Monthly Archives: May 2022

Ascension Via Christi, Health Care

Ascension Via Christi Emergency Department in Fort Scott receives Geriatric Accreditation

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The Ascension Via Christi Emergency Department in Fort Scott has received a Level 3 accreditation by the American College of Emergency Physicians’ Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation program (GEDA), which along with the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, Emergency Nurses Association and American Geriatrics Society developed and released geriatric ED guidelines.


“This accreditation is very exciting for us and has allowed us to focus on improving the quality of care for one of our largest patient populations,” says Jessica Cobb, Emergency Department director. “Becoming a geriatric emergency department allows us to integrate best practices and standardized approaches to care for the older citizens in our community.”


Fort Scott’s full-service ER is staffed by physicians 24/7 and includes CT scans, ultrasounds and a new, fully remodeled radiology department with six exam rooms and additional treatment
spaces. As part of their geriatric certification, a nurse and physician on staff completed specific geriatric training and serve as clinical champions for geriatric care in the ED.


This accreditation allows the Emergency Department to continue to provide high standards of close-to-home care to our community.
For more information about Ascension Via Christi Emergency Department in Fort Scott go to ascension.org/pittsburgKS.
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About Ascension Via Christi
In Kansas, Ascension Via Christi operates seven hospitals and 75 other sites of care and employs nearly 6,400 associates. Across the state, Ascension Via Christi provided nearly $89 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2021. Serving Kansas for more than 135 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to
persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the leading non-profit and Catholic health system in
the U.S., operating more than 2,600 sites of care – including 145 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org.

Obituary

Obituary of Sharon Manahan

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Sharon Kay Manahan, age 64, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Saturday, May 21, 2022, at her home.  She was born August 3, 1957, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Leo James Karleskint and Alwilla Boyd Karleskint.

graduated from Ft. Scott High School with the class of 1975.  She married Glen Manahan on November 21, 1975, in Ft. Scott.

Sharon began working for Mid-Western Distribution a week after graduation in 1975 and continued until the 1990’s.  She then worked for Great West Insurance Company, Ruddick’s Furniture, and finally Firstsource from 2011 until 2021.

Sharon enjoyed old black and white movies, reading mystery novels, cake decorating, and ceramics in her earlier years.

She helped Glen remodel their first and only home in Ft. Scott.

 

Survivors include her husband Glen of the home; siblings Mark Karleskint and wife Mary Jo, Barbara Marchant, and Marilyn Miller, all of Ft. Scott; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, longtime co-workers from Mid-Western Distribution, and special friend, Cindy Lashly.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Howard and Dan Karleskint, her parents, and her dog Anthony.

There was cremation.

Hospice Chaplain Dennis Uchtman will speak briefly following a visitation from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM Saturday, June 11th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to either Integrity Hospice or St. Mary’s Catholic School and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com

Bourbon County, Government, Schools

Vance Eden: New U235 Super In The District

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Scout, Vance, and Rhuey Eden. Submitted photo.
Vance Eden, 37, is the new associate superintendent of schools for USD 235, Uniontown.
Following completion of his education programming, he will assume the title of superintendent.
Process

“As I still haven’t completed my programming at this point, for the next year Mr. (Bret)Howard will work on a consultation basis to help with any needs that I may have,” Eden said.

Howard is the current superintendent who ends his tenure from the district on June 30.

“This provision is necessary under the current leadership license that I have,” Eden said. “Once I complete the coursework and receive the Kansas Department of Education licensure credential next spring, my title would then transition to superintendent.”

“We have tried to be open and transparent about this  process,”he said. “I had sent a letter to parents when I was hired that explained this information, but understand that many in the community would not have received such communication.”

“I will officially assume the role July 1st,” he said. “But I have been working in transition over the course of the past 6-8 weeks to make plans for the coming school year.”

His office will be located inside Uniontown Junior High/High School building.
Uniontown Junior/Senioer High School.
Education
Eden received his Bachelor’s of Education in Elementary Education and  a Master’s in Educational Leader from Pittsburg State University.  
“I’m currently working on a Specialist in Education Degree with a Major in Advanced Studies in Leadership from Pittsburg State that will be completed in the Spring of 2023,” he said.
Experience
Just out of college Eden taught math at Webb City Middle School before transitioning to be the assistant principal of that same building.  
“I then served as a Title I Reading and Math Interventionist at West Bourbon for three years before assuming the role of the principal for the past four years,” he said.
Ms. Tema Gilion will become the WBE principal in the next school year.
Background
Eden was raised in Bourbon County on the Eden family farm that is located on Hwy. 54 near Bethel Church, and attended Uniontown schools from kindergarten through 12th grade.
His family is made up of “my amazing wife, Rachel, and two great kids, Scout and Rhuey,” he said. 
Scout, Vance,  Rachel and Rhuey Eden. Submitted photo.

In their leisure time, the Edens can be found outdoors.

“Our family enjoys all kinds out outdoor activities,” he said.  “Riding dirt bikes and spending time on the lake would top the list for this summer.”
While in college, Eden changed careers to enter education.
“While in college pursuing a different major, the idea of becoming an elementary teacher really started to intrigue me,” he said.  “I had always enjoyed kids and seemed to have a pretty natural rapport with them. Once I made the switch in majors, things seemed to fall into place pretty naturally.” 
Many people inspired him to pursue education.
“I’ve been impacted by too many people to list just one,” he said.  From my supportive parents and extended family, to remarkable teachers, to current friends and co-workers.”
The best part of being an educator for Eden is giving students the tools they need to pursue their passions.
There are a few challenges in education.
“Kids don’t all start from the same place,” Eden said.  “They haven’t all had the same support, opportunities, and care.  Schools have to find a balance in supporting social, emotional, and academic needs so that by the time they leave us as 18 year-olds they are ready to thrive in adulthood.” 
Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Friday Night Free Concert: Prairie Sunflower Strings

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Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.

The Prairie Sunflower Strings will be the featured entertainment at this week’s Friday Night Concert. The musical group, consisting of eight musicians, play traditional folk music on  dulcimers, guitar, violin, and autoharp. A few newer songs will also be added into the mix.

 

“These talented musicians and vocalists have been playing together for four years,“  concert-series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “Members of The Prairie Sunflower Strings are Cherry Nelson, Joyce Love, Barbara Ray, and Jean Strader on mountain dulcimers, Charlena Burns on bowed dulcimer, Marilyn Adcock on autoharp and vocals, Sandy Hemphill on guitar, violin, and vocals, and Jack Hemphill on guitar. We are pleased to welcome this fine group back to the park pavilion. Come out and join us for a fun opportunity to see friends and enjoy some great music.“

 

The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, are free and open to the public. Dave Oas and Jim Butler provide the sound each week. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

 

In the event of inclement weather, the show will be moved to The Loading Dock at  Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall

Advertisements, Government, Jobs

AD: Farm Service Agency Seeks Program Technician

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The Bourbon County Farm Service Agency has a permanent full-time Program Technician position available.  Salary ranges from $32,570 to $58,158 (CO-3 to CO-7), depending on experience/education.

Benefits include health, life, retirement, annual and sick leave.

Must be a US citizen.

High school graduate or GED.

See full vacancy announcement at: http://www.usajobs.gov (type Farm Service Agency in the “what” box and Kansas in the “where” box) for details and instructions to apply on-line or by fax.

Complete application packages must be submitted online or fax by 11:59 pm EDT, June 1, 2022.

PLEASE CAREFULLY READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS ON “HOW TO APPLY” and “REQUIRED DOCUMENTS”!

Person selected will be subject to background investigation.

For questions, please call the Bourbon County FSA Office at 620-223-1880.

USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider,

Employer, and Lender.

Fort Scott, Government

City Admin Offices Closed For Memorial Day

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The City of Fort Scott City Administrative Offices will be closed on Monday, May 30th, 2022 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.  The offices will reopen on Tuesday, May 31st, 2021.

 

The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Saturday, May 28th, 2022 for the Memorial Day holiday.  It will be open again on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Age My Way!

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Barbara Stockebrand. K-State Extension Agent. Submitted photo.

Our early life stages are pretty predictable.  We speak our first words and take our first steps — generally within a short time frame of a few months to a year or two.  We can also count on puberty taking place between a few short years of our youth.

When we become young adults, our development and maturation from there on have more to do with our environment around us and the choices we make.  These factors are what contribute to our older adults being the most diverse age sector of the world’s population.

Beyond biological changes, aging is often associated with other life transitions such as retirement, relocation to more appropriate housing and the experience of death of friends and partners. A longer life brings with it opportunities, not only for older people and their families, but also for societies as a whole.

Additional years provide the chance to pursue new activities such as further education, a new career or a long-neglected passion. Older people also contribute in many ways to their families and communities. Yet the extent of these opportunities and contributions depends heavily on one factor: health.

If people can experience their extra years of life in good health and if they live in a supportive environment, their ability to do the things they value will be little different from that of a younger person. This thought was brought home to me through a recent conference I attended.  One of my take-away statements — “At retirement, it’s important to keep our activity level up to the level it was prior to retirement. Those activities may change and should change, but we must remain involved and active.”

Maintaining healthy behaviors throughout life, particularly eating a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity and refraining from tobacco use, all contribute to reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases, improving physical and mental capacity and delaying care dependency.

Just as every person is unique, so too is how they age and how they choose to do it – and there is no “right” way. Sure, we can distinguish those who are in their second half of life, but we don’t dare guess their age.  Our aging processes differ so greatly that we can easily miscalculate their years through simple observations.

Every May we have the opportunity to celebrate Older Americans Month.  The theme for 2022 is ‘Age My Way’ with a focus on aging in place and exploring ways older adults can remain in and be involved with their communities.

While Age My Way will look different for each person, here are common things everyone can consider:

  • Planning: Think about what you will need and want in the future, from home and community-based services to community activities that interest you.
  • Engagement: Remain involved and contribute to your community through work, volunteer, and/or civic participation opportunities.
  • Access: Make home improvements and modifications, use assistive technologies, and customize supports to help you better age in place.
  • Connection: Maintain social activities and relationships to combat social isolation and stay connected to your community.

 

Diverse communities are strong communities. Ensuring that older adults remain involved and included in our communities for as long as possible benefits everyone.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

Opinion

One Load At A Time by Carolyn Tucker

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Keys to the Kingdom

 

One of my early memories as a young girl is going to the laundrymat with my Mom. I don’t recall actually helping much, but I watched. I think I subconsciously absorbed a lot of important lessons on how to sort dirty laundry and fold clean laundry. I noticed that some of the ladies folded their towels differently from my Mom and I scratched my head over that. The sorting process was very important if you cared a hoot about the outcome later. Our Sunday-go-to-meetin’ clothes were never washed with Dad’s horse-riding blue jeans. Through the years, I’ve ruined a few items by not properly sorting them before tossing them into the washer. I knew better, but decided to take a risk and do it anyway. Sloppy sorting always comes back to bite me and it’s never worth the gamble.

 

There’s a lot of brilliant people designing catchy home décor. I bought my daughter a wall hanging that reads, “Laundry today or naked tomorrow.” Although I didn’t buy it, I saw another one I especially liked that read, “Sorting out life one load at a time.“ God is the Master Designer of the Universe and He didn’t create any of us to be spiritually sloppy. We sort out our laundry, so we ought to sort out our lives too. Anything the devil throws into our laundry hamper must be tossed out immediately. Believers need to reevaluate what we’re doing with our lives to see if we’re measuring up to God’s way of being and doing. How we sort today affects the outcome of our life tomorrow.

 

“Let’s take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus’ name” (Hebrews 13:15 MSG). Believers are to constantly offer up to God a sacrifice of praise. God doesn’t require us to offer the sacrifice of an animal (burnt offering) anymore. Jesus took care of the sin sacrifice once and for all. God petitions our praise which is thankfully acknowledging who He is and bringing glory and honor to His name.

 

All believers are walking-talking billboards. It costs money to advertise something on a billboard, so there’s a type of sacrifice (or cost) to living a holy life for God. What exactly are we advertising with our daily lives? Are we sorting out the rotten from the excellent and bearing good fruit? It’s not totally about how we act or respond during the church gathering. It’s how we conduct ourselves on our jobs, at the grocery store, restaurant, post office, court house, gas station, family reunions, etc. Everywhere we go, we’re advertising that we’re either good or bad at sorting out life.

 

God’s Word is the best laundry-sorting manual. His Word is tried and true and can be completely trusted. On the other hand, Satan can’t be trusted any further than you can throw him down the laundry chute. He only knows how to deceive, lie, steal, kill, and destroy your life. Anything he has to offer is ripped, stained, and not your size no matter how you try to put it on.

 

When believers offer our lives as a living sacrifice to God because we truly love Him, we bring him the honor and glory He deserves. Our sacrifice of holy living and praise is our testimony of Who God is. It’s worth the cost and there’s no gamble involved.

 

The Key: Believers live one day at a time and sort life’s laundry one load at a time.

Opinion

Seven Economic Truths by Gregg Motley

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I had little exposure to the academic discipline of economics before college, and I suspect that is case with most individuals today, given the opinions and ideas put forth by politicians and the public alike.  Accordingly, here are seven quotes by experts that contain timeless economic truths as a reminder of who we are, and from whence we came:

 

1)      “Capitalism is a system that begins not with taking but with giving to others.”  George Gilder.  The business person makes money by giving the consumer a product or service that they need or like; socialism begins by taking resources from the citizenry.

 

2)      “Nothing contributes so much to the prosperity and happiness of a country as high profits.” David Ricardo.  Prosperous businesses create a higher tax base, more research and development, better services, abundant charity, a better quality of life, and culminates in greater happiness for more people.

 

3)      “Everyone wants to live at the expense of the state.  They forget that the state lives at the expense of everyone.”  Frederic Bastiat.  Government has no money; the money they spend is by confiscation or debt.  Who spends the money more efficiently, the people who earned it, or the people who took it?

 

4)      “Differences in habits and attitudes are differences in human capital, just as much as differences in knowledge and skills – and such differences create differences in economic outcomes.”  Thomas Sowell.  No amount of income redistribution can create equality of outcomes; it only creates resentment.  Equal opportunity should be the goal.

 

5)      “If history could teach us anything, it would be that private property is inextricably linked with civilization.” Ludwig Von Mises.  The ownership of private property ensures dignity and freedom, not greed.  Who is greedier, the one who earns money to buy, or the one who confiscates it?

 

6)      “The free market system is not a system; it is not something that Washington implements.  It does not exist in any legislation, law, bill, regulation, or book.  It is what you get when people act on their own, entirely without central direction, and with their own property.” Jeffrey Tucker.  Nobody invented capitalism.  It is natural result of people’s desire to live in community and provide for their basic human needs.

 

 

7)      “Under capitalism, man oppresses man, but under socialism, it is the other way around.” Russ Roberts.  Humans make bad choices.  No system of government or economics can change that.

 

These quotes were compiled by Prager University (www.prageru.com); the editorial comments are mine.  Prager University is not an accredited university, but a not-for-profit information website with contributions by Democrats, Republicans, Independents and people from many religions and races.  Their five minute videos can also be found on YouTube.

 

Bottom line: our society functions better when free people work for profit by serving the needs and wants of others.  Additionally, society functions better when free people keep themselves informed.  These principles created the greatest economic engine in human history; let’s not lose it due to our own ignorance.