City of Bronson Awarded Placemaking/Recreation Grant From KS Rural Champions Program

Governor Kelly Announces 14 Grant Recipients for Rural Champions Program

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today the 14 grant recipients of the Rural Champions program’s second cohort. The selected Rural Champions will join a growing statewide network of grassroots individuals tackling critical projects in their respective rural communities.

“Since day one, my administration has been focused on the needs of our rural communities and the quality of life in every region of the state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Creating the Office of Rural Prosperity was only the beginning of our support for rural Kansans and their needs. By developing the Rural Champions program, we are assisting communities to find local solutions to specific local challenges.”

Inspired by a Kansas Sampler Foundation report, the Office of Rural Prosperity, in collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation, created the Rural Champions program as a way for rural communities to move the needle in areas where a lack of capital or other resources hinders necessary progress. The Rural Champions program provides a one-year wage stipend of $20,800 to each community, along with training and resources. Communities also will receive up to $25,000 at the end of the year to move into the implementation phase of their projects.

“The diverse challenges rural communities face are much easier to resolve when you have an individual specifically dedicated to their particular issues, which is why the innovative Rural Champions program is so important,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Investing in our rural communities means investing in our people, which benefits the entire state and elevates their towns in ways that might otherwise not be possible.”

The 2024-25 Rural Champions include:

Organization

Community

Project area(s)

Cardinal Community Foundation

Nemaha County

Community/Economic Development

Cheyenne Community Development Corporation

Cheyenne

Housing

City of Herington and CVB

Herington

Downtown Revitalization

Comanche County Economic Development

Comanche County

Grant Writing/
ED Regionalization

Grinnell-Promoting Pride & Progress

Grinnell

Downtown Revitalization

Harvey County United Way

Harvey County

Childcare

Healthy Bourbon County Action Team

Bronson

Placemaking/ Recreation

Hodgeman County Economic Development

Hodgeman County

Housing

Lane County Community Foundation

Dighton

Food Access-Rural Grocery

Legacy Regional Community Foundation

Cowley County

Food Access

Rooks County Healthcare Foundation

Rooks County

Workforce Recruitment

Stafford County Economic Development

Stafford County

Childcare

The Building Community

Fredonia

Community/Economic Development

United Way of the Flint Hills

Emporia

Homelessness

“The first round of Rural Champions provided a great opportunity for progress and impact in the communities and organization. We again received many outstanding applications — making the selection of these 14 projects very competitive,” Director of the Office of Rural Prosperity Trisha Purdon said. “We are excited to continue the development of the program and add to our network of learning with the new group of Rural Champions.”

Rural Champions will work with the Office of Rural Prosperity through project completion. At that time, information will again be compiled in the form of guidebooks to add to the library of projects and be made available to provide learning and support to additional communities.

More information on the Rural Champions program is available here. The guidebooks developed by the first cohort of Champions are available to review here.

###

FS City Commission Agenda for September 24

NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR SPECIAL MEETING

OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION

City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

September 24, 2024 – 6:00 P.M.

 

 

  1.     Call to Order
  2.     Roll Call

Tim VanHoecke,   Matthew Wells,   Dyllon Olson,   Kathryn Salsbury,  Tracy Dancer

III.       Pledge of Allegiance

  1. Invocation
  2. Approval of Agenda
  3. New Business

 

Public Hearing:

  1. Condemnation and Repair Proceedings of 118 E. Wall Street

 

Action Items:

  1. Consideration of Requests for Qualifications for Consultant for Airfield Development Projects at Fort Scott Municipal Airport

 

VII.      Reports and Comments:

  1. City Manager Comments
  2. Engineering Comments
  3.  Commissioners Comments
  4. City Attorney Comments

 

VIII.     Adjourn

Fort Scott Broadcasting Celebrates 70 Years In Business

Tim and Deb McKenney at the KS Department of Commerce  2023 awards ceremony. The McKenney family has operated the radio station in Fort Scott for 70 years. Submitted photo.

Seventy years ago,  KMDO1600 Radio signed on the air in Fort Scott.

From October 7 through 11, the station will celebrate its 70th anniversary featuring the music of the 50s through the 90s.

The McKenney family has owned and operated the local radio business for the past 70 years, providing contemporary hit music, news, weather, sports, and public service announcements to the community.

Celebration Week at The Radio Station Oct. 7-11

In October 2024, music of the different decades will be featured, and some former disc jockeys will be on the air in the studios again.

During the week of October 7-11, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., the radio station will play special music from the different decades in which it has served the community.

On Monday, music from the 1950s will be featured, Tuesday will feature 60s music, Wednesday, 70s music, Thursday, 80s music and Friday, music from the 1990s.

The Trading Post is a daily program where one can buy, sale, trade or give away items.

Special Trading Post program for the anniversary celebration will be Tim  Mckenney and Ron Palmer on Monday, Oct. 7; Charlene Keating, Becky Allen, and Kirby Ham, on Tuesday Oct. 8; Gary Palmer and Deb Mckenney on Oct. 9th, and  Larry Gazaway and Pam Hutchison on Friday Oct. 11th.

The Beginning

Jim McKenney. Submitted photo.

Lloyd James (Jim) McKenney built several stations in the late 40s and early 50s, including the first stations in Carthage, Monnet, Cassville, and Branson, MO, and Iola, KS.

Jim McKenney built  KMDO-AM radio station in Fort Scott, signing on for the first time on Oct. 7, 1954, in the vicinity of where Tractor Supply is today, with six employees.

The old radio station. Submitted photo.

“Jim had five sons and a daughter,” Deb said.  “Several of the sons worked at KMDO in the early years, however, Tim, after starting on- air in 1969, worked there on and off until 1980, when he returned full-time and built 103.9FM (KOMB).  Tim has been manager of the radio stations since 1980 and owner since 1996.”

“The studios and transmitters were south of town on Hwy. 69 originally in the area of Tractor Supply,” Deb said.  “In 1990, we moved the studios and offices to the building we are now located in at 2 N. National and moved the tower and transmitters to a site where Walmart is presently located.  In 2006, we moved the towers from that site to two separate sites.  The KMDO tower is now located south of town in the industrial park and the 103.9FM tower is located about seven miles northwest of Fort Scott on 7 Highway.”

Deb started on the air at the station in the early 1980s and has worked with her husband in almost every function of the business since that time.

Serving the Public

They regularly broadcast city, county, and school talk shows in the Fort Scott area to keep people informed about current happenings in the area.

The radio station’s goal has been to serve the public interest, she said.

“We do that by broadcasting things of interest and/or service to our listeners,” she said.  These include local news, weather, sports, music and public service announcements.  We air weekly programs that inform listeners about what’s going on in our school systems, talks with our city manager about things going on in the city and talks with our county commissioners about what’s going on in the county. Broadcast Tiger games!  And of course, we play music for folks too!”

Through the years, technology has changed, “but our clients and staff have been faithful,” she said.

The rest of the current broadcast crew besides Deb and Tim is Darla Ramsey, the office manager;  Deana Wade, Angie King, and Angie Martin,  sales executives;  on-air personnel include “Downtown” Keith Brown, Charlene Bolinger, Carlos Muniz, and Jonah Cooke and they also have contract engineers.

Fort Scott Broadcasting is located at 2 N. National in Downtown Historic Fort Scott and can be reached at  620-223-4500.

State Recognition

In 2023, Fort Scott Broadcasting Co. Inc was recognized as the Southeast Kansas Regional Winner in Retail and Service by the Kansas Department of Commerce.

To The Stars: Kansas Businesses Awards is an annual awards program that recognizes businesses across the state for the valuable contributions they make to the Kansas economy and to the well-being of their communities, according to https://www.kansascommerce.gov/kansasbusinessawards/.

 

Fort Scott Broadcasting is the parent company of KMDO-AM, and KOMB-FM and is located at 2 N. National Avenue.

 

Boy Scouts Meet Tonight at 6 p.m.

Submitted photo.

The Boy Scouts are out and about selling popcorn!

The money from sales goes to help with the dues of the children.

If there is money left over from paying their dues,  it goes to purchasing their awards and camps. If you are interested in supporting the troop they will be having their weekly meeting at First United Methodist Church at 3rd and National tonight at 6 p.m.

“We will have some popcorn with us for sale. If you have a child interested in joining scouts feel free to stop by and check it out,” said Mandi Widder, who submitted the item.

Christian Fruitcakes by Carolyn Tucker

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

Christian Fruitcakes

 

Generally speaking, most people have strong opinions about fruitcake. In the late 1970s, the company I worked for sent fruitcakes to their clients at Christmastime. At the end of the season there were a few left, so I would be given one. I still remember the perfect deliciousness of it — I was in fruitcake heaven! Sadly, a few years later, this particular brand was no longer available. I sampled a lot of dry and awful fruitcakes before I finally found one that came close to Colonial‘s Rainbow Fruitcake. When I visit with friends during the holidays that say they don’t like fruitcake, I always respond, “That’s because you’ve never eaten a good one. I love good fruitcake, but I hate bad fruitcake.”

 

When King David had the Ark of God brought to Jerusalem, it was a splendid  celebration. David and all the people were praising the Lord with all types of musical instruments, and the king was leaping and dancing before the Lord with all his might.  David blessed the Israelites and, “He distributed to all the people, the entire multitude of Israel, both men and women, one bread cake, one date cake, and one raisin cake to each one. Then all the people left, each to his house” (2 Samuel 6:18-19 MEV). This was the first fruitcake party recorded in the Old Testament. Because this special occasion was celebrated with fruitcakes, maybe that’s why we celebrate the birth of Jesus with fruitcakes. (Thankfully, we do a bunch of other things at Christmas besides eat fruitcake.)

 

I think Christians and fruitcakes are similar in the fact that some are good and some are bad. Not all fruitcakes are alike. The good fruitcakes get a bad rap because of the bad ones. And not all Christians are alike. Many represent Christ well and some…not so much. Jesus said, “If you know Me, you will know my Father also” (John 14:7 NRSA). Jesus represented His Father excellently. How well do we represent Jesus as we go about our daily lives at home, church, work, and play? Are we doing a good job or a bad job? Believers need to search their heart regularly to see if there’s any bad stuff that needs to be eradicated. We don’t want to be a bad representative of Jesus because that will delude and discourage others from coming to Christ. And it makes us look like a nut.

 

Being dry is one of the main issues that gives fruitcakes and Christians a bad rating. A dry Christian is often due to a lack of faithful church attendance and neglect of personal Bible study and prayer. A dry fruitcake is simply not worth the effort to chew it. Jesus said, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth!“ (Revelation 3:15-16 NLT).

 

A Christ follower’s highest priority should be to live a Christ-like life. Onlookers need to see our actions backing up what we say we believe. The people we rub shoulders with need to see evidence of our faith and the fruit of the Spirit working in our lives. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are essential and never go out of style. If we come up short on any of these ingredients, we can go to our merciful God to ask for help. He’s a good God who’s never in short supply. When we’re running low on essentials, God’s mercies to us are new every morning.

 

The Key: It’s OK to be nutty as a fruitcake as long as it’s a good one.  It’s those bad ones you have to watch out for.

Agenda for the Bo Co Commission on September 23

Bourbon County Courthouse

210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800

Fax: 620-223-5832

 

 

 

Accounts Payable 9-20-2024

Payroll 9-20-2024

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Kansas

Brandon Whisenhunt

1st District Commissioner

Jim Harris, Chairman

2nd District Commissioner

Clifton Beth

3rd District Commissioner

 

 

Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

September 23, 2024 5:30 p.m.

 

 

  1. Call Meeting to Order
  2. Flag Salute
  • Approval of Consent Agenda
    1. Approval of Minutes from 9/16/2024
    2. Approval of Payroll Totaling $300,038.70
    3. Approval of Accounts Payable Totaling $386,598.32
  1. Deana Betts-Core Community Update
  2. 5:45 p.m. Mike Dallman-PVD Compliance Conference Call
  3. Department Updates
    1. Public Works
    2. County Clerk
  • Eric Bailey-Executive Session KSA 75-4319(b)(1)
  • Thomas Quarry
  1. Solar Panel Setback Discussion
  2. Commission Comments
  3. Adjourn Meeting

 

 

Executive Session Justifications:

 

KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the

attorney-client relationship.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the

representative(s) of               the body or agency.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual     proprietorships

KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting

would jeopardize such security measures.

Accounts Payable 9-20-2024 Payroll 9-20-2024

Obituary of Robert Elbrader

he died on Wednesday Afternoon, Sept. 18. Natasha Thompson and Randi Clements both live in Fort Scott.

Robert James Elbrader, 84, of Fort Scott, passed away Wednesday afternoon, September 18, 2024, at his home. He was born April 21, 1940, in Bourbon County, Kansas, the son of Robert N. Elbrader and Naomi (Brown) Elbrader. He married Julie Thompson on August 14, 1964, in Fort Scott, Kansas, and she survives of the home.

 

Robert earned his Machinist Certification from Pittsburg State University, and worked as a machinist at Peerless for many years. He briefly served in the US Navy from 1958 to 1959.

 

In addition to his wife Julie, Robert is also survived by his children, Jessica Shapiro and Matt Bower, Iola, Kansas; Ambrosia Shapiro and James Greene, Oakland, California; Tara Peters and Jason, Puyallup, Washington; Natasha Thompson of Fort Scott,  Richard Thompson and Artie, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Marty Thompson and Dena, Fort Scott; brother Roneil Elbrader and Jeff Neely, Webb City, Missouri; sisters Rowena Otipoby, Neosho, Missouri; Randi Clements, Fort Scott and Regina Swisher, Eerie, Kansas. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and great-great niece Claire Bower, of the home.

 

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, with burial following at the Fort Scott National Cemetery.

Visitation will be prior to services, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Military honors will be provided at the cemetery by the US Navy Funeral Honors Detail.

Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.

 

Minutes of the FSCC Trustees Meeting on August 26

FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
August 26, 2024
PRESENT: Ronda Bailey, John Bartelsmeyer, Jim Fewins, Bryan Holt, Chad McKinnis, and Doug Ropp
ALSO PRESENT: Sara Sutton – Interim President, Juley McDaniel – Board Clerk, faculty, staff, community
members
Chairman Holt called the meeting to order at 4:01 pm in the meeting rooms of the Ellis Fine Arts Center.
The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and Holt reading FSCC’s mission statement.
RNR HEARING:
COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD: None
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: None
A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer seconded by Fewins and carried by unanimous vote to approve the 2024-25
Revenue Neutral Rate resolution as presented.
BUDGET HEARING:
COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD: None
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: None
A motion was made by Fewins seconded by Bartelsmeyer and carried by unanimous vote to approve the 2024-25
budget as presented.
REGULAR MEETING:
COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR: None.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: None.
CONSENT AGENDA:
A motion was made by Bailey, seconded by Bartelsmeyer, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the consent
agenda as amended.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
A. A proposed automated external defibrillator policy was presented for review. It will be presented for approval at
the regular September board meeting. The goal is to have 15 AEDs across all campuses and train employees how to
use them appropriately as part of the emergency action plan. FSCC currently has three AEDs. One AED costs
approximately $2,000, and grants are being sought to fund the purchases. This policy is the beginning of a long
term plan to adequately equip all areas of FSCC.
B. A proposed travel policy was presented for review. It will be presented for approval at the regular September
board meeting. Bailey asked about specifically addressing wrecks and traffic tickets as well as variations for
situations when employees don’t use a school vehicle.
ACTION ITEMS:
A. Resolution 2024 – 47: A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer seconded by Bailey, and carried by unanimous
vote to approve the Athletic Travel and Athletic Recruiting Policies as presented. In meal reimbursement
statements where it says, “must leave” or “must return” to “leaving” or returning”.6
B. Resolution 2024 – 48: A motion was made by Bailey, seconded by Ropp, and carried by unanimous vote to
rescind the approval the Substance Abuse Policy as presented.
C. Resolution 2024 – 49: A motion was made by Ropp, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote
to approve the Kansas Homeland Security Region H Hazard Mitigation Plan.
D. Resolution 2024 – 50: A motion was made by Bailey, seconded by Ropp, and carried by unanimous vote to
approve the Emergency Action Plan as presented.
E. Resolution 2024 – 51: A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by
unanimous vote to update the laundry service fee from $25 per semester to $100 per semester, effective
with the Spring, 2025 semester.
F. Resolution 2024 – 52: A motion was made by Ropp, seconded by Bartelsmeyer, and carried by unanimous
vote to approve requiring a student’s balance from prior semester(s) to be paid in full before being allowed
to enroll in the current semester, effective with the Spring, 2025 semester.
G. Resolution 2024 – 53: A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Ropp, and carried by unanimous
vote to approve changing merchant card services to Square for the Bookstore and Cosmetology
departments.
H. Resolution 2024 – 54: A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by
unanimous vote to the purchase of two 28’ Wabash Dry Van trailers, a dolly, one 53′ Vangard Dry Van
and one 45’ Neville Drop Deck trailer from Vander Haag’s for $133,425.
I. Resolution 2024 – 55: A motion was made by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by McKinnis, and carried by
unanimous vote to approve insurance brokerage services through NW Mutual with Don Doherty.
REPORTS:
• ADMINISTRATION – The Board reviewed and heard updates from Academic Affairs, Student Services,
Athletics, Finance and Operations, and the Interim President.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Trustees, a motion to adjourn was made at
6:43pm by Bartelsmeyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote.

FSCC Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda for September 23

September 23, 2024
Board of Trustees
Fort Scott Community College
2108 S. Horton
Fort Scott, KS 66701
The Board of Trustees of Fort Scott Community College will meet in regular session on Monday,
September 23, 2024. The meeting will be held in Cleaver-Burris-Boileau Hall at Fort Scott
Community College.
5:30 p.m. Regular monthly Board meeting
THE AGENDA
5:30 ROLL CALL, 3
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MISSION STATEMENT
Fort Scott Community College is an institution of higher learning with a long history of culture and
diversity that provides affordable academic, technical and occupational programs to meet student needs while
fostering a mutually supportive relationship between the college and its communities.
CALL TO ORDER, 4
A. Comments from the Chair, 4
B. Comments from the Public, 4
CONSENT AGENDA, 5
A. Approval of Agenda, 5
B. Approval of Minutes of previous Regular Board Meeting conducted on August 26, 2024, and
Special Board Meeting conducted on August 29, 2024, 6
C. Approval of Bills and Claims, 9
D. Approval of Personnel Actions, 5
DISCUSSION ITEMS, 35
A. Reserve Unencumbered Fund Balance (Cash Reserves) Policy, 35
B. Sex Offender Notification and Policy, 37
C. Financial Responsibility Agreement, 42
D. Burke Street Property, 45
E. Campus Housing Recommendations for 2025-26, 45
ACTION ITEMS, 46
A. Resolution 2024 – 57: Consideration of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Policy, 46
B. Resolution 2024 – 58: Consideration of Travel Policy, 53
C. Resolution 2024 – 59: Approval of Tentative Agreement with FSCAPE, 57
D. Resolution 2024 – 60: Approval of Purchase Order and Invoice Difference, 58
E. Resolution 2024 – 61: Consideration of EdSights Proposal, 59
F. Resolution 2024 – 62: Consideration of Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute for
Development of Educational Advancement (IDEA), 65
REPORTS, 66
A. Administration1

EXECUTIVE SESSION, 78
ADJOURNMENT, 79
UPCOMING CALENDAR DATES:
• September 23, 2024 (to facilitate budget process) Board Meeting
• October 3 – 5, 2024 Gordon Parks Celebration
• October 18, 2024 Math Relays
• October 21, 2024 Board Meeting
• November 18, 2024 Board Meeting
• November 25 – 29, 2024 Campus Closed – Thanksgiving Break
• December 16, 2024 Board Meeting
• December 20, 2024 – January 3, 2025 Campus Closed – Winter Break
• January 20, 2025 Campus Closed – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• January 21, 2025 Spring Semester Begins
• January 27, 2025 (Changed from January 20 due Board Meeting
to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
• February 17, 2025 Board Meeting
• March 24, 2025 (Changed from March 17 due Board Meeting
to spring break)
• March 17 – 21, 2025 Campus Closed – Spring Break
• March 28, 2025 Aggie Day
• April 18, 2025 Campus Closed – Good Friday
• April 21, 2025 Board Meeting
• May 19, 2025 Board Meeting
• May 26, 2025 Campus Closed -Memorial Day
• June 16, 2025 Board Meeting
Sincerely,
Bryan Holt, Chair
Sara Sutton, Interim President
FSCC’s vision for the future is to support “Students First, Community Always” through a
central focus on teaching and learning; advancing strong, innovative programs and
departments; maximizing and leveraging opportunities; initiating efficient and effective
processes; and developing the region’s workforce.2
ROLL CALL
_____ Ronda Bailey
_____ John Bartelsmeyer
_____ Jim Fewins
_____ Bryan Holt
_____ Chad McKinnis
_____ Doug Ropp3
CALL TO ORDER
A. COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR
B. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC4

 

 

CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Attached are the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting conducted on August 26, 2024, and
Special Board Meeting conducted on August 29, 2024
C. APPROVAL OF BILLS and CLAIMS
Attached are the Bills and Claims Report.
D. APPROVAL OF PERSONNEL ACTIONS
1) Additions
a) Michael White, John Deere Technology Instructor, effective October 1, 2024
b) Cheyenne Kern, STARS Administrative Assistant, effective October 1, 2024
2) Transfers
a) Christopher Goddard, from Music Instructor to Director of Music, effective
October 1, 2024
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Consent Agenda items be approved

Bourbon County Local News