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Traffic by Gregg Motley
When thinking about economic development, one has to put themselves in the mindset of site selectors and those local businesses that are considering expansion. One of the critical factors often evaluated in this process is traffic counts; a business that relies on local clients has to be visible and accessible. Also, in my role as a banker, I help clients evaluate potential locations, often looking at current and historical traffic count data provided by Kansas Department of Transportation (“KDOT”) to help us make decisions. In addition to economic development, traffic count information can be helpful to governments in determining where to invest public works dollars.
I have spent a significant amount of time evaluating Fort Scott numbers issued by KDOT and have discovered some interesting trends when comparing 2010 data to that of 2019 (the latest available). The numbers have to be put in context of what I know about construction projects and events that may have rerouted traffic temporarily. One also has to look at population trends, which we know have fallen in Fort Scott over the time period considered.
Some observations:
- As one might expect, local streets have experienced a decline in numbers when 2019 data is compared to 2010. The major streets that I considered dropped an average of 8.97%.
- Local streets on the West side of 69 Highway generally saw a larger decline in traffic counts than that of the East side. One might conclude that the population loss we have experienced has disproportionately impacted the West side of town.
- State highway traffic counts, except 54 Highway west of 69 Highway, have steadily risen. The average change over the nine years was 2.77%; knowing that there are fewer Bourbon County residents on the highways, this can only mean that we have more nonresidents driving through our area or coming here for work.
- Only two local streets experienced significant increases in traffic: Indian Road west of 215th Street and Jayhawk Road east of Liberty Bell Road. I surmise that increased activity at Lake Fort Scott and ReproLogix, along with more people driving in from Missouri to work in Bourbon County account for those exceptions. Estimates are that about 1,000 employees in the county commute from another jurisdiction.
- Sales tax collections have steadily increased, which would seem to indicate that more nonresidents are spending money in Bourbon County.
The good news is that the two major state highways continue to increase in traffic count, bringing more people through Bourbon County. This is an opportunity that can be exploited. It is a safe assumption that the completion of the widening of 69 Highway all the way into Pittsburg will perpetuate that trend and continue to help us with sales tax collection.
Bourbon County REDI will continue to focus on data that can help our businesses strategize and make us more attractive to new prospects. We have a much better chance of economic success by staying informed as a community.
CHC/SEK announces new community award, The Judy
PITTSBURG — Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas will present a new community service award in conjunction with its 20th year celebration. This award will be named after CHC/SEK board member Judy Westhoff, coined “The Judy.”
Westhoff is one of the original board of directors, having served 19 years without missing one of more than 220 meetings.
The “Judy” award will be given to an individual or an organization that is making or has made significant contributions to CHC/SEK, to the patients in the communities that it serves. Awardees will demonstrate a passion for helping others by exemplifying CHC/SEK’s core values of service, stewardship, excellence and kindness.
“We can think of no better individual in which to name this award,” said Jason Wesco, CHC/SEK President and Chief Strategy Officer during the annual Employee Service Awards Recognition Banquet on Thursday evening.
In addition to the announcement of the award, Westhoff was also recognized with the Sheridan Award that evening. CHC/SEK presents an annual Sheridan Award to someone who has made an impact on the clinic. The Sheridan Award was named after Mother Mary Bernard Sheridan, CSJ, who in 1903 opened Mt. Carmel Hospital on the land at which the CHC/SEK Pittsburg clinic now sits. Mother Bernard instructed her small group of Sisters at the hospital (there was no paid staff then) to “do all the good we can, in all the ways we can, to all the people we can and just as long as we can,” and their legacy continues to guide the health center today.
“Our honoree has worked tirelessly for many years with countless volunteer hours to support educational, artistic, social services, healthcare, fundraising, friendraising, advocacy and giving both during her distinguished career in banking and as the downtown development director and in her retirement,” Wesco said. “There certainly hasn’t been a more apt description of her commitment to this community.”
Westhoff has supported, just to name a few, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg Community Theatre, the Colonial Fox Theatre, the YMCA, Girl Scouts, Elm Acres, the Childrens Advocacy Resource Center, Rotary, The Family Resource Center and the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. She has been a Women of Distinction, received PSU’s Rex Crawley Service Award, is in the Pittsburg Family YMCA Hall of Fame, and received the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Pittsburg award.
“I have been able to receive a lot more from Community Health Center than I’ve put in for my family and myself,” Westhoff said. “I can’t tell you of all the people out here who have been so helpful and so kind and care about everything they do. It’s just amazing. I just can’t begin to tell everybody how much I appreciate everything they do. Thank you.”
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Bourbon County Coalition Agenda June 1
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Agenda
June 1, 2022
- Welcome:
- Member Introductions and Announcements:
- Program: April Jackson: Narcan Training
- Open Forum:
- Adjournment: Next General Membership meeting will be August 3, 2022, at 1:00 p.m.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report May 28
Death Notice of Janet Adams
Janet L. Adams, age 68, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Thursday, May 26, 2022, at her home. No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.
Death Notice of Stanley Grubin
Stanley Marion Grubin, age 92, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at Via Christi Village in Pittsburg, KS. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.
Fishing and Entertainment At Uniontown This Weekend
A pond hopping bass tournament will start at 6 a.m. this Saturday, May 28 at Union Station Convenience Store on Hwy. 3 just west of Uniontown. There will also be a beer garden, food and live music throughout that day.
The event is a fundraiser to supply Christmas presents for children in Bourbon County in honor of a local service man.
Butch Hall was a 2000 graduate of Uniontown High School who was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2004.
“Butch loved fishing and this is a way for his friends and family to honor him this Memorial Day weekend,” said event organizer Sara Roufs.
“All money made from this event will go to purchase Christmas gifts for local kids in need through the Bourbon County Angels, all in Butch’s honor,” Roufs said.
Registration will be at 6 a.m. at Union Station, with weigh-in at 3 p.m.
The entry fee is $20 person, with a limit of three people per team. There is a 50 percent payback, and a $5 big bass pot.
Fish must be alive at weigh-in.
“Union Station is the main sponsor for the event,” Roufs said. “We also have contributions from K&K Auto, BN Hunting, Don’s Spirits & Wines and Perry’s Pork Rinds.”
Timber Hills Lake Ranch is donating a weekend cabin stay for our raffle.
“Registrants for the fishing tournament will have a chance to win a knife donated by Ryan Demott with Turkey Forge,” she said.
They will be selling pulled pork sandwiches for lunch, with pork purchased locally through Bronson Locker.
“We will also have baked beans, coleslaw, and Marsha’s Deli potato salad. BBQ dinners will go on sale at noon,” Roufs said. “Union Station will be hosting a beer garden throughout the day.”
“At 3 p.m., we will draw for the raffle prizes and have the weigh-in for the bass tournament,” she said. “Bourbon Boy Bait Co. will handle the weigh-in for the tournament.”
At 4 p.m. there will be live music from the Bourbon County Revival.
All money made from this event will go to purchase Christmas gifts for local kids in need through the Bourbon County Angels, all in Butch’s honor.
“Friends and family of Butch donated trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, as well as one for the biggest bass,” Roufs said.
Splash into Summer at the Family Summer Reading Kickoff Party
This year, the Fort Scott Public Library’s summer reading program will begin on June 1 at 10 a.m. with a family kickoff party at Gunn Park, shelter house #3. The party will run from 10 – 11:30.
Partygoers will play games, create crafts, eat delicious treats provided by donors, drink cold water provided by G & W Cash Saver (with ice donated by 5 Corners Mini Mart), earn prizes, read a temporary story stroll, and play on the park equipment located beside the shelter house. This summer’s theme is “Oceans of Possibilities” and the program will explore oceans, water, fishing, boats, pirates, mermaids, sharks, and other related themes through stories, crafts, and other activities from June 1 to August 10.
Attendees should plan for limited parking at the party site by carpooling or parking in nearby lots and walking when possible. Sunscreen, old clothes, and towels are recommended, as attendees will likely get wet. Seating will be limited, so families that need extra seating may want to bring lawn chairs. Bathroom facilities are also scarce near the party site, so please plan accordingly.
The library will be collecting summer care items for families in need, with a donation box available at the party. Please bring unused swim diapers, sunscreen, feminine sanitary products, etc. to donate. Clothing and food donations will not be accepted. Donated items will be available for anyone to take as needed in the library’s downstairs computer room throughout the summer (while supplies last). The library will also have a donation box for children’s books available at the party. Donated books will be offered as prizes at future summer reading program events.
Families may register for summer reading at the party, or receive an extra prize ticket for each child and teen by pre-registering by May 30 at this link: Online SR Registration Form. They may also register via a paper form available at the library, Buck Run Community Center, Hedgehog.INK!, Rusty Spur Energy and Nutrition, Kansas Teachers Community Credit Union, and Billiard Hammer Hartman Insurance Agency. Patrons may turn in completed registration forms at any library desk, by mail, or by placing them in the after-hours book return, located on the north side of the library.
This party is made possible by the City of Fort Scott, which has waived the rental fee for hosting the event. All library programs are free and open to the public.
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports May 26
KCC approves agreement lowering rates for Empire Electric customers
TOPEKA – Empire Electric customers will soon see a reduction in their monthly bills. A settlement agreement approved today by the Kansas Corporation Commission calls for a 3.8% rate decrease effective July 1, 2022. This amounts to a bill reduction of $2.95 per month for residential customers with average usage.
The company, which serves 9688 customers in southeast Kansas, filed an application for a rate increase last May to recover costs related to building three new wind farms, retiring the Asbury coal plant and updating accumulated depreciation and deferred costs. The application called for an increase in rates totaling about $5.00 per month for residential customers.
The settlement, negotiated by KCC Staff, the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board (CURB) and the company addressed all matters raised in the application except recovery of the wind farm costs. Questions were raised at the evidentiary hearing, held in March, regarding the need for the wind facilities and the cost. On May 6, Empire filed a motion to withdraw its request to recover the wind project costs in rates, with the option to seek recovery in a future general rate case. The Commission approved that motion as part of today’s order.
In issuing today’s order, the Commission found the agreement was supported by substantial competent evidence, will result in just and reasonable rates, and is in the public interest.
The order can be viewed here.
A recording of today’s Business Meeting featuring comments by Commissioners on this order is available on the KCC YouTube channel.
New Farmers Market at Uniontown
On Thursday evenings at Union Station Convenience Store near Uniontown, you might notice more cars than usual.
A farmers market started May 5 there, just west of Uniontown on Hwy. 3. It meets every Thursday from 4-8 p.m. but may expand a day in the future if the community responds.
“Union Station is allowing vendors to set up on the east side of the convenience store parking lot, in the trees,” Schotze Griffiths, store manager said.
Currently, there are four vendors who have set up, but “I have more people coming when their garden starts to produce,” Griffiths said. “This is an opportunity to buy fresh food locally.”
There is no cost to the vendor, and anyone that would like to set up a table, may.
“It’s a work in progress,” she said. “So don’t give up on us. If it is real hot in the summer it might get sparse, but it will be here as long as people want to come. There might be less vendors this week because of prior commitments.”
Saturday mornings are a possibility in the future she said.
“Especially when we have rodeos that come,” Griffiths said.
Union Station is directly across the street from the Uniontown Rodeo Grounds on Hwy. 3.
Current Vendors
The four vendors currently coming are MMM Flavor Shop, Prairie Rose Farmstead, 9 Acre Farm and Mama Mary.
MMM Flavor Shop is owned by Addi Foster and her sister, Emelia Whiteaker, who are selling spices. Addi’s daughter, Mayla also has crafts, eggs, peacock feathers and poultry grown on the family farm to sell. The mother-daughter duo are part of Foster Dairy, from the Hiattville area. Contact info is 620.224.8442 or 620.224.9411.
9 Acre Farm is owned by Dale and Lisa Griffiths, Bronson, and sells fresh eggs, pickled items and candles at their booth. They will bring produce later as it starts producing on their farm. Interested parties can watch them on YouTube. For more information contact them at 620.215.3101.
Prairie Rose Farmstead is owned by Sage and Jessi Hall, Uniontown.They offer goat milk products including soap, lotion, salve and lip balm. In addition they sell raw milk, pastured poultry and grass fed beef. Contact them at 316.821.0309 or [email protected].
Mama Mary, Mary Ridge of the Zenia area, sells pies, take and bake meals and canned goods. Her homemade food items are also sold at the Bronson Locker in Bronson. Her contact info: 620.939.4977.