DeAnn Welch started the Adopt-A-Greyhound program eight years ago at Fort Scott Coummunity College because of a need she perceived.
In her job as FSCC Student Success Center Director and Tutoring and Testing Administrator see saw students coming to college from other distant states.
“They come here not knowing anyone,” Welch said. ” Some even come here on a one way bus ticket in hopes of playing football and getting away from a life that they could have ended up dead. It is a sad situation.”
She had an idea.
“I thought, why not place these kids with local families who can give them that home away from home,” she said.
“The families can have this student over for dinner, go to their games if they are athletes, and simply be a support system.”
The program has had many success stories, she said.
“Some families still keep in touch with their student and even travel to see their games when they advance to the next level. It truly has developed many lifelong friendships,” Welch said.
For more information, contact Welch at 620-223-2700, ext. 4300 or [email protected]
FortScott.Biz is doing a series on the agencies that receive funding through United Way of Bourbon County.
The following is an interview with Diane Brillhart, treasurer of Bourbon County 4-H Fair.
Who is the contact person along with phone number?
Dale Griffiths – 620-215-3101
What service do you provide to our community?
“We provide a venue and structure for holding the annual county fair. The County Fair is a place for our local kids to exhibit the projects they have been working on and teach others about things they have learned. Our venue is also available for others in the community to hold events and activities.”
How many people are served?
“Everyone in the community can benefit from our facility.”
What percentage of your budget is the United Way Grant?
“Five percent.”
Who are the board members?
President Dale Griffiths, Vice-Pres. Mark Crystal, Secretary Lynda Foster, Assist. Secretary David Foster, Treasurer Diane Brillhart, Assist. Treasurer Mark Brillhart, Merchant Superintendent Allen Warren, Grandstand Superintendent Stewart Gulager and Assistant Grandstand Superintendent Mark Leatherman.
United Way is primarily funded through donations from local businesses when employees agree to donate an amount through payroll deductions.
Gina Shelton, president of United Way of Bourbon County said the cost of a purchased soft drink, one dollar if it was payroll deducted by many people, would help the agency meet its 2018 Campaign goal of $50,000.
Fort Scott Community College hosts the 37th Annual Spring Rodeo on March 9-11.
This action-packed rodeo will take place in the indoor Arnold Arena. The rodeo will feature 25 Kansas and Oklahoma 2-year and 4-year colleges competing for a variety of titles.
These athletes work hard, not only in the classroom but in the arena!
So get on out to Fort Scott Community College and watch them at work.
Friday, March 9 will kick off at 7:30 p.m., followed by Saturday, March 10 at 1 pm and 7:30 pm, and then finishing on Sunday, March 11 at 1 pm.
Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for FSCC students (with I.D.) $3 for children 6 to 12 and children 5 and under are free.
For more information, please contact Jaice Cross or Chad Cross at 620.223.2700 ext. 7030.
K-State is offering an educational workshop on landscaping for hummingbirds March 22 at 6 p.m. at the Yeager Building on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. Register at 620-223-3720 by March 21.
Southeast Kansas Respite Services worker Kathy Ogle visits with a client.
FortScott.Biz is providing a series featuring each United Way of Bourbon County agency in the coming weeks.
United Way is primarily funded through donations from local businesses when employees agree to donate an amount through payroll deductions.
Gina Shelton, president of United Way of Bourbon County said the cost of a purchased soft drink, one dollar if it was payroll deducted by many people, would help the agency meet its 2018 Campaign goal of $50,000.
Diane Salyers is the contact for Southeast Kansas Respite Services (SEKRS) and she provided the answers in the following interview with fortscott.biz. She can be reached at[email protected]
What service do you provide Bourbon County residents?
“SEKRS was organized to give parents/ family caregivers a rest or break from the constant care that is often required by a child, adult family member, or senior with special needs. It is very difficult to find persons willing to assume the added responsibility of caring for someone with special needs. SEKRS hires individuals to go into the home and stay with the individual with special needs so the family caregiver can get away.”
“Our goal is to strengthen families and keep them together by giving them a break from the constant care and added stress families of individuals with special needs face on a daily basis. Family caregivers need to know their loved ones are being cared for by skilled and competent caregivers. SEKRS provides that care.”
What are your service hours?
“Our office hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, but our services can be at any time, including nights and weekends.”
What is your local address?
“We are located t 2601 Gabriel, Parsons KS 67357 and we cover the nine counties of Southeast Kansas.”
What percentage of your budget is the United Way grant?
“We requested $500 which is 10 percent of our budget.”
Who are your board members?
SEKRS Board of Directors 2017-2018
Scott Thompson -Chairperson
Director CLASS LTD
PO Box 266
Columbus, KS 66725
Tim Cunningham
Director Tri-Valley Developmental Services
PO Box 518
Chanute, KS 66720
Mike Dixon Acting Superintendent, Parsons State Hospital and Training
PO Box 738
Parsons, KS 67357
Matt Atteberry-Secretary
Director Labette Center for Mental Health Services
PO Box 258
Parsons, KS 67357
Dave Lindeman-Treasurer
Director University of Kansas Life Span at Parsons
By Kathy S. McEwan, Southwind Extension District Family and Consumer Sciences Foods & Nutrition
If you’ve noticed that your energy dips after lunch, you are tired during the day, or you are one of the many who are battling back to health following an illness, it may be time to incorporate some healthy habits into your daily routine to increase or rebuild your energy. According to www.eatright.org and www.webmd.com, even committing to a couple of these changes can boost your energy levels.
Stay hydrated.
Drinking more water and staying hydrated can help you avoid getting tired. Some studies suggest that even mild dehydration can slow your metabolism and sap your energy. The solution is simple—drink at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of water each day.
Eat more fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables are filled with vitamins, minerals, energy (calories), and fiber that your body needs. Fruits and vegetables are also full of water which helps you to stay well-hydrated. Try starting meals with fruits or vegetables and incorporate them into your meals and snacks.
Choose whole grains.
Like fruits and vegetables, whole grains are filled with fiber which helps keep your energy steady throughout the day. Carbohydrate-rich foods like whole grains are your body’s preferred source of fuel and they raise levels of the feel-good chemical, serotonin. In contrast, sweets and processed grains cause your blood sugar to spike and crash, which can make you feel tired and moody.
Choose magnesium-rich foods.
Magnesium is a mineral that plays a key role in converting carbohydrates into energy. Not getting enough magnesium in your diet can drain your energy. Some foods rich in magnesium include whole grains, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, almonds, cashews, and dark chocolate.
Include protein in meals and snacks.
When you eat protein with meals and snacks, it keeps blood sugar levels steady by preventing blood sugar spikes and dips which drain your energy. Lean pork, lean beef, skinless chicken, and turkey are sources of protein that include the amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine triggers feel-good brain chemicals like dopamine which can help you feel more alert and focused.
Choose smart snacks.
Snacks found in a vending machine or convenience store are often full of sugar, saturated and trans fats, salt, and other highly processed ingredients—these are all energy drainers! Instead, pack healthy snacks to eat in-between meals to keep your energy levels high throughout the day. Try keeping healthy, portable snacks in single serving containers in your desk, backpack or car.
Plan meals and snacks ahead.
Aim for three meals and a couple healthy snacks each day to keep your energy high. Planning your meals and snacks ahead will ensure that you have healthy food whether you’re eating at home, packing lunch, or having a snack on the go. An eating plan for the day will help to keep you on track.
When eating, eat.
Doing things like watching TV, reading, or talking on the phone while eating may lead to you eating more than you think. Also, it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to get the message that your body has had enough to eat. So, when eating, only eat. Try to sit down and focus on your food when you eat and avoid distractions.
Find physical activities that you enjoy.
Physical activity is important for your health and fitness, but it also promotes a feeling of well-being and increased energy. Pick activities you enjoy like walking, running, or biking and do at least ten minutes of physical activity each time. Healthy adults should aim for 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week, but ANY amount of physical activity will be a benefit. If you have not been active for a while or have health concerns, check with your healthcare provider before beginning physical activity.
Set healthy and realistic goals.
Setting realistic goals and making step-by-step changes will help you to develop healthy habits and increase your energy naturally. Try logging your diet, activity, and energy level to track your progress. A notebook works well, or you can try an online program or smartphone app. When setting goals, make them SMART – Specific, Measurable Achievable, Relevant, Time Limited. For instance, instead of setting a goal of drinking more water, make it a SMART goal by committing to drink 24 oz. water before noon every day.
For more information about eating for your health and energy, or setting SMART goals, contact Kathy at the Southwind Extension office at 620-365-2242 or by email at [email protected].
9:30- 9:45 Jim Harris- Application for utility construction for the natural gas line on Maple Road
9:45-10:00 Justin Meek – Kansas Property Tax Lid
10:00-10:15 Travis Sawyer -Car dealership zoning
10:30-11:00 County NRP Program
11:00-12:00 Informational presentation for possible Opioid Crisis
12:00- 1:00 – Commissioners go to Lunch
1:15- 1:30 – Smoking Policy
1:30-2:00 Executive Session Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel
2:00-2:15 update on Vision meeting
2:15-2:45 Review of fire district KSA 19-3619
2:45 Employee Handbook
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
Schenkel Construction workers constructed the pavilion at Riverfront Park starting in fall 2017. It is nearly complete.
Riverfront Park Pavilion is almost ready for public use.
“We have to plant grass and landscape,” Jerry Witt, chairman of the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority (FSBCRA), said.
The FSBCRA envisions the pavilion will be used for family gatherings or public concerts or meetings, according to Witt.
There will be a grand opening this spring for the pavilion.
“We’re gearing towards a ribbon cutting following a Chamber of Commerce Coffee on May 17 at 8:45 a.m.,” Witt said.
“That evening at 6 p.m. there will be hot dogs, watermelon, and desserts,” he said. “Then a free country music concert at 6:30 p.m. Jason Richison, Kinley Rice and Rick Cook and the Seminole Band will be here.”
The $38,000 pavilion was funded by a matching grant where 80 percent was provided by a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks grant, and the FSBCRA paying 20 percent through local fundraising, Witt said.
Schenkel Contracting, Fort Scott, constructed the building purchased from Lester Building Systems of Minnesota, starting in early fall.
The 30 by 50 by 12-foot wooden frame, with commercial scissor trusses, a steel roof and gable ends, has electricity and lights.
The pavilion is located east of the parking area just inside Riverfront Park in the Belltown Trail area, north of the Marmaton River.
The next project of the FSBCRA is an overlook structure, Witt said.
Members of Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority discuss updates on construction projects at Riverfront Park at the Carriage House in September. Clockwise from left: Danny Magee, Bob Love, Allen Warren, Jerry Witt and Jeff Sweetser. Not pictured are Betty Boyko, Dean Mann, Arnold Scholfield, Penny Barnes and Dave Martin and Brian Leaders, who are ex-officio members.
“We will be building an overlook at the convergence of Mill Creek and the Marmaton River,” Witt said. “It will be a five-sided structure with some seating. It’s for educational and recreational purposes.”
Each side of the overlook will be 14 feet and it will be 24 feet across.
There will be a 40 foot American Disabilities Act compliant boardwalk leading to the overlook.
“The Westar Green Team is supplying the lumber and milling, the Riverfront Authority will supply labor,” Witt said.
Construction will begin in late spring or early summer, he said, with the contractor to yet be determined.
The FSBCRA is getting preliminary costs for possible lighting options in the park, Witt said.
In addition, the board is submitting a grant application for playground equipment, he said.
“It will be rustic logs and nature-type things for the kids,” Witt said.
The FSBCRA is regrouping for a historic bridge relocation to the park.
“We are looking at further grants,” Witt said. “We rejected the low bid because it was higher than the engineer thought it should be. The engineer thought it should $750,000, the low bid was $1.2 million, so we are starting over.”
The FSBCRA meets monthly.
For more information, contact Witt at 620-215-4817.
The new apartment complex will be located on Huntington Street, to the east of the Horton Street parcel of land.
The old trailer park property that was on South Horton Street will see some revitalization in the future.
Tuesday the property at 1907 S. Horton, north of Community Christian Church, was rezoned.
“Along Horton, there will be a small shopping center service, a strip mall, for residents and (Fort Scott Community College) students,” Rhonda Dunn, Community Development Director for the City of Fort Scott said.
Rhonda Dunn, Community Development Director with the City of Fort Scott.
Along Huntington St. on the east side of the Horton parcel of land, there will be apartments or duplexes built, she said.
Patrick Wood and Jake Gross, with Two Dogs Barking Real Estate, are the owners of the property and have cleared it for development.
The business also owns Garrison Apartments at 1729 S. Horton and will be building similar apartments or duplexes at the site.
The Garrison Apartments on South Horton Street. The new complexes will be similar, according to Fort Scott Community Development Director Rhonda Dunn.
“They will be a higher end finish for young professionals,” Dunn said of the proposed apartments.
“The key is, it will not be mobile homes there,” Dunn said. “I keep strict regulations on mobile homes to make sure it’s the best quality we can get. The mobile homes in our town are ‘grandfathered in’. No one needs to worry I am going to get their mobile home.”
The house and outbuildings currently on the site will be sold and removed, she said.
The house and outbuildings to be removed. The small shopping center will be located here.
