St. Mary’s Catholic Church’s annual multi-family garage sale was busy on Friday morning.
Fort Scott was busy Friday morning, June 12, with a town-wide garage sale, as residents enjoyed a mild day for shopping. The sales continue on Saturday, June 13.
This is the first town-wide garage sale of the season and is a month later than usual, due to the pandemic restrictions.
Fort Scott Christian Heights School had a multi-family garage sale.
Maps of sale locations can be picked up at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Office, 231 E. Wall; Bids & Dibs, 108 S. Scott Avenue; Casey’s General Store, 2216 S. National; Pete’s, 1920 S. Main, and 603 S. National Avenue; Fort Scott Smoke Shop,1705 S. National; and 5-Corner’s Mini Mart, 1122 S. Clark.
At least three Christian organizations are having multi-family sales: St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 705 S. Holbrook; Fort Scott Christian Heights School, 1101 S. Barbee Street; and First Southern Baptist Church, 1818 S. Main.
Garage sale signs were located all over Fort Scott for the annual garage sale. These are at Margrave and Sixth Street.
To see the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce map of all the town’s garage sales, click below:
Jody Hoener, Bourbon County Economic Development Director. Submitted photo.
Bourbon County Economic Director Jody Hoener is working on securing leases in the former Mercy Hospital building on Fort Scott’s south end, in hopes of providing the county with a medical mall.
A medical mall is a facility offering comprehensive ambulatory medical services such as primary and secondary care, diagnostic procedures, outpatient surgery, and rehabilitation, except the overnight beds, according to merriam-webster.com.
“Bourbon County demographics show proportionately more elderly, more children living in poverty, lower incomes, and more chronic health conditions,” Hoener said. ” In addition, our community recently felt the impact of fewer health services (with the closing of Mercy Hospital in 2018). Rural health systems can overcome these challenges by creating linkages and efficiencies.”
“Access to robust and diverse health services is much more than a quality of life issue,” she said. “A vigorous and thriving health care system is essential not only for public health and welfare, but to enhance economic opportunity as well.”
Health organizations that currently have a part in Bourbon County health care have shown interest.
“We are currently working on leases with Community Health Centers of Southeast Kansas and Ascension Via Christi,” she said. “These leases will be ten-year long-term contracts,” she said. “Fort Scott Community College Nursing program will also be leasing space through an inter-local agreement.”
Other entities have “paused” conversations.
“Although we have been in talks with additional healthcare providers to occupy space, the COVID-19 pandemic has paused much of these conversations.,” Hoener said. “Recruitment activities will be a high priority with a goal of one additional anchor tenant in the next 3-5 years.”
The combined operation of many entities under one roof provides financial benefits to each involved, Hoener believes.
“The healthcare mall addresses many challenges local providers face in an innovative approach, creating synergy within the four walls, that will help each organization’s bottom line,” she said. ” In general, there are fewer healthcare providers in rural areas, and they operate on very thin profit margins. When compared to urban communities, our local health providers face unique challenges.”
Bourbon County’s vision for the community:
“Our vision is a healthy, safe, and thriving Bourbon County.,” she said. “A strong health care system is a critical piece of any community’s vitality and sustainability.”
The healthcare industry impacts the local economy.
“The healthcare industry is rapidly changing and has the potential to greatly impact access to these services in the future, ” Hoener said.
“Through the healthcare mall, we are becoming proactive in maintaining high-quality local health care services. In addition to health outcomes, healthcare services have shown to have an impact on:
Attracting and maintaining business and industry growth
Attracting and retaining retirees
Creating higher-paying jobs in a growing sector
Contributing to public finances, supporting essential public services”
” Americans are spending more dollars on healthcare,” Hoener said. “In 1970 healthcare costs accounted for 7.0 percent of the GDP. In 2017, Americans spent $3.5 trillion on healthcare, or 18.0 percent of the GDP. The projected GDP is 19.4 percent by 2027 (Kansas Health Association, 2019). Capturing a share of this economic growth will only help our community.”
“When residents spend health care dollars elsewhere, rather than purchasing the service locally, it can have a negative economic impact and result in loss of dollars within our local community,” she said. “Out of town trips to obtain healthcare services naturally offer opportunities to spend dollars outside of town that may have been spent locally.”
“Nationwide, employment in healthcare services increased 92 percent from 1990 to 2015. For Bourbon County, in 2017, health services ranked number 3 in terms of employment,” she said. ” Also, in 2017, the health care sector’s impact on retail sales was $19,308,000, county sales tax impact of $270,000, and a total impact of $65,378,000. (Kansas Health Association, 2017).”
“Industry and business leaders look for good health and education services when making location decisions,” Hoener said. “They also want to ensure the local labor force will meet their needs.”
” Attracting and maintaining retirees is also important as this is a special group of residents whose spending can provide a significant source of income for the local economy.”
The west end of the former Mercy Hospital is vacant. The county government is working to create a medical mall in the vacant section.
Lifeline Program offers relief to those struggling to keep phone service
TOPEKA – Low income and recently unemployed Kansans may qualify for phone service discounts of up to $17.02 per month with the Lifeline program. Currently more than 10 million low-income Americans, including 35,000 Kansans, are benefiting from Lifeline discounts on home and wireless phones as well as broadband.
At a time when many Americans may be unemployed or facing other circumstances that make them eligible for the program for the first time, the Kansas Corporation Commission is joining utility regulators nationwide in increasing awareness of the Lifeline program.
Under the federal Lifeline Program, those who qualify can receive up to $9.25 per month off their monthly bill. Participants may also be eligible for an additional $7.77 monthly discount through the Kansas program. Fifty-two telecommunication companies offer Lifeline services in the state.
Residents enrolled in any of the following assistance programs are eligible for the Lifeline program: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FHPA), Veterans Pension & Survivors Pension Benefit, Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Head Start Tribal Programs (only those meeting its income qualifying standard), and the Food Distribution Program on Tribal Lands.
Those at 135% of the federal poverty level also qualify. Normally, applicants must provide three consecutive months of income documentation or provide a copy of their tax return for the previous year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the requirement of three months of income documentation has been waived until June 30, 2020. Instead, recently unemployed individuals may apply for the program by submitting an official document, including notice of unemployment benefits to confirm their income-based eligibility for Lifeline support.
Because of the COVID 19 Pandemic, the annual All-Hit 103.9 Home, Sport, Farm and Garden Show was moved from spring to summer.
The event is now scheduled Friday, June 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 27 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Arnold Arena on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.
Submitted photo of a past show.
Hosted by Fort Scott Broadcasting, which includes radio stations 103.9, Red Dirt 98.3, and 1600 AM, the event is “a great opportunity to get local businesses to show off their products,” said Deb McKenney. Tim and Deb McKenney own the business.
Tim and Deb McKenney.
This year there will be pandemic guidelines, Tim McKenney said.
“We are encouraging people to wear masks and gloves, and we will provide some for those who would like some,” he said. “Also hand sanitizing will be available.”
Submitted photo of a past home show.
In addition, there will be more spacing between the vendors, he said.
“There will be fewer booths, so it won’t be so crowded,” Tim said.
This year they are expecting 40 vendors as opposed to 60, he said.
The show began in 1982, and in the late 80s the Pride Organization at Fort Scott Middle School took the reins, as a fundraiser, Deb said.
The broadcast company was asked to take the show on again and they have since continued the showcasing business event for the community.
EPA Cancellation Order for Dicamba Products Impacts Kansas Agriculture
MANHATTAN, Kansas — On Monday, June 8, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a final cancellation order for three dicamba products in response to the recent court ruling that vacated registration for the products. The EPA’s cancellation order intended to clarify the limited and specific circumstances under which these dicamba products can be used for a limited period of time, including provisions for existing stocks. The Kansas Department of Agriculture has identified several unanswered questions about how this order applies to Kansas farmers and agribusinesses and is in communication with the EPA for further interpretation.
The EPA cancellation order addresses the sale, distribution, and use of existing stocks of the three affected dicamba products: Engenia, FeXapan, and Xtendimax with Vaporgrip Technology. Under this cancellation order, further distribution or sale of all existing stocks of these products is allowed only to the end user. Such distribution and sales can only be made by Kansas restricted use pesticide dealers. If growers, commercial applicators, and agribusinesses have these products in their possession, end use applications may still occur provided that all label restrictions are followed. All use is prohibited after July 31, 2020.
As further details become available from the EPA, KDA will share that information on our website at www.agriculture.ks.gov/dicamba. This site will also serve as a source for more detail on the affected dicamba products, the EPA order, and how this order applies in Kansas. If you have additional questions, please contact the KDA pesticide and fertilizer program at 785-564-6688.
Chamber to host The Destination Creation Course for Businesses, Entrepreneurs and Community Leaders
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Destination Creation course will be offered soon to businesses and entrepreneurs. This will be a six-session online course taking place on Tuesdays and Fridays June 16th to July 3rd, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on those days. The course registration fee is normally $245, and through the Chamber’s NetWork Kansas Bourbon County E-Community program the first twelve registrants will be granted $150 each, making the net registration cost only $95.
The course is based on the teachings of Jon Schallert, Destination Business Expert, and will be facilitated by Mat Casner who has been officially trained in this curriculum. The course touts to “Make Your Business Stand Out: Grow Sales, Attract More Customers, and Build a Stronger Business”. Destination Creation is a mini-version of a training Schallert is known for, Destination BootCamp, which he hosts in Colorado several times per year. The training is for business owners, retailers, entrepreneurs thinking of starting a business, or a community leader interested in learning the strategies of creating a Consumer Destination. The training is for business owners who want to accelerate their learning curve, receive instruction, strategies and specific tactics on how to become a dominate Destination Business that can pull consumers past your competition.
The deadline for registration is Friday, June 12th. For more information or to register, visit the events tab on fortscott.com or call the Chamber office at 620-223-3566.
Stewart Realty Company is pleased to announce that Diann Tucker, owner/broker, has been selected as the recipient for the 2020 Best of Fort ScottAwards in the category of Real Estate Agency.
This designation and the plaque presentation were created to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of businesses and organizations in and around Fort Scott.
The mission of this award recognition is to raise the profile of exemplary companies and entrepreneurs among the business community and general public.
Selection as a 2020 Award Winner is determined by the marketing success of an organization in the local community within a specific category. The award program uses empirical data supplied by independent third-parties as input into the award algorithm, and is not based on nominations, voting, contests or surveys.
Diann Tucker was also inducted as a 2019 award winner from Trademark Women of Distinction for demonstrating dedication, leadership, and professional ethics in her community.
The award committee stated that “ Her compassion and expertise has helped set the standard in the local real estate industry as a dedicated professional. The personal touch she adds to her relationship with everyone she does business with is her way of helping people make real estate choices that change lives. Her proven track record of quality service has made her mark on local business integrity.”
Congratulations to Diann Tucker and Stewart Realty for this Best of 2020 Fort Scott award in the field of Real Estate.
