Category Archives: Bourbon County

Bourbon County, Fort Scott Community College, Schools

FSCC Celebrates 100 Years In the Community

April 5, 2019 Loretta George Leave a comment

Alysia Johntson announced the Centennial Celebration of Fort Scott Community College at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee Thursday at the college gym.

The school is oldest continually operating community college in Kansas and will celebrate one hundred years of existence September 20 and 21, Johnston told the coffee attendees.

Fort Scott Community College President Alysia Johnston.

“Fort Scott Community College started in Fort Scott High School in 1919,” Johnston told the coffee attendees.

That move allowed students who wanted to start college, but not have to go out of the community, to attend college, said Mert Barrows, a member of the Centennial Committee.

The college moved to the present site on South Horton Street in 1967, Johnston said.

“Today we provide online degrees and also have one of the best occupational areas around,” Johnston said.

“I was a student here for the 50th anniversary (of the college),” Harold Hicks, Centennial Committee Chairman, said.

“This college has a special place in my heart,” Hicks said. “Several members of the committee are graduates and much of our success in life, the seeds were planted here.”

To celebrate the centennial, there is a banquet and tailgate party planned for the community.

The celebration will kick off Friday evening, September 20, with a banquet for graduates, employees, and their families, according to a press release from FSCC. Saturday afternoon, Sept. 21, will feature a tailgate party at the stadium for all members of the community and conclude with the Homecoming game at 7 p.m.

Other activities planned include the burial of a time capsule, a series of featured articles in the newspaper, display cases around the campus, cake celebration, a video depicting campus activities, and appearances at local fairs and other community events, and other activities in the works, according to the press release.

Fort Scott Community College (then Fort Scott Junior College) was voted into existence on November 8, 1918, in a city-wide election. Rees Hughes, principal at Fort Scott High School, administered the newly formed college with fully qualified teachers to teach a program of consisting of foreign languages, English, mathematics, and science that would be identical to that offered by the University of Kansas, according to the press release.

According to a Fort Scott Tribune article published in April 1918, “By establishing the two years of college work in Fort Scott, it offers an unusual opportunity for students in Fort Scott and Bourbon County and adjacent counties to secure two years of normal school or college work while near home. The work done in the Fort Scott Junior College will be fully accredited at any of the colleges, normal schools or universities of the state,” according to the press release.

Centennial Committee members: Hicks, Barrows, Carolyn Sinn, Valetta Cannon, Bernita Hill, Robert Nelson, Bob Cable, Lori Cable, Rhonda Bailey, Ellen Fairchild, Leslie Damien, Karri Johnson, Marcel Normand and Kassie Feugate-Cate.

Contact person for the Centennial Committee is Harold W. Hicks, [email protected], Fort Scott Community College, 2108 South Horton, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Tel: 620.223.2700 X3150

Bourbon County, Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott

Home Show Starts April 5: “More Vendors Than Ever”

April 4, 2019 Loretta George Leave a comment

Approximately 60 vendors focusing on home, sport, farm and garden, plus booths of community entities, await you at the KOMB-FM 103.9 Home Show this weekend.

Fort Scott Broadcasting Company, owner of KOMB-FM and KMDO-FM is having its annual home show this Friday from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m to 3 p.m. at Arnold Arena on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

Tim McKinney tells the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee attendees about the home show this weekend. Deb McKinney listens in the background.

“We will have tons of giveaways and great food,” McKinney told the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee, which they hosted at the show site. “We have more vendors than we have ever had.”

Participating vendors:

Advantage Metals, Albers Marine, Ascension Via Christi, Autumn Exteriors, Bath Innovations, Blue Valley Trailers, Briggs Auto, Bourbon County Conservation District, BN Hunting Supplies, Busy Bugs Pest Control, Care to Share, Community Health Center, City of Fort Scott, Common Ground/Astra Coffee, Country Place Senior Living, Covey Garage Doors, The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce/Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, FSCC Centennial Committee, Hague Quality Water, Heidricks Tru Value, Home Depot, Home Pro, Jim’s Sales, K-State/Southwind Extension District, LeafFilter, Live Local, Miller Feed & Farm, Momentum Indoor Training, Nemesis Contracting, Norris Heating and Air, O’Malley Implement, Phillip’s Lawn Care, Perry’s Pork Rinds, Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, Pro Active Agriculture, R II Concrete Construction, R&R Equipment, Redbud Farms, Rolox Home Service, Ruddick’s Furniture, Satellite Center, Seal Smart, Sharky’s Pub & Grub, Shirt Shack, SIT Solutions, Skitch’s Hauling & Excavating, Stewart Realty, Stutesman’s Action Realty, Sunscape Pool & Backyard, Thrasher, Inc., Tractor Supply Co., Twister Trailer, Visit Fort Scott, Wreath Ride, U.S. Cellular, and Yutzy Construction.

In conjunction with the home show, Fort Scott Community College is providing a kids fair from 9 a.m. to noon on April 6. Parents can leave their children at the kids fair and enjoy the home show, said Fort Scott Communication Director Kassie Cate.

Tim and Deb McKinney, owners of Fort Scott Broadcasting and Central Communications.

McKinney said his family opened the station in 1954 and the radio station is known for its local news, sports, talk and podcasts, live stream events, live play by play sports and more.

It is headquartered at 2 N. National Avenue and can be contacted at (620) 223-4500.

Bourbon County, Fair

Get Ready For Bourbon County Fair Open Class

April 3, 2019 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Wilma Graham enters art and craft entries from Medicalodge residents Monday at the 2018 Bourbon County Fair.

The 2019 Bourbon County Fair will be July 13 through July 20 at the Bourbon County Fair Grounds. It is time to start thinking of what you are going to enter in the Open Class exhibits. King Arthur Flour continues to sponsor a baking contest for both adult and youth and will donate nice prizes. Recipes and King Arthur Flour will be available to the contestants. A registration form will be in the fair paper or contact Jackie Warren for more information.

There will also be a Table Runner Contest. Please contact Jackie Warren for the instructions for this year’s contest. Don’t forget the new categories that were introduced in the Quilts Division last year: Mug Rug, Hexagons (any size), Holiday Item, Wool Applique and a Quilt on a Stick.

A new category of “Lego’s” will be added to the Arts and Crafts Division. This should be a fun category as different types of creations can be exhibited. Make any kind of Christmas ornament and you can enter it in the new category “Christmas Ornament”, also in Arts and Crafts.

Don’t forget the Small Hay Bale Contest and the Scarecrow Contest. Please contact Terri Williams to register for these so we can have a hay bale ready for you, or a bucket of sand for your scarecrow.

If you haven’t purchased a copy of the Posters of the Bourbon County Fair dated 1886, you may do so during the fair. All remaining posters are now priced at $5.00.

There are so many exhibits to visit during the Bourbon County Fair, both Open Class and 4-H. In addition to exhibits there will be programs in the Myers Building on Wednesday, July 17. These are presented by members of FCE (Family and Community Education).

More information will be in the Fair Book which will be printed by the Fort Scott Tribune in early May.

We are grateful for the sponsors and supporters of the Bourbon County Fair. All the prize monies for the special contests and awards are donated by sponsors. We appreciate these sponsors and volunteers. There would not be a Bourbon County Fair without these wonderful people.

Please contact Jackie Warren, 620-224-8161, [email protected] or Terri Williams, 620-215-3202 for more information or questions.

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Government, Health Care

Budgeting For the New Ambulance Service

April 3, 2019 Loretta George Leave a comment

The budgeting process for the new Bourbon County Emergency Medical Service has two government bodies amending their budgets for 2019.

These actions are because of Mercy Hospital closing in December 2018, and along with that, the hospital ambulance service.

A collaboration between the city and the county will provide the new ambulance service.

The City of Fort Scott will operate the ambulance, Bourbon County Commissioners will bill the insurance and receive the revenue and then reimburse the city. The majority of this budget is wages, taxes and benefits, according to the Fort Scott City Commission March 19 minutes.

A task force was formed to put together a new ambulance service that will serve the community. The task force was comprised of representatives of Mercy, Bourbon County and the City of Fort Scott.

On March 19, the Fort Scott City Commission approved to create a new EMS fund and adopt an EMS budget of $1,004,242, according to the commission minutes.

The county government is also revisiting its budget.

“The county’s projected budget for 2019 for ambulance service is 1.1 million dollars,” Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah said.

“The county has always had a line item budget for ambulance service which was paid to Mercy,” Oharah said. “I think that that budget item was approved for $316,000 for 2019. This is a budget line item where we will amend our budget.”

“We have (Certified Public Accountant)Terry Sercer working with us on an amendment to the ambulance budget…,” Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah said.

“This budget will be figured on what we contracted with the city to provide ambulance service, plus what we pay an outside company, OMNI, to provide medical billing and collections, wages for the volunteer employees that staff the third ambulance and other ancillary expenses associated with handling ambulance. Building a budget item for future ambulance replacement included,” Oharah said.

The north wing of the Bourbon County Courthouse houses the Bourbon County Commission, Treasurers Office and the Clerk’s Office.

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Kids in the Kitchen

April 1, 2019 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda April 2

April 1, 2019 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: April 2nd, 2019

1^st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2^nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3^rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00-9:10-Wellness

9:10-10:00-Jim Harris

Executive Session-10 min.-Personnel matter of individual non-elected personnel

Executive Session-20 min.-Personnel matter of individual non-elected personnel

Hay Bids-Do we want to take bids on hay at Elm Creek and Landfill?

10:00-10:30-Jail List of Incomplete Items

10:45-11:00-Terry Sercer-2018 Year End Transfers

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks

12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch

1:30-2:00-Christi Keating-Update on EMS

2:00-Courthouse Flowers

Bourbon County, Government, Health Care

Bourbon County Ambulance Service Starts Today, April 1

April 1, 2019 Loretta George 1 Comment

Mercy EMS is no more.

Bourbon County Emergency Medical Services is, as of today, April 1, the new ambulance service for the community.

For emergency situations, you still dial 911.

“For emergencies, you can dial 911,” Bruner said. “For all non-emergency calls, the public can contact me at 620-223-2140.” Bruner is the Fort Scott Deputy Fire Chief.

Bruner is a representative of the City of Fort Scott on a task force that was given the job of transitioning the services, there were also representatives from Bourbon County and Mercy Hospital.

“The transition has been a learning process with all the licensing and credentialing that takes place,” Bruner said. “We are very appreciative to Mercy with the assistance they have provided to make this transition into Bourbon County EMS.”

“Currently, we will remain stationed at Mercy Hospital and the Fort Scott Fire Department Station 1 (located on National Avenue),” Bruner said.

The city will operate the ambulance, the county will bill the insurance and receive the revenue and then reimburse the city. The majority of this budget is wages, taxes and benefits, according to the Fort Scott City Commission March 19 minutes.

“We currently have six ambulances,” Bruner said. “Three of those are staffed 24/7.”

Currently, there are 11 full-time emergency medical services staff members, according to Bruner.

“Of those, four are paramedics, 1 paramedic/registered nurse and six emergency medical technicians,” Bruner said. “In addition to the full-time staff, we have 15 PRN staff. Of those four are paramedics, four are AEMT’s and seven are EMT’s.”

“Other than the logo change on the uniforms and the decals on the trucks, the service remains the same,” Bruner said.

Insurance

“We now have most, if not all, of the enrollment completed with all identified insurance carriers,” Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah said. “But it’s early in the insurance reimbursement process and we will be able to obtain a clearer picture of our monthly insurance reimbursements going forward. We are hopeful that reimbursements will cover expenses.”

Building Donated By Mercy

A building on the campus of the former Mercy Hospital is being remodeled for Bourbon County EMS.

“Renovations are still being completed at the new EMS headquarters located on the northeast corner of the Mercy Campus,” Bruner said.

“Mercy has graciously offered the donation of the EMS building,” Jody Hoenor, a member of the task force, said. “We are only waiting on the finalization of some of this paperwork.”

County jail work-release prisoners have worked on the renovation of the building, with work slated for completion by April 15, Hoenor said.

New EMS Director Being Sought

Christi Keating is the current EMS Director but is resigning, according to the city minutes.

“They have been interviewing candidates and we will be announcing the new hire soon,” Hoenor said.

History

Mercy Hospital closed in December 2018.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas now operates the medical clinic at the site, while Ascension Via Christi operates the emergency services department.

Each Kansas county must provide ambulance services to its residents, according to state statute, Commissioner Oharah said.

Area News, Bourbon County, Health Care

Veterans Medical Shuttle Expands

April 1, 2019 Submitted Story Leave a comment

The Fort Scott VA Shuttle service is now providing weekly service to Veterans in the Southeast Kansas area on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays as follows:

Mondays and Tuesdays: Fort Scott to Topeka VA Medical Center.

Wednesdays: Fort Scott to Kansas City VA Medical Center.

Veterans must have an appointment scheduled between 9 am and 1 pm on the day they ride the shuttle.

Veterans living along Highway 69 or near Louisburg and Ottawa can also schedule a ride to the VA by following the below process. Veterans scheduling rides must be at one of our predetermined stops to ride the shuttle. This is a shuttle service, not a taxi service.

The VA shuttle holds five passengers and riders must preregister for a seat. Seats on the shuttle are open to any area Veteran on a first come, first served basis.

The shuttle service is free to any Veteran who needs transportation to the VA for their medical appointments.

The shuttle will depart from the Fort Scott’s Pete’s 66 service station on Main Street and will return to Fort Scott after the last Veteran has completed their appointment. The departure time is based upon the time of the first appointment of the day at the VA Medical Center day. Riders will be notified of the shuttle departure time the evening before their ride.

The shuttle does not accommodate wheelchairs or pets. Only certified service dogs are permitted on the shuttle. Oxygen tanks are not permitted on the shuttle. Oxygen concentrators are allowed.

Family members may not ride with the Veteran on the shuttle. Those Veterans who need a caregiver to accompany them must have a signed note from their doctor attesting that the Veteran requires a caregiver to accompany them to and from their appointment.

To register for a shuttle seat, the Veteran must

· Have an appointment at a VA Medical Center between 9 am and 1 pm for the day they schedule their shuttle seat.

· Call 785-925-0261 or email [email protected] to schedule their seat. All seat reservations must be scheduled by 5 pm, the day prior to their appointment.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email me with any questions you might have.

Submitted by Carl Jowers, Fort Scott Shuttle Coordinator.

Bourbon County, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office

Female Self Defense Class Coming To Fort Scott

March 29, 2019 Loretta George Leave a comment

Kim Schwab, Roger Kemp, and Bill Martin visit with Jacqui Spradling following the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee Thursday.

The tragic murder of his daughter spurred Roger Kemp and his wife to action.

Ali Kemp was 19 years old in 2004 when she was raped and murdered in Leawood, a Kansas City suburb.

“That’s why we do this program,” Kemp said. “We don’t want it to happen to anybody else.”

The Kemps helped facilitate the creation of a self-defense program for females from middle-school age to “a 90-year-old grandmother,” he said.

The Ali Kemp Education Foundation, T.A.K.E., is coming to Fort Scott Middle School on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Jill and Bob Leiker are the chief instructors for the class.

“Bob was formerly in law enforcement,” Kemp said. “Bob has been into prisons and interviewed several predators to find out what they look for.”

Since its inception, the T.A.K.E. program has seen 68,000 people go through the self-defense class nationwide, Kemp said.

Kim Schwab, an administrative assistant at the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center, is currently taking registrations for the class.

She can be reached at the jail by calling 620-223-1440 or stopping by the center, located at 293 E. 20th in Fort Scott, for an application. Alternatively, one can access the application on the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center Facebook page.

“Sheriff Bill Martin directed me to the T.A.K.E. class,” Schwab said. “It is one-hour of education and the second-hour to learn the moves you need to get away (from an attacker).”

A donation of $12 is requested, but not required.

Sponsors for the class are being sought by the Sheriff’s office.

Bourbon County, Entertainment

Civil War Camp Dance April 27

March 28, 2019 Submitted Story Leave a comment

THE ANNUAL CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT ON THE GROUNDS OF FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE WILL BE HELD SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, APRIL TWENTY-SEVENTH AND TWENTY EIGHTH.

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS EVENT, THE FRIENDS OF FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE WILL BE HOSTING THE SECOND ANNUAL CIVIL WAR CAMP DANCE.

LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN FORT SCOTT, HISTORIC MEMORIAL HALL WILL BE FILLED WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC FROM THE EIGHTEEN HUNDREDS ALONG WITH WHOOPING AND HOLLERING AND DANCING FEET AT THE CIVIL WAR CAMP DANCE THE EVENING OF SATURDAY, APRIL TWENTY-SEVENTH.

PERIOD DANCES AND MUSIC ARE SURE TO ENTERTAIN PARTICIPANTS AS THEY BRING HISTORY TO LIFE.

THE CAMP DANCE IS HELD TO COINCIDE WITH THE CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT WEEKEND AT FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

IT GIVES THE VOLUNTEERS ATTENDING THE ENCAMPMENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER, HAVE A GOOD TIME, AND BRING HISTORY ALIVE IN A SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO COME AND JOIN IN THE DANCING OR JUST TO WATCH.

WE ENCOURAGE, BUT DON’T REQUIRE, THOSE WHO ATTEND TO COME DRESSED IN 1860S CIVIL WAR ATTIRE, OR DRESSED AS1800S WESTERN PIONEERS. IT SETS THE TONE FOR THE EVENING.

ALL AGES ARE WELCOME. COME JOIN US AS WE LEARN 1800S DANCES TO 1800S MUSIC.

THE DOORS OPEN AT SIX-THIRTY AND DANCING BEGINS AT 7:00 PM.

THE COST OF FIVE DOLLARS PER PERSON COLLECTED AT THE DOOR GOES TO THE FRIENDS OF FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO FACEBOOK AT FORT SCOTT KANSAS EIGHTEEN HUNDREDS DANCING.

Bourbon County, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Government

Tour and Updates: Bourbon County Commission

March 28, 2019 Loretta George Leave a comment

Chamber members take advantage of the tour of the second-floor office of the Bourbon County Attorney following the Chamber of Commerce coffee.

A large number of people crowded into the hallway of the Bourbon County Courthouse Thursday morning to attend the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee.

Many of the county’s departments were represented at the coffee.

Community announcements were given, with each announcer paying $1 to the Fort Scott Trolley Car transportation fund.

This week’s coffee was hosted by the Bourbon County Commission, with First District Commissioner Lynne Oharah telling of the events coming up in the county.

First District Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah.

Nick Ruhl, District 3 Bourbon County Commissioner.

Jeff Fischer, District 2 Bourbon County Commissioner.

Oharah invited the attendees to tour the facility on the first floor that houses the Bourbon County Clerk, Treasurer, County Commission Room, Economic Director and Counselor.

Also open for viewing was the second-floor Bourbon County Attorney Office space, which has been in use since October.

Bourbon County Attorney Jacqui Spradling.

Oharah said the commission is “looking to renew a one-cent sales tax for maintaining or new hard-surfaced roads in the county.”

On another subject, he also noted that “the county is totally responsible for the ambulance service as of April 1.”

This following the closing of Mercy Hospitali n October and the transitioning to the county’s responsibility for the ambulance.

Economic Director Jody Hoenor said the transition was a “team approach” between the county, Mercy and the City of Fort Scott.

Hoenor advised people to contact their insurance provider directly to see if the ambulance service will be covered in their policy.

Hoenor also said she is working on a strategic plan for the county which focuses on “increasing our population to spread the tax base over many shoulders.”

Angel Wilson, victim witness coordinator and office administration; Judy Hood, senior legal secretary and juvenile victim witness coordinator; and Staci Haynes, diversion and senior legal secretary at the Bourbon County Attorney’s Office.

Bourbon County

Gardeners Christmas Auction This Saturday, March 30

March 27, 2019 Loretta George Leave a comment

Tri-Valley Developmental Services, 4305 Campbell Drive, located in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park.

The long winter is almost over. Gardeners are getting antsy to get their hands in the dirt in their gardens.

“It’s winter time,” Barb McCord, Tri-Valley Developmental Services (TVDS) Horticultural Therapist, said. “I know a lot of gardeners are excited about getting started.”

The 7th Annual Gardeners Christmas Auction, Saturday, March 30, will help assist them to get started.

Barb McCord tells about some of the plants grown in the greenhouse at Tri-Valley Developmental Services.

The silent auction along with the plant and garden decor sale is from 10 a.m. to noon at the TVDS, located in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park at 4305 Campbell Drive.