The signs that will designate the bike route of the new Prairie Pathways Bike Trail coming to Bourbon County. Submitted photo.
Representatives from a neighboring county spoke to the Fort Scott City Commission recently about a proposed bicycle trail in Bourbon County.
John Leahy, Thrive Allen County Bike and Trails Coordinator and John Castellaw the Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator for Thrive
covered a brief history of how the Prairie Pathways plan (approved by Bourbon County, Allen County, and Crawford County) was the first rural active transportation plan in Kansas.
The men then detailed the entirety of the route along old Highway 54 from Fort Scott to Iola, to the city commission, Leahy said.
“We needed to appear before the (FS)city council because we were seeking final approval of the signs for the Prairie Pathways within Fort Scott city limits,” he said.
“The route has been set in all three counties,” Jody Hoener, Healthy Bourbon County Action Team CEO said.
“Bourbon County will have approximately 23 miles of the total 43 miles from Fort Scott to Iola,” Leahy said.
“We are working on gaining permission through each of the cities (in Bourbon County),” Hoener said. “We have obtained permission for signs from the City of Fort Scott. They will also be presenting to the City of Uniontown and to Bronson City Council to gain permission for sign placement.
“Eric Bailey with Bourbon County’s Public Work will be helping us with installing (sign) posts,” she said. ” Right now they are working hard on getting as many miles as asphalt down as possible. They will help us with installation as soon as they can.”
“Allen County, Bourbon County, and Crawford County (ABC) are actively working to improve the bicycling and walking environment to improve access to opportunities for physical activity, enhance the quality of life, and encourage economic growth”, according to information provided by Leahy . “Each community recognizes that active transportation – biking and walking for transportation, as well as outdoor recreation – impacts our lives in several important ways. Research, such as the cost-benefit analysis The Potential Trail Benefits for Bourbon County, Kansas, (Robb, 2017) has shown trails to do more than add to community’s appeal as a place to live, such as:
● Increased sales for existing businesses
● Opportunities for new business
● Increased value and speed of sale of nearby properties
● Reduced medical costs from healthy activities
● Business location and relocation decisions
● Healthcare insurance decisions
● Addresses rural transportation issues
● Low or no-cost recreational opportunity
● Attracts and retains a skilled and unskilled workforce
● It helps lower transportation costs, both for individuals and for communities as a whole;
● Provides attractions for visitors”
The ABC plan’s name was recently changed to Prairie Pathways, he said.
“In respect to a timeline, Thrive is working with both Allen County Public Works as well as the City of Iola Public Works Department,” he said. “We are trying to coordinate both so the signs are installed along a similar time frame after the…(Allen County Public Works)asphalt season.”
” Funding for the planning stage is from the Sunflower Foundation,” Hoener said. “We have grant dollars from Blue Cross Blue Cross Pathways to Healthy Kansas for signage and posts.”
John Castellaw the Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator for Thrive Allen County spoke to the Fort Scott City Commission about the bike trail. Submitted photo.Jody Hoener with John Leahy and John Castellaw at a recent Fort Scott City Commission meeting. Submitted photos.
“Funding for the planning stage is from the Sunflower Foundation,” Hoener said. “We have grant dollars from Blue Cross Blue Cross Pathways to Healthy Kansas for signage and posts.”
ABC Trails has been renamed Prairie Pathways. Hoener provided the cost benefits poster.
Why I feel Fort Scott needs Michael J. Hoyt on the city commission:
Michael is a tireless fighter for upholding the rights of the citizens and holding everyone accountable for theirs actions, 2) He authored and fought for the petition to strike down Charter Ordinance #31 (Ordinance was to make it legal to transfer funds from sanitary sewer income), which the Voters said “NO” by a 2 to 1 margin and freed up over $800,000 for our storm sewers and should double funds for our sanitary sewers, 3) He holds a law degree and uses his knowledge to interpret laws, statutes, ordinances and specifications, 4) He has the backing and support of the silent majority who are tired of the status quo, 5) He strongly believes the 1987 1% city sales tax was to be used for streets and is working hard to get it back onto the ballot to let the Voters decide the issue, 6) He is currently working on clarifying the connecting links agreement with the State of Kansas, which will put the costs of maintenance if highways 54 and 69 within the city limits, into the hands of the State. The agreement has been misinterpreted by both city and state for many years. The agreement is clear as to city and state responsibilities and Michael is the one to make it happen, 7) Michael is also working on the clarification and enforcement of K.S.A 12-825d, which clearly states the revenue from water funds are to be used “to operate, renew or extend the plant or distribution system”, payment of interest and debt, and payment of employee salaries, 8) Michael’s campaign slogan is “Do It Right” 9) Michael has been at the forefront as a volunteer for projects such as helping on the reconstruction of the Woodland Hills tennis courts, both financially and labor, and helping to install the drain behind the wall at Buck Run, 11) Michael is an advocate for Veterans, helping several to be eligible for benefits they could not obtain on their own, 12) He is promoting a GED program for prisoners incarcerated in the County Jail and pushing to establish a vaping information program for our youth in Fort Scott, 13) Michael has attended every commission meeting both city and county and he has a good working relationship with most of the county officials, he will hit the ground running! Michael’s roots run deep in Fort Scott, spending weekends and summers with relatives that lived and worked here and he has relatives buried in the National and Evergreen Cemeteries. Four years ago, Michael moved to Fort Scott to care for his mother and he intends to remain here when she passes. The above statement is made as my right as a citizen of Fort Scott and may not reflect the opinions of other city commissioners, of which I am one.
Steve Anthony, left, and Doug Guns. Submitted photo.
Steve Anthony, 49, is the new Woodland Hills Golf Course Clubhouse Manager in Fort Scott. The course is owned and operated by the City of Fort Scott.
Woodland Hills Golf Course, 2414 S. Horton, Fort Scott.
He replaces Shannon O’Neil, who left in July.
Anthony feels that he and Doug Guns, the golf course superintendent, are a good team.
“I feel I have a good grasp of things and if things come up that need two heads to make a decision, Doug and I make the decision as we are pretty much on the same page and we make our decision on what’s best for the club and or our member’s,” he said.
Anthony’s hometown is Parkersburg, West Virginia and he is married to Stephanie Anthony.
“I have been an avid golfer since I was a young kid back in West Virginia,” he said. “I have been in Fort Scott for nine years now.”
“I have always had a love for the sport of golf and when the opportunity came to pursue the golf course (position) here, I jumped at the chance to take it on,” he said.
“When I started, I knew I wanted to do some different things that had not been done here,” Anthony said. “For example, having watch parties for National Football League games and it has grown each week. My hope is once the colder weather sets in we will have more folks come out to join us for games as they will be tired of just sitting at home.”
He enjoys coming to work each day, getting to do something that he loves, Anthony said.
“The Woodland Hills Golf Course is in really beautiful shape as Doug (Guns)and his crew do a great job making it look beautiful,” he said.
In the community, Anthony has been involved with Special Olympics, a large sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities.
“I, along with Bourbon County Undersheriff Ben Cole, host a golf tournament each year to benefit Special Olympics,” he said. “I am also on the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Kansas.”
He enjoys coming to work each day, getting to do something that he loves, Anthony said.
Anthony can be reached at 620-223-5060 or his cell phone at 620-215-2392.
Golf carts that can be rented are lined up near the entrance to the Woodland Hills Golf Clubhouse.
Supplemental Pandemic Food Assistance program announces benefit distribution dates
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) announces the distribution of the Supplemental Pandemic EBT food assistance benefit to eligible Kansas students.
Distribution of the one-time benefit of $375 per child will begin to be issued starting tomorrow, Oct. 12. This benefit is for the summer months of June, July and August 2021.
All school aged children who were eligible for free and reduced-price meals during the 2020-2021 school year through the National School Lunch program will receive the one-time benefit. This includes Head Start children who attend a Community Eligible Provision (CEP) school or were enrolled in the National School Lunch program.
Qualifying school aged children who did not receive P-EBT for the 2020-2021 school year because they attended school in person and do not already have a Kansas Benefits Card will receive a preloaded card in the mail beginning Oct. 26. Eligible households that do not receive the benefit by Nov. 4 will need to provide additional information to DCF through the DCF Self Service Portal after Nov. 1.
The benefit can be used to purchase eligible food items from approved vendors that accept food assistance benefits like grocery stories and online at Aldi, Amazon or Wal-Mart.
The Supplemental P-EBT program provides temporary food benefits to families of children who normally receive National School Lunch program benefit but the education cycle was disrupted due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Learn more at www.dcf.ks.gov/pages/p-ebt.aspx.
Contact DCF at 1-888-369-4777 with questions or visit the P-EBT page on www.dcf.ks.gov.
Governor Laura Kelly Announces Allocations for Frontline Hospital Worker Retention Plan
TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly released the total allocation amounts for each hospital participating in the Frontline Hospital Workers Retention Plan.
“This $50 million will help us retain and attract more frontline hospital workers as we continue to fight his virus,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “For over 18 months, our heath care workers have risked their lives every day to protect Kansans from COVID-19 – it’s our responsibility to make sure they have the support they need to continue. In the meantime, I encourage all Kansans to do their part to beat this virus by getting vaccinated immediately.”
As proposed by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee, hospitals will receive an allocation based on the number of licensed, acute and intensive care unit beds in each facility. The full list of allocations can be found here.
In September, the SPARK Executive Committee approved $50M in available funding for eligible hospital workers. Qualified facilities may use the funding for either premium pay as defined in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) or for funding a custom program designed by the facility to improve the retention of nursing resources and support personnel.
To receive the allocation, hospitals must submit a completed application by October 29, 2021. Awards will be made on a rolling basis following application review.
For more information on the Frontline Hospital Worker Retention Plan, the SPARK committee, or about the Office of Recovery, please visit https://covid.ks.gov.
Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.
DJ Brown and The Bourbon County Revival will be the featured entertainment at this week’s Friday Night Concert. The local four-piece band plays classic rock, country, and Red Dirt. Band members are Danny Brown on acoustic guitar and vocals, Robert Uhler on drums, Jerry Bahr on banjo, electric, acoustic and bass guitars, and vocals, and Randy Brasuell on mandolin, fiddle, bass and electric guitars, and vocals.
“These guys have been playing together for quite some time and are a crowd favorite,” concert-series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “This band is a delight to hear and we are pleased to welcome them back to perform in our downtown pavilion. Bring a friend and join us for an evening of superb musical talent.“
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, are free and open to the public. Dave Oas of Parsons serves as sound technician each week. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.
