Category Archives: Bourbon County

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Jobs

Small Businesses Encouraged With New Partnership Offer

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is initiating a partnership program that aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial environment in the community.

What is an entrepreneur?

An entrepreneur is an individual who, rather than working as an employee, founds and runs a small business, assuming all the risks and rewards of the venture, according to investopedia.com.

“The big-picture vision for this initiative is to move Bourbon County forward as a great place to start and grow a small business and where existing businesses have access to all the resources they need to grow and achieve their potential,” Bill Michaud said.

Michaud is the chairman of the Chamber’s Business Resource and Development Committee.

Bill Michaud is the chairman of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Business Resource and Development Committee. Submitted photo.

 

He and Chamber Executive Director Lindsay Madison are the primary workers to bring this initiative to Fort Scott, Michaud said.

“Lindsay Madison did the work to complete the application which resulted in us being selected,” he said. ” She and I have been the primary ones immersed in the details.”

Lindsay Madison is the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. Submitted photo.

“The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce representing Bourbon County has been selected by Network Kansas as a partner in the E-Community Program,  a partnership program that aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial environment in partner communities throughout the state,” Michaud said. The Chamber was notified in June 2019.

“Bourbon County was awarded this partnership opportunity through a competitive application process in which 14 Kansas communities were vying for selection and only five new e-community partners were selected,” he said.

 “The revolving loan fund and other E-Community resources can be the catalyst to build onto the many great improvements which have occurred in our community in recent years, “Michaud said. “This program is a resource that could help fund additional rehabilitation of downtown buildings which are currently very difficult to finance.”

 E-Community loan funds can be used for building acquisition, renovations, inventory, expansion, relocation, equipment and other purposes.

One of the barriers to starting or growing a business is access to funding.

  “The largest component of the E-Community Partnership is providing a locally controlled loan fund used to enable new business and existing businesses to overcome that barrier,” Michaud said.  “There also additional resources available through Network Kansas to help businesses of all sizes including a variety of programs through StartupKS.”

The E-Community program also provides funding for several approved educational and personal development programs. 

“These programs are geared toward teaching and developing potential and existing entrepreneurs,” he said.

Click below for a link to that inventory of programs:

The E-Community program was created through a Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship Tax Credit Program, according to the Fort Scott Chamber website.

Application Details

Applicants may include startup businesses and existing business purchases and/or expansions.

The minimum loan request is $5,000 with a $45,000 maximum amount available per applicant business, subject to availability. The terms for loans issued in the fiscal year 2019-20 will be 5 percent rate over a 10-year maximum term.

Applicants will be asked if the entrepreneur or business has a tax liability in arrears with the Kansas Department of Revenue or the IRS, or been involved in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings.

Applicants will be asked to provide relevant details such as length of time in business, business name or entity changes, number of jobs to be created or retained, etc.

All business plans will be submitted with the application and should include key elements such as:

  • Executive Summary
  • Business Description
  • Products or Services
  • Short- and Long-Term Goals
  • Project Financing
  • Management
  • Ownership
  • Marketing Strategy
  • Description of Major & Prospective Customers
  • Description of Market & Competition
  • Financial Projections

Contact the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State University for assistance in developing a business plan, 620-235-4920.

How the application will be judged

The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Financial Review Board will use the following rubric to score all applications in the Bourbon County E-Community Program.

Criteria Strength (1-4) Weight (% of total) Weighted Score
Financial Soundness

25
Owner/Operator Experience

20
Business Plan

25
Owner/3rd Party Funding

25
Community Commitment

5
TOTAL

100

SCALE

4 = Exceeds expectations 3 = Meets expectations

2= Partially meets expectations 1 = Does not meet expectations

Application Checklist

Be sure to include the following with your completed application:

  1. $50 Non-refundable Application Fee
  2. Business Plan including Financial Projections (1-year projection of profit & loss by month and 3 years of annual projections)
  3. Financial Statements (if an existing business)
  • Income statement and balance sheet from within the past 90 days
  • Income statements, balance sheets, and complete business tax returns for the two (2) prior year-ends
  • A current list of business obligations
  1. Applicant Resume
  2. Personal Financial Statement from within the past 90 days
  3. Three Letters of Reference
  4. Other documents relevant to the project
  • Proposed purchase agreement
  • The existing or proposed franchise agreement
  • Existing or proposed lease agreement
  • Real estate contract
  • Contractor bids
  • Appraisals and environmental reports
  • Partnership agreement
  • Articles of incorporation & bylaws

History Of Initiative

The initiative was established as a part of the Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004 to stimulate entrepreneurship and small business growth as a priority for economic and community development in the State of Kansas.

Click here to learn more about Network Kansas and E-Communities.

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is located at  231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701 and can be reached at  620-223-3566  or email [email protected].

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Area News, Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Schools

Local Singers Invited to Join Pittsburg Chorale, Directed By FS Music Teacher

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Pittsburg Youth Chorale Fall Enrollment Open

Area singers in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade are invited to join Pittsburg Youth Chorale, directed by MJ Harper.

The purpose of this vocal ensemble is to further grow vocal abilities, musical knowledge, and choral repertoire.

Performers will prepare music for community events and music festivals.

Rehearsals are Tuesdays from 5PM-6PM at First United Methodist Church, 415 N. Pine, Pittsburg, KS and begin September 3rd.

There is a fee of $50 per session (Sept-Dec/Jan-May) to cover the cost of music.

Scholarships are available.

To enroll, contact MJ Harper at 620-719-6633 or email [email protected], deadline September 3rd.

Bourbon County, Business, Fair, Fort Scott, Jobs

Peerless Expands Assembly Lines: Needs More Workers

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Peerless Products is hiring.

Peerless Products, 2403 S. Main, is the largest employer in Fort Scott with 420 workers.

And they need more assembly lines to grow their business, according to Dave Elliott, Peerless Products Culture and Morale Manager.

Founded in Fort Scott, Kansas in 1952,  they manufacturer high-performance aluminum architectural and commercial windows for new construction, replacement and historical construction, according to their website.http://www.peerlessproducts.com/Corporate/About-Peerless

“We need to have the capacity to run more products through, to continue to grow,” Elliott said.

“We purchased the old American Standard warehouse in Nevada (MO) on I-49, we will use that as a staging warehouse,” Elliott said. “That frees up space in the Fort Scott facility for another assembly line.”

The employees the company is looking for?

“Somebody that has a good work ethic and a willingness to learn and grow,” Elliott said. In addition, applicants must have a valid driver’s license, and a high school diploma or GED.

The starting-out wage at the plant is $11 per hour, and “they usually work more than 40 hours a week.”

Day shift is from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

“The hours on Friday depends on how much of the product is complete,” Elliott said.

Peerless offers a benefits package that offers health insurance, life insurance, a 401K and an “astounding profit-sharing program,” Elliot said.

Peerless also offers “employee care” activities such as chair massage a couple of times a year and currently are giving employees 20 lb. meat bundles. This processed beef and pork comes from what the company purchases at county fairs of 4-H animals.

Today, Aug. 9, Elliot and Karen Contreras will be at the Ellis Fine Art Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College for a job fair.

Ellis Fine Arts Center

From 2-6 p.m. interested applicants are asked to bring their resume and come for a visit with the two Peerless Products representatives.

 

Area News, Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Health Care

Bourbon County Coalition Highlights Care To Share

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Lavetta Simmons presents information about Care To Share at the Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition on Aug. 9 at the First Baptist Church.

The Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition meets monthly, except July, to allow agencies that help families to network and share what they are all about.

The coalition’s next meeting is Sept. 4 at noon at the First Baptist Church.

The Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition met Aug. 7 with Board President Billie Jo Drake leading the meeting.

The mission of the Bourbon County Coalition Board is to provide children with an environment of security, permanence, and a sense of belonging and being loved. To support the mission, grants are applied for annually. Last year the board received a $1,000 grant from the T. B. Baker Foundation and $2,000 from the Southeast Kansas Community Foundation, Billie Jo Drake, president of the board, said at the opening of the meeting.

“We have also received funds from United Way, Key Charitable Trust, Mercy auxiliary, civic organizations and individuals,” Drake said.

The two projects the board focuses on are 1) rent and utility assistance, vetted through another helping agency, The Beacon and 2) pool passes in the summer for area low-income children.

This month, the local helping organization, Care To Share, took its’ turn telling what services they provide the community.

Lavetta Simmons, who along with Joy O’Neal and Teresa Davenport, helped found the ministry in 2007.

Lavetta Simmons

“I lost my Mom and Dad to cancer,” Simmons said. “Through that experience, I want to reach out to others.”

“Some people have no family,” she said. “Some have no insurance.”

The number-one expense is gasoline for traveling to treatments, Simmons said.

Last year Care To Share helped people 788 times and gave out $68,874 to assist the cancer patients.

Not only gas for medical appointments but assistance with wigs after hair loss, bras after mastectomies and many other personal needs.

Also housecleaning, respite care, mowing of lawns, meal coordination, providing Ensure (a nutritional drink),  and “Sunshine” calls to patients.

Care To Share’s mission is to provide friendship and support through emotional and financial assistance to individuals who are cancer survivors and their caregivers of Southeast Kansas.

For more information contact Simmons at 620-224-8070, Dona  Bauer at 620-224-7075 or Teresa Davenport at 620-362-3042.

The organization has fundraisers throughout the year to support the mission.

In addition, “so many people, businesses, organizations and churches give,” she said.

The ministry is also funded by T.B. Baker Foundation, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, United Way and memorials.

The Care To Share Board is comprised of Dona Bauer, Donna Beerbower, Kathy Clark, Teresa Davenport, Denny Heidrick, Carol Hill, Nancy Hofer, Randy Holt, Richard Long, Dr. Boban Mathew, Sidney Maycumber, Simmons, and Jerry Witt.

Larry Davenport serves as financial advisor to the organization.

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Government, Kansas

Program To Replace/Rehabilitate Deficient Bridges Reinstated

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KDOT program will replace and rehabilitate deficient bridges on a local road system.

 

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has reinstated a popular program designed to help replace and rehabilitate city and county deficient bridges. KDOT Secretary Julie Lorenz announced the program today at an event in Butler County joined by leaders from the Kansas Association of Counties, the Kansas County Highway Association and the Kansas Contractors Association.

 

The Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program is a $5 million state-funded program that helps cities and counties by providing up to $150,000 toward the replacement or rehabilitation of a bridge on the local roadway system. To qualify, bridges must be rated as deficient, have a daily vehicle count of less than 100 and be 20 to 50 feet in length.  Cities and counties can garner an additional $50,000 by closing a deficient bridge. Local jurisdictions that are awarded funds must provide a 10 percent match.

 

“Kansas’ local road system is critical for getting people and goods where they need to go,” said Gov. Laura Kelly regarding the program. “I’m pleased to see state and local government working together and combining resources to replace aging infrastructure – creating healthier communities and economies.”

 

Funding for the program is part of the $216 million in sales tax authorized by Gov. Kelly to remain in the state highway fund in fiscal year 2020. Those funds will be used to increase highway preservation, help complete delayed T-WORKS projects, improve safety and provide new funding opportunities for cities and counties.

 

“This was a popular program when it was offered in 2014 and I’m very happy that we’re able to bring it back,” said Secretary Lorenz. “Reinstating the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program was one of the top recommendations coming out of last year’s Joint Legislative Vision Task Force and is a great way for us to work together with cities and counties to address needed improvements.”

 

There are approximately 19,000 bridges on Kansas’ local road systems. About 20 percent – or 3,800 — of those bridges are in poor condition – or unable to meet today’s weight and vehicle requirements.

 

Under the previous program, 110 bridges were replaced or permanently closed during the two years it operated.

 

“The counties are excited and appreciative of this new bridge replacement program,” said Justin Mader, Saline County Engineer and president of the Kansas County Highway Association. “It will be good for agriculture, good for safety, will put construction workers to work and boost the Kansas economy while building and rehabilitating bridges that will benefit Kansas for decades into the future.”

 

Applications will be accepted through mid-September and KDOT will select projects in early October. Details are posted on KDOT’s website and can be seen at the links below:

Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program

Guidelines

Fact Sheet

Application

Reimbursement request form

Bourbon County, Schools

New UJHS Social Science Teacher: Gabrielle Studer

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Gabrielle Studer. Submitted photo.
The following is part of a series of new teachers in Bourbon County schools.
Uniontown teachers have In-Service on Monday, August 26. The first day with students is Thursday, August 29.
Name: Gabrielle Studer
Age: 41
Title and where you will teach: Junior high social sciences teacher, Uniontown
Experience: Five years of teaching English at Fort Scott High School, two years as an instructional coach at Fort Scott Middle School.
Education: BS in sociology from MSSU, and earned a teaching license through PSU. “I worked as a social worker for several years before moving to Fort Scott in 2004.”
Family: Husband Brian and two kids, Sadie (age 7) and Callum (age 5).
Hobbies/interests:  “I enjoy traveling, reading, snow skiing and of course being with family and friends.”
How did you become an educator?
“I didn’t initially study to be an educator. For several years, I had been enjoying my work in the field of social work. But after moving to Kansas, I found that the private sector required me to have different qualifications than I had. Rather than attending school to gain a similar degree to what I already had, I decided to switch to education. Since high school, I’d always worked in some capacity with youth. It was my niche. So I thought teaching would be fun. And I was right — I love teaching secondary students.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“I enjoy teaching because I love hanging out with teenagers. It’s just a serious bonus that I also get to teach material that I love. I could learn all day about history, archaeology, geography, literature — even grammar. As a teacher, I get to keep learning about the topics that thrill me, and I also get to hang out with teenagers, who are so much fun and always full of surprises. I can’t think of a better job. Besides getting paid to travel the world. I admit that would be better.”
What is the greatest challenge in teaching?
“For me, the greatest challenge to teaching is finding a way to interest every student. But if people are having fun together, they often find interest in whatever they’re doing together — even if it’s learning the Pythagorean theorem or diagramming sentences.”

 

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Extend the Season with a Fall Garden

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Krista Harding
District Extension Agent, Horticulture
Southwind Extension District
111 S. Butler
Erie, KS 66733
Office: 620-244-3826
Cell: 620-496-8786

 

I know there is still a lot of summer left. But in just a few weeks, students will be back in school and fall will be here in the blink of an eye. Although our summer gardens are going strong, it is time to start thinking about getting our fall vegetables planted. Believe it or not, fall is a great gardening season!

When you think about it, fall weather is much like spring – warm daytime temperatures and cool nights. Rainfall is typically more abundant in the fall than summer (although we have had plenty this summer) so less irrigation is needed and fall gardens often have fewer insect pest and disease problems. Combine all of these and you have the ingredients for a great garden! And of most importance is the taste of the produce grown. Flavors of fall grown vegetables are often sweeter and milder in taste than those grown during hot summer weather.

Some of the best vegetables for a fall garden are lettuce, spinach, radishes, beets, cabbage, turnips and carrots because of their frost-tolerance. These vegetables can be planted directly into your garden wherever space can be found – next to plants still growing in the garden like tomatoes, cucumbers and pumpkins. Plant mid-August until the first week of September.

Left over seed from spring planting can be used as long as it was stored in a cool, dry location. To speed up germination and seedling emergence, soak the seeds overnight before planting. If you are purchasing new seed, look for the shortest season cultivars that you can find to insure harvest before a killing frost. The average fall freeze date for our area is around October 24 according to the Weather Data Library on the K-State campus.

Sometimes establishing a fall garden can be difficult during the summer when soil temperatures are extremely high. One way to avoid this is to establish plants in containers or pots for transplanting into the garden later in the season when the weather begins to cool. Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and collards can be grown in cooler protected areas for 2-4 weeks prior to setting in the garden. Be sure to acclimatize crops for several days before transplanting directly into the garden.

Garden soil should be prepared just like for spring. An application of fertilizer will probably be necessary for optimum plant growth. Use one pound of a complete analysis fertilizer, such as 12-12-12, applied per 100 square feet of garden area. Weeds and grasses will also grow well in a fall garden so mulching may be warranted.

Everyone gets geared up to plant vegetables in the spring, but the fall season offers many benefits to gardening. Few take advantage of the season, but consider giving it a try this year.

The Extension office has the “Vegetable Garden Planting Guide” publication available free of charge. This guide offers information such as days to first harvest, days to germination, planting depth, frost resistance, and more.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Bourbon County, Elections, Fort Scott

Unofficial Election Results for Bourbon County Primary Election

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Just in from the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office.

Total votes cast for that person is the first number.

     2019 CITY/SCHOOL PRIMARY                           UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
                                                        BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
                                                        AUGUST 6, 2019
     RUN DATE:08/06/19 07:55 PM                                                                                  REPORT-EL45A    PAGE 001
                                                  TOTAL VOTES     %    ELECTION DAY    EARLY VOTE
     
      PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 16) .  .  .  .  .         16  100.00
      REGISTERED VOTERS - TOTAL .  .  .  .  .      9,771
      BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL.  .  .  .  .  .  .      1,340                   814           526
      VOTER TURNOUT - TOTAL  .  .  .  .  .  .              13.71
     
     CITY COMMISSION FORT SCOTT
     VOTE FOR  3
      Cheryl L. Adamson.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        219    7.38           122            97
      Harold (Pete) Allen .  .  .  .  .  .  .        247    8.32           157            90
      Kevin "Skitch" Allen.  .  .  .  .  .  .        301   10.14           213            88
      Cynthia Bartelsmeyer.  .  .  .  .  .  .        333   11.22           179           154
      Casey Bolden  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .         58    1.95            43            15
      Tracy Dancer  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        110    3.70            73            37
      Bobby Duncan  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .         99    3.33            64            35
      Bob Farmer .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        213    7.17           116            97
      Josh Jones .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        215    7.24           133            82
      Deb McCoy  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        329   11.08           195           134
      Diana Morriss .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        198    6.67           118            80
      Jeanie Parker .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        204    6.87           111            93
      Lindsey Watts .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        285    9.60           185           100
      Matthew Wells .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        158    5.32           106            52
     
     
     SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER POSITION 3 USD 234
     VOTE FOR  1
      Kellye Barrows.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        643   49.46           377           266
      Joe Foulk Sr. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .         36    2.77            26            10
      Michael J. Hoyt  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        133   10.23            83            50
      Josh Jones .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        302   23.23           189           113
      Aaron Judy .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        186   14.31           118            68
     #E
Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Attorney Justin Meeks Gets New Office: Ribbon Cutting Aug. 8

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Attorney Justin Meeks is in his new office at 1801 S. National Avenue. The wall behind him was the former outside wall of Lockwoods Steakhouse, he said.

Attorney Justin Meeks has moved into his newly renovated office space at 1801 S. National Avenue after months of hard work.

“It would’ve been way cheaper to tear down and build new,” he said. “But we saved the building….it’s got lots of character.”

Character such as original walls with a hand-painted sign and names sketched in concrete from a different era, which were both preserved.

And a great location with Hwy. 69 and National Avenue in close proximity.

The building was renovated and now is the home to Justin Meeks Attorney at Law and Kale Nelson State Farm Insurance.

Meeks is also the Bourbon County Counselor for the county government, which is a part-time position. The new space is for his private law practice, which is also part-time.

“I moved into this space for my private law practice in late June,” Meeks said. “It’s a very limited private practice: probate, business transactions, human resource issues, contract work, landlord-tenant issues, and banking issues.”

As of October 1, Meeks has been the Bourbon County Counselor for five years. “I’ve been out of private practice for five years,” Meeks said.

“I like helping people, that’s why I’m going back into a limited part-time practice,” Meeks said.

His office hours are Monday through Thursday, appointment only; Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m.

 

History Of The Property

Justin Meeks and Kale Nelson purchased the circa 1925 building last year.

The new office spaces have had many repurposings through the years: a machine shop, Lockwood’s Steakhouse, various liquor store owners including Silver Spur Bar, a pet shop, a vape shop and other business entities.

This handwritten note was discovered in the renovation of the 1925 building, during the era of the machine shop. Meeks left the note on the exposed brick as art for his new office.

 

The renovated building was first used for a machine shop, Meeks was informed by people in the community.

There is a handwritten sign on the exposed brick in his entrance space that says “Leave Tools After Used.”

Then the shop was added onto in the 1960-70s, according to Meeks.

On the concrete floor in a closet, the names Patty Chow and Sharon Manyo are sketched into the concrete.

That’s part of the character of the building that was preserved.

Ribbon Cutting

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce will have a  ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the new location of State Farm Insurance, 1805 S. National Avenue and Meeks Law Firm at 1801 S. National Avenue on Thursday, August 8 following the Chamber of Commerce Coffee, which starts at 8 a.m.

Owner of the property is JK Hold’M Properties, a partnership of Meeks and Nelson.

The public is invited to the ribbon-cutting to view the transformation of the buildings to updated and modernized offices.

Justin Meeks law office is located at 1801 S. National Avenue.
The Meeks and Nelson offices before renovation in July 2018.
Justin Meeks Attorney at Law is next door to Kale Nelson State Farm Insurance on South National Avenue with Hwy. 69 behind the complex. This is the “after photo.”

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Aug. 7

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: August 7th, 2019

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00-Commissioners to have budget work session.

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

Bourbon County, Elections, Fort Scott

Vote Today for City of Fort Scott and USD 234 BOE Position 3

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The vote here sign sits in front of the north wing of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National.

The Bourbon County Primary Election is today, August 6.

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Exercise your right as a U.S. citizen to vote your conscience in this election.

From the Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason:

“This primary will only be for the City of Fort Scott and USD 234 position 3.  The other schools, cities, FSCC, Extension District, etc. will not be on the Primary ballot.”

The November general election will be for Bourbon County cities, schools and K-State Extension Board positions.

Vote at these sites (taken from the Bourbon County Kansas website)

1st Ward        Community Christian Church                    DRYWOOD        Grace Baptist Church

2nd Ward      Grace Baptist Church                                   FRANKLIN         Mapleton Community Building

3rd Ward       Grace Baptist Church                                   FREEDOM         Fulton Community Building

4th Ward       Community Christian Church                     MARMATON       Redfield City Hall

5th Ward       Community Christian Church                     MILLCREEK      Redfield City Hall

6th Ward       Community Christian Church                     OSAGE               Fulton Community Building

7th Ward       Grace Baptist Church                                   PAWNEE            Redfield City Hall

NORTH SCOTT       Community Christian Church

SOUTH SCOTT       Grace Baptist Church

TIMBERHILL        Mapleton Community Building

The Primary Election will narrow the candidates down to two times the number of positions open.

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Health Care

Public Health Department Moves: New Possibilities In Future

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From left: Rebecca Johnson, BSN, RN, the administrator of SEKMCHD; Alice Maffett, Registered Nurse in Bourbon County and Kristi George, the administrative assistant. They stand in front of the new public health department facility at 6th and Horton.

The local public health department moved from behind the Bourbon County Courthouse to a more spacious building and reopened on July 29 to offer health services to the community.

The new space for Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department is located between 6th and Horton and 6th and Lowman Streets at 524 S. Lowman.

The Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department is located between 6th and Lowman Streets and 6th and Horton Streets.

 

In former years the building has been Mercy Home Health, Curves-a woman’s fitness center, then Cornerstone Bible Church.

The location on two main streets in Fort Scott will be an advantage.

“We hope this location makes people more aware of the health department,” Alice Maffett, health department nurse, said.

Now the employees can serve the community in a larger and more visible building with services such as physicals, immunizations, pregnancy tests, family planning, Kan Be Healthy Screenings, blood pressure and blood glucose checks, hearing and vision screenings, SRS referrals, Sexually Transmitted Disease testing and treatment, and lab/blood draws.

 

The Public Health Department, located at 6th and Horton Street, Fort Scott.

Rebecca Johnson, BSN, RN is the administrator of SEKMCHD and her primary office will be in Fort Scott. Maffett is the Registered Nurse in Bourbon County and Kristi George is the administrative assistant.

A physical exam and current immunizations are required for entrance into kindergarten.

New this year in immunizations, is the state-required meningitis shots for 7th and 11th-grade students, Maffett said, which the department offers.

The WIC program will be utilizing the building and also available are breastfeeding classes.

The health department board is working to build community partnerships.

“It is a great building and we are looking for other community groups or agencies to utilize our conference room.

The conference room is approximately 25 feet by 16 feet and has an adjacent kitchenette for use, she said.

Dave and Jan Elliott will be offering Love and Logic Parenting classes in the future.

The health department board is also interested in exploring the option of telemedicine in the future, Johnson, said.

Another possibility in the future is to hire a Nurse Practitioner, Maffett said.

The hours of operation: Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to noon and 12:30  p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information: 620.223.4464. The fax number is 620.223.1686. or www.sekmchd.com