Local author, Cathy Werling, will be signing and reading from her latest book, “Why Did Sergeant Stubby Go to War?” in the Fort Scott Public Library event room on Monday, May 21, from 4 – 5 p.m.
Her picture book follows the life of heroic dog Stubby, who served alongside his soldier master in World War I. Be inspired by the true re-telling of this canine hero’s story. This is a treat for the whole family! Stop in anytime during this hour-long event.
Cathy is a retired educator, formerly teaching at Eugene Ware Elementary and Winfield Scott Elementary.
She has been an inspiration and leader for our community’s youth for many years and continues to do so today by creating picture books about real-life unsung heroes at the Lowell Milken Center as writing specialist. Find out more at www.lowellmilkencenter.org.
Good Ol’ Days weekend, May 31 -June 2 Fort Scott Munitions is celebrating BIG.
“We are involved in Good Ol’ Days, plus we have our Customer Appreciation Day,” Robbie Forrester, president of Fort Scott Munitions said.
A car show, free hamburgers, raffles, giveaways and in addition the whole store will have discounted items ranging from 10 percent to 50 percent off the regular price.
Fort Scott Munitions is a United States distributor of lead-free rifle and handgun ammunition and the store is located at 523 E. Wall, just off the Hwy. 69 ramp.
The Second Annual Car and Bike Show will be June 2 at 9 a.m., with the doors opening at 8 a.m. It is a family-friendly, alcohol-free environment, according to Forrester. Registration is free.
There is a limit of 200 bikes and 200 cars for the show.
There will be Best of Show cash prizes for both car and bike categories. The prizes are: 1st place $500, 2nd $250, 3rd $100. Winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m.
There will be 1000 Platinum Beef Burgers cooked for customer appreciation day, provided by KW Beef, a local Registered Angus Ranch. The hamburgers will be cooked by representatives of Traeger’s Grills.
A charity 50/50 Raffle for Jordan Karleskint and Carter Collier will be available with the winner announced following the car and bike show winners announcement.
The items in the store are discounted between 10%-50%.
“Everything in the store will be at least 10 percent off,” Forrester said. “There will be a special on Springfield Guns that day.”
“New items we are just coming out with, 357 sig rounds, will be discounted in the store that day,” Dustin Doherty, marketing manager for Fort Scott Munitions said. Also 9 mm nickel-plated and 9 mm TPD plated ammunitions are for sale that day.
There will be giveaways throughout the day, as well.
Special Guests include:
Sheriff David Clarke (ret.), President of David A. Clarke Enterprises and Spokesman for America First Action;
Kris “Tanto” Pronto and Dave “Boon” Benton, two of the survivor soldiers of Benghazi;
Blue Line Bears (non-profit) – Megan O’Grady;
Got Your Six Coffee Company – Eric Hadley;
Thin Red Line K-9 – Amy and Ted Donaldson.
In the Good Ol’ Days parade on Thursday evening, there will be Hummers, a race car, and trucks provided by Fort Scott Munitions, and will also include some of their special guests.
Store hours change
As of May 1, store hours have changed at Fort Scott Munitions.
“Most gun stores are closed Monday and Tuesday,” Forrester said. “We’ve expanded hours Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If customers need something Monday and Tuesday, they can call us.”
To contact the store call 620-223-1277.
From left: Dustin Doherty, marketing manager of Fort Scott Munitions; Caleb Osborn, loading manager and Robbie Forrester, president, stand in front of a new display in the store, a mountain lion being brought down by a pair of dogs.
FSCC President Alysia Johnston with Shelbie Hutchinson, Outstanding Sophomore for 2018.
FSCC Graduation Time
Fort Scott Community College will hold two graduations this Friday, May 18th.
Associate of Arts, Associate of Applied Science, and Certificate students will have their ceremony at 9:00 a.m. and Associate of General Studies and Associate of Science students will have their ceremony at noon in the Ellis Fine Arts building.
There are approximately 200 students graduating between the two sessions.
During graduation, a few outstanding individuals will be recognized for their prestigious work over the years.
FSCC will recognize three Fort Scott natives, John M. Laflen, class of 1956, Dawn M. Reed, class of 2002, and Shelbie Hutchinson, class of 2018.
John Laflen and Dawn Reed are being recognized as this year’s Outstanding Alumni and Shelbie Hutchinson is being recognized as this year’s Outstanding Sophomore.
The banquet for Outstanding Alumni will be held between graduations at 10:30 a.m. in the Ellis Fine Arts meeting rooms.
For more information regarding graduation, please contact Courtney Metcalf at 620.223.2700 ext. 3580 or Taylor Wade at ext. 3560.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
Carson and Barnes Circus would like to announce a special educational opportunity for children of all ages to experience the magic of the circus May 18 and to meet our special animal friends up close and personal. All participating schools are in for a unique circus day adventure.
Participating classes’ (students) will engage in an enchanting tour of our menagerie; plus, an educational program about our Asian Elephants. This is available to all students even if they do not have the opportunity to attend one of our performances. We believe that this is a chance to expose children to a unique culture in a world of wonder.
Your group will be greeted on the circus grounds by one of our staff members and led through our animal menagerie. What an incredible opportunity to learn about magnificent endangered creatures! We also have a special treat in store for the children; a surprise visit from some of our young entertainers who will perform a short skit. We will reveal our newest creatures at the show to all the kids who come back!
This exciting opportunity is available for all students and staff with absolutely no cost to anyone. You provide the transportation to the grounds and we provide the activities. The activities will start at 11:00 a.m. the morning the show arrives. This experience has been a huge success in the past and is always a very exciting and fun adventure for the adults and children. Schools have even brought sack lunches and had a picnic after the tour. Our portion of the event will last about 30 minutes but you are welcome to stay as long as you like and gaze upon the magnificent set up of the circus tent.
If you wish for your school (classroom) to participate in this once in a lifetime event, please provide the requested information below and fax to (580)-326-7466 or email to circurssaurus@gmail.com. Once we receive your information we will contact you to confirm your reservation. If you have any question or concerns please feel free to contact our Advance Promotions Coordinator, Kelsey Winship @ 580 326-2233.
NOTE: THIS FORM MUST BE FAXED OR EMAILED IN FOR US TO BE PREPARED FOR YOUR GROUP FIELD TRIP.
REGISTRATION REQUEST:
School Name: ______________________________________________________
Contact Person: ______________________________________________________
Contact Phone Number: ______________________________________________________
Approximate # of Children Attending: ______________________________________________________
Approximate # of Adults Attending: _____________________________________________________________
The City your School Resides In:
Governor Colyer Signs State Budget for FY 2018 and 2019
Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. today signed the state budget for the 2019 Fiscal year at a ceremony at Pittsburg State University.
In his remarks, Colyer said, “I am pleased to be able to sign a budget that strikes the balance between fiscal responsibility and making the necessary investments in our schools, our workforce, and our communities. It has been exciting to see the progress our state has made over the past few months, and I look forward to seeing the incredible impact these investments will have on our state.”
The State Budget for FY 2018-2019:
Makes a Historic Investment in Education:
The 2018-2019 budget increases our investment in K-12 education by more than half a billion dollars. This $525 million investment will be stair-stepped over five years so that it will not result in a tax increase on hardworking Kansans.
The increased investment in education prioritizes outcomes for our students, increases funds available for special education programs and will result in higher pay for Kansas teachers.
Our state’s colleges and universities are ranked in the top 15 nationally.* The 2018-2019 budget makes important investments to ensure that we remain a national leader in higher education by increasing funding by $18 million to our state’s higher education institutions. Increased investment will help keep tuition from rising at historical rates.
The FY 2018-2019 budget invests an additional $9.6 million to fund early childhood development programs including the Pre-K pilot, Parents-as-Teachers, and Children Initiatives Fund programs.
We are also giving back to those who serve our country in the Kansas National Guard by funding up to 15 credit hours per semester at a state institution at little to no cost to the student.
Prioritizes Workforce development:
A skilled workforce is absolutely critical to the long-term growth of Kansas. That’s why this budget fully funds SB 155, which provides free tuition to high school students who are enrolled in technical education courses. As the home of the Air Capital of the World, aviation is one of the strongest sectors of our economy. This budget helps us build upon those strengths by investing $5 million in the National Institute for Aviation Research and another $1.7 million in the National Center for Aviation Training, both of which will allow us to bolster our workforce training efforts and help us ensure our aerospace manufacturers have the talent they need to continue to thrive in Kansas.
This budget also funds an expansion of the Jobs for America’s Graduates program (JAG), which partners with at-risk students to prepare them for college and help them successfully enter the workforce.
Invests in State Employees:
For state government to be successful, it is crucial that we have the ability to secure the best talent available. Our state agencies need quality employees to be able to carry out their missions effectively. That’s why this budget includes additional funds to help bring our state employees compensation closer to the market rate. We also included much-needed pay increases for our state correctional officers.
For more than 20 years, our KPERS system has been underfunded. The 2018-2019 budget begins to address that issue with an $82-million investment into the KPERS system. Our state employees are some of our most valuable assets. They work hard and ensure that state government works for Kansans, and they deserve to know that the retirement they have worked for will be there for them when they are ready to retire.
Funds Critical Needs at DCF:
The 2018-2019 budget also takes aim at critical needs at the Department for Children and Families, providing funds for the agency to hire an additional 20 full-time child welfare caseworkers to their field staff and adding $2 million dollars to our family preservation programs, so that we can keep more families together.
We have also allocated funds to secure emergency crisis beds to end the practice of foster children sleeping in agency offices. This bill will also allow DCF to hire a full-time protective investigator to assist the agency in locating missing children.
Makes Investments in Infrastructure:
As an important logistical hub in the Midwest, a great highway system is important to the economic health of the state. The 2018-2019 budget reduces transfers from the State Highway Fund by $59.6 million and leaves a higher balance in the highway fund to address delayed T-WORKS projects.
Strengthens our Hospitals and Nursing Homes:
The 2018-2019 budget includes $22.1 million to provide a 4% increase in reimbursement rates for hospitals, in addition to $17.7 million to increase reimbursement rates for nursing homes. It is critically important to keep our health care facilities viable so they can continue providing quality care to Kansans. We have also included funding for pay increases to our nursing home surveyors to help us better recruit and retain staff to ensure that our regulatory oversight of nursing homes is timely and appropriate.
This budget also increases Medicaid reimbursement rates by $556,000 for emergency medical services providers.
Innovates in Agriculture:
The FY 2019 budget invests $250,000 in a Cattle Traceability Pilot Program in the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA). The United States Department of Agriculture intends to tighten existing rules on its Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) program. This program increases our ability to trace animals back from slaughter and forward from premises where they are identified, as well as trace animals’ interstate movements to identify, prevent and control the disease.
Gov. Colyer concluded his remarks with optimism about the direction of the state, saying, “It is clear that Kansas is getting back on the right track. I am honored to serve as the governor of this great state, and I pledge to continue to fight to ensure we succeed in offering the best service possible to the people of Kansas.”
To read the FY 2019 Budget, Click HERE. For a list of the budget items vetoed by Gov. Colyer, click HERE.
The Fort Scott Fire Department will be honorary elephant bathers when they aid the mighty Carson & Barnes Circus in washing their amazing pachyderms. Come meet your local Hero’s!
The bath time will be scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds on May 18, 2018.
This event will take place prior to the Carson & Barnes Circus performances scheduled at 4:30 & 7:30 pm. For more information, please call 580 743-7292.
Pachyderm Facts
Just like humans, the Carson & Barnes Circus elephants take daily showers. Although; unlike most of us, they really get the royal treatment. They get to lay down and get scrubbed cleaned by their loved handlers. It takes approximately 500 gallons of water and 2 gallons of soap just to give one elephant their daily bath. The majestic pachyderms are bathed with a special soap that is brought in from Missouri that is specially formulated for their skin. Pressured water is used to help them achieve a spa-like cleansing! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see an elephant bath!!!
David Goodyear points to the acres of corn recently planted as part of the AgPath ministry. Goodyear is the coordinator of the project.
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; does not it spring forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a pathway in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 from the Holy Bible.
This is the key verse that members of Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene (FSCN) chose to begin a new ministry.
The ministry is called Pathways and it is a partnership with other churches and individuals within Bourbon County to reach those who want out of self-destructive life choices.
It started when FSCN members Mike Watson and Jimmie Jones were conversing about the Celebrate Recovery, a group that meets at the church.
“We get these folks in jail, some are ready for something else,” David Goodyear, coordinator of Pathways said. “We’ve tried to help them but they get out unannounced and go back to where they came from. We felt like we were letting them go through the gaps.”
That’s when Pathways was birthed.
“We started last fall…with a vision statement,” Goodyear said. “The church board endorsed it. I became the coordinator.”
The Pathways ministry collaborates with Next Steps, a Local Connections to Success Program that is facilitated weekly by community volunteers, that meets on Monday evenings at the First United Methodist Church.
One of the strategies of Pathways is a work program called AgPath. AgPath is an agricultural project where participants will plant, grow, harvest and market vegetables. It is being developed to help hone teamwork skills and provide some earnings for participants.
They had the vision, they needed the means.
Then God stepped in.
“I went to Jody (Hoener) to ask her to help us write a grant for the program,” Goodyear said. “She said there was a grant out there waiting for an idea. She had us apply. (Then) I went to the committee meeting of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.”
The Pathways AgPath group received $20,000 to help the program get started.
David Goodyear received a grant from Pathways AgPath May 3 from Blue Cross/Blue Shield Pathway to A Healthier Bourbon County. In the center is Virginia Barnes of BCBS and Jody Hoener of Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
“We got a new All Terrain Vehicle, planter, tiller, spreader, fertilizer, seed, irrigation equipment and still got a few more (items)to get,” Goodyear said.
“The profit will be shared with others,” Goodyear said. “The Beacon and Feeding Families In His Name.”
Goodyear has started the planting of the acreage, located just off Hwy. 54 near the KOA Campground, with the help of a part-time employee, Malachi Schmidt, Deerfield, Mo.
Malachi Schmidt takes a break while putting up wire in preparation for the tomato planting.
Corn has been planted on the donated acreage on Hwy. 54. Next will be tomatoes, peppers, green beans and squash, he said.
Two to four people from the Next Steps program will help in the process along with volunteers from the community comprised of William James and Francy Schafer, Kevin and Kerry Wunderly, and Gretchen and David Goodyear.
“We want to work into their lives, to develop kinship,” Goodyear said. “The whole point is to build community.”
Executive Session-Privileged in the Attorney/Client relationship
Executive Session-Matters relating to the security of a public building
12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch
1:30-2:00-Update on NRP/Meeting times/Letters/Maps
2:00-2:15-Clerk/Election 2019 Budget
2:30-Employee Handbook
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
