A local helping agency will continue food and financial help but discontinue the distribution of clothing.
The Beacon Board of Directors voted last week to not accept clothing for distribution to its clients.
“While grateful for the years of generosity of Fort Scott citizens in their donations of clothing and household items, the Beacon Board of Directors has regretfully chosen to end receiving of donations of clothing and household items,” according to a press release from the Beacon.
“The board voted unanimously to continue offering only food service and financial services as it has in the past,” Carol MacArthur, president of the board told fortscott.biz.
“The Beacon will no longer distribute these (clothing) items effective November 1, 2018. This decision not made lightly and only after careful assessment.”
“Food and monetary donations are welcome and essential, as these needs are endless,” according to the press release.
“The Board would also like to thank all those who have worked in the Beacon for their tireless efforts in serving the community.”
At a recent Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition meeting, it was stated that these agencies still provide distribution of clothing in Fort Scott: Mother to Mother Ministry and Communities In Schools, with qualifiers.
Welcome and Board update: Twenty-three members representing nineteen agencies attended. Billie Jo announced that the Coalition Board had been awarded United Way funding for 2019 and received a donation from the Pioneer Kiwanis Club. She also noted that she had submitted a grant application to the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.
Member introductions and announcements:
Bob Eckles, filling in for Gary Murrell, Beacon Director, shared that the annual Beacon and Adopt-a-Child sign-ups will be held during the first part of November. Qualifying for a Beacon card will entitle a person to two visits each month for food. Bob also shared that the Beacon board has voted to discontinue clothing distribution on November 1. The Beacon organization continues to seek donations of food, money, and books. Christmas distribution is scheduled for December 19 at Community Christian Church.
Following Bob’s announcement, several members – Community Health Center of Pittsburg, Mother-to-Mother, Communities in Schools, shared that they can provide some clothing if qualifications are met.
Head Start, Parents as Teachers, Fort Scott Early Childhood Program all have openings. Contact these organizations for qualifications and applications.
Tammy Alcantar, Crawford County Health Department, reminded members that WIC continues to meet weekly at Buck Run and at Mercy Hospital, for the next three months, the last week of the month. She also mentioned that she has ten Bourbon County participants in the “Baby and Me Tobacco Free” program. She also has a program dealing with best practices for becoming a mom; participants can earn nice prizes for completion of the program.
Samantha Daniels, KVC, has foster parenting classes beginning soon in Pittsburg and Parsons; she will email details.
Next Steps will be starting a new class in November; contact Jean Tucker for additional details. There is an application and interview process.
Sandy, Haggard, RSVP, will have volunteers to place with the closing of Mercy Hospital and the closure of clothing distribution at Beacon. She is working on a new grant application which requires a project dealing with the opioid crisis.
Alice Maffett, Bourbon County Health Department, has been busy with flu shot clinics.
Michelle Stevenson, FSECP, summarized the information from her latest regional coalition meeting. A parent helpline can be accessed through the KCSL application.
Allen Schellack, Compassionate Ministries, announced that bell ringing for the Salvation Army will begin in only seven weeks! He also shared that “Safe Families” is happening in Bourbon County. Tina from Safe Families will be here on November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at the Senior Citizens Center, 26 N. Main to answer all of our questions.
Jackie Sellers sent word that commodities distribution will be on November 15. Senior Citizen food distribution will be on November 16. Contact Jackie for further information.
Amanda Gilmore is actively working on finding a building for clothes distribution.
Ashley Reeder, SEK Mental Health, needs more children enrolled in her program.
Lewis Dunkeson, Communities in Schools, gave a brief synopsis of his program which is new to USD 234.
Program presented by Vicky Polen, Safehouse:
Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc. serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Southeast Kansas. Services provided include a 24-hour crisis hotline, temporary emergency shelter, crisis intervention advocacy, individual supportive counseling for adults or children, victims support groups for domestic violence and sexual violence. They also promote family-centered safety with a child exchange and visitation center whose mission is to provide a place that is safe and free from violence where children can build and maintain positive relationships with their parents.
The November 7 program will be presented by Mandi H-Woods, Kansas Children’s Service League. Matt Witt will present the December program; we also have a program scheduled for February.
Open Forum: In Cinda Reynold’s absence, Billie Jo announced that the next blood mobile will be held October 25 and 26 at Buck Run Community Center.
Adjournment: Next meeting will be November 7, 2018.
This is part of a series of responses from candidates for the Nov. 6, 2018 election.
County Commission District #1 (vote for one)
Clinton L. Walker 1999 105th St. Mapleton 66754 Democratic
Lynne D. Oharah 2120 95th St. Uniontown 66779 Republican
Here are the responses from incumbent Lynne Oharah:
Lynne Oharah
Name: Lynne Oharah
Age: 71
Candidate for the position of County Commissioner District 1
Place of residence: 2120 95th St. Uniontown, Ks.
Current occupation: Semi-retired, Current County Commissioner District 1
Community involvement: USA Navy Veteran, Past Kansas State Representative. Former USD235 School Board Member for 10 years. Current member of the Uniontown Ruritan club. Member of the Southeast Kansas Planning Committee.
Party affiliation: Republican
What is the biggest issue, if elected, and how do you plan to address it?
Growing the economy and reducing taxes. We have held the line on raising the mill levy and raising the mill levy in the future is not an option. We must make every effort to reduce taxes through economic growth which will increase our population and provide new avenues for growth and continue providing services needed and wanted by the public.
The programs that have been started are the Bourbon County Neighborhood Revitalization Program which is already starting to show results, the continuation of the partnership with CrawKan Telephone Company to provide broadband access to the highspeed internet, plans to promote a Data Center (server farm) in the old jail facility.
We must work with all business, existing and new, agriculture and not-agriculture, to promote growth.
Another extremely important issue to be addressed is dealing with the loss of Mercy Hospital. We must work together, county, cities, and communities, to address how we provide quality medical services to the population of Bourbon County.
I would be very involved in this process and be part of a team to that will work to ensure we do have the medical services we need.
The 1st Annual Veterans Day Parade will be held on Saturday, November 10, beginning at 5:00 pm through downtown Fort Scott.
Entries for the parade are now being accepted at the Fort Scott Regional Tourism Center at 231 E. Wall Street in Fort Scott.
Parade entries should honor our veterans, showcase patriotism, and celebrate Veterans Day.
Entries are being accepted for floats, marching bands, foot units, antique or classic cars, horse units, or anything fitting for a Veterans Day Celebration.
Volunteers are also being sought to provide trucks and trailers for older veterans to ride.
Grand Marshalls will be the oldest male and female veteran living in Bourbon County.
The parade route will follow the normal parade route through Fort Scott, beginning on Main Street at 6th, traveling north to Wall, east on Wall Street to National, and south on National to 6th.
The parade staging area will be at Fort Scott High School.
For more information, or to volunteer, contact the Fort Scott Convention & Visitors Bureau at 620.670.2750 or online at visitfortscott.com.
Contact: Larry Gazaway
Phone: (620) 670.2750
Email:[email protected]
FORT SCOTT, Kan. – Each year, there are changes that affect Medicare coverage. Find out what’s changing for 2019 and prepare for Medicare Open Enrollment. That’s the theme of Fort Scott Presbyterian Village’s “Just Ask” session October 16.
Joy Miller, Southwind District extension agent and local Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SCHICK) program volunteer, will talk about upcoming changes and answer your questions about Medicare Part D. Open enrollment for Medicare Part D is October 15 through December 7.
“Medicare Boot Camp” will begin at 2 p.m. October 16 at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, 2401 S. Horton. It is part of Presbyterian Village’s Just Ask series, a free, ongoing lifelong learning program featuring information from local, regional and national experts on topics of interest to older adults and their families.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Marketing Director Becky Kellum at 620-223-5550 or email her at [email protected].
Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.
A desirable soil is the most important aspect of a garden. Time spent fertilizing, watering and tending to plants is necessary, but this time is almost a waste if the soil you’re working with is not in good condition. Fall is an excellent time to step back and analyze how well your garden performed during the summer, and to make improvements to the soil.
Soil is formed when rock is broken down by climate and vegetation over a period of time. Soil is nothing more than weathered rock fragments and decaying remains of plants and animals.
Most soils have three distinct layers – surface, subsoil and bottom. The surface layer is a coarse layer containing more organic matter than the other soil layers and the layer that people pay the greatest attention to. This layer is the most fertile and has the greatest concentration of plant roots. Plants obtain much of their nutrients and water from the surface soil.
The subsoil layer is finer and firmer than the surface soil and serves as support for the surface layer. The subsoil layer is a storage space for water and nutrients for plants, a temperature regulator of the soil and supplies air for the roots of plants. The bottom layer is decomposed rock. It is not hard like rock, but may show the form or structure of the original rocks.
Soil texture refers to the proportional amount of sand, silt and clay in a soil. Texture and soil structure affect the moisture holding capacity of soil, permeability, capacity to hold and furnish nutrients, tillage operations and erosion.
Our soils in the southeastern part of Kansas have a high clay content to it. The clay in the soil is what makes the soil stick to your shoes when the soil is wet. Many refer to our soil as “gumbo.”
One way to address a heavy clay soil and to improve the soil texture is to add organic matter. Organic matter includes such items as manure, leaves, and grass clippings that have been composted. Earthworms, insects, bacteria and fungi use the organic matter as food, breaking it down into humus. Through this process, materials are made available for use by growing plants. In a heavy clay soil, the organic matter allows water to move more freely and loosens the tight clay, which makes the soil easier to work.
Organic material can be directly applied to gardens and flowerbeds this time of year and allowed to compost directly in the soil. Add two to four inches of organic material and till into the soil. If the soil is dry, apply water to begin the decomposition process. After about two weeks you can repeat the process with another application of organic material. The organic material will decompose over the winter and soil will be ready for spring planting.
Sand is sometimes suggested as an amendment material for clay soils. However, there is a good reason to be cautious about using sand. For sand to be effective at breaking up a clay soil, sand grains must touch one another so there is pore space between grains that can hold air and water. If the grains don’t touch, the clay fills in the void between sand particles leaving no room for pores. This is the same principle used to make concrete and the result is somewhat the same.
Before doing any amendments to the soil, I recommend doing a soil test. Soil testing can be done through the Extension office for $12. For more information on how to take a soil sample, please give me a call.
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Executive Session-Privileged in the attorney client relationship-40 min.
Tax Sale-10 min.
NRP-10 min.
Update on Health Care issues-20 min.
12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch
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
Vicky Polen, Safehouse Crisis Center Victim Advocate, speaks to the Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition members, Wednesday. Seated is Billie Jo Drake, coalition chairwoman.
Safehouse Crisis Center, Pittsburg, has served 33 victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking that come from Bourbon County.
“It’s important that everybody be aware of these issues,” Vicky Polen, a victim advocate with the center told the Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition members during its’ monthly meeting.
Thirty-three might not seem like a big number, she said. “But we spent 433 hours with them.”
The crisis center serves Southeast Kansas.
From statistical data on the center’s website these are the numbers of the services that have been given from the center: 550- Hotline calls, 297-Victims were Sheltered, 857-Total Agency Victims Served (Unduplicated), 10,912-Peer Counseling Meetings, 769-Support Groups, 1,019- Safety Plans, 329-Court Advocacy, 248-Presentations to 10,023 Public and Professional Individuals, 216-Served through Child Exchange and Visitation Center, 776-Personal Advocacy.
The coalition meets the first Wednesday in the basement of the First Baptist Church at noon.
Members present during the meeting are allowed to tell what is happening and what services are offered from their agencies. A previously selected speaker presents a program on their agency. This month it was Vicky Polen of Safehouse. The November 7 speaker will be Mandi H-Woods, Kansas Children’s Service League.
The city of Fort Scott and Bourbon County officials urgently join forces after the announcement of Mercy Hospital’s closure in Fort Scott Kansas.
October 4, 2018
City and County officials continue to meet to strategize a collaborative approach to the future of healthcare in Bourbon County.
Officials remain optimistic about the quality of life, access to health care, and continued economic growth.
The joint effort’s immediate next steps are to form a task force comprised of representatives from the City, County, Chamber of Commerce, USD 234, USD 235, Fort Scott Community College, businesses, Bourbon County Economic Development Council, Inc. and the financial community.
The task force will be led by Robert Uhler, City of Fort Scott Director of Community Development.
Mercy’s local leadership has taken steps to safeguard emergency services beyond their closure to ensure access to critical healthcare services.
The intention of this task force is to identify the next model of sustainable healthcare in this community.
With resilient citizens and ongoing legislative support, Bourbon County expects to be a representation of future healthcare in rural Kansas.
Rachel Pruitt Jody Hoener
Economic Development Economic Development Director
