Click here:
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Report July 9
Click here:
Get Productive With Google’s Digital Tools
|
|
|
|
|
|
Submit Questions For Local Candidates
PUBLIC ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center, 6:00 p.m.
FORT SCOTT – Community members are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates attending the Election Candidate Forum, co-hosted by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and the Young Professionals League of Bourbon County.
Questions for the candidates may be submitted to the Chamber by July 22nd by email at [email protected], dropped off in person at the Chamber, 231 E. Wall St., or phoned-in at 620-223-3566.
The Candidate Forum will take place on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center at 2108 S. Horton. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for a meet & greet with the candidates and the forum will begin at 6 p.m.
There will be two races on the Primary Election ballot which will be included in this forum:
- The first is USD-234 Position 3. There are 5 candidates for 1 position; this race will be narrowed to 2 candidates after the primary election. Candidates include Kellye Barrows, Joe Foulk Sr., Michael Hoyt, Josh Jones, and Aaron Judy.
- The second is Fort Scott City Commission. There are 14 candidates for 3 positions; this race will be narrowed to 6 candidates after the primary election. Candidates include Cheryl Adamson, Harold (Pete) Allen, Kevin (Skitch) Allen, Cindy Bartelsmeyer, Casey Bolden, Tracy Dancer, Bobby Duncan, Bob Farmer, Josh Jones, Deb McCoy, Diana Morriss, Jeanie Parker, Lindsey Watts, and Matthew Wells.
For more information please contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566.
Vacancy On Kansas Supreme Court
Governor’s statement on Justice Johnson’s retirement
“Justice Lee Johnson has been a dedicated and distinguished public servant, first in Sumner County and then for 18 years on the bench in Kansas, to include 12 years on the Kansas Supreme Court,” Gov. Laura Kelly said. “I want to thank him for his service to the state and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.”
The process to fill the vacancy will begin with the Supreme Court Nominating Commission, which will submit the names of three qualified individuals to the governor. The governor interviews the candidates and makes the appointment. Supreme Court justices stand for retention every six years.
Chamber Coffee at Hedgehog.INK July 11
|
WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
|
|
Hosted by:
Hedgehog.INK
Location:
16 S. Main St., Fort Scott
Thursday, July 11, 2019 at 8:00 a.m.
Visit Hedgehog’s website by clicking HERE.
Visit Hedgehog’s Facebook page HERE.
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:
July 18 – Bourbon County Fair
July 25 – Bourbon County E-Community @ Sleep Inn
August 1 – OPEN – CALL TO SCHEDULE
August 8 – State Farm/Meeks Law Firm
George Retires From K-State Just Shy of 50 Years
Herschel George started as a Kansas State University Extension Agent in February 1970, just after graduating from the university.
Through the years he worked in various counties as an agent, then became a specialist in watersheds.
A watershed consists of surface water-lakes, streams, reservoirs and wetlands, and all the underlying groundwater, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
George was a 4-H Extension Agent in Marion County, moved to be the agricultural agent in Miami County from 1972 until 2003 when he became a watershed specialist.
George continued in that role but moved to Uniontown, his home town in 2007.
His last day in the watershed specialist role was June 30, 2019.
As a watershed specialist for Southeast Kansas, he worked to encourage farmers and ranchers to install alternative water supplies for livestock and also encouraged the farmers/ranchers to participate in watershed restorative and protection strategies.
“That was the best part of the job,” George said. “Relationships I could build with producers (farmers/ranchers). Another good thing about the job was the continuing education and professional development through the K-State Extension system.”
“I would use county fairs and field days and the 4-State Farm Show as places where I might present or demonstrate alternative livestock practices,” George said. “I often did demonstrations of solar (water) pumps or tire tank installations, to create interest.”
Additionally, he worked with local Watershed Restorative and Protective Strategy organizations as a technical service provider.
Another role George had was to provide technical assistance to livestock operators who may be out of compliance with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment policies, he said.
The purpose of his job was to reduce the nitrogen and phosphorus content of runoff from livestock areas.
“Keeping the poop on the grass, not in the ponds,” George said.
In 2008 and 2009 he traveled with K-State’s Kansas Center for Agriculture Resources and the Environment (KCARE) to Africa where he demonstrated drip irrigation systems in community and private gardens.
On June 25-26, George invited co-workers to tour the types of projects that producers in this area installed to improve water quality, just before his retirement June 30.
It’s been a good 49 plus years, according to George.
“I’ve had nothing but very good supervisors throughout,” he said. “County extension board members to K-State Administration.”
“And I’ve had a good, supporting wife,” George said.
Following his retirement, George will continue to work with K-State and KDHE on special projects and activities across the state, as a consultant, he said.
In his retirement, George said he “might travel to see our daughter and help my brothers in farming as needed.”
George is a 1965 graduate of Uniontown High School, attended Fort Scott Community College, then transferred to Kansas State University, where he graduated in the fall of 1969 with a bachelors degree in agricultural education. In 1981 he earned a masters degree in agriculture mechanization from K-State.
He is involved in the Uniontown community through Uniontown Baptist Church and the Old Settler’s Picnic Association.
Spurling joins Department of Revenue as Legislative Liaison
TOPEKA, Kan. – Secretary Burghart announces the selection of Ethan Spurling to take over the position of Legislative Liaison for the Kansas Department of Revenue. Spurling joins the Department after serving as Operations and Scheduling Coordinator in Governor Laura Kelly’s office since January.
“Ethan will bring a unique perspective to this position with his previous experience and relationship building at the municipal level,” Secretary Mark Burghart said. “We look forward to taking that experience and expanding that within his role.”
Prior to his time with the Kelly-Rogers administration, Spurling served the City of Frontenac, Kansas as a city councilman for almost four years.
“It was during my time serving as a city councilman I found a great understanding of civic duty.” Spurling said. “This is a great opportunity to continue that passion while working alongside legislators to help Kansans.”
Spurling is a 2018 graduate of Pittsburg State University with degree in Political Science and International Studies.
Candidate Forum July 23 For Local Races
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greyhound Academic Success
Greyhounds Continue Academic Success
Fort Scott Community College Greyhounds continue with academic awesomeness! Over 200 students made it on either the Honor Roll list (GPA 3.5-3.74), Vice President’s list (GPA 3.75-3.99), or President’s list (GPA 4.0+) for the spring 2019 semester!
“The Fort Scott Community College Administration and Faculty
are extremely proud of our students. Congratulations on your outstanding academic achievement during the spring 2019 semester”, says VP of Student Services, Janet Fancher.
FSCC students, keep up the hard work and dedication. We cannot wait to see what our centennial class has to offer in the fall of 2019!!
Congrats Greyhounds!!!
#GoGreyhounds
To review the full list(s) of honorees, please click HERE.
Chamber Golf Classic July 26
Laundry Mat With a Twist Opens In August
Fort Scott Washateria is a full-service laundry mat that is slated to open in August at 501 S. National. In addition, a community clothing distribution system will be located on the property.
Lori Lovelace is the manager, her mother Carol Oakleaf, is the investor/owner.
The business venture came about when Lovelace was doing research for an investment her mother would be interested in.
“I found that Leroy (Walker, her husband) was paying $100 a month to have his rags cleaned. And I did research on laundry mats. Being part of the community, I think the community needed something like this.”
They bought the former gas station on National Avenue in December 2018.
Darren Crays, local signmaker, made the new sign that hangs atop a pole of the former gas station to let the community know the business is coming.
In what is reminiscent of decades past, the laundry will offer to pick up and deliver or one can drop off their laundry.
“We will come to your home, pick up your stuff, wash it and dry it and take it back to you,” Lovelace said.
“If you have sensitive skin, we will provide what is needed,” she said.
Alteration of clothing and ironing services will also be offered.
The machines will all be “state of the art,” Lovelace said, and include heavy-duty washers and dryers. Thirteen washers and 16 dryers.
There will be a children’s section with a blackboard wall, TVs and bean bags, she said.
A hospitality section will have free coffee and tea and have vending machines.
“There will be free WiFi in the folding area and charging stations,” she said.
The hours will be seven days a week from 8 a.m to 8 p.m.
“At least three employees will be needed, with more later,” Lovelace said.
There will be loyalty cards, and the business will take debit and credit cards, she said.
“If you buy $20, you get $22 worth of washing and drying,” Lovelace said.
An investment in Fort Scott
Lovelace’s other job is real estate appraiser, with Phoenix Inspection and Appraisals Inc. The laundry facility will be under the umbrella of Hawkeye Investments LLC, with her mother.
Walker is owner of Carhelp Mobile Mechanic.
“We believe with marketing, the venture has potential to be successful,” she said.
“You can make a quality investment in Fort Scott that people will accept and use,” Walker said. “Everybody I’ve told is 100 percent excited.”
Fort Scott Community Closet
A project Lovelace and her mom are initiating is a clothes pantry that will be in a small building, 12 by 20 foot, adjacent to the laundry mat.
Lovelace said she heard about the Beacon, a local helping ministry, recently closing the clothing segment of the ministry, so she is providing a place for donated clothes to be taken.
The Fort Scott Community Closet, the title of the clothes pantry, will be sponsored by the area churches, she said. “The churches will decide how to operate.”
“Donated clothes will be sorted and cleaned and put in a separate building on the property,” Lovelace said. “We can give away clothes and that’s my intention.”
“I am figuring the 501 3c right now,” she said.” I need people that will be on the (Fort Scott Community Closet) board. We purchased the shed that will be there, a spot on our property. We will provide the initial sorting then wash them.”
“Anyone interested in being on that board that is civic-minded, let me know,” Lovelace said.
She can be reached at 620-215-1314.