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WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
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Category Archives: Business
Wind Power Coming to Bourbon County?
The Kansas wind could benefit Bourbon County financially.
Apex Clean Energy, headquartered in Virginia, is exploring the feasibility of constructing Jayhawk Wind, a wind energy project expected to generate up to 195 megawatts of clean, homegrown energy, according to http://www.jayhawkwind.com/about_jayhawk
Local wind data confirms that the Bourbon County area under consideration is ideal for a project of this size, which will produce enough safe, pollution-free energy to power up to 48,750 Kansas homes every year, according to the website.
Apex is working with local landowners, community leaders, and various stakeholders on the project and welcomes input into the planning process.
The Jayhawk Wind project hosted two moderated public forums on Wednesday, Oct. 30, one Hepler and one at Fort Scott Community College’s Ellis Center to answer residents’ questions about wind energy and Jayhawk Wind.
The is proposed area is in the southwest part of Bourbon County and the Hepler / Walnut areas of Crawford County.
“Over 100 residents attended both forums where industry experts discussed sound, property values, environment and wildlife impacts and protections, development, construction, and operation of a wind farm, what new revenues the two counties can expect, and short-term and long-term job creation,” according to the press release.
“Construction will initially create 318 full-time equivalent jobs,” said economist Dr. David Loomis, who conducted the economic impact study, according to the press release. “These include jobs directly related to the project as well as jobs created by the additional economic activity including new demand for goods and services at area restaurants, merchants and local businesses.”
Dr. Loomis presented how Jayhawk Wind will create an entirely new source of long-term revenue for local schools, government services, and property owners, according to the press release. “The total direct financial impact to the region will be in the millions of dollars over the life of the project, with additional indirect economic benefits to the local economy.
A complete economic impact report will be released in the coming weeks, according to the press release.
“Many of the residents who attended are landowners who are already participating in the project as well as considering participating in the project,” according to the press release. “Landowners with wind facilities on their property will receive annual lease payments. These payments will continue over the projected 30-year lifespan of the wind farm, injecting millions of dollars into the economies of Bourbon and Crawford Counties, supporting local merchants, contractors, equipment suppliers, auto dealers, and others.”
Apex development director, Jade Scheele, said the power generated by Jayhawk Wind will be delivered into the Kansas electrical grid, reducing the need to import electricity from outside markets.
Videos of the forums will be posted by Nov. 22, to www.jayhawkwind.com, as will a written document providing all the questions asked at both forums with the answers.
Bourbon County Commissioners identified economic development as a priority in October 2018 and hired Jody Hoener to lead the county’s economic development efforts, according to a press release from Hoenor.
The commission gave Hoenor the task of identifying development opportunities which would result in new revenues and jobs for the county.
“One of the developments identified as a positive source of revenue is a wind energy project, so we were pleased to learn that a company has proposed to build a wind farm here in Bourbon and Crawford Counties,” Hoenor said. “Throughout Kansas, wind farms create a substantial new source of tax revenue and add to the local economy. We think the Jayhawk Wind project offers an opportunity for Bourbon County residents.”
Before a project can be built, agreements will be negotiated to ensure that Bourbon County residents benefit from the project as Kansans do in other counties throughout the state, Hoenor said.
Gordman’s Supports St. Judes Mission
Cuddly bears named after Bella, a special little girl at St. Jude, are waiting at your local Gordmans as the gift of hope this holiday season. Bella has childhood cancer and is getting the expert care she needs from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.
This holiday season, Gordmans is bringing the St. Jude mission into its stores with BEARS that CARE. Starting Nov. 1 through New Year’s Eve, guests can help families by purchasing the bears for under $10; Gordmans will donate $2 of each bear sale to St. Jude. Families at St. Jude never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food because all a family should ever worry about is helping their child live.
Gordmans, which is part of the Stage community of stores, also will donate $1 on behalf of the first 35,000 guests who use the hashtag #bearsthatcare on Gordmans’ Facebook and Instagram pages. Additionally, guests have the opportunity to make a donation at checkout in their local Gordmans store or online at gordmans.com/stjude, and 100% of the donations will go to St. Jude.
Here’s the critical impact St. Jude brings to families in our local communities:
- Because St. Jude freely shares its discoveries, every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children.
- St. Jude is where doctors often send their toughest cases, because St. Jude has the world’s best survival rates for some of the most aggressive forms of childhood cancer.
- Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped increase the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago.
“I give thanks this holiday season for the loyal support of Stage Stores as we kick off the St. Jude Thanks and Giving® campaign,” said Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “The caring and unwavering commitment of Stage Stores, their dedicated employees and generous customers to the children of St. Jude is instrumental in helping raise the necessary funds to ensure that families never pay St. Jude for anything – not for treatment, travel, housing or food – because we believe all a family should worry about is helping their child live.”
With the help and generosity of our guests, the Stage community of stores raised just under $900,000 for St. Jude in 2018 and over $6 million in the past six years.
“Please join us in making the holidays brighter for St. Jude families so that kids like Bella get the good care they need,” said Michael Glazer, president and CEO of Stage. “We are committed to helping St. Jude reach as many children as possible to treat and defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.”
Go to gordmans.com to find a store near you or to donate online.
Christmas Tree Decorating Contest at Presbyterian Village
Care Packages to Our Servicemen and Women
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Veterans Day at Gordmans: Shop & Support Pets for Patriots
This Veterans Day, connect our military members and veterans with loving pets by shopping at Gordmans. All Gordmans stores will donate 5% of the Nov. 11 Veterans Day sales, up to $50,000, to Pets for Patriots.
Pets for Patriots gives the gifts of fidelity, joy and love to veterans and service members through companion animal adoption. The national nonprofit helps veterans at all stages of their careers adopt the most overlooked dogs and cats, offering them a second chance at life through adoption.
Gordmans invites guests to help honor our military heroes who keep our nation safe. Pets for Patriots partners with military and veteran organizations, U.S. shelter and veterinary networks, and the public to honor the lives of the most vulnerable and heroic among us.
When Gordmans guests shop on Veterans Day, Pets for Patriots can help ensure veterans find, adopt and afford lifetime care for their adopted pets. Donations allow Pets for Patriots to provide ‘welcome home’ contributions for each adoption, and follow up with every veteran who adopts for at least one year. In addition, the nonprofit procures exclusive discounts to help veterans in the program save money on pet health insurance, medication, pet food, treats and supplies, all while giving access to quality, affordable pet care from veterinary partners in the communities they serve.
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About Stage Stores
Stage Stores, Inc. is a leading retailer of trend-right, name-brand values for apparel, accessories, cosmetics, footwear and home goods. The Company operates in 42 states through 614 BEALLS, GOODY’S, PALAIS ROYAL, PEEBLES, and STAGE specialty department stores and 158 GORDMANS off-price stores, as well as an e-commerce website at www.stage.com.
About Pets for Patriots
Pets for Patriots gives the gifts of fidelity, joy and love to veterans and pets through companion animal adoption. The nationally operating nonprofit organization helps veterans and service members adopt the most overlooked dogs and cats, including adult, special needs, long-term homeless, and large breed pets, offering them a second chance at life through adoption. Pets for Patriots partners with U.S. shelter and veterinary networks, military and veteran organizations, and the public to value and honor the lives of the most vulnerable and heroic among us. For more information, visit www.petsforpatriots.org.
Key Annual Warehouse Sale Nov. 23-30
Grief Support Lunch Nov. 6
Cheney Witt Chapel Staff’s next grief support luncheon will be Wednesday, November 6th, at 12:00 Noon.
Anyone dealing with a loss is encouraged to come and bring a friend.
Cheney Witt Chapel will provide lunch at the Carriage House, 301 S. Main.
Call us at 223-1186 if you have any questions.
We look forward to seeing you!
Coy Pollmeier: Young Entrepreneur
Although Coy Pollmeier, 19, is a professional bull rider, he has taken up boot repair as a side job.
“Riding bulls is what I do most of the time and leather/ boot-repair is what I do on the side,” he said. “I only do boot-repair on the side because I also travel a lot …professionally, in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.”
Pollmeier purchased the leather/boot repair shop equipment from John Renard earlier this year. Renard retired after providing the service to Bourbon County for decades.
If one has a good pair of boots, they can last for years, with a few repairs now and then.
Pollmeier is providing that service to those who want to keep a good pair of boots for a long time.
CP Leather and Boot Repair is the name of his new business.
“I… work out of my house,” he said. “I have a drop off site in town.”
He is in the process of perfecting the craft.
“I have spent time with a few other repairmen picking up things here and there but it has been mostly trial and error,” he said. “I have been working on repairing boots for probably about the last eight months and I’m just now going public about it.”
“I can repair most boots and shoes to an extent,” Pollmeier said. “I am the only one in the shop, so it is all done by myself. It usually takes me a few hours to completely redo a pair of boots.”
The leather/boot drop off site is Hills Service Gas Station, 308 No. National Avenue.
Contact Pollmeier at 620.215.4937.
Fort Scott Community Closet Needing Volunteers: Workday Nov. 2
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Hedgehog.INK Celebrates First Anniversary With Cake Today
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David Foster, Local Farmer, Expands Horizons
David Foster, who is a fourth-generation Bourbon County dairyman, still makes his living providing for his wife and children on the family farm at 1035 Hwy 39.
In addition to tending to his milk cows, he started a new business this year called Terrakat LLC.
The equipment spreads the manure that his herd of dairy cows produces daily.
“The equipment allows the farmer to spread manure on the field providing nutrients to the soil that is needed to raise crops,” Foster said. “Manure is fertilizer.”
“Terrakat (his business) was formed in March once I knew I had found a product that not only would be beneficial for Foster Dairy but also be beneficial for others as well,” he said.
The equipment is manufactured in Turkey.
“I flew over to Turkey in March (2019) to meet with the manufacturers, that I would then contract to produce my first ag equipment product of a manure spreader,” Foster said.
He had done his research but wanted to see first hand the product.
“I have a good company with good quality steel, good workmanship and willingness to allow me to make any changes I feel necessary to make the product better,” Foster said.
“Once I had returned, I placed an order for two units that had a capacity of 20 tons of manure each,” Foster said. “We planned to keep one for ourselves at Foster Dairy and then to sell the second unit.”
Foster began the business to save money on agricultural equipment for Foster Dairy, and then to build a business that can save others money on needed equipment, he said.
“I am providing a quality product that is more cost-effective and (additionally)then spending dollars locally for my business needs, for example, Captured Images Photography, SkyyFoxx, My1Stop.com to name a few,” he said.
It’s been a project that has unfolded this year.
“They (two pieces of equipment) arrived in a shipping container in July during the Bourbon County Fair,” Foster said. “After getting them unloaded and finishing some assembly, we waited for a window to demo the spreader where the ground was not too wet to spread manure. Which was difficult this year. When we did, we hired a drone company to take some professional footage as well as a photographer to take some high-end photos.”
He made his first sale this month.
“I took one of the units to the Ozark Fall Farmfest farm show in Springfield at the beginning of October where I made my first sale!” he said. “To my surprise, it wasn’t the model on display but one size bigger. That order for a T28 Terrakat Manure Spreader was placed last week and expected to ship this Friday.”
“The highlight of my first farm show wasn’t simply making a sale, but more importantly, to get feedback from other farmers and ranchers in the four-state area and to compare Terrakat to five other well-know brands of manure spreader,” Foster said. “After hearing from them, I was even more pleased to learn that I not only beat the competition on unit price, but had more features packed into a lower maintenance design with more volume capacity!”
“I also had a promising meeting with one of the country’s largest farm cooperatives last week in partnering with Terrakat to offer my manure spreaders to all of their 14000 members across the country,” he said. ” I have generated a lot of interest in a very short time. Terrakat is still in the startup/launch phase. I’m booked to go to the Tulsa Farm Show on December 12-14th. I have already had people tell me they are looking forward to seeing a Terrakat spreader at that show.”
“Meanwhile, I have been working on some added features to include scales, removable beaters, and GPS-ready variable rate flow control to name a few,” he said.
Besides being a dairyman and this new business venture, Foster owns another business called Cash Cow Enterprise LLC where he has reclaimed and salvaged used metal buildings for the last 12 years.
Foster is still working on website design for Terrakat LLC, a promotional video, establishing a nationwide dealer network, designing feature enhancements, and “my next product- line rollout, and another trip to Turkey to work on designs and other products with my manufacturer.”
Foster’s phone is 620-224-9433, and website: www.terrakat.com
or his Facebook page.
Foster graduated Uniontown High School in 1998, Fort Scott Community College in 2000, and Kansas State University with a degree in animal science and a degree in agricultural communications
He is involved in his community through Farm Bureau, 4-H, FFA, Bourbon County Fair Board, and Dairy Farmers of America.
Foster is the only employee at this time for Terrakat LLC, but expansion will require employees in the future, he said.
“Overall, I believe my new company will be successful because I am modeling it after my successful business of Cash Cow Enterprise LLC,” he said. ” I have learned that I don’t sell anything that I don’t use myself. I work on slim margins to make the best deal and to remain competitive. I take pride in feeling like I am helping farmers and ranchers like myself by providing a good quality alternative at a lower price than the competition.”
