Water Warning Update: the City of Fort Scott Water Utility Department opened the valve at Rock Creek five turns today. This was due to the level of water in the Marmaton River. As of today the river is at 8’4” deep which is much lower than the 9 1/2’ depth we need. At this time the valves at Cedar Creek and Rock Creek are the only ones open, the valve at Lake fort Scott remains closed. We would ask citizens to continue doing what you are doing to conserve water because it has been working and it is appreciated.
We are not sounding an alarm, just wanted to update our citizens on what the water situation is. We continue to need rain and hope it will come but for now we are ok with the levels we have at the three water sources and are monitoring them daily.
Patty LaRoche. 2023. Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection www.alittlefaithlift.com AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)
Air bags hurt. A lot. Trust me, I know.
Last week, I totaled an Excursion with six of my relatives in the vehicle. I missed a turn after entering a cloud of gravel and dirt on a country road near my son’s ranch and ended up in a deep ditch.
We left the Red Bull practice event at Adam’s ranch around 8:30 P.M. Dave’s family had flown in from Las Vegas to watch the festivities, all of them serious dirt-bike racers. To be able to watch the professionals perform their stunts was a dream-come-true for them. We loaded up in the car, everyone seat-belted in, with my step-daughter, her husband, their daughter and her husband, and their two children (a one-year-old and three-year-old) buckled in and sharing their thrills from the evening.
Because of a drought in our area, the roads were dry and dusty. Nothing I haven’t seen before. The details aren’t important, except that when we jerked to a halt, On-Star was activated and asked if it needed to call 9-1-1. “Yes” was said in unison. (We later found out that OnStar notified the emergency room that the hysterical cries of the babies was all the answer it needed.)
Cars coming up behind us immediately came to our aid, helping excavate those who had difficulty exiting the vehicle, tending to those who were bleeding or burned by the air bags, offering any help needed. The emergency vehicles were close behind, all providing necessary aid and transportation to the hospital.
Clearly, God had protected us from a much worse fate. Within twenty feet of where we landed was a telephone pole. Had we hit that, or had I jerked the Excursion to make the 90-degree turn, the outcome could have been much more deadly.
When we viewed the vehicle the day after the wreck, Dave, my son-in-law, noticed several triggered safety precautions. The brake lights were still on (serving as a warning to drivers behind us that we wrecked, and the brakes were locked (to keep us from continuing forward, should we be on a cliff.) Seat belts were extended, preventing anyone from buying the vehicle in this unsafe condition.
Sometimes, pain teaches the strongest lesson. When we loaded into the car, Tyler, the passenger in the rear seat, tried to lock down the headrest in front of him but couldn’t. That ended up being a projectile that hit the one-year-old above the eye and left a V-shaped hole in Tyler’s forehead that necessitated eight stitches. It seemed like such a little thing at the time. Another “little thing” I ignored was that a friend at the Red Bull site set a pin on my phone to navigate my way out of Missouri. When my son-in-law said that he knew the way, I never pushed the “pin” button. Had I done so, this accident would not have happened.
In the Bible, Solomon warned of the “little foxes” that spoil the vines, things we dismiss that lead to grave consequences. Drops of water are very small, yet how often they become a raging torrent. The termite is a small insect, but it can destroy a three-story house if ignored. Starting with one cigarette can make you feel cool until you end up with lung cancer. Sneak peeks at pornography are the leading cause of men and women entering sex-trafficking.
Louis of Granada, a Dominican priest of the 16th century, in The Sinner’s Guide advises us to resist small sins “for there is no enemy too weak to harm us if we make no resistance.” A careless sin life we label as small can morph into a lifestyle devoid of God.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Fulton public water supply system located in Bourbon County. The advisory was issued because of system upgrades leading to multiple line breaks resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Fulton indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 620-857-4464 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage: kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption.
The Devon Solar Farm is located at 135th and Range Road in Bourbon County.
Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Girard, is a distribution cooperative that has members in Bourbon County.
“What we do is buy wholesale power and distribute it to homes, farms, and businesses over our poles and wires,” said Doug Graham, Communication Specialist for Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. “So we don’t do much in the realm of generating electricity.”
Heartland provides service to around 11,250 meters, with around 1,700 located in Bourbon County, said Graham.
Heartland Adds Solar
“Within the last few years, it became apparent that we could reduce our wholesale power bill by using some locally generated solar energy,” he said. “We worked with our power supplier (KEPCo) to amend our contract so we and other cooperatives would be allowed to generate or otherwise procure up to 15% of our peak power demand, with 5% of that amount specifically allowing for the addition of solar.”
“The way we’ve approached solar has been to work with a company called Today’s Power, Inc. (TPI) to build solar farms on sites very close to our distribution substations,” he said. “We buy the land and lease it to TPI, and then TPI builds, operates, and maintains all the solar equipment.”
“We have long-term agreements with TPI to purchase the electricity generated by the solar farms at a set rate, which reduces how much energy we have to buy off the market,” Graham said. “This is especially beneficial during peak times when electricity is most expensive.”
In May 2021 Heartland built two 1-MW solar farms, one at Greenbush and the other at Urbana.
“The solar farm has a direct benefit to Heartland members in that it helps keep rates stable by reducing our wholesale power cost,” Graham said. “Having it be a clean and locally generated source of energy is a nice bonus.”
After they came online, the solar farms proved very effective at reducing costs, he said.
“We decided to pursue two slightly smaller (750 kW) solar arrays near our Devon and Linn substations,” he said. “The Devon array came online in the spring of 2023, while the Linn array is still in development. We have no other solar projects in development.”
The one in Bourbon County is located at 135th St. and Range Rd., just east of Heartland’s Devon distribution substation.
The 750 kW solar array powers around 130 homes.
The solar array panels in rural Bourbon County. Submitted photo.
These arrays are relatively small in utility terms, with a footprint of around seven acres for each, he said.
“The energy generated at each solar farm is used right away by the members on those substations,” he said. “It’s all local. In fact, we’re not allowed to push energy back onto the transmission grid, which is why it’s very important that we size our solar systems just right to match what our members served on those substations can actually use.”
“These solar farms are part of a larger statewide initiative called the Kansas Cooperative Sun Power Program, a partnership between TPI and 11 other Kansas co-ops. Joining forces with the other cooperatives helped everyone secure better pricing,” Graham said.
Solar Has Saved On Wholesale Power Bill
“So far this year, our three solar farms have saved us roughly 2.5% off of our wholesale power bill versus what we would have had to pay if we didn’t have solar in place to reduce the peak demand,” he said. “It’s a small thing we can do to help control costs while staying within the parameters of our contract with our power supplier. In a way, it’s a lot like what we ask our members to do on peak days in the summer: make small adjustments to your usage and save a little bit on your bill, which in turn adds up to significant savings for the co-op as a whole. That helps keep rates from climbing as fast as everything else these days.”
Is There a Sound Issue?
For neighbors the sound of the arrays is minimal.
“There’s a bit of a hum from the inverters that turn the DC power generated by the solar panels into AC power that can be used in homes, but it’s not very loud,” he said. “You could carry on a conversation at normal volume right next to the inverters. We haven’t had any complaints whatsoever.”
Governor Kelly Invites Public Input on Volume 2
of Broadband Plan
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced the release of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal Volume 2. As part of the planning process, the public is invited to submit their comments on the planning document. Together with the BEAD 5-Year Action Plan, Volumes 1 and 2 will help identify areas of need for high-speed internet buildout across the state and outline requirements for applicants to access grant funding.
“Our vision for Kansas is one where every resident, regardless of their location, has access to affordable, reliable internet,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The Volume 2 planning document sets a clear path to achieving that goal. I encourage all Kansans to be involved in the public comment process.”
Volume 2 outlines defined objectives for broadband infrastructure projects, transparent subgrantee selection processes, and the active participation of eligible entities, all aimed at providing affordable broadband service options to residents.
Additional components of Volume 2 include:
Plans for equipping the workforce with the necessary skills and resources to support broadband infrastructure development
Initiatives to promote the inclusion of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) in broadband projects
Strategies for identifying and mitigating cost-related barriers to broadband deployment
Consideration of the environmental impact of broadband projects and efforts to minimize their carbon footprint
An outline of the regulatory approach to be taken by eligible entities in support of broadband infrastructure development
“As we continue to support and invest in broadband infrastructure, we’re not just connecting people; we’re creating opportunities,” said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland. “High-speed broadband promotes access to telehealth, remote work, distance learning and entrepreneurship, which enrich our communities and create pathways to prosperity for Kansans.”
The BEAD program, established by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, has allocated more than $451 million to Kansas for the development of broadband networks.
The Kansas Office of Broadband Development remains committed to its mission of closing the digital divide and looks forward to continued collaboration with stakeholders to bring high-speed broadband connectivity to all communities across the state.
“This planning document is key to guiding a historic level of investment into broadband infrastructure,” Kansas Office of Broadband Director Jade Piros de Carvalho said. “Our office is committed to an open and fair granting process that ensures the best use of public funds.”
Public comments on Volume 2 can be submitted online here until November 12, 2023.
Learn more about the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Plan here.
CASA PROGRAMS IN 3 STATES BENEFIT FROM PLEDGE FUNDRAISER SPONSORED BY PETE’S CORPORATION OF ERIE DURING OCTOBER
Pete’s Corporation of Erie is hosting a pledge card fundraiser and other individual planned activities by each store on behalf of Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) during the month of October. Pete’s operates 54 convenience stores and fuel stations in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma and is in the 11th year of their ongoing special effort to fund increased services by CASA to abused and neglected children in the court system through no fault of their own. This year the fundraiser will benefit 6 individual CASA Programs in the region; CASA of the 31st Judicial District, CASA of the 4th, Bourbon County CASA and Tri-County CASA in Southeast Kansas; Child Advocates of Northeast Oklahoma and CASA of Jasper County in Missouri.
“Pinwheels for Prevention – Partners for Children” is an easy, stress-free and fun way to help children overcome abuse and neglect with CASA’s help. Pete’s cashiers will ask you to donate and all you do is say YES! You get to sign a Pinwheel Pledge Card and hang it in the store to commemorate your donation. It you donate $5 or more you get a raffle ticket good for a chance at winning a $25 prize in each store at the end of October. Then, the winners from each store will go on to a GRAND PRIZE DRAWING at the end of October for $250 at Pete’s Corporate Office in Parsons. Winners will be contacted by telephone, so be sure to include your number!
The funds raised are used to recruit, train, prepare, and support Volunteer Advocates who are specially trained by CASA and appointed by County Judges to help children who have been found to be in need of care by the court. The CASA Advocates partner with the children, speak up for their best interest in court and help guide them successfully through their time in foster care. Once appointed, the CASA is always there for the child until they are released from custody. CASA focuses on the needs of the children, spending less time in foster care, getting the right services to benefit them and making sure the Judge has all the information needed at Court time. Fundraising proceeds have also been used in emergencies and to pay for athletics, music lessons, summer camp, winter coats, Christmas gifts, adoption gifts, life books and special equipment and special clothing for children in the CASA programs. CASA programs are non-profit and must raise their own funds to operate. CASA Advocates are volunteers.
Pete’s Corporation has made the Pinwheel Fundraiser a competition between stores, area managers and district managers, offering corporate incentives to all employees to do their best for CASA. From there the managers and employees have gotten very creative and have taken the competition to heart! All stores do something special or host an event to supplement the fundraiser and many do some truly zany but really fun things! Several managers have taken cream pies to the face if the store reaches a set goal or offered to get dunked in a water tank for extra money; others have thrown a BBQ or pizza party when employees post so many pledge cards. There were dueling bake sales between stores in the same town; car washes that got drowned by rain but continued anyway; body painting; dance-a-thons; characters greeting customers; lotto winnings donated by employees and customers and public competition to have the most pinwheels on the wall! At the end CASA awards trophies and publicly recognizes the top 6 Pete’s Corporation Stores in several categories and representatives from each CASA program are on hand to congratulate them. A media event is planned for December 14th at the Convention Center in Parsons, KS.
Pete’s Corporation of Erie and CASA invite everyone to join the fun and help unfortunate children at the same time. Children who did nothing wrong but wound up in foster care anyway. Donations to CASA are fully tax deductable and CASA is recognized as a 501(c)(3) charity by the IRS.
5:15 to 5:45pm ~ Social & Networking, Refreshments & Spirits
5:45 to 6:15pm ~ Program
6:15 to 6:30pm ~ Wrap-up/Questions/Social
Free to attend!
Registration requested for planning purposes, click here to register.
Click here for the Facebook event, please help spread the word!
The event will feature Guest Speaker/Consultant
Toby Joplin on a Simple Model
Business Strategy for Future Success!
About the Program:
How is 2024 going to be better for your business than 2023? If we keep on doing what we have always done, we will keep getting what we have previously got – only if we are lucky! Retailers like Sears & Roebuck, Blockbuster, Radio Shack and many others have proven that past success is no guarantee of future success, regardless of the size of your business. And if we want better results in the future, we need to change what we are currently doing. It would sure help if we knew what the future holds. The best way to predict the future is to create it. While some things like the economy and interest rates are outside of our control, we have much more influence and agency over our future results than we realize. Would you like to know how to improve the results from your business in 2024?
At the Chamber After-hours on October 12th, Dr. Toby Joplin, who teaches the capstone business strategy course at the University of Tulsa and is the founder of the Joplin Consulting Group will explain a simple plan to help your business achieve its goals in 2024. Dr Joplin has been helping companies be more successful for over 25 years. He has helped companies from Kansas City to Fort Worth. He has helped companies from as small as start-ups to as large as $15 Billion in annual revenues – and nonprofit organizations too. (Your company’s revenues probably fall somewhere between $0 and $15 Billion.) Dr Joplin can help you too. On October 12th, Dr J, as he is affectionately referred by his students, will explain a simple model that you can follow to make 2024 your best year ever.
Harley Race’s World League Wrestling comes to Ft. Scott on Saturday, October 21st!
Professional Wrestling has been a staple in the Midwest of America for decades. Make the rounds from city to city, town to town, generations of families have been going to live pro-wrestling events for decades all over America, including Ft. Scott, KS. On Saturday October 21st, the first wrestling event to take place in decades will be held at the historic Memorial Hall.
Harley Race’s World League Wrestling is coming to town, and when people hear the name Harley Race, they know there is a level quality that comes along with it. Created by the 8-Time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion and WWE Hall of Famer, Harley Race started WLW in 1999 with the intentions of giving fans an alternative that is based around what fans want to see – true professional wrestling. Today, the promotion is as strong as ever and is looking forward to coming to Memorial Hall and Ft. Scott.
“Wrestling fans are in for a treat come October 21st” said WLW wrestler Leland Race, “it has been close to 40 years since professional wrestling has been at Memorial Hall and we are looking forward to showing up and showing out!”
Matches scheduled to take place include WLW Heavyweight Champion Superstar Steve defending his championship against Ben Trust, WLW Tag-Team Champions Leland Race and Camaro Jackson defending their championships against The Premiere (SK Bishop and Campbell Myers). Other wrestlers scheduled to appear include Moses “The Deliverer”, Rahim de la Suede, Kenny Alfonso, Aden Riley, and more!
This event will be taped for the World League Wrestling flagship television program – “SHOWDOWN” – that currently airs in 15 markets across America including St. Louis, MO, Columbia, MO, Dallas, TX, New York, NY, Indianapolis, IN, and many more.
Make sure that you make plans on attending the event on October 21st at the historic Memorial Hall in Ft. Scott, KS. Doors for this event will open at 6 PM and bell time is at 7 PM. Ticket prices start at $20. Prices for tickets will rise the day of the event, so get yours now and don’t miss out!. For more information, visit www.advancebourboncounty.com or call 573-392-4100.
“USD 235 is excited to be the recipient of a hydroponic shipping container farm through a grant awarded to the Kansas Division of Children and Families,” USD 235 Superintendent Vance Eden said. “It was announced on September 11th, 2023 that Community Green Farms of Pittsburg Kansas would receive just over $1,000,000 to bring seven southeast Kansas counties vertical hydroponic container farms.”
Vance Eden, superintendent of USD 235. Photo from the school district’s website.
“Uniontown Schools has been selected to be the recipient for Bourbon Couty,” Eden said. “These shipping containers use state-of-the-art technology to efficiently produce hyper-organic products in significant quantities within a minimal footprint.”
The greens grown will be consumed at the two school building’s cafeterias in the district.
“Not only will this space serve as a hands-on learning environment that will be used across the spectrum of ages and courses, but it will also provide produce that can be consumed in our cafeterias,” he said. “We believe this opportunity will serve students and their futures in dynamic and tangible ways.”
The container has been ordered and will be placed on the school campus during the last week of November.
“Then, the setup of the farm and training for key staff will take place in December,” he said. “This means that it will be in production and available for student and teacher use during the second semester.”
“Mrs. Delta Pollock will be a leader, helping staff and students step into this new experience with confidence while Mrs. Shayla Knight will manage the food-service portion of vegetable production for our cafeterias,” he said.
Learning and adjusting will be part of the process of integrating hydroponics into learning experiences for the students in USD 235, he said.
“We eagerly jump into this opportunity with dreams and excitement for the impact that can be realized,” Eden said.
Once the container farm is established, community members will be invited to an open house “to see and taste what this new opportunity looks like in person,” Eden said.
“We want to publicly acknowledge Community Green Farms in their selection of USD 235 as the recipient and commend them on their commitment to bringing these opportunities to southeast Kansas schools at no cost,” he said.
The USD 235 Board of Education Office is located in Uniontown High School.
