Monthly Archives: January 2021

Obituary

Obituary of Troy Scott Felt

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Troy Scott Felt

Troy Scott Felt, age 31, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Friday, January 8, 2021.

Scott, known in his younger years as Cow Truck Buck and then grew into Scotty too Hottie. He was always handy with a wrench, from tearing apart bikes as a kid to rebuilding cars for his grandpa. He could be found by the water with a pole in his hand on any given day.

You can’t honestly describe the person Scott was with just one word. Scott was simple yet complex; he kept to himself but had plenty to say. He was quietly hilarious. He loved those around him even if he didn’t say it. He was a caregiver, a son, a brother, a friend, a mechanic, and a fisherman. He was a big brother, his parents baby boy, and his grandparent’s keeper.

Scott was the first-born son to Troy Felt, of Fort Scott and Melany Powell-Felt of Fort Scott. He has a brother Tyler wife Skylar, children Waylon and Easton and a sister Haley husband Adam children Knox and soon to be, Creek. He was the grandson of Tom and Beatrice Powell, of Fort Scott and Ronnie and Laura Felt, of Fort Scott, the nephew of Robert and Rhonda Kellstadt, Rick and Cindy Felt, Jerry Powell, Myron and Sherri Clark and was a cousin to many.

Scott was preceded in death by his beloved Grandma Beatrice Powell, Great grandparents Marjorie and John Fowler, Uncle Tommy Powell, and Great Uncle Rocky Combs.

Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct services at 2:00 PM Wednesday, January 13th, at the Grace Baptist Tabernacle.

Burial will follow in the Lath Branch Cemetery. The family invites friends to gather Wednesday evening beginning at 5:30 at Troy Felt’s home, 1500 145th St., Ft. Scott.

Memorials are suggested to Gunn Park 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.

COVID-19, Government, Health Care, Kansas

COVID Vaccination Distribution Order

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Governor Laura Kelly Announces Finalized Vaccine Distribution Order

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly on Jan. 7  announced her administration’s final COVID-19 distribution order for population groups in Kansas. The vaccine will be administered in five phases, beginning with those most at risk of contracting or becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 and ending with all Kansans at large.

“These COVID-19 vaccination phase groups were created using guidance from national and state public health experts and with input from the Kansas Coronavirus Vaccine Advisory Council, or COVAC, which represents a diverse group of populations in Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “My priority remains providing every Kansan with updates and information on vaccine schedules as we get them and to get everyone vaccinated as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

The Kansas Coronavirus Advisory Council, representing a diverse group of Kansans statewide, is part of Governor Kelly’s commitment to maximizing benefits, minimizing harm, and striving for equity, justice, and fairness when it comes to when the vaccine will be made available to which Kansans.

The five phases of the order are as follows:

Phase 1:

     • Health care workers
• Residents or patients in long-term care facilities and senior housing
• Workers critical to pandemic response continuity

*Phase 1 groups have already begun to receive vaccines

Phase 2:

• Persons aged 65 and older

     • High-contact critical workers necessary to maintain systems, assets, and activities that are vital to the state security, the economy or public health, or who interact with large numbers of contacts and job-related COVID-19 exposure. COVID-19 risk is associated with the likelihood of infecting oneself or spreading the virus. Factors that increase risk include proximity, type of contact, duration of contacts and challenges to implement protective measures. This includes:
o Firefighters, police officers, first responders, and correction officers
o Grocery store workers and food services
o K-12 and childcare workers, including teachers, custodians, drivers, and other staff
o Food processing, including meat processing plants
o Large-scale aviation manufacturing plants
o Transportation workers
o Workers in retail, agriculture, supply of critical services or materials for COVID-19 response, the U.S. Postal Service, and Department of motor vehicles

• Those living or working in licensed congregate settings and other special care or congregate environments where social distancing is not possible, including:
o Homeless shelters
o Congregate childcare institutions
o Emergency shelters or safe houses
o Corrections facilities
o Behavioral health institutions

Phase 3:

• Those aged 16-64 with serious medical conditions that increase the risk for severe illness from COVID-19, including:
o Cancer
o Chronic kidney disease
o Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
o Down Syndrome
o Heart conditions like cardiomyopathies
o Immunocompromised state from solid organ transplant
o Type 2 diabetes
o Sickle cell disease
o Pregnant patients

• Other non-health care workers in critical infrastructure who cannot work remotely, including:
o Agricultural and food workers not included in previous phases
o Workers performing in-person activities indoors, in critical manufacturing, not included in previous phases. This includes aviation and production of critical supplies for the COVID response
o Utility workers
o Social service and government workers not included in previous phases
o Logistics workers, such as truck transportation workers, couriers and others
o Water and wastewater workers
o Shelter and housing workers, finance workers
o Information technology and communications workers

Phase 4:

• Those aged 16-64 with other medical conditions that increase the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 such as:
o Asthma
o Cerebrovascular disease
o Cystic Fibrosis
o Immunocompromised state from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, or use of immune weakening medicines
o Neurologic conditions such as dementia
o Liver disease
o Pulmonary fibrosis
o Type 1 diabetes
o Obesity and severe obesity

Phase 5:

• The rest of the population 16 and older
• Potentially children, dependent upon further research on the effectiveness and risks associated with vaccinating kids

View a visual representation of the distribution order here.

View informational slides regarding vaccine distribution here.

Government, Kansas

Youth Hunters Discussion Jan. 14 Online

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Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission To Hold First Public Meeting of 2021 

 

PRATT – Creating more quality opportunities for youth hunters will be just one of many items discussed by Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism commissioners during their Jan. 14, 2021 virtual meeting. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) is considering raising the maximum age to participate in the state’s special youth seasons to 17.

 

To date, state regulations have allowed hunters age 16 and younger to participate in special youth seasons for deer, turkey and upland birds. Meanwhile, federal regulations previously only permitted hunters age 15 and younger to participate in special youth waterfowl seasons, causing much confusion for the public.

 

Recently, federal regulations have raised the maximum age limit to participate in youth seasons to 17. In an effort to avoid confusion, create consistency among seasons, and allow more young hunters to benefit from the highly-successful youth seasons, KDWPT will seek to mirror the new age limit established by federal regulation.

 

Other items of note to be discussed by commissioners during the Jan. 14, 2021 virtual meeting include:

 

Migratory Bird Seasons 

Tom Bidrowski, KDWPT migratory game bird program manager, will present the framework for the 2021-22 waterfowl seasons for ducks and geese. Proposed season dates, limits and management unit boundaries closely resemble Kansas’ 2020-21 waterfowl regulations. This topic will again be discussed during the Commission’s March 25 public meeting, followed by a final vote at the Commission’s April 29 public meeting.

 

KDWPT migratory game bird coordinator Rich Schultheis will present proposed seasons and regulations for webless migratory birds, which include species like sandhill cranes, doves, snipe and rails.

 

Upland Game Bird Seasons 

KDWPT small game coordinator Kent Fricke and KDWPT small game specialist, Jeff Prendergast, will present updates on pheasant, quail and prairie chicken seasons, as well as proposals for 2021-22 seasons and limits that are expected to follow traditional season framework. Fricke will also share research on the effects of livestock grazing on Conservation Reserve Program grasslands.

 

State Park Permits Via Kiosks 

Linda Lanterman, KDWPT state park director, will discuss the possibility of installing electronic payment kiosks at Kansas’ state parks. State park staff are confident these electronic self-service kiosks could make it easier for state park visitors to purchase assorted vehicle and camping permits at the user’s convenience.

 

Elk, Antelope Seasons 

Proposed season dates and permit allocations for upcoming antelope and elk seasons will be presented by Matt Peek, KDWPT wildlife research biologist. 

 

Deer seasons 

Levi Jaster, KDWPT big game program coordinator, will propose staff recommendations for Kansas’ 2021-2022 deer seasons, which largely resemble recent seasons.

 

Landowner and Tenant Deer Permits 

Chris Tymeson, chief legal counsel for KDWPT, will give an in-depth explanation of Kansas’ current regulations surrounding landowner and tenant deer permits.

 

For a complete commission agenda and to view the briefing book, visit https://ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Commission/Meeting-Schedule/January-14-2021. 

 

Commissioners will begin the Jan. 14 meeting at 1:30 p.m., recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 6:30 p.m. for a public hearing, during which time items will be voted on. Public input is welcomed during both the afternoon and evening sessions and time is set aside at the beginning of both sessions for comments on items not included on the meeting agenda. For specific instructions on how to participate, visit https://ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Commission/Instructions-to-Participate-in-Virtual-Meeting.

 

An interpreter for the hearing impaired can be requested by calling the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the Commission secretary at (620) 672-5911.

 

The next KDWPT Commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 25, 2021, at Lake Shawnee Reynolds Lodge in Topeka.

 

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

The New to Medicare Virtual Workshop

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Joy Miller, RD, LD
Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent
Adult Development and Aging
Family Resource Management
K-State Research and Extension
Southwind Extension District
210 S. National
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Office: 620-223-3720
Fax: 620-223-0332
[email protected]


Are you eligible for Medicare because you are turning 65 years old or reaching the 25th month of long-term disability? Figuring out when to enroll in Medicare and which parts to enroll in can be daunting. There’s Part A, Part B, Part D, medigap plans, Medicare Advantage plans and so on. And what the heck is a doughnut hole, anyway? A virtual New to Medicare workshop will be held January 27th to help you get the answers to all of these and more, but where else can you find reliable information about Medicare? 

The ‘Medicare and You’ handbook is the official U.S. government Medicare handbook.  The handbook is a summary of Medicare benefits, coverage options, rights and protections, and answers to the most frequently asked questions.  You can order a paper or Braille handbook by calling 1-800-633-4227. Other electronic versions of the handbook include PDF, e-book, and audio, all are available at medicare.gov under resources.  

Another reliable resource is the Kansas Insurance Department. On the website, insurance.kansas.gov/medicare/, you will find a Medicare Supplement Shopper’s Guide in PDF format and an online Medicare supplement comparison tool.  This is a great way to price compare a variety of Medigap plans, companies, and estimated prices to narrow down decisions.  

Social Security handles enrollment for Original Medicare (Parts A and B).  There is a variety of publications online to help guide you through Medicare Benefits at ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/.  

Each state has a health insurance assistance program to provide free help to Medicare beneficiaries who have question. The Kansas program is administered through the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability and is called SHICK, Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas.  Certified volunteers provide free one-to-one counseling and educational programs to help Medicare beneficaries gain the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about health insurance.  SHICK does not sell insurance or endorse any insurance company, product, or agent.  To find a counselor near you, call 1-800-860-5260.    

New to Medicare workshop through Zoom will be held Wednesday, January 27th at 6 p.m. The program is free, registration required: http://bit.ly/SouthwindMedicare.  The program will walk you through the basics of Medicare to provide a foundation of information to help you navigate the decision making process.  The workshop is taught by Joy Miller, Certified SHICK Counselor. For more information, call 620-223-3720 or e-mail [email protected]. 

Area News

Kansas Archeology Training June 4-20 in Shawnee County

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Kansas Archeology Training Program Field School

to Be Held in Shawnee County:

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site

June 4-20, 2021

 

TOPEKA—The Kansas Historical Society and the Kansas Anthropological Association announced on Jan. 8 that the Kansas Archeology Training Program (KATP) will be held at Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, in Topeka. The annual field school will partner with the park and the National Park Service’s Midwest Archeological Center (MWAC). The park includes the Monroe Elementary School and commemorates the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end the nation’s legal segregation. The landmark victory for civil rights in America helped to inspire the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. The national historic site is located where Monroe Elementary School was built in 1927 and the previous Monroe School was built in 1874. Both were intended as segregated schools for Black children, one of four in Topeka, until the 1954 court decision.

 

The goal of the 2021 KATP is to expand on knowledge of the school property from the early years when it was purchased by John Ritchie in 1855 and later when the current Monroe school was built. The field school will be an opportunity to explore some of the structures buried on the property that once stood near the earlier Monroe school. Little information in known regarding the preservation of these structures. Through the use of archeology it is hoped to gain a better understanding of those who lived in the Monroe school neighborhood. This project will help tell of the crucial time between the Civil War and the Civil Rights eras that had a profound impact on people’s lives throughout the nation. Visitors to this national site are often unaware or unable to understand the property’s broader history prior to the 1954 court decision. Research goals will be shaped by input from the National Park Service to help assist them in telling this story and to gain more understanding about the community that surrounded this school.

 

The annual KATP field school is an opportunity for the public to work alongside professional and avocational archeologists in finding and excavating archeological sites and processing the resulting artifacts in the lab. No experience is necessary—just a desire to learn. Volunteers can attend for a few days or the entire 17 days of the field school. Participants must be at least 12 years old and children aged 12-17 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Classroom courses on archeology are also offered and can be taken for college credit through Emporia State University for an additional fee. Artifacts found at the site will be processed in the archeology laboratory at the Kansas Historical Society.

 

The registration fee for members of the Kansas Historical Society and the Kansas Anthropological Association is $35 for standard participants, $25 for participants 65 or older, $15 for all students currently enrolled at a middle school, high school, or college. There is no fee for students enrolled for college credit through Emporia State University. The nonmember fee is $90.

 

Registration will be available online through kshs.org from April 1-June 1, 2021. Registration is limited based on activity on a day-by-day basis.

 

A full schedule of evening programs will be held in Topeka; admission to the programs is free and open to the public. A tentative schedule of programs will be posted online. Find more online at kshs.org/14622.

 

For more information contact Nikki Klarmann, [email protected]; 785-272-8681, ext. 266; kshs.org/katp.

 

**Due to the current public health crisis, the KATP field school is subject to cancellation. This decision will be made prior to the opening of registration on April 1, 2021.**

Government, Kansas

Flags Half-Staff For Slain D.C. Policemen

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Governor Laura Kelly Directs Flags be Flown at Half-staff to Honor Capitol Police Officers Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood

TOPEKA – In honor of United States Capitol Police Officers Brian D. Sicknick and Howard Liebengood, Governor Laura Kelly has directed that flags be lowered to half-staff throughout the state until Wednesday, January 13, 2021, from sunup to sundown.

“This week, we honor the lives of Office Sicknick and Officer Liebengood,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Kansans grieve with their families, fellow officers, and the rest of the nation in the wake of this tragedy.”

To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit: https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honor

Opinion

Meet the Flintstones by Carolyn Tucker

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Carolyn Tucker. Submitted photo.

Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Tucker

 

One of my favorite TV cartoons was “The Flintstones” which aired from 1960 to 1966. I was greatly entertained by the Stone-Age setting which included foot-powered cars, The Daily Slate “newspaper” chiseled on rock, and the family’s pet dogasaurus Dino. Basically everything in the town of Bedrock was made out of rock, even their mattresses!

Flint is a hard type of stone that the Native American Indians used to make tools and arrowheads. They wouldn’t even consider using shale because it’s a soft rock that breaks under the slightest pressure. As Christians, we need to be “hardheaded” in our determination to wholeheartedly trust and obey Jesus. Also, we don’t want to be like shale and fall apart at the first sign of difficulty or temptation.

Here is an excellent scripture of hope for these challenging days: “Because the Lord God helps me, I will not be dismayed; therefore, I have set my face like flint to do His will, and I know that I will triumph” (Isaiah 50:7 TLB). Make a rock-solid decision that you will not look to the right or left as you follow Jesus. Let’s shake off the 2020 dust from our feet and move on with an attitude of victory.

If you’ve suffered the death of a loved one in the past year, I’m not suggesting that this loss can be shrugged off. I know firsthand that there’s an unavoidable grieving process to go through. Rather, I am referring to the unpleasant detours that pop up during your journey. Once you get through it, you can begin to move forward. But in order to grow spiritually, you must place your trust in God and not dwell on the past.

I like this encouraging verse from Apostle Paul: “…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (Philippians 3:13,14 NLT). Looking back doesn’t help you walk forward. In fact, it causes you to stumble because you’re not watching where you’re going!

In the Old Testament, we find Lot, his wife, and two daughters fleeing from Sodom because God’s angels were going to destroy it. When they were safely out of the city, the angel ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! …But Lot’s wife looked back…and she turned into a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:17,26 NLT). She should have set her face like flint to look ahead and press on with God‘s help.

Even though Lot’s wife was an unnamed woman in the Bible, and was mentioned only three times, we can learn a crucial lesson from her. Even Jesus referred to her in Luke 17:32 NKJV: “Remember Lot’s wife.” There’s diverse speculation as to why she looked back. But the simple fact is she did not obey an express command. Disobeying God’s Word will always result in calamity — no matter what the excuse is.

The Key: Hold to God’s hand, set your face like flint, and don’t look back.

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda For Jan. 12

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: January 12, 2021

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jim Harris Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

 

MEETING WILL BE HELD IN COMMISSION ROOM. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY. MUST MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.

9:00 – 9:30 Eric Bailey, Road & Bridge

9:30 – 9:45 Jim Harris, Executive Session, Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

9:45 – 9:50 Real Property Relief Application

9:50 – 10:00 2021 Resolutions

10:00 – 10:05 Kendell Mason, Executive Session, Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

10:05 – 10:15 Lora Holdridge, Deed’s Office End-Of-Year review

10:15 – 10:20 Nancy VanEtten, wants Interlocal Agreement Update on Sewer District #1

10:20 – 10:40 Dave Bruner, EMS Service Contract/Medical Director Contract/New EMS Unit Update

10:40 – 10:55 Lynne Oharah, Executive Session, Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

10:55 – 11:10 Lynne Oharah, Budget Director Discussion

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

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda For Special Meeting Jan. 11

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: January 11, 2021

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

 

MEETING WILL BE HELD IN COMMISSION ROOM. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY. MUST MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.

10:00 K.O.M.A.

10:20 Jody Hoener, Executive Session, Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

Business, Fort Scott, Government

Peerless Expands In Fort Scott

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The parcel being annexed is just south of the Peerless facility, highlighted in purple.  Submitted photo.

Peerless Products, Inc. , 2403 S. Main,  is currently working on an expansion of its Fort Scott facility.

 

Fort Scott is not only the home office of Peerless Products, but where the company was founded in 1952, according to Allyson Turvey, Fort Scott Community Development Director.

 

“Our most recent employment numbers, which were updated in Dec. 2019,  show Peerless had a total of 410 employees in Fort Scott,” Turvey said. This makes Peerless the city’s largest employer.

 

“The impending expansion here in Fort Scott just goes to show their continued commitment to our community,” she said.

 

” We don’t have a lot of details at this time,”  Turvey said.  “Over the last couple of months, they have been working on rezoning and annexing… lots into city limits.”

 

The rezoning of the property was on the Fort Scott Commission agenda for Jan.5, 2020, and was approved. The business expansion required rezoning from commercial to industrial.

 

One parcel is to be annexed into the city limits, one is outside the city limits, according to the request for commission action presented at the commission meeting and provided by Turvey.

 

“(Fort Scott Economic Director)Rachel Pruitt has been working closely with Peerless on this project and has helped facilitate the rezoning and annexation of the property,” Turvey said. “This expansion has been on the horizon for several years, and she has helped every step of the way.”

 

The Bourbon County Commission approved the zoning  change on Dec. 8, 2020.