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Storm Damage Recovery/Storm Shelter Construction Loans and Grant
USDA Invites Applications for Storm Damage Recovery and Storm Shelter Construction
Recent Severe Weather Highlights the Need for Storm Recovery and Shelters to Protect Kansans from Injury
TOPEKA, April 30, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Kansas Rural Development invites Kansans from rural communities to apply for loans and grants to repair property damaged during the recent storms. The 504 Home repair program can be used to cover the costs of storm damage repair. The program may also be used for the construction of storm shelters.
The recent severe weather experienced in Kansas shows how important it is to be prepared for weather related disasters. If your property has been damaged recently by severe weather, then the 504 program can help you recover.
Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants
USDA makes funding available for the Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants through regular appropriations from Congress. It provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve, or modernize their homes, or provides grants to elderly, very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. Also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, loans can be granted for as much as $40,000 and grants for as much as $10,000. Loans and grants can be combined for a total amount as high as $50,000.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports May 1
Obituary of Nong Brown
Rungruedee Phuarbthong (Phoo arbthong), commonly known as Nong Brown, passed away Saturday, April 27, 2024, at her home in Derby, Kansas where she resided with Greg and her daughter Thanya.
She was born on November 15, 1975, in Sakon Nakhon Province, Thailand, the daughter of Suporn Phoo-arbthong and Aree Phoo-arbthong. Before and after her cancer diagnosis, Nong was a stay-at-home mother and prioritized her daughter over everything, including her own health. She especially enjoyed gardening, her flowers, and hunting morel mushrooms in the Kansas spring. Well, she did really enjoy shopping, often just walking for hours, looking, and buying nothing.
Survivors include Gregory Thomas and her child, Thanya Thayathon Brown-Thomas. Also surviving are her mother, Aree Phoo-arbthong, and four brothers, Montree Phoo-arbthong, Phongsit Phoo-arbthong, Terasak Phoo-arbthong, and Naret Phoo-arbthong. Nong was preceded in death by her husband Thor Brown and father Suporn Phoo-arbthong.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, May 4th, in the Clarksburg Cemetery, Fort Scott, KS.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel, Fort Scott.
Memorials are suggested to the Nong Brown Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
Via Christi Hospital Earns An “A” Hospital Safety Grade
Chamber Coffee Hosted by Fort Scott Pioneer Kiwanis
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Ribbon Cutting for the Gathering Square Pavilion Is Saturday
Ribbon Cutting for the Gathering Square Pavilion
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Ribbon Cutting for The Gathering Square Pavilion, Home of the Fort Scott Farmer’s Market, Saturday May 4th at 7:45am.
Join us Saturday, May 4th for the Ribbon Cutting at the new Gathering Square Pavilion to kick off the opening day for the Farmer’s Markey season. The Farmer’s Market will be packed this year with 15 returning vendors, 11 new vendors, and several more who have expressed interest in joining. This year over half of the Farmer’s Market will have fresh veggies and farm products along with early spring produce, eggs, beef, and honey. For opening day, they will have some special vendors serving cotton candy, painting faces, and the Fort Scott Garden Club will have their annual plant sale PLUS musicians such as the Neosho River Boys and performer Ashlyn from Galena.
For more information contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 or emailing [email protected].
Obituary of Nong Brown
Rungruedee Phuarbthong (Phoo arbthong), commonly known as Nong Brown, passed away Saturday, April 27, 2024, at her home in Derby, Kansas where she resided with Greg and her daughter Thanya. She was born on November 15, 1975, in Sakon Nakhon Province, Thailand, the daughter of Suporn Phoo-arbthong and Aree Phoo-arbthong.
Before and after her cancer diagnosis, Nong was a stay-at-home mother and prioritized her daughter over everything, including her own health. She especially enjoyed gardening, her flowers, and hunting morel mushrooms in the Kansas spring. Well, she did really enjoy shopping, often just walking for hours, looking, and buying nothing.
Survivors include Gregory Thomas and her child, Thanya Thayathon Brown-Thomas. Also surviving are her mother, Aree Phoo-arbthong, and four brothers, Montree Phoo-arbthong, Phongsit Phoo-arbthong, Terasak Phoo-arbthong, and Naret Phoo-arbthong.
Nong was preceded in death by her husband Thorton (Thor) Brown and father Suporn Phoo-arbthong.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, May 4th, in the Clarksburg Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kansas.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel, Fort Scott.
Memorials are suggested to the Nong Brown Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary of Rose Anna Workman
It was a beautiful, sunny Monday morning April 29, 2024, when Rose
Anna Workman went to her new home in Heaven. She has started a
new adventure and chapter in her life with our Lord Jesus, Charles, her husband, and Rosetta, her daughter.
Anna Workman went to her new home in Heaven. She has started a
new adventure and chapter in her life with our Lord Jesus, Charles, her husband, and Rosetta, her daughter.
She was born in Bentonville Ark. to Clyde and Vinna Williams on Jan 25,1929. Her family moved to the old farm homestead in Ft. Scott where she grew up.
Rose Anna and Charles built their home in Ft. Scott where they raised three daughters, Rosetta, and twin girls, Loma and Lora.
Rose Anna was a telephone operator, mother, homemaker, seamstress, gardener, nanny, and grammy to grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was a Vacation Bible School teacher, played piano in the church and loved our Lord Jesus.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Vinna Williams,
sister, Marie Twitchell, husband, Charles Workman, and a daughter,
Rosetta Marie Bailes.
Survived by her twin daughters- Loma Smith of Ft. Scott and Lora
Strong, Arma, Ks, Five grandchildren, Cory Strong, Pittsburg, Ks, Charity Jackson, Ft. Scott, Charley Bailes, Kansas City, Melanie Lamb, Ft. Scott, Christopher Bailes, California. Also surviving are twelve great-grandchildren.
Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Friday,May 3rd at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S.National Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to The Gathering VBS Fund or to Guest Home Estates and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 666701.
Words ofremembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at
cheneywitt.com
cheneywitt.com
May 14 Sales Tax For an ER Is Crucial to Bourbon County, Citizens Group Says
The Citizens for an ER group “do not see a way forward to have a provider reestablish an emergency room in Bourbon County,” said Craig Campbell, a member of the citizens’ group, ” if the May 14 vote for a sales tax is not approved.
“The Citizens for an E.R. committee appreciate the concerns, the insightful questions, and the support of the Uniontown and the Fort Scott town hall attendees,” Randy Nichols, another member, said. “Please vote to reopen our E.R. Early voting starts May 6th at the courthouse. Voting on May 14th will be at your usual polling location.”
Members of the group are Jamie Armstrong, Campbell, Lynda Foster, Charles Gentry, Mark McCoy, Nichols, and Douglas Ropp.
The group has held two public input meetings, one on April 11 in Fort Scott and one in Uniontown on April 24, to help tell the benefits of reestablishing an ER and get questions from the community.
To view the prior story on the first citizen’s input meeting:
The attendees of the town hall meeting in Uniontown on Wednesday had approximately 15-20 people.
“We opened the meeting stressing the importance of an emergency department to the citizens of Bourbon County,” Campbell said.
At the Uniontown meeting, there were new questions asked: “Concerns expressed at the meeting involved what the money could be spent for, why we need an ER. , and where would it be located,” Nichols said
Randy Nichols said “The ballot language is specific, stating for the five-year tax duration, (he quoted from the ballot), “Said tax shall be used as needed for establishment and operation of an emergency department in Bourbon County.” If an E.R. is not established the ballot states, “upon termination, remaining tax funds shall be used for EMS and /or property tax reduction as determined by the Bourbon County Commissioners.”
“In other words, the money can only be spent on an E.R,” Nichols said. “It cannot be used on other projects and would be returned to the community if we do not get an E.R. A citizens committee has been appointed by the Commission to review and periodically report to the public that the money is being spent as per the ballot language.”
The needs for an ER are many, Campbell said.
“There is a need to protect those with failing health, workers in hazardous occupations, and children playing contact sports, being able to retain and recruit businesses in Bourbon County,” he said.
“It allows our citizens quicker access to doctors, nurses, lab and radiology techs and medications that can assess and treat the health issues being presented,” Campbell said. ” Our Emergency Medical Service is top-notch! The Rural Emergency Health mentioned earlier was written for places like Bourbon County. It stresses 1) solid primary care, 2) great EMS, and 3) an emergency department. We had these in place until last December 20th. This tax question when passed would restore our three-pronged strategy to effective healthcare in Bourbon County.”
The tax is small per person.
“We reminded folks that the 0.25% sales tax would add 25 cents to the cost of a $100 purchase at the store, “Campbell said. ” And that the tax has a five-year hard stop on it.”
“The tax can only be used to support reopening our ER and its ongoing operation,” he said. “The next step would be to get Congress to re-date the effective date of the Rural Emergency Hospital Act to December of 2015 so that hospitals such as Fort Scott’s would be eligible to receive funding for the emergency hospital.”
“It will operate in its previous area within the former hospital at 401 Woodland Hills Boulevard,” Campbell said. “Medical equipment remains there as the result of a donation by Ascension (Via Christi, which closed operations at that site in December 2023).
“The current site is available and ready as it is fully equipped with lab, x-ray, CT scanner and ultrasound,” Nichols said. “These were gifted to the county by Ascension Via Christi -Pittsburg saving on the cost of reopening. The building also has room for expansion to include observation beds and outpatient services (for example out patient surgery) if Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation can be obtained in the future.”
“Rural Emergency Hospital is a federally funded designation supporting an E.R., observation beds, and out-patient services,” Nichols said. “This is a program not yet available to Bourbon County but having an E.R. is the first step to achieve the expanded services of REH. Having REH would relieve the need for community tax support.”
“The attendees praised the EMS service but also supported the need for an E.R.,” Nichols said. “Having an E.R. is a needed part of our health care delivery system. An emergency room and EMS are mutually beneficial services. Having an E.R. improves our overall community health outcomes. “(We) recognize most E.R. visits are by walk-in patients so without an E.R. it’s likely there will be more ambulance calls and all runs will be out of the county. Statistically, a majority of those people will not require hospitalization and would be better/ more efficiently served locally. An E.R. was also recognized to have county-wide economic development and long-term property tax benefits.”
Bourbon County Road Closures Update: 15 Road Closed Because of Flooding
Tuesday 4-30-2024 Update from the Bourbon County Emergency Management Director Brian Allen.
The following roads are still closed due to high water:
218th from Native to 235th
Xavier east to the state line
205th from Maple to 54 highway
155th & Limestone is closed in all 4 directions.
Limestone Rd from 145th to 175th
155th from Kansas to Maple.
Highway 31 from Fulton to Mapleton is now open per KDOT.
215th & 54 highway is also now open.
The following roads are closed at this time and will be for a longer period of time.
100th & Soldier (culvert washout)
215th Xavier to Yale (asphalt washout)
North Crawford (road west of Pete’s north store going south towards Walnut Hill. (Asphalt & Culvert)
Hackberry 95th to 112th (culvert washout)
60th from Grand to Hackberry (2 bridges out)
215th from Indian to Hackberry (culvert and road surface)
Express 160th to 170th (bridge out)
115th Xavier to Yale (bridge out)
Free Tetanus Shots Available for Those Impacted by Tornado, Flood Disaster
