FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9
John Deere FSCC Tech Program Grand Opening – 8 AM at their new facility -2223 S. Horton St. ~Lunch served at 11:30pm—Ribbon Cutting at 12 pm.
IF Gathering at Community Christian Church Fort Scott 6:30 pm ~ 1919 Horton St, Fort Scott Additional sessions on Saturday.
Theology on Tap ~ Nate’s Place 7 pm – 750 S National Ave., Fort Scott “Why is it important to live locally?”
Fri & Sat – 10 am – 5 pm~ Livestock Sale – Fort Scott Livestock Market 2131 Maple Rd.~ Friday: Cows, Pairs & Big Bulls. Saturday: Stocker & Feeder Cattle.
Fri & Sat – The Prairie Troubadour 3rd Annual Symposium at Liberty Theatre, 113 S. Main St.
Fri, Sat & Sun – Art Project: New Faces New Neighbors – 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Fort Scott National Historic Site – History & Art come together. Kids create textile works of art that encompass the change of Fort Scott NHS throughout its history.
SATURDAY, February 10
Coyote Calling Contest by The Fort Outdoors ~ 7 AM – 2522 Richard Rd, Fort Scott – Care to Share Fundraiser
Cupid’s Corner Children’s Crafts at Buck Run, 9-10: 30 am, ages pre-K to 5th grade.
FS High School State Scholars Bowl—All day
Kill Cancer with CrossFit Fundraiser- at Smallville CrossFit ~ 11– 12 pm ~ 13 S National.
A good local health care system may itself be part of the prescription for maintaining a healthy rural economy.
In the year 2016, the healthcare sector accounted for an estimated 13.1 percent of Bourbon County’s total employment or about 1,246 jobs. In that same year, over one in four healthcare sector workers were employed at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott.
Those are just a couple of the finding published in a recent study by researchers at K-State Research and Extension and sponsored by the Kansas Hospital Association documenting the economic impact of the healthcare sector on a county-by-county level.
The report also noted that Mercy Hospital Fort Scott has a significant “ripple effect” or secondary impact on employment and income throughout other industries in Bourbon County. This occurs when the hospital’s employees spend their income locally for household goods and service. As dollars are spent locally, they are, in turn, re-spent for other goods and services.
For example, the 2016 study showed that Mercy Hospital’s 339 co-workers had an employment multiplier of 1.64. This means that for each job at the hospital, another 0.64 jobs are created in other businesses and industries in the county’s economy. The direct impact of those 339 hospital employees resulted in an indirect impact of 217 jobs (339 x 0.64 = 217) throughout all businesses and industries in the market area. Thus, the hospital employment had a total impact on area employment of 377 jobs (339 x 1.64 = 556).
Similarly, multiplier analysis can estimate the total impact of the estimated $28,493,000 direct income for hospital employees. According to the data in the 2016 study, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott had an income multiplier of 1.23, which indicates that for every one dollar of income generated in the hospital, another $0.23 is generated in other businesses and industries in the county’s economy. Thus, the hospital had an estimated total impact on income throughout all Bourbon County businesses and industries of $35,069,000 ($28,493,000 x 1.23 = $35,069,000) (numbers rounded)).
The study’s authors calculated economic multipliers for 13 healthcare sectors from dentists, to veterinarians, to home care services and estimated that health care services, directly and indirectly, accounted for 1,737 jobs throughout the county. Furthermore, they estimate that Bourbon County’s health care sector employees accounted for more than $75 million in total county income and over $21 million in county retail sales.
“As with most rural areas, the health sector in Bourbon County plays an important role in the economy,” said Reta Baker, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott president. “I think we tend to take our local health services for granted, just a little. We don’t realize how important health care is to the county’s economic well-being.”
That is exactly the point the reports are trying to get across, according to Dr. John Leatherman, an agricultural economist at K-State’s Office of Local Government and lead author of the report. He points out that access to affordable quality local health care services is essential to attracting and retaining local businesses and retirees.
“Research has shown time and again that local health care and education are two enormously important factors for economic development,” Leatherman said, “and both can be positively or negatively influenced by local action or inaction.” He said the local health care system has sometimes been the “tie-breaker” in industry location decisions and that retirees view quality local health care as a “must have” local service.
Tom Bell, president and CEO for the Kansas Hospital Association said, “Kansas hospitals are a critical piece of the economic engine in Kansas communities and a symbol of continued community cohesion. They are important not only for the healthcare services they deliver but for maintaining the overall economic vitality and viability of the communities they serve.”
Copies of the full report have been distributed and are available free of charge at the Kansas Rural Health Works Web site at: www.krhw.net.
Mercy Hospital Fort Scott is an acute care hospital with 46 licensed beds, offering comprehensive medical, surgical, OB/GYN, pediatric, home care and hospice services. Inpatient care is provided with 24/7 physician coverage. In 2017, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott received The Leapfrog Group’s prestigious A rating. Mercy Clinic Fort Scott is located on hospital grounds as well as Mercy rural health clinics in Arma and Pleasanton.
Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2017 by Truven, an IBM Watson Health company, serves millions annually. Mercy includes 44 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, more than 700 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 40,000 co-workers and more than 2,000 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Mercy also has outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
Photo Credit: FSCC. Student Dylan Giager and Carpentry Instructor Kim Coates at the 53rd annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in 2017.
February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month.
Carpentry, heating and air conditioning, masonry and welding classes at the Career and Technical Education Center in Pittsburg, which offers Fort Scott Community College classes have seen a rise in enrollment, according to Kris Mengarelli, CTEC Executive Director.
“I do not have a current number of high school students for this spring, but (I do) for Fall 2017 – I know enrollment is up for the Spring semester,” he said.
Mengarelli is glad to see the increase.
“There are significant opportunities in the trades workforce,” Mengarelli said. “Trade businesses are in need of skilled workers to fill the demand of a workforce that is moving toward retirement. In addition, according to Association for Career and Technical Education, students involved in CTE courses are more engaged, graduate at higher rates and go on to post-secondary education.”
The statistics for the fall semester at CTEC that Mengarelli produced:
In heating and air conditioning, there are 10 male students whose average age is 23. None are high school students. The students are from Bourbon, Crawford, Allen, and Anderson counties.
For masonry, there are 17 students, 15 males, and two females with an average age of 18, from Crawford, Cherokee, Montgomery counties and two out of state students. Eight are high school students from Pittsburg, Girard, and Southeast.
For construction trades, there are 23 students, 20 males, and three females with an average age of 18. They are from Crawford, Labette, Allen, Anderson, and Cowley counties and two out of state students. Nine are high school students from Pittsburg and Girard.
For welding, there are 61 students, 57 males, and four females with an average age of 21. They are from Crawford, Cherokee, Bourbon, Johnson, Anderson, Linn, Miami counties and out of state.
There are 32 high school students in this group, from Pittsburg, Frontenac, Northeast, St. Mary’s Colgan, Southeast, and Girard.
For more information contact:
Kris Mengarelli
CTEC Executive Director [email protected]
(620) 232-5644
Chris Sterrett
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC) Instructor [email protected]
(620) 232-5644
The theme for CTE Month is Celebrate Today, Own Tomorrow! This month provides CTE programs an opportunity to demonstrate how CTE makes students college and career ready and prepares them for high-demand career fields, according to a Kansas Department of Education press release.
CTE in Kansas helps meet the needs of business and industry through the development of the foundational knowledge and skills aligned to the Kansas workforce.
Kansas has 16 Career Clusters for students to choose from, and there are 35 Career Cluster Pathways, according to the press release.
A Career Cluster is a group of occupations similar in skill set and training.
Career Cluster Pathways are focused on specific areas of study leading to a particular area of industry or business. These occupations fall within seven career fields in Kansas — agriculture; business; design, production, and repair; family and consumer sciences; health; media and technology; and public services.
Kansas schools have 2,606 pathways across these fields.
Junior Eugene Lawrence, age 89, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Wednesday, February 7, 2018, at the Medicalodge of Ft. Scott. He was born May 9, 1928, in Deerfield, Missouri, the son of Edward Samuel Lawrence and Nellie Zimmerman Lawrence.
He was firsts employed by the Lawrence and Son Saw Mill in Deerfield. He later joined the United States Navy where he served in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Following his service with the Navy, he married Marie Turner on June 4, 1948, at Deerfield. He then was employed in Ft. Scott by Bryden Auto Supply and then for Herrman Lumber. He later worked in the mail room for the Western Insurance Company.
He was a member of the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 V. F. W. Junior enjoyed working with wood, fishing, and hunting as well as gardening.
Survivors include his daughter, Jeanie Parker and husband Darrell, two grandchildren, Clint Parker and wife Michelle and Brandi Pitts and husband, Brandon; and three great-grandchildren, Clayton and Katlyn Parker and Cash Pitts, all of Ft. Scott. His wife, Marie, preceded him in death on December 13, 2013. He as also preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Sonny and Chet Lawrence and three sisters, Arlene Lawrence, Lorene “Sis” Shepard and Nellie Carpenter.
Randy Handly will conduct funeral services at 11:00 A.M. Monday, February 12, 2018, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The family will receive friends on Monday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorial are suggested to Mercy Hospice or the Medicalodge Activity Fund and may be left in the 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.
Jared Leek speaks to the Chamber Coffee attendees at Crooner’s Lounge.
Jared Leek, the owner of Crooner’s Lounge and the Liberty Theater, hosted the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee Feb.1.
Crooner’s Lounge is located at 117 S. Main and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 5-9 p.m.
He said a full-service bar is offered along with steak, seafood, chicken, pasta and fresh oysters.
E-3 Meats, produced by Adam and Jennifer LaRoche are featured at the restaurant.
The theater is next door north, and Leek also owns the building south of Crooner’s, which houses office space for businesses.
Upcoming events:
February 9-10 there is a Catholic Symposium at the Liberty Theater.
Sunday, February 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Crooner’s Lounge, there will be Valentine Cupcake Decorating Event, Leek said.
Each guest will decorate one-dozen cupcakes, pre-baked by Crooner’s Cakery. Frosting, frosting tips, candies and edible decorations will be provided. Cost is $30/person.Reservations required. Limited availability. Purchase tickets using the link to Brown Paper Tickets.
February 14, the Gary Thompson Band will be performing at a special Valentines Dinner at Crooner’s, reservations required.
February 16 En Power and Light and Flagship Romance will be performing, with reservations required.
The Baloney Ponyz will perform March 10, and on March 17 the theater is hosting St. Patty’s on the Patio starting at 5 p.m.
Leek said the theater is booked consistently in May and June for weddings.
Theater season tickets are sold for $100 per person, typically sold as a table of four, for $400.
Contact Jared Leek to make reservations by calling (620) 224-9787.
Thomas P. Bowerman, age 72, a resident of Ft. Scott, passed through the gates of heaven Thursday, February 1, 2018, at his home.
He was born May 17, 1945, in Fayetteville, AR, the son of Jess and Hazel Bowerman. He attended South Side Grade School and Rogers High School in Rogers, AR.
He met his wife, Edith Diana Keehler, May 29, 1964. They have been married 53 years.
Tom was a master electrician for Loark Electrical.
They moved to Ft. Scott, KS, in 2001 to care for their oldest son Dana, who was battling M.S. He enjoyed his family and friends. He loved to work on cars with his friend and retired co-worker in the electrical trade. Tom’s life revolved around his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was greatly loved by all his family and friends and will be missed by all.
Survivors include his wife Diana, of the home; a son, Wesley Bowerman and wife Kalee, Ft. Scott; a daughter, Rebecca Bowerman and Mathew Gavin, of the home; a sister, Mary Reed, Rogers, AR; a grandson, Damion Gavin; four granddaughters, Essance Bowerman, Allain Tureskis, Madison Smith, Ft. Scott, and Dana Jean and husband Jeremy, Louisiana; a great-grandson, Tanner Jean. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Dana Bowerman; and two sisters, Virginia Chaney and Ann Jouett.
There was cremation. Memorial services will be conducted at 3:00 PM Friday, February 9th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Thomas Bowerman Memorial Fund and may be left in the 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.
