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BoCo Democrats Meet Feb. 16
The Bourbon County Democrats will meet Sunday, February 16, at 2:30 p.m. at The Boiler Room Brewhaus, at the corner of Wall St and National Ave.
At Sunday’s meeting, Jacki Prettyman will give a report on the Presidential Primary training session she attended in Wichita. The upcoming Washington Days in Topeka will also be discussed.
Though optional, a donation of a package of diapers is requested. This month, Democrats are collecting diapers to donate to The Beacon. This is part of the #DemocratsCare program, a monthly collection of donations for various local charities. Past donations have included winter coats, canned goods, and hygiene pantry items.
For more information about the Bourbon County Democratic Party, visit their page on Facebook: facebook.com/BBCOdems.
Pam by Patty LaRoche
For the past nine years, our friends, Scott and Pam, have come to Mazatlán to hang with Dave and me, and every year, the predictable happens. Wherever Pam and I go, strangers bump into light posts and wives elbow their husbands. That’s because Pam is stunning and people stare at her. I can’t figure it out. Other than her silky black hair, her cobalt blue eyes, her Italian skin, her perfect white teeth, her petite shape and her impeccable style, what’s to look at?
Nine years ago, our first time shopping at a Mazatlán mall, we asked a sales clerk how to read the Spanish clothing tags. She gave Pam a quick once-over and said “Chico.” Turning to me, she bellowed “Grande.” GRANDE! Pam was a chico. I was a GRANDE. As Pam headed towards the size-two sales rack and I turned towards the tops that double as RV tents, Pam gave me that “I’m so sorry” look. I countered with that “We no longer are friends” look. After I recovered (like three years later), the whole thing became funny. To this day, we both crack up when I bring it up…which is every time we are together.
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
See, I laugh.
Three years ago we were shopping in a jewelry store. I could have robbed the store blind while Edna, the sales clerk, fawned all over Pam. Walking up to her, Edna cupped Pam’s face and began speaking of the “aura” that my friend exuded. She droned on and on and on and on while I stood there like a hood ornament on a junk yard Plymouth. After enough was enough, I cleared my throat and said, “Edna, what about me?” Her response, after staring at my face for a few seconds, was more than even I expected.
“Uh…No.” Then, returning her gaze to Perfect Pam, said, “But your friend, she is magnificent.”
You’d think I would learn, but I don’t. Yesterday P.P, and I went…you guessed it, shopping. Entering a different jewelry store, the clerk greeted us in English and then addressed my friend. “You have a stunning neckline.” I responded that it went well with her “aura,” and the saleslady agreed.
It’s a conspiracy. That’s what it is, a conspiracy.
The amazing thing about P.P. is that her beauty is not her only gift. She is a talented singer, dancer, voice-over specialist and painter. Our condo is filled with Pam’s magnificent contemporary paintings. On this visit, I ordered her latest: an abstract star. The minute I saw it, I knew it was perfect to hang above our guest bed. Pam shared that when she posted it on her website, she received this response: “You call this art? My dog could paint better than you do.”
I asked Pam how she answered. “I told him that he must have an awfully talented dog.”
Add cleverness to Pam’s list of attributes.
What people don’t know about my friend is that her life is not as perfect as it appears. As a child she was a victim of satanic ritual abuse. Her story is horrendous and too shocking to share, but it took years of counseling for Pam to recover. Her paintings became her therapy as she found that her unique blend of colors was a source of healing. What she has overcome would put most people in a mental institution. Not Pam.
Through her experience, she learned that God wants her to share with others who have been abused how to overcome their pain. She realizes (and it has taken her years to get here) that what satan meant for evil, God will use for good (rephrased Gen. 50:20). Pam now depends not on any therapist but on Jesus and only Jesus. Our thirty-six year friendship has become richer and deeper because of Him, and I am grateful that He has allowed me to be a part of her journey.
Fort Scott Fire Department Awarded Grant For Fire Truck
39 Kansas towns to receive Community Development Block Grants
Topeka, Kan. – Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today the award of more than $17 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to 39 Kansas communities.
A total of $17,486,103 in federal funds is being made available through the CDBG program this year. Communities receiving grants have presented plans for projects to make improvements toward water and wastewater systems, streets, facilities and housing.
“Quality of life is key to economic development,” Secretary Toland said. “Each of these investments in critical infrastructure helps keep communities competitive as they work to retain and recruit residents and businesses. Governor Kelly and I are proud to support these projects in rural communities across our state.”
CDBG funds are one of Commerce’s primary tools in supporting the state’s small, predominantly rural communities. Each community awarded has a population less than 50,000.
The CDBG program allows the Department of Commerce to distribute federal funds to Kansas cities and counties looking to improve their communities. To receive funds, projects must meet at least one of the following federally mandated criteria:
- The project benefits low- or moderate-income individuals
- The project removes or prevents slum or blight conditions
- The project eliminates an urgent need created by a disaster when local funds are unavailable
Grants in this category are awarded through an annual competition and support a variety of activities in communities throughout the state of Kansas.
The following communities are recipients of Community Development Block Grants:
| COUNTY | CITY |
| Bourbon | The City of Fort Scott will receive $665,303 in CDBG grant funds to purchase a new 100’ Platform Ladder truck for the city. The city will contribute $665,303 in local city matching funds. |
| Butler | The City of Rose Hill will receive $144,000 in CDBG funds to complete a street project in the city. The city will contribute $604,890 in local city matching funds. |
| Cherokee | The City of Columbus will receive $600,000 in CDBG grant funds to complete a street project in the city. The city will contribute $600,000 in local city matching funds. |
| Cheyenne | The City of St. Francis will receive $600,000 in CDBG grant funds to complete a street project in the city. The city will contribute $812,110 in local city matching funds. |
| Clark | The City of Ashland will receive $421,303 in CDBG funds to make water system improvements throughout the city. The city will provide $421,303 in matching funds it secured through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. |
| Cloud | The City of Concordia will receive $561,660 in CDBG funds to make sanitary sewer and storm sewer improvements in the city. The city has local funds of $561,661 to contribute in matching funds. |
| Cloud | The City of Miltonvale will receive $35,212 in CDBG funds to complete a demolition project. The city will contribute a total of $35,213 through local city funds, force account construction and Landfill Fees. |
| Cowley | The City of Cambridge will receive $182,000 in CDBG funds to make water system improvements throughout the city. The city will provide $738,200 in matching funds it secured through USDA Rural Development. |
| Cowley | The City of Udall will receive $494,360 in CDBG grant funds to complete a Library and Wellness Center project in the city. The city will contribute $474,360 which they secured through USDA Rural Development. |
| Decatur | The City of Oberlin will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make water distribution improvements throughout the city. The city has local funds of $662,700 to contribute in matching funds. |
| Dickinson | The City of Chapman will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to build a non-discharging wastewater treatment facility to serve the city. The city will provide $3,535,794 in matching funds it secured through USDA Rural Development. |
| Dickinson | The City of Solomon will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make water distribution system improvements throughout the city. The city will provide $1,416,424 in matching funds they have secured through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. |
| Ellis | The City of Ellis will receive $412,113 in CDBG funds to make improvements to its water distribution system. The city will provide all matching funds themselves in the amount of $412,112. |
| Franklin | The City of Williamsburg will receive $421,230 in CDBG grant funds to complete a street project in the city. The city will contribute $421,230 in local city matching funds. |
| Labette | The City of Parsons will receive $272,500 in CDBG grant funds to complete a storm sewer project in the city. The city will contribute $272,500 in local storm water funds as a local match. |
| Lincoln | The City of Lincoln Center will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make water distribution system improvements throughout the city. The city will provide $605,961 in matching funds they have secured through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. |
| Lyon | The City of Emporia will receive $300,000 in CDBG Funds and pledged $88,400 in matching funds. This grant will rehabilitate 14 homes for owned and rental units. |
| Marion | The City of Marion will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make water distribution improvements throughout the city. The city will provide $3,334,478 in matching funds they have secured through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. |
| Marshall | The City of Marysville will receive $600,000 in CDBG grant funds to build a new fire station for the city. The city will contribute $938,448 in local city matching funds. |
| McPherson | The City of McPherson will receive $300,000 in CDBG funds to rehabilitate approximately 13 homes for low-to moderate income families. The city will provide $72,710 in local matching funds. |
| Montgomery | The City of Coffeyville will receive $268,500 in CDBG grant funds to complete an ADA sidewalk project. The city will contribute $268,500 in local city matching funds. |
| Nemaha | The City of Centralia will receive $535,423 in CDBG grant funds to complete an electrical distribution system improvement throughout the city. The city will contribute $535,423 in local city matching funds. |
| Osage | The City of Osage City will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make sanitary sewer improvements throughout the city. The city will provide $979,000 in matching funds they have secured through Kansas Department of Health and Environment. |
| Osage | The City of Overbrook will receive $600,000 in CDBG grant funds to make improvements to their water treatment facility and distribution system. The city will provide $5,575,300 in matching funds they have secured through USDA Rural Development. |
| Osborne | Osborne County will receive $60,350 in CDBG grant funds to purchase a new brush fire truck for the county. The county will contribute $60,350 through funds secured through the Osborne County RFD #3. |
| Ottawa | The City of Minneapolis will receive $300,000 in CDBG funds to rehabilitate eight homes for owner occupied and rental residents and demolish one unoccupied dilapidated housing unit. The city will provide $13,700 in local matching funds. |
| Pawnee | The City of Larned will receive $598,497 in CDBG funds to make water distribution system improvements throughout the city. The city has local funds of $598,497 to contribute in matching funds. |
| Reno | The City of Arlington will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make wastewater improvements throughout the city. The city will provide $670,000 in matching funds it secured from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. |
| Reno | The City of Hutchinson will receive $256,500 in CDBG funds to rehabilitate approximately ten homes for low-to-moderate income families. The CDBG funds will be match with $75,130 in local funds. |
| Republic | The City of Belleville will receive $175,000 in CDBG grant funds to purchase a new Standard Pumper Fire Truck. The city will contribute $175,000 in local city matching funds. |
| Riley | The City of Riley will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make sanitary sewer improvements throughout the city. The city will provide $729,200 in matching funds they have secured through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. |
| Rush | The City of Liebenthal will receive $220,850 in CDBG grant funds to make improvements to their sanitary sewer treatment facility and install a new pump station. The city will contribute $220,850 in matching funds they have secured through the USDA Rural Development. |
| Russell | The City of Lucas will receive $264,852 in CDBG grant funds to complete a Community Center and Library project. The city will contribute $264,853 which they secured through USDA Rural Development. |
| Russell | The City of Russell will receive $600,000 in CDBG grant funds to complete a street project in the city. The city will contribute $992,800 in local city matching funds. |
| Sumner | The City of Conway Springs will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make wastewater improvements for the city. The city will provide $2,977,275 in matching funds it secured through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. |
| Washington | The City of Hanover will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make water distribution system improvements throughout the city. The city will provide $3,730,247 in matching funds they have secured through the USDA Rural Development. |
| Wichita | The City of Leoti will receive $596,450 in CDBG grant funds to complete a street project in the city. The city will contribute $596,450 in local city matching funds. |
| Wilson | The City of Fredonia will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to create a wastewater treatment facility. The city will provide $2,219,400 in matching funds they have secured through USDA Rural Development. |
| Woodson | The City of Yates Center will receive $400,000 in CDBG grant funds to purchase a new Quint Fire Truck for the city. The city will contribute $400,000 in local city matching funds. |
For more information on the Community Development Block Grant program, contact:
Kansas Department of Commerce
Business and Community Development Division
(785) 296-3004
TTY (Hearing Impaired) at 711
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports Feb. 6-12
FSCC Announces Fall 2019 Honor Roll
Fort Scott, KS–Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) has over 240 students on the fall 2019 honor roll list! These students work hard every semester and it truly shows. There are three lists of honorees, each group being at a different level.
President’s Honor Roll- 4.0 GPA
Vice President’s Honor Roll- 3.75-3.99 GPA
Honor Roll- 3.5-3.74 GPA
Congratulations Hounds on your success! Keep pushing forward and make this decade the best yet!!!
To see the full lists of honorees, please click the link below!
Obituary of Robert Cochran Jr.
Robert Eugene Cochran, Jr. age 58, resident of Yates Center, KS, died Wednesday, February 12, 2020, as the result of highway accident near Yates Center.
He was born December 31, 1961, in Pueblo, CO, the son of Robert Eugene Cochran, Sr. and Barbara Jean Davis Cochran.
Bob served in the U. S. Army. He was discharged due to a training accident.
Bob enjoyed fishing, camping, dirt track racing, and football, especially the Denver Broncos. He loved spending time with his granddaughter, attending her activities, and being with family. Bob was a generous man and willing to help anyone in need.
Survivors include his wife Brandy of the home; daughters Amy Lee and Tasha Cochran; stepdaughter Tina Dixon; brothers Donnie Cochran and Tim Cochran; stepbrother Allen Smith; sisters Evelyn Cox and Debbie Tenpenny; and eight grandchildren including Elena Rose Dixon who Robert was raising.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Regina Wenger; and his parents.
Graveside committal services will be held at 1:30 PM Wednesday, February 19th, at the U. S. National Cemetery, Ft. Scott.
Military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 V.F.W. The family will receive friends from 12:30 PM until 1:15 PM at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Epilepsy Foundation and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Lance’s Looking At Bringing Groceries to Downtown Fort Scott
Loren and Regena Lance are contemplating duplicating what they have done to the Mildred Store in Allen County, in downtown Fort Scott. They have a grocery store in the town of Mildred, population 26.
See the end of this feature for how to give input to the Lance’s.
“Loren and I purchased the Mildred Store six years ago this coming June,” Regena Lance said. “We purchased the existing store because we saw a community need. We have taken a store in the middle of basically nowhere and made it a hub to the community and developed it into a destination business.”
“We feel after nearly six years in business we have an idea of how to be competitive and provide a great service to our community,” she said. “We would hope to be able to duplicate this in Fort Scott, if we decide to pursue this opportunity.”
Mildred Store is known for sandwiches and live music that happens monthly.
” Several people from Fort Scott visit our Mildred Store, especially on the third Saturday of the month which is our ‘Music Night’ and had commented on how nice it would be to have a store like this in the downtown area of Fort Scott,” Regena said.
“After thinking it over and discussing it with employees of the city of Fort Scott, we have decided to give it further consideration,” she said.
“The situation in Fort Scott is similar to what we saw in Mildred,” Regena said. “There is a need in a community that could be fulfilled by a small store that stocks all the basic goods and a few specialty items. We are not trying to compete with any other existing businesses in Fort Scott just hoping to fill a void that has become apparent in the downtown area.”
Location
No location has been determined yet, she said, but the future grocery store would be in downtown Fort Scott.
When
“If we do decide to move forward with this venture we will be looking a late spring start up,” she said.
Community Input Sought
“We are looking for community input on what they would like to see in a future store, as far as staple goods, store hours and any other possible suggestions,” Regena said. ” We would like to invite anyone interested to come visit the Mildred Store to see how we could model a new store off of our existing one. Mildred Store is open seven days a week Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.”
“Music night is this Saturday night starting at 6:30 if anyone is interested in coming to see what’s happening in Mildred,” she said.
To comment ideas for staple goods and store hours, use the store’s Facebook page: Mildred Store or call the store at 620-439-5424.
Special Executive Session for County Commission for Feb. 14
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Date: February 14, 2020
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
9:00 – Executive Session – Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship (Lynne Oharah, Jeff Fischer,
Nick Ruhl and Justin Meeks)
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Feb. 13
UHS Basketball Wins Against Yates Center
By Addie Martin, Uniontown High School Sports Writer
The Uniontown Eagles and the Yates Center Wildcats went head-to-head in Tuesday’s game. Both Varsity teams came home with another couple of wins for Uniontown.
The girls’ Varsity beat the Wildcats 53 to 38. Danielle Howard scored 17 points this game, and Karleigh Schoenberger scored 18. They each had 8 rebounds, and Howard also had 7 assists and 3 steals. Sammie Hampton was another prominent player this game, scoring 6 points and rebounding the ball 5 times. Gwenyth Fry scored 7 points and rebounded twice. Breleigh Harris had 5 points, 1 assist, and 2 steals. “Extremely proud of how our team bounced back from a very disappointing loss last Friday,” said Coach Miller. “These young ladies chose to get better in practice on Monday, and it showed on the court tonight. On Friday, February 14, we will host Pleasanton for our winter homecoming.”
The boys’ Varsity also won against the Wildcats with a score of 53 to 43. This was a tense game for many players, as well as students past and present. Jake Harvey once more lead in points, racking up 21 during the game. Luke George scored 17 points. Both Harvey and George made half of their field goals; also, George made 2 three-point shots out of the 3 he took and was 9 for 10 on free throws. Drew Perry had 4 rebounds and 2 assists, Hunter Schaaf had 5 rebounds, and Clay Sutterby scored 8 points and had 11 rebounds. 20 of our points were made inside the lane. Coach Hays said, “The atmosphere for our game against Yates Center was awesome. It was great seeing so many Eagle fans travel to Yates Center to support our teams. I thought we got off to a slow start, but the boys responded well and played extremely hard. We shot the ball well and rebounded well tonight.”
Kansas Governor moves transportation plan FORWARD
Governor Laura Kelly and Julie Lorenz, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), announced a new transportation program, FORWARD, at a news conference today as part of the Transportation Day activities at the State Capitol.
“Key features of FORWARD include a flexible, responsive rolling program where major projects are selected every two years rather than once a decade,” Kelly said. “FORWARD also calls for completion of delayed T-WORKS projects; transit, aviation, rail, bike and pedestrian solutions that solve problems in rural and urban Kansas; and more partnerships with local communities to increase both local matches and the number of improvements we can make.”
FORWARD will also provide more resources to communities through new initiatives such as the Cost-Share, Local Bridge Improvement and Strategic Safety programs to help address Kansans’ pent-up demand for transportation investments, Secretary Lorenz said.
“Most importantly, FORWARD will provide better service through helping communities solve more transportation problems by utilizing all of KDOT’s resources,” Secretary Lorenz said.
Both Governor Kelly and Secretary Lorenz stressed the need to end transfers out of the State Highway Fund. Over the past several years, more than $2 billion has been transferred, causing the condition of the state’s highway system to decline. Governor Kelly’s budget, with the Legislature’s support, began to reverse that trend last year.
“To pass FORWARD, we must close the ‘Bank of KDOT’ – and make sure that funding for transportation is spent on transportation,” Kelly said. Governor Kelly has pledged to close the “Bank of KDOT” by the end of her first term.
The FORWARD program is a plan for Kansans, developed in consultation with Kansans, that works for the whole state.
“Kansans are ready to build a better transportation system for themselves and for future generations,” Secretary Lorenz said. “With FORWARD, KDOT will be ready to deliver.”