Area News

Mountain Bike Racing In Gunn Park

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Frank Halsey, the mountain bike race organizer, puts a medal on a finalist Saturday evening at Gunn Park.

Although Kansas does not have mountains, it does have some pretty hills in Gunn Park that were used to test the skills of mountain bikers this past weekend.

The 5th Annual Marmaton Massacre Mountain Bike Race and Kansas Mountain Bike Championship were completed in Gunn Park July 7-8.

Friday and Saturday evenings a night ride through the park was offered by organizers, Gunn Park Trails Volunteers, who work on maintaining the trails year- round.

Saturday morning two competitions took place: the Maramaton Massacre Mountain Bike Race and the Kansas Mountain Bike Championship. Racers won in their age divisions with the youngest race for children eight years old and younger, which took place in the evening.

Dinner was provided participants courtesy of Healthy Bourbon County Action Team through the Pathways To a Healthy Kansas Initiative and the food was provided by Sharkey’s Pub and Grub.

The trials riding demonstration  Ryan Braxton and Ed Schilling entertained the attendees. Trials riding skills are bike handling skills developed over obstacles.

The skills demo was followed by a performance from Paul Fowler and Lezlee Herd of En Power and Light music group, with the background of Gunn Parks Second Lake.

Sunday morning following a church service, a ride for youth 15-18 years old was won by Fort Scottian Brian Griffin.

Winners of both the Marmaton Massacre Race and the Kansas Championship Race are shown in the gallery below:


Kid’s Race Winners – 8 and Under, from left: · 3rd Place – Easton Halsey – Fort Scott, KS, · 1st Place – Memphis Halsey – Frontenac, KS;· 2nd Place – Gavin Cramb – Wichita, KS.

Kid’s Race Winners – 9 – 10 Years Old, from left:· 3rd Place – Audrey Walker – Fort Scott, KS· 1st Place – Jacee Mattox – Moran, KS · 2nd Place – Lillian Jackson – Fort Scott, KS
Frank Halsey, event organizer, hugs his grandson, Memphis Halsey, Frontenac, following a first place win in the kids’ under eight-years-old mountain bike race.
Attendees visit as they watch Ryan Braxton, Bentonville, Ark. perform a demonstration of trials riding.
Ed Schilling, St. Joe, Mo. demos trials riding on a Fort Scott Bike-Share Bike brought to the park by the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team. The bike was for attendees to try out. The bike-share bikes are located around Fort Scott for public use. Schilling encouraged biking as a lifetime sport.
The kid’s mountain bike race was in the evening of July 7 at Gunn Park.
Jody Hoener, Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, tells the crowd of the purpose of the team. HBCAT provided the meal for the riders and brought a bike-share bike to the event to have attendees try out. Greg Schroeder, left, the announcer, listens and Lezlee Herd and Paul Fowler, husband and wife performers with the En Power and Light wait to sing following the announcements.
Families appeared to relax and enjoy the evening entertainment of En Power and Light at Gunn Park, on July 7.

 

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Summer Considerations for Livestock Water

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Christopher Petty, M.S. Extension Agent, Livestock Production and Forage Management, K-State Research and Extension Southwind Extension District, 210 S. National Fort Scott, KS 66701, (620) 223-3720 Work (620)224-6031 Cell, [email protected]

According to the University of Nebraska Extension Professor Bruce Anderson, while it may be uncomfortable [outside] for you and me, it is particularly hard on livestock out on pasture. To help them survive, much less thrive, under these conditions, they need plenty of good, clean water.

Not only do they need plenty of good, clean water – they need it close by. Once upon a time, it was common to make cattle walk a mile or more to water. And they’d do it.

But just think how hard it is on animals in this heat and humidity. Once they get to the water, the last thing they want to do is turn around and go all the way back to where they came from to graze. As a result, they do little grazing more than a half mile away from water.

In fact, research shows that when cattle need to travel more than 1000 feet to water, they spend less time grazing, they burn off pounds walking, and they graze distant areas incompletely.

So, how can you improve your water and grazing distribution?

More ponds, wells, windmills, and dugouts will help, but they can get expensive. Plus, they can only be placed in certain locations and can’t be moved.

So maybe a pipeline would be better. They can be put almost anywhere. And if you want to add more water locations, pipelines can be tapped into anywhere along the line. You might even qualify for cost-share dollars to help pay for the installation. Check with your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more information. You also can leave your pipe on top of the ground, saving trenching costs, if you only need water during the growing season. Over time, water improvements pay for themselves with better grass and improved animal performance.

Contact your local Southwind Extension District office in Fort Scott, Erie, Iola, or Yates Center for more details. I am happy to visit with you about your livestock watering systems, and am available via e-mail at [email protected], by telephone at 620-223-3720, or for on-site farm visits.

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda July 10

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

2nd Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: July 10th, 2018

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00-9:45-Jim Harris

9:45-10:00-Ben Cole

10:00-10:15-Patty Love

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks

12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch

1:30-Lora Holdridge-Staff in her office-Executive Session

Justifications for Executive Session:

          Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

          Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

          Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

          Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

          Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

          Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system

Obituary

Obituary Of John Foulk

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John Dewane Foulk, age 83, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Saturday, July 7, 2018, at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri.
  He was born October 5, 1934, Arcadia, Kansas, the son of John Foulk and Mae Swafford Foulk.
John graduated from the Bible Baptist Seminary in Arlington, Texas.  He married Minnie Walker and the couple lived for many years in Reno, Nevada, where they owned and operated several wedding chapels.  Following Minnie’s death, he married Addie Jeffrey on March 25, 2001, in Reno.  They later moved to Ft. Scott.  John was currently serving as pastor of the Brethren/New Beginnings Church.
 John enjoyed visiting with people and loved to share the gospel message. 
 
Survivors include his son, Matthew Foulk, of Ft. Scott and several step-children and step-grandchildren who he considered as his own.  Also surviving are two brothers, Larry Foulk of Wichita, Kansas and Bradley Foulk, of Sun City, Arizona and a sister, Dianna Coates, of Mulberry, Kansas.  In addition to his wives, he was preceded in death by a brother Donald O. Foulk.
 
Pastor Larry Stevicks will conduct funeral services at 1:00 P.M. Friday, July 13th at the Brethren/New Beginnings Church located at 1421 S. Margrave in Ft. Scott.
 Following services, there will be cremation. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
 Memorials are suggested to the Brethren/New Beginnings Church and may be left in the care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary

Obituary Of Lloyd Howser

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Lloyd L. Howser, age 75, a resident of rural Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, July 5, 2018, at the Mercy Hospital in Ft. Scott.
  He was born December 4, 1942, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the son of Charles N. Howser and Virginia Maxon Howser.  Lloyd grew up in California.  He later served with the United States Army during the Vietnam War where he was in charge of NCO Clubs.  Following his military service, Lloyd worked for the Corp of Engineers in California for eighteen years where he served as park manager.
While in California, Lloyd served as a 4-H leader.
Following his retirement, he relocated to Ft. Scott where he worked for Mercy Hospital for over fifteen years.  While at Mercy, Lloyd worked as a physical therapy tech and later a pharmacy tech.  In addition to working at the hospital, Lloyd maintained his own farm and cattle operation.
  Lloyd said he was happiest when he was on his tractor.  Lloyd had served as President of the Ft. Scott Farm Bureau and was a past member of the First Christian Church of Ft. Scott. 
 
Survivors include his wife, Judy, of the home; two sons, Charles Howser and Michael DelChiaro, both of Ft. Scott and five grandchildren, Nathan Howser and wife, Allison, Chase, Hayes and Brock Howser and Bella DelChiaro.  Also surviving are two sisters, Mary Ann Dykstra and Jeannette Lovejoy.  He was preceded in death by his parents.
 
Following cremation, a graveside service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, July 14th at the Lath Branch Cemetery.  A reception will follow at the Thomas home, 2523 Locust Rd in Ft. Scott.  Memorials are suggested to the of University of Kansas Cancer Research and may be left in the care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Airport, Fort Scott, Government

Airport Receives Two Grants To Update

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Fort Scott Airport runway.

In June, the Fort Scott City Commission approved a Kansas Department of Transportation grant in the amount of $109,600 for the Automated Weather Observation Station upgrades at the airport with the city match of $12,118.

Fort Scott Economic Development Director Rachel Pruitt, along with Fort Scott Airport Director Kenny Howard informed the commission that the city received this and another grant from K.D.O.T.

Howard stated that the A.W.O.S. upgrade is badly needed at the Airport as the current system is about 19 years old, according to the meeting minutes.

“The A.W.O.S. is the on-field reporter of weather, visibility, etc.,” Howard said.

Fort Scott Airport Office.

The other grant received from K.D.O.T. is for lighting the runway, Howard said.

The PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicators) and REIL (Runway End Identifier Lights) Grant from KDOT is for runway lighting at the airport in the amount of $177,462. The city match for the grant is $19,718.

The commission discussed the airport 2,100-foot runway extension and how this lighting would be affected, according to the minutes.

Kenny stated that the grant can be delayed if the runway extension occurs within the next two years.

“We are waiting for more grant money for the extension,” Howard said.”The design for the runway extension is not completed yet.”

Pruitt stated that she is applying for another grant for the extension July.

The office and pilots lounge of the Fort Scott Airport.

Government, Kansas

Bourbon County In A Drought Watch

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Governor Updates Drought Declarations in Kansas Counties

The Governor’s Drought Team examines continued drought conditions as summer temps climb.

Topeka – While there have been some recent rains, drought conditions for many areas of Kansas continue to worsen.  Today Governor Jeff Colyer updated the Drought Declaration for Kansas counties with Executive Order 18-16 (attached).  The update includes all 105 counties either in an emergency, warning or watch status. This order places nearly half of Kansas counties in an emergency drought status.

“Kansans need to know no matter where you live in the state, the drought is not over,” said Governor Jeff Colyer.  “I’ve heard many concerns from producers and have seen the conditions first hand. We appreciate our federal partners at the Natural Resources Conservation Service as well as the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts— when we asked them to identify additional sources of assistance they responded quickly to help producers address these extreme drought conditions.”

The updated drought declaration has 50 counties in emergency status, 27 in warning status while 28 counties are in watch status. This action was recommended by Tracy Streeter, Director of the Kansas Water Office (KWO) and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team.

“With reported livestock water shortages, low flows at some of our reservoirs and monthly outlooks favoring persistent drought we know it’s imperative to monitor conditions closely,” said Tracy Streeter. “Some areas of Kansas are behind more than 15 inches in moisture for the year and outlooks favor above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation in July.”

Counties in the emergency stage are eligible for emergency use of water from certain state fishing lakes due to the KWO Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Kansas Department of Wildlife (KDWPT). They also become eligible for water in some Federal reservoirs.

Individuals and communities need to contact KWO for a water supply request prior to any withdrawals from lakes. They will, in turn, be referred to the appropriate office to obtain the necessary permit to withdraw the water.

This Executive Order and any authorized upgrade shall remain in effect for those counties so identified until rescinded by Executive Order or superseded by a subsequent Executive Order revising the drought stage status of the affected counties. Effective immediately:

  • Declare a Drought Emergency, Warning or Drought Watch for the counties identified below;
  • Authorize and direct all agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor to implement the appropriate watch or warning level-drought response actions assigned in the Operations Plan of the Governor’s Drought Response Team.

The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to watch the situation closely and work to minimize the effects the drought has on Kansans.

For more detailed information about current conditions, see the Kansas Climate Summary and Drought Report on the Kansas Water Office website at www.kwo.ks.gov.

County Drought Stage Declarations:

Drought Emergency: Barber, Barton, Butler, Chase, Clark, Clay, Coffey, Comanche, Cowley, Dickinson, Edwards, Ellsworth, Finney, Ford, Geary, Grant, Gray, Greenwood, Hamilton, Harper, Harvey, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Kingman, Kiowa, Lincoln, Lyon, Marion, McPherson, Meade, Morris, Morton, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pottawatomie,  Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Seward, Shawnee, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Sumner, Wabaunsee

Drought Warning: Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Brown, Chautauqua, Doniphan, Douglas, Elk, Ellis, Franklin, Greeley, Jackson, Jefferson, Lane, Leavenworth, Montgomery, Nemaha, Neosho, Ness, Rush, Russell, Scott, Trego, Wallace, Wichita, Wilson, Woodson

Drought Watch: Bourbon, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Cloud, Crawford, Decatur, Gove, Graham, Jewell, Johnson, Labette, Linn, Logan, Marshall, Miami, Mitchell, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Rooks, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas, Washington, Wyandotte

Note to Editor:  The Americans with Disabilities Act, (42 U.S.C. 12101), requires the Kansas Water Office to print the reasonable accommodations messages.

# # #

As the state’s water office, KWO conducts water planning, policy coordination and water marketing as well as facilitates public input throughout the state.

The agency prepares the KANSAS WATER PLAN, a plan for water resources development, management, and conservation.

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Downtown Business Meet and Greet July 10

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Join the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce this Tuesday, July 10th
for the Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet at Papa Don’s 10 N. Main from 8:30 to 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!
Coffee, juice and light refreshments will be served.
Contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 with questions
or for more information.
See you there!
Special thanks to Brita Rygmyr, Tom Rygmyr & staff for hosting!
Entertainment, Government

Friday Night Concert

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Cherry Jammers from Cherry Grove Baptist Church, rural Fort Scott, performed during the Friday Night Concert.

The weekly summer Friday Night Concert at Heritage Park, 1st and Main streets, downtown, was moved indoors July 6 because of the heat. Temperatures were in the 90s.

The Cherry Jammers, a singing group from Cherry Grove Baptist Church, performed in the basement of the First United Methodist Church, Third Street and National Avenue, instead.

Area News, Business

Business/Government Collaborations Benefit Work-From-Home Residents

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The New Wave Broadband antenna sits atop the water tower at Ninth and Burke streets, as viewed from the pickleball court.

Collaborations between business and government create opportunities for workers to be able to computer work from home in rural areas.

New Wave Broadband, LaHarpe, is one of those businesses.

New Wave Broadband has collaborated with the City of Fort Scott and Consolidated Rural Water District #2 to put broadband antennas on top of water towers to transmit from.

That allows employees to work from home, on their computer.

There is a New Wave antenna on towers four miles west of Fort Scott and also eight miles west at Redfield; east of Fort Scott on 260th and Kansas roads; and there is one coming to a rural area knows as Porterville, southwest of Fort Scott.

In town, there are New Wave antennas on top of towers south of the hospital, at the water treatment plant at Ninth and Burke streets, and at the middle school.

Mercy Hospital gets internet provided from the same company that New Wave does and “We share a communications closet,” David Lee said. “We have separate equipment.”

New Wave Broadband has its beginnings in the La Harpe Telephone Company, according to its’ website http://newwavebb.com

Joyce and Harry Lee, the owners, raised their family in La Harpe, and the family still operates the company today.

La Harpe Telephone was one of the owners of Kansas Cellular, which was sold in 1999 to Alltel.

Today, they are one of the 29 owners of Kansas Fiber Network, a communication system that delivers broadband connectivity to rural Kansas.

“Some people can work from home now, that couldn’t,” David Lee, son of Harry and Joyce Lee, said.

David Lee negotiates contracts and does installations for the business and “everything in between,” he said.

Lucretia Simpson, Marie Guss, and Jillian McAdams are some New Wave customers who work from home on computers, 8-12 hours a day, from a rural location.

Simpson and McAdams live just south of the Fort Scott city limits, Guss lives east of Fort Scott.

Simpson had a satellite set-up prior to New Wave, two years ago.

“After you used it so much, the company slowed it down,” she said.

Now she can work all day and still have data available to enjoy movies with her family, Simpson said.

Simpson paid for a wireless router.

“Our phone, tv, tablets are wireless, except my computer for work. It’s plugged in,” she said.

Guss switched companies “because it was accessible and they have faster internet speeds than where we had.” she said. “We were looking for download speeds so I could produce more at my job.”

The prior company would lose their signal frequently and take one to four hours to get it corrected, she said.

“I would have to work later in the day when the internet came back up,” Guss said.

Since signing onto New Wave in October 2017, the internet has not been working twice “and two hours at the most.” she said.

“David Lee is very good to respond and give an estimated time when it will be back up.”

McAdams moved to her current location about a year ago and tried another company. Weather conditions caused the internet go down, she said.

She then purchased a router from New Wave.

“We hard wired it into my computer and the phones are connected wirelessly,” McAdams said.

“New Wave has the best customer service I’ve ever had,” she said.

 

 

Bourbon County Local News