SEK Health Department: All Vaccines Available

Rebecca Johnson, SEKMCHD Director.

The Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department has all 3 COVID-19 vaccines available at their offices.

To get vaccinated,  call for an appointment.

“Things are seeming to pick up with children getting vaccinated, but there are still more adults getting vaccinated than children,” Rebecca Johnson, administrator, said. “I’m glad for the increase in children’s vaccinations but wish we’d see more getting the shot. This will decrease quarantines and time missed from school and work, that is something encouraging for parents!”

“There’s quite a bit of information for parents online about safety of the vaccine for children. I recommend reviewing information from the CDC.”

“With any variant, there is always fear of the unknown, but we are monitoring this new variant (Omicron) and staying up to date with what information KDHE has to provide, the CDC, the other Health Departments in the state as well as information we get from our bordering states. I would recommend our residents stay vigilant in their mitigation against COVID-19, stay home if they’re aware they have been exposed to the virus and stay home if sick! ”

The department is located at 524 S. Lowman, Ft. Scott, KS 66701

Phone (620)223-4464, Fax (620)223-1686

From  the Kansas Department of Health and Environment:

“No confirmed cases have been identified in Kansas or the United States to date. This variant is new, and it is still unknown how transmissible or contagious this variant is. It is unclear how quickly it will spread, but it has been found in 17 countries already and we should assume that it is only a matter of time before it will be found in the United States. KDHE will continue to sequence positive COVID-19 samples to look for the Omicron variant.

With over 64% of the eligible population fully vaccinated, Kansas is more prepared for Omicron than previous variants. Experts continue to believe that the COVID-19 vaccine will continue to protect those who are vaccinated against severe disease and death. The COVID-19 vaccine is available for all individuals aged five years and over. The vaccine booster dose is available for all adults aged 18 and over. Boosters increase the strength of your antibody response, so even if the virus mutates, a boost makes it more likely that your antibodies can prevent you from getting sick or seriously ill, even with the new variant. If you are six months past your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two months past your J&J vaccine, get boosted now.

As we continue to learn more about the Omicron variant, taking steps to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus remains the same. Kansans should receive the COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot, wear a mask in public indoor settings, wash their hands frequently, physically distance from others as much as possible, stay home if they feel sick, and get tested if they have been exposed to COVID-19 disease or have symptoms.”

 

 

 

Obituary of Angelina Tamez

Angelina Marie Tamez, age 16, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Monday, November 29, 2021.

She was born July 8, 2005, in San Antonio, TX, the daughter of CJ Robison and Joe Tamez, Jr. Angelina was greatly loved and cherished.

She was such a positive person for her many friends and family. She was full of dedication, motivation, and determination. If she said she was going to do something, you could count on her doing it with her best effort. She loved being active. She was a perfectionist and always tried to do her absolute best at everything she did.

Angelina was the kindest, sweetest soul and touched everyone’s heart wherever she went. On the other hand, she was quite the prankster. When she loved, she loved hard. Angelina will be missed by many.

Survivors include her mother CJ Robison (Charles); her father Jo Tamez, Jr. (Amanda); siblings Alayna Tamez, Nichol Vasquez, Elena Robison, Xavier Tamez, Jonathon Tamez, Josh Vincent, and AJ Vincent; grandmothers, Cindy Divorne and Juanita Campbell; grandfather, Joe Tamez; the love of her life Cody Geiger; and many friends.

She was preceded in death by a brother, (Junior) Shawn Arwin Vincent; and grandfathers Shahn Divorne and John Campbell.

Matthew Wells will conduct services at 10:30 AM Saturday, December 4th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Clarksburg Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Friday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Angelina Tamez Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

COVID-19 vaccine, boosters available at CHC/SEK  

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd.

 

There’s still time to get vaccinated before holiday travel  

 

With the holiday travel and gathering season upon us, coupled with the winter season of colds, flu and other respiratory infections, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) would like to remind the public that having the added protection of a COVID-19 booster is vitally important. 

COVID-19 vaccine boosters are now available at most CHC/SEK locations and are recommended for all adults 18 years and older if it has been 6 months since their last Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or 2 months since the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine. 

The recent emergence of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19 and its variants.   

The CDC is urging the 47 million adults who are not yet vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to vaccinate the children and teens in their families as well because strong immunity will likely prevent serious illness.

There is never any out-of-pocket expense for any COVID-19 vaccine recipient at CHC/SEK. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, reduce the spread of the virus and help prevent new variants from emerging.  

 

To speed the process and to prevent vaccine waste, (open vials have a short shelf life) the clinic encourages those wishing vaccinations to schedule an appointment through the CHC/SEK website, www.chcsek.orgAfter submitting the request, a vaccine scheduler will call to confirm an appointment. Additionally, CHC/SEK will continue to offer vaccines at Walk-In Care visits and Primary Care visits.  

CASA Christmas Dec. 10

“Change a Child’s Story”
This year’s Bourbon County CASA Christmas Celebration will be held on
Friday, December 10th, 2021 from 7-9pm
*RSVP by December 3rd
Click here to RSVP by email.
Mail your selected giving level to:
Bourbon County CASA
PO Box 146
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Contact CASA Director Christa Horn with any questions or for more information at 620-215-2769.
Click on picture below to view the invite in a larger format.

New Clothing Pop-Up Shop Opens in the Liberty Theatre Lobby

Rachel Pruitt. Submitted photo.

Rachel Pruitt has opened a new Christmas pop-up shop in the lobby of the Liberty Theatre, 113 S. Main in downtown Fort Scott. She has named the pop-up Better in Bourbon.

“We will be open the remainder of the year,  with new product arriving weekly,” she said.

Her products are women’s and tween girl clothing, gift items, and accessories.  For those who don’t know: a tween is no longer a little child, but not quite a teenager.

Pruitt is following a lifelong ambition, after many years spent in the apparel business.

“During college, I was the first Kansas State student to intern at the Atlanta Apparel Mart,” she said.  “Upon graduation, I worked for fifteen years in wholesale apparel based in Kansas City which involved traveling to several cities supporting NCAA Division I sports and later relocated to Nashville.”

“My next chapter lasted over 20 years in corporate marketing which included another relocation to Chicago,” she said. “After having the opportunity to live in several other cities, I found a sense of ease returning to Fort Scott. Life is simpler in a rural community, and I consider myself fortunate to have the perspective to realize life is ‘better in Bourbon’.”

“It seems there is so much focus on what is wrong today, a rapid spread of negativity,” she said. “Over the last year, I’ve attempted to refocus my energy on what is right, on things which are positive. With unwavering support from friends and family, I am returning to a lifelong passion.”

“This pop-up boutique is in the lobby of the beautiful Liberty Theatre due to the generosity of the owner, Jared Leek,” she said. “It will be open through the end of the year, Wednesday through Saturday from noon until 7 p.m., adjusting hours to coincide with special events. I am optimistic the pop-up will justify the need to look for a permanent space.”

She opened the shop on November 27.

Contact Pruitt on the following:

Facebook:  Better In Bourbon

Instagram:  @better_in_bourbon

Website:  betterinbourbon.com

AD: FSCC Community Read Discussion Today, Dec. 1 at 2:30 p.m.

You are invited to the Campus & Community Common Read Discussion Event to be held on Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 2:30 p.m. in the Fort Scott Community College Library in Bailey Hall, 2108 S. Horton.

This event is brought to the students, staff, and local community of Fort Scott Community College by a Humanities Kansas grant which offered opportunities to discuss two books, A Choice of Weapons by Gordon Parks and The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore.

Both are books related to culture and diversity.

The event is scheduled to be approximately 30-45 minutes long.
Description of event:
  • The FSCC Campus and Community Read is a semester-long book club that first read and discussed Gordon Parks’ A Choice of Weapons.  This reading ended with guest speakers during the Gordon Parks Celebration.  Topics discussed were culture and diversity topics faced by Gordon Parks.
  • The second book read and discussed was The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore.  Dr. Jason Kegler spoke about culture and diversity related to the book as well as his experiences in southeast Kansas.

A wrap-up and discussions of future community read events will happen.

Chamber Coffee hosted by Fort Scott National Historic Site on Dec. 2

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, December 2nd at 8 a.m. hosted by Fort Scott National Historic Site, located at 1 Old Fort Blvd.

The Chamber Coffee will be in the park’s theater on the second floor of the Infantry Barracks just west, to the left, of the Visitor Center.

Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be provided by The Friends of Fort Scott.

This year will be the 40th annual Candlelight Tour. The tour centers around peace on the frontier with five stops around the site.

The entire tour is outside this year, so they encourage visitors to dress for the weather.

Also, a reminder that masks are required in all federal buildings and anywhere social distancing cannot be maintained.

The only exception will be at the Chamber Coffee event while people are eating and drinking.

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.