Government, Kansas

Kansas Beyond Visual Line of Sight Drone Operation To Advance Technologies

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Kansas approved for first Beyond Visual

Line of Sight drone flight in the nation

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) received permission to conduct the first ever Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operation in the nation leveraging only onboard detect-and-avoid systems. This is the first-ever FAA authorized operation to fly without a requirement for visual observers or ground-based radar and is the result of the 31-member Kansas Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP) team efforts to advance drone technologies.

 

In a collaborative effort between Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus (K-State Polytechnic), Westar Energy, Iris Automation and KDOT, the Kansas IPP team will fly a nine-mile track to evaluate technologies to inspect power lines in rural Kansas. This approval is the first of its kind for long line linear infrastructure and is the first step to enable routine commercial infrastructure inspection across the state.

 

“The UAS industry has worked over 10 years to demonstrate the most significant commercial benefit of drone operations within the United States,” said Bob Brock, KDOT Director of Aviation. “We are proud of the joint state, university and industry team effort that made this landmark decision possible.”

 

“The ability to fly BVLOS missions without ground-based radar or visual observers is a significant advancement, and Westar Energy views this as an opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of UAS operations within the utility industry,” said Mike Kelly, Westar Energy Senior UAS Coordinator. “Being able to operate under this waiver allows the Kansas IPP team the ability to research and develop truly scalable BVLOS UAS operations for the automated inspection of linear infrastructure.”

 

The Applied Aviation Research Center on the K-State Polytechnic Campus will be responsible for the training and flight operations with a cross-functional team from the KDOT IPP. Flights will take place over the next few months, providing the FAA with much-needed data on true BVLOS activity.

 

“We look forward to leveraging this waiver to integrate UAS technology into the transmission line inspection process,” said Kurt Carraway, UAS Executive Director of the K-State Polytechnic Applied Aviation Research Center. “We are certain that utilities will be able to quickly realize a return on investment while mitigating safety to their maintenance personnel and increasing the reliability of their infrastructure to the general public.”

 

This is the first UAV flight in history to leverage onboard sense-and-avoid systems alone for collision avoidance. It also marks the first required automated avoidance action. Historically, all FAA-issued Part 107 BVLOS waivers have required visual observers or ground-based radar. These mitigations limit the possibility of true BVLOS flights, as they are typically prohibitively expensive and limit operations to pre-defined corridor areas with radar coverage.

 

This important milestone is facilitated by Kansas UAS IPP partner Iris Automation’s Casia onboard collision avoidance system.

 

“Flying rural missions like these without a human pilot onboard or costly radar on the ground is exponentially safer and more cost effective,” said Iris Automation CEO and Co-Founder Alexander Harmsen. “The FAA is trusting us to pave the way for a safer, scalable future together with this precedent-setting second approval of our system.”

 

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Business, Fort Scott

Community Clothes Closet Is A Part of Washateria: Board Members Needed

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Fort Scott Washateria, 501 S. National Avenue.

Fort Scott Washateria,  a new state of the art laundry center, will open Sept. 7 instead of mid-August as originally planned, said manager Lori Lovelace.

But this Thursday on Aug. 15 at 6 p.m. she and her mother Carol Oakleaf, who is the owner of the business, will be having an organizational meeting for a Fort Scott Community Closet Association.

Volunteers are needed to be board members for the new philanthropic organization.

“We will collect clothing donations to distribute to those in need in the community,” Lovelace said.

“We’d like to get people who have worked at the Beacon,” she said. The Beacon is a helping agency who recently quit handling clothing distributions.

“We will need people to set the hours to be open, the qualifications for receiving donations and other needed decisions,” Lovelace said.

She and her mother will be on the board, but others are needed.

Their church, Hammond United Methodist, is a sponsor of the clothing distribution association.

Lovelace and Oakleaf have worked to attain a 501 (c)3 and a Federal Tax ID for the association, she said.

“The broader the organizational experience, the better it will be,” Lovelace said.

Volunteers are also needed to help with the distribution of clothes to those in need.

“We will launder donated clothing, and clothing will be sorted and stored in the grey shed, just north of the laundry facility,” Lovelace said.

Washateria Grand Opening Sept. 7

The laundry center’s opening has been pushed into September because of the death of an employee of  Laundry Solutions, that sold them all the machines, Lovelace said.

That business has been Speed Queen Distributor of the Year three times in the last six years, she said.

Some of the larger capacity machines will take bedding comforters and dog beds, Lovelace said.

They will have a “soft opening” of the laundry mat around Labor Day.

She will put a sign in the window to indicate the preliminary opening.

Two people have been hired and the hours of operation of the laundry mat will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

Home delivery service will be provided as well, if needed.

For more information: [email protected] or call Lovelace at 620-215-1314.

 

 

 

Advertisements, Business

Darlene’s Antiques and Collectibles Online Auction

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ONLINE ONLY AUCTION

Darlene’s Antiques and Collectibles 4 Online Bidding ends Sunday, Aug. 18 at 7:00 PM

To view and bid on items, click below:

http://www.crawfordauctionservice.com

Click on Ozarkbid Online Auctions, scroll to Darlene’s Antique and Collectibles 4 to view and register to bid.

369 LOTS: Nesting boxes; home decor; health & home; horse country; garden decor; butterflies; hearts; Home Interior; Hawkeye & Fiesta; National Audobon Society; Easter; turkeys; chickens; hats & more; candles; vintage albums; roosters; Hull; vineyard; decorative glass; Haegar & pickles; welcome; vintage crystal; picnic; midnight musk; oil lamps; Hamilton Beach; hanging lamp; table lamps; Kitchen Aid; watering cans; vases; roses; apples & more; McCoy, Haeger & Nemadji; wagon wheel; Halloween & Fall; flowers; Pyrex; sunflowers; cows; Lodge; wolves; Seth Thomas; fruit; America; fruit crates; much, much more!

Watch for more upcoming auctions.

Item pickup at 16 Scott Avenue, Fort Scott, Kansas: Monday, Aug. 19 from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Item pickup from Hermitage, MO Warehouse Monday, Aug. 26th from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee At Sleep Inn Aug. 15

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WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
Join us for Chamber Coffee
Hosted by:

Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative
Location:

Sleep Inn & Suites, 302 E. Wall St.
Thursday, August 15, 2019  at 8:00 a.m.
Chamber members and guests are encouraged to attend for networking, community announcements, and to learn about the hosting business or organization.
Members may pay $1 to make an announcement about an upcoming event, special/sale/discount, or news of any kind.
Upcoming Coffees:
August 22 – Ascension Via Christi Fort Scott
August 29 – Fort Scott Washateria (501 S. National)
September 5 – Stutesman’s Action Realty (New Location: 120 E. Wall St.)
September 12 – Accent Dental
Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Government, Kansas

Don’t Drink and Drive

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Kansas Law Enforcement Warns: Don’t Drink and Drive

Impaired drivers to be tested during “No Refusal Weekend”

 

Topeka, KS – As the summer season concludes over the next few weeks, Kansas law enforcement will be doing all they can to keep the roads safe from impaired drivers. Beginning on Aug. 14 and through the Labor Day weekend, more than 150 law enforcement agencies from across the state will join forces in a concentrated effort detecting and removing the impaired driver.

 

This year’s campaign includes a No Refusal Weekend, Aug. 16 – 17, when all suspected impaired drivers who refuse breath testing may be subject to blood testing for alcohol and/or drugs. This No Refusal Weekend, law enforcement officials may work in coordination with prosecutors to obtain blood draw warrants for drivers who refuse breath and/or drug testing. No Refusal programs help ensure that prosecutors obtain the scientific evidence needed to effectively prosecute cases involving impaired driving.

“My hope is there are no impaired driving crashes or fatalities in the state of Kansas,” said Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Herman Jones.  “Make the right decision, don’t get behind the wheel impaired. The impaired driver makes the choice to endanger themselves and everyone else on the road.”

 

According to the National Safety Council, 40 percent of car fatalities occur in the summer months. The Labor Day holiday brings increased traffic and unfortunately, a higher-than-normal number of deaths related to impaired drivers on the road. On average, impaired drivers cause about one-third of all traffic fatalities in Kansas. Across Kansas, impaired drivers injure or kill more than 2,200 people each year in car crashes.

 

“We want everyone’s summer to end on high note and not in a senseless death that is 100 percent preventable,” said Chris Bortz, Kansas Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Program Manager. “Law enforcement will be vigilant in their efforts to keep everyone safe, but everyone has a personal responsibility in this effort; not just law enforcement.”

 

The 22-day enforcement campaign will be supported with statewide education and on-the-street vigilance by law enforcement.  This year’s campaign reinforces that no excuse is a good excuse for driving impaired. Designate before you celebrate, use a ride sharing service or get a ride from a sober friend are just a few ways to get home safely.

 

Impaired drivers can face jail time, suspension of their driving privileges, fines and other costs of up to $10,000. In addition, the offender will be required to install and pay monthly services fees on an ignition interlock. Beyond the financial and legal penalties, impaired drivers face the risk of losing their own lives or taking someone else’s.

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Government

Greet Congressman Watkins Aug. 22

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Meet and Greet with
Congressman
Steve Watkins
(2nd District of Kansas)
at Boiler Room Brewhaus
Thursday, August 22nd
at 4:00 p.m.
Community members are invited to a
Meet & Greet with
Congressman Steve Watkins.
The event will take place on
Thursday, August 22nd at the
Boiler Room Brewhaus, located at
2 S. National Ave. Doors will open at 4:00pm for the meet & greet.
Steve Watkins is a 6th generation Kansan, growing up down the street from the State Capitol in Topeka. His father served in the Air Force and has been a well-respected physician for nearly 40 years. His mother is
a retired public school teacher.
After graduating from Topeka West high school, Steve went on to get an engineering degree from West Point and master’s degrees from both MIT and Harvard.
Steve Watkins is an Iditarod racer,
a Mt. Everest climber, and a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan in 2004.
Steve Watkins’ life and career have been characterized by integrity, courage, leadership, and selfless service.
While the uniform may be changing, the values and convictions are not.
For more information, contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566.
Fort Scott, Government

New FS City Staff Accountant: Devin Tally

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Devin Tally, 30, is the new City of Fort Scott Staff Accountant.

He graduated from Fort Scott High School in 2007 and received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Pittsburg State University. In May 2019 he completed my Master of Business Administration through Northwest Missouri State University.

Previously, Tally has worked at Wise Tax and Accounting for almost four years.

He started working for the city on June 24, 2019.

Tally’s duties include payroll, accounts receivable, assisting with the budget, bank reconciliation, sales tax, and additional duties as needed. His office is located at city hall, 123 S. Main.

Bourbon County, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office, Fort Scott, Schools

Visit With Sheriff’s Office Personnel: Get a Free Snow Cone

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The sheriff’s office will be handing out to the first 100 kids coupons to get a small snow cone from Tropical Snow.

Tropical Snow is in the south parking of the Movie Gallery Store located at 1714 South National in Fort Scott.

This will be a chance to meet/talk with deputies, as a community involvement with the sheriff’s office.

The event will be  Tuesday, August 13, starting at 6 PM and will last until the last coupon is handed out.

 

Kansas, Schools

Taiwan Ag Youth Exchange Program Accepting Applications

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Taiwan Agricultural Youth Exchange Accepting Applications

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. —   The 2019 Taiwan Agricultural Youth Exchange Program is currently accepting applications from high school seniors or college freshmen who are passionate about agriculture and are interested in representing Kansas in a week-long exchange program October 26 through November 3, 2019.

 

Each year the National Taichung Agricultural Senior High School in central Taiwan hosts students from the U.S. Midwest for this program. Selected students will tour agricultural facilities and businesses in Taiwan and learn about Taiwanese agriculture.

 

“The entire experience was amazing,” said Sage Collins, 2018 program participant. “Immersing myself in a new culture, experiencing all the aspects of Taiwan and learning about their agricultural practices was an eye-opening experience for me.”

 

Exports play an important role in Kansas agriculture. According to Euromonitor, Kansas exported over $129 million in agriculture products to Taiwan in 2018, including beef, oil seeds, cereal grains and wheat flour. Globally, exports of agriculture products contributed over $3.6 billion to the Kansas economy in 2018.

 

“The Taiwan Agricultural Youth Exchange Program is a tremendous opportunity for students who have an interest in agriculture,” said Suzanne Ryan-Numrich, international trade director for the Kansas Department of Agriculture. “Students are able to return from Taiwan with a broader understanding of international agriculture and the role that exports play in their local communities.”

 

Two students will be selected to represent Kansas. To be eligible to apply, students must meet the following requirements:

  • High school senior or college freshman.
  • At least 18 years of age by the beginning of the trip.
  • Strong Kansas agricultural background.
  • Valid U.S. passport by time of exchange program selection.
  • Able and willing to pay for airfare costs (approximately $1,000).

 

Applications must be submitted by August 30 for the student to be considered. Students interested in applying can find more information at agriculture.ks.gov/AgEd.  The Taiwan Agricultural Youth Exchange Program is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, the Kansas FFA Association and Kansas 4-H.

For more information, contact Robin Blume, KDA education and events coordinator, at [email protected] or 785-564-6756.

 

Bourbon County Local News