Monthly Archives: December 2020
Kansas COVID-19 Arrival
Governor Laura Kelly Announces Pfizer Vaccine Arrival in Kansas
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly yesterday announced that the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine began arriving in Kansas this morning. The vaccine has been received in several ultra-cold storage locations across the state, with delivery anticipated to continue through tomorrow. A total of about 24,000 doses is expected.
“I want to thank our state’s dedicated public health workers for their efforts to protect our communities from the threat of COVID-19 – often at personal risk to their safety – while we waited for a vaccine to become ready and available,” Governor Kelly said. “While the news of initial vaccine distribution is exciting for our state, I want to remind Kansans that the threat is not over. We must all continue practicing commonsense COVID-19 mitigation efforts to protect our neighbors’ health and safety, keep businesses open, and get our kids back in school.”
From the ultra-cold storage facilities, the vaccines will be going to secondary sites – hospitals – later this week. These vaccines will be for at-risk healthcare providers as identified by these hospitals.
Due to safety and security, the state will not coordinate any requests for media attendance or filming of vaccine arrival or transfers. Individual facilities may choose to offer opportunities to local media.
Obituary of Zachery Wisely
Zachery Thomas Wisely, 28, passed away unexpectedly from heart complications on Friday, December 11, 2020, at Via Christi in Pittsburg.
Zach was born on November 10, 1992. His childhood was spent in North Carolina, the Wichita area, and, finally, Redfield.
As the oldest of four brothers, Zach was full of life and definitely ornery while still being very dependable. Zach graduated from Uniontown High School with the class of 2011 and was in the process of finishing his degree from FSCC. He loved to fish, hunt, and play golf, especially with his Grandpa Hoover. His many interests included playing the guitar, sketching, mastering video games, creating crafts, making repairs, and trying new adventures.
The family will miss Zach’s wisdom, calming personality, teasing nature, and the peals of laughter from playing with his many nieces and nephews. He was a dog lover; his favorites were Max, Charlie, and Leo.
On June 17, 2017, Zach married his high school sweetheart and perfect match, Caitlin Jackson, daughter of Dale and Alicia Jackson, of Uniontown. They first met in second grade. The couple lived and worked in Bella Vista, Arkansas, before moving to the Fort Scott area. Zach was employed by Timken.
Zach was preceded in death by his birth dad, Michael Stanley. He also lost a paternal grandfather, Roger Wisely, Uncle Teddy Wisely as well as Aunts Connie Pickerell and Brenda Asbury.
He is survived by his cherished wife, Caitlin; his parents, Jodi and Shane Wisely of Redfield; his siblings, Wade (Reba) Wisely and children, Adaleigh and Jaxson; Shawn (Danielle) Wisely of Fort Scott; Josh Wisely of Pittsburg; and Brooke Stanley and daughter, Abigail, of Wichita; his grandparents, Ron and Flo Hoover of Fort Smith, Arkansas; Robert and Sue McGowen of Wichita; Rick and Mary Stanley of Belle Plaine; Melanie and Greg Grissom of Newton; Great-Grandpa Dale Holmes of Augusta; and many other relatives. He was especially close to his aunts, Lori Hayes of Greenwood, Arkansas, and Tami Morgan, Uniontown.
Rev. Marty Dewitt will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, December 19th at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown.
Burial will follow in the Uniontown Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Extension offers virtual meeting service
Just because COVID-19 continues to plague our communities, does not mean the good work done by community organizations and clubs needs to come to and end. It is suggested we avoid face-to-face gatherings, and the Southwind Extension District is making it possible your group to convene and continue important community activities.
K-State Research & Extension in the Southwind District would like to offer virtual meeting hosting and collaboration services to any business, club or organization. We will establish your meeting through Zoom and be as involved as you choose. We respect your privacy and understand this is your meeting.
The basic zoom license gives you unlimited time for one-on-one meetings, but group meetings are limited to 40 minutes. The Southwind District utilizes the pro license with unlimited group meetings up to 100 people and can collaborate as long as you need, without worrying about time limits or having to start another meeting. Recording options are also available at your request.
My zoom meeting experience has grown immensely over the past year, and I have found it to be a useful way to collaborate with groups and individuals from across the state and in my own community. Our 4-H club has meet by zoom several times, and the members have found fun and creative ways to practice parliamentary procedure, sing songs and even play games in recreation! Sometimes just seeing someone’s face is just as important as hearing their voice, and with zoom you can do both.
I have helped a wide variety of organizations meet via zoom, and I can assure you that it gets easier each time you use it. Smartphones, tablets and computers with webcams work best, but if you only have a phone, a number is always provided to call into the meeting.
With a vaccine making its way across the country as I write this column, I am hopeful the pandemic is nearing an end. However, until we receive the all-clear from health officials it is our responsibility to remain diligent about our health, wear masks and practice social distancing whenever possible. Social distancing doesn’t mean the good work your businesses, clubs or non-profit organizations must come to an end and that is why I hope you will consider the offer to help you meet through virtual means.
If you are interested in this free service offered by the Southwind Extension District, please give me a call at 620-365-2242 or send an email at [email protected]. For more information about programs and services offered by the Southwind Extension District, go to our website at www.southwind.k-state.edu.
I wish you the very best during this holiday season, and may the 2021 prove to be a year of recovery, peace and prosperity for all.
Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent
[email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749
…
FSCC Trustees Meet This Evening Dec. 14
The Board of Trustees of Fort Scott Community College will meet in regular session on Monday, December 14, 2020. The meeting will be held via Zoom from Fort Scott Community College.
5:00 p.m. Regular board meeting at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom link
THE AGENDA
5:00 DINNER
5:30 ROLL CALL, 3
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
CALL TO ORDER, 4
A. Comments from the Chair, 4
CONSENT AGENDA, 5
A. Approval of Agenda, 5
B. Approval of Minutes of previous Regular Board Meeting conducted on November 14, 2020, 6
C. Approval of Treasurer’s Report, Bills, and Claims, 9
D. Approval of Personnel Actions, 5
E. Approval of Gordon Parks Museum Policy Revisions, 44
ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS, 80
A. Approval of Disposal of Property – She Shed, 80
B. Approval of Disposal of Property – E-Waste, 83
C. Consideration of Bids for Cloud Based Phone System, 84
REPORTS, 378
A. Administrative Updates, 379
EXECUTIVE SESSION, 389
ADJOURNMENT, 390
1
UPCOMING CALENDAR DATES:
• December 14, 2020: Board Meeting
• December 16, 2020 – January 4, 2021: Winter Break – Campus Closed
• January 11, 2021: Spring Semester Begins
• January 18, 2021: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Campus Closed
• January 25, 2021: Board Meeting
• February 15, 2021: Board Meeting
• March 22, 2021: Board Meeting
• March 26, 2021: Aggie Day
• April 1 – 2, 2021: Good Friday – Campus Closed
• April 19, 2021: Board Meeting
• May 1, 2021: Graduation
• May 17, 2021: Board Meeting
• June 21, 2021: Board Meeting
Sincerely,
John Bartelsmeyer, Chair
Alysia Johnston, President
FSCC’s vision for the future is to support “Students First, Community Always” through a central focus on teaching and learning; advancing strong, innovative programs and departments; maximizing and leveraging opportunities; initiating efficient and effective processes; and developing the region’s workforce.
2
ROLL CALL
_____ John Bartelsmeyer
_____ Jim Fewins
_____ Dave Elliott
_____ Kirk Hart
_____ Bill Meyer
_____ Robert Nelson
3
CALL TO ORDER
A. COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR
4
CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
1) Attached are the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting conducted on November
14, 2020.
C. APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT, BILLS and CLAIMS
Attached are the Treasurer’s Report and the Bills and Claims Report.
D. APPROVAL OF PERSONNEL ACTIONS
1) Additions
a) Rory Chaplin, Academic Advisor, effective January 5, 2021
b) Brian Stedman, Custodian, effective January 5, 2021
2) Separations
a) Judy Nelson, Nursing Instructor, effective May 24, 2021
E. APPROVAL OF GORDON PARKS MUSEUM POLICY REVISIONS
Following are revised policies for the Gordon Parks Museum, pertaining largely to the collections in regards to control and monitoring for viewing access and ownership. All
revisions have been reviewed and approved by the Gordon Parks Museum Board of Directors. The Collection Access Policy replaces the previously approved Archive Access Policy. All other revisions are highlighted in yellow. December approval allows grant
application submission in January.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Consent Agenda items be approved as
presented.
BOARD ACTION: MOTION _____ SECOND _____ VOTE _____
DISCUSSION:
VOTE: Bartelsmeyer Elliott Fewins
Hart Meyer Nelson
To view the full 105 page agenda packet, click here:
FSCC Trustees Minutes of Nov. 14
FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
November 14, 2020
PRESENT: John Bartelsmeyer, Jim Fewins (via Zoom), Dave Elliott (via Zoom), Kirk Hart (via Zoom, Bill Meyer
(via Zoom), and Robert Nelson (via Zoom)
ALSO PRESENT: Alysia Johnston, President, Juley McDaniel, Board Clerk (via Zoom), and staff
Chairman Bartelsmeyer called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of
Allegiance.
COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR: None.
CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Hart, and carried by unanimous vote to
approve the consent agenda.
ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:
A. A motion was made by Nelson, seconded by Hart, and carried by unanimous vote to appoint Jim Fewins to
represent FSCC on the Bourbon County Economic Development Council.
ITEMS FOR REVIEW:
The Board reviewed letters of appreciation/correspondence.
REPORTS:
A. ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES: The Board reviewed and heard reports from Miami County Campus,
Gordon Parks Center, Student Services, Student Affairs and Athletics, Instruction, Finance and Operations,
Development, and the President.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Trustees, a motion to adjourn was made at
6:07 p.m. by Meyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote.
Ellis Park Playhouse Vandalized This Past Weekend
Vandalism occurred at an Ellis Park playhouse for children sometime between Dec. 11 and 12.
“I discovered it on Saturday afternoon. I went there to get measurements to make roof repairs,” said Seth Needham, an organizer of the Citizens for Park Improvement group. “We assumed the original damage to the roof was wind damage.”
However, Needham heard from multiple people that some kids were bragging to their friends about tearing up the roof several weeks ago.
“Friday night they just finished what they started,” he said. “It also sounds like they may be responsible for the damage to the picnic tables, but there is no way to verify that because it’s hearsay.”
Needham also just recently became a member of the newly formed Fort Scott Park Advisory Board, organized by the city commission.
As a volunteer worker, he went to Ellis Park on Saturday to get measurements for some minor repairs, and discovered the damage, he said.
“I contacted Mike Braim, because he had been gathering materials to make repairs,” Needham said. “We met down there to survey the damage and see if it could be saved.”
“I posted a video of the aftermath to Facebook to try to get support for materials,” Needham said. “Shortly after that, I received a message with the video of the boys tearing it up. A parent of another teen who was not involved saw the video on her son’s Snapchat, and thankfully decided to save it.”
The Fort Scott Public Works Director was sent the video of the youth vandalizing the playhouse, as well as two Fort Scott City Commissioners, he said.
The FS Public Works Director Chad Brown did not want to comment on this particular case at Ellis Park since it is still being investigated, he said.
“But vandalism is a problem in our world, not just in Fort Scott but everywhere,” Brown said. ” Vandalism costs the taxpayers on so many levels you often have to wonder if the cost of having or re-building these things is worth it. Here in Fort Scott, we do not have much to begin with, so we as a community need to make sure that we are trying to take care of the amenities that we do have.”
Brown said the city is working to add security to the parks.
“In the future, we will be installing security cameras at various locations across the parks and other areas to make sure we can keep these things in as good a shape as we can and hopefully prevent this type of activity in the future,” Brown said.
“I would also like to see cameras installed at our parks, so if this happens again, people can be held responsible,”Needham said. “Cameras are something we did discuss at the last parks advisory board meeting. Vandalism has been a huge issue in our parks this year.”
The vandals tore off the roof, siding, and trim, Needham said. “They were on video destroying the floor for the second story. They broke the steps inside. They tore up the gables and ripped off 90% of the exterior trim.”
“We decided to try and rally community support to save it, because the damage was so widespread the material list was more than we could afford ourselves,” Needham said.
After an assessment to repair the damaged playhouse, Needham said the following work is needed.
- New roof, including rafters, shingles, sheathing.
- New floor joists and sheathing for the second story floor.
- New stairs to the second story.
- Exterior trim on corners and gables
- Window trim.
- Siding
“The plan is to move it to Gunn Park where it can be watched over and better maintained,” Needham said.
The following photos were submitted by Needham of the playhouse at Ellis Park.
CHC/SEK now offers pelvic floor physical therapy
PITTSBURG ‒ Pelvic floor physical therapy is one of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas’ newest services delivered by Physical Therapist Samantha Curran, PT, DPT, CMTPT.
Curran sees patients at the Pittsburg clinic where patients will receive an evaluation to determine therapy needs and treatment plan. The patients will have physical therapy appointments weekly. While at the clinic, patients will be educated in a home exercise program and will receive hands-on treatment. At this time, Curran does not currently see children under the age of 17 unless by case-by-case basis.
Curran, a Pittsburg native and St. Mary’s Colgan High School graduate, still remembers one of her first patients that needed pelvic floor therapy while she was doing her clinicals for school. The patient struggled with urinary incontinence after a stroke. She was a young mother with a three-year-old. She pushed away her spouse and friends because she didn’t want to go into public for fear she would become incontinent.
“During our appointment, during our history taking, she just started crying and at that point it was when I realized it wasn’t just physical,” Curran said. “There was a lot of social and psychological components that played a role and there were not a lot of providers that were doing it, especially in our area.”
Thus, she started her career in the field of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy.
Curran completed a Bachelors in Health, Sport and Exercise Science in 2012 from the University of Kansas and received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2016 from Missouri State University. She went on to the Foundational Concepts clinic in Kansas City, Missouri, where she continued her training and mentorship.
Curran said she’s grateful her education has allowed her to be able to bring something unique back to Pittsburg.
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, just like any other muscle group in the body, Curran said. It helps in the control of bladder, bowel, and sexual functions. The pelvic area has been a taboo topic for many years, she said, and it is becoming more of a common discussion. Curran said she encourages people to talk to their doctor. Not speaking to the doctor in turn “leads to isolation, sometimes relationship issues and often times anxiety and depression,” she said, “had this been discussed early on and addressed there is a good chance the rest could have been avoided.”
CHC providers are there to listen to their patients and “consider the whole person,” Curran said, adding that the health providers work closely with the physical therapists.
“Believe it or not this is not an uncommon issue, it’s just one that isn’t talked about much,” she said. “If you have issues that are not normal for you please ask about it.”
Men can have a pelvic floor issues also, Curran said.
“We see men with urinary leakage, bowel leakage, constipation and urgency, erectile dysfunction, pelvic pain, and many men post prostate cancer treatment,“ she said.
Already, her career has been rewarding and she looks forward to continuing to help patients with their pelvic floor therapy at CHC/SEK.
“Whenever patients come for that first appointment, they are very nervous and scared, they don’t know what to expect,” Curran said, adding that the most rewarding part is after approximately four to six weeks of therapy the patient begins to noticeably feel better. “It’s so awesome for them to come in and you can see a visible change in their demeanor, they may say thank you or their spouse comes in and says thank you for helping to get them their life back and their relationship back.”
The Fort Scott Police Departments Daily Reports Dec. 12-13
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Dec. 11, 14
Between a rock and a hard place
Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Tucker
In the 60s and 70s, I had the privilege of growing up around country people in a small town (population 1,063) in Missouri. Thinking back to my roots, I’m especially fond of the rural dialect I heard and spoke everyday. These informal phrases were not found in a dictionary, but no one ever had to explain their meaning. For example: “ugly as a mud fence, skinny as a rail, big as a barn, two heads are better than one, a heart as big as a washtub” and the list could go on until the cows come home. Today I’m focusing on the colloquial slang of being “between a rock and a hard place.” Again, no explanation is necessary and I would imagine most every adult has been there, or is there right now.
This phrase gives the impression that you’re stuck and there’s no way out. But I want you to know there’s one adjustment to one word that can turn your situation completely around. If you’ll capitalize the letter “r” in “rock,” you have “Rock.” King David said, “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. He alone is my Rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken“ (Psalm 62:5,6 NLT). When you have God as your Rock on one side, it doesn’t matter what the hard place is on the other side. God is bigger than any “mountain” you will ever come up against. He’s not asleep at the wheel, He knows what’s going on, and He’s working in secret to bring you out in victory.
As a believer, you have a responsibility to exercise your faith and believe that your Rock will deliver you. God needs you to work with Him in cooperating with His Word (which is His will), purposes, and plan. If you’ve thrown in the towel and given up, you’re not giving God anything to work with! The Bible is full of powerful scriptures to help you through tough times. But if you don’t truly believe them as your own personal promises, you’ll continue to struggle with fear and doubt. God doesn’t want His children to be miserable, so He tells us, “Do not tremble; do not be afraid. …Is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock — not one!” (Isaiah 44:8 NLT).
I don’t know what your personal “hard place” is, but God does. You must learn to trust Him to do what only He can do. Jesus told His disciples, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible” (Matthew 19:26 NLT). The definition of everything is: every thing; all. Or if you prefer a country dialect, it means “the whole shebang.” “Now all glory to God who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think“ (Ephesians 3:20 NLT).
My favorite gospel songwriter, Dottie Rambo, composed the lyrics and music to “I Go to the Rock.” In 1996, Whitney Houston performed this song in the hit movie “The Preacher’s Wife.” Here are some of the lyrics: “Where do I go when there’s no one else to turn to? Who do I talk to when it seems no one wants to listen? Who do I lean on when there’s no foundation stable? I go to the Rock I know that’s able, I go to the Rock.”
The Key: If you’re between the Rock and a hard place, you can trust God that everything is going to be all right.
Obituary of William Harrison Skaggs
William (Bill) Harrison Skaggs, lovingly called “Ol Man” passed peacefully at his home in Ft Scott, KS.
He was 69 years young and not a day over 33 at heart. The legend was born June 28th, 1951 in Kansas City, MO to Clarence and Thelma (Slade) Skaggs.
He was a jack of all trades and took immense pride in his skill set. Throughout life he wore many hats, but heavy equipment operator, deal negotiator and bullshitter were the most notable. He was owner, operator, salesman, vice president, mechanic, CEO, porter and secretary of Bills Wheels (unincorporated). Gwen Marie Snarr Skaggs took him as her husband on March 31st, 1997 in Miami, OK and though she didn’t know what she had signed up for, she was with him through all his shenanigans until his passing day.
Ol Man, as everyone knew him, could be found most mornings with his coffee club and nearly every weekend at the race track. From driving himself, to later sitting back and watching his legacy carry on through children and grandchildren. His home was always adorned with photos of race cars and trophies. When you couldn’t find him perched just to the south of the flag man, he was most likely camped out at the lake where he loved taking his grandkids.
His all-time favorite hobby was wheeling and dealing. He could sell ice to an eskimo and relished in all his trading treasures. You could never be sure if he was shooting you straight with some of his tales of deals he swung and chances are the prices were missing a digit if he was telling you what he paid for something but he told his tales in such a way that it didn’t matter if they were true, they were entertaining nonetheless.
Bill is survived by his wife, Gwen Marie Skaggs. His wheeling and dealing will be carried on through his three sons, Rusty (Kimi) Skaggs of Arcadia, KS; George Skaggs of Arma, KS; Jerry Skaggs of Ft. Scott, KS. Two daughters La Tishua Harrison of Lenexa, KS and Sherry Skaggs of Topeka, KS. Two stepdaughters Kristina (David) Gouvion of Centerton, AR and Elizabeth Trujillo of Overland Park, KS and adopted daughter Amber McMillan of Joplin, MO.
Some others who deserve an award for having survived his childhood were his three sisters Diana (Mike) Gill of Mound City, KS; Roxie Skaggs of Longmont, CO; and Dawn (Dean) Wood of Casper, WY. His legacy will carry on through his 16 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren whom he adored, and he hoped every day would go on to pull some of the legendary and outrageous pranks on their parents that were pulled on him. He was honored to be called Uncle Billy to countless nieces and nephews as well.
He was preceded in death by an infant son William (Billy) Skaggs JR, his parents, and two hell raiser brothers David and Darryl Skaggs.
Pastor Steven Porter will conduct memorial services 1:00 PM Tuesday, December 15th, at the Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations in his honor be made to Buck Run Community Center Youth Baseball and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
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