|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minutes of the Bourbon County Coalition Jan. 6
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Minutes
January 6, 2021
- Welcome: Sixteen members participated in the meeting. New board members Patty Simpson, Director, Fort Scott Housing Authority, and David Gillen, Director, The Beacon, were recognized. Billie Jo reminded members that the Board does have funds available; people in need just need to make application through The Beacon.
- Member Introductions and Announcements:
- Allen Schelleck, Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries and Salvation Army, reminded members that he still has some funds from the FSACF grant. He also noted that the Red Bucket campaign was not quite so successful as 2019; therefore, he will have about $1,000 less to assist Bourbon County families this year.
- Sandy Haggard, RSVP, mentioned that she is continuing to develop the calling program for senior citizens in Bourbon County. She needs seniors who wish to receive calls as well as volunteers to make the calls.
- Elizabeth Schafer, CASA and Feeding Families, shared that Feeding Families is currently serving about 300 people each week; the program also has some good used high chairs to donate to families in need.
- Ty Harnden, Aunt Bertha, reminded members that the organization can help find food assistance, help pay bills, and locate other free or reduced cost programs. Ty’s phone number is 913-717-5751.
- Cinda Reynolds and Nancy Van Etten, American Red Cross, shared that they are continuing virtual responses when called to a crisis. There is virtual training available for those wishing to volunteer with the Red Cross.
- Michelle Worsley and Shanett Jones, SEK-CAP Head Start, are still seeking applications for their programs.
- Patty Simpson, Fort Scott Housing Authority, has two handicapped accessible apartments available – one three bedroom and one two bedroom. She will have a couple of others available soon. Contact the Housing Authority office for more information.
- Celia Ruiz, United Health Care, mentioned that she is still available to assist with health care needs even though there are no health fairs being held during the pandemic. She also noted that clients should not have to be recertifying during this time.
- Mandi Woods, Healthy Families, shared that she is able to continue family meetings virtually; she recently conducted a very successful family read-along event.
- Christine Abbott, SEK Works, will continue working from home for another week. Virtual appointments are available on Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. She still has funds available for those who qualify. She also mentioned that she can provide computer loans for up to five days. The statewide job fair continues to be available online. Christine is also available to help those who have been victims of unemployment fraud.
- Dena Kemp, DCCCA, emphasized that prevention information has been sent to the Coalition email list; Dena can be reached at 620-218-2878 for more information. She is also working on a committee to form a statewide suicide coalition.
- Tammy Alcantar, Crawford County Health Department, noted that she is having good participation and outcomes from her Teen Pregnancy program. She also reminded members about the Healthy Beginnings Pre-Natal classes on the Zoom format that are available to any pregnant woman; contact Tammy to register. Car seats are available free of charge to parents who receive WIC or are on KanCare; others may be able to access car seats through the local police department or the Kansas Troopers in Chanute.
- LIEAP applications have been mailed to those who received LIEAP last year; others may now access the application on the DCF website. Applications will be available through March.
- Program (no programs for Zoom meetings)
- Open Forum: Following some discussion, consensus was to continue Zoom meetings. John, Thrive Allen County, will continue to act as host; Billie Jo will send information to join the meeting to members prior to February 3.
- Adjournment: Next General Membership meeting will be February 3, 2021.
Presentation Explores Emancipated African Americans’ “Free State” Experiences and “Systemic Racism”
Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KS will host “Free Did Not Mean Welcome,” a presentation and discussion by Carmaletta Williams on Monday, January 18 at 12:00pm virtual on Zoom.
Members of the community are invited to attend the free Zoom online program. Registration is required. To register for the free webinar Zoom event go to: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8vOjMtI4QuWHcPs6IsMz3g.
Contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620-223-2700 for more information.
The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.
Millions of African Americans walked away from the South after Emancipation looking for freedom. For some it meant a journey to Kansas, a “free state.”
Discover how many realized that for Black people in Kansas “Free” did not necessarily mean “Welcome.”
Also learn more about “Systemic Racism” that still exist in today’s world and how it impacts our daily lives and also what we can do as a society to help to eliminate it.
Carmaletta Williams is a former professor of English and African American Studies at Johnson County Community College. She is now the Executive Director of The Black Archives of Mid-America.
“Free Did Not Mean Welcome” is part of Humanities Kansas’s Movement of Ideas Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and workshops designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.
For more information about “Free Did Not Mean Welcome” contact the Gordon Parks
Museum at 620-223-2700 ext 5850 or visit http:www.gordonparkscenter.org/
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit spearheading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy.
Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and
culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports Jan. 3-5
Local Author, Brian Allen, Speaks on His New Book “Murder and Mayhem” Jan. 9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grocery Food Coming to Uniontown
Union Station Convenience Store, 684 Maple Road, Uniontown, is ready to receive staple grocery items to provide western Bourbon County residents with an option for food closer to home.
“We had already purchased the shed that we intended to eventually turn into climate-controlled storage, prior in the year,” said Ronni Clayton, who along with her husband, Dane, are the owners. “Our goal was to make one purchase at a time as the funds became available.”
But then the COVID-19 Pandemic hit, and the federal government gave funds to each state government and the Kansas government distributed funds to local entities. In Bourbon County, it was the county commission. The Clayton’s applied for a SPARK grant through the county.
To find out more about the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK)program, click here. https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office
“Once we received the SPARK funds in September we were able to really get things moving,” Clayton said.
The couple created another cold storage unit to accommodate the food that will be coming.
“We plan to sell staple grocery items such as bread, cheese, eggs, lunchmeat, hamburger, etc,” Clayton said.
The Claytons created climate-controlled storage outside of the main building, to free up space for additional coolers and shelving inside the convenience store, she said in a previous interview.
”The increased product space will be used for discounted grocery items as well as locally produced meats,” she said.
To see the previous interview: Union Station: Affordable Groceries Are Coming to Uniontown
“Everything is done except getting the groceries in the store,” Clayton said. ” We are still working out some details on that, but hope to start regular grocery deliveries soon. The holidays slowed everything a bit.”
” We are working with Nichols Hitching Post and Bronson Locker so far, with some other local businesses possibly in the works as well,” she said.
Learn more about Nichols Hitching Post from their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/879444012103113/
Learn more about the Bronson Locker from here:
Bronson Locker Expands Due To Demand During Pandemic
The Clayton’s employ 12 people at their store.
They have some new things on the horizon as well.
” We have a lot of new ideas slowly taking form, so stay tuned,” Clayton said.
Obituary of Daisy Bonita Holeman
Daisy Bonita Holeman, age 95, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, formerly of Bronson, KS, died Monday, January 4, 2021, at Via Christi Medical Center in Pittsburg, KS.
She was born June 8, 1925 to Albert Peter Wilson and Bonnie Dale (Willis) Wilson in Uniontown, KS. She was the oldest of four children, including Albert Lewis “Sonny,” Yvette and Anita. Bonita was named after her father’s favorite sister, Daisy Wilson Fouts. Her mother, Bonnie, found the name “Bonita” on a box of chocolates and that’s the name she always used.
At the age of four, Bonita insisted on going to the public school with other kids at Poplar Grove School by her family home even though she wasn’t old enough to attend.
Her mother, Bonnie, asked the teacher to just let her stay for a while. She told her that she’d eventually get bored and come home. But Bonita stayed. She completed her secondary education, graduating from Uniontown High School at the age of 16. When she started school, students were only taught cursive writing. She had to teach herself how to print when she was much older.
Bonita attended Fort Scott Community College and became a schoolteacher at Pleasant Ridge, a one-room schoolhouse, where she was the teacher, cook and janitor. She taught all grades and rented a room from a nearby farm family. She walked to school every day. In the winter, she had to heat the school with wood-burning stove. She was always grateful when one of her older students arrived at the school early to take on this difficult task on cold, snowy days. That job paid her $100 a month. One of her very first purchases was to buy her mother a new coat, because Bonnie hadn’t been able to afford one for many years. She loved her parents dearly and always expressed her gratitude for the love and lessons they provided.
She later earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Pittsburg State Teacher’s College, now known as Pittsburg State University.
She began teaching at 18. A year or two later, she met Earl, who lived about a half-mile from the school. They married on September 16, 1945 and lived in the rural Bronson home where Earl was born. They had four children: Karen Kay, Linda Lea, Betty Ann and Scott Earl. Family was the most important thing to Bonita and she always expected to have everyone attend major holiday events at her home, where she delighted in preparing delicious home-cooked meals. Even though there wasn’t a lot of room in her house, there was always an abundance of love. There was also always room at her table for anyone who didn’t have anywhere else to go. She also loved shopping for “just the right gift” for members of her family at Christmas.
After the girls were old enough for school, Bonita taught three years a Bronson Elementary School. That was interrupted when she had Scott 13 ½ years after Betty was born. She then resumed her teaching career at Crest Elementary School in Kincaid, where she taught for 11 years. Upon completing her master’s degree, she taught special education students at Eugene Ware Elementary School in Fort Scott. After teaching for 30 years, she retired.
Bonita was a long-time member of the Bronson Baptist Church, where she taught the Young People’s Sunday School Class and also served as the church clerk. She was a 60-year member of the Bronson Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, Delta Kappa Gamma the International Society for Key Women Educators, the O.E.S Culture Club and Helping Hands Club. She served as a 4-H Club project leader in cooking, sewing and geology for 18 years.
Her hobbies included cooking, sewing, reading, making quilts and playing cards and games.
Bonita was preceded in death by her parents, husband Earl, daughters Linda and Karen, sons-in-law Chuck Shelton and Andy Johnson, brother Sonny, and sister Yvette Nelson. She is survived by her daughter Betty and son-in-law Merle, Uniontown; son Scott, Kansas City, MO; sister Anita, Independence, MO, Eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Lloyd Houk will conduct graveside services at 10:30 AM Friday, January 8th, in the Uniontown Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to either Bronson Baptist Church or the Bronson Library and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Jan. 7
Chamber Coffee at Moe’s Bread on Jan. 7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Winter Beauty
Submitted by Jennifer Addington.
Fortscott.biz readers are invited to send photos of scenes or events for consideration of publication.
Charter Ordinance 31: The No’s Have It
In the election question of shall charter ordinance No. 31 take effect, the no’s have it.
A CHARTER ORDINANCE EXEMPTING THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS FROM THE PROVISIONS OF K.S.A. 12-631p RELATING TO THE DISPOSITION OF SEWER AND STORM SEWER RESERVE FUNDS had 396 no votes to 139 yes votes.
See the Bourbon County Clerks report on the election here:
Jan 5, 2021 Special City Election Unofficial Results
To see a prior story on the ordinance:
COVID-19 Tests Exceed 1 Million in 2020
Governor Laura Kelly Announces Kansas Exceeded 1 Million COVID-19 Tests in 2020
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that the State of Kansas exceeded its goal to conduct 1 million COVID-19 tests in 2020, which was set by the Governor in October.
“In October, we launched our Unified Testing Strategy with a goal of testing one million Kansans by the end of the year – and today, I’m excited to announce that we exceeded that number,” Governor Kelly said. “This coordinated partnership between state health officials and local providers, in addition to a majority of counties’ decision to adopt face covering requirements, led to the control of the spread of the virus in Kansas for the first time since the stay-at-home order was lifted in May.”
The State of Kansas conducted over 1,001,000 tests in 2020.
“Ramping up testing capabilities in Kansas has been critical to identify COVID-19 in our state and stop the spread,” Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said. “ Reaching this milestone in Kansas shows great success, but we must remain vigilant and continue following proven public health measures as we move into 2021. Free testing is available through the end of January, and I urge you to utilize testing locations in your area this month.”
The Unified Testing Strategy was launched by Governor Kelly’s administration to coordinate COVID-19 testing statewide, keep Kansans safe and healthy, and accelerate the state’s economy.
“Although we are still working on making the process work better for Kansas consumers, we met the million test mark by the end of 2020, which took a great deal of teamwork from all of our partners in a very short time frame,” Marci Nielsen, special advisor to the Governor, said. “As we begin to vaccinate the public against COVID-19, it’s heartening to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But we can’t yet let down our guard. Testing for COVID-19 is still critically important to control the spread of the virus.”
The strategy includes a campaign called “Stop the Spread. It’s Up to Us, Kansas,” which directs Kansans to free testing locations across the state through the website GoGetTested.com/Kansas. Currently, there are 39 free testing locations on the site, which is updated regularly.
Governor Kelly’s all-of-the-above approach to virus mitigation also includes the “Kansas Beats the Virus” network, a statewide, bipartisan public health intervention, spearheaded by the Kansas Leadership Center, to increase local actions to slow the spread of COVID-19 and encourage Kansans to practice virus mitigation efforts.
“As we move into 2021, the Unified Testing Strategy – including the free testing program – will continue full steam ahead,” Governor Kelly said. “Additionally, the groundwork already put in place through our all-of-the-above approach to virus mitigation is, and will continue to be, essential infrastructure that will allow for the quick and efficient distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.”