Governor Supports Supreme Court Ruling
Statement on U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Census citizenship question
“I support today’s Supreme Court ruling,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The goal is to make sure every person is counted. At stake is federal funding distributed to communities for schools, roads, public safety, parks and other programs, so Kansas cannot afford to be shortchanged in this important process. The Census also determines how many seats states have in the U.S. House, and Kansas deserves fair representation.
“The citizenship question would have done more to deter participation than encourage everyone to be counted,” the governor said. “Our Complete Count Committee is working across Kansas to raise awareness of the Census and address related challenges. If people living in Kansas aren’t counted, it will cost our state and local communities – especially our rural communities – thousands of dollars, per person, every year for the next decade. I want to remind all Kansans of the need to be counted.”
DCF Expands Access to Child Care
Kansas Department for Children and Families Expands Access to Child Care Program
Policy changes designed to help parents maintain employment
In a move to help Kansans find work and stay employed, Governor Laura Kelly today announced a new Kansas Department for Children and Families initiative that will expand access to child care assistance for Kansas families.
“Having access to quality child care is essential for parents to maintain employment,” Kelly said. “Those with lower incomes often struggle to afford quality child care. By expanding access to the program, more Kansas families can sustain employment or participate in meaningful training programs.”
DCF is making several policy changes to the program that will go into effect July 1. They include:
- Reducing the minimum work hours per week to be eligible from 28 to 20, which will expand child-care access to more working parents.
- Expanding the program to participants of the GOALS employment and training program allowing families to access child-care assistance for job search activities. GOALS is specifically for parents who participate in the state’s food assistance program.
- Using Child Care Development Funds (CCDF) to pay child-care costs for foster children. This new program will provide foster parents the added convenience of using an EBT card to pay for child care.
“We know that child-care costs can be an obstacle to employment for many of our low-income families,” DCF Secretary Laura Howard said. “In Topeka for example, affordable child care is 21 percent of a family’s income for those at the top of the eligibility threshold (185% of federal poverty level). Our expectation is that families will actually be able to increase their earnings while having peace of mind knowing their children are being cared for in healthy environments.”
DCF estimates more than 3,000 Kansas children will benefit from these policy changes. The agency estimates spending more than $9 million in FY 2020 and nearly $14 million in FY2021 based on current caseload data.
“Helping our fellow Kansans find work, stay employed and receive a quality education are universal values,” Kelly said. “This is a first step in repairing the safety net that was pulled from vulnerable Kansans during the previous eight years.”
Grief Support Lunch July 3
Cheney Witt’s next grief support luncheon will be Wednesday, July 3rd, at noon. Anyone dealing with a loss is encouraged to come and bring a friend.
Cheney Witt Chapel will provide lunch at the Carriage House, 301 S. Main. Call 223-1186 if you have any questions.
We look forward to seeing you!
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report June 27
Burke Street July 4th Americana: Parade and Food
The community of Fort Scott is once again invited to the Burke Street Parade on July 4, to commemorate Independence Day in the U.S.
The parade is organized by people who live along the street on the city’s west side.
“We invite everyone,” Margaret Humphrey, one of the event’s organizers said. “This was started 37 years ago by myself, Susan Foster and Jill Gorman. Then Theresa Bahr helped with organizing after it became a bigger event. It was small and fun and we just continued every year. The crowd size varies depending on what day the 4th is on. We have walked in rain with small crowds–but if it is lightening we cancel.”
“It is always on the 4th of July at 10 a.m. unless it falls on a Sunday,” she said
“The little kids that were in the parade initially, have their children in it,” Humphrey said. “Phil Hammons and Jill Gorman lead with patriotic songs. We started singing after the (Twin Towers during the terrorist strike in New York) fell–to promote patriotism.”
Frank Halsey is the traffic controller.
“This year Nate and Bailey Lyons will host the refreshments,” she said. “After the parade, we meet for cookies and drinks. We ask everyone to donate cookies.”
Humphrey finds someone to host with refreshments at their home each year and makes the informational fliers.
“Barb Albright now helps with distributing information,” Humphrey said.
“The best part of the event is seeing the children who have so much fun going up and down the street in their bikes, wagons, lawn mowers, with animals,” she said.
“People have asked about trucks, etc.(being in the parade) but our parade route is short and once the parade starts, in seconds children are everywhere. It is a disorganized, organized parade.”
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports June 25-26
Click below:
Frances Gorman Graves Nominated to Kansas Supreme Court
Governor makes appointment to Supreme Court Nominating Commission
Governor Laura Kelly today announced the appointment of Frances Gorman Graves to the Supreme Court Nominating Commission.
“Frances’ leadership experience and years of involvement in communications, along with her rural Kansas perspective, will be valuable as the Supreme Court Nominating Commission does its work,” Kelly said. “We appreciate her willingness to serve and be part of this important process.”
The nine-member Supreme Court Nominating Commission is responsible for recommending qualified individuals for appointment to the Kansas Supreme Court and Kansas Court of Appeals. Four of the members are non-attorneys appointed by the governor. The four appointees selected by the sitting governor each represent one congressional district in the state. Four others are attorneys selected by fellow attorneys in each of the congressional districts, with the chair of the commission an attorney elected by attorneys statewide.
Graves was appointed to a four-year term as one of the board’s four non-attorney members, and will serve starting on June 30. She’s currently the Assistant to the Director of Parsons Area Community Foundation. Previously, Graves was the Senior Media Researcher for Synoptos from 2012 to 2015, Adjunct Instructor at Labette Community College in Parsons from 2009 to 2012, Communications Coordinator at KU’s School of Business from 2008 to 2009, and Director of Strategic Communications for the Kansas Attorney General’s Office from 2007 to 2008. She and her family are farmers and ranchers in southeast Kansas.
Graves will assume the commission seat currently held by 2nd Congressional District non-attorney member Felita Kahrs of Topeka, who was appointed by Governor Sam Brownback.
Kelly will continue filling a significant number of vacancies in the coming months in her effort to rebuild Kansas, including new vacancies and other positions left unfilled by previous administrations.
Obituary of Cleo Bloomfield
Cleo Irma Bloomfield, age 93, a lifelong resident of Prescott, Kansas, passed away late Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.
She was born September 13, 1925, in Prescott, the daughter of Karl Ermel Allen and Alta May Phillips Allen.
Irma attended school in Prescott and graduated from the Prescott High School with the Class of 1943. She later attended Pittsburg State University.
Irma married Russell Ellis Bloomfield on August 11, 1943, at the Prescott Baptist Church. While Russell was serving with the Navy during World War II, Irma taught at a one room schoolhouse west of Prescott. She later worked for thirteen and a half years as the kitchen supervisor for the Country View Nursing Home in Prescott. She also served for several years as Prescott City Clerk.
She was a long time member of the Prescott Baptist Church where in earlier years she taught Sunday School and organized Vacation Bible School. She was an active member of the Prescott Community and volunteered her time with the annual Coal Center Days Festival. She also faithfully volunteered for the Reach Out Food Pantry and commodity distribution.
She loved to cook. Her popcorn balls were a favorite treat of many Prescott trick-or-treaters. She also made hundreds of dozens of cookies for hunter’s safety courses and other community events.
Survivors include her three sons, Darrell Bloomfield and wife, Roberta, of Ft. Scott, Kansas and Roger Bloomfield and Larry Bloomfield, both of Prescott; eight grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren with one more on the way and two great-great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Her husband, Russell, preceded her in death on September 10, 2003. She was also preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Cleda Cannon and Margaret Roberts.
Rev. James Collins will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Monday, July 1st at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Prescott Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:30 P.M. Sunday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Reach Out Food Pantry and may be left in 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.
Garden Club Adds Beauty to Fort Scott
The Bourbon County Garden Club beautifies the town of Fort Scott.
“We do the flower baskets downtown,” Deb Lust, spokesperson for the group told the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee attendees on June 20. “The city pays for them and we provide the labor.”
“We also do the three flower beds at the swimming pool and the planter in front of the city office,” she said.
“Barb McCord is the landscape architect,” Lust said.
There are several Kansas Master Gardeners in the club who are available to answer gardening questions from the public, she said.
Also available for questions is Krista Harding with the K-State Southwind Horticulture Agent, she said.
In years past, the club has organized The Secret Garden, a showcase for area gardeners.
“We need gardens for that,” Lust said, noting that task has become increasingly difficult.
The club meets the fourth Thursday of each month, except in the winter months.
“We encourage men and women to join us,” she said.
Independence Day At FSNHS
Celebrate Independence Day with the Sights and Sounds of 1840’s Military Fireworks
FORT SCOTT, Kan. – Celebrate the anniversary of American independence with the sounds of cannon fire and homemade ice cream while honoring the service men and women who have defended the United States for the past 243 years. Thursday, July 4, Fort Scott National Historic Site will have artillery demonstrations twice each hour from noon until 4 pm. At 3:30 pm, we will pay tribute to the nation’s founders followed by a flag retreat at 4 pm.
The celebration continues on July 6 and 7 as you discover the rich history and significance of the fort. Experience frontier cooking demonstrations, play period games, see mock artillery and weapons drills, and explore the prairie grass as the fort comes to life before your eyes.
Thursday, July 4
12:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration
12:30 pm – Homemade Ice Cream
1:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration
2:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration
3:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration
3:30 pm – Tribute to the Founders
4:00 pm – Artillery Salute and Flag Retreat
Saturday, July 6
10:00 am – Prairie Walk
12:00 pm – An Arm and a Leg: 1840s Medical Program
1:00-3:00 pm – Let the Games Begin-Historic Games station
3:00-4:30 pm – Going Green: Historic Gardens station
4:00 – Flag Retreat
Sunday July 7
11:00 am – Guided Tour of the Fort
12:00 pm – A Hearty Grip
1:00 pm – Guided Tour
2:00 pm – Democracy Run Wild
3:00 pm – The Price of War
4:00 pm – Flag Retreat
Visitors and local residents are reminded that fireworks are not permitted on the grounds of Fort Scott National Historic Site.
To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310.
Fort Scott National Historic Site is a fee free park that offers a glimpse into the growth of our nation. A walk through the fort reveals the significant role it played in the opening of the West, as well as, the Civil War and the strife in the State of Kansas that preceded it. For more information about Fort Scott National Historic Site, please call the park at 620-223-0310, visit us at www.nps.gov/fosc, on Facebook www.facebook.com/FortScottNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/FortScottNPS, and Instagram www.instagram.com/fortscottnps
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
Chamber Coffee: Integrity Home Care and Hospice
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