For Immediate Release: Contact: Governor Kelly Announces Extension to Tax CouncilTOPEKA –Governor Laura Kelly today announced that she will be extending the duration of the Governor’s Council on Tax Reform. The COVID-19 crisis has not only been a crisis for our healthcare system but has created a crisis in our economy—impacting the state budget. Following the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group’s projections from last week, the state will continue to bring in less revenue. Given the current budget situation, a full and robust discussion on future tax reform proposals is not possible at this time. “While Kansas will continue to recover from the COVID crisis, there is a continued need for a robust discussion of tax reform, and the Tax Council’s work needs to continue into next year,” Governor Kelly said. “I greatly appreciate the work the Council has done to this point, and I look forward to the Council’s report next year.” The governor continues to recommend returning to the “three-legged stool” approach that relies on a sensible balance of income, sales, and property tax revenue. The Council will continue to review aspects of state and local finances and how best to respond to federal tax law changes, the taxation of groceries as part of sales tax revenue, and how to best provide targeted property tax relief. The Council also is charged with determining how much room will be available in future budget projections for tax relief. ### |
Feral Kansas Swine Webinar Dec. 1
Webinar to Discuss Feral Swine in Kansas
MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture will host an informational webinar on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. CST to offer an update on the management practices used in Kansas to control feral swine. The webinar will feature a presentation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Wildlife Services program.
USDA–APHIS–WS works in collaboration with KDA to help monitor, control and eradicate feral swine in Kansas. This webinar will be hosted by Dr. Justin Smith, Animal Health Commissioner at KDA, and will feature presentations from several USDA representatives including the head of field operations in Kansas along with a disease epidemiologist. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions throughout the presentations, and the webinar will be recorded and available for viewing after its completion.
To register for the webinar, go to agriculture.ks.gov/AnimalHealthOutreach. For additional information on the webinar or on animal health issues in Kansas, contact the KDA Division of Animal Health at 785-564-6601 or [email protected].
Obituary of Carrie Elbrader
Carrie Lee (Middleton/Bruner) Elbrader passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord on Wednesday, November 18, 2020. Carrie was a long-time resident of Bourbon County, Kansas and career teacher for over thirty years. She was born on February 25, 1930, in Ft. Scott, Kansas to Lee and Allie Middleton.
She was the first of six children, which surely started her teaching career, you don’t have five younger siblings without doing some teaching. Carrie graduated from Uniontown High School and continued her education at Ft Scott Jr College, Pittsburg Teacher’s College and Pittsburg State University. She attained a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in special education. She taught at several schools in Bourbon County and for five years in Chanute, Kansas. She loved being a teacher and had so many fond memories of students and colleagues.
Carrie was most happy when around family and friends. She was lucky to have special people in her life such as Idella Brown and her husband Keith, who provided special care for her. She was a loving, sacrificial mother that wasn’t afraid to express that love at the end of a switch! A topnotch grandmother that would go squirrel hunting, fishing and bake all kinds of goodies, somewhere along the way she lost that switch. She enjoyed sharing whatever she had and loved seeing others enjoy her loving gifts. She always made sure you had what you needed-plus a few things you didn’t need. She loved her home, her family, her friends and the simple way of life. Many hours were spent around the dining room table drinking coffee, eating cinnamon rolls and discussing life with her dear friends. On Friday night it was out to eat and then home for a pitch game. She was a comfortable person that made others comfortable as well.
Carrie was preceded in death by her parents Lee and Alli Middleton, husband, Don Elbrader, one sister, Carolyn Rourke, one brother, David Middleton and grandson, Tyler Juden. Carrie is survived by her siblings Lois, Kenneth, Donna and their families, two children, daughter, Reatha Juden and husband Bob, a son Gary Bruner and partner Ruthie England, grandchildren, Eli, Erin, Ivy and Jacey and great grandchildren, Eden, Macey, Lealind, Londyn, Domonic, Ava, Easton and Oaklee. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Psalms 116:15
Due to Covid, a private burial will take place at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery southwest of Ft. Scott. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Uniontown United Methodist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary of Wilbur Mowen
Wilbur Eugene Mowen, Sr., age 97, a former resident of Merriam, Kansas and more recently of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Wednesday, November 18, 2020, at his home at the Presbyterian Village in Ft. Scott.
He was born August 29, 1923, in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, the son of Ned W. Mowen and Amanda L. Dawson Mowen. He married Mae Steffler on July 22, 1944, at Monaca, Pennsylvania.
Wilbur served for several years with the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict. Following his military service, the family moved west and eventually settled in the Kansas City area where Wilbur found employment at the Nazarene Publishing House.
Wilbur worked in electronic maintenance and his wife, Mae, served as the receptionist. Wilbur was very mechanically minded and could fix most anything rather it be at work, church or for a friend. He was a pilot and used his mechanical ability to restore vintage airplanes. Wilbur was a longtime member of the Shawnee Church of the Nazarene. Music was always an important part of the family’s life. Wilbur enjoyed singing and playing the guitar. He also played bass for the Southwood Samaritans.
Survivors include his wife of seventy-six years, Mae Mowen, of the home in Ft. Scott; three children, Jeanne Lynch (Jim), of Loveland, Colorado, Wilbur E. Mowen, Jr. (Patricia), of Ft. Scott, Kansas and Richard Mowen (Leta), of Shawnee, Kansas; nine grandchildren, Janice, Julie, James, Andrew, Jessica, Brent, Jeff, David and Sally and a host of great and great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister, Sally Mowen, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
He was preceded in death by a son, Ned Mowen who died in infancy and several brothers and sisters.
Graveside services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Monday, November 23rd at the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Military honors will be provided by the U. S. Navy. The family will receive friends on Monday at the Cheney Witt Chapel from 12:30 until leaving for the cemetery at 1:15 P.M.
Memorials are suggested to Integrity Hospice and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Michell Resigns FS City Commission: Applications Sought For Replacement
Effective November 19, 2020 JoLynne Mitchell has resigned her position as City Commissioner on the Fort Scott City Commission.
Persons interested in applying to fill the position vacated by Commissioner Mitchell are asked to submit a letter of interest to: City Clerk, Diane Clay at 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701 or by email at [email protected].
Letters of interest must be received by the City Clerk by 12:00 p.m. on Monday, November 30th, 2020. Only individuals who reside in the city limits of Fort Scott are eligible to apply.
Once the appointment has been made, it will become effective at the December 1st, 2020 City Commission meeting and expire in December of 2021.
Any additional information or questions may be obtained by contacting Diane Clay, City Clerk at 620-223-0550.
Annual Key Sale Moves To Former Gordman’s Building Nov. 21-28
Key Industries Inc. has a long history in Fort Scott.
110 years of experience in the workwear clothing industry, to be exact.
Key provides workwear for rugged use at the best value, according to a press release.
Key Apparel originally made overalls for ranchers, and through the decades has evolved to also make worksite, high visibility, and fire-resistant apparel.
For several years they have had a warehouse sale in November.
“Our 2020 Warehouse Sale is back and bigger than ever,” said Kaden Wimmer, Key’s Social Media Coordinator, in a press release.
There will be local health protocols in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Wimmer.
“With the expansion of the warehouse sale, KEY Industries has decided to move the sale to the former Gordman’s location located at 2400 S Main St., Suite 500 Fort Scott,” he said.
The hours are Saturday, Nov. 21 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 27, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There will be closeouts on men, women, and kid’s apparel. Cash, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Credit Cards will be accepted.
“The Annual Warehouse sale has become a Fort Scott community tradition for over a decade,” Wimmer said. “Allowing the community to purchase quality apparel at a discounted price for the holiday shopping season. The warehouse sale brings thousands of community members to Fort Scott for this week-long shopping event.”
“The expansion of the 2020 Warehouse Sale will provide customers with a more extensive selection of their favorite KEY and Polar King gear. Including Work, Office, Flame Resistant, and Hi-Vis apparel,” he said.
The large space also provides customers a larger space to maintain social distancing while shopping at the event, Wimmer said.
“KEY is dedicated to our customer’s health and safety and will take the necessary steps to ensure that the warehouse sale will follow local health protocol,” Wimmer said.
Mistletoe Market Tonight at the River Room
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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Nov. 19
FS Commission Special Agenda for Nov.19
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL COMMISSION ROOM
123 S MAIN STREET
NOVEMBER 19th, 2020
10:00 A.M.
I. ROLL CALL:
K. ALLEN P. ALLEN NICHOLS WATTS MITCHELL
II. CONSIDERATION:
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Accept resignation of JoLynne Mitchell
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Discussion on process to fill this open position
MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL
FS City Commission Meets Today to Accept Resignation of Mitchell
From the new interim city manager Jeff Hancock.
The City Commission will meet at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at City Hall in the City Commission meeting room at 123 South Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. The City Commission will meet to accept the resignation of JoLynne Mitchell and discuss the process on how to fill this position. This meeting will be broadcast on the City’s You Tube channel. This meeting is open to the public.
In her existing role, the Mayor has agreed to call this meeting but will not attend. Commissioner Nichols, the Commission President, will preside. A vacancy is created only after the commission accepts the resignation.
I have discussed this issue with the City Attorney. The attached Ordinance 3290 governs the filling of a vacancy and allows us only 10 days after the vacancy is created to fill it. The remaining Commissioners choose a suitable elector/resident of the City to fill the remainder of Commissioner Mitchell’s term. The Commissioners do have some leeway to suspend the rules as it regards to the 10 days but must do so by majority vote. State Statute controls the issue of a tiebreaker. If the Commissioners cannot agree, the City Attorney is technically the tiebreaker. The City Attorney indicates that he will do everything he can to push a decision without him picking and trusts that someone is acceptable to at least 3 of the remaining 4 Commissioners.
I have the attached the ordinance and a previous July 17, 2014 Press Release seeking a Candidates of a City Commission vacancy. If you need additional information, please let me know
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Nov. 18
Commercial Industrial Hemp Hearing Dec. 7
Hearing for Proposed Adoption of Commercial Industrial Hemp Regulations
MANHATTAN, Kansas — A public hearing will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 7, 2020, to consider the adoption of proposed regulations to govern commercial industrial hemp production in Kansas. Due to public health concerns posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the hearing proceedings will be held via a video conferencing system to provide the opportunity for virtual participation online. Although in-person participation is also an option, attendance will be limited to allow for social distancing and to comply with local health requirements.
Due to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed hemp from the federal
Controlled Substances Act, and the Commercial Industrial Hemp Act passed in Kansas in 2019, the Kansas Department of Agriculture is proposing rules and regulations K.A.R. 4-34-22 through 4-34-30.
A copy of the proposed new regulations, as well as an expanded notice of public hearing, may be accessed on the KDA website at agriculture.ks.gov/PublicComment. Anyone desiring to participate via video conference or in person must pre-register and be provided with a video link or instructions for in-person attendance. Written comments can be submitted on the public comment web page prior to the hearing or sent to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, 1320 Research Park Drive, Manhattan, KS, 66502.
Any individual with a disability may request accommodation in order to participate in the public hearing and may request a copy of the regulations in an accessible format. Persons who require special accommodations must make their needs known at least five working days prior to the hearing. For more information, including special accommodations or a copy of the regulations, please contact Ronda Hutton at 785-564-6715 or [email protected].
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WHAT: Public hearing on proposed commercial industrial hemp regulations
WHEN: 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 7, 2020
WHERE: Virtual: via video conferencing system
In person: Kansas Department of Agriculture, 1320 Research Park Dr., Manhattan