Monthly Archives: March 2020

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

U234 Board of Education Minutes of March 2

Leave a comment

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met on Monday, March 2, at the Board of Education office for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart opened the meeting. The board approved the official agenda. The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:

  1. Minutes
  2. Bills and Claims
  3. Payroll – February 20, 2020 – $1,394,668.42
  4. Financial Report
  5. Bond Proceeds Reconciliation
  6. Activity Fund Accounts

Stephanie George, KNEA President, presented a report. Administrators from each building shared information with board members.

Superintendent Ted Hessong discussed legislative updates, a Stop School Violence grant, daily attendance rates, and Public School Week.

Gina Shelton, Business Manager, gave a report on the Business Department.

Board members approved the following items:

  • Resolution 19-09 Taxable General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2020
  • Fort Scott High School course additions/changes for 2020-21

The board tabled action on handbook changes for the Fort Scott High School Parent/Student Handbook.

Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting. The board then went into executive session to discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations and returned to open meeting. The board approved the following employment matters:

  1. Retirement of Ellen Kendrick, high school art teacher, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year
  2. Resignation of Emily Clayton, high school teacher aide, effective March 6, 2020
  3. Extension of contract for Ted Hessong, Superintendent, through the 2021-22 school year
  4. Employment of administrators for the 2020-21 school year

Amber Toth – Principal – Fort Scott High School

Robyn Kelso – Assistant Principal – Fort Scott High School

David Brown – Principal – Fort Scott Middle School

Matt Harris – Assistant Principal – Fort Scott Middle School

Stephanie Witt – Principal – Eugene Ware School

Joy McGhee – Principal – Winfield Scott School

Martin Altieri – Assistant Principal – Winfield Scott School

Andrea Scott – Principal – Fort Scott Preschool Center

Rick Scholes – Special Education Coordinator

  1. Employment of district directors for the 2020-21 school year

Joe Allen – Transportation Director

Robin Button – Food Service Director

Jeff DeLaTorre – Fort Scott High School Athletic/Activities Director

Daniel Koppa – Facilities Director

Stephen Mitchell – Technology Director

  1. Employment of Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk, for the 2020-21 school year
  2. Employment of Breann Eden as Winfield Scott art teacher for the 2020-21 school year
  3. Employment of Torrie Singmaster as a Winfield Scott first grade teacher for the 2020-21 school year
  4. Resignation of Jeff DeLaTorre as high school head boys’ basketball coach, effective at the end of the 2019-20 season
  5. Resignation of Drew Graham, high school assistant baseball coach, for the 2019-20 school year
  6. Employment of Josh Messer as a high school assistant baseball coach for the 2019-20 school year
  7. Termination of James Feezell, Eugene Ware 12-month custodian, effective February 28, 2020
  8. Transfer of Terry Barrager, Eugene Ware/Winfield Scott 10-month custodian, to Eugene Ware 12-month custodian for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year
  9. Addition of a high school CTE computer teaching position for the 2020-21 school year

The board adjourned

Bourbon County, Schools, Sports

UHS Basketball Teams Defeated by Girard

Leave a comment
Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

By Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter

The Uniontown Eagles played against the Girard Trojans in our last regular-season game. All four of our teams lost to Girard, but Uniontown is still proud of all our athletes. JV players were dismissed from practice, so we hope they had an amazing season!

The Varsity girls were defeated by Girard with a score of 27 to 50. Karleigh Schoenberger scored 12 points and had an assist. Danielle Howard had 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Sammie Hampton had 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. Gwenyth Fry scored 4 points and had 3 rebounds. Breleigh Harris had 3 rebounds and Sivanah McAnulty had 4. McAnulty and Kaydra Woods both had 2 steals. Coach Miller stated, “We knew coming into this game that it would be a tough one. The matchups were not favorable for us and their ability to go deep into the bench with their rotation would challenge us as the game progressed. However, it was good to play a team of that caliber as we prepare to play Jayhawk for our first round of sub-state.”

The Varsity boys lost to the Trojans 34 to 56. Luke Perry lead the team in points, scoring 9 points. Luke George had 7 points and 6 rebounds and Jake Harvey had 6 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Hunter Schaaf and Clay Sutterby also scored 6 points each, and Schaaf had 6 rebounds while Sutterby garnered 5. Drew Perry had 3 assists. “It was a tough night for our team,” said Coach Hays. “We couldn’t get many shots to fall and their ball pressure gave us trouble. Girard is a good team and they are well coached. We will learn from this one and get ready for sub-state next week.”

Bourbon County, Schools, Sports

Lady Eagles Defeat Jayhawks in 1st Round of Sub-State

Leave a comment
Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

By Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter

The Uniontown Lady Eagles faced the Jayhawk-Linn Jayhawks in the first round of sub-state on Monday. We managed to beat the Jayhawks and will move on to the second round, in which we will face St. Mary’s Colgan on this Thursday.

The girls played incredibly well during this game and beat Jayhawk 58 to 47. Danielle Howard scored 34 points and was 14 for 16 on her free throws. She also had 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 6 steals. Karleigh Schoenberger had 17 points and 6 rebounds. Sammie Hampton also had 6 rebounds, as well as 2 steals. Gwenyth Fry had 5 rebounds, Sivanah McAnulty had 4 rebounds, and Alie Fuhrman had 3 rebounds. Coach Miller said of the game, “The girls’ hard work is paying off. They played hard, overcame adversity, and got the job done tonight. We will get back in the gym tomorrow and prepare to take on Saint Mary’s Colgan on Thursday night.”

The boys’ basketball will face the Pleasanton Blu-Jays at home in their first round of sub-state on Tuesday, March 3. We wish them the best of luck and hope to have a large turnout to the game!

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Advance Care Planning : March 10 in Bronson

Leave a comment
Barbara Stockebrand

Have you thought about the medical care you would receive if you became ill and were unable to speak for yourself? Would you want to be put on life support? Who would you choose to make medical decisions on your behalf?

Maybe there has been a health emergency in your family or neighborhood that if there had been a plan in place, some difficult decision-making could have been avoided. Most of us would agree that advance health care planning is necessary and is something we shouldn’t put off.

You can ensure that you will receive the type of care that you want by stating your health care wishes in writing before a health crisis occurs. Kansas State Research and Extension offers free advance health care planning documents that can help you plan for your medical future.

Barbara Stockebrand, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent for the Southwind Extension District will be offering a program on Advance Health Care Planning in Kansas on March 10th at 6:00 p.m. at the Bronson Public Library, located at 509 Clay Street, in Bronson.

Plan to attend this informational meeting to learn more about these documents, why you should plan ahead, and how to properly store your documents. For more information, call the Southwind Extension District Office in Yates Center at 620-625-8620.

Business

Pole Replacement in Uniontown

Leave a comment
Evergy line men replace a rotted pole at the corner of 5th Street and Fulton in Uniontown Tuesday afternoon.

Evergy Energy, a local utility company, with an office in  Fort Scott, replaced a pole at Fifth and Fulton Streets in Uniontown on Tuesday afternoon, according to Evergy Line Foreman Tom Rogers of Fort Scott.

In the buckets are from left: Richie Forrester, Fort Scott and Daniel Gangloff, Fort Scott.

Business, Fort Scott

New Car Dealer in Town: Old Fort Auto

Leave a comment
Old Fort Auto dealership employees: from left Matt Bowersock, Rich Aydelotte, Matt Harvey. Not pictured is Becky Heidrick.

A new vehicle dealership has opened at 213 Scott Avenue, next to Mayco Ace Hardware.

 

The official first day of Old Fort Auto was March 2.

 

The business has been a thought in Rich Aydelotte’s mind for many years.

 

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a lot of years,”  he said. Aydelotte and Matt Harvey are the business partners in the new venture. “I thought this was the time to do it. I have no reservations or doubts about it.”

 

Both will be selling the vehicles.

 

Matt Bowersock will be the business manager and also sell vehicles as well.

 

Becky Headrick will be the comptroller, title clerk, and receptionist.

 

“We are going to specialize in trucks, heavy trucks and sports utilities and cars, too,” Aydelotte said. “We will sell only late models.”

 

“Three-quarter ton trucks, heavy and light duty,” he said. “We are trying to purchase what people in Fort Scott drive.”

 

“Financing, we have lots of different sources, outside lending with national lenders, credit unions and local institutions,” Aydelotte said.

 

“They are going to be good deals, priced right,” Matt Bowersock said. “We’ll take trade-ins.”

 

“We chose the location because it was downtown,” Aydelotte said. “We are leasing the building from Skitch Allen.”

 

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

Contact the business at 620-644-5015 or Aydelotte at his cell phone, 620-215-0986.

 

 

Old Fort Auto first’s load of vehicles on Feb. 28.
Government

Emergency USDA Assistance For Honeybee Producers

Leave a comment

USDA Announces Updates for Honeybee Producers

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced updates to the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). These updates include changes required by the 2018 Farm Bill as well as discretionary changes intended to improve the administration of the program and clarify existing program requirements.

 

“Honeybee producers should pay close attention to the ELAP program changes to ensure they meet the new deadline requirements,” said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “These changes better align two key disaster assistance program deadlines to provide consistency and ease of management for honeybee producers.” 

 

Program Changes

 

ELAP was previously administered based on FSA’s fiscal year but will now run according to the calendar year. Producers are still required to submit an application for payment within 30 calendar days of the end of the program year. This is not a policy change but will affect the deadline. The signup deadline for calendar year 2020 losses is January 30, 2021.

 

Starting in 2020, producers will have 15 days from when the loss is first apparent, instead of 30 days, to file a honeybee notice of loss. This change provides consistency between ELAP and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, which also has a 15-day notice of loss period for honey. For other covered losses, including livestock feed, grazing and farm-raised fish losses, the notice of loss deadline for ELAP will remain 30 days from when the loss is first apparent to the producer.

 

Program participants who were paid for the loss of a honeybee colony or hive in either or both of the previous two years will be required to provide additional documentation to substantiate how current year inventory was acquired.

 

If the honeybee colony loss incurred was because of Colony Collapse Disorder, program participants must provide a producer certification that the loss was a direct result of at least three of the five symptoms of Colony Collapse Disorder, which include:

 

         the loss of live queen and/or drone bee populations inside the hives;

         rapid decline of adult worker bee population outside the hives, leaving brood poorly or completely unattended;

         absence of dead adult bees inside the hive and outside the entrance of the hive;

         absence of robbing collapsed colonies; and

         at the time of collapse, varroa mite and Nosema populations are not at levels known to cause economic injury or population decline.

 

About the Program

 

For honeybees, ELAP covers colony losses, honeybee hive losses (the physical structure) and honeybee feed losses in instances where the colony, hive or feed has been destroyed by a natural disaster or, in the case of colony losses, because of Colony Collapse Disorder. Colony losses must be in excess of normal mortality.

 

ELAP also provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock and farm-raised fish including for feed and grazing losses. It covers losses because of eligible adverse weather or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires on federally managed lands. ELAP also covers losses resulting from the cost of transporting water to livestock due to an eligible drought.

 

More Information

 

For more information on ELAP visit farmers.gov/recover or contact your FSA County Office. To locate your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/service-locator.

 

#

 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Government, Kansas

Overhaul of Child Welfare System

Leave a comment

Kansas Department for Children and Families Engaged in Systemic Overhaul of Child Welfare System

DCF Secretary Laura Howard Addresses Ongoing Child Welfare Lawsuit

 

Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard today expressed her disappointment over the stalled settlement negotiations in the ongoing class action lawsuit and her expectations for continued improvement to the Kansas child welfare system.

 

“Governor Kelly tasked me with the responsibility of reforming our child welfare system because there is no one more committed to improving the lives of Kansas foster children than I am,” Howard said. “While there is certainly opportunity for the parties to resume settlement negotiations, this is a great time to highlight the work we’ve already done to improve the system.”

 

Howard points to the significant work done to reduce foster placement instability and improve the child protection framework in Kansas.

 

“A close examination of some of our most important indicators shows that in the last year we’ve made significant progress in slowing the number of foster youth who run away or are forced to sleep in offices,” Howard said. “At the same time through implementation of new practice models we are already seeing a modest reduction in the number of children who come into the system.”

 

Special Response Team.

 

In the spring of 2019, DCF took steps to expand its special response team tasked with locating youth who have run away from their placements and identify the underlying reasons why they run. The 10-member team is comprised of both DCF and contractor employees.

 

By engaging in prevention, location recovery and systems improvement, results from the special response team are promising – decreasing the daily pace of youth who are on the run from 94 to about 50.  DCF has learned that for youth whose location is recovered, more than a half (57%) have run away at least once before. The team is working on new strategies to reduce or prevent run recurrence.

“I hear stories every day on how our special response team is having a positive impact on the lives of foster children, Howard said. “They are helping these youth get into substance use treatment, find jobs and make important connections with family members.”

 

Child Protection Framework

 

Also, in 2019, DCF began implementing a new child protection framework and family meeting practice model in both its Kansas City and East regions. The new approach supports family engagement and creates a safety network for families. Initial data from the rollout shows the new approach is already having a positive impact on safety of children, creating a stronger connection to community services and preventing the need for out of home foster care placement.

 

In the Kansas City region, which includes Wyandotte and Johnson counties, from 2018 to 2019 there was a 7% reduction in the number of children who entered foster care.

 

The agency is seeing the same positive results in its East region which covers 25 counties in the eastern part of the state. The percent of children who entered foster care reduced by almost 6% in calendar year 2019 compared to calendar year 2018.

The total number of children in foster care in these two regions is also down, thanks to more children leaving the system. Since January 2019, the agency has completed 1,141 adoptions. DCF received an adoption incentive award for its efforts in 2019 and will use those funds to help the more than 2,000 children with a current case plan goal of adoption.

 

PRTF Beds

DCF also has made significant progress in addressing the need for intensive treatment for our most vulnerable children. Since July, the agency has worked with our community partners to increase the number of Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTFs) beds by 54. As a result, the waiting list has dropped by more than 80.

 

Patience is Necessary

 

In recent years, Kansas families have experienced significant roadblocks to services that can assist them with important child care and food assistance, work supports and parenting skills. The result of these policies was a significant increase in the number of children entering foster care. Recent analysis by University of Kansas professor Dr. Donna Ginther and Ohio State professor Dr. Michelle Johnson-Motoyama finds that 5,986 children entered foster care as a result of policies that restricted access to TANF benefits between 2012 and 2018.

DCF has spent the last year trying to reverse the effect of these policies and is now seeing evidence that new initiatives are having a positive effect on Kansas families. DCF has implemented the Family First Prevention Act, created new policies to provide improved access to child care and supported families through safe sleep and parent skills training.

Howard says more time is needed to see the full impact of the changes.

 

“Child welfare experts tell me it commonly takes three years before a large child welfare system shows significant improvements after years of neglect,” she said. “I don’t see it that way. I’m hopeful that Kansas can buck that trend, but I am also realistic and know that we must be patient and give these reforms time to take hold. I won’t rest until the work is done, Kansas families are thriving, and we can focus solely on caring for our state’s vulnerable children without dealing with expensive lawsuits.”

 

###

 

Government, Kansas

February total tax collections $63.6 million above estimate; 17.4% above last fiscal year

Leave a comment

08_February_Revenue_FY2020_03-02-2020_Final

Collections of delinquent taxes plays part in increased revenues

 

TOPEKA – The State’s February total tax collections came into the Kansas Department of Revenue at $448.3 million; $63.6 million more than estimated. These collections are $66.4 million or 17.4% more than February of FY 2019.

 

Individual income taxes saw a $30.5 million increase from the estimate with the collection of $171.5 million; 27.4% more than last February. Corporate income tax collections were 10.1% above the estimate at $7.2 million; an increase of $3.2 million compared to February FY 2019

 

Revenues from delinquent tax collections, included in February receipts, have also increased substantially this fiscal year. Debt collections through January from past tax years are up 16.8% over the previous fiscal year, $113.1 million compared to $96.8 million. Individual income and withholding represent about 52.7% of total delinquent collections and Sales and Use taxes represent about 40.3%.

 

Retail sales tax collections were $2.9 million or 1.6% more than estimated at $177.9 million. This is an increase of 5.3% over FY 2019. Compensating use tax collections saw a 17.0% increase compared to last fiscal year with collections coming in at $38.9 million.

For more info:

08_February_Revenue_FY2020_03-02-2020_Final

###

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Presentation Explores Lives of Free-Born Children after Civil War

Leave a comment

Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KS, will host “Children of the Promised Land,” a presentation and discussion by Angela Bates on Tuesday, March 17 at 12:00 P.M. at The Ellis Family Fine Arts Center,  Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton St. Fort Scott, KS.

Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. Contact Kirk Sharp at 620 -223-2700 ext. 5850 for more information.

The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.

“This is a Lunch and Learn event so everyone is welcome to bring their lunch and drinks. Dessert will be available,” said Museum Director, Kirk Sharp.

Nicodemus, a small, unincorporated town in Graham County, is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War.

Today the town is a National Historic Site. This pictorial history explores the unique experience of mothers and their children in Nicodemus, some of whom were the first members of their families born free.

Angela Bates is the executive director of the Nicodemus Historical Society. She presents educational programs across the nation covering Nicodemus, Exodusters and black towns in the West, Buffalo Soldiers, and black women in the West.

“My great uncle, Henry Williams, was the first baby born in Nicodemus just a month after my great-grandmother Emma arrived with the first group of settlers in 1877,” said Bates. “He was one of the first in his generation born on the free soils of Kansas. He represents the many children of his generation that were reared by parents who were former slaves.”

“Children of the Promised Land” 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 “Children of the Promised Land” 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.