Category Archives: Bourbon County

Bourbon County, Elections, Government

Nick Graham: Candidate For Bourbon County Clerk

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Nick Graham. Submitted photo.

This is part of a series of features on the candidates running for offices in Bourbon County.  The Bourbon County Primary Election will be held, Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

Monday, July 20, is the candidate forum at Ellis Fine Arts Center, on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.  Doors open at 5:30  p.m. for a meet and greet with candidates. The forum starts at 6 p.m. in the order of the federal, state, then local candidates.

 

Nick Graham, 40, is a candidate for Bourbon County Clerk.

 

Graham has an associate’s degree in network administration from Labette Community College.

 

He has 20 years in information technology experience for local small businesses and education providers. He is a former Fort Scott City Commissioner.

 

What skills do you bring to the position if elected?
“I love helping and interacting with people, which is not particularly common among IT guys, and the clerk’s office provides a ton of opportunities to help improve and streamline county services and communication that we can implement quickly and at little or no cost.”

“I also think I’m a strong coalition builder – there is a lot of silo mentality going on inside (and outside) the county government right now, and when that happens, the biggest loser is the taxpayer, as they get fragmented service and fragmented communication.  I’ve sat down with several elected and non-elected officials on the county level (and the city level) sharing my ideas and plans on ways we can make everyone’s job a little easier and provide a much smoother experience for our customers, the taxpayers.”
“Lastly, having worked in the technology side of public education and for small businesses with very limited budgets, I’ve learned how to improvise and innovate without spending a lot of money.  In a rural county like ours, that’s going to be more and more critical as time goes on, especially in economic times like these.”

What is your priority on day one?

“I have two main priorities for when I am sworn in as clerk:

1) Build a useful online presence for the county – provide quality online broadcasts of the meetings, start building an easily accessible and easy to use system so people can pull up public records online, and making it as easy as possible for people to do their business with the county without having to take a trip to the courthouse if they don’t want to.

2) Education.  The county clerk’s office is incredibly multifaceted, from taking minutes at commission meetings, to handling accounts payable, to overseeing all local elections, to being co-guardian of the budget with the treasurer.  And that’s just four of the fourteen core responsibilities.  It’s a critical position, and I intend to immerse myself in all the training and resources available to the clerk.  I’ve also established good working relationships with both current and former county clerks in the southeast Kansas area, so I feel like I’ve got a great support team in place.”

 

The following is from the Bourbon County website:

 

Not sure if you’re registered to vote or where to vote?

You may register to vote online, through the Kansas Secretary of State’s website.

Check your voter registration status, the location of your polling place and view a sample ballot at VoterView by the Secretary of State.

The County Clerk is elected in November of Presidential Election years to a term of four years.  There are no term limits to this elected office.

The Bourbon County Clerk/Election Officer is responsible for a wide range of things under Kansas Law.  Some of those are listed here.

Advance Voting is available prior to each election.  You may advance vote in one of two ways:  By mail, by filing an application for a ballot to be mailed to you   OR   in-person, beginning at least one week prior to any election.

 

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

Bourbon County Has Four New Cases of COVID 19

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SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

July 13, 2020

“Allen County has 2 new COVID-19 cases this morning and Bourbon County has 4,” Rebecca Johnson, SEK Multi-County Health Departments Administrator, said. “Of Bourbon County’s 4, 2 are presumptive positive.”

 

Allen County

Current Positive Cases 3
Current Recovered Cases 5
Total Positives Since Testing 8-1 removed-out of state and to remain there
Deaths 0

Anderson County

Current Positive Cases 11
Current Recovered Cases 4
Total Positives Since Testing 15
Deaths 0

Bourbon County

Current Positive Cases 26
Presumptive Cases 3-1 listed on KDHE website, tested negative
Positive Out of State/County-staying in Bourbon 11
Total Hospitalizations 5-1 still remaining in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 29-includes presumptive case
Total Positives Since Testing 54
Deaths 1

Woodson County

Current Positive Cases 0
Total Hospitalizations 1-0 remaining in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 10
Total Positives Since Testing 10
Deaths 0

Recovered cases are based on dates of onset of symptoms, not on day testing results are received.

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Agenda For July 13

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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: July 13, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY. MUST MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.

10:30 Executive Session, Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

Bourbon County, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office, Elections

Mike Feagins: Candidate for Bourbon County Sheriff

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Mike Feagins. Submitted photo.

This is part of a series of features on the candidates running for offices in Bourbon County.  The Bourbon County Primary Election will be held, Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

Monday, July 20, is the candidate forum at Ellis Fine Arts Center, on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.  Doors open at 5:30  p.m. for a meet and greet with candidates. The forum starts at 6 p.m. in the order of federal, state, then local  candidates.

Mike Feagins, 46,  is a candidate for Bourbon County Sheriff.
He attended Fort Scott Community College.
“I am running for Bourbon County Sheriff to bring many positive things to the table. As a citizen, I do not want my taxes to continue rising. I want citizens to see patrol vehicles in their areas. I want to establish programs that involve children. Children are our future. I feel strongly that they are educated regarding the proper process of law enforcement. I believe that I have the knowledge, education and experience to be your next sheriff. I want to lead this community in the right direction.”
“I bring with me 18 years of law enforcement experience and well over one thousand hours of continuing education, strictly towards law enforcement. Part of those educational hours are for extensive training in drug interdiction, taser instructor certification, field training officer certification, and many others. I have also obtained many hours for leadership and supervision management and have overseen a reserve deputy training program for many years.”
“My experience ranges from reported threats, domestic situations, battery reports, burglary/theft reports, helping those who have mental health issues, investigating minor to fatality accidents, sex crimes, child abuse cases, battery reports, suicides, attempted murders, murder investigations, just to name a few. I also have experience with upholding laws and developing safety plans within school systems.”

What skills do you bring to the position if elected?

“I will bring honesty, dedication, experience, positive moral, and good ethics to the sheriff’s office. I have been concerned regarding the on-going negative relationship between the sheriff’s department and the Fort Scott Police Department.”
What is your priority on day one?
” I have been concerned regarding the on-going negative relationship between the sheriff’s department and the Fort Scott Police Department,” he said. “My intention, if elected, is to sit down with the Fort Scott Police Chief, discuss the current issues at hand, and develop a remedy for establishing a positive relationship. I believe local agencies need to work together in order to better fight crime and educate citizens regarding any issues that may arise in different jurisdictions. It is also imperative to have a good working relationship with surrounding jurisdictions.”
“The next five years will definitely be a challenge due to restructuring the current budget. If elected, I will immediately need to go over the current budget as well as look into the full year of spending. Things arise unexpectedly, and one should be prepared for them. If elected, I want to be able to make cuts appropriately so I can budget in yearly raises for the deputies.”
“Public leadership experience is something that is demonstrated by every law enforcement officer daily. It is our duty to guide and teach the community based on the situation that we encounter.”
Feagins is a life long resident of Bourbon County.

The following is information provided on the Bourbon County Kansas website.

Not sure if you’re registered to vote or where to vote?

You may register to vote online, through the Kansas Secretary of State’s website.

Check your voter registration status, the location of your polling place and view a sample ballot at VoterView by the Secretary of State.

Advance Voting is available prior to each election.  You may advance vote in one of two ways:  By mail, by filing an application for a ballot to be mailed to you   OR   in-person, beginning at least one week prior to any election.

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Schools

Uniontown 2020 Graduation Is Tomorrow, But Not Open to The Public

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Uniontown High School.
COVID 19 Pandemic restrictions have affected many aspects of our culture.
More so for graduating 2020 graduates at all levels of education.
The Uniontown High School Class of 2020 is having their graduation ceremony this weekend, a full two months later than normal.
The event is not something that is open to the general public due to  COVID 19 Pandemic crowd number restrictions that Kansas has in place, said Bret Howard, superintendent of USD 235.
“Each graduate will be allowed to invite up to nine people and those people will be allowed into the home bleachers,” Howard said.
“Phase 3 of the governors’ plan still limits the amount of crowd we can allow,” he said.  ” In consultation with the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, we have created this plan and it was approved.  We apologize for not being able to accommodate everyone who would want to attend but due to the current circumstances, we are doing the best we can.”

On July 11, seniors and their families will be having an outdoors ceremony on the football field. The event is usually held in the West Bourbon Elementary School gymnasium.

 

“The tough spot we are in is that to get it approved we had to agree to only have people sit in our home bleachers,” Howard said.  “The (running) track (that surrounds the football field) is being worked on as well so we can’t have people all over the football field or even on the track.”

 

“We will be having our graduates give us a list of up to nine people to sit in the bleachers together,” he said.  “If some graduates don’t have nine people then we will give others the option of bringing more.”

 

“We are going to have people sit on every other row in the bleachers, Howard said. “We have set up seating in the bleachers.  There will not be anyone allowed inside the fence or on the field other than graduates and board members.”

“We are planning on live streaming the graduation on our school Facebook page,” he said. ” We have our information technology personnel setting this up right now.  Once we know that it will work we will post a link on our website and social media accounts.”

 

 

Bourbon County, Elections

Jim Harris: Candidate For Bourbon County Commission

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Jim Harris..

This is part of a series of features on the candidates running for offices in Bourbon County.  The Bourbon County Primary Election will be held, Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

Monday, July 20, is the candidate forum at Ellis Fine Arts Center, on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.  Doors open at 5:30  p.m. for a meet and greet with candidates. The forum starts at 6 p.m. in the order of federal, state, then local  candidates.

Jim Harris, 65, is a candidate for Bourbon County Commissioner District 2.

He has eighteen years of public leadership experience, he said.

“For seven years, I served for the City of Fort Scott as the codes director, planning and zoning administrator and was in charge of special public works projects for the city,” Harris said.

More recently he has worked for Bourbon County.

“I have served for eleven years as the Bourbon County Public Works Director,” he said. ” Over my eleven years with the county, my responsibilities have included emergency preparedness director, sanitation inspector, road and bridge and landfill director, implementing a 10-year equipment replacement program, and a 10-year road improvement program. I have experience in grant writing and grant administration.”

“Also, I have thirteen years of experience as a territory manager working with cities and counties and their budgets in the areas of equipment planning, equipment purchases, budgeting and financing,” Harris said.

What is your priority on day one, if elected?

“The greatest challenges for Bourbon County are efficient and responsible spending, economic growth, and health care,” he said.  “Good decisions made today can propel Bourbon County into a path of success for years to come. If elected I would work with all departments to assure tax dollars are being spent in a responsible manner. Partnerships need to be formed between the cities, county, and local school districts to try and work together to save tax dollars. The cities and county need to come together and make sure the citizens of Bourbon County have access to good health care services such as a hospital.”

Harris attended Fort Scott Community College.

The following is information provided on the Bourbon County Kansas website.

Not sure if you’re registered to vote or where to vote?

You may register to vote online, through the Kansas Secretary of State’s website.

Check your voter registration status, the location of your polling place and view a sample ballot at VoterView by the Secretary of State.

Advance Voting is available prior to each election.  You may advance vote in one of two ways:  By mail, by filing an application for a ballot to be mailed to you   OR   in-person, beginning at least one week prior to any election.

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

Bourbon County Health Department Gives Recommendations

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SEK Multi–County Health Departments 

Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties 

Coronavirus (COVID–19) Update 

July 8, 2020

The Bourbon County Order of the Local Health Officer goes through the end of the day today and then will end.

The Governor and Kansas Department of Health and Environment have strongly suggested that Kansans follow the Ad Astra plan and remain in Phase 3 for the time being.

With Bourbon County‘s amount of increase in positive COVID-19 cases recently, I as the Bourbon County Local Health Officer, also strongly suggest that Bourbon County follow the Ad Astra plan and remain in Phase 3, as well as follow the Governor’s Executive Order 20-52 to require masks or other face coverings in public. I strongly suggest this as well for my other counties, Allen, Anderson and Woodson.

Submitted by:

Rebecca Jan Bowen

Rebecca Johnson BSN, RN

Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Woodson County Local Health Officer

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

Bourbon County Has Another COVID 19 Case

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“Allen, Anderson, and Bourbon Counties all have a new positive COVID-19 case this afternoon,” said Rebecca Johnson, health officer for Bourbon County. “These Public Health Departments are diligently working to complete the investigations.

Please stay home if sick, wear a mask in public, practice social distancing and good hygiene.”

 

 

Submitted by:

Rebecca Johnson, SEK Multi-County Health Departments Administrator

*411 N. Washington

Iola, KS 66749

*524 S. Lowman

Ft. Scott, KS 66701

(620)223-4464 work

(620)223-1686 fax

[email protected]

Bourbon County, Elections

Bobby Reed: Candidate for Bourbon County Clerk

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Bobby Reed.

This is part of a series of features on the candidates running for offices in Bourbon County.  The Bourbon County Primary Election will be held, Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

Monday, July 20, is the candidate forum at Ellis Fine Arts Center, on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.  Doors open at 5:30  p.m. for a meet and greet with candidates. The forum starts at 6 p.m. in the order of the federal, state, then local candidates.

Bobby “Bob” Reed, 45, is running for Bourbon County Clerk.

Reed graduated from Wichita North High,  and also from Fort Scott Community College with an Associates of Science Degree in 1995. He also served in the Kansas Army National Guard for nine years with the 891st Engineer Battalion.

Reed’s experience:

“I have been a department head for Bourbon County for the past seven years,” he said.   “I have prepared and managed a budget for all of the seven years.  I have been recognized by past and current commissioners on open record as doing a very good job on budgets.”

“I am currently in charge of 18 employees, 74 inmates, and a 1.2 million dollar budget.” Reed is a major in the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office.

He believes he brings an open mind to the table, he said. Also,  “I’m willing to work hard, as most of my adult career I have had multiple jobs.  I feel that I am a good boss, as many of my current and past employees would say the same.  I am willing to help solve problems.  I am pro-employee and have them as a top priority.  I am a people person and have had 25 years of talking to the taxpayers of Bourbon County.”

Another priority for Reed is getting to know  the county clerk’s employees “and gather ideas from them on ways to make their jobs easier, making a visit to the clerk’s office easier for the taxpayers of Bourbon County and learning, as it will be a new job for me.”

The following is information provided on the Bourbon County Kansas website.

Not sure if you’re registered to vote or where to vote?

You may register to vote online, through the Kansas Secretary of State’s website.

Check your voter registration status, the location of your polling place and view a sample ballot at VoterView by the Secretary of State.

The County Clerk is elected in November of Presidential Election years to a term of four years.  There are no term limits to this elected office.

The Bourbon County Clerk/Election Officer is responsible for a wide range of things under Kansas Law.  Some of those are listed here.

Advance Voting is available prior to each election.  You may advance vote in one of two ways:  By mail, by filing an application for a ballot to be mailed to you   OR   in-person, beginning at least one week prior to any election.

 

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

COVID 19 in Bourbon County: 8 More Cases

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SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Bourbon County

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

July 8, 2020

From late yesterday evening until this morning, Bourbon County has 8 more positive COVID-19 cases. 2 individuals are contacts of previously listed positive cases. 6 individuals are from out of state and out of county that are currently staying in Bourbon County. The individuals are in isolation. Because of the number of new cases, the investigations are still being conducted and this is all the information that can be released at this time.

Please STAY HOME IF SICK (ie: feeling sick, awaiting COVID-19 test results or instruction from the county health department, if you tested positive for COVID-19, if you were in contact with a positive case, if you were notified to isolate or quarantine), wear a mask when applicable (Bourbon County is following the Governor’s order for mask wearing), practice social distancing, practice good hygiene and avoid touching your face!

Bourbon County

Current Positive Cases 16
Presumptive Cases 1-listed on KDHE website, tested negative
Positive Out of State/County-staying in Bourbon 6
Current Recovered Cases 29-includes presumptive case
Total Positives Since Testing 47
Deaths 1

Recovered cases are based on dates of onset of symptoms, not on day testing results are received.

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Opt-Out: Credit Offers

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Joy Miller, RD, LD
Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent
Adult Development and Aging
Family Resource Management
K-State Research and Extension
Southwind Extension District
210 S. National
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Office: 620-223-3720
Fax: 620-223-0332
[email protected]

 

Mail Call: Bills, a birthday card from Mom, a store circular, or your monthly bank statement. From time to time, you may receive “pre-approved” credit card offers in the mail, too. Do you ever wonder what they are and where they come from?

These credit card offers are not random, they are prescreened and targeted to you. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies are allowed to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you. Prescreened offers are based on information in your credit report that indicates you meet the criteria set by the offeror.

You have the option to opt-out of these offers, why might you? Some people prefer not to receive these kinds of offers in the mail to limit access to their credit report information for solicitations or to reduce some mailbox “clutter”.

As you consider opting out, you should know that prescreened offers can provide many benefits. These offers can help you learn about what’s available, compare costs, and find the best product for your needs. The terms of prescreened offers also may be more favorable than those that are available to the general public. Some credit card products may be available only through prescreened offers.

The official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry website to accept and process requests to Opt-In or Opt-Out of prescreened offers is OptOutPrescreen.com or call 1-888-5-OPTOUT. Whether you call or visit the website, you will be asked to provide certain personal information. You will have two choices for opting out. The first is to opt-out for five years and the other is to opt-out permanently. You can always Opt-In and be eligible to receive prescreened offers again if you have previously completed an Opt-Out request.

A reminder that it may take up to 60 days for offers to stop being mailed. You may continue to receive mail from companies who send offers not based on prescreening.

How does this affect your credit report? There will be “inquiries” showing which companies obtained your information for prescreening, but those inquiries will not have a negative effect on your credit report or score. Removing your name from prescreened lists has no effect on your ability to apply for or obtain credit or insurance.

To learn more about Credit, visit our website at southwind.k-state.edu/home-family/financial/. Also follow us on Facebook @southwindextensiondistrict or Instagram @southwind_ext. For more information, please contact Joy Miller at [email protected] or by calling 620-223-3720.