Government

Cost Share Assistance Available for Irrigation Technology

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MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Conservation (KDA–DOC) is pleased to announce the availability of funds in the form of cost share assistance and incentive payments to assist landowners with irrigation efficiency technology. The funding is provided by KDA–DOC through appropriation from the State Water Plan Fund and the program is administered by Conservation Districts across the state.

This initiative is designed to promote irrigation efficiency by providing cost share assistance to landowners for automated mobile drip irrigation systems, autonomous pivot systems, water meter monitoring software subscriptions, bubbler nozzle packages, and remote monitoring systems (soil moisture probes included as part of system).

Eligible projects must be located within Kansas groundwater management districts 1 through 5. Applications are currently being accepted, and projects will be approved beginning on November 1, 2023, until all funds have been allocated. Equipment purchases and subscriptions made before application approval by KDA–DOC are not eligible for this initiative.

Applications for this irrigation technology cost share funding must be made through local Conservation Districts. For application assistance and details about funding eligibility, along with more information concerning other available services, please contact your local Conservation District office. A directory of Conservation Districts can be found at agriculture.ks.gov/ConservationDistricts.

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Cost Share Assistance Available for Irrigation Technology.pdf
Opinion

The Privilege of Standing Up by Patty LaRoche

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Patty LaRoche. 2023.
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)

Award-winning author/historian/speaker Dr. Rebecca Price Janney was contacted by a Moms for Liberty local representative to speak to a group of children about the U.S. Constitution. The venue would be a local public library. Dr. Janney, dressed as Martha Washington, would present her original rendition of the Constitution to a group of elementary students at the public library to promote a positive platform for children to learn about American history.  How fun, and how exciting for those little ones, right?

Apparently not.  Protestors, finding this teaching inappropriate because Moms for Liberty backed it, planned to block her performance. (MfL promotes parental authority and opposes public schools having pornography in their libraries and teaching sexuality to young children, especially apart from parental consent.) Prayers encouraged this brave woman to continue to do what she knew was God’s work.  The last email we received from Dr. Janney addressed her experience:

“I had been informed a few days ahead of the library event that there would be four police forces on hand, including undercover law enforcement. The protestors, led by one very vocal local woman, sort of our version of the 1960s Madeline Murray O’Hair, promised there would be between 75-100 of them. The police designated a place where they could stand, and I was so relieved when they said none of them, or the media, would be allowed inside for my presentation. One of my biggest concerns was being shouted down, having the kids be scared, and having the event turn ugly. Moms for Liberty requested that there not be a counter-protest, but some private citizens turned up to support us, without signs, just their presence.”

Dr. Janney shared that her husband Scott and a friend, Jen, to avoid the protestors, arrived at the library early.  God was at work.  The weather, cold and rainy, kept many of them away.  Most of the library staff were cordial.  Three local police officers stood near the presentation room, so Dr. Janney struck up a conversation with them, thanking them for being there.  They responded that it was an honor to protect her and the children.  The story continues:                “Scott positioned himself just outside the entrance and, dressed in a colonial outfit, played colonial tunes on his fiddle. When the protestors arrived with their hate-filled signs and their banners, all 20 of them, and they started chanting as people brought their children into the library, Scott would play ‘Yankee Doodle’ loudly, and the children’s attention was on him, not these protestors, many of whom appeared quite bizarre.”

After recruiting children to dress in colonial outfits and help with readings about the Constitution, Dr. Janney felt encircled by prayer and good will. The event had reached the library’s capacity of 30 people, and everything went better than planned.  The kids were energized by what they had learned.

When the event was over, Dr. Janney, her husband and her friend were escorted out a back door so they did not have to face the protestors.  We on the prayer chain celebrated that Dr. Janney had persevered and not caved to those who disagreed with her.  Her prayers before that day touched many of us as we saw her great love for those protesting: “I do pray they will have eyes to see and ears to hear how much God, who made them in His image, loves and affirms them as His created ones… But it is also a huge privilege to stand for truth, and I pray I’ll be everything He desires me to be in this, to the praise of His glory!”

Amen and amen. May we all be as convicted and loving when God moves in our hearts.

 

Bourbon County, Food, Fort Scott

   The Beacon Food Pantry sign up for 2024 EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER 3RD

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Dave Gillen, director of The Beacon Food Pantry of Bourbon County. Submitted photo.

The signup period has been extended to November 3 for the Beacon Food Pantry.

Hours will be on the following days Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday through November 3rd.

Normal business hours from 9:15 am to 12:45 pm

Sign-ups must be done by November 3rd No Exceptions

You will need to call in advance to the Beacon to set an appointment for one of these days. We will start taking calls for appointments beginning October 2nd                                                              our phone number is 620-223-6869.

You will need to bring with you to qualify for a food card:

Picture ID for all adults in the household

Social Security card for all in the household and Birthdates, all dependent children with different names must show full-time parental custody, and adoption papers, and must live with you to be on your card.

Proof of income, pension, retirement, social security disability, VA benefits, unemployment, child support/alimony and any other income

If you receive any services from DCF please bring the verification letter.

Please have your information with you when you come or you will be turned away and will have to reschedule an appointment

WE WILL ALSO BE DOING SIGN-UPS FOR THE ADOPT-A-CHILD AND THE ELKS FOOD BASKET AT THAT TIME.

PLEASE WEAR A MASK IF YOU HAVE A COUGH OR COLD OR HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19 FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF.  WE ARE ASKING ONLY 1 PERSON PER FAMILY IN THE BUILDING AT THAT TIME.

IF YOU ARE ALSO GETTING FOOD THAT DAY YOU WILL NEED TO CALL IN ADVANCE AND YOUR ORDER WILL BE PUT ON THE BACK PORCH FOR PICKUP

Adopt a Child pick-up and food baskets will be at Community Christian Church on December the 15 from 10 am to 1 pm. Pick-up will be a drive-thru like last year.

Elk’s baskets will be delivered the Sunday before Christmas.

 PLEASE CALL TO SET UP YOUR APPOINTMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

THANK YOU, THE BEACON STAFF

 

 

 

 

Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Randy Nichols

4 Comments

 

Subsidizing emergency room care is a direct investment in critical services to secure our community’s safety and wellbeing.  Recently, concerns have been raised about resources used to sustain the existing hospital building as an asset for future medical/community services. That is a legitimate debate. Let’s remember though how we got here and then consider the difference between support for a building and support for needed ER services.

Following Mercy’s departure, a combined city/county task force contacted multiple hospital systems.  There was no viable path forward to re-establish an acute care hospital. The county subsequently negotiated with Mercy for ownership of the building and funds representing demolition expenses.  Based on public opinion, the county commission and their economic director chose to keep the building and attempt to establish a “medical mall.”  The ongoing county decisions to use financial resources to engage Noble Health and subsequently Legacy Health is directly related to this “medical mall” decision.   We now have a building available for expanded health or community services, a building with Legacy Health responsible for utilities and maintenance at no ongoing tax payer expense. This building houses our current and hopefully future ER services

The prior support for a building is different from support for emergency room services. The community needs to understand we are on the verge of losing our emergency room.  Without subsidizing ER care it will not be available.   Here is the issue.  Emergency Rooms lose money.  In a traditional system, the ER loss is made up by down stream revenue through admissions to the supporting/receiving hospital.  This system has allowed Ascension Via Christi -Pittsburg (AVC-P) to do our ER services and we should recognize the excellent job they have done.  However, the adverse financial impact of Covid on health systems across the nation has changed the dynamics of AVC-P ability to continue our ER services.  To their credit, Legacy Health has engaged Amberwell.  Amberwell has an innovative business, health care approach with proven success in rural Kansas.  However, to insure long term, stable ER services, a subsidy is justified and reasonable. Based on the critically important need for ER services and the high risk of completely losing these services altogether we should not view the subsidies as expenses but as investment in our future.

An investment in our personal health and wellbeing.  People you know will die unnecessarily without access to a local ER.  An investment to avoid increasing the cost of EMS transport for emergencies that don’t require transport to regional hospitals.  An investment in maintaining our current population as well as attracting new people to live in Bourbon Co.  People will leave and others won’t come because of no ER. An investment in supporting our current businesses and manufacturing and demonstrates support for services that will attract new industry.  An investment in future overall economic development.  Basically, an investment in sustaining our vitality and overall quality of life.  We stand at a crossroad.

Many communities have traditionally subsidized their health care systems.  With over 50 hospitals in Kansas at risk for closure, many more will have to do the same.  For 150 years we were not faced with this decision. Now we are and our elected officials have stepped up to financially support ongoing ER service.  We need to support that decision or suffer the consequences.  Arguing about past handling of the building is a fatal distraction.

One last topic.  Although, subsidies are needed right now, we need to pursue and encourage two sources of outside funding that could dramatically reduce or eliminated our subsidies all together.  First is expanded Medicaid. Expanded Medicaid would reduce the amount of unpaid services delivered in the ER and thereby reduce ER financial losses. We need state legislation to become involved.  Expanding Medicaid simply gives us access to federal tax dollars we are already paying and 40 other states are spending on their healthcare. It’s just common sense.  The second, and possibly more important source, is Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation.  REH is federally funded through a bill introduced by Republican Senator Grassly.  Reimbursement is made on a cost plus basis for emergency services and expanded 24 hour observation beds.  Efforts are currently under way for acceptance into this program.  There are some stumbling blocks but it is realistic to think in time this can be accomplished.  Calls and letters to our elected state and federal officials in support of these funding opportunities would be helpful.  To support expanded Medicaid contact state representative Trevor Jacobs.  To support REH contact Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall as well as representative Jake LaTurner.

We’ve lost our hospital, let’s not lose our ER.

 

 

Randy Nichols MD

[email protected]

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott

Voices From the Grave Tour Postponed to Nov. 4, Due to Weather

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The Voices from the Grave Tour produced by the Bourbon County Community Theatre scheduled for Oct. 28 has been postponed to Nov. 4 due to the possibility of inclement weather.

Bourbon County Community Theatre Presents Voices from the Grave Tour

 

The newly formed Bourbon County Community Theatre, LLC presents their inaugural production entitled Voices from the Grave.

 

Voices from the Grave takes place from 6-9 p.m. on November 4 at Riverfront Park in Fort Scott, KS. Guests will enjoy a guided walking tour of short acting vignettes centering around stories of murder and mayhem in Fort Scott. Scenes were written by the students in the Advanced Drama class at Fort Scott High School and are based off of stories from local author Brian Allen’s books about Fort Scott.

 

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and are available from the Chamber of Commerce in Fort Scott. Tour times must be pre-scheduled and run every 10 minutes. Parents must accompany children under the age of 14.

 

More information can be found on the Bourbon County Community Theatre Facebook page or by contacting Angie Bin at 620-729-9622 or [email protected].

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

What’s Happening in Fort Scott

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What’s Happening in Fort Scott! October 26th Weekly Newsletter

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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Fort Scott National Historic Site

Daily Guided Tours: 10am & 1pm

Special activities all this weekend! See link below.

Visit your National Park!

Trolley Tours of Fort Scott

50-minute narrated historical tour

Every Friday & Saturday on the hour

Fridays 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm

Saturdays 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm

$6 adults, $4 12 & under, leaves from the Chamber

BINGO hosted by the American Legion Post 25 every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. Doors open at 6pm and Bingo starts at 7pm at Memorial Hall.

Pizza Republic Wednesdays – 10% of sales go to FSHS Tiger Booster Club every Wednesday from 5pm to 9pm

Christmas on The Bricks T-Shirt and Sweatshirt Orders NOW until November 10th, Adult Sizes only-unisex sizing, click here for pricing and to order!

Clark Street Lights Scarefest Haunted House opened Friday 10/27 and Saturday 10/28 plus Halloween Night, see flyer below for more details!

10/26 ~ Early Childhood Trunk-or-Treat hosted by Fort Scott Preschool, 409 S. Judson St.,

all children ages birth-6 and their families, see flyer below for more info!

10/26 ~ Fort Scott Fire Department Fire Safety Tips at Sonic, Firefighters will be passing out fire prevention bags with lots of goodies inside, 5:30pm

10/01 ~ 11/01 ~ Luggage Drive for Foster Kids, Suitcases/Duffles/Backpacks/Totes, 110 South Main, Tue-Sat 8am-6pm and Sunday 8am-2pm, click here for more info!

10/26 ~ Candidate Forum at Uniontown City Hall hosted by Bourbon County Republicans, Candidates for FSCC Board of Trustees/USD235 BOE/City Council for Uniontown, Bronson & Redfield, 6:30pm

10/27 ~ Ghoul’s Night Out hosted by The Beauty Lounge, 5-8pm, click here for info.

10/27-29 ~ Scout District Event, over 100 Scouts from SE Kansas and SW Missouri and their families will be in Fort Scott, contact Seth Needham for more info!

10/27-29 ~ Women’s Only Education Weekend at Kansas Rocks Recreation Park! Click here.

10/28 ~ Halloween Parade & Festivities in Downtown Fort Scott, open to all ages, parade will begin at 11am starting at La Hacienda heading south to 2nd street then back around to the City Scales building, after the parade pizza and a drink will be handed out to kids in costumes. The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is asking for donations and businesses that are willing to pass out candy downtown, if you are interested email [email protected].

10/28 ~ Spooky Skurry 5K Run/Walk, 9am, click here, hosted by Fort Scott Recreation Dept.

10/28 ~ Creepy, Crawly Crafts hosted by Fort Scott Recreation Department, $1 per person, Corey’s Gym @ BRCC, pre-k through 5th grade, 9-10:30am, click here for more info!

10/28 ~ Pumpkin Carving Contest hosted by Fort Scott Recreation Department, $3 per

pumpkin, 3-12 years old with an adult, Corey’s Gym @ BRCC, 1-3pm, click here for more info!

10/28 ~ Bros, Boos, and Bulls at Pollmeier Ranch located at 2097 Poplar Road, live music/cold

drinks/bull riding/kids and adults costume contest, $5 general admission, 3-5pm, click here for more info!

10/28 ~ FS Youth Tiger Cheer Halloween Dance, costume contest/prizes/pictures/music/food

& drinks/ and a whole lot of FUN!, 4th-5th grade 5-7pm, middle school 7:15-9pm, location 4H building, $5 entry fee, click here for more info!

10/28 ~ Book Signing at Hedgehog.INK! featuring Tanya Glessner, a limited number of books will be available for sale at signing, you can order on Amazon and bring with you for guranteed signing, 3-5pm, click here for more info!

10/28 ~ RESCHEDULED to November 4th: Voices from the Grave at Riverfront Park, 5-8pm, tickets for sale at the Chamber, click here!

10/28 ~ Pizza Republic Halloween Party, costumes/food/drinks, 7pm, see flyer below for more info!

10/28 ~ Dustin Treiber LIVE at Brickstreet BBQ,

7-10pm, click here for more info!

10/28 ~ POSTPONED: October Night Sky Watch at the Fort Scott National Historic Site, the program will begin just after the moonrise at 6:30pm and telescope viewing begins just after twilights at 7pm, click here for more info!

10/28 ~ Sharky’s Halloween Costume Party, come dress to impress and ready to dance the night away, DJ starts at 9pm, click here for more info!

Have a SPOOKTACULAR Halloween from the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce!

10/31 ~ Murder & Mayhem at the Fort Scott National Historic Site, special Halloween Candle Lantern Tours, click here for info.!

10/31 ~ Stop by Calvary Crossing Halloween Night from 5-8pm to get some special treats!

10/31 ~ Elks Lodge Trunk or Treat, 5:30-7:30pm, click here for more info.

10/31 ~ Trunk or Treat by First United Methodist Church, 5:30-6:60pm

10/31 ~ Trunk or Treat at Community Christian Church, 5-630pm

10/31 ~ Trunk or Treat at Fort Scott Nazarene Church, 6-7:30pm

10/31 ~ 6th Annual Halloween Bash at The Butcher Block, caramel apples free to kids that stop in, ,$1 hot dogs along with a giant chicken legs for $10, click here for more info!

10/31 ~ FSCC Cheer and Dance Spooky Car Wash at Pete’s on 69 Highway, donations are accepted, see flyer below for more info!

11/2 ~ Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting hosted by Be The Light Boutique, 12 N. Main St, 8am.

11/2 ~ Let’s Catch Up – The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team with guest speaker Vincent Haworth, Director of the Capital Access Center for the Kansas SBDC, 11:30am-1:30pm, click here for more info!

11/2 ~ FSCC John Deere Tech Open House, 8:30am-2pm, RSVP if you will be eating lunch, 620.223.2700

11/4 ~Jason Scott & The High Heat + BJ Pruitt and the Barnstormers, all ages, doors open at 6:30pm with show starting at 7:30pm, Memorial Hall, click here for tickets! Tickets also for sale at the Chamber and Bourbon County Cars.

11/4 ~ BJ Cattle Ranch Battle, exciting bull rides and a great bull competition, kids bounce house and a pet scramble, calcutta starts at 5:30pm, click here for more info!

11/6 ~ Fall Foods, Gourmet Ciders, and Pumpkin Succulent Crafting hosted by Twigs & Berries at Hedgehog.INK!, $45 per person/payment before class to secure a spot, see flyer below for more info!

11/7 ~ Election Day, 7am-7pm, click here for a complete listing of candidates!

11/7 ~ Kiwanis Pioneers 35th Annual Chili Feed at the United Methodist Church, 11am-1:30pm and 4-6pm, minimum $8.00 donation per meal, see flyer below for mor details!

11/8 ~ Manufacturing Day in Fort Scott, both school groups and individuals are invited and welcome to attend, click here for more info!

11/9 ~ Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown & Around Holiday Open House Shopping Event, Stores open late 5-8pm, kick-off special event on the 9th with open house continuing the 10th & 11th. The trolley will be going around the stores, hop on & off and shop!

11/10 ~ US Marine Core Birthday Celebration at Pizza Republic, all are welcome, official

cake cutting ceremony will begin at 7pm, click here for more info!

11/11 ~ Outlaw Jim and The Whiskey Benders at Pizza Republic, a concert to celebrate Veterans

and their sacrifices made for our freedom, $5 cover charge, 8-10pm, click here for more info!

11/10-11/12 ~ Veterans Day Appreciation Special at Kansas Rocks Recreation Park, all military personnel/active or veteran/first responders can come out and ride at NO CHARGE with ID card, click here for more info!

11/10 ~ Vienna Boys Choir at Fort Scott Community College, 7:00pm, tickets are $45 with general admission seating, click here for more info and to order tickets!

11/12 ~ St. Anne’s Altar Society Fall Festival Turkey Dinner and Kennedy Gym, adults $10.00 children 11 & under are free, come out and enjoy the feast and fellowship, 4-6pm, click here for more info!

SAVE THE DATE!

11/18 ~ Almost Kiss Tribute Band LIVE at Memorial Hall, 7pm, click here for tickets!

11/20 ~ FSMS Extravaganza sponsored by the FSHS Swim Team, 5-8pm

11/30 ~ “Candyland Christmas” parade hosted by Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, 6pm

12/1-12/3 ~ First Annual Christmas on the Bricks in Fort Scott Downtown Historic District, horse-drawn carriage rides/candlelight tours at the Fort/gingerbread house making contest/Christmas paint party at Pizza Republic/Floral Centerpiece Making Class at Sunshine Boutique and SO MUCH MORE! Click here for a complete listing of activities that will be happening that weekend!

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SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!

Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!

Click here for Chamber member

specialty shopping & other retail in

Downtown & other areas of the community.
Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue

Calendar of Events

Special Event Features

THANK YOU Chamber Champion members!!
Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.

October Special at Hedgehog.INK!

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Bourbon County, Food, Fort Scott

Kiwanis Pioneers Host Drive Through Chili Feed Fundraiser

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The Kiwanis Club of Fort Scott Pioneers will hold their 35th annual Chili Feed on Tuesday, November 7th  at the United Methodist Church at 301 South National in Fort Scott.  A meal of the Pioneers’ signature chili with crackers and a homemade cinnamon roll will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. for a free will donation (suggested minimum $8.00 donation per meal) to be collected at the door.

This is the Kiwanis Pioneers’ major fundraiser for the year.  In keeping with the Kiwanis motto of “Improving the world one child and one community at a time”, the Pioneers support more than 40 community projects including College scholarships, CASA, the Backpack food program, FSHS Key Club, Head Start, the Beacon, Foster Kids, Feeding Families in his Name, Care to Share, and school reading and arts programs.  “All of the funds raised stay in Bourbon County” stated Kiwanis Pioneer President Kelley Collins.

“The annual fundraiser will be drive through only.” according to Collins. Pick-ups will be available under the canopy on the National Avenue side of the church.  Please take care not to block private driveways as you are waiting in line for service.

Deliveries will be available for orders of ten or more by calling 620-224-0563 during serving hours.

 

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Fort Scott, Government

Design Review Advisory Board Meeting is Nov. 6

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The Fort Scott Design Review Advisory Board Meeting

 

When: November 6th, 2023

Time: 4:00 pm

Location: City Hall

Topics for discussion:

  1. Certificate of Appropriateness for storefronts of 6 S. Main and 8 S. Main in Fort Scott submitted for consideration.
  2. Certificate of Appropriateness for 10 S. National DCF Building project submitted for consideration.

 

The meeting is open to the public and the recording is available to watch on YouTube after the meeting is held.

 

Submitted by:

Mary Wyatt

Community Development Director

City of Fort Scott

Fort Scott, Government

Brad Matkin Resigns as City of Fort Scott Manager, Effective January 3

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Brad Matkin. Submitted photo.

Brad Matkin, Fort Scott’s City Manager for approximately 1.5 years resigned yesterday, posting a public service announcement on the City of Fort Scott Facebook page.

Matkin said on October 24 he turned in a letter of resignation to the Fort Scott City Commission, effective on January 3, 2024.

“I will continue doing duties of city manager until that time and close out some of the projects we’ve got, and establish guidelines for the next few years, ” he said on Facebook.

“There is a lot left to do,” Matkin said. “We have only touched the very tip of the iceberg with our accomplishments. As a City, we must establish a Housing/Business Development Coordinator who works full-time for the city and goes and visits with our existing businesses to see if there is anything the City of Fort Scott can do for them. We worry so much about bringing in new business sometimes the great businesses like Timken, Peerless, Ward Kraft, etc. get forgotten.”

This Housing/Business Development Coordinator position would also help developers in their housing and business developments, finding grants, property, and opportunities, he said.

Other projects that Matkin sees as not completed are street, water, and wastewater 2024 and 2025 programs that need to be developed and executed, along with several other tasks.

“You sacrifice a lot with this position and family is very important to me,” he said in an interview. “I have lost many years with my family in previous jobs, and I have decided this was not fair to me or my family. There are several reasons for my departure but this is the only one I will discuss.”

Matkin thanked the city staff and utility work crews, the commissioners, citizens, and his family for their support.

Even “Citizens who haven’t always been supportive, I want to thank you because you are the motivation that drives us,” he said.

He credits any accomplishments to his staff and crews, he said in an interview. “I was just the person that helped with the decisions, they are the ones that made them happen. Every accomplishment I can write down was done by the City of Fort Scott Team and not the City Manager.”

 

Here are the staff accomplishments:

  • Building the staff that the city currently has.
  • Establishing the “My Fort Scott” app.
  • Finishing Cooper Street.
  • Finishing “Old Faithful” project.
  • Improving wages for City staff members.
  • Improving wages for City Public Safety members
  • Gunn Park camping area improvements.
  • Lake Fort Scott stem repair.
  • 2022 Cape Seal program completion and 2023 Cape Seal program preparation work.
  • Increasing advertisements and promotions of area events by the tourism department.
  • Approvement of 2025 CCLIP grant for 2nd phase of Wall Street
  • Pothole and Crack sealing program.
  • Establishing a brick crew, and a street repair team.
  • Memorial Hall improvements.
  • Additional Lake Fort Scott fishing docks.
  • Buck Run Community Center improvements.
  • Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements and elimination of “the smell”.
  • Assignment of Baker Tilly as City’s Finance Director.
  • Flawless 2022 City audit.
  • $1.7 million CDBG sewer repair grant ($1.1 million was the city’s responsibility).
  • Airport runway and taxi-way improvements.
  • Stormwater project on 17th and Eddy.
  • Purchased street line painter, painting the city streets with city crews.
  • Several street and water line repairs.
  • Bringing back the Community Development position.
  • Establishing a budget that did not increase taxes and opened up some additional monies.

 

Fort Scott has a future, he said. “If it’s allowed, but it’s going to take positivity. That was my goal to spread positivity and get rid of negativity. I feel like I have done that, for the most part.”

“It’s my hometown,” he said on the Facebook announcement of his resignation. “I’ve lived here 53 years….there is no place better.”

He will help the commission find a replacement for the position, he said. “To get everything ready for basically what I would have done into the next two years,” he said in making the resignation announcement at the Community Connections Panel at noon yesterday.

When Matkin told the panel he was resigning, at the end of his presentation of highlights at the city,  the moderator, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce President Bailey Lyons thanked Matkin for his service to the city of Fort Scott, and asked if there is a new search started for city manager.

“I haven’t talked to the commission, personally,” he said. “If I had a recommendation, I would make it a national search or a least broaden the search out a little further. It will take a little while to find one.”

To view a prior story:

Brad Matkin is the New Fort ScoATtt Interim City Manager

Bourbon County, Elections, Fort Scott

Early Voting Starts Today at the Courthouse in Fort Scott

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The Vote Here sign sits in front of the north wing of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National.

Early voting for the November 7 election begins today.

“If anybody would like to receive a mailed advance ballot, they may complete an application and return it to our office by October 31, 2023,” Bourbon County Clerk Jennifer Hawkins said.

One can vote at the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National,  in the early voting availability.

Early voting starts today at the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National.

Today and tomorrow, Oct. 27, one can vote from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the courthouse.

Saturday, October 28 votes can be cast from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and Monday, October 30 until November 3 from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the courthouse.

There will be voting availability on Saturday, November 4, and then on Monday, November 6 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the courthouse.

Election day is November 7 and the community can then vote in places closer to their neighborhood. See the list below of polling places in the county.

Candidates for the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees:

Vote for three or less:

Ronda Bailey, Douglas Ropp, David Elliott, Kirk Hart, Roberta “Bert” Lewis, Robert Nelson, Josh Jones and Chad McKinnis.

 

Fort Scott City Commissioners,  vote for three or less:

Joshua Baseley, Edwin Woelhof, Janice Allen, Harold Pete Allen, Tracy Dancer, Margaret Cummings, Matthew Wells, Dyllon Olson, Barbara Ann Rawlins.

 

No candidates have filed for the city councils of Mapleton and Fulton, and none for the mayor of Fulton

Filing to run for the Bronson City Council is Michael Stewart; for the Redfield City Council is L.D. Morrison and Brandy Corriston and for the Uniontown City Council is Danae Esslinger.

 

For the USD 234 Board of Education (Fort Scott Schooll District), vote for one of the following:

Position 1: James Wood, Joe Wimmer, Scott Center

Position 2: Mike Miles

Position 3: Robert Harrington, Aaron Judy, Doug Hurd

At Large: Payton Coyan, Stewart Gulager.

For the USD 235 Board of Education (Uniontown School District), vote for one of the following:

Position 1: Troy Couchman

Position 2: Rhonda Hoener

Position 3: Seth Martin, Kolby Stock

At Large: Matt Kelly, Josh Hartman

Southwind Extension District, vote for two of the following:

Deb Lust, Trent Johnson

The following are the questions that will be on the ballot, for the Uniontown School District, USD 235

Proposition No. 1:

Shall the following be adopted?

Shall Unified School District No. 235, Bourbon County, Kansas (Uniontown), issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $5,635,000, to pay the costs to construct, furnish and equip renovations, improvements, and additions to District facilities, including but not limited to:  (a) Pre-K classroom/storm shelter, student support offices, music room, and secure entrance at West Bourbon Elementary School; (b) 6th grade classrooms, student support offices, tech office, multipurpose classroom/storm shelter, and fire alarm system at the Uniontown Junior/Senior High School; and (c) all other necessary improvements related to it (collectively the “Project”), and to pay costs of issuance and interest on said general obligation bonds during construction of the Project; all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 10-101 et seq., K.S.A. 25-2018(f), K.S.A. 72‑5457, and K.S.A. 72-5458 et seq.?

To vote in favor of Proposition No. 1 submitted on this ballot, completely darken the oval to the left of the word “Yes” on the paper ballot.  To vote against it, completely darken the oval to the left of the word “No” on the paper ballot.

Proposition No. 2:

Shall the following be adopted?

Shall Unified School District No. 235, Bourbon County, Kansas (Uniontown), issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $3,485,000, to pay the costs to construct, furnish and equip an Ag-Science Classroom, Metals Shop, and Construction Science Shop at the Uniontown Junior/Senior High School, and all other necessary improvements related to it (collectively the “Project”), and to pay costs of issuance and interest on said general obligation bonds during construction of the Project; all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 10-101 et seq., K.S.A. 25-2018(f), K.S.A. 72‑5457, and K.S.A. 72-5458 et seq.?

To vote in favor of Proposition No. 2 submitted on this ballot, completely darken the oval to the left of the word “Yes” on the paper ballot.  To vote against it, completely darken the oval to the left of the word “No” on the paper ballot.

Residents living in the City of Fort Scott vote at the following locations:

1st Ward-Community Christian Church

2nd Ward-Grace Baptist Church

3rd Ward-Grace Baptist Church

4th Ward-Grace Baptist Church

5th Ward-Community Christian Church

6th Ward-Community Christian Church

7th Ward-Grace Baptist Church

 

Residents living in the County vote at the following locations:

 

Drywood-Grace Baptist Church

Franklin-Mapleton Community Building

Freedom-Fulton Community Building

East Marion-Uniontown City Hall

West Marion-Bronson Community Building

Marmaton– Redfield Community Center

Millcreek – Redfield Community Center

Osage-Fulton Community Building

Pawnee– Redfield Community Center

North Scott-Community Christian Church

South Scott-Grace Baptist Church

Timberhill-Mapleton Community Building

Walnut-Uniontown City Hall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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