Category Archives: Bourbon County

Bourbon County

LMC Reaches 11,000 Visitors For 2018

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Lowell Milken Center Reaches 11,000 Visitors for the Year

Jessica Hightower from La Cygne, Kansas_is

the 11,000th visitor to the Lowell Milken Center in 2018

On Tuesday December 11, 2018, the Lowell Milken Center reached a new milestone, hosting its 11,000th visitor of the year, 2018. Jessica Hightower of La Cygne, Kansas visited the Center this afternoon.

Since it’s inception in 2007, the Lowell Milken Center has hosted visitors from 96 countries and all 50 states. People from as far away as Dubai, Chile, and Laos have visited the Center’s exhibit space to learn about unsung heroes who have changed the course of history.

Unsung heroes are celebrated at the Center through student-based projects that incorporate primary source research and the creative arts. The cornerstone project about Irena Sendler, a woman who saved more than 2,500 children during the Holocaust, and the Kansas students that rescued her story has always been a draw for visitors. Lately, the books of children’s author, Cathy Werling, have been receiving nation-wide praise.

About the Lowell Milken Center: The Lowell Milken Center is a non-profit 501 © (3) that works with students and educators within a range of diverse academic disciplines, to develop projects focused on unsung heroes. Once their projects are finished, we advocate the student’s unsung heroes by sharing them in our Hall of Unsung Heroes or our website so people all over the world discover their individual influence and obligation to take actions that improve the lives of others. The Hall of Unsung Heroes is proudly located in Southeast Kansas and showcases some of the top projects developed in collaboration with the Center.

Bourbon County

Hwy. 69 in Bourbon County Completion Extended to 2019

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Workers pause for a consult on U.S. Highway 69, south of Fort Scott on Dec. 11.

Even though traffic is now running head-to-head on the new U.S. 69 corridor in Bourbon County, the section will not be completed until next year.

“We’re giving the contractor a time extension on this project because of extensive deterioration on the existing lanes,” Priscilla Petersen, Public Affairs Manager for the Southeast Office of the Kansas Department of Transportation, said.

“The deteriorated sections are to the point where additional concrete patching is necessary,” she said. “The contractor plans to begin removing the old pavement this month, but weather conditions won’t allow for placement of new concrete until next March. This extra patching extends the completion of the project until late spring/early summer of 2019.”

“A reduced speed limit of 55 mph is posted on the new lanes, with four crossovers posted at 45 mph. After the entire project is open to four-lane traffic the speed limit will again be increased to 65 mph.”

The Crawford County section will be next in the expansion to a four-lane highway from a two-lane highway.

“There are two connecting expansion projects planned for U.S. 69 in Crawford County,” Petersen said. “The first is the Arma Connection U.S. 69 expressway. The Arma Connection is six miles long. It will start at the U.S. 69/K-47 junction north of Pittsburg and continue north, ending three miles north of the Arma city limits. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2020.”

 

“The U.S. 69 Crawford County expansion is five miles long. It will begin three miles north of the Arma city limits and end at the Crawford-Bourbon county line. Construction is tentatively scheduled to start in early 2021.”

 

“I can’t give an exact date for completion of these projects since the plans are still being developed,” Petersen said. “Both projects would likely require two construction seasons. We’ll have more details moving forward.”

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Dec. 12

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

Date: December 12th, 2018, 11 a.m.

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

11:00-Ambulance Services

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

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda for Dec. 11

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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: December 11th, 2018

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00-9:45- Jim Harris

10:00-11:00-Lora Holdridge-Executive Session-Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks-Executive Session- Privileged in the attorney-client relationship-30 min.

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

1:30-2:00-Ambulance Update

2:00-Terry Sercer- Budget Amendments

3:00-Contract from Mercy for the donation of equipment

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

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Mercy Hospital

Ambulance Service For Bourbon County

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The Bourbon County Courthouse.

A task force began in October 2018 following the announcing of the closure of Mercy Hospital Fort Scott.

That task force has been meeting weekly since, to work on issues regarding the need for emergency medical services following the closure of Mercy.

“There is a statute that counties are to provide EMS services,” Dave Bruner, a member of the task force said.

“What is in concrete at this point is that the county and the city have signed a contract to provide a service for a year,” Bruner said.

Since both the City of Fort Scott and Bourbon County Commission had already set their budget for 2019 prior to the announcement of Mercy closing, it put them in an uncertain financial position to provide those emergency medical services.

Fort Scott City Hall

“We said ‘let’s put this together and after a year, look at the contract’,” Bruner said.

“When Mercy announced the closure, they have to give 180 days notice,” Bruner said. “So April 1 is when we will be fully Bourbon County EMS.”

“In the meantime from Jan. 1 to April 1, there will be a change of labels on the ambulances,” he said. “Mercy is obligated until April 1. They will still be employees of Mercy.”

There are currently six full-time employees and 16 part-time employees of Mercy EMS.

“We are going to do our best to retain all of them,” Bruner said. “The city will run the day to day  operations of the service-the staffing of ambulances and dispatch.”

The county will pay a subsidy to the city and handle the billing.

“There is a goal to establish a third-party entity to do the billing for the county,” Bruner said.

“The first responders (in emergency situations) in the small towns will continue to be local volunteer fire departments and EMT’s,” he said.

This provides help until the ambulance can arrive on sight of the emergency.

“The goal is to keep the same familiar faces,” Bruner said. “The only thing that will change will be the names on the ambulance and the uniforms.”

“My goal is to give the EMS a place to call their own facility,” he said

Currently, the task force is in negotiations.

“We don’t have a list of what Mercy is donating yet,” Justin Meeks, Bourbon County Legal Counselor said.

“We hope donations will be finalized by Dec. 18,” Meeks said.

Under discussion in negotiations  are vehicles, equipment and facilities.

The task force is comprised of Nick Ruhl, Meeks, Jody Hoener from the county; Dave Martin, Bruner, Robert Uhler, Paul Ballou, Rhonda Dunn and Deb Needleman from the city; and Christi Keating from Mercy.

 

Bourbon County, Government, Kansas

Collins Begins Political Career

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Ken Collins, 102 E. First St., Mulberry,  is the newly elected  Second District Kansas State House of Representative.

“The district covers most of Crawford County, except Pittsburg, and the eastern edges of Neosho and Allen Counties along with the western edge of Bourbon County including Bronson and Uniontown,” Collins said.

Collins has been transitioning from citizen to a representative since being elected in November.

Orientation began last Sunday with social events and meetings.

Election of House leadership positions took place this week, Collins said.

He will be in his Topeka apartment at the beginning of January, he said.

“But I plan to come back home most weekends. It is important to me to not lose touch with the people of the district,” he said.

Constituents may contact Collins at his cell phone number,620-240-0778 or personal email [email protected].

“I will also have an official email address that will be available on the Kansas.gov website,” Collins said.

“I hope to have regular updates and I plan to continue the Facebook page that I  established during the campaign. It can be accessed on Facebook by searching for @kansasdistrict2.”

His priority is to see that US HWY 69 continues to be upgraded to four lanes all the way to the south of the Arma/Franklin bypass, he said.

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Special Meeting Dec. 6

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

Date: December 6, 2018, at  4 p.m.

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

Special meeting to discuss Ambulance Service, OMNI Contract, and Donation Agreement

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

Bourbon County, Entertainment

Moonlight and Mistletoe 2018

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Inside the lobby of the Courtland Hotel.

The  Courtland Hotel, 112 E. First Street, is the host for the Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County’s annual fundraising event-Moonlight and Mistletoe.

The event, this Friday, December 7, is open to the public, and tickets are available at the Visitors Center or Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall.

The cost is $25 per person. Food and a cash bar is available.

“The Historic Courtland Hotel, located in downtown was gracious and opened the hotel to us,” Rhonda Dunn, chair of the HPA said.  “Many people in town will not have seen inside the Courtland Hotel & Spa or in the rooms, because in general, we don’t use hotels in our own town.  This is an opportunity to check out the hotel built in 1906.”

The Courtland Hotel was built in 1906.
Bourbon County

Animal Foster Program Is Established Locally

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The Shirley Yeager Animal Friends Foundation, which owns and operates Lee’s Paws & Claws Animal Shelter, has established an animal foster program. 
 
Fostering an animal consists of housing a cat or dog in a home until a permanent adoptive home is found. Unlike adopting, fostering is temporary, for anywhere from a week to a few months. The fostered pet must live indoors and be cared for properly.
 
Animals in foster homes benefit by being socialized and learning to interact better with people and other pets. Their human foster families are able to enjoy having a pet without the long-term obligation that comes with adoption. 
Anyone interested in fostering a dog or cat should fill out and return the application form, then schedule an in-home inspection. The form can be found at LeesPawsAndClawsShelter.org/fostering.html. Anyone with questions may contact the shelter at 620-223-2888.
Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Low-Cost Tree and Shrub Seedlings Now Available

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The Kansas Forest Service is offering low-cost conservation tree and shrub seedlings for purchase again this year. These seedlings are to be used in conservation plantings, such as home/livestock windbreaks, living snow fences, Christmas tree plantations, firewood lots, habitats for game birds and wildlife, barriers to reduce noise pollution, blocking ugly views, marking property lines and creating habitat for songbirds.

These plants are 1 or 2 years old, and their sizes vary from 5 to 18 inches, depending on species. Most of the trees are bare-root seedlings, however some are available as container-grown seedlings such as Ponderosa pine and Southwestern white pine. Some of the deciduous trees that are available include: bald cypress, black walnut, bur oak, cottonwood, hackberry, redbud, and sycamore. Shrubs available include American plum, chokecherry, lilac, and sand hill plum. This is not a complete listing of available trees and not all trees are recommended for this area.

The Kansas Forest Service also offers tree “bundles” for purchase. The Quail Bundle offers a variety of shrubs designed to attract quail, including American plum, fragrant sumac, golden current and chokecherry. It was created in cooperation with Quail Forever to provide excellent food and habitat for upland bird species in eastern Kansas.

If you are interested in supporting pollinators, there are several shrub and tree species also designated to be of particular importance for butterflies, moths, bees, or other insect pollinators. Some are considered to be nectar sources, while others are larval host plants.

Not certain what you would like to order? Then stop by the Extension office and pick up a brochure that has color pictures of various trees and shrubs at maturity. Orders for conservation trees are accepted now through the first full week of May, with shipments beginning in March. However, I recommend that you order early to ensure availability of trees. Order forms and price sheets are available at the Southwind District Extension Office in Erie, Iola Fort Scott, and Yates Center or can be mailed or e-mailed.

 

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Bourbon County

American Legion Post 25 Upcoming Events:

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December 3. Monday. 6:30 pm. Post 25 meet and greet. Light refreshments will be available at the end of the meeting.

 

December 3. Monday. 7 pm. Post 25 general membership meeting. The meeting is held at the Memorial Hall at National and 3rd in downtown Fort Scott. All Post 25 members, eligible Veterans and guests are invited to attend the meeting.

 

December 4. Tuesday. American Legion Service Officer Myra Jowers is at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Myra is available to assist you with questions about your VA claims or paperwork. This free service is for ANY Veteran or family member who may have questions about starting a VA claim or have questions about next steps. Please share this information with any Veteran you may know who might need assistance in dealing with their VA paperwork.

 

December 4. Tuesday. American Legion Post 25 Commander Carl Jowers has office hours at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Carl is available to discuss any suggestions or concerns you may have about Post 25, Veterans issues in general or just to help solve world problems. Carl will meet with you at other times by emailing him at [email protected] or calling him at 620-215-1688 to schedule an appointment.

 

December 4. Tuesday. 6 pm. Fort Scott Christmas parade. Post members needed to participate in this community event. Contact Post Commander Carl Jowers, if interested.

 

December 8. Saturday. Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army. All donations stay in Bourbon County. Ringers needed from 10 am – 6 pm. One or two hour shifts. Bring a chair if you need to sit. Contact Post Commander Carl Jowers, if you can help in this community outreach program.

 

December 11. Tuesday. American Legion Service Officer Myra Jowers is at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Myra is available to assist you with questions about your VA claims or paperwork. This free service is for ANY Veteran or family member who may have questions about starting a VA claim or have questions about next steps. Please share this information with any Veteran you may know who might need assistance in dealing with their VA paperwork.

 

December 11. Tuesday. American Legion Post 25 Commander Carl Jowers has office hours at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Carl is available to discuss any suggestions or concerns you may have about Post 25, Veterans issues in general or just to help solve world problems. Carl will meet with you at other times by emailing him at [email protected] or calling him at 620-215-1688 to schedule an appointment.

 

Other items:

 

Post 25 is collecting gently used jackets and coats for the Fort Scott High School Seniors. Bring coats and jackets to the membership meeting on Monday, November 5, to Memorial Hall on Tuesday, November 6 during Commander’s office hours or call the Commander at 620-215-1688 to arrange local pickup. Coats and jackets may also be taken to Fort Scott High School offices.

 

Program Chairs needed.

 

·         Boys/Girls State.

 

·         Oratorical

 

·         Baseball.

 

The only requirements to be a program chair are to be a Legionnaire and a desire to work with our young people. There are plenty of mentors at both District and Department to guide you in hosting a successful program.

 

Submitted by Carl Jowers, Commander

Fort Scott American Legion Post 25