Bourbon County, Food, Fort Scott, Youth

Pioneer Kiwanis Chili Feed Fundraiser Is Today November 19: Supporting Community Children

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The 36th annual Kiwanis Pioneers Chili Feed is today, November 19th at the First United Methodist Church at 301 South National in Fort Scott.

A meal of the Pioneer’s signature chili, (the same recipe prepared since the chili feed’s inception) 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.

A free-will donation (suggested minimum $8.00 donation per meal) will be collected at the door.

“All of the funds raised stay in Bourbon County,” stated
Kiwanis Pioneer President Kelley Collins. “The annual fundraiser will be drive-through only. Pick-ups will be available under the canopy of the First United Methodist Church 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.

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, Court Appointed Special Advocates (for children),  the Backpack food program,
Fort Scott High School Key Club, Head Start, the Beacon, foster children, Feeding Families in His Name, Care to Share,
and school reading and arts programs.

 

About Pioneer Kiwanis

They are a service organization helping the children of Bourbon County.

Recently they completed a project for the local Head Start Program that involved Fort Scott Community College Construction Trades class members.

Head Start Fort Scott now has two new picnic tables for picnics and art classes at their site at 409 S. Judson.

A recent project of the Pioneer KiwanisPictured are (seated) front row from left, Pioneer Kiwanis members Kelley Collins and Vickie Chaplin; SEK-CAP Child and Family Development Educator Janice Durbin and Marie Wheeler, cook; middle row (seated) Maggie Brenner and Marlene Braker (standing) of the Pioneer Kiwanis; back row from left, Fort Scott Community College construction trades instructor Jason Johnson and students.

Members of the Pioneer Kiwanis club, SEK-CAP representatives, students in Fort Scott High School’s construction trades program, and their instructor pose for a photo, above, during the presentation of the two picnic tables to the SEK-CAP Head Start program this month.

 

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Annual Christmas Parade is December 5: A Storybook Christmas, Entries Welcomed

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces the

Annual Christmas Parade

Thursday, December 5th

Downtown Fort Scott @ 6pm
The parade theme this year will be

“A Storybook Christmas”

The Chamber is calling all participants including businesses, schools, organizations, and individuals to enter the parade. There is no cost to register a float, golf cart, foot unit, band, horse unit, car, or other entry.

The parade is being sponsored by Briggs Auto.

Cash prizes will be awarded for overall 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place entries.

Entries may be made online at fortscott.com under the events tab, or by picking up a form at the Chamber office, 231 E. Wall Street. Entry deadline is Tuesday, December 3rd at 1pm.

The parade route will start at Wall & National, go south to 3rd St., turn left to Main St., then north on Main to Skubitz Plaza where the parade will end at the Mayor’s Christmas Tree.

Additional activities that evening will include:

* Lighting of the Mayor’s Christmas Tree

* Holiday Fireworks

*Photos with Santa at the Mayor’s Christmas Tree

*The Holiday Market Booths open from 5 to 10pm

* The Parkway Church of God Holiness – across from the Mayor’s Tree selling kettle corn

The 2nd Annual Christmas on the Bricks Festival will continue that weekend, and the full schedule may be found by clicking here!

Click here for the parade event page.

To learn more click here for the Christmas on the Bricks Facebook page.

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 
Business, Government, Kansas, Youth

Ribbon Cutting for New DCF Building Is November 19 at 10 S. National

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The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday), Nov. 19 at the Department of Children and Families’ new Fort Scott Service Center. We hope you can join us!

 

 

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

When: Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 2-4 p.m.

Where: 10 S. National Ave., Fort Scott

What: Remarks from Secretary Laura Howard, ribbon cutting, refreshments and guided tours

Obituary

Obituary of Timothy Phillips

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Timothy Edward Phillips, age 37, made it through the checkered flag on November 14th, 2024, as he raced his way into Heaven’s gates. Born June 18, 1987, to Kenny Edward Phillips, Jr. and Tammy Ann (Harper) Phillips, he resided in the rural Fort Scott area his entire life. Timmy graduated from Uniontown High School in 2005 and was employed by Timken (formally Carlisle) for 19.5 years.

Although he frequented many different tracks, on any given Friday or Saturday night, you could find Timmy at Humboldt or Nevada Speedway with his family in the stands and his dad Kenny by his side. He had many hobbies to occupy his time including gaming, drawing, duck hunting and fishing. Timmy loved his family with everything he had and lived for racing his girls, and nephews around the field in the RAZR and hosting Sunday dinners where he would show off his smoking or grilling skills, introducing more new recipes than they could keep track of.

Tim leaves behind the love of his life, Jami Morgan, and their beautiful girls, Kenzi and Rylee. Tim is also survived by his parents, Kenny and Tammy Phillips, a sister, Kennda (Curtis) Major, nephews, Kason and Kipp Major; grandpa, Kenny Phillips, Sr. and Jami’s parents, Karen and Steve Brumback, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Tim was preceded in death by grandparents, Sue Cannon, Melvin Harper and Bonnie Phillips, great-grandmother, Cathern Smith and a close cousin, Hunter Kovacic.

Timmy’s life will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, November 21st at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Centerville Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Wednesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Phillips Education Fund for Kenzi and Rylee and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Obituary

Obituary of Harry Meek

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Harry Lee Meek, age 81, resident of Fort Scott, KS died Sunday, November 17, 2024, at his home.  He was born July 27, 1943, in Fort Scott, the son of Frank and Virginia “Tootie” Poyner Meek.  Harry graduated from Richards, MO high school.  He married Bonnie Mann in 1969 in Nevada, MO.  They later divorced.

Harry worked for 60-plus years for Maceli Music Company.  He loved every Thursday traveling to bars on his route, repairing pool tables and jukebox machines.  In his spare time, he could be seen cruising through town in his truck.  He enjoyed 50s and 60s music and Western movies, especially John Wayne.  Harry was a generous man, willing to help anyone in need.

 

Survivors include two daughters, Cindy Marsh and Lisa Meek, both of Fort Scott; 4 grandchildren, Tyler, Tanner, and Courtney Meek, and Fernando “Ponch” Arellano; a brother, Charlie Meek (Helen), Richards, MO; a sister, Brenda Budd (Albert), Nevada, MO; ex-wife Bonne Meek, Fort Scott; an aunt, Martha Cook, Fort Scott; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Curtis Meek; a granddaughter, Remington Rose Meek; a brother, Tom Meek; and his parents.

 

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Thursday evening November 21st, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Cremation will follow.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Harry Lee Meek Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

 

 

Opinion

Letter To The Editor: Deb McCoy

4 Comments

WHAT BURDEN OF EXPENSES HAS OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND ATTORNEY, BOURBON COUNTY REDI, AND NOBLE/LEGACY IMPOSED UPON THE TAXPAYERS USING BOURBON COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS?

 

We lost our Hospital. We lost our emergency room services. It was devastating to a community who always took pride in a community who had medical services that were compared to and addressed as “the little Mayo of the Midwest.” Those of us who worked in the medical field took pride in being a part of these organizations.

 

I would like to remind you that it is the good people that we elected and appointed that we depend on to make good sound decisions for our community. It is disheartening when a decision was made that has taken our community down a rabbit hole at the expense of the taxpayers. What is more disheartening is that the good people elected have got caught up in the process of those who have come into our community with previous exploited actions that have affected other communities. We should have been more diligent when jumping into the decision making process that was made and researched the backgrounds and possible repercussions and consequences of those who were offering us an Acute Care Hospital and ancillary services which to date we still don’t have two years into the Legacy Donation Agreement.

 

Article 1, Donation of the Property

1.4.4 The Monetary Donation may only be used for: (i) building maintenance in connection with the Real Property and the improvements thereon; (ii) paying for other reasonable operating costs and expenses in connection with the Real Property including development of an Acute Care Hospital and ancillary services; and (iii) providing reduced rents to potential future tenants at the Real Property which provide a legitimate community benefit;

 

Article 7.1 General Provisions

7.1 Remedies. In the event of any breach or default by Donor or Donee hereunder, Donor and Donee’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be to terminate this Agreement with a return of the property and one million dollars to the Donor during the first year of operations. Years 2-4 the Donee will return $750,000.00 to the Donor along with the property and before the completion of the 5 year of operation return the property to the Doner with $500,000.00. Following the fifth year. Donor will have no remedies to terminate this Agreement with either return of funds and/or property.

 

Decision after decision has been made regarding the need for a hospital. The amount of time and money and effort in coming up with a solution seems to always fall back on the taxpayers of our community. The following figures reveal the amount of money that has been invested in the past, present and future of our community. It is staggering!

 

Feasibility Study $1 million dollars (City 200k & County $800K)

Mercy Hospital’s assets assessment of the building $19.6 million dollars

$2 million dollars

($1 million dollars from citizens donations)

($1 million dollars donation from a foundation.)

Mercy monetary donation of $600 thousand

________________________________________________________

Grand Total – 23.2 million dollars

 

Bourbon County REDI

(established on August 9, 2021)

Expenditures reports from the City and County for the years of 2021 thru 2024

Was given $855,017.68

 

County ¼ cent sales Tax effective October 1, 2024 to help “attract” Emergency Services by funding approximately $750,000 thousand  dollars annually over the next 5 years.

Estimate total $3,750,000.00

 

Taxes on the Mercy/Legacy               No Hospital Building

2024 showed that no taxes have been paid on any of the donated“Real Property” for 2023-2024

Balance $409,828.23

 

Application of Tax Abatement submitted on March 11, 2024, by Legacy for years at issue 2022

A Tax Abatement request was granted by the Board of Tax Appeals State of Kansas on September 9th, 2024.

Eliminating $354,131.35 dollars off of our existing tax records for the next 10 years.

Estimated Total $1,805,131.90

(May I remind you that the 2025 budgets are already in place and the County, City, School Districts, and Fort Scott Community College will be affected)

Total of all figures above $30,019,977.81

This does not include the legal funds and ancillary funds surrounding the process.

 

What happens if Legacy sells the hospital building? What happens to the land that was divided up into three lots? (2023-2024 taxes have not been paid to date.) Do the new owners receive the tax abatements? Where is our return? My last question is who is the one that prevailed?

 

Deb McCoy

11/16/2024

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Annual Christmas Parade Is On December 5: A Storybook Christmas

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CHAMBER ANNOUNCES ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE
Thursday, December 5th, 2024 at 6pm

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces the Annual Christmas Parade will be held Thursday, December 5, 2024, in Downtown Fort Scott starting at 6 pm.

The parade theme this year will be “A Storybook Christmas”. The Chamber is calling all participants including businesses, schools, organizations, and individuals to enter the parade.

There is no cost to register a float, golf cart, foot unit, band, horse unit, car, or other entry. The parade is being sponsored by Briggs Auto and cash prizes will be awarded for overall 1 st , 2 nd ,
and 3 rd place entries.

Entries may be made online at fortscott.com under the events tab, or by picking up a form at the Chamber office, 231 E. Wall Street. Entry deadline is Tuesday, December 3rd at 1pm.

The parade route will start at Wall & National, go south to 3rd St., turn left to Main St., then north on Main to Skubitz Plaza where the parade will end at the Mayor’s Christmas Tree.

Additional activities that evening will include the lighting of the Mayor’s Christmas Tree immediately following the parade, Holiday Fireworks, and photos with Santa at the Mayor’s Christmas Tree. The Holiday Market Booths for Christmas on the Bricks will also be open from 5 to 10 pm that evening with eight vendors, and the Parkway Church of God Holiness will be across from the Mayor’s Tree selling kettle corn.

The 2nd Annual Christmas on the Bricks Festival will continue that weekend, and the full schedule may be found at fortscott.com/Christmas-on-the-bricks.

Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566 or visit fortscott.com

Bourbon County, Government

Special Meeting of Uniontown City Council on November 19

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Notice of City of Uniontown Special Meeting: Tuesday, 7:00PM, for the purpose of entering into executive session to discuss job vacancy of non-elected personnel.

CALL TO ORDER AT _________ by __________________________________________

ROLL CALL:

 ____ Jess Ervin ____ Danea Esslinger ____ Amber Kelly ­­____ Mary Pemberton  ____ Bradley Stewart

 

Motion by _____________, Second by  __________, Approved ______, to enter into executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel exception, KSA 75-4319(b)(1), in order to discuss a non-elected personnel position vacancy, the open meeting to resume at ____________.

 

Opinion

Slap Somebody by Carolyn Tucker

1 Comment

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

Slap Somebody

 

The longer I live, the more opportunities I have to interact with people. The family and friends I’ve grown up with are on my “warm and fuzzy forever list” in my heart. And I’m happy to say I’ve continued to add new people to that list. God knows how to bring good people into my life to be a blessing to me and, hopefully, I can be a blessing to them. It’s a win-win and I need and love that interaction. Individuals who come along side me, slap me on the back and say encouraging words are a gift straight from God.

 

I’d like to slap my readers on the back and offer some encouragement for those who suffer from having trouble forgiving themselves. Please remember that no one is perfect — with a good heart and our best intentions we all have faults, failures, and shortcomings. (I’m not talking about sin, which is practicing a transgression knowing it’s against God’s Word.) I’m referring to decisions and actions that were less than perfect in retrospect, but actually the best that could be done at the time. Focusing on our failures opens the door to regret, and that’s a dangerous life-sucking emotion to allow into our heart and mind. Yesterday, and what we did or didn’t do, is gone. It does no good to replay it in our mind.

 

Apostle Paul wrote to encourage the Church in Philippi, “I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…” (Philippians 3:13 NLT). If any Christ follower had something to regret and stew over, it was Paul. He hunted down, persecuted, jailed, and stoned Christians to death. But Jesus loved him, had a specific mission for him, and turned him around 180 degrees. If Paul could successfully overcome his past, we can too. We have the same liberating grace and perseverance available to us as Paul. God hasn‘t changed; what He says we can have we can surely obtain.

 

Hopefully, most Christ followers have no trouble forgiving others, but many have trouble forgiving themselves. Honestly, Jesus’ command to forgive one another would include yourself. Make the quality decision to forgive yourself and then let it go. You should slap yourself on the back and say, “I did the best I could at the time,” and don’t look back. I have a retired Navy pilot friend who says, “The runway behind you ain’t no good.” Stop letting the devil slap you around in your mind and emotions. We all know that he whispers lies because he’s the Granddaddy Liar (ref. John 8:44).

 

As believers, we aren’t supposed to be just barely hanging on by the hair of our chinny chin chin until we get to go to heaven. The abundant life Jesus talks about in John 10:10 is referring to how we live on earth now. Don’t let the disappointments of your past poison your today. Since God forgives and forgets our sins, we can surely forgive and move past our failures. We must partner with God’s plan, not Satan’s miserable plan. The devil is good at what he does because he’s had a lot of practice at ruination. But Jesus has the antidote for regret and it’s called restoration. “He restoreth my soul” (Psalm 23:3). That’s a promise you can take to the bank. I know firsthand.

 

Consider yourself hugged, loved, and slapped. Now get back to living the abundant life and look for people you can slap on the back and verbally encourage. They need you!

 

The Key: I’d rather slap someone on the back than their face.

Bourbon County Local News