The Beacon announces the Adopt-A-Child and Elk Christmas Baskets sign up it Nov. 5, 6, 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Beacon, 525 E. 6th St. Ft. Scott, Ks.
Also, Tuesday, November 12, 2019, from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Bring your Beacon Card to sign up.
If you don’t have a Beacon Card
*We will need Picture ID for all adults in the household.
*Social Security card for all in household
*Proof of Bourbon Co. residency
*Proof of Income
* If you receive any service from DCF must sign a release for verification
Advance voting begins today at the Bourbon County Courthouse.
A general election will take place on November 5, 2019, to vote for representation on school boards, city councils, and the Kansas State Southwind Extension District.
Also on the ballot is a constitutional amendment question.
“The amendment question seeks to do away with a census count specifically for college students and military personnel to be counted where they come from and not where they are at the time of their vote,” according to a report on KSN TV, Wichita, Oct. 14, 2019. For the whole report click below:
Advance voting will begin today, Oct. 23and continues through Nov. 4 at noon., at the courthouse only, 210 S. National. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
All of the following polling places will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. The polling places in Bourbon County are as follows:
Residents living in the City of Fort Scott vote at the following locations:
1st Ward Community Christian Church
2nd Ward Grace Baptist Church
3rd Ward Grace Baptist Church
4th Ward Community Christian Church
5th Ward Community Christian Church
6th Ward Community Christian Church
7th Ward Grace Baptist Church
Residents living out in the County vote at the following locations:
Carla Nemecek is Kansas State University Southwind District Director and agent.
As we approach election day, it is important to evaluate each candidate and make your own decision as to who will be an effective leader while representing the wants and needs of local constituents.
At the same time, just because you may not be running for a political office, doesn’t mean that your personal leadership skills could not be valuable to local organizations or service groups, and maybe this time of year sparks an interest is serving in your community.
The goal of the effective leader is to have leadership flexibility — and a good leader knows how to involve people by structuring their ideas toward task accomplishment. An effective leader must also be adept at assessing the situation and choosing the most appropriate leadership role.
A leader who learns how to involve other people, listens to their ideas, and learns how structuring ideas will lead to a common goal has learned the advantages and the skills of being a flexible activator.
Rigid, passive, or unstructured leadership results in organizational problems. The leader who knows when to involve, when to abdicate, and when to control is able to “read” a leadership situation and is able to meet its particular needs.
These are skills that so many of our elected officials often overlook as they are going through the campaign season.
With a focus on flexibility, those with excellent leadership skills can structure behavior to serve effectively in any organization — knowing when to control to get something quickly done, when to relieve tension, how to bargain, and how to avoid making a decision when it would be more profitable for the group to make it.
Strong leaders know how to change their leadership roles to fit the situation and personalities they are working with — and above all, knows how to involve the whole group in decision-making to create a productive, cooperating team.
Flexibility and the ability to be creative are skills that are often overlooked in a good leader.
Not everyone needs to be in charge of the group or be the person to call the meeting to order. In contrast, those with unique abilities to bring people together and work toward a common goal can be most effective in the right group. This group of talented individuals are best known for their informal leadership and can often be incredibly valuable to the organization.
Leadership is loosely defined as the process of people working together to achieve mutual purposes. You have the ability to be a leader, and it is simple – set a good example for your children and your community – vote on November 5th.
Submitted by
Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent [email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749
Veteran;s Day is fast approaching and Live Local Bourbon County is hosting the 2nd Annual Veteran’s Day Parade this year on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 3 p.m.
We are looking for organizations, groups or individuals like yourself to be part of this patriotic event to help honor our veterans!
You don’t have to have a big fancy float to enter, you don’t even have to have a trailer – we want you to wear your RED, WHITE & BLUE, walk, ride, bring a friend just to be a part of something special!
See the parade entry forms below or on Live Local Facebook page, pick one up at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, or BIDS & DIBBS. We would love to have as many veterans present as possible!!!
With the German heritage associated with the Lutheran Church, 23 years ago, Trinity Lutheran Church decided to host an Oktoberfest as a fundraiser for the church.
In connection with Reformation Sunday, the members serve up some of their grandmother’s or great grandmother’s German dishes.
Three entrees are offered and you get all three — not a choice of one.
Bratwurst, bierocks and Reuben Casserole are the three entrees.
While the first two are traditionally German, the last one, the Reuben Casserole, is one of the most popular of the entrees.
Traditional German side dishes of sauerkraut, potato salad, and green beans accompany the entrees.
And what is a church feed without the infamous “church lady” desserts? Your choice of a piece of pie or slice of cake to end your meal.
Reformation Sunday and Oktoberfest fall on October 27, this year.
The church will serve the food from 4 to 7 p.m.
Tickets are $8.00 in advance or $10.00 at the door.
Children are $4.
For advance tickets call the church office 620-223-3596, 8 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.
In the spirit of giving, part of this year’s proceeds will go to Care to Share.
St. Martin’s Academy is pleased to open the doors of beautiful Theotokos Hall to the public for a lecture by our Academy President and Co-founder, Mr. Daniel Kerr. Join us Saturday evening, October 26th from 7-9 pm for drinks, conversation, and a stimulating lecture about birds, ornithology, and the art of seeing.
7:00 pm Doors Open, Cocktail Hour
8:00 pm Lecture, Q&A
9:00 pm Guest Departure for Academy Evening Prayer
*1950 Indian Rd. Fort Scott, KS 66701
There will be an inter-denominational praise and prayer gathering at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24th at the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.
There will be no promotion of any candidate, no political speakers.
This is gathering people of faith to ask God to bless our community and our nation.
Submitted by Interdenominational Ministries of Bourbon County, Amanda Gilmore, Chairperson
I would like to thank everyone for taking the time for supporting a great cause.
The money we raise will be used to help support varies programs for our disabled veterans. Patriotism and veterans advocacy are so important to the American Legion Auxiliary that for more than nine decades, we’ve been serving, educating and giving to America’s finest—our servicemen and women.
The American Legion Auxiliary answers the call of Service Not Self. 20 percent of the proceeds from this fundraiser will go to the various programs the Auxiliary supports, and for every party that is booked, 5 dollars will be donated to our Unit. So please help us to reach our goal.
The vote here sign sits in front of the north wing of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National.
Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason said advance voting will begin at the courthouse, 210 S. National. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning October 23rd. Advance voting ends on November 4th at noon.
CANDIDATES FOR THE 2019 BOURBON COUNTY GENERAL ELECTION
CITY OF BRONSON-CITY COUNCIL
JAMES E. OLSON-1218 CLAY ST, BRONSON, KS 66716
DANIELLE MINOR-506 BAY ST, BRONSON, KS 66716
MICHAEL STEWART-1111 CHARLES ST, BRONSON, KS 66716
CITY OF FORT SCOTT-CITY COMMISSION
HAROLD (PETE) ALLEN-1248 CRAWFORD, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
KEVIN “SKITCH” ALLEN-324 E. 20TH ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
CYNTHIA BARTELSMEYER-22 ½ N. MAIN ST PO BOX 266, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
JOSH JONES-617 FAIRWAY, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
DEB MCCOY-510 S. EDDY, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
LINDSEY WATTS-1310 HORTON, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
CITY OF FULTON
NO CANDIDATES FILED
CITY OF MAPLETON
NO CANDIDATES FILED
CITY OF REDFIELD-CITY COUNCIL
WILMA K. GRAHAM-102 W. 4TH ST, REDFIELD, KS 66769
JIMMIE JACKSON-502 W 1ST ST, REDFIELD, KS 66769
L.D. MORRISON-404 3RD, REDFIELD, KS 66769
ANGELA HIXON-311 N PINE ST, REDFIELD, KS 66769
CITY OF UNIONTOWN-CITY COUNCIL
DANEA D. ESSLINGER-205 7TH ST, UNIONTOWN, KS 66779
DAVE WEHRY-206 FULTON, UNIONTOWN, KS 66779
USD 234
JAMES WOOD-523 S HOLBROOK, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION 1
DANNY BROWN-424 N FRANKLIN, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION 2
MICHELLE HUDIBURG-904 S CRAWFORD, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION 2
KELLYE BARROWS-1607 S CRAWFORD, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION 3
JOSH JONES-617 FAIRWAY, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION 3
SHAWN GOANS-2102 JAYHAWK RD, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 620-223-3840 POSITION AT LARGE
LYNETTE JACKSON-25 GOLFVIEW DR, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION AT LARGE
BILL MICHAUD-7 N MAIN ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION AT LARGE
USD 235
TROY GOODRIDGE-1335 125TH, REDFIELD, KS 66769 POSITION 1
JASON SUTTERBY-148 HWY 39, SAVONBURG, KS 66772 POSITION 2
JOSHUA HARTMAN-403 CLAY ST, UNIONTOWN, KS 66779 POSITION 3
KOLBY STOCK-1486 JAYHAWK RD, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION 3
SALLY JOHNSON-402 HILL ST, UNIONTOWN, KS 66779
FSCC BOARD OF TRUSTEES
DAVID ELLIOTT-1779 LOCUST RD, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
KIRK HART-715 S LITTLE ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
MICHAEL HOYT-1315 BEECH ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
CURTIS LEAR-643 MAPLE RD, UNIONTOWN, KS 66779
ROBERT NELSON-216 N LINCOLN ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
SOUTHWIND EXTENSION DISTRICT
DIANE BRILLHART-412 130TH ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
PETE WILEY-1476 225TH ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
The school districts of Girard, USD 248 and Arma, USD 346, overlap slightly into Bourbon County, because of this, the following candidates are on the Bourbon County ballot, according to Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk.
USD 248
DALE SHIREMAN-206 E. HOWARD, GIRARD, KS 66743 POSITION 1
ROGER L. BRENEMAN-803 N. LEONARD, GIRARD, KS 66743 POSITION 2
DAVE GOBLE-478 W 680TH AVE, GIRARD, KS 66743 POSITION 3
LORI JOHNSON-124 E. 630TH ST, GIRARD, KS 66743 AT LARGE
USD 346
MAX KRULL-307 W KANSAS AVE, BLUE MOUND, KS 66010 POSITION 3
BRENT PADDOCK-6360 INGRAHM RD, MOUND CITY, KS 66056 AT LARGE
Submitted by Jody Hoener, Bourbon County Economic Development Director
Bourbon County Economic Development is actively working on countywide goals to enhance our economic growth, lower property tax, and address population decline. We are addressing the current business climate with strategies to increase revenue through adding value, and therefore lowering the individual tax burden.
By providing opportunity for a privately developed multi-use facility with a focus on participatory sports, such as rodeo, we will inject added value into the community which will increase opportunities for recreation and assist retail business with increased sales revenue and foot traffic.
Bourbon County community has identified business, housing, and quality of life as their top three priorities.
Data collected from County surveys and face to face interviews on current business needs indicate that property tax burden is one of the top issues business face, second only to workforce needs.
Currently, the countywide average mill levy is $180.77 per $1000 assessed valuation, ranking Bourbon County 11th highest in the State of Kansas (Kansas Department of Revenue, 2018).
We are preparing for a marathon, not a sprint, to address our current tax climate, with long term goals of becoming more regionally competitive at $158.61 per $1000 assessed valuation by the year 2030.
We are leveraging community strengths and assets to create a more business-friendly environment in a place people want to live, work and play.
Fort Scott Community College is renowned nationwide for its rodeo team and Fort Scott is located on an intersection of two major highways. A grassroots committee of former rodeo team athletes, business owners, and public sector, with support from the community college president and rodeo team coach, has formed to see a privately developed multi-use facility constructed.
Bourbon County Commission, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance livability and quality of life for its residents and to grow our economic base and resulting job opportunities, has commissioned a feasibility study for a multi-use event facility to be located in the Fort Scott area.
Markin Consulting, a national consulting firm specializing in these types of facilities, is conducting this two-phase study.
The first phase is an intense look at the market viability of this type of facility.
We are thankful for Bourbon County stakeholder’s Jim Keller, of Keller Ranch, and Steve Buerge, of Buerge Farms and Buerge Enterprises, Inc. who have made substantial contributions toward the market demand study. By completing rigorous cost benefit analysis, we are not only showing to be good stewards of tax payor resources but we are also planning for the future.
The decisions we make on investments today will determine the productivity, wages, and quality of life for generations to come. To grow a sustainable, thriving, prosperous community, we are developing creative and dynamic strategies, fostering public/private partnerships, and encourage civic participation.
We believe the feasibility study for the multi-use event facility is very important to our business community and are asking business and residents for your help by taking time to complete a very short, on-line survey for this study process.
