The sales tax that is up for renewal on the November 3 General Election has been in place for 20 years, according to Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah.
“(It) is essential for the maintenance and improvement of the hard service road system in Bourbon County which is around 140 miles,” he said.
“Thirty-five percent of the Bourbon County Public Works Department budget comes from this sale tax revenue and (it) can only be used on hard service roads within the county,” Oharah said.
“The total (tax collected) is about $2 million for the county and all the cities in the county,” Oharah said. “Our part is used for our hard surface road program, about $1,100,000 per year, for maintaining and improving our hard surface roads.”
The county gets one-half of the sales tax, the rest goes to the other cities in the county, he said.
Hard surface roads include mowing 280 miles of ditches at least three times a year; ice and snow removal and application of brim/chip application for better traction, pothole repair, maintaining easements which includes ditching, equipment updates, side trim of rights-of-way and replacing culverts into people’s property, he said.
“With a sales tax, everyone pays, which includes out-of-county residents that use our county road system,” Oharah said. “This responsibility to maintain and repair hard services roads in Bourbon County does not fall on to the property owner of Bourbon County.”
The Bourbon County Road Service Department has costs below the standard for the industry, he said.
“You get more roadwork for less cost,” Oharah said.
“Norm Bowers, who is a retired engineer and surveyor and teaches at the University of Kansas Transportation Center, did a study on Bourbon County asphalt program, a year or two ago, and indicated the average cost per ton for asphalt applied to hard service road in Bourbon County is $90 per ton and the average per ton in the open market for Bourbon County to hire a contractor is $180 per ton to apply the product to the hard service road,” he said.
Oharah said the following are county costs for roads.
“Bourbon County can produce chips for hard surface roads, snow and ice safety for about $4 dollars a ton which is under half the cost of retail,” Oharah said. “This is a huge saving to the Bourbon County citizens. Its over $10 in the marketplace.”
The sales tax will appear on the Bourbon County November 3, 2020, as follows (taken from the county’s website):
Shall the following be adopted?
Shall Bourbon County, Kansas, levy (renew) a one percent countywide retailers’ sales tax to take effect on July 1, 2021, and expire on June 30, 2031, with the allocated shares pursuant to K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-192 to be used as follows: (1) to Bourbon County, for the purpose of maintenance and construction of hard surface roads, and (2) to each city located in Bourbon County, for the purpose of providing funding for public services?
To vote in favor of any question submitted upon the ballot, darken
the oval to the left of the word “YES”; to vote against it, darken
the oval to the left of the word “NO”.
CHC/SEK SCHEDULES ADDITIONAL SATURDAY-ONLY
DRIVE-THROUGH FLU SHOT CLINIC OCTOBER 10
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is offering a drive-through flu shot clinic on Saturday, October 10, from 9AM – 3PM at its Fort Scott clinic at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
There is no out-of-pocket cost for participants. The drive-through flu clinic is recommended for everyone two years of age and older, with rare exceptions, because it is an effective way to decrease flu illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths.
Upon entering the drive-through, participants are asked to wear a facemask to protect CHC/SEK staff. To help keep the vaccination line moving, please wear clothing where your shoulder is easily exposed.
Getting a flu vaccine this fall will be more important than ever, not only to reduce your risk from flu but also to conserve potentially scarce health care resources. This is a standard-dose inactivated flu vaccine; CHC/SEK does not have high-dose available at this time.
At CHC/SEK, flu shots remain available at all clinics, and, there is no out-of-pocket cost for receiving a flu shot. For those with health insurance, their insurance is billed for the service; however, no money will be collected from participants regardless of their insurance status. By getting a flu shot now, you will protect yourself and your family and friends!
Getting an annual flu shot, and good health habits like washing your hands can help stop germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing may prevent those around you from getting sick. Make it a habit to clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces in your home, school or office. Flu vaccines and good hand hygiene are still the go-to recommendations for prevention; however, public health officials say it is just as important to contain the virus, which means staying home when you are sick.
##
Submitted by Adelay Martin, UHS Student Sports Reporter
The Lady Eagles traveled to Jayhawk Linn on Tuesday, September 29 for their volleyball matches. The JV lost their game, but Varsity was victorious against the Jayhawks.
Jayhawk defeated Uniontown in two matches scoring 25-18 and 25-19. Landry George scored 4 points.
The Eagles defeated Jayhawk in three sets, scoring 25-21, 25-19, and 25-20. Bri Stokes scored 12 points and had 11 consecutive serves in the first set. Libby Schaaf was 19/23 on attacks and had 2 kills, Danielle Howard was 17/20 on attacks with 6 kills, Karleigh Schoenberger was 16/20 on attacks with 3 kills, and Paige Mason was 14/14 on attacks with 4 kills. Gwen Fry had 6 solo blocks.
“We did not play our best, but still played well enough to get the win,” said Coach Hall. “Still continuing to work on the little things. We will host Marmaton Valley on Tuesday, October 6. This is our only home event!”
The Eagles’ football team went up against the Northern Heights Wildcats on Friday, October 2. The Wildcats were defeated 41-0. Hunter Schaaf had 17 rushes for 134 yards, while Drew Perry and Treden Buckman each had 11 rushes for 112 and 34 yards, respectively. Schaaf also scored 4 touchdowns and had 10 assists, and Perry scored 2 touchdowns. Jake Harvey had 7 assists, 2 unassisted tackles, and 1 Q.B. sack.
Head Coach Johnathan Stark said of the game, “I thought the team did a really good job of playing hard and playing together. We started off the first quarter really intense and ready to play, and we were able to maintain our intensity throughout the entire game. We had some really tough calls against us early in the game that went against our momentum, but we showed maturity and mental toughness by being able to overcome them and stay focused. I was really proud of some of the guys on the team at the end. We put in some of our subs and JV players, but the quality of play on the field stayed the same, and we won 41-0 against a team that has a lot of talent.”
SEK Multi-County Health Departments
Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
October 5, 2020
Please call your local health department if you would like a further breakdown of cases.
Allen County
| Current Active Cases | 25 |
| Total Hospitalizations | 5-0 in hospital |
| Current Recovered Cases | 71 |
| Total Cases Since Testing | 97 |
| Deaths | 1 |
Anderson County
| Current Active Cases | 3 |
| Total Hospitalizations | 2-0 in hospital |
| Current Recovered Cases | 83 |
| Total Cases Since Testing | 86 |
| Deaths | 0 |
Bourbon County
| Current Active Cases | 14 |
| Total Hospitalizations | 10- 0 in hospital |
| Current Recovered Cases | 195 |
| Total Cases Since Testing | 212 |
| Deaths | 3 |
Woodson County
| Current Active Cases | 3 |
| Total Hospitalizations | 2-0 in hospital |
| Current Recovered Cases | 21 |
| Total Cases Since Testing | 24 |
| Deaths | 0 |
Southwind District Youth to Celebrate
National 4-H Week: October 4-10
Every year, National 4-H Week sees millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni come together to celebrate the many positive youth development opportunities offered by 4-H. The theme for this year’s National 4-H Week, Opportunity4All, is a campaign that was created by National 4-H Council to rally support for Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program and identify solutions to eliminate the opportunity gap that affects 55 million kids across America.
With so many children struggling to reach their full potential, 4-H believes that young people, in partnership with adults, can play a key role in creating a more promising and equitable future for youth, families and communities across the country. In 4-H, we believe every child should have an equal opportunity to succeed. We believe every child should have the skills they need to make a difference in the world.
Southwind District 4-H will observe National 4-H Week this year by highlighting some of the inspirational 4-H youth in our community who are working tirelessly to support each other and their communities.
“We believe youth perspectives are so important and a solution to eliminating the opportunity gap, because young people come with new ideas and new ways of seeing the world,” explains Jennifer Sirangelo, President and CEO of National 4-H Council. By encouraging diverse voices and innovative actions, 4-H believes that solutions can be found to address the educational, economic and health issues that have created the opportunity gap.
The Southwind District 4-H members, volunteers, and staff will be celebrating this week with radio spots, news columns, National Spirit Day on the 7th, window displays, and social media posts. Check out Southwind District 4-H on Facebook and YouTube to see our 4-H pride this week! Towards the end of the week is the Kansas 484H project where youth will be demonstrating their skills in 48 hours of community service.
In Southwind District, more than 530 4-H youth and over 100 volunteers from the community are involved in 4H. With over 30 projects offered within Kansas 4-H and the Southwind District, the 4-H program has something for everyone. What other youth organization can young people be a part of that promotes involvement of the entire family? Not to mention all of the life skills that youth learn by attending monthly club meetings.
To learn more about how you can get involved, reach out to Jennifer Terrell, 4-H Youth Development Agent at [email protected] or call 620-244-3826. Information can also be found by visiting southwind.ksu.edu or searching Southwind District 4-H on social media.
About 4-H
4-H, the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization, cultivates confident kids who tackle the issues that matter most in their communities right now. In the United States, 4-H programs empower six million young people through the 110 land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension in more than 3,000 local offices serving every county and parish in the country. Outside the United States, independent, country-led 4-H organizations empower one million young people in more than 50 countries. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Learn more about 4-H at southwind.ksu.edu, find us on Facebook at Southwind District 4-H and on YouTube with Southwind District 4-H.
Fall and spring are my favorite seasons. Finally, some cooler temperatures have arrived and it is actually feeling more like fall! I encourage you to get outside and enjoy the fall season. It is the perfect time to do some tasks around your landscape that will help next spring.
First, let’s talk lawn weeds. I know, they are probably the last thing on your mind since we are winding down the mowing season. Believe it or not, it is the ideal time to tackle those weeds. Not next spring when you fire the mower up again!
Cool season broadleaf weeds such as henbit, dandelions and chick weed all germinate in the cool moist periods of September and October. They overwinter as small plants, barely visible unless you get down close to the ground to look. Once warm weather arrives in the spring, the plants grow rapidly and flower.
Fall control is ideal for these cool season broadleaf weeds. The weeds are storing food in their roots and will send a leaf applied herbicide to their roots as well. The herbicides will translocate to the roots and will kill the plants from the roots up. These plants are also small and easily controlled right now.
There are several products on the market that are effective on these fall germinating weeds. Herbicides such as 2,4-D or combination products that contain 2,4-D, MCCP and Dicamba, sold under the trade names of Trimec, Weed-B-Gon, or Weed-Out, can be used. A product called Weed Free Zone is also an option. It contains the three active ingredients mentioned above plus carfentrazone.
Newly planted lawns should not be treated with any herbicide until the new grass seedlings have been mowed two or three times depending on the product. Read and follow the label directions closely.
Next, let’s talk flower bulbs. Bulbs are a good addition to any landscape or garden because they offer a variety of bloom color, flowering time, plant height, and shape. Now is the time to get those bulbs in the ground!
Bulbs can be planted in a variety of locations including around house foundations, under deciduous shrubs and trees, along borders, in perennial beds, and rock gardens. You can also plant them in containers and even on steep slopes.
When planted along a foundation, bulbs will add color in the early spring if planted in a grouping of twelve or more bulbs. If you have evergreen shrubs planted along a foundation, they will provide a nice background for planting of bulbs. Bulbs will “pop” with color in contrast to the green of the shrubs.
A border of bulbs planted along the edge of the lawn will add a splash of color to the lawn area. Or consider planting low growing bulbs around the edge of a flower bed to add interest. You can add them directly into a perennial bed. The bulbs will bloom in March, April and May before perennials start to grow. Make sure to locate the bulbs so the dying foliage will not be noticed.
Both spring and summer bulbs can be planted in portable containers. The nice thing about container plantings is their versatility.
For spring bulbs, once bloom is past, the container can be moved to a location out of sight while the foliage matures. Summer bulbs will add color all summer long to areas such as a patio or deck.
Keep in mind that planting bulbs of one variety or color in mass will have greater visual impact. This will provide uniform color and texture that is pleasing to the eye. With bulbs such as tulips or daffodils, plant at least twelve bulbs of one variety in a grouping. Smaller bulbs should be planted in groups of fifty to have visual impact.
Take action now to have a beautiful, weed-free, colorful lawn next spring!
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.
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: Oct. 6
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
MEETING WILL BE HELD IN COMMISSION ROOM. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY. MUST MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.
9:00 – 9:30 Eric Bailey, Road & Bridge
9:30 – 9:45 SPARK
10:00 – 10:15 Bill Martin, CESF Grant-Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding
10:15 – 10:30 KWORCC-Voting Delegate
The 2020 Gordon Parks Museum Photo Contest Deadline Is Extended
Fort Scott-The photo entry deadline has been extended to Monday, October 26, 2020 for The Gordon Parks Museum featured photo contest at Fort Scott Community College sponsored by Merl Humphrey Photography.
The photo contest is inspired by Gordon Parks, who was a champion in the fight for social justice and racial equity. His weapon of choice was a camera to fight against racism, discrimination and poverty.
The theme of the contest, “Social Justice, Diversity and Equity” is for any amateur photographer. Photographers are invited to capture the essence of one of the concepts and share one or two sentences on what inspired the photo.
Non-professional photographers of any age and skill level are invited to take pictures for the project and may enter up to two photos in jpeg format with less than2MB. There will be a first place ($100), second place ($75) and third place ($50) prize and up to five honorable mentions. All photos submitted will be on exhibit at The Gordon Parks Museum and in the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center Nov. 2 – 13, 2020. All photos will also be posted on the Gordon Parks Museum website and Facebook page.
Photographs must be submitted via e-mail to [email protected]. All photos must be attached in JPEG format and limit file size to less than 2 MB. All entries will be confirmed via email. Photographers should submit (in their email) a title, along with their name, address, email, phone number and share a one or two sentence on what inspired the photo. If under 10 years old please include parent’s information. Photos should be received via email by the new extended deadline date: Monday, October 26, 2020 at the latest.
For more information email [email protected] or by phone call 223-2700, ext. 5850.
Union Station owners Dane and Ronni Clayton will be expanding their offerings as a result of SPARK funding.
SPARK stands for Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas and is a task force charged with leading Kansas forward in recovery from the effects of COVID-19. Committees on the SPARK task force, along with the Kansas Office of Recovery are responsible for the statewide distribution of the U.S Coronavirus Relief Fund, according to https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/
The convenience store, located at 684 Maple Road, Uniontown, KS, at the corner of Hwy 3 and Maple Road, will be offering grocery items and locally produced meats in the near future.
The Claytons are creating climate-controlled storage outside of the main building, to free up space for additional coolers and shelving inside the convenience store, Ronni Clayton said. ” The increased product space will be used for discounted grocery items as well as locally produced meats.”
“We had already purchased the little building, now we need to set it up to be climate controlled (insulate, heat/cool, etc.),” Clayton said. “Thank goodness Dane is an HVAC-R tech!”
This convenience store in western Bourbon County will provide access to affordable grocery items, something not usually seen at a convenience store.
“It isn’t always possible or feasible for members of our community to pay the higher costs of traditional convenience store items, nor is it always easy to get to ‘town’ to get said basic items,” Clayton said. “Our goal is to provide easier access to and more affordable grocery items.”
Clayton said she understands the SPARK Grant money has to be spent by the end of the year and so they are starting immediately with the first step of getting outside, climate-controlled storage for the store.
The store has been selling milk, eggs, etc. already.
“We always disliked the high prices of common grocery items, but struggled to find a solution,” Clayton said. “A fellow small business owner, Kelly Perry of Perry’s Pork Rinds, introduced us to a local business that acquires discount grocery items and a plan was formed. (Kelly) is a great resource. SPARK funding has made it possible.”
