Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson will be speaking to USD 234 staff starting at 8 a.m. at the Fort Scott Community College Ellis Fine Arts Center, Friday, Jan. 11.
“We have to meet at FSCC because the high school is hosting the 4A-1A State Debate Tournament,” said Ted Hessong, superintendent of USD 234. “Dr. Watson will be speaking to the staff about the Kansas State Board of Educations Vision for Kansas schools.
“When Dr. Watson is done speaking, I will take him on a tour of the district. At 10:45 we will go to the district office for Dr. Watson to speak to some of our school board members and some members of the Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Watson and I will need to be at the high school by 11:40 a.m. for the General Assembly of the State Debate Tournament.”
KDHE urges you to have your home and school tested
TOPEKA – Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) proclaimed January 2019 “Kansas Radon Action Month” to help educate Kansans about the dangers of radon exposure and to encourage actions to identify and address radon problems.
“Radon risk comes from prolonged exposure to elevated levels,” said KDHE Environmental Specialist Mark Ungerer. “Mitigation is a small cost compared to the risk posed by living in a home with elevated radon and can be easily accomplished in most cases. KDHE recommends everyone test their homes and encourage their school boards and superintendents to test their schools to have the most complete information about their radon exposure.”
Radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soils across Kansas. Outdoors, radon is diluted to low concentrations, but once inside a building, radon can accumulate, exposing the occupants to elevated levels. Radon is the first leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause in smokers.
The only way to know if radon is elevated in a building is to test. KDHE encourages all Kansans to test their homes for radon to make sure they are not being exposed to elevated levels. KDHE maintains a list of certified radon professionals who can perform radon measurements. Do-it-yourself radon test kits can also be purchased at local hardware and builder’s supply stores, as well as from county extension offices throughout Kansas. Elevated radon levels have been found across Kansas with about one in four measurements being high (above 4 picoCuries per liter).
While the majority of radon exposure comes from the home, Kansans should also be aware of potential radon exposure in other places where they, or their children, may be exposed. Children have smaller lungs and a more rapid breathing rate and are thought to be more susceptible to the risks presented by exposure to elevated radon levels. Kansas law does not require that schools be tested for radon, but Kansans are encouraged to contact their school board or district superintendent to find out if their local school has been tested.
Elevated radon levels can be fixed or reduced through mitigation. Homeowners are encouraged to contact a certified radon professional if their radon test has a result of over 4 pCi/l. Additional information about radon and a list of certified radon contractors is available at www.KansasRadonProgram.org or by calling the Kansas Radon Hotline at 800-693-KDHE (800-693-5343).
Children’s Storytime and Special Activity With Author Cathy Werling on January 12th at 10:30 a.m.
Meet the Artist, Al Letner of Chicopee Pottery, January 19th at 3:00 p.m.
Join us for two very special events at Hedgehog.INK, located at 16 S. Main St. in Fort Scott! For more information, contact Jan Hedges at 620-670-2752 or email [email protected]. Visit our Facebook page by clicking here.
Forrest E. “Slim” Hall, age 86, a resident of Ft. Scott, passed away Tuesday, January 8th at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg. Funeral services for Slim Hall will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott.
Bids and Dibs consignment store has outgrown its current space and has moved to 108 Scott Avenue.
Last week the staff shut down the store at 19 S. National Avenue, and put excess merchandise out on the sidewalk to give away.
Bids and Dibs consignment store, 19 S. National Avenue is moving locations.
Bids and Dibs consignment store has been in its present location for six years and has outgrown the facility.
The store will have a larger area at the new address, 108 Scott Avenue, Suite C.
The new location of Bids and Dibs is 108 S. State, Suite C. The main door (white, at left in photo) faces the parking lot south of the facility.
Store owner Angie Simon said the employees have been working to get the shop reopened at its new site.
“We will make the main shop entrance face Second Street across from City State Bank”, Simon said. “Wise Tax and Accounting will remain in Suite A on Scott Ave. Suite B (previously The Bunker) will be available for rent or turned into something fabulous soon. We will gain a wonderful amount of square footage that will allow us to serve you better. We are incredibly excited about 2019!”
“Our hope is that the additional square footage will allow our customers a more satisfying shopping experience by offering a greater variety of merchandise,” she said. “Along with increasing the categories in which we carry resale items we are excited to announce we will be adding to our new boutique lines”.
Bids and Dibs owner, Angie Simon, purchased the southern part of the building in October from Wise Tax and Accounting, 108 S. Scott Avenue.
A peek inside the new facility from the Scott Avenue door on Jan. 6 shows the cavernous building that Bids and Dibs will be filling with merchandise.
“Construction started on the facility last week. We are hoping to re-open sometime this month,” Simon said.
“We will be prepared to start accepting consignments within the next two weeks. We will post details about our new consignment drop off procedures and opening dates on our Facebook page as soon as they are available”.
“The new store will have a much bigger sales floor allowing us to accept larger furniture pieces and household appliances, there will be a sizable room solely dedicated to online sales and our private consignor intake area will allow consignors to drop off items quickly and easily. The larger building will also give us the freedom to host more after-hours events like private parties and fundraisers.”
THANK YOU to those businesses and individuals who have already committed to volunteering or donating items.
Times Volunteers are Needed:
Friday @ Fort Scott Middle School:
11am to 1pm
1:30pm to 4:00pm
4pm to 7:30pm
Friday @ Fort Scott High School
11am to 1:30pm
1:30pm to 4pm
4pm to 7:30pm
Saturday @ Fort Scott Middle School
7am to 11am
11am to 1:30pm
Saturday @ Fort Scott High School
7am to 11am
11am to 5pm
ITEMS REQUESTED TO BE DONATED:
Dry Coffee Creamer
Coffee Stirrers
10-12 Lg. Bags of Chips
Oranges, Apples, Bananas
Cookies, Brownies, Sweets
Bottled Water
Coffee
Clorox Wipes
Please click here to email Diana with times you can work or items you can donate. Monetary donations also welcome, made payable to the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, and we can purchase items needed.
Physical items or monetary donations may be dropped off at the Chamber through 5pm Thursday.
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Contact Lindsay Madison at the Chamber with any questions, 620-223-3566, or [email protected].
Joy Miller, RD, LD Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent Adult Development and Aging Family Resource Management K-State Research and Extension Southwind Extension District 210 S. National Fort Scott, KS 66701 Office: 620-223-3720 Fax: 620-223-0332 [email protected]
Stay Strong, Stay Healthy Strength Training Program for Older Adults,
Your Ticket to Better Health
Our bodies are made for activity, but modern conveniences allow us to be increasingly inactive. Building strength promotes quality of life and independence, especially for adults over 50. Here’s the good news, Stay Strong, Stay Healthy strength training program is being offered in your community.
This eight week program can help you get started on the road to better health. Stay Strong, Stay Healthy is built on simple, strength- building exercises that will improve balance and flexibility, too. No one is too inactive to participate. You’ll start at a level that’s right for you. Instruction is provided by Joy Miller, Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent with K-State Research and Extension Southwind District.
The class meets for one hour, two times each week at Buck Run Community Center on Monday and Friday at 8:30 a.m. The fee is $20 for the eight week series. Registration and first session will be held Monday, January 21st. Call Joy Miller at 620-223-3720 for more details.
