Monthly Archives: February 2019

Government, Kansas

Rebid Family Preservation Grants; Reopen Negotiations on Foster Care Grants

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Kansas Department for Children and Families to Rebid Family Preservation Grants; Reopen Negotiations on Foster Care Grants

Current contracts to be extended

 

Governor Laura Kelly today announced the Department for Children and Families (DCF) will rebid the state’s family preservation grants and revise the grants awarded to foster care contractors during the previous administration.

“After careful review, it is clear there are flaws in both the family preservation and foster care grants awarded by the previous administration,” said Kelly. “Under the direction of Secretary Laura Howard, and in partnership with the Department of Administration, we will work to resolve the inconsistencies and shed more light on the process.”

Thursday morning, DCF sent letters to Eckerd Connects and Cornerstones of Care terminating the previously negotiated grants for family preservation services in Kansas. These contracts will be rebid. In addition, Saint Francis Ministries, KVC Kansas, TFI and Cornerstones of Care were notified of the state’s intent to reopen negotiations on the foster care grants announced in November.

“It is not our intent to completely restart the process on the foster care grants,” said Howard. “We want to continue to work with our valued partners to ensure the grants are structured in a way that provides more stability during the grant transition and additional clarity in the roles of both the grantees and DCF. To be clear, we look forward to working with our current contractors to solve these issues and believe that adding new partners will bring long-term stability and years of experience into the child welfare system in Kansas.”

To ensure a transparent process moving forward, DCF will issue a new request for proposal (RFP) for family preservation services through the Department of Administration. In addition, representatives from the Department of Administration will join DCF staff to assist in the foster care grant negotiations. This will ensure proper procedures are followed.

“As a senator, I served on the Child Welfare Task Force and I voiced my concerns regularly about the lack of transparency in the Department for Children and Families,” said Kelly. “Rest assured, fixing the problems in this agency, working with advocates and being open about the process is of critical importance to my administration.”

To allow time to complete the RFP process and additional negotiations, DCF is extending the current family preservation contracts by six months and foster care contracts by three months.

 

Obituary

Obituary of Robert Lightwine

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Robert Earl Lightwine, age 72, passed away Monday, February 11, 2019, in Mesa, Arizona.  He was born February 28, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the son Harold Lee Lightwine and Maida Belle Parker Lightwine.

Bob graduated from the Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1965.  He joined the Navy in August of 1965 and served for six years.  One defining year of service was spent in the “Brown Water Navy” Riv-Ron 112-11 division from February 1967 to February 1968 where he patrolled the waters of the Mekong Delta.  Bob was very proud of his military service and was a member of the Mobile Riverine Association.

He married Esther Connolly Graves on February 7, 1970.  They had just celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary on Thursday prior to his passing. Bob retired from Sears after thirty years in the appliance repair business.  During his retirement years Bob enjoyed fishing and traveling across the United States in his RV reminiscing with family and friends.  Bob and Esther enjoyed spending the winters in Apache Junction, Arizona.  Bob was a member of the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, a life member of the VFW and the Joplin Elks Lodge #501.

Survivors include his wife, Esther; sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen and Sid Colwell, of Ft. Scott, Kansas, Carol and Alan Lytle, of Spring Hill, Kansas and Harold Connolly, also of Ft. Scott.  Also surviving are nieces and nephews, Pam Hightower (Wayne), of Ft. Scott, Kelli Matlock (Robert), of Deerfield, Missouri, Les Lightwine (Mary), of Clever, Missouri, Howard Lee Lightwine (Anne), Zionsville, Indiana, Anthony Lightwine (Jamie), of Nevada, Missouri, Michael Lightwine, of Deerfield, Jana Walker (Shane), of Ft. Scott, Katrina Colwell, of Jackson, Missouri, Alissa Thompson (James), of Jackson, Missouri and Matt Lyman, of Leonardville, Kansas.  Also surviving are numerous great-nieces and great-nephews and many special friends across the United States.

In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his daughter, Michelle Lynn Graves Poteet, a sister, Eula Irene Hays; two brothers, Harold Leon Lightwine and Howard Lee Lightwine and two cousins that his parents raised as his brothers, Charles “CJ” Hamilton and William “Bill” Hamilton.

Father Yancey Burgess will celebrate the Funeral Mass at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, February 19th at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.

Burial with military honors will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.

  The Rosary will be recited at 6:00 P.M. Monday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Visitation will follow 6:30 to 8:00 P.M.

Memorials are suggested to Wreaths Across America or Care to Share 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

Business, Fort Scott

Visage Organic Spa: Good For Your Face

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Nancy Johnson is a licensed esthetician offering services and products to pamper, at her business Visage Organics Skincare Spa.

Nancy Johnson moved to Fort Scott in September and saw an opportunity for a business, she said.

She graduated from the Euro Institute in 2007 and is a licensed esthetician.

Her business, Visage Organics Skincare Spa, offers facials, waxing, lash/brow tinting, and sugaring facials at her place of business, 117 E. National.

Visage is located inside 117 E. National.

She can be reached at 620-224-6455.

Call for an appointment Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Johnson sells Niko Organic, Organic Express, and Blinc products in her business.

She also offers ear candling, a service which pulls all the sediments out of ears, she said.

Johnson hosted the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee on Feb. 14.

Also offered at Healing Hands Therapeutic Massage and Salon are haircuts, shampoo/sets, perms, colors and highlights, waxing, nails and massage services.

Healing Hands Therapeutic Massage and Salon booth renters are from left: Stacy Racy- owner, Sherri Northcutt, Kimberly Skaggs, and Nancy Johnson. Not pictured is Brooke Bolin.

Stacy Racy is the massage therapist, Kimberly Skaggs, Brooke Bolin and Sherri Northcutt are cosmetologists. They can be reached at 620-223-3117.

Area News

Prairie Troubadour: Feb. 22-23

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The Prairie Troubadour Symposium is nigh upon us!

Rejuvenate your weary soul with a much-needed weekend of mirth and friendship.

Program at a glance:

  • Dates are Feb. 22nd (evening) & 23rd (full day), 2019
  • This year’s theme is Reason for Faith: Reflections on Particles and the Paraclete.  Discussions will range from evolution and the New Atheists to the role of science in education and the work of Fr. Stanley Jaki.
  • Dale Ahlquist, David Whalen, Stacy Trasancos, William Fahey and Kevin O’Brien fill-out yet another all-star cast of presenters.
  • A slightly less frenetic schedule this year allowing for more time to catch up with friends and browse 8th Day Books’ magnificent bookstore.
  • A great opportunity to get to know the students, faculty, families and growing community of Saint Martin’s Academy and tour campus!
Click here for full details and to register.

“Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine,
There’s always laughter and good red wine.
At least I’ve always found it so.
Benedicamus Domino!”

– Hilaire Belloc

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Feb.14

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

Date: February 14th, 2019

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

10:00-Commissioners to attend jail meeting

Justifications for Executive Session:

          Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

          Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

          Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

          Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

          Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

          Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system

Fort Scott National Historic Site, Jobs

Ranger Positions At FSNHS

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Seasonal Park Ranger Position Available at Fort Scott National Historic Site

 

Fort Scott KS – Fort Scott National Historic Site is recruiting for a GS-05 Park Ranger temporary position Wednesday, February 13th, through Thursday, February 21st, for the summer of 2019. Application information can be found at www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/524354100. Additional park positions will be announced later this spring.

The Park Ranger serves as a front-line representative conducting independent research and developing original, thematic interpretive programs, and presenting interpretive, educational, and living history demonstrations/programs about the area’s cultural and natural resources to audiences ranging in size from 1-200, using a variety of props and techniques. The incumbent operates the park visitor center and ensures visitor safety. They are also responsible for opening and closing the site and basic resource protection tasks including exotic plant control and routine cleaning of museum objects and exhibit spaces. Other duties include making and maintaining interpretive products (such as signs and labels) and caring and accounting for interpretive props (such as living history clothing and equipment). They will work closely with park staff on critical special initiatives including website development, social media, and special events.

The GS-05 Park Ranger generally work a full-time 40-hour week, and is entitled to paid holidays. Holiday, evening, and weekend work is required. A driver’s license is recommended.

This position is expected to start in April and end in September.

For more information about the park in general, contact Fort Scott NHS at (620) 223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

Government, Kansas

KDOT Plans in FY2020

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During a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Governor Laura Kelly joined Kansas Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz to announce the Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) plans to invest $160 million in revenue that is included in the Governor’s FY 2020 budget for transportation.

 

With the $160 million in FY 2020, KDOT will:

  • Increase the highway preservation investment from $350 – $400 million
  • Move forward with four delayed T-WORKS projects (including the U.S. 169 modernization project in Anderson County; for details click the link below)
  • Reinstate the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program
  • Implement a new cost-share program for state/local partnerships
  • Enhance its safety program • Increase City Connecting Link maintenance payments
  • Increase funding for modal programs (e.g., transit, aviation, rail and bike/pedestrian)

 

For further information please go to this link:

 

http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/Headquarters/PDF_Files/pressrelease2019/TaskForceNewsRelease.pdf