CHC/SEK mammography screening event set for Aug. 2 

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas at Fort Scott, June 2023
FORT SCOTT — Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is hosting a mammography screening event on Aug. 2 at its new clinic located 2322 S. Main St, Fort Scott.
For women aged 40 to 74 years of age, it is recommended to have a screening mammogram every one to two years. Stop by the clinic any time between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to get screened. No referral or order required. Most insurances are accepted, no one is denied care at CHC/SEK.

Kansas Conservation Series: Swarm Technology in Kansas

submitted.

Moundridge, KS – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. is continuing his conservation series highlighting Kansans’ voluntary efforts to take better care of the environment. Stories will be released throughout the 2023 Farm Bill legislative process.

“While we hold hearings for the 2023 Farm Bill, I want to highlight how hard Kansans work every day to protect our environment and conserve precious resources that our Ag economy needs to thrive. Kansas farmers, ranchers, growers, and producers are finding unique and practical ways to preserve our land and protect our water and air. Their efforts are worthy of everyone’s praise,” said Senator Marshall.

Both precision agriculture and access to rural broadband are pivotal to the future of farming. This week we’re highlighting MKC and GreenField Robotics, who use swarm technology to weed between rows of crops. The field and the rows will first be mapped using a drone flying over the field. The individual robots are then tasked with traversing between the rows cutting weeds. At this site, the robots were connected to Starlink to perform their duties. The future of this type of tech is unlimited. It could range from plant crops to providing crops with the individual input needs of the plant itself. Technology like this will be able to reduce the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and manpower needed to farm, thereby reducing costs for the farmer while feeding the world.

 

 

Connie Billionis Retires From U234

Connie Billionis. Submitted photo.
Connie Billionis is retiring from USD 234 School District after 42 years.
USD 234 Board of Education Building, 424 S. Main
“I worked as a secretary at Fort Scott Middle School for 13 years,” Billionis said. “I then transferred to the USD 234 Board of Education (office) as Deputy Clerk and Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent for the remainder of my career for a total of 42 years.”
There have been many changes since she started over four decades ago.
“Changes in technology made a huge difference in how I performed my job,” she said.  “I started out typing student schedules on an electric typewriter. Attendance was recorded by collecting absentee slips every hour at the middle school and recording the information by marking boxes by hand in large leather books.  And now, everything is completed on laptops, using two or more screens.  All state reports, documents, board policy, board of education agendas, etc. are accomplished using the internet through multiple programs.”
The best aspect of her job has been co-workers, teachers, and students.
“I have made life-long friendships and memories with lots of laughter and a few tears along the way,” she said.  “I loved seeing students grow and change before they moved on to the high school. It was great when teachers would come into the office to share a student’s essay or a student’s success.  At the board office, I truly enjoyed keeping track of calendar events, preparing board agendas for monthly and special meetings, and assisting teachers with their professional learning opportunities.  It has been an honor to serve the students, faculty, and staff at USD 234.”
As with all of life, there have been challenges.
“One of the biggest challenges has been the changes with each administration,” Billionis said.  “I was fortunate to work with eight different superintendents, and each one made a change in the working environment.”
She does have plans for retirement.
“I’m looking forward to spending more time with my husband, Gary.  I love to be with my grandkids, and I have a great time outside in the garden,” she said.  “Just having an opportunity to relax and enjoy God’s beautiful world will be a blessing.  The hardest part of retirement will be missing the day-to-day interaction with my office friends.”
The retirement reception for Billionis is on Monday, July 17, at 4:30 p.m. at the Board of Education office.

Business Casual by Patty LaRoche

Patty LaRoche. 2023

Ages ago, before computers/Google, Dave and I were invited to a party, and “business casual” was the expected attire.  We disagreed on what that looked like.  Hubby leaned more toward the “casual” side.  You know, shorts suitable for a beach party and a tee-shirt with three dolphins in a mid-air leap on the front pocket.  I leaned toward the “business” side: an ankle-length skirt with a really cool jacket atop a lovely V-necked, linen shirt.  We looked like a blind date gone wrong.

“Dave, this isn’t a barbecue at someone’s pool.  We are going to a party in a hotel.”

“Well, Patty, the Marriott is not the Taj Mahal.  You look like you are heading to a wedding.  Or maybe a funeral.”

We both changed clothes.  This time, Dave apparently was going to a job interview for a Fortune 500 company. He could have doubled as a plastic groom on a wedding cake. He told me that I was confusing a rodeo with a classy affair.  (Hubby had no idea how chic cowgirl boots could be.)  Clearly, neither of us had any idea what “business casual” meant.

And neither did anyone at the party.  Men’s attire ranged from suits and ties to—you guessed it—a shirt with dolphins adorning the breast pocket, while women’s clothing ran the gamut from a glittered, semi-formal dress to short-shorts and a lacy tank top.  There were no two people on the same apparel page.

Blame the host and hostess for using words that remain undefined.       Or blame all of us guests for failing to ask what, exactly, “business casual” meant.  But that’s human nature, isn’t it?  We don’t want to appear ignorant, so we fail to ask…which, of course, magnifies our ignorance.

How many times have I done that?  Too many to count.  Especially when it comes to asking God for advice.  After all, I can do it myself…figure it out…solve the problem.  Why bother Him with my piddly little issues?  Why?  Because He tells me to. In the New Testament, we read that Paul spent the years after his conversion to Christianity, relying on God for help.

We are to continually pray in all kinds of situations (Eph 6:18).  From healing our diseases to being given opportunities to disciple someone, to finding a parking spot, to having the willpower to say no to that chocolate-glazed donut, God wants us to bring our needs and desires to Him.  All of them.

Recently, I read about a little girl named Riley whose dad worked for the Christian organization Focus.  Sometimes he would share his youngster’s creative prayers…like this one: “Dear God.  I am amazed at something.  You are truly God.  Heaven is so big, which means it must be heavy—and yet it can hang so high up in the sky above the clouds.  How do you do that?  OK.  I was just wondering.  Amen.”

I have to think that God loved such a heart-felt prayer and the young girl’s desire to take all of her questions to Him. In Luke 18:17, we read that Jesus wants us to learn from children like Riley: Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.                                                                                                                                                     

Our problem isn’t that we can’t get an answer; our problem is that we don’t ask.

OFGS BROWN BAG TECH TALK

MARSHA’S DELI SANDWICHES AND COLD DRINKS PROVIDED, OR BRING YOUR OWN!

Everyone is invited to the Old Fort Genealogy Society office to discuss recent upgrades to our computers and learn about volunteer tech support now available for our researchers, visitors and volunteers.

DATE: [Thursday, July 27th, 2023] TIME: [12:00 PM-12:30 PM]

LOCATION: Old Fort Genealogical Society Office, 221 S. National Avenue, Fort Scott, KS.  In the basement of Memorial Hall.

[WEST ENTRANCE OF MEMORIAL HALL, LOOK FOR BLACK AND WHITE SIGN ON DOOR FACING NATIONAL AVENUE]

[PLEASE NOTE: WEST ENTRANCE IS NOT HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE]

Questions, concerns? E-mail Sarah Klassen, OFGS Tech Admin, at [email protected]

Tickets Still Available for the Fort Scott Performances of Wahzhazhe

Fort Scott, KS — Time is running out to get your tickets for Wahzhazhe: An Osage Ballet being held at the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College. This memorable stage performance is being offered at 7:30 pm on Friday, July 21 and Saturday, July 22 with a matinee performance at 3:00 pm on Saturday.

The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site in partnership with the National Park Service is bringing Wahzhazhe to Fort Scott. “This is the story of the Osage people, told by the Osage Nation. It is our responsibility to provide a platform for these stories to be told.”  stated park Program Manager, Carl Brenner.  Ballet Director and Osage tribal member, Randy Tinker Smith developed the performance with the help of tribal elders and a primarily Indigenous team of professionals. Wahzhazhe has been performed at the Smithsonian’s Museum of the American Indian and for the Pope in Philadelphia, PA among other places throughout the region.

“This riveting stage performance has something for everyone. If you enjoy history, this is for you, if you are curious about Native American culture, this is for you, if you love the arts and dance, this is for you.”  stated Kelley Collins, a member of the Friends ballet committee. “This is an especially effective way to introduce children to the arts and history. In additional to 12 professional dancers, there are dozens of children participating in the show.  Questions and answers will be fielded by the dancers following each performance making this an tremendous educational opportunity for young and old alike.”

Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for children (age 15 and below). They can be purchased online from the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site’s Facebook page or at www.osageballet.com/events.  Any remaining tickets will be sold in person starting an hour before the performance. Cash purchases at the door are available.  Seating will begin one half hour before the show. For additional information e-mail [email protected].

######

LMC Launches Professional Development Program

The Lowell Milken Center is located at the corner of First and Wall Streets.

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is excited to announce the launch of a professional development program for educators working directly with K-12 students to foster the visual arts.
As a member of the LMC community, you may have heard some of the inspiring stories of the Unsung Heroes—diverse individuals from history and across varied disciplines who are largely unrecognized for their extraordinary contributions to society. The new ARTEFFECT Ambassadors program provides a framework for educators to learn from and alongside other high-level practitioners and be inspired and inspire others specifically through art-focused, project-based learning about the LMC Unsung Heroes.

We invite you to review the program offerings and apply if this opportunity seems right for you. The program runs online from October 18, 2023 to June 3, 2024. Ambassadors commit to participating in a series of online modules and completing a capstone project to make an impact on their schools and communities.

  What are the benefits of being an ARTEFFECT Ambassador? 

  • Participation in live online modules taught by seasoned art educators.
  • Strategies to develop instructional practice and learner-centered curriculum.
  • Peer-to-peer learning and meaningful dialogue on diverse issues in the field.
  • Advocate for art education and inspire leadership in the classroom and community.
  • Recognition in an official press release.
  • An unrestricted stipend of $1,250 and a Certificate of Participation.

  Interested in learning more? 

  1. Review the ARTEFFECT Ambassadors Info Sheet for all the details.
  2. Register to join the Open House webinar on Wed., August 16 @ 4:00-5:00 PM (PT) for a program overview and to ask any questions.
  3. Submit your online application by Mon., September 18, 2023.

On behalf of the entire ARTEFFECT team, thank you for all the work you do as an educator! Feel free to email Toni Guglielmo, Director, ARTEFFECT, with any thoughts or questions at [email protected]. You are welcome to forward this email to a colleague who may be interested.

LMC Facebook
LMC Twitter
LMC Instagram
LMC ARTEFFECT
Copyright © 2023 Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you either subscribed on our website or expressed interest in receiving updates while visiting us.

Our mailing address is:

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

1 South Main St

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Donation to U234 of Science Cabinets from Robert and Kim Coon

Robert and Kim Coon own A1 Towing. Submitted photo.
Robert and Kim Coon are the owners of A1 Towing Service and often that business leads to buying salvage lots and liquidations.
“Any time there is a semi (tractor/trailer) accident that one of our three locations work, we will bid on the cargo,” Coon said. “Often the cargo is undamaged and we can sell the items at a discount price in our community.”
He gave an example.
“In 2022 we sold 25 new  residential heat and air-conditioning  systems and insulation for a 30% of the value, to locals,” Coon said.
At the beginning of this year, Coon, worked a wreck that had some science lab cabinets that were unharmed.

“Opportunity came for us to acquire these bio cabinets, Kimberly (his wife) called and spoke with Gina Shelton (USD234 Board Clerk and Finance Director) about donating them if the school district could use them. Gina was instrumental in the process. I believe they are going to be used in two different science classes.”

“These bio cabinets couldn’t have a better home than USD 234 science labs,” Coon said. “Kim and I have six proud  Fort Scott Tigers.”

Coon initially contacted the school district at the end of January, Destry Brown, USD 234 Superintendent said.
Destry Brown. Submitted photo.
“We then polled both principals and they felt they could use the cabinets in classrooms,” Brown said. ” In March, connections were made between Mr. Coon and the district to coordinate delivery.  The cabinets were delivered on April 6, but the spaces they are to go in are either under construction with the heating, ventilation , air-conditioning energy projects, being used for summer programming, or being deep cleaned as we do in the summer months.”
Photo of the science cabinet. Submitted photo.
They intend to place them in the appropriate classrooms as soon as those spaces are ready, Brown said.
“We did not want to unpackage them before moving them to avoid damage,” Brown said. “Right now they are being stored at the district offices to protect them.”
The estimated value of the two science lab cabinets is $34,280 ($17,140 each) based upon estimates of comparable property, Brown said.
Usage will be to secure storage materials in classrooms.
“The middle school is adding programming related to a paint booth and this would allow for secured storage of that,” Brown said.

“They will be placed at the middle school and/or high school,” Brown said.  “This will be determined after the principals return to contract for the 2023-24 school year.”

A Local Church’s Mission Continues Years After Closing

First Christian Church, 102 Judson. Taken from Google.

The First Christian Church of Fort Scott closed its doors in January 2016 after 145 years of supporting and ministering to families in the Bourbon County area.  The church was located most of those years at the corner of 1st and Judson.

Founded in 1871 and once one of the largest congregations in the area, First Christian Church faced an aging, declining membership with waning attendance and finally the retirement of the minister.

The Board of Trustees decided the best action would be to preserve the resources that remained and discontinue worship services.  The group recognized the money was provided from Bourbon County citizens and should remain in Bourbon County to provide good works for its citizens.

After selling the church building as well as the parsonage and liquidating assets, the Board of Trustees was determined to locate the best use of their church’s remaining $250,000.

Following serious investigation and much discussion, the Trustees voted to establish an endowed fund with the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF).

The earnings of this fund, managed by FSACF, are used annually through grants for worthy projects and efforts to organizations in the Bourbon County area.  The principal amount of approximately $250,000 is left untouched and will continue to generate financial grants into perpetuity.

In 2022, grants through this Endowed Fund were made to a Riverfront Authority Labyrinth in honor of Allen Warren; Methodist Church Feeding Families Program; Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries; USD 234 Preschool Center Community Involvement; USD 234 Healthy Snacks Program and (along with other area Churches) the purchase of a used vehicle to support Afghan families who had moved to our community.

This First Christian Church Endowed Fund should generate $12,000 to $20,000 each year to be used to support worthwhile endeavors in Fort Scott and Bourbon County for many, many years to come.

If you would like to contribute to the First Christian Church of Fort Scott Charitable Endowment Fund or would like information about how an organization, individuals or families can establish their own endowed fund through the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, go to www.fsacf.com for more information.

KS Rail Service Improvement Projects Sought

KDOT announces call for projects for

Rail Service Improvement Program

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Transportation is announcing a call for projects to be submitted to the state’s Rail Service Improvement Program. An estimated $10 million in funding is available to award projects that enhance safety, promote economic efficiency and sustainability to the state’s rail network.

Projects for this program are now being accepted – the deadline for submissions is Sept. 1. Awarded projects are expected to be announced in spring of 2024. Applicants are required to provide a 30% match of total project cost. There are no minimum or maximum project award amounts. The application process will be conducted via Microsoft Forms and can be accessed through KDOT’s website – https://www.ksdot.gov/bureaus/burRail/rail/default.asp.

Qualified entities include any Surface Transportation board certified Class II or Class III railroad, a port authority established in accordance with Kansas laws, any entity meeting the rules and regulations established by K.S.A. 75-5050 or any owner or lessee industry track located on or adjacent to a Class II or Class III railroad in the state of Kansas.

For more information on program details, contact Michael Espinoza, Freight and Rail Program Manager, at (785) 296-3228 or [email protected]

###

Kansas Housing Update

Newsletter_Header_1.png

Summer 2023 | Breaking Ground:

On the Homefront with Kansas Housing

fireworks_panorama.jpg

Independence Day has come and gone! The holiday marks the mid-point of summer and all its glory before the sweltering dog days hit. Speaking of dogs, the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest shocks us each Fourth of July when contestants consume obscene numbers (63 in 10 minutes is the current record!). The Fourth is the holiday for swimming pools, ice cream, and fireworks (back to those dogs, they’d rather skip the explosions).

My favorite part of Independence Day has always been the neighborhood parades. Since the time our kids were little, we decorated their wagons and bikes and joined our neighbors celebrating the day. As they got older, they marched with the Cub Scouts. There’s always the fire truck, the ragtag group of musicians playing marching band music, sometimes even someone playing bagpipes. Often there’s more folks in the parade than watching it. The sun beats down, the candy, the smiles. Everyone comes out of their houses. Neighbors coming together. Community. To me, it represents everything that the Fourth can and should be.

Our slogan at Kansas Housing is that we Unlock Home. It’s critical to the individuals and families we serve. But it goes beyond the walls and fence. By investing in homes, we create new neighbors, we foster new community, we embrace our common bonds that hold us together.

As we celebrate our nation’s independence, we reflect that our nation starts with each of us, together, united and indivisible. Home is the building block of it all. So whether you celebrate in a neighborhood parade or lighting that sparkler, we wish you and yours a wonderful summer.

– Ryan Vincent, Executive Director

Breaking Ground is a quarterly newsletter from Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), the state’s housing finance agency. We hope you’ll follow along to keep up on the latest Kansas housing news! Update your subscription preferences anytime.

Housing Development

Kansas Housing awards millions in MIH, MIH-ARPA funds and KHITC for rural development

Fifteen Kansas communities will receive a combined total of $4,925,400 in MIH funds, $8,475,000 in MIH-ARPA funds, and 6,441,000 in Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credit (KHITC) to develop affordable housing for moderate-income families in rural areas of the state. The awards, made possible through the state of Kansas’ Moderate Income Housing (MIH), MIH-American Rescue Plan Act (MIH-ARPA), and Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credit (KHITC) Programs, provide resources to develop housing in rural communities.

 

Combined with the amount leveraged by each community to support the proposed initiatives, the awards represent a total investment of $141,077,730 and a net gain of 544 affordable, quality housing units.

Read more.

 

Kansas Housing awards the second round of State Affordable Housing Tax Credits

In April, Kansas Housing received 11 applications for the 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), equating to more than $254 million in Private Activity Bonds (PABs) for the second of three application rounds. Of the five applications awarded, the approved LIHTCs and PABs will build 305 new units and rehabilitate 398 existing affordable units.

Read more. 

Celebrating Homeownership
Putting Down Roots: Becoming a First-Time Homebuyer

Misty Brown and her two children had been renting their Wichita home for four years when she started planning to buy a permanent home in Derby, where her children attend school and many of her family members live. The move was sparked by her sister, Tiffany, who had recently purchased her own Derby home with the help of down payment and closing cost assistance through the state’s First Time Homebuyer program. Because their finances were similar, Brown thought, “If she got approved, I might get approved; I might as well try.”

 

Brown reached out to Tiffany’s lender to determine if she may be eligible. “My lender did everything,” Brown said. “She told me what documents to send, and I was pre-approved in August 2022.” She worked with a real estate agent to find a house, and by January 2023, her family moved into their permanent home, just 43 seconds away from her sister’s driveway. She says saving up to buy a home “would have been a much longer process” without the down payment and closing cost assistance provided by the First Time Homebuyer program.

 

Read more.

 

Kansas Housing announces youth art contest honorees, unveils Statehouse exhibition

KHRC announced top entries in its statewide youth art contest at the end of June. The initiative, held to commemorate National Homeownership Month and KHRC’s 20th anniversary, invited K-12 Kansas students to share their vision of what home means to them. Honorees and their families were recognized at a special reception at the Kansas State Capitol, and their artwork remained on display in the rotunda through July 7.

Read more.

Our 18th annual Kansas Housing Conference will bring together housing professionals from across the state and region to network, learn, and explore the latest trends and innovations in affordable housing.

Join us August 22-24, 2023 at the Overland Park Convention Center!

LEARN MORE
We’re kicking off this year’s Kansas Housing Conference in style with a with a 1920s-themed welcome reception to commemorate our 20th year as we toast two decades of helping Kansans access the safe, affordable housing they need and the dignity they deserve.

Aug. 21 | 5:00 -7:00 p.m.

Overland Park Convention Center Ballroom

RSVP through the conference registration process!

Check out our News page for an archive of KHRC News.

Read KHRC News

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation

611 S Kansas Ave., Suite 300 | Topeka, KS 66603

[email protected]

Facebook  Twitter  YouTube
Kansas Housing Resources Corporation | 611 S. Kansas, Suite 300, Topeka, KS 66603

Bourbon County Local News