Government, Kansas

Angel Investor Tax Credit Applications Open for 2019

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Topeka, Kan. – Applications are now being accepted for companies seeking investment through the Kansas Angel Investor Tax Credit (KAITC) program for 2019. The program offers Kansas income tax credits to qualified individuals who provide seed-capital financing for emerging Kansas businesses engaged in development, implementation and commercialization of innovative technologies, products and services.

The KAITC Program is administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce and designed to bring together accredited angel investors with qualified Kansas companies seeking seed and early stage investment. The purpose of the Kansas Angel Investor Tax Credit act is to facilitate:

o   The availability of equity investment in businesses in the early stages of commercial development.

o   Assist in the creation and expansion of Kansas businesses, which are job and wealth creating enterprises.

Applications for certification will be accepted only for Kansas businesses in the seed and early stage rounds of financing.

 

Companies must meet the following criteria to be certified as a Qualified Kansas Business:

o   The business has a reasonable chance of success and potential to create measurable employment within Kansas.

o   In the most recent tax year of the business, annual gross revenue was less than $5,000,000.

o   Businesses that are not Bioscience businesses must have been in operation for less than five years; bioscience businesses must have been in operation for less than 10 years.

o   The business has an innovative and proprietary technology, product, or service.

o   The existing owners of the business have made a substantial financial and time commitment to the business.

o   The securities to be issued and purchased are qualified securities.

o   The company agrees to adequate reporting of business information to the Kansas Department of Commerce.

o   The ability of investors in the business to receive tax credits for cash investments in qualified securities of the business is beneficial, because funding otherwise available for the business is not available on commercially reasonable terms.

o   Each applicant must sign a Qualified Company Agreement with the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Certification of companies must meet mandates established by Kansas statute to allow accredited Angel Investors to receive the Kansas Angel Investor Tax Credit. This year, the application fee has been reduced from $750 to $500.

 

Applications for companies seeking investment are accepted from February 1st, 2019 through August 31st, 2019.

Obituary

Obituary of Danny E. Culbertson, Sr.

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Danny E. Culbertson, Sr., age 58, resident of Mulberry, KS, died Saturday, January 26, 2019, at Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg, KS.

There was cremation.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct Memorial Services at 2:00 PM Friday, February 8th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Danny Culbertson Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Obituary

Obituary of Elmer Jack Adamson

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Elmer Jack Adamson, age 76, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Friday, February 1, 2019, at St. Francis Hospital, Wichita, KS.

Jack was born December 19, 1942, in Ft. Scott, the son of Paul King Adamson, Sr. and Edna Ellen Deeds Adamson. He graduated from Uniontown High School with the class of 1960.

He married Mary Alice Henderson on January 11, 1964, in Miami, OK. Jack worked for Frisco and then Burlington Northern Railroad for over 35 years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and farming. He loved spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife Mary of the home; a son, Doug Adamson and wife Carol, Ft. Scott; a daughter, Melissa Davis and husband Ron, Butler, MO; two sisters, Marilyn Harrington, Paola, KS, and Beatrice Alt, Ft. Scott; three grandchildren, Joshua Adamson and wife Stacey, Ashley Adamson, and Ethan Clark and wife Amanda; 1 great-grandson, Kasen Clark; three step-grandchildren, Terri Manley, Cody Davis, and Ronna Davis; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Paul “Dobber”, Richard “Sonny”, and Frank Adamson; a sister Patricia White; and his parents.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 2:00 Monday, February 4th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Centerville Cemetery, Devon, KS. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott Community College

Kirk Sharp: New Gordon Parks Museum Director

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Kirk Sharp was recently selected to be the new Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director. He is pictured just outside the museum against a wall depicting some life moments of Gordon Parks. The museum is located in the Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College.

Kirk Sharp started his duties as the new Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director on Jan. 7.

But Sharp is no stranger to the museum. He has been serving behind the scenes since 2004.

“I always had an interest and encouraged the activities and helped with activities and special events when I could,” Sharp said. He also served on the Gordon Parks Museum Foundation Board for four years.

Sharp is a 1985 graduate of Fort Scott High School, and has worked at FSCC before.

“I worked here in FSCC admissions from 2007 to 2010,” Sharp said. “Then Mercy Hospital where I managed Health For Life, occupational and sports medicine until the hospital closed (In 2018).”

“I feel blessed for this exciting opportunity to be with the Gordon Parks Museum and also being back with FSCC,” Sharp said.

“Kirk was the best choice,” said Kassie Feugate-Cate, FSCC’s Director of Strategic Communication. “He is a great asset to the program. We are grateful  and look forward to seeing what he can do with the museum, moving forward.”

The mission of the Gordon Parks Museum is to honor the life and work of Gordon Parks, internationally-known photographer, filmmaker, writer, and musician; and to use his remarkable life story to teach about artistic creativity, cultural awareness, and the role of diversity in our lives.

Gordon Parks Museum on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

“I want to continue the mission of the Gordon Parks Museum towards cultural diversity, through special events and programs, not just here in the community, but nationwide,” Sharp said. “Trying to look to the future by becoming more interactive, maybe kiosks or tablets for our digital generation.”

February is designated Black History Month and there will be several learning experiences offered at the museum.

On Feb. 15, there will be a presentation of “Slave to Soldier” during a “Lunch and Learn” at the museum, from 11 a.m. to noon. The public is invited to bring a lunch and hear the history lesson.

This is a Buffalo Soldier history presentation, featuring the Alexander/Madison Chapter-Greater Kansas City/Leavenworth Area, 9th and 10th Cavalry Association. These many generations of negro soldiers served their county from 1866 to 1944 in the military.

“We are also going to show a Kevin Willmott film, “The Jayhawkers” in the month of February. Kansas University Professor Willmott is a past recipient of  a Gordon Parks Award and this year is in the running for an Oscar for his film “BlacKkKlansMan.”

History of the museum:

“After Gordon Parks attended the first ever Gordon Parks Celebration in 2004, he gifted the Gordon Parks Center with 30 of his photographs. This spectacular group includes many of his iconic works such as American Gothic, Tuskegee Airmen, Flavio, Ali Sweating, Ingrid Bergman on Stromboli and many others,” according  to the Visit Fort Scott website: https://visitfortscott.com/see-and-do/gordon-parks-museum/

Kirk Sharp stands in front of a giant photo of Gordon Parks in the museum.

 

“In 2006, after his death, his personal effects and other memorabilia, per Gordon’s wishes, were given to the Museum. This valuable collection included many of his awards and medals, personal photos, paintings and drawings of Gordon, plaques, certificates, diplomas and honorary doctorates, selected books and articles, clothing, record player, tennis racquet, magazine articles, his collection of Life magazines and much more,” according to the  Vist Fort Scott website.

The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information see The Gordon Parks Museum Facebook page.

Sharp is married to Sis Sharp and has two children, Jolee, 26 and Trey, 24.

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet

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 The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites any community members interested in Downtown Fort Scott to Boiler Room Brewhaus, 10 S. National Avenue, on February 5th, 2019, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. The Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet is hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives and any community members to attend to network and share ideas on events, promotions and anything related to downtown!

Please join us on Tuesday, February 5th for the Downtown Meet & Greet. Contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 with questions.

Submitted by:
Lindsay Madison, Executive Director, [email protected]

Monica Walden, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

Phone: (620) 223-3566

Opinion

Australian Open by Patty LaRoche

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Three times a year I live vicariously by watching professional tennis tournaments on television: Wimbledon; The U.S. Open; and the Australian Open. The seasoned veterans give me hope when they pummel the young upstarts. I even enjoy the fairly predictable interviews following their matches. Thank the crowd. Give credit to the “talented” opponent. Address how hard they worked to get this win.

At age 32, Rafael Nadal of Spain currently is ranked #2 in the world. A couple of his accomplishments include 17 Grand Slam singles titles, the second most in history for a male player, and a record 33 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles. In other words, he plays better than I do.

Following his semi-final win, he said something like this: “I wake up every morning thinking about what I need to do to be a better tennis player, either on the court or at the gym.” This morning, in my prayer time, those words kept replaying in my head. Do I wake up every morning thinking about what I need to do to represent Christ better? To give unselfishly. To take better care of my body. To speak loving words.

I must admit, the last one is difficult for me. Actually, they all are, but that’s for another article. My mouth was put to the test while texting five friends during the Chief’s game against the Patriots. Diana, my disabled friend from Tulsa, watched the broadcast from her wheelchair. Her text comments demonstrated her sweet, Chiefs-defending attitude.

“Is it me or are those Patriots gigantic guys?”

“Brady’s front line looks like huge walking trees.”

When a timeout was taken to review a play in which the Chiefs scored a touchdown after a Patriots’ return specialist appeared to touch the ball, my friend immediately commented: “It looks deflected.” I, Miss Negative, disagreed. The officials concurred, I am not proud to say.

After the Chiefs lost, Diana had one final remark: “I’m just so disappointed for our guys. They played so hard against a team that seemed to get almost every break.” (Notice she said “for”’ our guys, not “in” our guys.)

Compare Diana’s remarks to mine:

“This is ugly. We can come back but have to stop leaving so many holes for the Patriots’ offense.”

“Mahomes (the Chief’s quarterback) seems nervous.”

“A penalty for lining up in the neutral zone? That’s something you learn in flag football.”

I ended with this: “Sad to say, but the Patriots just outplayed us.” And then, realizing how negative I was, added, “We’ll get ‘em next year.” My other girlfriends chimed in that the refs made bad calls and the rule for coin tosses in tie games needs to be changed.

They were true fans. I was not. Ask Dave. He managed to sit in the same room with me while I ranted, buried my head under a pillow and yelled at the television set. My husband’s only comment was that Tom Brady is a strong Christian and I should take that into account…which I did not.

So, today is a new day. I can learn from my bad attitude and dwell on what is important, like thinking of ways to represent Christ better to everyone I encounter. Before I do that, however, I’ll just take a quick break and turn on ESPN2 to see how badly Serena Williams, my favorite female player, destroyed Karolina Pliskova in the semi-finals last night.

SERIOUSLY? SERIOUSLY? SHE LOST? HOW CAN THAT BE? SO UNFAIR WHEN YOU PIT A 26-YEAR OLD AGAINST A 37-YEAR OLD!

It had to be the umpires. Yes, I’ll go with that. (See? I learn from my mistakes.)

Fort Scott National Historic Site, Government, Jobs

FSNHS Summer Student Intern Positions Available Feb. 4

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Fort Scott National Historic Site will begin recruiting for a GS-05 Park Ranger (Student Trainee) temporary position Monday, February 4 for the summer of 2019 as part of the National Park Service’s Pathways Program. Additional positions will be announced later this spring.

The Park Ranger intern will assist the Division of Interpretation and Resource Management with leading our YCC and youth outreach programs. They will present talks, answer questions, guide small groups and provide orientation services to park visitors. The interns will also participate in maintenance and resource management projects, as well as working closely with park staff on critical special initiatives including website development, social media, and special events.

In order to be eligible for an appointment under the Pathways Internship Program you must be a current a student who has been accepted for enrollment or is enrolled at least half-time in an accredited high school, college, professional, technical, vocational, or trade school pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate. To maintain eligibility for internships individuals must remain enrolled in a degree or certificate program throughout their appointment. Additional information on the Pathways Internship Program can be found at: www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/students

The GS-05 park rangers earn 16.10 per hour, generally works full-time 40-hour week, and is entitled to paid holidays. Holiday, evening, and weekend work is required. A driver’s license is recommended.

This position is expected to start in early May and end in September. Application information can be found at: www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/522940700. The advertisement closes February 11, 2019.

For more information about the park in general, contact Fort Scott NHS at (620) 223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

Government, Kansas

Public Survey on Drone Usage

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Public encouraged to take a survey on statewide drone usage

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) Division of Aviation is seeking public opinion on the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or drones in Kansas airspace.

 

Individuals of all ages, occupations and backgrounds are encouraged to participate in the 10-question online survey available at https://www.ippkansas.org/ks-uas-ipp-survey until Feb. 28.

 

Through the survey, KDOT hopes to gain a better understanding of the public’s familiarity and opinion on UAS use scenarios to drive operations for the Kansas UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP).

 

This federally-initiated program will help tackle the most significant challenges to integrating drones into the national airspace and will reduce risks to public safety and security. The Kansas team is focused on efforts in Long Line Linear Infrastructure Inspection (i.e. highways, railroads, energy distribution lines, etc.) and Precision Agriculture. IPP partners include state universities, Kansas UAS joint task force members and industry leaders. For a full list visit: www.ippkansas.org/partners.

 

KDOT is currently conducting UAS test flights in the airspace north of Gypsum and over partner right-of-way infrastructure and partner-owned land. These operations will support a Phase II safety case that will include Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.

 

About Kansas UAS IPP
KDOT is one of only 10 national leaders conducting advanced UAS operations to guide future rule-making that will result in access to new technologies for the nation. The IPP is the result of a 2017 Presidential Memorandum issued to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

www.ippkansas.org.

Bourbon County Local News