Tag Archives: featured

Art, Business, Fort Scott

Artificers Gallery Opens For Christmas Art Show Dec. 2-4

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Trent and Kate Freeman in front of their Artificers building at 8 N. National. Submitted photo
Kate and Trent Freeman, local artists who moved from Kansas City,
are in the final stretch of their renovation of the building they purchased, at 8 N. National Avenue. The name of their art business is the Artificers.
“We are so excited to finally give the community a sneak peek into The Artificers,” Kate said. “Our Christmas Art Show will be held at 8 North National Avenue. We are renovating and restoring the Hammon’s Real Estate building and after a few obstacles we are ready to host our 6th Annual Christmas Show in our new gallery.”
 
The art sale/ show will be open December 2, from  5-9 p.m., December 3, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.,  December 4, noon to 5.p.m
“We hope everyone coming for the Candlelight Tour at the Fort Scott National Historic Site will stop in and see us,” she said.
Trent and Kate Freeman. Submitted photo
The Artificers have selected eight artists to set up and sell their artwork this year.
For Christmas, Trent and Kate create sculpture exclusively.
“Other artists will have pottery, copper jewelry, Airbrush and Graphite, and an illustrator and a photographer,” she said. “Our artists are true craftsmen, all their work is original and limited, or handmade made from raw materials.”
The artists include: Trent and Kate Freeman, sculpture; Erin Shevling, pottery; Tim Kienzel, copper jewelry; Darrell Williams, Airbrush/Graphite; Julie Snitker, illustrator; Andrea Latham, ceramics;  and Maggie Brenner, photography.
 
“We started this show six years ago at our former studio in Kansas City as a way to give some of our artist friends an outlet to show and sell their artwork during the Christmas and holiday season,” she said. “We soon learned that our clients loved coming as much as we enjoyed showing off our latest creations.’
‘We have had wonderful support every year from friends, family and clients new and old,” Kate said.  “Last year, with the setbacks of the building remodel, Jared Leek, owner of Front Door Realty, Crooner’s Restaurant and The Liberty Theater, was generous enough to provide us space in Front Door Realty and open up Crooner’s so we could continue with our tradition of this show. We will be forever grateful to them for their generosity.”
About the Artificers
The Artificers is a collection of artists and craftsmen.
They are a privately owned art gallery,  and a teaching studio and working studio with two resident artists, Trent and Kate Freeman.
Trent and Kate each have their own studio in the building.
The Artificers will offer a space for professional artists to apply to display their work as well as the aspiring artist to take classes in many different mediums including but not limited to clay, airbrush, watercolor, acrylic, stained glass etc.
“We will be having regular Master Artist gallery openings as well as opportunities to learn from those artists,” Kate said. “We also have several community art events on the horizon that we would like to host or be involved in developing.  We are so excited to be a positive force in Historic Downtown Fort Scott and look forward to inviting you into our new space.”
Business, Fort Scott

Laree+Co: Started By A Mother’s Love

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Alivia Kraft. Submitted photo.

Laree + Co., a new children’s store in Fort Scott, began because of Alivia Kraft’s daughter.

“Lillian was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 at 27 weeks gestation but she did not let her diagnosis stop her,” Alivia said. “Despite being given a 5% chance of surviving to her first birthday, Lils overcame more than most people do in a lifetime and we were blessed with four breathtaking years with her.”

Trisomy 18 is a condition that causes severe developmental delays due to an extra chromosome 18, according to the Mayo Clinic website.

Lillian Kraft. Submitted photo.

“She was the most beautiful, amazing, positive, and determined person I know,” her mother said. “To know her really was to love her. Lillian has inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and do something I’ve always dreamed of doing—starting a brand!”

“Because Trisomy 18 has impacted my life so much, part of my brand’s mission is to spread awareness by naming our items or collections after a medically complex warrior or angel (child),” Kraft said.

The business opened online in November 2018 and the storefront at 3 S. National Avenue, Fort Scott,  opened in December 2020.

Laree + Co is located at the corner of Wall Street and National Avenue in Fort Scott. Submitted photo.

The business strives to produce beautiful, high quality clothes and more, for children of all abilities.

New in 2023:  the majority of Laree+ Co collection have been hand illustrated and are exclusive to the business.

Alivia Kraft, owner of Laree + Co, located at 13 S. National Avenue. Submitted photos.

“10% of our profit will be put into the Lillian Rose Foundation, where care packages will be provided to medically complex infants and children, bereavement gifts to angel mamas, and making donations to hospitals close to our hearts,” Kraft said.

The store currently has seven employees.

Shop online at www.lareeandco.com

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Mercy Hospital

CHC Move Delayed Until February 2023

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Krista Postai. Submitted.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas at Fort Scott is pushing forward the opening date for their new facility.

They moved into the former Fort Scott Mercy Hospital in February 2019 and will move into the former Price Chopper building in February 2023 as plans now stand.

The Price Chopper building, 2322 S. Main.

“Due to delays in receiving some materials, including most of the doors and pieces of the heating/cooling system, and some unanticipated design changes, it now appears that CHC/SEK’s opening of our new facility in the former Price Chopper building will be delayed until sometime to February 2023,” CEO Krista Postai said.

“We will be combining both the main clinic and Walk-In Care Clinic into the same facility along with our pharmacy, complete with drive-through window,” she said. “We are especially excited about the installation of a new CT scanner in this facility along with 3-D mammography, conventional x-ray, ultrasound and bone density testing equipment making it one of the best-equipped health centers in the country.”

“Once fully relocated, we do expect to sell our Walk-In Care building, which is being listed with a local realtor,” Postai said. “Proceeds from the sale of this building will be directed toward the cost of renovating the new clinic.”

Mercy Hospital Fort Scott closed in December 2018.

To view information on the transition of Mercy Clinics to CHC view:

CHC/SEK Finalizes Plans for Transition of Mercy Clinics

New Staff

Meanwhile new additions are being added to the CHC staff.

“Recruitment for an additional psychiatric provider in Ft. Scott is also underway, with plans to also add therapy and addiction treatment services once the new clinic opens,” she said.

“We were pleased to welcome Dr. Frank Miller, a well-known and respected chiropractor, to CHC/SEK,” she said.

Dr. Miller was owner of Back to Health Chiropractic in Ft. Scott and in making the move, Dr Miller said, “With the collaboration of other medical disciplines, I believe I will be able to serve my patients with a higher quality of care. The mission of CHC/SEK is right in line with my own and I also believe that I will be able to serve a larger segment of the community than I could in private practice.”

“Toward that end, our new facility will have an expanded area for Wellness Services including Dr. Miller’s practice,” Postai said. “He is now accepting appointments at our Main Clinic; former patients are most welcome.”

“Also joining us in Ft. Scott in our Walk-In clinic is APRN Michael McNellis,” she said. “Originally from Overland Park she received her BSN from MidAmerica Nazarene University and her MSN from Rockhurst University.”

 

Transportation Services

“Effective November 1, CHC/SEK assumed responsibility for Ascension/Via Christi’s Care Van service,” Postai said. “We’re spending the first few weeks getting familiar with their vehicles and new scheduling software we acquired and will be expanding the service – which is transitioning to state-supported public transportation. This means it will take riders other places besides medical facilities. Starting in Crawford County, it will be available in both Bourbon and Cherokee counties as soon as our additional vehicles become available. We will publicize its availability through the media including our Facebook page once we expand.”

New Clinic In Garnett

Also, November 1, CHC opened a new clinic in Garnett, Kansas. Dr. Ross Kimball MD, former owner of Pheasant Ridge Family Medicine in Garnett, transitioned his practice over to CHC/SEK full-time this week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, History

Leon Perry: God Led Him Through the Fire

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Leon and Carol Perry. Submitted photo.

A seven-year-old boy and his family were traveling through Fort Scott in 1952, when a fire in the motel they were staying in killed his parents and baby brother.

His whole life people have been telling Leon Perry, 78, he should write a book about his life.

In March 2021 he published it.

His story is one of  a terrible tragedy that turned into a life full of random acts of kindness given to him that he feels are miracles from God.

And the first part of his story includes many familiar places in Bourbon County.

In 1952 Leon was moving with his family from Parsons, Kansas because their farm had experienced a severe flood and  the family had lost all their belongings.

The family of five, the two parents and three brothers, stopped in Fort Scott.

“The Salvation Army got us a motel in Belltown,” he said. “That night… a propane gas explosion blew the roof off of the cabin. The (Fort Scott) police department came to rescue us. We lost my step-father, mother and baby brother. I have no recollection of the event, but the chief of police said ‘you wouldn’t have been burned so bad if you hadn’t gone back in to get your brother’. My half-brother Ernie and I were taken to Mercy Hospital.”

“I had severe burns on my face, shoulder, arms and hands,” Perry said. “My brother wasn’t burned as bad. The Mercy people told me I about died a couple of times.”

He had numerous surgeries from that time until he was 15 years old.

They were placed Goodlander Home, an orphanage on the old Fort Scott site, and remained there until he was 10 years old.

The orphanage was a good experience.

“It was a good experience,” he said. “Even though they were difficult times. I was in the hospital a lot and also to Children’s Mercy in Kansas City several times for skin grafts.”

Over and over, Perry has experienced miracles he said.

Leon was blind and heard a doctor tell a nurse that he wouldn’t see again, and even though he had skin grafts around his eyes, he could see perfectly in a few months.

Eventually he and his brother were adopted by a local farm couple, Ancel and Marguerite Perry, in Bourbon County, near Devon.

This was another miracle.

The  couple, who weren’t young, had a large ranch and had no other children, he said. They were instrumental in his physical and emotional recovery from the trauma of the fire.

After moving to the farm he began to regain strength and overcome some of his handicaps.

“She was a wonderful cook… I was undernourished even though under a doctors care,” he said.

As he strengthened, he began to help on the farm with chores: milking cows, driving a tractor, herding cattle.

“I showed cattle at the county fair,” he said. “I loved it all.”

He had been in the hospital so much he was behind in schooling, which was in Berlin Elementary School,  and then the Mapleton Elementary School.

Marguerite helped Leon with his assignments.

“Everytime I said ‘I can’t’, she said ‘You will,'” he said. “It made the difference.” It was a turning point in his life, he said. Her determination showed Leon he COULD learn and helped him believe in himself.

His adoptive parents were supportive of him being involved in extra activities outside of farm and school, which included 4-H projects and showing cattle.

“I had to come out of my shell and become more active,” he said.

He attended Uniontown High School and went on to become an FFA state officer, graduating with the class of 1963. He then went on to Fort Scott Junior College and was StuCo President, and on the honor roll. He was also on the honor roll at Pittsburg State University that he later attended.

Perry went on to get four college degrees and was a teacher, coach, athletic director, assistant principal and principal.

Perry became a believer in God, and said his faith has allowed him to see the miracles in his life.

“There is always people willing to help…and you can look forward to the future…with faith,” he said. “Always look for the miracles of God in your life.”

Perry and his wife, Carol have two grown children, LeAnn Perry and Ty Perry and one grandson.

Funds from the book entitled God Led Through the Fire and Filled My Life With Miracles, will go to their church youth organization. They attend the First United Methodist Church, Monett.

The Leon Perry book cover.

To purchase a book, email: [email protected] or mail $10 per book to Leon Perry,  8 Appleblossom Lane, Monett, MO 65708.

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Jobs

Dale Wiley: A Handyman

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One of the 18 sewing machines that Marie Wiley has in her husbands shop.

Dale Wiley loved to tinker.

Dale Wiley. Submitted.

“He was handy and clever,” said his wife of 60 years said. “And he was pretty talented.”

Marie Wiley.

For over 23 years, Dale served on the Fort Scott Fire Department as a firefighter. But in his spare time, he began repairing sewing machines. Marie Wiley, his wife is a talented seamstress, who worked at Country Cupboard for several decades.

Before working at Country Cupboard, Marie worked for Helen Carson, owner of Helen’s Fabric,  and Helen asked Dale to repair sewing machines.

“He went to Bernina School in K.C. and also to training in Las Vegas for training,” Marie said. At first he repaired only Bernina’s, but began to tinker with other brands.

TWo of the Wiley sewing machines.

“Sometimes he would spend a couple of hours and sometimes a couple of weeks on a machine,” she said. “Sometimes he had to make machine parts. It had to be done right or he wasn’t going to do it.”

When Dale died on August 23, 2022, there remained 18 sewing machines in his shop that people had given him and he took on to repair.

A Brother Sewing Machine that Dale repaired.

“It was just a hobby for him to tinker around with,” she said.

Besides Bernina machines in the Wiley garage there are Singer, including two antiques, Brother, J.C. Penney, Montgomery Wards, Sears Kenmore, and Husquana Brands, along with two Singers for leather work and two sergers.  A serger trims the seam and encloses the seam allowance or edge of the fabric, inside a thread casing, all in one step, according to thesprucecrafts.com.

A serger that Dale Wiley repaired.

“He repaired no computerized sewing machines, just the heavier old ones with no nylon gears,” Marie said.

One of the sewing machines that sews on leather.

Marie also has eight sewing machines in her sewing room in the house and continues to create cloth heirlooms for her family.

As with her husband, small appliance repair options are dying.

“Small appliance repair is a dying art,” Marie said. “Everything is made to be thrown away when it doesn’t work.”

For more information about the machines, contact Marie at 620.215.2014.

 

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Health Care

Neffs Make a Lasting Impact With Donation

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John and Pat Neff. Submitted photo.

John and Pat Neff lived in Fort Scott decades ago, but were impacted by the Sisters of Mercy and decided to give back to the community.

“I was told that John grew up in the area and then they lived here early in their marriage…and adopted two children from Mercy Hospital,” Carla Farmer, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF) member said. “Pat reached out in the 1990s and wanted to give back to the local Sisters of Mercy, who helped them adopt two children. That’s the basis of them wanting to give back to the community. This was a couple that was touched by our community decades ago. This was where they raised there children.”

“The Neff’s created an annuity that paid them until they passed away,” FSACF Chairman Craig Campbell said.

John Valentine Neff and Patricia Renfro Neff were married 69 years until his death, according to Pat’s Neff’s obituary. Pat died in July 2022.

Upon her death the annuity money went to the Mercy foundation, and now to the FSACF for distribution into the community for future health care funds.

“When Mercy Hospital closed their doors in Fort Scott (in December 2018), the foundation voted to stay intact in order to be able to accept the Neff’s gift following the death of Mrs. Neff,” Jared Leek, president of the Fort Scott Mercy Hospital Foundation Board said.  “We voted for the board to go from a 12-16 member board to a board comprised of just three members; Jared Leek, President, Bryan Holt, Treasurer, and Darcy Smith, Secretary.  The three board members setup an account with the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation for health care needs in Bourbon County.”
“As of September 30, 2022, the account with the FSACF was valued at $243,985.41,” Leek said.  “At the Chamber After Hours (on Oct. 26, 2022) hosted by FSACF, the board presented a check in the amount of $299,446.17 which included the Neff gift and the remainder of our checking account.”
“On that date, the total in the FSACF account for health care needs would be valued at $543,431.58,” Leek said. “Obviously, accounts invested fluctuate with the market.”
Leek said the Mercy foundation board will be dissolving at the end of this year.
Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

FSHS Band Receives Superior Rating in Neewolah Parade

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The Fort Scott Band earned a 1-rating this past weekend, marching in the Neewollah Parade in Independence, KS.

“Thirty-four students were in the parade,” Justin Robinson, FSHS Band Director said. “And two middle school students were carrying the banner.

” The scale is 1-5, with top indicating a superior rating, ” he said. They will receive a plaque for this rating.

FSHS Band participated in the Neewollah Grand Parade on Saturday, October 29th.  “This is the first parade, we will plan on doing the Fort Scott Christmas Parade”(on Dec. 1), he said.

“There were a total of 32 bands that participated in the parade this year and a total of 123 entries in the parade, Robinson said.

The band works approximately fours hours a week on playing their musical instruments and marching.

“We meet 45 minutes a day,” he said. “We go to the auxiliary gym if it’s raining. But we go out and hit the streets of Fort Scott when we can.”

The band also plays all the high school home games.

This is Justin Robinson’s second year as the band director.

Justin Robison and wife Angela Robinson, who helps out with the drumline. Submitted photo.

 

Business, Fort Scott

Hedgehog INK Bookstore Celebrates Four Years

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Hedgehog INk bookstore is located at 16 S. Main.

Jan Hedges, owner of Hedghog INK, opened the bookstore in October 2018, with her husband Dick, at 16 S. Main.

“Both Dick and I loved books,” Jan said. “Anytime we traveled we always went to a bookstore. I thought it would be neat to work in one. We had a lot of books at home we needed to do something with.”

“Dick was very supportive of Fort Scott and was sad to see the downtown with hardly any businesses,” she said. “We started talking and, well, instead of someone else doing something, maybe we needed to do something.”

“We started looking at storefronts downtown,” she said. “I talked with the city staff and found that Jared Leek was looking for someone to rent this building.”

“Dick and I had both retired three times, and then we opened this bookstore,” Jan said. “We took the leap.”

And so the business venture began in October 2018.

Jan and Dick Hedges, owners of Hedgehog.INK, stand in front of the store when it opened in October 2018.
Dick Hedges, was a co-owner of Hedgehog.INK, and the unofficial greeter to the store until his death this year.

“Dick died March 11, 2022,” Jan said. “He was the official greeter.”

The Business Has Grown

In the four years since opening, Jan has doubled the size of the store, finding space to rent behind 14 S. Main and a doorway entry to the space opened up.

“The added space we call the Great Room, we rent out, after hours to local groups,” she said. “PEO, the Garden Club, a magazine club have used the space.”

In this space also is a mezzanine type area.

“The reading loft is good for small groups,” she said. “High school, college kids study there, moms and their children sometimes go to read books.”

Coffee and tea are available for free, for those who want to sit a spell.

Employees

Currently there are four part-time employees at Hedgehog INK.

Sheryl Bloomfield has worked at the store since its opening and her specialty is decorating the windows at the front of the store.

Lynn Pallaske is in charge of their social media marketing.

Rylan Mason is a high school student and Casey Lewis was a customer who was “here all the time, so we asked her if she’d help us out.”

They all do the work of the store, processing donated books, shelving, working as cashier, etc.

People can call to see if the store has a certain book in stock.

“If we don’t have a book, we can try to order for people,” she said.

Book Offerings

Children’s books and history books are the store’s best sellers.

Lynn Pallaske, left and Jan Hedges stand in front of the mural that directs children to a reading room just for them.

There  is a section for local authors in all genres.

Hedgehog INK has a local authors section.

The list of local authors: Cathy Werling, Evelyn Kalvelage, Carol Russell, Sally Freeman Jadlow, Joyce Love, Rick Mayhew, Bourbon County Historical Preservation Association Books, Ann Miesner, Martie Wells-Smith, Jane Tucker, Mary Barbara McKay, Gerri Hilger, Kay Large, J. Speer, Rogena McPherson, Nanette Holloway, R.J. Thesman, Sally Smith, Barbara Ramsey, Marvin Ramsey, George Proctor and Ann Joyner.

“We have Writers Wednesday, a group that meets from 1 to 3 p.m. every week and recently hosted a writers seminar,” Jan said.

Story time at the store is starting again after a hiatus because of the COVID 19 Pandemic.

“It’s the first Saturday of each month in the reading loft area,” she said.

Fort Scott has been so generous in donating books to the book store, that during November and December they are not accepting donations.

They have over 30,000 books.

Other Products Are For Sale

In addition, the store sells local products such as goat milk lotions and lavender products, handmade handbags, photo cards, arts and crafts materials, games and puzzles, journals, chocolates and more.

Hours are Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are open by appointment at other times.

Contact the store at 620.670.2752 or [email protected].

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Food

Beacon Taking Appointments for Food Pantry Families, Adopt-A-Child and Christmas Basket

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Dave Gillen is the director for the Beacon. Submitted photo.

They are paying $500 to $600 more per month on the food they give away, but the Beacon, a local food pantry, is not low on food, said Director Dave Gillen.

The cost of adding perishables to the food pantry has risen.

“With inflation and the number of people we are getting, 10 new families a month…we are spending over our budget,” Gillen said.
“I used to give out eggs with the food basket, but I had to cut them out,” he said. “At one time just buying bread and eggs was eating 1/3 of our budget.”
Gillen said donations of food are “doing well.”
“Schools, organizations, businesses and others, we can count on them to help,” he said.
The staff started on October 24 taking appointments for the 2023 sign up for the food pantry.
Other days they will be taking the appointments  for the sign up are  October 28th and 31st. November 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 11th.
Sign-ups must be done by November 11, with no exceptions.
One must  call in advance to make an appointment for one of these days.
The phone number is 620.223.6869.
Hours the Beacon is open are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday. The agency is closed Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
If one is a member,  bring a current Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF) letter and proof of residency, along with a photo ID for all adults in the household, a Social Security card for all in the household and birth dates for all in the household.
All dependent children with different names must show full time parental custody, adoption papers, and must live with you.
Proof of income, pension, retirement, social security disability, VA benefits, unemployment, child support/alimony and any other income is required.
If DCF services are  received, please bring the verification letter.
Adopt-A-Child
Also at this time, the Beacon will be doing sign-up for the Adopt-a -Child program and food baskets.
One family member should come for the whole family.
These will be picked up on Dec. 16 at Community Christian Church from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in a drive-through operation.
Elk’s Christmas Basket
The Elk’s organization baskets will be delivered the Sunday before Christmas, December 18th.
Dave Gillen, director, and Patty Mowen, co-director, of The Beacon Food Pantry of Bourbon County. Submitted photo.
Government

Help Fort Scott In Documenting Infrastructure Issues

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Brad Matkin. Submitted photo.
Fort Scott Assistant Manager Brad Matkin would like to try something new in dealing with infrastructure issues.
“If you see a problem… a street issue, pothole, sign damage, water leak, general question, or whatever else please send me an email at [email protected] or call me at City Hall 620-223-0550, ext 210. Email is the best way to communicate,” he said. “Please include a picture of the issue if you can with your email.”
“We are currently working with the Information Technology Department for a solution, so people can report,” Matkin said. “We want to document, to see if there are patterns, such as water, street, or code issues.”
In the meantime, though, Matkin is encouraging citizens to email him, rather than put it on the internet.
“If I don’t respond within 48 hours then feel free to post it on Facebook but please give us a chance first to take a look at the problem,” he said.
“Either myself or one of the staff will email you with either a solution, a plan, or just an update of what we can do,” he said. “We don’t see what people post on Facebook, so we won’t know about the issue and won’t have the chance to fix the issue or at least communicate back to you.”
Like all public entities, they do not have enough staff to drive around looking for problems and need help from citizens to let them know issues seen.
“It is better to work together with good communication, he said. “We really feel this is a proactive and positive way to handle business.”
Matkin said there is no need to call about the Cooper Street project, “We are working on it currently. The first segment will be done in approximately a month.”
Fort Scott street map, taken from the Bourbon County website.
Bourbon County, Elections, Kansas

The November 2022 Election Voting Starts This Week

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The general election will be November 8, but those who wish to, may vote earlier.

Early voting will begin Wednesday, October 26th and will be open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and will end on Monday, November 7th at noon.

People may vote at the  Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Ave. in the commission room.

To view the sample ballot:

Sample 22GKSBOU

“We provide early voting to allow everyone the opportunity to vote, which is why we started offering Saturday voting,” said Ashley Shelton, Bourbon County Clerk. “We had a good turnout in the primary for early voting and a lot of positive comments regarding Saturday voting. We will continue to offer Saturday voting as an option if people continue to utilize it.”

Ashley Shelton. Submitted photo.

In addition to selecting candidates, there will be two questions on this ballot, one about  the election of sheriffs and one about Kansas legislative oversight.

 

Taken from the ballot:

County Sheriff Question

 

This amendment would preserve the
right of citizens of each county
that elected a county sheriff  to continue
electing the county sheriff. The
amendment would also provide
that a county sheriff only may be
involuntarily removed from office
pursuant to either a recall election
or a writ of quo warranto initiated
by the attorney general.

A writ of quo warranto is a common law remedy which is used to challenge a person’s right to hold a public or corporate office, according to https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/quo_warranto

A  yes vote for this proposition would
preserve the right of citizens of
each county, to
continue electing the county sheriff
via popular vote. The amendment
would also direct that a county
sheriff only may be involuntarily
removed from office pursuant to
either a recall election or a writ
of quo warranto initiated by the
attorney general.


A  no vote against this proposition
would not make any changes to
the constitution and would retain
current law concerning the election
of a sheriff and the procedures for
involuntary removal of a sheriff from
office.

The amendment states:

County and township
officers. (a) Except as provided
in subsection (b), each county
shall elect a sheriff for a term of
four years by a majority of the
qualified electors of the county
voting thereon at the time of voting
designated for such office pursuant
to law in effect on January 11, 2022,
and every four years thereafter.
(b) The provisions of subsection
(a) shall not apply to a county
that abolished the office of sheriff
prior to January 11, 2022. Such
county may restore the office of
sheriff as provided by law and such
restoration shall be irrevocable.
A county that restores the office
of sheriff shall elect a sheriff by a
majority of the qualified electors
of the county voting thereon for a
term of four years. Such sheriff shall
have such qualifications and duties
as provided by law. The time of
voting for the office of sheriff may
be provided for by the legislature
pursuant to section 18 of article 2 of
this constitution.
(c) The filling of vacancies and the
qualifications and duties of the
office of sheriff shall be as provided
by law.
(d) The legislature shall provide for
such other county and township
officers as may be necessary.
§ 5. Removal of officers. (a) Except
as provided in subsection (b), all
county and township officers may
be removed from office, in such
manner and for such cause, as shall
be prescribed by law.
(b) A county sheriff only may be
involuntarily removed from office by
recall election pursuant to section 3
of article 4 of this constitution or a
writ of quo warranto initiated by the
attorney general.

From Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks,

“A yes vote would require counties to maintain a sheriff as an elected official,”

The Question of Legislative Oversight

The purpose of this amendment is
to provide the legislature with
oversight of state executive branch
agencies and officials by providing
the legislature authority to establish
procedures to revoke or suspend
rules and regulations.


A yes  vote for this proposition would
allow the legislature to establish
procedures to revoke or suspend
rules and regulations that are
adopted by state executive branch
agencies and officials that have the
force and effect of law.


A no vote against this proposition
would allow state executive branch
agencies and officials to continue
adopting rules and regulations
that have the force and effect
of law without any opportunity
for the legislature to directly
revoke or suspend such rules and regulations.

Legislative oversight of administrative rules and
regulations.


Whenever the legislature by law has
authorized any officer or agency
within the executive branch of
government to adopt rules and
regulations that have the force and
effect of law, the legislature may
provide by law for the revocation
or suspension of any such rule and
regulation, or any portion thereof,
upon a vote of a majority of the
members then elected or appointed
and qualified in each house.

From Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks,

“This will basically allow the legislature to overturn regulations created by agencies, environmental agency for example,” Meeks said. “It would take away some of the governor’s administrative powers.”

Justin Meeks, Bourbon County Counselor. Submitted photo.
Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Housing

Thirty-five Properties Sold At The County Tax Sale, 36 Go To Land Bank

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Patty Love. Submitted photo.

The second property tax sale this year added over $86,000 to Bourbon County treasurer’s funds, with the unsold properties deeded over to the Fort Scott Land Bank.

The Bourbon County treasurer collects and distributes all real and personal property taxes. The tax districts that receive this are the City of Fort Scott, the Bourbon County government, and the county’s two school districts- USD 234 and USD 235.

“There were 35 properties that sold at the October 13, 2022 tax sale for a total of $86,514.09,” said Patty Love, Bourbon County Treasurer.   “The 36 properties that did not receive a bid are all properties inside Fort Scott that have City special assessments on them.  These properties are being deeded over to the Fort Scott  Land Bank. The money collected from the tax sale will be distributed to the various tax districts just like the regular tax collections.”

“Once the property has been sold and Register of Deeds issues the new deed they become like any other property of the tax roll and the new owners will be responsible for the 2022 taxes,” Love said.

To see info on the prior 2022 tax sale:

Bourbon County Tax Sale Nets $129K

 

The function of the Fort Scott Land Bank Board is as an independent agency with the City  of Fort Scott that acquires, holds, manages, transforms, and conveys surplus city properties and other abandoned, tax foreclosed, or otherwise underutilized or distressed properties in order to convey these properties for productive use, according to a prior city press release.

Currently serving on the Land Bank Advisory Board are Craig Campbell (Chairperson), Gregg Motley, Bailey Lyons,  Tim VanHoecke, Robert Coon, Patrick Wood and Jim Harris.

To learn more about Fort Scott Land Bank:

Land Bank by Gregg Motley