Category Archives: Bourbon County

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Serving Needs: Requesting Help For Salvation Army Bell Ringing 

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A Salvation Army Bell-Ringer in 2020.

Serving a Community in Need

And Requesting Your Help

Times have become more difficult and challenging for many individuals and families in both Fort Scott and throughout Bourbon County. At the forefront of this economic situation stands Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries Outreach Center, where those who are struggling can be assisted with a vast array of services and personal needs.

FSCM is located on the second floor of the Senior Citizens Center at 26 N. Main, where director and chaplain Allen Schellack operates on a volunteer basis. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m to 2 p.m or by appointment, supported in part by local churches, private donations and The Salvation Army bell ringing campaign, which is the largest annual fundraiser.

Schellack extends a heartfelt request for more participation in the bell ringing. “The need has never been greater, and we ask our community to support this fundraiser as much as possible. We need volunteers to operate the Red Kettle Campaign at Wal-Mart, starting November 19th through December 24th. The days and hours are flexible, and it’s critical that we have enough volunteers to make this happen in a big way.”

FSCM is the only designated Salvation Army Disaster Relief and Services Extension Unit for Bourbon County. Community participation and generosity will help provide a variety of disaster relief services, in addition to assistance with rent, utilities, prescriptions, temporary lodging, gasoline for work or doctor appointments, eyeglass help, clothing, school supplies and other needs on a case by case basis. The center also provides personal hygiene items, diapers, formula, bedding, towels, canned food items, fans and space heaters.

It was formerly known as Our Father’s House, operated by Schellack until government funding became unavailable. He created Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries in 2016 to fill the gap in needed services. It works in partnership with several groups, organizations and community partners, relying heavily on individual donations and volunteerism throughout this holiday season.

Director Schellack is hopeful. “Individuals, families and groups are encouraged to sign up for a shift – it’s a fun, easy way to help those less fortunate. All gifts made through the Salvation Army fund raiser will stay in our community.”

Bourbon County businesses are needed to display the Salvation Army mini buckets – where customers can donate their spare change, Schellack said.

During this special time of giving and sharing, please schedule to volunteer by contacting FSCM directly at 620-223-2212.

Submitted by Marti Wells-Smith

 

 

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Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of Nov. 1

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November 1, 2022, Tuesday, 9:00 a.m.
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all commissioners and the County
Clerk present.
Matt Quick, Clint Walker, Anne Dare, Patricia Ropp, and Rob Harrington were present for some or all of the meeting.
Clifton made a motion to approve minutes from the previous meeting. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Clifton made a motion to approve minutes from the special meeting. Nelson seconded. All approved.


Eric Bailey presented new culvert paperwork. Commissioners signed. Eric also presented monthly fuel report. Eric stated they are asphalting on 195th and will be there all week. Eric
stated the 6422 asphalt oil price came down to 690 per ton from 755. We had to buy 300 tons of sand to be able to finish. Eric stated Hall Bros came last week and started with the Onyx. We
started on 235th on Soldier coming south. Hope to be done by the end of the week. Eric stated they purchased the 96 International 4900 Utility Service Truck for a price of $21,500. Eric
stated they got 215th and Range taken care of last week where we put down the dust control we got that tore up, regraveled and recompacted. Culvert crew is out ditching in the southeast part
of the county. Eric stated that when they put out cones and barricades it is for public safety. I know it’s an inconvenience but when you go around you are putting yourself and the workers in
danger.


Clifton made a motion to approve accounts payable. Nelson seconded. All approved.


Clifton made a motion for Chairman Harris to sign the natural gas lock-in from Blue Mark Energy. Nelson seconded. All approved.


Justin Meeks requested an executive session liability issues. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75-43 l 9(b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or
agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship related to contracts including three commissioners, Justin Meeks, Susan Bancroft, and Rob Harrington for 7 minutes
returning at 9: 19 a.m. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion to resume normal session with no action. Nelson seconded. All approved.


Justin gave an update on the tax sale including discussion on the land bank. Justin stated $10,000 from the money the County pays for the tax sale will be used for a part-time position
with the land bank and this person would help with the tax sale. Jim reiterated that this would be no new money and this person would be considered staff for the land bank and the $10,000 from
Justin Meeks is taking his private practice he pays for sales tax, would take that person and put them in land bank position with a shared city between city and county. Clifton stated the last
city commission meeting he watched it appeared not sure how land bank is even funded. You can’t have shared service with something not here. Justin stated the money is going to that position. It is still county tax sale help. Clifton stated he would be ok with it for one year then would like to revisit. If they are buying up whole blocks I’m not in favor of that. Tax dollars to something that should be self-funded but never is. Justin stated this person would use a county
office to work on tax sale. Justin stated he appreciates Lora’s office and Patty’s office for their help with the tax sales.


Susan stated that longevity will move forward. She suggested doing this on November 18th•
One to four years would get $100 each and five years and up would be same as before. Susan presented information on Area Agency on Aging. She had a letter from Deb Needleman, and she can come talk to the commissioners if they would like. Susan stated there are five or six areas on appropriations that she has pulled statutes. There are three appropriations that are optional but still want Justin to review and make certain.

Susan stated that she sent to each of the
commissioners a presentation from Mary Pemberton on the transient guest tax. I talked with the Kansas Dept of Revenue and I sent that to yoμ as well and what we would need to do to proceed
with that. If the county wants to have a transient guest tax, they can join the city or have your own outside the city limits. Jim stated he thinks we need to pass it or quit talking about it.
Nelson stated he is against it. Jim asked him why. Nelson stated that it’s additional taxes that the establishments will have to raise their rates to cover it or eat the cost. Jim stated he travels a
lot. I pay it everywhere I go. Susan stated the maximum amount you can do in the county is 2% or you can do a charter ordinance and go above that. Clifton stated he is not in favor of 2% taxes
if we could do one for the whole county that might be something to consider. The city’s is 6% and generates around $150,000 per year. Those dollars can only be used to promote overnight
stays. You are marketing your community with those dollars. The city is already marketing things out in the county. Jim stated there is not enough revenue in the county to worry about it
right now. Jim also stated that he wants this to be as fair to everyone as possible. It was decided to pass for now and possibly revisit in the future.

Susan stated that they are still releasing
information on the Opioid Settlement Fund and she will stay educated on it and if something comes up that might fit I’ll present it to the commissioners. Susan requested an executive
session for job performance and duties. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75- 4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non elected personnel to protect their
privacy including three commissioners, Susan Bancroft, Justin Meeks, Terri Hulsey, and Jon Lowry for five minutes returning here at 9:51 a.m. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton
made a motion to return to normal session at 9:52 a.m. Nelson seconded. All approved.

Clifton asked that we look at where we are banking. Clifton asked for permission for Susan to look at
what our options are. Jim stated that we should probably look at that every year. Susan stated it would be better to look at it every three years. It is a strain on the Treasurer and Clerk’s office to
move funds. Susan said she will work with Treasurer and Clerk’s office.


Shane Walker- CIO: Shane stated that he and Eric got a couple of antennas from Purple Wave from the state which saved us about $20,000. It will get us the one we needed at Tomahawk and
the other at the landfill and then we’ll have another 60 foot one for whatever. I think we may put it at the asphalt plant and get them back into our system. Shane asked for an executive session
for security. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75-4319(b)(12) to discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would
jeopardize such security measures including three commissioners, Susan Bancroft, Justin Meeks and Shane Walker for five minutes returning here at 10:02 a.m. Nelson seconded. All approved.

Clifton made a motion to return to normal session with action. Nelson seconded. All approved.


Clifton made a motion to adopt the Bourbon County Kansas Electronic Information Acceptable Use Policy. It is our electronics, computers, IT all of the above. It will become part of the
handbook and will be effective today, if approved. Nelson seconded. All approved.


Public Comment: No Comment


Commission Comment: Clifton made a motion to add an executive session. Nelson seconded.
All approved. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75-4319(b)(l) to discuss personnel matters of individual non elected personnel to protect their privacy for 15 minutes
returning at 10:25 a.m. including three commissioners, Rob Harrington and Justin Meeks. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion to return to return to normal session
with no action. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non elected personnel to protect
their privacy for ten minutes including three commissioners, Rob Harrington and Justin Meeks returning here at 10:37 a.m. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion to return to
normal session at 10:37 a.m. with no action. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75-4319(b)(1) job description and performance to discuss
personnel matters of individual non elected personnel to protect their privacy including three commissioners and Justin Meeks for seven minutes returning at 10:45 a.m. Nelson seconded.
All approved. Clifton made a motion to return to normal session with no action. Nelson seconded. All approved. Commissioners discussed having another night meeting and agreed
upon December 20th at 6 p.m. at the Courthouse.
At 10:49 a.m., Clifton made a motion to adjourn. Nelson seconded. All approved.
ATTEST:
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Ashley Shelton, Bourbon County Clerk

Bourbon County, Elections

Bourbon County Democrats Reorganize

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The Bourbon County Democrats met for reorganization of the party’s leadership for the next two years on Monday, November 14th.
The results of the meeting follow:
Chair, Carol MacArthur
Vice Chair, Austin Stapleton
Secretary, Carol George
Treasurer, Diana Morriss
The party will only hold committee meetings in December and January, but will resume general  meetings on the third Sunday of February., 2023.
Carol MacArthur
Chair, Bourbon Co. Democrats
620 215 1505
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Bourbon County, Food, Jobs

Lack Of Agriculture Workforce Is Inhibiting Growth

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A lack of a skilled agriculture workforce is a top inhibitor of growth and expansion for many Kansas agriculture entities. To help support growth in agriculture, the Kansas Department of Agriculture seeks to help the industry better understand workforce needs among agricultural employers in the state. To link the supply of human capital to the needs of Kansas agribusiness enterprises, KDA conducted the second Kansas Agriculture Workforce Needs Assessment Survey in 2022. The survey was analyzed by the Agricultural Land Use Survey Center at Kansas State University.

The survey was emailed to over 25,000 businesses with 1,192 choosing to participate. Participating businesses employ 27,466 individuals in Kansas and 9,244 outside of Kansas. Respondents were asked to self-select the major category that applied to their business.

“We are committed to growing agriculture in Kansas, and that centers around a reliable and capable workforce,” said Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam. “We know recruiting and retaining skilled, talented workers to fill critical roles is a priority of the agriculture industry in our state.”

The survey findings will be used along with action items developed at the Kansas Summit on Agricultural Growth, which was held in August, to help direct KDA’s vision in serving the farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses of Kansas. Employers and state agencies need to work together to find or develop programs so that businesses may implement successful on-the-job training. By working with secondary schools and postsecondary educational institutions, the agriculture industry can develop beneficial partnerships that will help teach the skills and content needed by employers and will help the industry gain access to trained future employees.

To view the final report from the survey, go to agriculture.ks.gov/workforce. For more information, please contact Russell Plaschka, Director of KDA Ag Marketing Division, at 785-564-7466 or [email protected].

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Agriculture Workforce Survey Results Complete.pdf

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Veteran Owned Veterinary Center: Russ Baxley

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Dr. Russ Baxley purchased the Gorman Animal Hospital in March 2022.

Renamed the Southeast Kansas Veterinary Center, it is located at 1251   240th St., Fort Scott.

The SEK Veteraninary Center is located at 1251   240th St., Fort Scott. Submitted photo.

Hours of operation are Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday:  8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed.

The phone number is (620) 223-1171

Dr. Baxley is a veterinarian and a veteran.

All together he has served in three wars, Baxley said.

“As a youngster, I was in the Air Force,” he said.

He started as a veterinarian in the U. S. Army in Afghanistan where he worked on dogs that detected explosives and narcotics.

He then left the army and returned to Kansas and worked for a mixed animal veterinarian.

A hankering for more adventures led him to Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco and Egypt, as a contractor for the U.S. State Department, again working with detection dogs.

Returning to the U.S., he worked in Destin, Florida for a year and a half until the COVID 19 Pandemic restrictions made the job “undesirable,” he said.

Returning to Kansas, he traveled the state filling in at clinics for manpower shortages. It was then that he came to Fort Scott to the clinic he purchased in March 2022.

Dr. Baxley loves animals and the best part of his career is “returning a sick animal to health, seeing how happy the animal is and pleased the owner is.”

He is concerned about the misinformation for the care of animals that is on the internet and recommends that people look to information on academic or government sources.

The best source for veterinary advice is a veterinarian, he said.

In the industry there are new drugs coming for small animals that will help minimize pain and many new diagnostics for detecting and treating them.

For livestock, there have been new scientific studies for treating parasites, which helps decrease disease in cattle, while lowering production costs. “The hard part is getting people to change from old to new ways,” he said.

Coming in 2023, cattle producers won’t be able to buy common antibiotics over the counter.

“There is a paradigm shift coming to the livestock business in 2023,” Dr. Baxley said.

“They will need to get these (antibiotics) from a veterinarian, which requires a Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship,” he said. “This means that your vet has sufficient knowledge of a producers animals to make diagnosis.”

“I love helping people…save money and make money,” he said.

Kennel/Vet Assistant Needed

SEK Veterinary Center has an immediate opening for a Kennel/Vet Assistant. The position is part time- possibly more, if wanted/needed. Please apply in person at :
1251 240th St
Fort Scott, Ks 66701

 

 

 

Bourbon County

Starlite FCE October 2022 Minutes

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The October meeting of the Starlite FCE was held at the Yeager building on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.  President Glenda Miller called the meeting to order.  Joyce Allen led the club in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the club collect.  Thirteen members were in attendance and reported that they had volunteered 186 hours and had recycled 1230 pounds.

 

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.  Thank you letters from Shirley Palmer and the Fort Scott library were read.  Doris Ericson presented the Treasurer’s report.  Karen Peery announced that she and Doris Ericson had attended the State FCE convention in Newton, Kansas.  Doris Ericson was selected as the Kansas Heart of FCE winner, and Starlite received third place at the State level for their program in the education category for the lesson “Where is the Top of the World.”

 

Birthday cards were signed for Joyce Gobl and Clarice Russell, and Leanna Taylor was given a belated birthday recognition.

 

Old business consisted of the Fall Follies that will be held November 1st at 3:30 in Moran and the Area recognition day November 3rd in Parsons.

 

It was announced that the Buddy Poppy distribution will be November 4th and 5th at G &W and Walmart.  Deb Lust passed around a sheet to sign up to volunteer to help.

 

New Business consisted of Joyce Allen moving that we purchase a wreath for Wreaths across America and to donate to the Wounded Warriors, Claudia Wheeler seconded the motion, motion carried.  Betty Johnson moved that the club reimburse Karen Peery $25 for the cost of the gift basket for the State convention, Deb Lust seconded the motion, motion carried.

 

 

Before the meeting member prepared bags to go to area veterans in Nursing homes, assisted living and to member of the VFW and American Legion in honor of veteran’s day.  Snack bags was also prepared for the Tri-Valley clients.

 

Deb Lust announced that the VFW would be have a ceremony at the National Cemetery on November 11th at 11:00 honoring veterans. There will also be a free will lunch at the VFW after the ceremony at the National Cemetery.

 

Deb Lust moved that the meeting be adjourned, Joyce Allen seconded the motion, meeting adjourned.

 

After the meeting Jackie Warren presented the lesson of “Cooking for One or Two,” and handed out recipes for desserts for one.  The members enjoyed refreshments of assorted vegetable appetizers, cookies, nuts and water provided by Del Parks and Jackie Warren.

 

Prepared by

 

Terri Williams

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic to Open January 2023

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Dr. Amanda Brown-Goltra. Submitted photo.
Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic is set to open on January 16, 2023.
The building at 13th Street  and National Avenue is owned  Dr. Amanda Brown-Goltra, 33.
Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic.
“Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic will be a mixed animal practice with a focus on medicine and wellness,” Brown-Goltra said.  “We will be able to see small animals in the clinic and large animals on the (clients) farm.”
“Our hospital motto is ‘Where your family is our family too,'” she said. “We plan to do this by offering in-house/cutting edge diagnostics that are cost-effective, thorough examinations, and client education to encourage the best care plan for our patients. We will always strive to convey a ‘we appreciate you and your time’ attitude so that clients feel comfortable and heard during their clinic experience and seek us for future veterinary care.”

Brown-Goltra is a 2008 Fort Scott High School graduate with a bachelors degree from Kansas State University  in 2013. She earned her doctorate from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015.

She was highly involved in 4-H during her teen years and gives “a lot of credit to that program for getting me to where I am today.”

“I became a veterinarian to help people and their pets live their longest, healthiest life,” she said. ” As a child, I wanted to help every animal I possibly could and I failed a lot, which in turn encouraged a great passion in me to be able to help sick animals when I was older.  As my career has continued, it has transformed into furthering education of owners to give their pet the best medical care.”

“I worked at Animal Care Center here in Fort Scott right after graduation for over five years and I worked at a busy, fast paced clinic in Webb City for two years after that,” she said.  “I have over seven years combined as a veterinarian and almost 20 years in the veterinary field.”

For her, the best part of her job is “when I get to send home a healthy pet,” she said.  “Puppies and kittens are cute and I enjoy cuddling them, but nothing brings me more joy than a pet being able to go home after being ill.”

“The biggest challenge I face is the money aspect and time aspect of my job,” she said.  “First is the fact that money is required to keep my lights on and pay my staff, while I would love to be able to help for free, that is just not realistic.  I do, however, understand everyone has a budget and I try to be very understanding and respectful of that budget.  Time is the second challenge, I am a wife, mother, and daughter, and I have realized over the years that my family deserves my undivided attention and time, which means that for my best work life balance that will not allow for me to take after hours calls and be the best for my family.”
The clinic address is 6 E. 13th Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Contact info: 620-224-2840 (not taking calls yet) OR [email protected]
The hours of operation: Monday-Wednesday, Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday hours are to be determined  “Our open date will be January 16, 2023,” she said. This follows her maternity leave to give birth to a new son.
She and her husband, Eric, have sons: “Gordon (almost 3 years old), Gideon (almost 1 year old), and Gannon will be born in December,” she said. Her Mom and Dad are Karen and Charlie Brown.

In the community, she is currently a mentor for students at Fort Scott High School.