Government, Kansas

KS Flags Are Half-Staff In Honor of Judge Malcolm

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Governor Kelly Directs Flags be Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Magistrate Judge William Malcolm


TOPEKA— Today, in accordance with Executive Order #20-30, Governor Laura Kelly directed flags be lowered to half-staff at the State Capitol Complex and all court buildings and facilities until Monday, October 23, 2023, to honor 21st District Magistrate Judge William Malcolm, who died from injuries sustained in a car accident earlier this month.

“Judge Malcolm was a dedicated public servant who, for nearly two decades, worked hard to ensure justice for the citizens of Clay and Riley counties,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “On behalf of the State of Kansas, I thank him for his service. My deepest condolences go out to his loved ones.”

Judge Malcolm passed away on October 15, 2023. A public visitation will be held on Sunday, October 22, 2023.

To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit:  https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honors.  

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Fort Scott, History

Killers of the Flower Moon Free Movie Premiere in Fort Scott Oct. 20

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Killers of the Flower Moon Free Movie Premiere in Fort Scott

 

Friday, October 20, 2023, the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site, Inc. and Fort Scott National Historic Site are sponsoring the premiere of Killers of the Flower Moon, as a part of the nationwide release. The free premiere showing is at 6:40 p.m. and is hosted by the Fort Scott Cinema, 224 W 18th St, Fort Scott, KS 66701.

The free tickets are available at the box office at show time.

 

In the late 1800s, oil was discovered on the Osage Indian Reservation in present-day Osage County, Oklahoma. The members of the Osage Nation earned royalties from oil sales through their federally mandated “head rights,” and, by the 1920s, the richest people in the world were members of the Osage Nation. Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off.

The family of an Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, became a prime target. Her relatives were shot and poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more and more members of the tribe began to die under mysterious circumstances.

FBI agents infiltrated the region, struggling to adopt the latest techniques of detection. Together with the Osage they began to expose one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history. This conspiracy of theft, terror, and genocide helped launch J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI.

This film is an adaptation by Director Martin Scorsese of the book Killers of the Flower Moon, a narrative nonfiction by David Grann.

 

There are 25,288 Osage Tribal Members who live across the globe, with just under half residing in Oklahoma. In “Killers of the Flower Moon”, the language you hear is taught by Osage Nation Language Teachers, the traditional clothing you see is made by Osage artists, and the landscape is the Osage Nation Reservation. They are not relics. The Osage Nation is a sovereign Nation that is thriving. A people of strength, hope, and passion, honoring the stories of the past and building the world of the future.

 

This is but one series of the many traumas experienced in Native American history. The National Park Service encourages you to be part of the discussion and learn more at www.nps.gov/fosc, www.nps.gov/subjects/americanindians, or www.osageculture.com. This event is a portion of a series of programs and events around the Native American Experience that Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Friends of the Fort have been hosting such as Wahzhazhe, the Osage Ballet.  Additional programs are to be announced soon.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site’s, a unit of the National Park Service, exhibit areas and visitor center are open daily from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

-NPS-

 

Image of Mollie Burkhart.  Credit Photo as: The Bismarck Tribune, June 16, 1926

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Entertainment, Fort Scott

Bourbon County Community Theatre Presents Voices from the Grave Tour

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Bourbon County Community Theatre Presents Voices from the Grave Tour

 

The newly formed Bourbon County Community Theatre, LLC presents their inaugural production entitled Voices from the Grave.

 

Voices from the Grave takes place from 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 28 at Riverfront Park in Fort Scott, KS. Guests will enjoy a guided walking tour of short acting vignettes centering around stories of murder and mayhem in Fort Scott. Scenes were written by the students in the Advanced Drama class at Fort Scott High School and are based off of stories from local author Brian Allen’s books about Fort Scott.

 

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and are available from the Chamber of Commerce in Fort Scott. Tour times must be pre-scheduled and run every 10 minutes. Parents must accompany children under the age of 14.

 

More information can be found on the Bourbon County Community Theatre Facebook page or by contacting Angie Bin at 620-729-9622 or [email protected].

Business, Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Halloween Parade on Oct. 28

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Halloween Parade

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces this year’s Halloween Parade will be held Saturday, October 28th at 11:00 a.m. in Downtown Fort Scott.

Prior to the parade, starting at 10:00 a.m., there will be special activities including pictures with a spooktacular backdrop at the City Scales building on North Main and face painting by Fort Scott High School Thespians.

The parade trick-or-treats merchants along Main Street, starting at La Hacienda, south to 2nd Street, crossing the street then heading north back to Skubitz Plaza. Any businesses or organizations in the community not located along Main Street are also welcome to set up a table on the sidewalk providing treats, coupons, or other handouts for kids. Children are encouraged to bring a sack or bag to collect treats along the parade route.

Following the parade, a free slice of Papa Don’s pizza and a drink will be served to kids in costumes.

The Chamber is currently seeking sponsors and donations for the pizza lunch following the parade.

Contact the Chamber if interested at 620-223-3566
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee Hosted by Sleep Inn

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ANNOUNCING THIS WEEK’S
CHAMBER COFFEE
Join us for Chamber Coffee hosted by

Sleep Inn & Suites

Thursday, October 19th

8am

302 E. Wall

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee event this Thursday, October 19th at 8 a.m. to celebrate the 9th Anniversary of Sleep Inn & Suites located at 302 E. Wall St. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served in addition to a door prize drawing.

Sleep Inn and Suites is a 59-room simply stylish hotel that offers a long list of great amenities such as free parking, free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, access to a well-equipped fitness center, business center, and an indoor heated pool with a sundeck. Sleep Inn & Suites is convenient for business and leisure travelers and brings thousands of visitors each year into downtown Fort Scott.

 

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.

 

Click here for their Facebook Page!

We hope to see you there!
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members
shown below!
FORT SCOTT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
620-223-3566
Facebook  Twitter
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Kansas, Youth

Child Support Services Impacted by Kansas Court’s Network Security Issue

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CORRECTED: Child Support Services Impacted by Kansas Court’s Network Security Issue

TOPEKA – Due to the network security issue announced by the Kansas Judicial Branch last week, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is informing Kansans of delays that will occur to those working with the agency’s Child Support Services.

DCF works daily with Kansas courts to process child support court orders and payments on behalf of Kansas families. With the efiling and electronic court records system offline, Kansans should expect delays on returned filings, court hearings and orders being entered. Child support payments that are awaiting court orders or direction from DCF, Court Trustees, and county clerks will be delayed. Any orders filed prior to the week of Oct. 9 should continue to process properly.

DCF and its contracted partners of YoungWilliams and Maximus will continue to provide full-service operations through paper and fax filings. Johnson County is not impacted by this as the county operates on an efiling and case management system used only by the county.

Individuals with cases in process should consult the Child Support Services customer hotline at 1-888-757-2445 with questions or status information. Updates will be provided at the Kansas Payment Center website www.KSPayCenter.com.

Bourbon County, Government

Unapproved Minutes of the Uniontown City Council on Oct. 10

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CITY OF UNIONTOWN
UNIONTOWN, KS 66779

OCTOBER 10, 2023 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
The Regular Council Meeting on October 10, 2023 at Uniontown City Hall, was called to order at 7:00PM by Mayor
Jurgensen. Council members present were Jess Ervin, Danea Esslinger, Josh Hartman, Amber Kelly, and Bradley
Stewart. Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting were Danny Taylor, Codes Enforcement Officer Doug Coyan,
City Treasurer Charlene Bolinger, and City Clerk Sally Johnson.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS
Region H Multi-Hazard, Multi-Jurisdictional Mitigation Plan – Clerk Johnson communicated with Bourbon County Emergency Management that we adopted resolution to continue in June, 2022, and sent updates to the city’s portion of the plan. There has been no acknowledgement of the communication. She will followup.

Motion by Hartman, Second by Ervin, Approved 5-0 to enter into executive session pursuant to data relating to
financial affairs or trade secrets of second parties matters exception, KSA 4319-(b)(4), in order to discuss economic
development that pertains to private financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and
individual proprietorships, the open meeting to resume at 7:20, include Sally Johnson.
Open meeting resumed at 7:20PM. No action taken.

CITIZENS REQUEST
None

FINANCIAL REPORT

Treasurer Bolinger present the September 2023 Treasurer’s Report. Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds
was $385,053.49, Receipts $46,930.23, Transfers Out $3,026.00, Expenditures $33,645.50, Checking Account Closing
Balance $395,312.22. Bank Statement Balance $404,186.79, including Checking Account Interest of $82.69, Outstanding
Deposits $0, Outstanding Checks $8,874.57, Reconciled Balance $395,312.22. Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit
$33,433.01, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $19,939.88, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $33,710.66, Total All
Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $482,395.77. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $713.64, and Utility CDs
$682.57 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $1,396.21. Also included the status of the Projects Checking Account for the
month of September 2023, Beginning Balance $0, Receipts $0, Expenditures $0, Ending Balance $0. September
Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,402.00; from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond &
Interest $1,624.00; for Total Transfers of $3,026.00. Net Income for the month of September $10,258.73, Year-to-Date
Net Income $51,760.25. Budget vs Actual Water Fund YTD Revenue $90,189.41 (73.8%), Expenditures $84,841.97
(53.0%); Sewer Fund YTD Revenue $28,217.64 (76.5%), Expenditures $23,385.57 (56.8%); Gas Fund YTD Revenue
$109,050.40 (69.6%), Expenditures $98,075.55 (43.6%); General Fund YTD Revenue $150,127.90 (100.2%),
Expenditures $120,383.02 (65.0%); and Special Highway YTD Revenue $6,100.03 (81.8%), Expenditures $3,713.22
(31.8%). The October 2023 estimated payables in the amount of $35,838.69 were presented.

CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Ervin, Second by Hartman, Approved 5-0, to approve Consent Agenda as amended:
 Minutes of September 12, 2023 Regular Council Meeting
 Treasurer’s Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables

DEPARTMENT REPORTS
City Superintendent Rich on vacation.
Codes Enforcement Officer Coyan reported that he hasn’t seen any progress yet on 404 Washington, they have until
December 1 to complete exterior. The dead tree at 505 Wall has been removed. 201 Fulton, 303 Third, 401 Sherman,
201 Franklin, 307 Washington, and 306 Washington grass/weeds were discussed. Coyan will talk to or send letters as
needed. Clerk Johnson will get contact information for 201 Fulton and 201 Franklin for him. There are broken limbs
hanging in a tree on the easement between 406 and 408 Fulton.

Clerk Johnson reported on the KRWA webinar she attended regarding Lead Service Line Inventory and workshop on
Alcohol Beverage Control. She also handed out information on PFAS class action suit and Cybersecurity.

COUNCIL REPORT
Councilman Ervin – nothing
Councilwoman Esslinger – nothing
Councilman Hartman – nothing
Councilwoman Kelly – would like council salary put on agenda next month. Clerk Johnson is to present a draft ordinance
on amount and regulations for council pay.
Councilman Stewart – nothing
Mayor Jurgensen – nothing

OLD BUSINESS
Electrical in Park – 30AMP outlets have been requested for use for food trucks not during an event.
Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to set the fee for use of 30AMP outlets at $15

Street project – contractor will be in town October 12 to visit with Rich about the project and plan to begin on October
13.

Council asked to have procurement policy on next month’s agenda to review and amended, if needed.

Mural Grant – we have received the second payment from grant.

Placemaking Project – Blue Cross Blue Shield will be sending us the grant application that has to be filled out online.

Multi-use of the court was discussed. Specs for the project for bid request was discussed. Johnson will draw up bid
invitation, have reviewed,
and then sent out to area contractors.

Pond Project – signed contract has been received. We can request bids. They do not have to be sealed bids. Johnson
will order the weed barrier needed. Weeds coming through current weed barrier was discussed. Johnson will ask Don
George, KDWPT, what herbicide is acceptable.

NEW BUSINESS
Messaging System – council reviewed the information on several different systems and will not pursue at this time.

Moved by Ervin, Second by Hartman, Approved 5-0, to adjourn at 8:39PM

Obituary

Obituary of Billy J. Shepard

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Billy J. “Bill” Shepard, age 82, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died early Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at his home.  He was born on January 22, 1941, in Parsons, KS, the son of William Harvey Shepard and Daisy Bell Blackburn Shepard.  Bill was raised in Parsons and graduated from Altamont High School.

He worked for Precision Products in Parsons for 25 years.  After moving to Fort Scott, he worked for Extrusions Products until he had to leave due to health.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, working with wood, and bingo.  Bill married Kay Knight and to this union were born two daughters, Rhonda Joellen Rundle and husband Lenis, Carterville, MO, and Kristen Kaye Reel and husband Darin, Altamont, KS.

They later divorced.  He married Virginia (Ginny) Elbrader on May 10, 1990, in Fort Scott.

 

In addition to his wife Virginia, Bill is survived by his daughters; 5 grandchildren, Audry Enochs, Ashley Rundle, Shelby Farmer, Kyle Reel, and Meagan Genton; 5 great-grandchildren, Conor, Tahlia, Brook, Rylan, and Jaxson.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers Charles, Lloyd, and Wayne Shepard, 5 sisters, Virginia (Jupe) Walters, Ruby Walters, Bonnie Dack, Donna McElroy, and infant Erma Shepard.

 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, October 23rd, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Mt. Orum Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until service time Monday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to either Care to Share or Paws and Claws 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 to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Business, Youth

Young Entrepreneurs: Luke and Natalie Lehman

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This is part of a series featuring young people who have started selling a product or service. If you know of a young business person, send their email or phone number to [email protected]

Luke and Natalie Lehman are twins. Both are young entrepreneurs.

Luke Lehman sold his horseshoe creations at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on Sept. 30.

Luke Lehman,15, started a horseshoe-inspired gifts business in August because of the availability of materials.

“I sell small trinkets, made out of horseshoes, such as pumpkins, napkin holders, and Christmas ornaments,” he said. “I chose this to sell because my grandpa had a lot of horseshoes from auctions, and needed something to do with them. My dad had also made a few things out of them before.”

He calls his business Farmhouse Metalworks.

“I attended the Children’s Business Fair classes and learned about things like marketing, pricing, and target customers,” he said.

Natalie Lehman. Submitted photos.

Natalie Lehman, 15, is an artist by passion.

“I love to paint, watercolor, and use oil pastels,” she said.
The idea of her business started at Christmas last year.
“I got a box of blank cards and envelopes as well as some supplies to decorate them,” she said. “I made a few cards here and there but never thought it would turn into a business.”
Then Natalie and her brother Luke started attending the Children’s Business Fair seminars.
“When we started attending the business seminars, I was trying to think of what I would do for my business,” she said. “That night at dinner, my Grandma made a comment that she was having a hard time trying to find a card to give for the occasion of a baptism and asked if I would be interested in making her a custom card for that. And that’s where I got the idea to make cards for my business.”
The name of her business is Blessings Abundant (Designs of Devotion).
She creates custom cards and keychains.
Some of Natalie Lehman’s creations. Submitted.
She said the Children’s Business Fair gave some valuable information.
“It helped me understand more how to manage my money better, and how to get out of it the profit that I needed to pay for all the work and expenses I put into it,” she said.
Luke and Natalie are the children of Jacob and Amanda Lehman, Girard.
The Children’s Business Fair seminars are made available by the Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center and the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Fort Scott.
The Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center and the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team were sponsors of the Children’s Business Fair on Sept. 30 at the Fort Scott Farmers Market.

 

Bourbon County Local News