Bo Co Commisson Special Meeting Today at 2 p.m.

Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701

Date: March 25, 2022
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Ashley Shelton
MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM AT 2:00PM
Call to Order
• Flag Salute
• Noble Health Update

Justifications for Executive Session: KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy KSA 75-4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship KSA 75-4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency KSA 75-4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships KSA 75-4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property KSA 75-4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.

St. Patty’s Patio Party by Patty LaRoche

Patty LaRoche

The rules are clear at most of the Mazatlán orphanages: when you turn 18, you are on your own (much like the foster care system in America).

When Guy and Nicole learned about a group of orphaned, male teens who wanted to go to college, they found a way to make it happen and opened El Refugio, a home where the boys could stay until they graduated from college and were on their feet.

For St. Patrick’s Day, Dave and I and dozens of other couples attended a St. Patty’s Patio Gala fundraiser at the founders’ home built on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Wearing green “Gems of Mazatlán” t-shirts, we represented the group overseeing the care of the five local orphanages. All evening, the eighteen-year-olds, dressed in their El Refugio polo shirts and jeans, carried trays of hors d’oeuvres and manned drink stations, all smiling and offering to help.

When we entered Guy and Nicole’s home, we were given a game card. We were to fill in the blanks for four contests, each located on a different balcony as we descended the cliff where their home was perched.

First, we guessed how many Irish, gold coins were mounded on a table. Descending two flights of stairs, we were at pool level where we wrote how many shamrocks were floating in the water. On the next tier was a table holding various glass containers, each filled with green water and one question: How many total ounces are represented? The last balcony was next to a raised, grassy area with green rope strung through various trees. Our task was to estimate how many inches of rope we saw. For the grand prize—dinner at four of Mazatlán’s nicest restaurants—we added up all of our amounts, wrote that number down, and placed our cards in a large, green box. I compared cards with Jill, my accountant-friend, who reminded me that we always under estimate. I added another thousand to my answer and turned in my card. I didn’t win.

What was interesting was how people viewed this contest. There were those like me who painstakingly labored over each area. Others haphazardly wrote down whatever number popped into their head, knowing they weren’t going to win anyway. Some used their phone calculators (which I thought strange). There were contestants who guarded their cards and others who shared their guesses. I offered to show mine to other guests, but no one seemed interested.

Isn’t that the same with how people witness about Jesus? Some memorize various scriptures to be able to recite—in order—the Plan of Salvation. No mistakes allowed. Some ho-hum the entire process (“I’ll think about that tomorrow”) while others hope they do enough good things to get a passing grade. I know people who just “wing it,” hoping someone asks them what they believe so they don’t have to initiate the tough talk.

The saddest, to me, are the ones who keep their faith to themselves and fail to share it at all. You know, the “Private matter” syndrome. The last category is the one in which zealots speak of nothing else and run people away: “So, how about those Jayhawks?” “Yes, God is an amazing creator, isn’t He?”

Then again, who am I to judge? I can’t even guess how many shamrocks are floating in a pool, much less how God works.

Make a difference – adopt a highway

 

Make a difference in your community and help the environment at the same time – join the Adopt-A-Highway program in Kansas.

Litter is unsightly and unsafe, and it has a negative impact on both residents and visitors to Kansas. But every section of highway right of way cleaned by participating groups adds up to many miles of nice-looking roadsides for everyone to enjoy. This helps to raise awareness on the negative effects of pollution and the positive aspects of a clean community.

Groups are asked to sign a two-year agreement with the program, and there is no cost to the group. The Kansas Department of Transportation, which sponsors the program, provides each group safety training, trash bags and orange vests. Groups have clean-ups three times a year at their convenience and are recognized for their efforts with signs marking their sections of highway.

Adopt-A-Highway groups are gearing up for the annual Clean Up Kansas Campaign, which takes place during the month of April. All Adopt-A-Highway groups are encouraged but not required to participate in the statewide event.

Any non-profit group that does not discriminate upon the basis of race, religion or gender can join. Members must be at least 11 years old and have adequate adult supervision. For more information, contact the KDOT office in your area (listed below).

To adopt a section of highway, KDOT phone numbers listed below
(Ask for the Adopt-A-Highway coordinator in the KDOT office located closest to you.)

Northeast Kansas

Topeka, (785) 296-2291

Kansas City Area –

Bonner Springs, (913) 942-3040

Olathe, (913) 942-3100

North Central Kansas

Salina, (785) 823-3754

Northwest Kansas

Norton, (785) 877-3315

Southeast Kansas

Chanute, (620) 902-6400

South Central Kansas

Hutchinson, (620) 860-7400

Wichita, (316) 744-1271

Southwest Kansas

Garden City, (620) 765-7074

 

 

Stepps Named SEK Girls Basketball Coach of the Year

Submitted photo. Pechone Stepps coaches the Fort Scott High School Lady Tigers Basketball Team.
Pechone Stepps is a Credit Recovery Teacher Aide at
Fort Scott High School and also a girls basketball coach.
This week, Coach Stepps was named the Southeast Kansas Girls Basketball Coach of the Year for the 21-22 season.
“The seven head coaches in the league vote for who they think deserves the award for that season,” Fort Scott High School Activities Director Jeff DeLatorre said. “The coach with the most votes is named Coach of the Year.”
FSHS Activities Director Jeff DeLaTorre.
With Stepps as a coach, the Lady Tigers finished the season with a record of 17-5 and finished as SEK League champions.
“There is a coach of the year selected for each sport in the SEK League each season,” DeLaTorre said.
“Through the years, Fort Scott High School has had several recipients of this award including Tracey Bogina for Boys Cross Country in the fall last year,” he said.  “Last school year (20-21) we had Bo Graham, football coach Tracey Bogina, girls cross country coach, Clint Heffern, boys basketball coach, and Josh Regan, baseball coach were recipients.

 

Tracy Bogina from the USD234 Online Staff Directory.
Bo Graham from the USD234 Online Staff Directory.
Clint Heffern.
Josh Regan. Submitted.
Josh Regan.

CHC/SEK continues testing, vaccine for uninsured

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) will continue to test and vaccinate under-insured, or patients without insurance for COVID-19 even though the federal program that reimburses hospitals, clinics, doctors and other service providers for COVID-19 care for uninsured people is coming to a close.

“COVID-19 is still with us,” said Jason Wesco, President & Chief Strategy Officer at CHC/SEK. “If uninsured individuals in our communities hesitate to get care because of the cost, we’ll likely see more cases, and the consequences those cases might cause.”

With lack of additional funding, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced this week that the program that reimburses hospitals, clinics, doctors and other service providers for COVID-19 care for uninsured people is ending. “The lack of funding for COVID-19 needs is having real consequences,” Martin Kramer, a spokesman for the Health Resources and Services Administration, said in a statement. “We have begun an orderly shutdown of the program.”

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are down dramatically across most parts of the country, however with another Omicron variant surging in Europe, some scientists are concerned that another US surge could be on its way.

Wesco says CHC/SEK wants anyone who thinks they might be ill to be tested and treated.

“It’s important not only for your health, but for the health of your family, friends and neighbors,” he said. “Continued testing and vaccination are the right thing to do, and the key to putting this pandemic behind us.”

Input Sought in Health and Wellness Assessment

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team staff are looking for up to 12 participants to give information to a community health and wellness assessment in eight separate sectors in the community, according to Jody Hoener, President and CEO of the HBCAT.

“Please take a look below and consider providing your input either online or in person,” she said. “Eight different dates with 24 time slots!! We are hoping you can find a time that fits your schedule!”

HBCAT is located at 104 N. National Avenue, Fort Scott.

Chamber Coffee at Fort Scott Public Library March24

Join us for this week’s Chamber Coffee!
Hosted by Fort Scott Public Library
Thursday, March 24th, 8am
Coffee will be held in the event room that is located downstairs.
Enter through the door on E. 2nd St.
History of the Library
In 1891, Eugene Ware established the Ware Public Library in Fort Scott. After Mr. Ware donated his library collection to the City of Fort Scott in 1894, the citizens voted to establish a free Fort Scott Public Library to be maintained by the taxpayers.
In 1902, Andrew Carnegie donated $18,000 for the construction of a library building. Fort Scott Public Library opened in its present location in 1904.
In the mid-1980s, the library automated and began using computers instead of a card catalog.
In 2013, Fort Scott Public Library joined the SEKnFind consortium, a group of over 40 Southeast Kansas libraries. We have access to the catalogs and collections of all these libraries.
In 2014, Fort Scott Public Library joined the Sunflower eLibrary consortium, giving our patrons access to ebooks, audiobooks, and videos.
In August of 2016, the library temporarily moved into the old City Hall offices in Memorial Hall, so that the library building could undergo a major renovation. In April of 2017, the library reopened in the newly remodeled original Carnegie building. Improvements included an up-to-date electrical system, new heating/air, new lighting, new flooring, new furniture, a new event room (for library events and available to the public), improved WiFi services, and an improved public computer area.
Visit the Fort Scott Public Library’s website HERE!
Like the Fort Scott Public Library’s Facebook page HERE!
Thank you to our Chamber Champions listed below!

Bourbon County Local News