Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

STEP INTO SUMMER SIDEWALK SALE

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Step into Summer Sidewalk Sale that will take place Downtown and Around on Saturday, May 21st. 

 

Participating merchants include Angie Dawn’s Boutique, Bartelsmeyer Jewelry, Bids & Dibs, Hare & Crow barber Shop, Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore, Iron Star Antiques & Such, Main Street Vintage & Co., Mayco Ace Hardware, Museum of Creativity Gift Shop, Ruddick’s Furniture & Flooring, Shirt Shack, Sunshine Boutique, and Treasure Hunt Flea Market. 

 

The Step into Summer Sidewalk Sale is a great opportunity to support locally owned retailers while enjoying refreshments and finding good deals.

Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for more information at 620-223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.

Business, Fort Scott

Historic Buildings Are Given New Life

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11 N. Main.

Eddie Townley and his wife, Susan, have purchased two historic buildings in downtown Fort Scott.

Ed and Susan Townley with their daughters from left Cheyanne Griffin, Dani Townley and Ella Townley. Pictured in the store front before the renovation of the building at 11 N. Main began in November 2021.

One, 11 N. Main,  is now completed and put to use, the other, 12 N. Main is on the agenda for updating.

11 N. Main seen through the front window. May 2022.

11 N. Main is the former Books and Grannies Book Store which was purchased in January 2021, while 12 N. Main is the former Country Cupboard.

11 N. Main as seen from the back door on Skubitz Plaza. May 2022.

At 11 N. Main, “We emptied it out, rearranged some walls, and made an ADA compliant bathroom on the first floor,” Townley said. “We also did painting, new flooring and painted the ceiling.”

“It turned out really nice,” he said. “It is rented by a Fort Scott Greyhound legacy group, as a gathering place.”

The building has about 1,700 square feet on the first floor. The second floor is a later project, he said.

12 N. Main, the former Country Cupboard

12 N. Main is slated for renovation completion in the summer of 2022, according to new owner Eddie Townley.

12 N. Main was purchased by the Townleys in December 2021.

“We are going to give it a good facelift and bring it up to date,” he said. “Bathrooms, flooring, painting.” The timeline is summer 2022 completion.

“The Country Cupboard was a great building with good bones,” Townley said.

This building use is undetermined as yet, Townley said.

12 N. Main was formerly the Country Cupboard, a decades old business which was an anchor in the historic Fort Scott Downtown.

Townley said he “wants to see the downtown come back to life,” and wants to be active in the revitalization.

“We would, like the Renard’s want to be involved in the community,” he said.

Judy and John Renard owned the Country Cupboard for many decades and was an anchor store in downtown Fort Scott.

To view more history of the building:

Country Cupboard To Close For Good, Until Then Saturdays Only

 

 

Airport, Fort Scott, Government

Sens. Moran, Marshall Announce 23 Grants for Kansas Airports 

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Roger Marshall, M.D. today announced 23 U.S. Department of Transportation grants for Kansas airports. These grants will be used to make repairs and upgrades to the airports.

 

“Local airports help bring economic opportunities and critical resources to communities across Kansas,” said Sen. Moran. “These grants are an investment into regional Kansas airports to make certain they are running safely and efficiently to support interstate commerce and travel to and from Kansas.”

 

“Airports throughout our state provide essential services and expand business opportunities for Kansans,” said Sen. Marshall. “Through these grants, each of these airports will be able to make crucial repairs and upgrades. No doubt, the improvements made will allow the airports to better serve Kansas communities, and I’m glad to see this type of investment in our airports.”

 

Grant Recipients

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Scout Trees Now to Prevent Future Problems

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Krista Harding
District Extension Agent, Horticulture
Southwind Extension District
111 S. Butler
Erie, KS 66733
Office: 620-244-3826
Cell: 620-496-8786

Scout Trees Now to Prevent Future Problems

Trees are a huge asset to the landscape. They offer us considerable energy savings when properly placed. Whether you have just planted new trees or have large majestic trees, they can become the targets of disease, insects and human error that can slow their growth and even kill them. This article will cover several tree troubles to be on the lookout for in the next few weeks.

First, I want to address mulching. Unfortunately, as I drive around our communities, I continue to see what is known as the “mulch volcano.” This is the practice of piling mulch high up the trunk of a tree and sloping it down towards the ground – like the shape of a volcano!

When mulch is applied in this manner, it is very detrimental to the tree. It confuses the tree to thinking that the soil level has changed. This will cause the tree to start growing roots into the mulch and can even start to cause decay in the trunk. Mulch applied too deeply can actually prevent moisture from reaching the soil and suffocate the roots – causing the tree to die.

If you are guilty of the mulch volcano, it can easily be fixed by dragging the mulch away from the trunk and reshaping the pile. Mulch should be kept 3-6 inches away from the trunk and should be spread out away from the tree in each direction at least 3 feet – more if you can. As for mulch thickness, 3 to 4 inches is all that is needed.

The pine trees in our area continue to decline. Have you noticed how some pines are exhibiting an abnormal amount of browning to the needles? The trees have been hit by Dothistroma needle blight. This is a common and serious disease of pines. This needle blight is characterized by the heavy loss of older, inner needles, plus the appearance of small black fruiting structures on needles in the spring. Copper-containing fungicides can be used for control. However, many of the trees in our area may have already been lost.

Finally, bagworm season is nearing. They are a yearly pest in our area and can cause considerable damage. Eastern red cedar and junipers are the most commonly affected species, although bagworms can attack arborvitae, spruce, pine and some broadleaf trees and shrubs.

Bagworm larvae will begin emerging any time now. Hatching does not happen overnight. Instead, hatching can continue for 4 to 5 weeks. When hatched, they will be very small and rather difficult to see. As they consume plant material, the larvae will become larger and larger and so will the new bags.

Many times, homeowners don’t begin worrying about bagworms until they are large and easy to see! At that point, chemical controls are a waste of time and money. Chemical control is most effective when larvae are in their early developmental stages. There are a number of insecticides that are effective against bagworms this time of year.

Trees are an investment! Don’t let disease or insect damage take hold. The Extension office is available to help you with any tree issues you may be facing. For assistance, please contact me at one of our Southwind Extension District office locations.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District.  She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

 

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

Opinion

Jumping Through Hoops by Carolyn Tucker

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Keys to the Kingdom

 

I’ve blazed an easy-to-follow trail from California to Missouri to Kansas for the past 64 years. On my last birthday, I was required to renew my driver’s license. I understand the need for rules, regulations, stipulations, and statutes, but jumping through all those flaming hoops nearly caught my clothes on fire! I presented my California birth certificate, Missouri marriage license, Kansas driver’s license, social security card, and homeowner’s insurance bill as required. Several days later, I was pleased to receive my new driver’s license with a gold star in the upper right-hand corner. I had to go through a lot of red tape to prove I was who I’ve always been. What’s funny is that the day I renewed my license I had a really good hair day, so my photo doesn’t even look like me!

 

Before Jesus came, God instituted a strict religious system of laws and statutes for burnt offerings, grain offerings, food and drink offerings,  peace offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, etc. “Under the Old Covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins” (Hebrews 10:11 NLT). The old sacrificial system that was implemented in Leviticus ended the moment Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the law for sin offerings.

 

As a contemporary Christ follower, I’m truly thankful to be living under the new and better covenant. “Then He said, ’Look, I have come to do Your will.’ He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. …our High Priest offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand” (Hebrews 10:9,10,12 NLT). All the arduous red tape with offering animal sacrifices was abolished and replaced with the one perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Once and for all, the shedding of Jesus’ blood marvelously redeemed us to live completely free in Christ. Hymnist Elisha A. Hoffman asks the question, “Are you washed in the blood, in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?”

 

When Jesus gave up His spirit on the cross, something miraculous happened in the Temple. “At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom“ (Matthew 27:51 NLT). God’s plan of salvation under the new  covenant was literally made visible when the curtain split open. Direct access to God was made possible only through the death and resurrection of Jesus. The requirement to jump through the hoops of sacrificial sin offerings was declared null and void.

 

How should we live in proper response to God’s loving mercy and Jesus’ supreme sacrifice? In Romans Chapter 12, Paul encourages believers to surrender ourselves to God and be His sacred living sacrifices. He admonishes us to live in holiness and stop imitating the ways and opinions of the culture around us. Consecrating our lives in total commitment to God should be our heart’s desire. “For God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20 NLT).

 

The Key: Thanks to Jesus, believers can let out a victory whoop instead of jumping through hoops.

Opinion

Tax and Spend by Gregg Motley

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I have relatives that live in Georgia who want to move back to their home state of Kansas to retire, but are taken aback by the additional taxes they must pay for the privilege of living here.  I have been providing them with data on the tax rates of different counties.  They cannot justify the additional $200,000+ in taxes it would take to live here over the course of their retirement just to be closer to family.

 

The Tax Foundation, Inc. (www.taxfoundation.org) calculates state rankings by taking the taxes paid for all purposes across the state and dividing by the number of residents to come up with a statewide number; Federal taxes are excluded.  They have been accumulating and reporting this data since 1937.  They report that Kansas ranked 20th out of the 50 states at $5,185 per person, according to the latest data from 2018.  Parsing the data between state and local taxes made no difference in our ranking.

 

Tax collections of $11,311 per capita in the District of Columbia surpass those in any state. The three states with the highest tax collections per capita are New York ($9,829), Connecticut ($8,494), and North Dakota ($7,611). The three states with the lowest tax collections per capita are Tennessee ($3,286), Alabama ($3,527), and South Carolina ($3,705).

 

Kansas ranks worst among all the surrounding states, except Nebraska, which ranks 17th and collects about $179 per person more than we do.  The best ranked state is our area is Oklahoma at $3,850 per person, earning them a ranking of 45th; Missouri is not far behind at 41st.

 

The first comparison that potential new residents consider is the cost of property taxes on houses; I don’t have to tell you that we fail that comparison miserably.  One can only conclude that the cost of government for all purposes inside our state boundaries is too high.

 

The good news for Kansas is that we are number two on the list of the Cost of Living Index, as compiled by the Council for Community & Economic Research; only Mississippi had a lower cost of living.  Of our Midwest neighbors, Oklahoma is 4th and Missouri is 7th.  For highly taxed Nebraska, the news is not as good, as they were ranked 19th of the 50 states.

 

If Kansas and Bourbon County want to promote economic development, we need to address this issue.  If we can’t convince relatives who were born and raised here to come back for retirement, what chance do we have with those who have never lived here?  Local governments must look at ways to cooperate across jurisdictional lines to share resources and save expenses.  It is the only way I can see that will give us the opportunity to lower taxes while not making drastic cuts to services.  It is imperative for us to take action unless we want to continue to divide the increasing cost of government services amongst a declining population base well into the future.

 

 

 

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Estate Planning Informational Meeting set

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Joy Miller. Submitted photo.

Southwind Extension District

Family and Consumer Sciences

 

Estate Planning Informational Meeting set

 

No matter how modest, everything you own is considered a part of your estate. Additionally, no matter how large or small your net worth is, everybody has something to pass on to their heirs.

 

An estate plan will help ensure that your wishes for your possessions are followed — especially when you are not around to give the direction. Without a plan, state law will provide the processes for your estate settlement, and your wishes may not be considered.

 

Join Joy Miller and Barbara Stockebrand, Southwind Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agents for “Estate Planning: Beginning the Process” on May 19, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. at Bourbon County Fairgrounds 4-H Building in Fort Scott.

 

Learn estate planning terms, who should do estate planning and why, and some of the steps involved with estate planning.

 

Please register by calling 620-625-8620 or emailing [email protected]. There is no charge for this event.

Everyone is invited to attend.

 

 

Obituary

Obituary of James Emmerson

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James (Jim) Edwin Emmerson, age 77 of rural Fort Scott, KS, passed away Thursday, May 12, 2022, surrounded by family.

Jim was born August 29, 1944, in Fort Scott, KS, the son of John and Evelyn Emmerson.  Jim graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1962.

Jim was a lifelong farmer in the Hammond community.  He enjoyed flying, building, and participating in EA (Experimental Aircraft Association).  He was a long-time attendee each summer at the EAA Convention in Oshkosh, WI. Airplanes were his passion, but they took a backseat to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He enjoyed spending time with them by attending their sporting events, recitals, and school programs.

Survivors include his three daughters, Sherri, and husband David Nash of Peculiar, MO, Angie and husband Joe Dauben of Texas, and Suzanne and husband Matt Quick of Fort Scott, KS.  Also surviving are seven grandchildren; Adrienne Rinehart and husband Brendan, Meredith Marshall, and husband Colin, Dakotah Gettler, Benjamin Gettler and wife Ashley, Samantha Nash, Peyton Quick, Grayson Quick, and four great-grandchildren; Lucas Nash, Selah and Emerson Marshall, and Oliver Gettler.  In addition, he is survived by his brother Fred Emmerson and wife Peggy, his sister Marilyn Hill and husband Tom, several nieces and nephews, and his former wife, Rita Johnston-Emmerson.

Jim was preceded in death by his daughter, Cindy Emmerson, and his parents John and Evelyn Emmerson.

 

The family will hold a private gathering at a later time.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Capper Foundation and may be left in the care of Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P. O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS  66701.  Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

 

Government, Kansas

Governor Laura Kelly Vetoes Three Bills

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TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly vetoed Substitute for Senate Bill 34, House Bill 2387, and House Bill 2252, and signed Senate Bill 313.

The following veto message is from Governor Laura Kelly regarding her veto of Substitute for Senate Bill 34:

I have consistently opposed vaccine passports and mandating any COVID-19 vaccination. However, this bill goes beyond COVID-19 and implements a one-size-fits-all approach for all infectious diseases. It significantly limits any government entity’s response to any infectious disease outbreak.

As a result, this legislation creates significant safety concerns for workers, for employers, for the economy, and for all Kansans. Schools could not adequately respond to an outbreak of measles in a classroom, and manufacturing facilities could not respond to a tuberculosis outbreak.

Beyond that, our agricultural sector could not continue to fight the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). We have a responsibility to protect our critically important agricultural industry and the farmers and ranchers who feed the nation.

We need to be prepared for what’s down the road to best protect Kansans. This bill puts the safety of all Kansans and our economy at risk.

Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Substitute for Senate Bill 34.

The following veto message is from Governor Laura Kelly regarding her veto of HB 2387:

Having a transparent, competitive bidding process is key to ensuring that our state contracts provide the most value to Kansas taxpayers while using the latest technology and best practices. This is not only good for the State of Kansas, but also for our current MCOs and the people they serve.

The language included in HB 2387 regarding the current MCO contracts is a product of closed-door dealings to push legislation that did not have a single proponent. There is little question that this effort is fraught with legal issues and jeopardizes our Medicaid program. HB 2387 prohibits the state Medicaid agency from pursuing the state’s independent procurement process and, by doing so, functionally provides the current MCOs with a no-bid, multi-billion-dollar, contract.

We must favor transparency and fair competition over attempts to re-insert corruption into the state contracting process.

Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto HB 2387.

The following veto message is from Governor Laura Kelly regarding her veto of House Bill 2252:

Elected officials must be able to perform their job duties effectively and efficiently. By prohibiting executive branch officers, including the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General, from entering into agreements regarding the enforcement of election law, this bill prevents the executive branch from fulfilling its constitutional duties. House Bill 2252 represents an overreach by the legislative branch that defies the separation of powers – a principle fundamental to a working democracy. If passed, it would also lead to costly litigation at the expense of Kansas taxpayers.

Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2252.

Governor Kelly also signed Senate Bill 313 which provides for the use and regulation of autonomous motor vehicles and establishes the Autonomous Vehicle Advisory Committee. More information about SB 313 can be found here.

Area News

Addressing Youth Suicide

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Mark your calendar!

After a very successful first webinar series that focused on awareness of youth suicide, we’re happy to follow it up with a second series. This series will focus on what you can do in your own community to help bridge the gap between awareness and action.
More information, such as series schedule and registration instructions will be shared as it gets closer.

Bourbon County Local News