Kevin Allen Purchases Aunt Toadies Restaurant
Kevin “Skitch” Allen purchased Aunt Toadie’s Restaurant in October but officially took over the business on Dec. 12, 2022.
“My heart is on the east side of town,” he said.
Allen started his construction business and car wash on the east side of Fort Scott. Nineteen years ago he demolished a house on the west side of the Aunt Toadie’s restaurant property for the former owners Larry and Mary Jane McHenry.
That started a relationship with the McHenrys. Then two years ago he started dating their niece Alisha Jamison.
“One evening we were talking to Mary Jane and Larry and discovered they wanted to work less hours,” Allen said. “Alisha and I talked about it. She was interested in running the eating business and I am interested in eating.”
“I’ve never owned a restaurant before,” he said. But the McHenry’s have stayed on to help the transition until the end of December.
“Thankfully, Larry and Mary Jane made it a success,” he said. “It’s one more way to help out on my side of town.”
Allen has been doing work on the outside of the restaurant on East Wall since purchasing it.
The west side of the building will have an addition, which will double the size of the eating area.
“It will be called the Lily Pad,” he said. “That will be for people who enjoy watching (sport) games on TV. Possibly with beer, in the future with dining.”
Possible futuristic plans are a pickle ball court to the north of this new addition, he said.
“You’ll be able to walk out to a pickle ball court,” he said. “Playing off the idea of chicken and pickle ball.”
On the east side of the restaurant there will be table and chairs for an outdoor eating area in warmer weather.
Inside, he has purchased a new soft-serve ice cream machine and discovered an old milk shake machine which will be put to use once again.
“We plugged it in and it went,” Allen said.
Alisha Jamison is the new manager and they are keeping the current wait staff. Matt McHenry, Larry and Mary Jane’s son, has decided to stay as cook.
“That’s a blessing,” he said. “He has worked there since he was a child.”
“I’m the taste tester,” Allen said.
The hours and menu will remain the same, but there might be additional hours on Monday and Saturday in the future.
There may be some additions to the menu because “we’ve got some good cooks thinking up ideas,” he said.
“I want to thank the McHenry’s for allowing us to take over their family business,” Allen said. “We are going to work hard to keep the family food atmosphere.”
“And thanks also to Fort Scott customers for the years of patronage, we know they won’t be disappointed,” he said.
Warming Station At Buck Run Community Center Today
Taken From Bourbon County’s Facebook page:
The city will be opening Buck Run Community Center, 735 S. Scott as a warming shelter today. The phone number is223.0386.
Please do not go out unless necessary and if you do, take extreme caution in driving and make sure you have warmer than usual clothing on in case of a breakdown or accident.
Power is still an issue south of town to the Garland area but crews are working as fast as possible to get it restored.
Expanding Broadband Access in Kansas
Kansas Receives Nearly $5.7M to Expand Equitable Broadband Access
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced Kansas has received nearly $5.7 million to expand broadband access, adoption, and affordability, from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Office.
“Communities across the Kansas have enormous potential for a new chapter of innovation and success,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This funding will propel the state forward, accelerating our efforts to ensure all Kansans can fully participate in the digital world.”
The funds are part of the designated $65 billion as outlined in the federal bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021, dubbed the “Internet for All Initiative.”
“The Internet for All initiative will bridge the digital divide in Kansas and ensure rural areas have the service they need to access telehealth, education and jobs,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “I appreciate Governor Kelly’s commitment to connecting all Kansas homes and businesses to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service.”
“Kansans use the internet to work, learn, keep in touch with family, grow a business, get health care, and more. While access to high-speed internet is a gateway to opportunity, that opportunity is not distributed equally in our state,” said Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03). “I’m proud to have voted for this new federal funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law that will help every Kansan thrive in the digital age.”
The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD) will use these funds in a variety of ways. Almost $5 million will be used to deploy the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program that is part of the Internet for All Initiative. The remaining $692,000 will be used to deploy the first phase of NTIA’s Digital Equity Act.
“Broadband equity starts with access, but also includes adoption and application,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The state is committed to providing capacity and resources to ensure everyone has the access and skills needed to benefit from digital technologies in their lives.”
OBD will engage with stakeholders across Kansas to develop both a five-year action plan and a Statewide Digital Equity Plan, which will provide direction and measures to assist in deployment of high-speed affordable and reliable internet to all Kansans. Both plans will be submitted to NTIA by August 2023.
The office will hold events at 25 to 30 locations around the state beginning in January. Special attention will be paid to groups and communities that are disproportionately impacted by digital inequity. These groups include low-income households, aging populations, people with disabilities or language barriers, racial and ethnic minorities, rural inhabitants, incarcerated individuals, and veterans.
“These planning dollars will allow our office the opportunity to connect and engage with all Kansans,” said Jade Piros de Carvalho, Director of the Office of Broadband Development. “We will launch our planning efforts at our inaugural Kansas Broadband Summit on January 19 at Wichita State University. This event will be the first opportunity to connect with communities across Kansas and ask for partnership and support as we coordinate efforts to connect Kansans with high-speed, reliable internet access.”
All 50 U.S. states and six territories applied for planning grant funding from the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program and the Digital Equity Act program. Grant awards for all 56 eligible entities will be announced on a rolling basis.
Please visit the Kansas Office of Broadband Development website here. More information about the federal efforts is available at AffordableConnectivity.gov and InternetforAll.gov.
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Motor Carrier Restrictions Lifted For Winter Storm Relief
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No Bourbon County Commission Meeting on Dec. 27
There will be no Bourbon County Commission meeting on Dec. 27.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Dec. 21
Kansas 2021 Annual Summary of Vital Statistics Now Available
TOPEKA – Today, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has released the Kansas 2021 Annual Summary of Vital Statistics.
“The Kansas Annual Summary of Vital Statistics report contains information on births, deaths, marriages, divorces and more,” Kay Haug, State Registrar, said. “It is a valuable tool for public health program evaluation and community health assessment.”
Results from the report showed 31,637 Kansas resident deaths recorded in 2021, a decrease of 0.1 percent from the 31,667 deaths recorded in 2020. The 2021 death count remains higher than the 27,312 deaths recorded in 2019, largely due to the continuing Coronavirus 2019 pandemic. The Kansas age-adjusted death rate in 2021 (903.5 deaths per 100,000 standard U.S. 2000 population) was higher than in any other year in the last twenty (2002-2021).
Additional highlights from the Kansas 2021 Annual Summary include:
- Heart disease remains first among the leading causes of death for Kansas residents, and cancer the second.
- The number of live births to Kansas resident mothers in 2021 was 34,697, up one percent from 34,368 in 2010.
- Accidental deaths due to drugs rose from 432 in 2020 to 635 in 2021.
- The rate of 19.2 per 100,000 deaths by suicide matched that of 2018, it’s single highest in the past twenty years.
- 184 infant deaths occurred in 2021, was very close to the number seen in 2019.
- Death in Kansas was responsible for 245,414 years of potential life lost before age 75 in 2021.
Haug added vital records also are necessary for individuals to carry out day-to-day business such as obtaining passports, enrolling in schools, sports participation, starting new jobs, qualifying for subsidized housing, collecting life insurance benefits and transferring property.
State Agencies such as the Kansas Department of Children and Families, Disability and Aging Services, Department of Commerce and the Social Security Administration rely upon vital records, in addition to Kansas Department of Health and Environment in order to provide programming and services to promote health to Kansas citizens.
Vital statistics are compiled annually and released by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment each year during the last part of the year. The full vital statistics summary report is available for download here. The tables and charts contained in this report represent only a glimpse of the insight that can be gained from the data.
Additional data can be requested by calling (785)-296-8795 or visiting http://kic.kdheks.gov/.
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Hot Wok Restaurant Open on Christmas Day
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Governor Orders State Buildings Closed Due to Winter Storm
Governor Kelly Orders State Office Buildings Closed Thursday and Friday for State Employees in Shawnee County due to Winter Storm
TOPEKA – Due to safety concerns regarding the winter storm projected for the state on Thursday, December 22 and dangerously cold temperatures on Friday, December 23, Governor Kelly has issued a Declaration of Inclement Weather for Shawnee County, ordering state office buildings in Shawnee County to be closed on Thursday, December 22 and Friday, December 23, 2022.
“Due to the potential for hazardous road conditions, precipitation, and dangerously cold temperatures, we are closing state office buildings in Shawnee County on Thursday and Friday,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Please exercise extreme caution if traveling for the holiday weekend, give road crews enough space to do their jobs safely, and stay safe and warm.”
The declaration takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, December 21st and remains in effect until 11:59 p.m. Friday, December 23rd. Ambient temperatures 6 a.m. on Thursday will be 4 degrees with wind chills hitting -20 to -30 degrees. Additionally, with wind guests up to 40-45 mph, blizzard-like conditions are expected. Travel through midday Friday will be hazardous.
This declaration applies to all non-essential state employees in Executive Branch agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction who work in offices located in Shawnee County. During the period of Inclement Weather, essential employees are required to report to work as normal. Benefits-eligible non-essential employees should record Inclement Weather Leave during the period of Inclement Weather. Remote work is not being required.
This declaration does not include employees in the Board of Regents, Regents Institutions, the Judicial Branch, nor the Legislative Branch of Government. Their designated representative will make a separate declaration for those employees if appropriate.
To ensure consistent leadership during potentially dangerous road conditions, Secretary Lorenz will remain in her current role as Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary until midnight on Saturday, December 24, 2022. Calvin Reed will assume his role as Acting Secretary at KDOT on Sunday, December 25, 2022.
Appointing authorities in offices located outside Shawnee County have the option to declare Inclement Weather for those counties.
Brad Matkin is the New Fort Scott Interim City Manager
At the Fort Scott City Commission meeting on Dec. 20, Brad Matkin was promoted to interim city manager, after having served as assistant city manager since September 2022.
Josh Jones, a Fort Scott Commissioner, congratulated Matkins for being moved up to interim city manager on his Facebook page, following the meeting.
“The current interim city manager will be retained at a cheaper rate to provide guidance for Brad,” Jones said.
On Sept. 20, the City of Fort Scott hired Jeff Hancock as interim city manager, and appointed Brad Matkin, current Human Resource Director, to become assistant city manager in addition to his HR duties. Matkin’s salary was increased to $85,000 annually.
To view a prior story:
Zellner Resigns, New Interim Jeff Hancock is Hired as FS City Manager
Matkin is in a 90 evaluation period for the city manager position now, he said.
“They will review the situation in three months,” Matkin said. “I’ll still be doing the human resource duties but will be looking for additional staff to take over some of the roles I have.”
Matkin’s city manager duties include:
communications to citizens, staff, commission, and media;
staffing-there are currently 92 employees with searches on for one more in the streets, police and fire departments;
day-to-day operations;
and project management.
Here are the projects he manages as interim city manager:
There is a winter street project, which will be busy the next couple of days with an Arctic Blast headed this way.
“We’ve got a great group of guys in the streets department,” Matkin said. “And the street superintendent has been through this kind of weather before. The dump trucks and plows are ready.”
The water department could be busy with broken pipes during this upcoming Arctic Blast, he said.
Other projects under his jurisdiction: resolving the downtown parking shortage, the Memorial Hall renovation, the golf course and Gunn Park improvements, and 100 more Fort Scott blocks of streets to be chipped and sealed, Matkin said.
“And whatever comes up, day to day,” he said.
“As mayor, I have had the privilege of working with Mr. Matkin on many different occasions in his previous role as Assistant City Manager,” FS Mayor Katherine Harrington said. “I feel that over this time he has grown as a manager and demonstrated that he was ready to take on this new role as Interim. I look forward to working with him more in 2023 and seeing how he leads this community forward.”