Monthly Archives: March 2020
FSNHS Modifies Operations
Fort Scott National Historic Site is Modifying Operations to Implement Latest Health Guidance
Fort Scott Kan. – Fort Scott National Historic Site is announcing modifications to operations to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing. As of Wednesday, March 18, at 12 p.m., the Fort Scott National Historic Site Parkstore and visitor contact desk area is closed until further notice. The upcoming Spring Civil War Encampment event will be rescheduled for a future date TBD.
Where it is possible to adhere to the latest health guidance, all Museum, exhibit areas, and fort buildings (including the Post Hospital) remain open. Rangers will be roving the site providing information and orientation. Outdoor spaces will remain open to provide healthy options for the public such as park walkways, trails, and the tallgrass prairie.
Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the digital tools already available to explore Fort Scott National Historic Site. Please continue to enjoy the park through the park’s mobile app. There are many educational resources available to explore on the Fort Scott National Historic Site webpage to help you stay connected to your national park.
The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Fort Scott National Historic Site is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working with the federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website and social media channels.
The NPS urges visitors to do their part when visiting a park and to follow CDC guidance to prevent the spread of infectious diseases by maintaining a safe distance between yourself and other groups; washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; and most importantly, staying home if you feel sick.
For high-risk populations, such as the elderly and people with underlying conditions, we ask that they take extra caution and follow CDC guidance for those at higher risk of serious illness.
Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please check with individual parks for specific details about park operations.
From November 1-March 31, Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, will be open for its winter hours of operation. The site exhibit areas and buildings are open daily from 8:30 am-4:30 pm. The park grounds are open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.
Gordmans Reduces Hours
HOUSTON (March 18, 2020) – The safety and health of our guests, associates and store communities are our top priority.
To better support our associates, serve our customers and slow the spread of COVID-19, Stage Stores and our family of brands (Gordmans, Bealls, Goodys, Palais Royal, Peebles, and Stage) have adjusted our store operating hours. Until further notice, our reduced store hours are as follows:
- Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm
- Sunday 12pm-6pm
Additionally, in compliance with local government orders to shut down all non-essential businesses, as well as other location-based factors, select stores are temporarily closed and will not re-open until circumstances improve.
Our new store openings continued as planned yesterday, March 17, however new store openings planned for March 31 have been postponed. Events planned in conjunction with store openings, such as ribbon-cutting ceremonies, have been canceled.
In addition to our new store hours, we are taking the following actions to help keep our guests and associates healthy:
- Increasing the frequency of store cleanings, paying special attention to frequently touched objects and surfaces such as register counters, shopping carts, door handles, restrooms, etc.;
- Reminding our associates of their training on illness prevention;
- Advising all employees to stay home if they are not feeling well, or if circumstances might advise them to do so, to seek medical attention if they have symptoms.
We also encourage our guests everywhere to take the extra precautions necessary to safeguard their health and the health of others. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and work with public health authorities as required. We will keep you informed if our approach changes and will continue to post updates on stage.com and gordmans.com. We look forward to serving guests in our stores.
March 18, 2020 Public Update COVID-19
Situation Overview
KDHE continues to closely monitor an outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19). The outbreak first started in Wuhan, China, but cases have been identified around the world including in the United States. The first case in the United States was announced January 21, 2020. Five new cases announced today.
Please visit our website, www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus, for more information and answers to your FAQs. New information is added daily.
For more information: www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus
2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kansas Test Results
Updated 3/18/20 at 10 a.m.
Total Positive Cases
21
Private Labs
2
Kansas Health and Environmental Lab
19
Deaths (included in above numbers)
1
Out-of-State Resident Positive Cases
(not counted in Kansas numbers)
2
Positive Case Information
County Number
Butler County
1
Douglas County
1
Franklin County
1
Johnson County
11
Leavenworth County
2
Wyandotte County
5
* Ford and Miami Counties reported positive cases in out-of-state residents. Numbers included in cases home states.
2
State Hospital Restrictions
KDADS Announces Restrictions for Visitors to State Hospitals in Response to COVID-19
Many State Hospital Activities Also Suspended or Restricted
Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard today announced that visitation at all four state hospitals has been restricted effective immediately as a measure of precaution to reduce exposure of COVID-19 to residents and staff.
“Restrictions on visitors at state hospitals are a difficult but necessary step in our mission to encourage social distancing and limit exposure to the virus not only for our residents, who are some of the most vulnerable Kansans we serve, but our staff as well,” Secretary Howard said. “To date, there have been no cases of COVID-19 in any of our state hospital facilities and we are making vigilant efforts to continue to provide a safe, healthy environment.”
Consistent with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ guidance recently released for nursing facilities, new restrictions on visitors and non-essential individuals entering the Kansas Neurological Institute, Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, Osawatomie State Hospital and Larned State Hospital are in place:
- Restricts all visitors, effective immediately, with exceptions for compassionate care, such as end-of-life situations;
- No one showing signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat is allowed on campus.
- No one having been in contact with a person with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 is allowed on campus.
- No one having traveled to countries with sustained community transmission within the last 14 days is allowed on campus. Currently those countries include Italy, Iran, China and South Korea. An updated listing of these countries can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html.
- Restricts all volunteers and nonessential health care personnel and other personnel (i.e. barbers);
- Restricts internal and public group activities or appointments;
- Implements active screening of residents and health care personnel for fever and respiratory symptoms;
- Suspends the Foster Grandparent Program (unique to KNI) and volunteer programs;
- Redirects vendors and deliveries to alternate sites on campuses; and
- Closes facilities on state hospital campuses to the public.
Parents and guardians of residents at state hospitals are being asked not to come to campuses and instead check with hospital administration about alternative ways to communicate with their loved ones. Each hospital will work to accommodate visitors via telephone or video if possible.
In end-of-life cases, visitors will be equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, and the visit will be limited to a specific room only.
“The populations we serve in our state hospitals are in many cases more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others. That, coupled with the rapid spread of COVID-19 in people who are in close proximity to each other on an ongoing basis, make it necessary to restrict, or in some cases suspend, normal day-today activities,” Deputy Secretary of Hospitals and Facilities Scott Brunner said.
For more information on COVID-19 visit the Kansas Department for Health and Environment’s Resource Center at: www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus.
You also can call 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF).
Filings for the November 2020 Election in the County
The election process has begun and this year the general election date is November 3,
“Filing deadline is noon, June 1st, 2020,” Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason said. “Anyone wanting to run for a local office can pick up the filing paperwork from my office.”
The county clerk’s office is located on the first floor of the north wing of the Bourbon County courthouse, 210 S. National Ave.
Since the interview, the courthouse has temporarily closed due to COVID 19 prevention measures.
“I am checking my emails on a regular basis,” Mason said on March 17. “if someone needs a packet they can email me with their mailing information and we will mail them a packet. My email address is [email protected].”
At the county level, there have been some filings for Bourbon County Sheriff and two commission positions, Mason said.
So far this year, three men have applied to run for Bourbon County Sheriff: Derick Burke, Bill Martin and Craig A. Rice
Two Bourbon County Commission seats are up for election:
For Commission District #2 – Jeffrey Fischer and Jim Harris
For Commission District #3 – LeRoy “Nick” Ruhl
“Elections in even years are in August and November,” Mason said. “A law changed the odd-year elections from spring to fall.
As of last week, there are no amendments received to be put on the ballot, Mason said.
The following is from the Bourbon County website:
Not sure if you’re registered to vote or where to vote?
You may register to vote online, through the Kansas Secretary of State’s website.
Check your voter registration status, the location of your polling place and view a sample ballot at VoterView by the Secretary of State.
Advance Voting is available prior to each election. You may advance vote in one of two ways: By mail, by filing an application for a ballot to be mailed to you OR in-person, beginning at least one week prior to any election.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports March 18
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports March 15-17
Click below:
Governor: Temporary Eviction/Foreclosure Prohibitions
Governor Kelly announces Executive Order to temporarily prohibit evictions and foreclosures
Governor Kelly on Tuesday announced Executive Order #20-06 to temporarily prohibit evictions and foreclosures across the state in an effort to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
Due to negative economic impacts of COVID-19, Governor Kelly and her administration decided to take steps to support Kansans who may miss mortgage or rent payments as a result of lost wages and other income.
“We understand that this pandemic is creating unprecedented challenges for people across the state,” Kelly said. “Kansas families need our support, and my administration is committed to doing everything it can to make sure Kansans can stay in their homes and businesses. It’s a necessary step to further protect Kansans’ health and safety.”
The Executive Order temporarily prohibits all financial institutions operating in Kansas from initiating any mortgage foreclosure efforts or judicial proceedings, and any commercial or residential eviction efforts or judicial proceedings until May 1, 2020.
This order comes after a State of Disaster Emergency for the State of Kansas was proclaimed by Kelly on March 12, 2020.
Please find Executive Order #20-06 attached.
Continuity of Kansas Ag Industry Remains a Priority
| MANHATTAN, Kan. — With Tuesday’s announcement by Governor Laura Kelly that state agencies will reduce their offices to essential services for a limited time beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, the Kansas Department of Agriculture assures the Kansas agriculture industry that we will continue to provide support across the state for critical services in agriculture. The farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses of Kansas are an integral part of the economic backbone of the state. KDA works on a daily basis to support these stakeholders and this will continue during the upcoming break, while we also take steps to protect the health of KDA employees.
While some components of KDA’s programs will cut back their daily routines, the essential services which ensure a safe food supply, protect natural resources, promote public health and safety, protect animal health, and provide consumer protection will continue from this agency. Many of our program areas are well equipped to work from home and will do so as needed to assist in the continuity of the Kansas agriculture industry.
KDA will continue to make every effort possible to communicate with our stakeholders in a clear manner throughout this time period. Information about the state’s response to this emergency event can be found the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s COVID-19 Resource Center at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus.
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Governor Announces Measures
Governor Kelly announces proactive measures to mitigate spread of COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas
This afternoon Governor Laura Kelly announced two additional measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and better position Kansas to combat this unprecedented emergency in the months to come.
First, in consultation with the Kansas State Department of Education, the Kansas Board of Education, the Kansas Association of School Boards, the Kansas School Superintendents Association, United School Administrators of Kansas and Kansas National Education Association, Kelly officially extended the closure of K-12 schools for the duration of the 2019-2020 school year by Executive Order # 20-07 (attached).
“This was not an easy decision to make,” Kelly said. “It came after close consultation with the education professionals who represent local school boards, school administrators and local teachers. These unprecedented circumstances threaten the safety of our students and the professionals who work with them every day and we must respond accordingly.”
Kelly emphasized the need for students to continue to receive high-quality education during this closure. On Sunday, March 15, Governor Kelly tasked the Department of Education to convene a group of experts to develop a comprehensive education plan for students for the remainder of the year.
Additionally, effective Monday, March 23, Kelly directed state employees to stay home on administrative leave to minimize additional risk of exposure to the virus for two weeks. The break will allow agencies to assess their essential functions to ensure that they can safely continue to serve the core needs of Kansans. This directive only applies to executive branch agencies under jurisdiction of the governor. This does not include agencies such as the Office of the Attorney General, the Insurance Department the State Treasurer or the Secretary of State’s office. Additionally, the order does not apply to legislative or judicial branch employees. Those branches will issue their own, separate, guidance to employees.
Kelly has directed Cabinet agencies, boards and commissions to develop an internal plan that will ensure a seamless transition. They will each identify which employees can work remotely, which will need to be placed on administrative leave, and how to best ramp operations back up at the appropriate time.
“The steps we are announcing today will create the space we need at the state level to develop a more strategic, resilient infrastructure so that we can get ahead of this threat and limit its long-term impact to Kansans,” Kelly said.
FSCC Spring Commencement Cancelled
Date: March 17, 2020
Time: 1:00 P.M.
RE: FSCC novel coronavirus, COVID-19 update
Graduation
Spring Commencement scheduled for May 15, 2020 is cancelled. Students planning to graduate in May still need to complete the ‘Petition to Graduate Form’ via the link below (students who submitted the form to the Registrar’s office already, do not need to resubmit). Graduate assessment testing (ETS Proficiency Profile and WorkKeys) is cancelled for this semester.
Petition to Graduate Form: http://fortscott.edu/graduate/form
Dorms
The NJCAA has canceled the spring athletic season. Students participating in spring sports (baseball, softball, track, golf, e-sports and rodeo) should check out of the dorms prior to March 20th.
Athletics
Following the recent release of a statement from the NJCAA, FSCC will adhere to the ruling that all athletic events be canceled through the remainder of the semester.
Please visit the FSCC website for updates and continue to stay safe.
Alysia Johnston