Help is available to warm your home during cold Kansas winter.
Apply in person at the upcoming community event for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) to restore or maintain electricity, natural gas, propane and other home heating fuels.
At the Fort Scott Public Library
201 S National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
on February 20, 2024
10 a.m. — 2 p.m.
Please bring the following:
Identification
Proof of income
Current Utility Bills
Left to right: Lindsey McNeil, Community Health Worker, and Lisa Robertson, Community Health Worker. Submitted photo.
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) contracted with Kansas University Medical Center to implement the Communities Organizing to Promote Equity, (COPE Grant) program and hired Community Health Workers.
One of the workers, Lindsey McNeil, was hired in partnership with KU Medical Center, and one, Lisa Robertson, in partnership with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. They are housed in the HBCAT office, on 104 North National Avenue in Fort Scott. They are also part of a coalition, Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT), that helps develop strategies to address health inequities in our area.
“Equity looks different for us all,” said Robertson. “We serve others without judgment and want better for them and for them to live their best life.”
“We have been able to help about 400 clients with their specific needs,” said McNeil. “We have helped house over 40 people, including nine of our chronically homeless individuals. Through our LHEAT we have been able to bring FREE public transportation to the county (BB-Go), we have partnered with two different local laundry mats to bring FREE laundry programs to the county, and we have helped fund multiple other things with partner organizations like CORE, First United Methodist Church, etc.
McNeil has been a Bourbon County Community Health Worker, serving residents, since October 2022.
She is paid by KU Medical Center, through the COPE Grant, which is a grant through the Center for Disease Control (U.S. Government) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Robertson has been a social worker for 29 years and employed through the grant, since March 2022.
“We link individuals to needed services in the community such as Kansas Works for a job, local housing resources, medical and mental health providers, transportation providers the Department of Children’s and Families for SNAP Benefit or application for Medicaid,” Robertson said. “We help them get access to clothing, blankets, utility resources, food pantries and hot meals through Feeding Families in HIS Name.”
“I truly have a passion for doing this work,” Robertson said. “It is not an 8-5 job that you just walk away from. You think of things in the middle of the night that may help someone so you make yourself a note or text your co-worker so you don’t forget to run an idea by them. It takes teamwork. I go to garage sales or thrift stores and buy something because I know someone can use it.”
“We have amazing Community Partners that without them we could not do our jobs,” Robertson said. “Our partners help us when we need help or resources. We are blessed to live in a community that works together for the benefit of others.”
The following are excerpts from two testimonials by people helped through this program:
“They helped me find a place to live when I was facing homelessness again and connected me with resources such as SNAP, the Beacon and HCBS services.
“They have walked alongside me and supported me in my sobriety journey and have helped connect me to other people who are fighting the same battles as me.” ~Kelly
” I suffered a brain aneurysm and was put into a coma for my safety. By the grace of God, I survived. I woke up to a divorce, no home, and I had to start over.
“I had to relearn to read, write and try to make it…. I had nowhere to go, no job and no means of transportation. I found a hotel that worked with me and my service dog… I was able to find a job at Walmart. I still had no transportation, so I walked everywhere.”
“God put those CHWs in my life…They helped me look for a place, took me to doctor appointments and gave me rides wherever needed, and they have been huge supports in my life. With their help, I am back on my feet with a place to live and I am currently working on getting a vehicle. I appreciate them for all they do!” ~ T.
“The COPE grant was established in 2021 and was meant to only be around for 2 years,” McNeil said. “It was originally supposed to end in June of 2023. However, the grant was able to be extended until May of this year. Our grant officially ends on May 31st, 2024, so we are desperately seeking ways to continue funding the CHW positions in Bourbon County.”
Left to right: Lindsey McNeil, Community Health Worker, Rachel Carpenter, Executive Director of Healthy Bourbon County Action Team and LHEAT Lead and Lisa Robertson, Community Health worker. Submitted photo.
A sign in front of the Bourbon County Courthouse in November 2021.
Two elections will take place this spring, a presidential preference one on March 19 and one on April 16, for a question on whether a one-quarter cent sales tax would be imposed locally to partially fund health care services, including emergency (ambulance) services.
The following is provided by Bourbon County Clerk Jennifer Hawkins.
March 2024 election
This is a Presidential Preference Primary.
“A presidential preference primary takes an act by the Kansas legislature to be conducted. The enactment takes the responsibility from the two-state parties (Republican and Democrat) in Kansas from conducting a caucus, and instead, having the state of Kansas conduct a primary election. It is a “preference” primary because it is an election where the vote totals are given to a political party to allocate delegates to candidates at the national convention. This is not a primary where the voters select the party candidate. This year, the state legislature decided to resurrect the state-run presidential preference primary, which had only been used in Kansas in 1980 and 1992,” according to the Kansas Secretary of State website.
Early voting will take place at the courthouse and begin on March 12 and run until Monday, March 18 at noon.
Residents will be able to vote at their normal polling place from 7:00 am-7:00 pm on March 19.
The list of candidates is located below.
The Democrat-filed candidates are:
Dean Phillips
Jason Michael Palmer
Joseph R Biden Jr.
Marianne Williamson
The Republican-filed candidates are:
Donald J. Trump
Nikki R. Haley
Ron DeSantis
Ryan L. Binkley
April 2024 election
The sales tax question will be the only thing on the ballot in April, Bourbon County Clerk Jennifer Hawkins said.
The one-quarter cent sales tax would be imposed to partially fund health care services, including emergency (ambulance) services.
“Right now, the question is still being drafted with the two attached questions being submitted by County Counselor Justin Meeks at the last commission meeting as possible options and are drafts that are subject to change,” she said.
The election will be held on April 16 with early voting beginning on April 9.
This is a draft of the tax question, subject to change:
The map is of northwest Bourbon County. This is the possible site of the Pike Reservoir Project. Taken from the county’s website. According to the bill that was introduced on February 9, 2024, the site will be: beginning at the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 65; east along Highway 65 to 95th Street; north along 95th Street to the Linn county line; west along the Linn county line to Highway 3; south along Highway 3 to the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 65.The red rectangle shows the area being proposed, based on the description.
A bill was introduced on February 9 in the Kansas Legislature that could impact Bourbon County, especially those living in the northwest part of the county.
Senate Bill 497 reads that it is an act concerning economic development; establishing the Pike Reservoir Project District Act; providing for the construction of a dam and a lake in Bourbon County, residential and commercial property development, and water resource development; authorizing the establishment of a governing board for the project and the establishment of real property tax and sales tax increment financing districts to finance the project costs; creating the Pike Reservoir District sales tax fund and the Pike Reservoir District sales tax refund fund; authorizing the creation of a special district fund to pay project costs; authorize the issuance of special obligation bonds and pay-as-you-go financing to pay project costs.
On February 12, the bill was referred to the Kansas Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Senator Robert Olson, who worked with the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs on the project, spoke with fortscott.biz about the project.
Senator Robert Olson’s photo was taken from the Kansas Legislature website.
“It was just introduced and is a long process,” Olson said. “This is the very first step. To build that reservoir takes five to 10 years.”
State and county leaders met to discuss the matter several years ago, Olson said.
“Lynn Oharah, who was a Bourbon County Commissioner at the time was pitching that,” Olson said. Senator Tim Shallenberger introduced the bill and others were a part of the discussion, he said.
“I like the concept, especially in smaller counties,” Olson said. “We need the water for agriculture and public consumption. Your (Bourbon County) water situation was pretty bad (because of drought).”
“This will improve your water supply,” Olson said.
The project proposes an approximately eight-mile lake in northwest Bourbon County, with a 68-foot-long dam.
The location is described as beginning at the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 65; east along Highway 65 to 95th Street; north along 95th Street to the Linn county line; west along the Linn county line to Highway 3; south along Highway 3 to the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 65.
Olson envisions it will be like Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, he said.
“People living in big weekend homes, and if houses are built it can bring lower property taxes (for Bourbon County property owners),” he said.
One part of the long process of the project is public comment, he said.
The reservoir is named after Lieutenant Zebulon Pike who went through the area in the early 1800s.
Photos from the Core Community weekly meetings. Submitted.
Submitted by Cherri Cable Walrod – Community Liaison
Core Community is a program that aims to end poverty in Bourbon County, Kansas. Core Community is unique in its approach because it involves those who are currently experiencing poverty to be a part of finding a solution. At heart, it creates a safe place of unconditional love and non-judgment where relationships are formed with the participants, allowing Core to assist them with the tools and resources needed to move up and out of poverty for good. Within the safety of the community, all who come to the table are changed forever.
A community-wide effort occurred to raise funds so Core Community could begin without delay in Bourbon County. The Bourbon County Commissioners realized that Core Community is a good investment for economic growth for Bourbon County. They provided the initial investment of funds in June of 2023. Then the USD #234 School Board and the Fort Scott City Commission also invested financially towards the fundraising efforts. Several area churches, businesses, individuals, advisory board members, and civic groups all worked together, pooling their resources to generate the development funds to launch Core Community in Bourbon County in November 2023 officially.
Several Fort Scott churches have been involved in helping to launch the program, providing meals, volunteers, providing meeting space and financial donations. Bourbon County businesses, community leaders and individuals have also given their time and finances to launch the program.
Core Community volunteers enjoy a card game with teens who attend each week as part of our children’s program. Submitted photo.
Core community launched its first weekly class on Monday, November 13, 2023. Meetings are held every Monday at 5:30 PM at the United Methodist Church, Fort Scott. Each week Core Community provides a family style meal which is provided by local churches, small groups or civic groups.
At 6:15 PM, the adults head to class and the children are cared for in a fun, safe and loving environment run by Angie Trim.
This is Angie Trim the Core Community childcare program director working with one of the children who attends the weekly program. Submitted.
The adult program participants are called “Core Leaders”. They are called Core Leaders because they are the most qualified to lead themselves out of poverty. Core Community Bourbon County currently has fifteen adult individuals participating in this first 20-week commitment class. They represent eleven individual households.
During Phase One, the class participants studied a curriculum book called, “Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin’ By World” by the author, Philip E. DeVol for 20 weeks. Participants become investigators of their lives, and then learn new ways of thinking about their situation and how to change the trajectory of their lives. They begin to shift their mindset about poverty.
There are several ways in which the Core Community model is set apart from other programs that have been tried in Bourbon County. Core Community Bourbon County is a chapter affiliate of Youth Core Ministries. YCM is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit which provides leadership, guidance, and infrastructure for Core. YCM has implemented fifteen successful Core Community programs throughout rural Kansas counties and tracked the statistics for the program.
Y YCM estimates that 72 % of all participants have stabilized their lives. The process can take many years to overcome the grip and mindset of generational poverty. Core Community offers a full spectrum of wrap-around support for participants who are willing to work towards a better future.
Core Community program raises funds from within its county of operation for an annual operating budget. These funds stay in the county and help to cover operational expenses, including three part-time paid staff positions. It is necessary to have paid staff, not just volunteers, to achieve the best possible outcomes with the participants.
Much of the success of Core Community is due to the Community Coach. Janice Lamb is the Community Coach for Bourbon County. Janice is a “life coach” of sorts and has five to ten interactions a week with participants. Interactions range in scope from minor questions about the availability of resources to helping them with more complex issues. Janice has done many one-on-one visits with participants who seek to build personal confidence to overcome trauma so they can be more successful in the workforce. She helped a participant obtain a reliable and affordable vehicle from Bourbon County Cars so she did not miss work when hers was no longer drivable after an accident.
Core Community outperforms similar programs because of the longevity that the participants are in the program. Phase Two is for the graduates of the initial 20-week “Getting Ahead” class, or Phase One. In Phase Two, the participants continue to come to weekly Monday meetings. These participants decide what will help them overcome barriers that may be holding them back from rising above poverty. They know better than anyone else what they need next as they forge their way towards a better life. Phase Two participants are matched with a local middle-class community member, called a Core Friend. Other Core Community Programs throughout Kansas see Phase Two participants stay in the program for two to five years.
Core Community Bourbon County is scheduled to graduate its first class of Core Leaders (program participants) from Phase One in April 2024. These brave participants overcame fear, many obstacles and beat the odds to build a better life for themselves and their families.
“Core community has been nothing but an amazing program to be a part of. I was hesitant at first but was immediately greeted with nothing but kindness and love, it was an instant relief that I knew I was supposed to be there. It has brought my family closer together than we have ever been. Monday nights are our favorite night of the week. We can’t wait to see what changes our family can grow from not just class but building relationships with people we would have never met otherwise. Our family is forever grateful for everyone who helps out.” Brittany, Bourbon County Core Leader.
Another Core Leader in Bourbon County says, “I look forward to Core Community each week. I used to feel so alone and isolated in my life. Now I know that I am not alone. I now have hope and the support I need to help me get ahead.”
Core Community Bourbon County Advisory Board Members include Bill Michaud-Chairman, Jennifer Michaud, David Shepherd, Amy Harper, Carie Fess, Josh Jones, David Goodyear, David Gillen, Destry Brown, Rachel Carpenter, Jodi Davis, Shelby Reichard, Janice Lamb, Cherri Walrod, Angie Trim.
Core Community Volunteers from left to right: Kerry Wunderly, Kenny Wunderly, Mike Trim, David Goodyear Submitted photo.
Cherri Cable Walrod is the Community Liaison for Core Community Bourbon County. If you are interested in learning more, Cherri is available to speak to individuals, groups, churches, civic organizations, etc. Cherri’s contact email is [email protected].
Core Community is about healing lives, solving poverty, and empowering communities for greatness through relationships. You are invited to join the movement to end poverty for all!
