(Updated) – The Fort Scott City Commission will meet on Tuesday, March 9th, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas to hold a work session to discuss economic development and potholes on Wall Street. This meeting is open to the public, but no action will be taken.
The work session will also be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces that this week’s Chamber Coffee will be hosted by Old Fort Auto on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 8am. Chamber members and guests are invited to join us at the Chamber Coffee located at 213 Scott Ave., Downtown Fort Scott.
Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees can enter into a drawing!
Attendees are strongly encouraged wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.
Chamber members and guests are invited to Chamber Coffee events each Thursday at 8 a.m. to network, make announcements, hear about happenings in the community as well as learn about the host business or organization.
Please see below the above opening for the Fort Scott Planning Commission:
One opening (City resident) on the Fort Scott Planning Commission.
The function of the Planning Commission is to review and adopt (as well as update) the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Fort Scott, to establish zoning districts and allowable uses, to review zoning regulations within the City and to review requests for special permits or conditional uses within certain zoning districts in the City. Also reviews site plans for planned areas and is responsible for zoning within the 3-mile limit of the City of Fort Scott. Their recommendations are given to the City Commission for final approval. They meet on an “as needed” basis.
If you have a desire to serve on this Board and meet the above requirements, please submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk, Diane Clay, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. She will then submit your letter of interest for consideration by the City Commission. All of the boards and commissions serve on a volunteer basis and are not compensated. If you would like more information on any of these boards, please contact Diane Clay, City Clerk at 620-223-0550 or [email protected]. Please submit your letter of interest by March 26th, 2021.
Marti Wells-Smith is not a stranger to pain and loss.
Her only child died an unexpected death in 2019.
A Fort Scottian for 18 years, Wells-Smith has written a book that relays her innermost thoughts and emotions concerning her son’s death.
She hopes it will help someone else with loss.
“Lamentations of the Heart – Mingled with Peace and Joy, was recently published through MSI Press, and soulfully combines contemporary poetry with nonfictional prose to reach out to others who have experienced similar pain and loss,” she said in a press release.
Written from a Christian perspective, it is a book that provides comfort and hope in the healing process, she said.
The book has true stories of people she has met both in Fort Scott and in other communities where she grew up and lived.
Wells-smith has a bachelor of arts degree in English and sociology from Pittsburg State University and has worked as a writer and in varied positions in radio, authoring numerous human interest stories, articles, and poems over the years, she said.
She has also worked in social services, and served on a variety of boards, including Shirley Yeager Animal Friends Foundation and Mother to Mother Ministries.
She assisted with crisis services, providing resources and support for individuals and families in need through Southeast Kansas Mental Health.
She continues to raise funds for Paws and Claws with a booth at the Treasure Hunt Flea Market in downtown Fort Scott.
The book is available locally and online.
Lamentations of the Heart is available at Hedgehog INK!, also in downtown Fort Scott, with a book signing to be announced in the near future.
The book is also available through MSI Press, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
The author can be reached at her website: martiwellssmith.com.
A poem from her book:
New this year because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the annual Knights of Columbus Fish Fry planned a drive-through pickup of the food served.
There are only two dates left for the event, both on Fridays from 5-6:30 p.m. March 12, and March 19.
Because of the pandemic, all the workers will be wearing masks and gloves to serve the meals.
But as in the past, it will be at 702 Holbrook, at Kennedy Gym, which is a part of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men’s organization, that has a “great tradition of fish fry’s nationwide,” Mark McCoy, spokesman for the group said.
The meal had to be simplified this year because it is a drive-through, McCoy said.
“Meal #1 will be catfish, french fries and coleslaw, Meal #2 is catfish, cod, fries, and coleslaw and Meal #3 is baked cod with fries and coleslaw,” McCoy said.
There will be no home-made desserts this year that have been provided by the ladies of the parish in past Lenten fish fry meals.
Logistically, it would not work, McCoy said, since the drive-through was new this year.
The annual Lenten fish fry is also a community event where lots of conversations happen between attendees, McCoy said.
“We look forward to going back to sit down dining” in the future, he said.
March 15 Deadline to Complete Election & Enrollment for 2021 Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage Programs
Call Your County Office Today About 2021 Crop Year Eligibility
Manhattan, Kansas, March 8, 2021 – Agricultural producers in Kansas who have not yet elected and enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2021 have until March 15. Producers who have not signed a contract or who want to make an election change should contact their local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Service Center to make an appointment.
“In times like these, from winter storms to a pandemic, we’re reminded of the importance of managing risk,” said Charles Pettijohn, acting state executive director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Kansas. “The Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs provide critical support to farmers to protect them from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues. If you have not enrolled or made elections, please do so by the March 15 deadline.”
Producers who enrolled for the 2019 crop year received more than $5 billion in payments last fall. If an ARC or PLC payment triggers for a particular crop for the 2021 crop year and there is no signed 2021 contract on file, then the producer is ineligible for that program payment.
Producers are eligible to enroll farms with base acres for the following commodities: barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium- and short-grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.
Decision Tools
To help producers make elections, FSA makes program data available to help producers make ARC and PLC decisions.
Additionally, USDA partnered with universities to offer web-based decision tools:
Crop Insurance Considerations
Producers are reminded that enrolling in ARC or PLC programs can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products offered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA). Producers who elect and enroll in PLC also have the option of purchasing Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their Approved Insurance Provider, but producers of covered commodities who elect ARC are ineligible for SCO on their planted acres.
Unlike SCO, RMA’s Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is unaffected by participating in ARC for the same crop, on the same acres. You may elect ECO regardless of your farm program election.
Upland cotton farmers who choose to enroll seed cotton base acres in ARC or PLC are ineligible for the stacked income protection plan, or STAX, on their planted cotton acres.
More Information
For more information on ARC and PLC, visit farmers.gov/arc-plc.
While USDA offices are closed to visitors because of the pandemic, Service Center staff continue to work with agricultural producers via phone, email, and other digital tools. To conduct business, please contact your local USDA Service Center. Additionally, more information related to USDA’s response and relief for producers can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
TOPEKA – Kansas had the most dramatic jump in economic development success of any state in the country in 2020, according to Site Selection magazine.
With 70 projects meeting the magazine’s criteria, Kansas ranked 10th in the nation in economic development projects per capita in 2020. The new ranking increased from 2019 when Kansas was ranked No. 20.
“Our latest Site Selection ranking proves what we already know: Kansas is on the right track to continue strengthening our economy,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “More businesses means more, higher-paying jobs for Kansans. As our economy continues to recover from COVID-19, our ability to attract new development and maintain existing businesses will be critical.”
This achievement comes in the wake of sweeping changes to the state’s Department of Commerce, including a new International division, a fully-staffed Business Recruitment team, an overhauled In-State Development team, and other improvements. These strategic shifts for Commerce led to 2020 being one of Kansas’ most successful capital investment years ever. In 2020, the Kelly Administration broke the all-time capital investment record since the Department of Commerce was formed with more than $2.5 billion in new capital investment.
“This is a testament to how our state’s approach to economic development has fundamentally changed,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “We’re aggressively pursuing new avenues for business, and in much higher quantities than Kansas ever has before. To go from 20th to 10th in one year is a major achievement, and I’m proud of my team at the Department of Commerce and our partners throughout the state for making this incredible progress possible.”
The criteria for projects per capita in this ranking include new corporate facility projects like headquarters, manufacturing plants, research and development operations and logistics sites, among others. Retail, government projects, schools, and hospitals are not counted.
New facilities and expansions must meet at least one of three criteria to be included:
In addition to this new ranking for the state, several Kansas communities were recognized as top-performing “micropolitan” areas, including Coffeyville, Hutchinson, McPherson, Pittsburg, and Salina. These rankings can be seen here.
Site Selection’s full state rankings report can be seen here.
About Site Selection
Site Selection magazine, published by Conway Data Inc., delivers expansion planning information to a qualified circulation of 48,700 executives of fast-growing firms. Celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, Site Selection is also available via Site Selection Online. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., Conway Data, publisher of Site Selection magazine, the Conway Analytics Report and a family of online industry newsletters, in 2017 was recognized as Georgia International Small Business of the Year by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Conway Data has been a trusted advisor to corporations, government economic development and investment promotion agencies around the world since 1954. Conway Data owns and manages Conway Events, organizer of worldwide FDI events; FDI advisory firm Conway Advisory; and New York-based Conway PR & Marketing, a leading PR and lead-generation firm. Conway Data also manages the Industrial Asset Management Council.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses.
The Uniontown basketball season came to an end on Friday and Saturday for the girls’ and boys’ teams. We are incredibly proud of how hard every player has worked this season, and look forward to the 2021-22 season next winter.
The boys’ Varsity team played Southeast on Thursday for the second Sub-State round. They won 44-20. Clay Sutterby led that game with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jake Harvey had 12 points and 3 steals; Dawson Dreisbach had 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Drew Perry also had 3 assists.
The Lady Eagles’ season ended on Friday in their game against Humboldt. The score was 41-50. Karleigh Schoenberger had 15 points and 3 steals. Danielle Howard scored 13 points and had 4 assists and 3 steals. Sammie Hampton had 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Rylee Coulter and Addisyn Hall had 3 rebounds, and Coulter had 2 steals.
“It was a tough loss to end a successful season,” Coach Miller said. “After losing our second game of the season in overtime to Erie, we went on a fourteen-game win streak. Our efforts earned us 1st place in the Kenny Hold Memorial Tournament, a shared Three Rivers League title, and the #1 seat in our Sub-State Tournament. We set out to reach some goals this year and we were able to mark a few off the list. We will keep trying, keep improving, and never give up. If we don’t ever reach all of our goals, we will always have the memories of the wonderful people God has introduced to us along the way. Thank you Rhian Gorman, Aiden Holt, Karleigh Schoenberger, and Sammie Hampton for your four years of commitment to our team. We are all better people for having known you four amazing young women.”
The boys’ season ended after losing to Erie on Saturday, 38-42. Luke Perry led with 11 points this game. Jake Harvey, Cade Goodridge, and Clay Sutterby each scored 7 points. Harvey also had 5 boards and 3 steals, while Goodridge had 5 rebounds and Sutterby had 6. Drew Perry had 3 assists.
“I’m extremely proud of our team,” said Coach Hays. “We had the goal since the season began to make the Sub-State championship game. We accomplished that goal. We were really close to making the state tournament. We competed our tails off against Erie, but just came up a little short. I’m thankful for our seniors. They are great kids that will be missed dearly.”
-Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter
Pamela Jean Bloomfield, age 63, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at Medicalodge of Ft. Scott.
She was born November 25, 1957, in Hackensack, NJ, the daughter of Clarence and Virginia Culp Enos. She loved plants and worked for a greenhouse in earlier years. Pam enjoyed crafts, making jewelry, cooking and her dog Noel. She loved spending time with her grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband Daniel Ornstein of the home; two sons, Alan Ornstein and wife Dawnelle, Ft. Scott, and Matthew Ornstein, Chanute, KS; a daughter, Virginia Golden and husband James, Jr., Ft. Scott; a sister Donna Housman, Ft. Scott; 8 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Larry Enos; a grandson, Christian James Golden; and her parents.
Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, March 11th, in the Large Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 9:00 until 9:45 AM at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Pamela Bloomfield memorial fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Chamber Announces LOLLIPOP HOP & SHOP + SIDEWALK CHALK ART CONTEST!
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Lollipop Hop & Shop + Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest will take place Friday, March 19th through Sunday, March 21st. Most stores in the Downtown Historic District and several additional locations will be participating in the fun.
All ages are encouraged to take part in the Chalk Art Contest by making a display in the Downtown Historic District or at another participating store and post the art creation to the Chamber Facebook page “Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce” with the hashtag #fortscottshopart to be included in judging.
Customers are invited to shop local while viewing the chalk art. Most retailers will be offering complimentary lollipops, and many will also be offering drawings and promotions. Locations included in the event will have a Lollipop Hop & Shop poster and pink & blue balloons displayed at their entrance.
The Chamber encourages the community to shop local, express yourself through art for all ages, and join the Lollipop Hop & Shop + Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest starting Friday, March 19th thru Sunday, March 21st. A list of participating retailers will soon be posted on fortscott.com.
Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.
The Street Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, March 11th, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. at the City Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street. This meeting is open to the public.
This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
