2024 Bourbon County Fair Schedule
Category Archives: Bourbon County
Chamber to host Election Candidate Forum Updated
Chamber to host Election Candidate Forum
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Primary Election Candidate Forum will be held on Thursday, July 25th at the Fort Scott High School Auditorium, 1005 S. Main St. Attendees should enter through the main (west) doors where there will be a Meet & Greet with the candidates at 5:30pm and the forum will begin at 6pm in the order of Federal, State, then Local races.
Candidates from the following offices have been invited to participate in the forum: U.S. House of Representatives 2nd District; Kansas Senate District 13; Bourbon County Commissioner Districts 1, 2, and 3; Bourbon County Attorney (unopposed); Bourbon County Register of Deeds (unopposed); Bourbon County Treasurer; Bourbon County Clerk (unopposed); and Bourbon County Sheriff.
Residents of the community are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates to the Chamber by 12pm on Monday, July 22nd. Questions may be emailed to [email protected], mailed to 231 E. Wall St., or dropped off in person. The forum will also be broadcast live on the Facebook page Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. Candidates in these races are asked to RSVP to the Chamber by July 22nd to confirm attendance.
Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.
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Chamber to host Election Candidate Forum on July 25 at FSHS
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Primary Election Candidate Forum will be held on Thursday, July 25th at the Fort Scott High School Auditorium, 1005 S. Main St. Attendees should enter through the main (west) doors where there will be a Meet & Greet with the candidates at 5:30pm and the forum will begin at 6pm in the order of Federal, State, then Local races.
Candidates from the following offices have been invited to participate in the forum: U.S. House of Representatives 2nd District; Kansas Senate District 13; Bourbon County Commissioner Districts 1, 2, and 3; Bourbon County Attorney (unopposed); Bourbon County Register of Deeds (unopposed); Bourbon County Treasurer; and Bourbon County Sheriff.
Residents of the community are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates to the Chamber by 12pm on Monday, July 23rd. Questions may be emailed to [email protected], mailed to 231 E. Wall St., or dropped off in person. The forum will also be broadcast live on the Facebook page Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. Candidates in these races are asked to RSVP to the Chamber by July 22nd to confirm attendance.
Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.
Minutes of the Bourbon County Commission on July 8
July 8 2024 Monday, 5:30 p.m.
The Board of Bourbon County Commissioners met in open session with all three Commissioners and Deputy County Clerk Amber Page present.
Clint Walker, Rachel Walker, Cory Bryars, Michael Hoyt, Anne Dare, Brent M. Smith, Mike Wunderly, Pete Owenby, Leroy Kruger, Kyle Parks, Sheena Parks, and Tim Emerson were present for some or all of the meeting.
Jim opened the meeting with the flag salute.
Clifton made a motion to approve the consent agenda which includes approval of minutes from 7-1-2024. Brandon seconded the motion and all approved.
Cory Bryars, representative of Care to Share Cancer Support Group, stated the group operates in Bourbon, Crawford, and Linn Counties and that anybody who would like to volunteer can reach out to them on Facebook or at (620) 644-9090. Mr. Bryars stated they are currently at the medical facility building and the space has been working well for them and he thanked the Sheriff’s Office for their regular support. Care to Share supports individuals with cancer, their caregivers, and families and since 2009 they have given 1.5 million dollars to those primarily in Bourbon County. Mr. Bryars stated that they raise money at events, individuals donate in honor of people’s loved ones, and in the past three months they’ve had two people anonymously donate $5,000. Teresa Davenport is the President of the organization and he thanked her, the board members, and volunteers working behind the scenes to help care for those in need. On July 27th there will be a golf tournament that will benefit Care to Share with free will donation lunch and dinner as well as free music from 6:00-9:00. Care to Share volunteers will be serving breakfast and lunch at the Bourbon County Fair next Tuesday through Thursday. The third annual Fort Fest will be held on September 27-28 and they are currently working on a family event to be held on September 29 with more details to come soon. The Timken Foundation granted Care to Share $70,000 which they will receive in September. Mr. Bryars discussed a community stage idea that would be able to be transported to any site in the county and stated they haven’t made anything official and are working on the logistics of it now.
Anne Dare referenced the recent audit and stated that an elected official gave themselves a raise without the Commission’s approval and that there is a statute that outlines the county elected and appointed official’s compensation is fixed by the Commission. Anne asked if the Commission has put any sort of policies or guidelines in place, so all elected officials are aware and that you don’t forget. Jim asked Justin if once we establish a budget for an elected official, they can give themselves a pay raise as long as they stay under budget. Justin said once you approve the budget it is theirs to spend, that you can’t control that, and you can’t go in and cut their budget without doing a lot of special consideration. Justin discussed how the County Attorney and Sheriff’s Office must be adequately funded but there is nothing saying what adequate funding is. Anne discussed having detailed credit card receipts and asked if the Commission were going to set any policies going forward. Jim said if elected officials such as the County Attorney or Sheriff have credit cards, we have no jurisdiction over them. Justin said it is a gray area and if the elected officials stay within their budget how do you hold their feet to the fire. Anne said as a community member wanting her tax dollars spent as appropriately as possible and if there is no documentation, I don’t get to make a judgement on that. Anne discussed Jim speaking to Baker Tilly regarding the county budgets to see if our numbers were in line and said that in the past when Clifton has been asked to speak to a department or organization that the Commission have voted on that to allow him to do that. Anne said she doesn’t remember any such conversation happening like that in a public setting for you to be able to do that. Jim said he talked to them as a Bourbon County citizen not a Commissioner. Anne discussed items brought up in the budget work session such as repairs to the elevator, dispatch funds, and money for election equipment that is already having issues even though it is new, and the IT budget reduced even though offices in the Courthouse are having problems with the current system. Anne said the biggest issue she sees is on the general equipment fund which is $394,863 that will be given as a startup to Freeman and that is in addition to a tax the citizens will start paying in October. Anne asked when that $394,000 was approved and Clifton said it was $500,000 and that the City also approved it six or seven months ago.
Kyle Parks asked that the Commission meeting and the Industrial Development Research Committee not meet at the same time as the research committee isn’t being recorded so that others can go back and watch later. Jim said that we do not have anything to do with the committee that they are completely separate. Mr. Parks asked for clarification as to the decision to give USD 235 $200,000 over the next four years contingent on the money from solar panels coming in and asked what happens if the money doesn’t come in. The Commissioners agreed it is contingent on the money coming in. Mr. Parks asked what happens if the school district starts construction expecting $50,000 per year. Jim said Mr. Eden knows.
Pete Owenby asked if the Commissioners heard of the major solar panel fire in Olathe or the on in Lees Summitt that put off black smoke and asked if that smoke would be toxic. Mr. Owenby asked if the Commissioners could get paperwork from KDHE that says solar is safe. Jim said they are trying to do everything that is being asked and questioned why Mr. Owenby keeps coming back. Mr. Owenby said that he keeps coming back because they are being put 275 from his house and asked if there will be any solar panels near any of the Commissioner’s houses. Mr. Owenby stated the Commissioners are the first and last line of defense for the community. Mr. Owenby said that Olathe has plans in place to protect their citizens and firefighters and plans outlining how to put of solar panel fires and asked if the Commissioners have any such plans. Clifton said there aren’t any panels here yet. Jim said he has talked to the Fire Chief for the City of Fort Scott who is reviewing the possibility of solar panel fires.
Amber Page, Deputy Clerk, said that the last day to register to vote for the Primary election is July 16th. We will have early voting available July 29th through August 2nd from 8:30-4:30 in the Commission Room. On Saturday, August 3rd early voting will be from 8:00-noon and on Monday, August 5, early voting will be from 8:30-noon. The polling places will be open on August 6th from 7:00-7:00. Jim made a motion to not hold a meeting on August 5th due to the election. Clifton seconded the motion and all approved.
Brandon said any questions for the Industrial Development Research Committee should be submitted to the Clerk by the end of the day Thursday and she will distribute them to the committee members. Brandon said he doesn’t know when the committee will hold their next meeting as it is up to them to set the times and place, but they are currently in the lobby for anybody who wants to go listen. Jim said he received a letter from a gentleman who thanked them for the ER and stated the gentleman had to move when we didn’t have an ER and now he is able to move back home. Clifton told Anne Dare that the Commissioners haven’t been asked about dispatch funds. Jim said he talked to the City Manager today and he thinks the City will be going a different way for funding. Clifton said the amount to switch to Tyler Technologies is way more than $20,000. Clifton said Eric, Dustin, and the public works department have done a lot of work relating to the FEMA disaster gathering information and said they have driven the roads multiple times. Clifton said with all the rain the roads could be fixed and then washed out again and the graders have a lot of pictures of all the damage and the total of the damage was over $10,000,000. Clifton said we have different software now and Eric and Dustin have the documentation and we done everything needed to be reimbursed. Brandon stated the County has done their part and the Governor declared and now they are waiting for the President to declare before any reimbursement can be made. Brandon said that it will take a long time to get all the damage fixed.
Clifton made a motion to adjourn at 6:08. Brandon seconded the motion and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
___________________, Chairman
___________________,Commissioner
ATTEST: ___________________, Commissioner
Jennifer Hawkins, Bourbon County Clerk
7-15-2024 Approved Date
Bourbon County Fair In Full Swing
Judging continued at the Bourbon County Fair on Tuesday and in the evening, sheep and goats were shown in the livestock arena.
The Vendor Mart at the Merchant Building is open from Tuesday through Thursday evening, from 5-8 p.m.
Wednesday starting at 8:30 a.m. judging of dairy cattle bucket calves, dairy cattle, dairy goats, beef cattle, and bucket calves will happen.
Thursday, a Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee will take place in the Hubenett Pavilion at 8 a.m. followed by swine judging, Round Robin Showmanship, a public 4-H Fashion Revue at Fort Scott Community College and the Uniontown FFA Cornhole Tournament.
On Friday, a livestock judging contest, and 4-H Club Barnyard Olympics are highlights.
Saturday is check-out and clean-up day at the fair.
Muddy Water Farm Receives Federal Grant to Insulate Their Shop: More REAP Funds Are Available
Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it partnered with rural Kansans on clean energy projects to lower energy bills, expand access to clean energy, and create jobs in rural Kansas communities, according to a press release.
These investments are made through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), according to the press release. The REAP program helps agricultural producers and rural small business owners expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal, and small hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses, address climate change, and lower energy costs.
Last month’s REAP announcement includes projects in 38 other states and Puerto Rico.
In Bourbon County, Muddy Water Farm’s Kevin Stark, Dave Carney, Brady Schindel and Mike Vandelogt were announced as the awardees of a $19,088 grant that has helped their farm/ranch business make energy-efficient improvements to its operations. The project is estimated to save 44,659 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power four homes, according to the press release.
The farm staff heard about the grant opportunity last summer, Stark said.
“We needed to make some improvements to our shop anyway,” he said. ” Improving the energy efficiency of the shop just made sense. We were going to do it a step at a time over a few years but the grant helped us complete it all at once.”
They had help with the tedious grant process from Clint Morris with Cleaner Greener Energy, Parsons KS.
The grant money was used to add insulation to the shop and replace the shop doors with an insulated door, he said.
Since the installation, the farm’s utility bills have been lower.
“The working conditions in the shop are much better,” Stark said. “Cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. ”
Muddy Water Farms LLC produces corn, soybeans, and wheat.
Daniel Zywietz, SEK Solar, Chanute, also helps with the grant process for this program.
The next round of grant application deadline is September 30.
Chamber Coffee Hosted by Bourbon County Fairgrounds Assn. on July 18
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Bourbon County Community Theatre Performs Holy Mother of Bingo!
The newly formed Bourbon County Community Theatre performs its first production – Holy Mother of Bingo! by Patrick Walsh.
Performances are at 7 p.m. on Aug. 2 and 3 in the lobby of the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College. The immersive murder mystery allows audience members to play five full rounds of Bingo with prizes donated by local businesses.
Pioneer Drama describes the show this way, “An innocent bingo fundraiser at the Our Mother of Mercy church goes awry when parishioners mysteriously drop dead! The evidence suggests well-calculated murders, but who is to blame? Tensions rise as everyone begins identifying suspects. Past feuds rear their heads as the members of the parish try to state their innocence one by one. Who could be behind the elaborate spree? The disgruntled choir director? The magician turned youth minister? The ex-convict that has recently turned to the power of prayer? It couldn’t be one of the Cookie Cadets selling their beloved cookies! Everyone’s a suspect… even the audience in the zany comedy that takes interactive theatre to a whole new level!”
Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children and Senior Citizens. A purchase of an entire table of 7 or 8 gives audience members a discount of $2 on each adult ticket. Tickets are at bcct.ludus.com, at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, or at the door, but seating is limited and advance purchase is suggested.
More information can be found on the Bourbon County Community Theatre Facebook page. BBCO Community Theatre, LLC is a non-profit community organization formed last year whose mission is to bring education, community, and culture to southeast KS through threatre.
The production is directed by Angie Bin along with Assistant Director Mark Bergmann.
KDOT to replace guardrail along U.S. 69
The week of July 22, the Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin replacing guardrail on the northbound lanes of U.S. 69 in Bourbon and Linn counties. The 27-mile project area starts at the south U.S. 69/U.S. 54 junction and continues north to Pleasanton.
The speed limit will be reduced to 60 miles an hour in the work zone, with alternating lane closures for northbound traffic. The ramp from westbound U.S. 54 to northbound U.S. 69 in Fort Scott will be closed to traffic between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 24-25. Use alternate routes during the closure.
KDOT awarded construction contracts totaling $1 million to Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., Topeka. Weather permitting, the work should be finished by the end of 2024. Check KDOT’s updated traveler information website, www.Kandrive.gov, for more highway condition and construction details. Persons with questions may contact Construction Manager Warren Ebberts at (620) 901-6549 or Public Information Officer Manager Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433.
Bo Co Industrial Development Research Committee Meets at 6:30 p.m today
A meeting of the Industrial Development Research Committee will be held on July 15, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in the main lobby of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Ave. Fort Scott, KS 66701.
Amended Agenda for the Bo Co Commission Meeting Today
Bourbon County Courthouse
210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800
Fax: 620-223-5832
Bourbon County, Kansas
Brandon Whisenhunt
1st District Commissioner
Jim Harris, Chairman
2nd District Commissioner
Clifton Beth
3rd District Commissioner
Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
July 15, 2024 4:00 p.m.
- Call Meeting to Order
- Flag Salute
- Approval of Consent Agenda
- Approval of Minutes from 7/8/2024
- Approval of Accounts Payable Totaling $469,598.00
- Approval of Payroll Totaling $306,110.16
- Approval of May Financials
- Budget Discussion
- Public Comments
- Susan Walker, CFO-KWORC Renewal
- Brian Allen-Mitigation Plan
- Teri Hulsey, EMS Director-Ambulance/Purple Wave
- Commission Comments
- Adjourn Meeting
Executive Session Justifications:
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 the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting
would jeopardize such security measures.
New Teachers at U235 School District: Shrewsbury, Harris
There are two school districts in Bourbon County, USD 234, Fort Scott, and USD 235, Uniontown.
This is part of a series featuring new teachers in the districts.
Uniontown schools have enrollment for the 2024-25 year on July 25-26 and the first day of school is August 15.
Uniontown has four new teachers and one new principal.
The school has a new telephone number: 620.224.2350.
Caitlin Shrewsbury, 31, is a new third-grade teacher at West Bourbon Elementary School, Uniontown.
“I received my Bachelor’s of Science in Education at Pittsburg State University, as well as my Master’s of Science in elementary teaching,” she said. “I did my student teaching at WBE and I am now back in the very same classroom! I taught 3rd grade at Eugene Ware for 8 wonderful years.”
“I enjoy coaching my daughter’s t-ball team as well as teaching summer school for several years. My husband and I love to attend local fundraisers and charity events.”
Her husband, Weston, runs his own small cattle business and they have two daughters; Zaley (5) and Sway (2).
“The best thing about being an educator is the relationships you build with your students and colleagues. These relationships last a lifetime!”
“The biggest challenge I have seen lately is what they call teacher burnout. It is no easy job!”
Susan Harris, Hepler, will be the 7th and 8th-grade math and high school speech, debate/forensics teacher at Uniontown Junior High School for the 2024-25 school year.
Susan has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Education, Speech, Drama, Forensics/Debate; a Master’s in K-12 Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); and a Master’s in K-12 Special Education. She has endorsements in 5th-9th Math, English, Social Science, and Science. She just completed her 25th year of teaching.
Prior to her twenty-five years in education, she was a hair stylist for sixteen years, owning her own salon in Hepler until she and her husband, Brian, received a grant to attend college.
It was grant designated for farmers who were suffering through the farm crisis of the 80s and 90s.
It was challenging for her and her husband to manage a farming operation while raising their three children, attending college, and working, she said.
Harris’s response to any student who says they don’t think they can attend college is that they “might surprise themselves at the challenges they can overcome.”
She says the best thing about being an educator is building up your students’ faith in their own abilities until they can overcome their own challenges.
Harris currently serves on the Hepler Library Executive Board; she was the teacher representative for the USD 101 Site Council; and she served as the local Vice-Chair and Chair of the ANW-Kansas-National Education Association (KNEA) where she attended many leadership trainings and Representative Assemblies in Topeka, Wichita, and Washington DC.
She has three children, eight grandchildren, “and one grandbaby angel.” She enjoys attending her grandchildren’s plays, and ball games, and ” just hanging out with them while they are young.”
Harris states that though she will miss her former students and co-workers, she is proud to say she is a Uniountown Eagle and looks forward to building relationships with her new students and co-workers.