for other units. If members have clients who might qualify for the KERA program, Patty is willing to help with those applications.
- Tonya Cliffman, Evergy, shared that LIEAP applications can be found at Evergy.com; deadline for applications is March 31.
- Program: Tanya Cliffman with Warming Hearts. Warming Hearts was organized by a group of caring individuals who have a heart for the homeless community. Through research and word of mouth, they were able to secure initial funding, gain permission from the City Commission, and build and place one “pod.” The group’s goal was to keep the homeless person off the ground, dry, and out of the weather. Although they were not able to place a homeless person this winter, they have learned about the obstacles and are working to eliminate those obstacles in order to grow the program.
- Open Forum: Nothing further was discussed; Billie Jo reminded members to sign the attendance sheet.
- Adjournment: Next General Membership meeting will be April 6, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. The program will be presented by Josh McCloud, Donor Relations and Community Outreach Coordinator, Comm
Bourbon County Commission Agenda for March 8
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: March 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
• 2022 Noxious Weed Management Plan
• 2022 Annual Noxious Weed Eradication Progress Report
• Mowing & Snow Removal Bids
• Discussion of Liquor Sales in the County
• Lora Holdridge – Discussion of 17 County Meeting (Date to be determined)
• County Counselor Comment
• Susan Bancroft, Finance Director Comment
• 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.
Knights of Columbus Annual Friday Fish Fry Starts Today
The Knights of Columbus will host their annual Lenten Fish Fry each Friday starting today.
The March 4th & 11th meals will be drive-thru only.
“The first two (Friday meals) will be a practice run since we only did two last year,” Mark McCoy, spokesman for the group said. The COVID 19 Pandemic prevented more meals served.
The drive-thru starts at 5 pm and serves until 6:30 pm.
The ladies of Mary Queen of Angel parish bake wonderful desserts and many varieties of cakes, pies, and cookies will be offered.
The menu is:
1 – Catfish, French fries, and coleslaw
2 – Catfish, cod, French fries, and coleslaw
3 – Cod, French fries, and coleslaw
Bourbon County REDI Receives Award
Bourbon County REDI Named Winner of Site Selectors Guild 2022 Projects with a Purpose Award
March 3, 2022 – The Site Selectors Guild (the Guild), the professional association of the world’s leading corporate location advisors, named Bourbon County Regional Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) the winner of its 2022 Projects with a Purpose award.
This award was presented during the Guild’s 2022 Annual Conference in San Diego, California. This award honors individuals or organizations who have successfully implemented location selection projects that go above and beyond job creation to address social and/or environmental issues within a community.
“We are thrilled to present the second annual Projects with a Purpose award to Bourbon County REDI,” said Chris Lloyd, Site Selectors Guild board chair. “Now in its second year, the awards recognize communities which see economic development as about more than just creating new jobs but as a way to help to address pressing social issues and to enhance opportunities for all.”
“What an honor!! Thank you to the Site Selectors Guild for presenting Bourbon County REDI with the Projects with a Purpose award, for our work with the Bourbon County Commission, Fort Scott Commission, and Noble Health Corporation. It is an honor to be accepting this award, and I am humbled by the recognition we received from such a prestigious group.” said Robert Harrington, Executive Director Bourbon County REDI.
In 2019, the local hospital in Fort Scott, Kansas closed. The hospital is reopening thanks to Project Phoenix, led by Bourbon County REDI. The reopened hospital will bring 150 jobs and $20 million in annual payroll back to the community. Moreover, the reopened hospital provides the healthcare necessary to attract and retain future job opportunities.
To learn more about the Site Selectors Guild Awards program, visit https://siteselectorsguild.com/guild-awards.
About the Site Selectors Guild
The Site Selectors Guild is the only association of the world’s foremost professional site selection consultants. Guild members provide location strategy to corporations across the globe and for every industry, sector, and function. Founded in 2010, the Site Selectors Guild is dedicated to advancing the profession of international corporate site selection by promoting integrity, objectivity and professional development. Members are peer-nominated, vetted, and must demonstrate significant professional location advisory experience. In the past three years alone, Guild members facilitated the announced creation of approximately 165,000 jobs and $90 billion in announced capital investment. Guild membership is the highest standard in the site selection industry. For more information, visit siteselectorsguild.com or follow @siteselectguild on Twitter.
KOMB Radion Auction Today And Tomorrow
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Labor/Housing and Retail Studies To Be Conducted By Bourbon County Eco Devo
There is a shortage of workers and also quality housing in the county.
The Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI) organization is working to address that problem.
“We are conducting a labor and housing study that will be used to help create programs that will allow REDI to help our current employers and the communities within Bourbon County to attract people,” Robert Harrington, director of REDI said.
“We know that there is a shortage of workers and quality housing within our county,” he said. “We are hopeful that after these reports are published we will get a lot of information that we can use to help find solutions for both issues.”
Looking for Retailers That are Needed
REDI is also facilitating a retail survey at the same time.
“We will use (this study) to help give us an idea of what new retailers the citizens of Bourbon County would like to see and the information we would need to attract such retailers,” he said.
The retail survey can be viewed at:
REDI Consultants Conduct Interviews, Send Surveys
REDI recently hired Goldstone Consulting, Moberly, Missouri, and O’Brian and Associates, Joplin, Missouri, who will be conducting the interviews and putting together the studies after they accumulate all of the information, he said.
“They will also be giving the REDI Board a strategic plan based on the data we receive,” he said REDI is paying for the study
“The consultants that we hired will be conducting interviews with several of our business owners in the upcoming months as well as surveys being sent out to Chamber members and citizens across the county,” Harrington said.
“We are also hopeful that we will be able to send these same surveys out to students in the two high schools and the community college so that we can get a perspective of our younger generation on their needs and wants as well as hopefully entice them to stay and live and work here at home,” he said.
“The studies are being paid for by Bourbon County REDI and the results will be given to my board of directors by August of this year,” he said.
CASA Training Begins
Youth Entrepreneur Challenge Tradeshow March 8
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Young Mom Turns Creative Outlet into Business
Genna Gilbert, 23, is a stay-at-home mom who is turning a creative outlet, arts and crafts, into a business to benefit herself and her family.
The business is called Made With Love by Genna.
She started doing artwork at 16-years-old to “get away from reality,” Gilbert said. “Painting/crafting helped me escape and get away from all the negativity that was going on in my life at the time.”
Then people started noticing her art and asking her to do some painting for them.
That began the process of selling her work. This year she made it an official business, she said.
She paints on metal, resin, glass, clay, and wood, creating items from earrings, drinking cups to windows. “A lot of things, custom artwork,” she said.
She does most of her work at her dining room table, with her husband Dante assisting her with paperwork and “cutting wood,” she said.
In the near future, she is hoping to put items online and in addition, have painting sessions for children and adults.
To contact her see her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MadeWithLoveByGenna or email her at [email protected]
Get Ready for Walk Kansas
Southwind Extension District
Spring is around the corner, and that means it’s almost time for Walk Kansas! This is a team-based health initiative program that will encourage you to lead a healthier life by being more active and making better nutrition choices.
Through Walk Kansas, you are part of a six-member team which selects a goal and then supports one another in reaching that goal during the course of the 8-week healthy lifestyle challenge. Teams can be made up of family members, coworkers, friends, community organization members, neighbors, or members of a faith-based community. You don’t have to be in the same town, county, state, or even country. If you don’t have a team, we can assign you to one or you can fly solo!
We promote walking because almost anyone can do it and it is good for your heart. However, other types of exercise are beneficial as well so they also count towards Walk Kansas minutes. This includes any moderate or vigorous activity. This physical activity will help boost your mood, sharpen your focus, reduce your stress, and improve your sleep. No matter who you are, you can find safe, fun ways to get active by moving your own way.
By participating in Walk Kansas, you gain support in working towards leading a healthier life, including support from your teammates and exclusive membership in a closed Walk Kansas Facebook group. Success increases with supportive relationships. You will also receive weekly newsletters filled with motivational healthy lifestyle information, resources, and recipes. This year, the newsletters will include a focus on healthy eating for the mind, since eating a certain way can help protect brain function and reduce your risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, you will qualify for HealthQuest credits if you are a State of Kansas employee participating in this program!
So, what are you waiting for? Registration for Walk Kansas opens on March 1st. Register by March 26th online at WalkKansas.org or by contacting your local K-State Research and Extension office. For more information, please contact Clara Wicoff, Nutrition, Food and Health Agent, at [email protected] or by calling 620-365-2242.