Bo Co Coalition Minutes of Nov. 3
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Minutes
November 3, 2021
To help us with the decision on when to return to face-to-face meetings only, please let Billie Jo Drake know if your agency is continuing the ban on face-to-face meetings. If still not attending in person, is there a timeline for when it is possible?
- Welcome: Fifteen members representing fifteen agencies attended. Billie Jo reported that we will continue to have our General Membership meetings at the Scottview Apartments; the December meeting will be at noon; beginning in January, we will meet at 1:00 p.m. In an effort to resume face-to-face only meetings, she will poll the membership to ascertain when we might be able to discontinue the Zoom meeting option. She also thanked the members for making a last minute location change due to the heating problems at the HBCAT office.
- Member Introductions and Announcements:
- Megan Rogers, Safehouse, noted that they have programs available for those in crisis situations; call 620-231-8251 for more information.
- Shana McClure, DCF, updated members on several programs available now or in the near future; consult www.dcf.ks.gov to get information. She also noted that LIEAP applications will be available in December.
- Michelle Stevenson, Fort Scott Early Childhood Program, noted that the Early Childhood Coalition is making good headway with school readiness. She provides in house support for children before they enter school; she has several openings.
- Christine Abbott, SEKansasWorks, noted that the recent Youth Summit had 94 participants; another summit will be planned for the spring. She has funding available for helping youth with careers. She continues to be available at the HBCAT office on Mondays.
- Tammy Alcantar, Crawford County Health Department, announced that WIC will be on Monday next week due to Veterans Day. She reminded members that there are incentives for those who successfully participate in the “Baby and Me – Tobacco Free” program.
- Jody Hoener, HBCAT, urged county residents to complete the HBCAT survey which is available until the end of November; survey can be accessed at HBCAT.org. There is an incentive to complete and submit the survey. Jody then introduced Rachel Carpenter.
- Rachel Carpenter, HBCAT, shared that the organization has developed three grant programs, funded by the Patterson Family Foundation, for minority, women-owned or low-income start-up businesses, restaurants and food retail, and farmer/ranchers. Rachel will be the program coordinator.
- Sandy Haggard, RSVP, informed members that she now has twelve volunteers in Bourbon County working at the Scottview Apartments and The Beacon.
- Allen Schellack, Compassionate Ministries and Salvation Army, reminded members that all monies raised in the Salvation Army bucket campaign will remain in Bourbon County; he can always use more volunteers to ring bells. Because Compassionate Ministries received a Fort Scott Area Community Foundation grant, he is able to help people with heaters and taxi tickets, as well as, provide help to the homeless.
- Allen also shared some news from Jackie Sellers, Bourbon County Senior Citizens: There will be no Meals on Wheels delivered on November 24 and 25; there will be no taxi service on November 25 and 26.
- Amanda Gilmore, Fort Scott Lighthouse, announced that they have a service on the second Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Scott Inn. They host a Bible study and prayer meeting every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at 728 Heylman.
- Patty Simpson, Fort Scott Housing Authority, has a waiting list for one-bedroom apartments but has several two and three-bedroom apartments ready for occupancy now. She also noted that the Kansas KEBA program is still taking applications for rental assistance.
- Elizabeth Schafer rejoiced that the handicapped swing donated by the Pioneer Kiwanians has now been installed at Gunn Park.
- Jean Tucker, Feeding Families in His Name, announced that she has 34 more days as the director of the program; then, a committee of volunteers will be taking over that duty. She noted that they were providing 300-350 meals each Wednesday and several other churches and organizations were helping with the process which has been in existence for ten years. Jean also introduced Chris Eshelman, minister of the First United Methodist Church
- Hannah Geneva, SEK Multi County Health Department, was unable to attend because they were doing a booster dose clinic at the health department. They are now offering COVID-19 booster vaccines; contact 620-223-4464 for further information/scheduling.
- Program: Stacy Dickerhood, Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging. This is a non-profit agency serving seniors (60+) in Allen, Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson counties. The Area Agency on Aging provides attendant care and homemaker services to those individuals meeting functional and financial guidelines with the goal of keeping people in their homes. The agency also provides funding for information and assistance, Meals on Wheels, Medicare counseling, Legal Services, caregiver support, case management, and respite care. Additional information can be found at 620-431-2980 or 1-800-794-2440. The care giver support group in Fort Scott meets the third Wednesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. at Papa Don’s
- Open Forum: Nothing further came before the group.
- Adjournment: Next General Membership meeting will be December 1, 2021.
2021 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections Underway
2021 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections Underway
Ballots To Be Mailed to Eligible Voters Beginning This Week
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots this week for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county and urban county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these committee members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. To be counted, producers and landowners must return ballots to their local FSA county office or be postmarked by Dec. 6, 2021.
“Now is your opportunity to elect fellow farmers and ranchers in your community to serve on the local county committee,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “These committees are a critical piece to the work we do by providing knowledge and judgment as decisions are made about the services we provide. Your voice and vote matters.”
Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation but may not have applied or received FSA program benefits. Also, for County Committee elections, producers who are not of legal voting age, but supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, are eligible to vote.
Producers can find out if their LAA is up for election and if they are eligible to vote by contacting their local FSA county office. Eligible voters who do not receive a ballot in the mail can request one from their local FSA county office. To find your local USDA Service Center, visit farmers.gov/service-locator. Visit fsa.usda.gov/elections for more information.
About Committees
Each committee has from three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office, and at least one seat representing an LAA is up for election each year. Newly elected committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2022.
Urban and Suburban County Committees
Ballots to elect urban committee members were sent beginning Nov. 1, 2021. These elections will serve local urban producers in the same jurisdiction. A fact sheet on the urban county committee election and a list of eligible cities can be found at fsa.usda.gov/elections.
The 2018 Farm Bill directed USDA to form urban county committees as well as make other advancements related to urban agriculture, including the establishment of the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. Urban county committees will work to encourage and promote urban, indoor and other emerging agricultural production practices. Committee members will provide outreach to ensure urban producers understand USDA programs and serve as the voice of other urban producers. Additionally, the new county committees may address areas such as food access, community engagement, support of local activities to promote and encourage community compost and food waste reduction. Learn more at farmers.gov/urban.
More Information
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
Police Chief Shelton: 25 Years in Service With FSPD
Travis Shelton, Chief of Police of the Fort Scott Police Department, has reached a milestone, 25 years with the department.
Shelton has held positions of officer, K9 Handler, sergeant, lieutenant, and chief of police.
He earned an associate of science degree from Fort Scott Community College, and a bachelor of science in criminal justice administration from Missouri Southern State University.
Shelton is involved in the community as well.
“I am currently on the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Board of Directors, a member of the Kiwanis Club, former board member at the Key Hole (Youth Center), former adjunct instructor at Fort Scott Community College, and former little league football coach,” he said.
For Shelton, the best part of his career has been the people in the community, he said.
“Unlike other parts of our country in today’s world, we have a lot of support from our community,” Shelton said. “Fort Scott is a great place to live and work with people who genuinely want what is best for our city.”
Shelton said the greatest challenge as chief of police is recruiting and retaining qualified police applicants and officers.
“This is one of the biggest challenges police departments across the country have at this point in time,” he said.
His wife, Gina Shelton, is the USD 234 Business Manager / Board Clerk. He has a son, Nick, 21, and a daughter Maci,16 years old.
FSCC All-American Meat Judgers
Submitted by Sara Sutton, Fort Scott Community College Agriculture Instructor
“Our season has come to an end but I wanted to share some exciting academic news,” she said. “Eight All-American meat judgers are selected at the end of each season. This is based on high contest scores as well as GPA. Our program had 4 of those 8 spots! This is not an easy accomplishment so if you have or see the following students, please congratulate them.”
First Team All American
Sierra Graham
Cord Dodson
Second Team All American
Ethan Westerman
Lila wood
Chamber Coffee At VFW
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Join us for this week’s
Chamber Coffee hosted by
VFW Post 1165
Thursday, November 4th
8 am
1745 S. National
Fort Scott, KS
VFW is the largest and oldest war Veteran’s service organization, and they have a long and proven history of providing vital assistance and support to America’s servicemen and women worldwide
Click here to visit their Facebook page.
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Guidelines for Pfizer Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11
Kansas Adopts FDA, CDC Guidelines for Pfizer Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that Kansas will adopt the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommendations for administering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5-11 under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), making all Kansans 5 and older eligible for the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine.
“With this new development, the tools we need to keep kids safe and in school – and finally return to normal – are more accessible than ever,” Governor Kelly said. “We’ve been preparing for this announcement for months – and we stand ready to distribute this vaccine quickly and efficiently to every Kansas community. The vaccine is safe, effective, and free – and I encourage all Kansas parents to get their kids aged 5 and older vaccinated as soon as possible.”
This vaccine dose was designed for children, and underwent additional clinical trials specifically for people ages 5-11 to determine that the vaccine was safe, effective, and appropriately dosed to minimize any possible side effects.
The Pfizer vaccine formulation has already been administered more than 380 million times in the United States since it was first authorized in December 2020 and continues to prove effective while undergoing intensive safety monitoring.
“While we have seen lower rates of COVID infections in children as compared to adults, the Delta variant brought the levels of infections in kids to record highs. This important development will help keep children safe and stop the spread of COVID-19,” Lee Norman, M.D., Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said. “These vaccines have been proven to prevent COVID-19 infection, severe illness, hospitalization, and death, and are important to get even if your child has already had COVID. But don’t just take my word for it – talk to your local doctor, get all the facts, and make the best choice to protect your family. Vaccination is the key to beating this pandemic.”
All 5 to 11-year-old children can now receive their Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from a large network of vaccine providers across Kansas, including doctor’s offices, retail pharmacies, local health departments, and clinics.
In addition, many community partners and schools may also offer the COVID-19 vaccine for Kansas children. Information on locations offering vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 will be available at https://www.vaccines.gov/, and we recommend calling your local provider to confirm availability as well.
Children under the age of 5 are not yet eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC and FDA will continue to monitor the safety and efficacy data of vaccines and consider expanding eligibility for vaccines at appropriate doses for children under the age of 5, pending further review. Additionally, the FDA and CDC have not yet provided approval or guidance on Moderna’s vaccine for children aged 5-11. Please refer back to KDHE’s website for up-to-date information as guidance on vaccines for children continues to evolve at https://www.kdheks.gov/.
Bourbon County Coalition Meets at Scottview Apartments at Noon Today
Due to a problem with the heating system at Healthy Bourbon County Action Team office, the Bourbon County Coalition will meet today at noon at the Scottview Apartments, where they have been meeting.
The apartment manager has another meeting scheduled for the room at 1 p.m., so the meeting will be finished by that time.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Nov. 3
Evergy Announces Third Quarter 2021 Results
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Bourbon County Election Results November 2, 2021
These results are unofficial until canvassed by the Bourbon County Commission.
The results are provided by the Bourbon County Clerks Office.
SUMMARY REPORT- of the 2021 CITY SCHOOL GENERAL-ELECTION UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
NOVEMBER 2, 2021
11/02/21 08:28 PM REPORT
TOTAL VOTES
CITY COUNCIL BRONSON
(Vote for 2
Clearsia Botts. . . . . . . . . 29
Kayla Greenway. . . . . . . . . 22
Kelly Perry. . . . . . . . . . 23
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 2 2.
CITY COUNCIL MAPLETON
(Vote for 2
Mike Blevins . . . . . . . . . 6
Homer Wisdom . . . . . . . . . 5
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0
CITY COUNCIL REDFIELD
(Vote for 2
Michael Beerbower. . . . . . . . 19
Kirby Martin . . . . . . . . . 20
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 3 7
CITY COUNCIL UNIONTOWN
(Vote for 2
Jess Ervin . . . . . . . . . . 41
Amber Kelly. . . . . . . . . . 34
Kyle Knight. . . . . . . . . . 19
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 3 3
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER POSITION 4 USD 234
(Vote for 1
David Stewart . . . . . . . . . 1,111
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 75
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER POSITION 4 USD 235
(Vote for 1
Brian Ray Stewart. . . . . . . . 176
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 9 4
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER POSITION 5 USD 234
(Vote for 1
Garold (Gary) Billionis. . . . . . 566
Casey Bolden . . . . . . . . . 374
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 408
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER POSITION 5 USD 235
(Vote for 1
Mike Mason . . . . . . . . . . 200
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 7 3
CITY COMMISSION FORT SCOTT
(Vote for 3
Michael Hoyt . . . . . . . . . 220
Josh Jones . . . . . . . . . . 635
Ann Rawlins. . . . . . . . . . 137
Tim Van Hoecke. . . . . . . . . 668
Judy Warren. . . . . . . . . . 232
Matthew Wells . . . . . . . . . 454
Willa Wilson . . . . . . . . . 94
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 42
MAYOR BRONSON
(Vote for 1
Joshua Marlow . . . . . . . . . 30
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4
MAYOR FULTON
(Vote for 1
NO CANDIDATE FILED . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 14
MAYOR MAPLETON
(Vote for 1
Ronald B Burton Jr . . . . . . . 6
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0
MAYOR REDFIELD
(Vote for 1
Wilma K. Graham . . . . . . . . 8
Clarence Ed Guss . . . . . . . . 16
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0
MAYOR UNIONTOWN
(Vote for 1
Larry Jurgensen . . . . . . . . 43
Bill Marlow. . . . . . . . . . 11
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0
CITY COUNCIL FULTON
(Vote for 5
NO CANDIDATE FILED . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 44
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER POSITION 6 USD 234
(Vote for 1
Brian L. Allen. . . . . . . . . 848
Tracy King . . . . . . . . . . 286
Joshua Query . . . . . . . . . 217
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 18
USD 235
(Vote for 1
Tyler J. Martin . . . . . . . . 209
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER POSITION 6 USD 248
(Vote for 1
Kelly Peak . . . . . . . . . . 0
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0
SOUTHWIND EXTENSION DISTRICT
(Vote for 2
Ethan A Holly . . . . . . . . . 711
Gary Palmer. . . . . . . . . . 1,328
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 15
Fort Scott Community College BOARD OF TRUSTEES
(Vote for 3
John Bartelsmeyer. . . . . . . . 988
James L. Fewins . . . . . . . . 633
Bryan Holt . . . . . . . . . . 1,103
Bill Meyer . . . . . . . . . . 525
Kevin D Wagner. . . . . . . . . 570
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 28
Grants Available for Economic Stability and Rural Food Systems
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Inc. (HBCAT) has developed three grant programs, funded by the Patterson Family Foundation, for minority, women-owned or low-income start-up businesses, restaurants and food retail, and farmers/ranchers. Tools and technical assistance to increase the chance of a sustainable business model will be provided, free of cost, by a team of support organizations at the Action Team’s Center for Economic Growth (Center).
The Center’s team is made of Dacia Clark, Assistant Director with Pittsburg State Small Business Development Center (PSU SBDC), Lindsay Madison, President and CEO Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, Jody Hoener, President and CEO HBCAT, Rachel Carpenter, Program Coordinator HBCAT, and Christina Abbott, Southeast KANSASWORKS. Together the collaboration is offering a one-stop-shop to community members seeking to build financial stability.
Each grant program will have separate eligibility criteria.
All three grant programs will require the applicant to be an official client of the PSU SBDC at the Center, develop a plan and financial projections.
Food retail/restaurant and farmer/rancher grants will be required to submit documentation of a wholesale relationship.
“One goal with this funding is to support our local farmers and ranchers,” Jody Hoener, HBCAT, “We want to be able to eat food grown locally or meat raised in Bourbon County in our schools, restaurants, and stores.”
In addition, the Center is seeking to support individuals who have dreams of building their own business but don’t know where to start.
“Many of our clients have innovative ideas and develop solid business plans, they just need a little extra financial support to kickstart their business,” Dacia Clark, PSU SBDC.
Like many rural communities, Bourbon County has seen inadequate levels of venture or capital injection and historically no programming available to focus on employment, mentoring, business planning or other wealth-building strategies. The Center is addressing this need.
Individuals interested in applying for one of the three programs are encouraged to reach out to Rachel Carpenter at [email protected].
Find us on social media! On Facebook, Instagram and Twitter #healthybbco
Background of The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team:
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is a Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways to Healthy Kansas Community. Its mission is to increase access to healthy food and physical activity, promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance quality of life and encourage economic growth. The problems of health inequity and social injustice are complex in nature and inextricably linked to key economic indicators. A healthy workforce is a prerequisite for
economic success in any industry and in all cities.
Contact information:
Jody Hoener, President and CEO
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc
620-215-5725
[email protected]
Rachel Carpenter
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc
620-215-2562
[email protected]
Mary Hunt, Interim Operations Director
Southeast KANSASWorks
Desk: 620-232-1222
Cell: 620-670-0006
Website: www.sekworks.org
Dacia Clark, Assistant Director, PSU SBDC
[email protected]
785-445-2537
Lindsay Madison, President and CEO
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
[email protected]
(620) 223-3566
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions
participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any
program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs).
Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form.
To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
b. Exceptions to Including the Full USDA Nondiscrimination Statement