Agriculture Marketing and Promotions Advisory Board to Hold Virtual Meeting on September 17
MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Marketing and Promotions Advisory Board will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 17. This is a regularly scheduled board meeting that will be held via virtual meeting or by utilizing a call-in option.
The mission of the KDA Agricultural Marketing, Advocacy and Outreach Team is to serve all Kansans through innovative programming and delivering solutions designed to create an environment that facilitates growth and expansion in agriculture while increasing pride in and awareness of the state’s largest industry — agriculture.
The meeting is open to the public. To request a copy of the agenda or directions on how to participate in the virtual meeting, please contact Kerry Wefald, agriculture marketing director, at 785-564-6758 or [email protected].
Persons who require special accommodations must make their needs known at least two days prior to the meeting.
Join us for the Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet, Tuesday, October 6th
8:30 am to 9:30 am
hosted by the Chamber at Sharky’s Pub & Grub
Rita Schroeder, Administrative Assistant
Lindsay Madison, President & CEO
620-223-3566
Come see Sharky’s new windows & doors
installed during recent renovations!
These informal, quarterly meetings are hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives and community members to network and share ideas on events, promotions and anything related to downtown. Coffee, juice and light refreshments will be served.
Special Note from the Chamber Board:
Following KS state safety recommendations & health practices ~subject to Bourbon County’s continued advancement through the reopening phasing plans.
On September 13, 2020, Fort Scott Police and Fire Departments, Fort Scott Rural Fire, Bourbon County EMS and Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office responded to a missing person call at Fort Scott Lake. Kansas Wildlife and Parks along with an Air Methods helicopter also assisted in the search.
Raymond Harper, 19, of Fort Scott, had been kayaking in the lake.
His kayak had been found but friends were unable to locate Harper.
First responders searched until 1:15 a.m. on Sept. 14, when the search was stopped until daybreak.
Kansas Highway Patrol joined in the search today. Sheriff Bill Martin reached out to the Overland Park Dive Team and Fire Chief Dave Bruner to the Newton County Dive Team to assist in the search.
At 1:53 p.m. today, a body was found, that was suspected to be Harper’s. The body was sent to Frontier Forensics for an autopsy.
“At this time our thoughts and prayers are with the Harper family,” Fort Scott Police Captain Jason Pickert, said.
Fort Scott Pizza Hut, 1801 S. Main has closed permanently.
A call to the Fort Scott Pizza Hut revealed that the store at 1801 S. Main is permanently closed.
“On August 17, (2020) NPC (the company that operates Pizza Hut) announced that it reached an agreement with Pizza Hut that would allow NPC to close up to 300 of our Pizza Hut restaurants,” Columbia Clancy replied in response to an email to corporate headquarters. “Since that time, we have finalized our plan for next steps and after careful analysis and consideration, NPC has moved forward with closing a number of those Pizza Hut locations (including the Fort Scott, KS restaurant), effective September 8.”
A sign in the window of the Fort Scott Pizza Hut on Sept. 11, 2020.
“As part of our restructuring process, we made the very difficult decision to close the Fort Scott Pizza Hut restaurant,” according to a NPC spokesperson. ” We did not take this decision lightly, and we are committed to providing support to impacted employees, including providing transfer to other NPC or Yum! Brand locations, wherever possible. Ultimately, these actions will best position our remaining restaurant business for success. NPC continues to operate many other Pizza Hut restaurants across the country which remain open for business, supported by our 23,000 dedicated employees who are ready to serve our customers.”
Topeka– Phone and internet services are vital for online learning, applying for jobs, accessing healthcare, and calling for help in an emergency. The Lifeline program offers discounts to help eligible low-income and unemployed Kansans connect to those services. More than 10 million Americans, including 35,000 in Kansas, are currently enrolled in the program.
As part of National Lifeline Awareness Week, September 14-18, the Kansas Corporation Commission wants to make Kansans aware of this valuable resource. Depending on the services provided and your provider, residents may be eligible to receive up to $17.02 in monthly federal and state discounts. Subscribers living on tribal lands qualify for additional discounts.
This year, a new National Verifier program helps speed up the approval process for applicants enrolled in assistance programs by quickly confirming Lifeline eligibility. Residents enrolled in any of the following assistance programs may be 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 with income documentation. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the requirement of three months of income documentation was waived until November 30, 2020 to allow recently unemployed individuals to apply for the program by submitting an official document, including notice of unemployment benefits to confirm their income-based eligibility.
Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of September 1st, 2020.
Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1271-A totaling $428,590.44.
Certificate of Appropriateness – 113 S. National – Signage and Alterations to building
Certificate of Appropriateness – Downtown Walking Trail – signage
VI. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:
APPEARANCE: None
B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 5 minute limit per citizen)
C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS: None
VII. CONSIDERATION:
City Insurance Liability Update – James Charlesworth
Discussion of Pit Bull Ordinance
Update on Parks Advisory Board Ordinance
Acceptance of Community Development Block Grant No. 20-CR-004 – Mayco Ace Hardware – Approval to accept grant and for Mayor to sign all pertinent documents
Kansas Housing Grant application opportunity
Lauber Municipal Law Firm July Billing Statement
Approval of Voting and Alternate Delegates – League of Kansas Municipalities – 3 each
VIII. COMMENTS:
Director Updates: Nate Stansberry, City Engineer:
Consideration of recommendation from the Street Advisory Board to add two (2) additional laborers so additional manpower can assist with street maintenance
Flood Plain Permit Request from Greg Schick
Horton Street Project Update
Commission:
City Attorney:
City Manager: Update on items requested
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
I MOVE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE RECESS IS THE DISCUSSION OF:
The statutory justification for the recess is:
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1) – to discuss matters of non-elected personnel;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(2) – consultation with the City Attorney on matters that would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(3) – to discuss employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the public body or agency;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(4) – to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts, and individual proprietorships;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(6) – for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.
The Executive Session will be for _________ minutes long and the open meeting will resume at ___________ am/pm.
When it comes to aging, it’s been said that if a home transition — or move to another dwelling–is being considered, it is most easily done when individuals are in their 60’s or 70’s. This is especially true if a couple can move together to a new home and adjust to their new surroundings together.
Our homes are familiar to us, they hold special memories, and it may be ‘home’ for other family members to come back to that have moved away. However, our homes that have been safe havens over the years, can become danger zones in our later years.
Every 11 seconds, an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a fall related injury. Yet, many falls are preventable. Next week, September 21-25, is Falls Prevention Awareness Week. It presents a good opportunity to re-evaluate our living situation and take a look at what ‘stumbling blocks’ could be existing in our homes.
Many of us have lived in our homes for numerous years. We’ve learned to navigate the steps and hallways and probably feel like we could do it safely with our eyes closed. Yet, activity limitations can creep in with aging, such as arthritis, high blood pressure, hearing/vision impairments, and heart conditions. Our balance may not be as good, our strength is likely not what it was, and there may be pain involved that can interfere with mobility.
Even if we don’t require the assistance of a mobility device – such as a cane or walker—the need exists to make sure walking areas throughout the house are clear. I find I don’t pick up my feet as far as I used too. Thus, I catch my toe on steps a little more often than I would like.
Look for areas of clutter that can be cleared, cords that may be removed, or furniture that can be rearranged to create a clearer walking path. Pitch the throw rugs that could contribute to a tripping hazard. Make sure light switches are at the ends of stairways and hallways to better mark travel paths.
Yes, we might feel comfortable walking around in our house in the dark. However, it may be that one out-of-place item that takes us down and creates a serious injury. Establish better lighting situations for night time movement throughout the home. Our eyes are slower to adjust to light and dark environments as we age. Our eyes may also find it harder to differentiate between patterns on floors and steps.
Medications, along with reduced strength in arms and legs, can play havoc with our sense of balance — especially if we try to raise or lower our bodies too quickly. Installing grab bars and handrails at proper heights and locations can make those movements safer. Medications should be reviewed with health care providers on a regular basis to make sure they are not contributing to a balance issue.
A basic desire of all of us is to maintain our independence. Many of us want to do that in our current homes. To help assess the safety of your home and areas that can contribute to falls, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) has a room-by-room checklist of areas to more closely consider. To assist in determining your risk for falls, the NCOA also has a free fall risk assessment available online.
Both the home checklist and the personal fall risk assessment can be accessed on the Southwind Extension District website at https://www.southwind.k-state.edu/home-family/adults/. Contact me by phone at 620-625-8620 or by email at [email protected] for more information on falls related information.
