Monthly Archives: June 2024
New Exhibits on Two Women Pioneers at Lowell Milken Center
Downtown Quarterly Meet and Greet July 9 At Cohn’s Cafe
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Primary Technology Restored at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg
Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan and Wamego Health Center have successfully restored the primary technology used for electronic patient documentation in care settings.
This technology was successfully restored for the four Wichita hospitals: Via Christi St. Francis, St. Joseph, St. Teresa and the Rehabilitation Hospital. It was also restored for Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg.
All Via Christi hospitals in Kansas have successfully restored EHR access. This will allow most hospital departments, physician offices, and clinics to use electronic documentation and charting. Patients should see improved efficiencies and wait times. The team continues to work tirelessly to restore other ancillary technology systems.
2024 CFSEK General Funds Grant Applications Now Available!
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is pleased to announce that the CFSEK General Funds Grant Cycle is now open!
Every year in the summer, the Community Foundation’s Grant Review Committee funds programs focusing on Basic Human Needs, Youth Activities, and Arts & Culture. Since 2004, the funds directly managed by the Community Foundation have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to many Southeast Kansas nonprofit projects. General funds grant applications are typically available during June.
In 2023, the Community Foundation awarded $160,000 to 43 recipients in its General Funds grant cycle. These organizations represented 29 Southeast Kansas communities and 15 counties.
Learn more about the General Funds Grant history with CFSEK here.
Contact Kara Mishmash at SoutheastKansas.org/contact/
Lowell Milken Center Unveils New Exhibit Panels
On June 26, 2024, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes will be unveiling exhibit panels featuring two new Unsung Heroes. The ceremony will begin at 3:00 p.m. inside the Center’s Hall of Heroes, revealing new exhibits honoring Dr. Christine Grant, the University of Iowa’s first director of women’s intercollegiate athletics. She was a national pioneer and voice in the fight for gender equity in athletics, significantly impacting the implementation of Title IX. The second honoree will be Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first Native American doctor in the United States, a champion for her people’s well-being, and a powerful role model for Native Americans and women in medicine.
Featured VIPs will include nationally recognized teachers and their students, whose award-winning projects share the stories of these heroes. Suzy Turner, teacher and 2022 National Lowell Milken Center Fellow from Iowa, and Kadence Huck, one of the three students whose research uncovered the story of Unsung Hero Dr. Christine Grant, will be present to reveal their project. Those attending who researched and discovered Unsung Hero Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte will be student Madison Glidden and her teacher, 2021 National Lowell Milken Center Fellow Megan Helberg from Nebraska.
Additional VIP guests will be Susan Picotte, the great-granddaughter of Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, and Susan’s niece, Holly. Honored VIPs representing Dr. Christine Grant will be her niece, Andrea Weiss, and Grant’s best friend and former colleague from the University of Iowa, Peg Burke. Other honored guests will include the new 2024 Lowell Milken Center National Fellowship members, former National Lowell Milken Center Fellows Carly Bowden and Jennifer Farr, as well as family members and guests of the award-winning students and teachers.
Everyone interested is invited to join us on June 26th at 3:00 p.m. to celebrate the extraordinary lives of our two new unsung heroes, who have profoundly impacted history.
These new exhibits are made possible through a 2024 Attraction Development Grant awarded to the Lowell Milken Center from Kansas Tourism. The Lowell Milken Center is a non-profit 501 © (3) that works with students and educators within diverse academic disciplines to develop projects focused on unsung heroes.
Agenda of the FS City Commission for June 18
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR REGULAR
MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
June 18, 2024 – 6:00 P.M.
- Call to Order
- Roll Call
Tim VanHoecke, Matthew Wells, Dyllon Olson, Kathryn Salsbury, Tracy Dancer
III. Pledge of Allegiance
- Invocation
- Approval of Agenda
- Consent Agenda
- Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1362-A – Expense Approval Report – Payment Dates – May 29, 2024 – June 11, 2024 – $525,425.91
- Approval of Minutes for June 4, 2024
- Request to Pay – Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc. – Application No. 3 – Fort Scott Municipal Airport – Amount Due – $244,783.75
- Request to Pay – KDOT – Project No. 06 KA-6898-01– Design Contracts –Amount Due – $103,405.87
- May Financials
VII. Public Comment – Sign up required before the beginning of the meeting on register at the entrance of the Commission Room. Public Comments are for any topic not on the agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at the Commission’s discretion.
VIII. Appearances – Must be scheduled with the City Clerk at least (1) week prior to the meeting
you wish to address the Commission. You will be scheduled on the agenda to speak on your topic.
- Haylea Hardy – Temporary Park Closure for Wedding – Riverfront Park – October 11, 2024, at 8:00AM until October 12, 2024, at 10:00PM
- Jackson Tough – Tourism Update
- Robert Harrington/Bourbon County REDI
– RHID – Denny Davis land
– RHID- Downtown
- New Business
Action Items:
- Consideration to purchase 2-Hose, 2-Pump Diesel Suction Pump – will replace old pump – $17,325.99 – Coffman
- Consideration of Estimate of Preliminary Engineering Fee – Project No. 06 KA-6898-01 – Earles Engineering & Inspections – Survey, Road Plans, Specs and Estimates – US-54 (Barbee to Caldwell – Phase II Estimates to be combined with Phase I – $118,488.77 – J. Dickman
- Consideration to Purchase a Greens Mower – Jacobsen GP400 – $19,000.00 – D. Fowler
- Approval of Ordinance No. 3764 – Disband the Golf Course Advisory Board and Repeal Ordinance No. 3604, Ordinance No. 3397 and Ordinance No. 3395.
- Approval of Ordinance No. 3765 – Disband the Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board and Repeal Ordinance No. 3566 and Ordinance No. 3550.
- Approval of Ordinance No. 3766 – Disband the Airport Advisory Board and Repeal Ordinance No. 3496 and Ordinance No. 3207.
- Consideration of Ordinance No. 3767 – An Ordinance Establishing the Farmers Market Policy, Located at the Fort Scott Downtown Pavilion, Otherwise Known as the Gathering Square Pavilion.
- Consideration of Requests for Proposals for Memorial Hall façade repairs
- Consideration of Demolition Bids – 314 S. Eddy
- Consideration of Demolition Bids – 306 S. Lowman
- Consideration of Demolition Bids – 1801 E. Wall
- Consideration to Approve Permits for the Sale of Fireworks: Jakes Fireworks at 2221 S. Main; Belino Fireworks at 2400 S. Main
- Consideration of Letter of Interest – Land Bank Vacancy
- Reports and Comments
- City Manager Comments
- Engineering Comments
- Commissioners Comments
- City Attorney Comments
- Executive Session
XII. Adjourn
American Revolutionary War Exhibit at Memorial Hall until June 15
The local Daughters of the Revolution, Molly Foster Berry Chapter, has set up a traveling exhibit on the American Revolutionary War at Memorial Hall, Third and National Avenue. There is no admission.
Until June 15, the exhibit can be viewed by entering the south door, across the street from the Methodist Church from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.It is a self-guided tour. The Chapter members are sitting in shifts at the exhibit.
“Our chapter is about promoting patriotism,” Barbara Ritter, spokeswoman for the group said.
The American Revolution Experience Exhibit comprises 12 roll-up, graphic banners, each measuring 7’ high by 3’ wide, and three kiosks, comprised of IPads and stands, according to its website.
The American Revolution Experience will travel across the U.S. introducing visitors to a cast of historical characters with diverse experiences throughout the conflict and the places they visited on their journey, according to http://www.battlefields.org/american-revolution-experience-traveling-exhibit-tour
About the Local Chapter
The Molly Foster Berry chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was organized on October 19, 1911. The chapter is named after its first regent, Miss Frances Hall’s Revolutionary War ancestor, Samuel Berry’s wife. Members, called Daughters, are direct descendants of a Revolutionary War Patriot.
This chapter, along with the American Legion, was instrumental in raising funds for the Memorial Hall. Because of this fundraising, a special suite in the hall was given for their use forever.
“D.A.R members are active women passionate about community service, preserving American History, educating children as well as honoring and supporting those who serve our nation,” Ritter said.
The Daughters of the American Revolution will celebrate nation-wide the 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War in 2026.
“We would like to get together with other civic organizations to plan out activities for this event,” Ritter said. “The nation celebrated in 1976 with many activities.
If anyone is interested in more information, contact her at [email protected], or 913.636.4892
Highlights of what this chapter has done since its inception:
They started a Red Cross Chapter Unit in which they knitted socks and over 130 sweaters to donate to the men in service, donated
money and goods to be distributed to newly arriving immigrants on Ellis Island, were charged with the care of the Block House, which is now part of the Fort Scott National Historic Site, recognized Bourbon County good citizens, planted trees, donated bedding, beds and food to the Goodlander Home, distributed American Flags and donated books to the library.
“And more recently a Vietnam Veteran Ceremony, recognizing our Bourbon County Vietnam Veterans with a certificate, lapel pin and dinner,” Ritter said.
Currently, the group has 26 members, two associate members and two awaiting documentation.
New 10 Patient Hospital with Emergency Department Will Open in 2025 in Fort Scott
The former Fort Scott Mercy Hospital will be used once again for hospital operations.
Today, Paula Baker, CEO of Freeman Health System announced that they will be operating 10 in-patient hospital beds at the site and will open an emergency department as well.
“If treated in the E.R., you will be treated right here (in the hospital section),” she told a crowd that gathered at the former hospital.
There will also be an outpatient lab, radiology, CAT scans available to the public, and an on-site pharmacy.
There will be six bays in the emergency department and 365-day coverage, 24 hours a day.
A licensed physician and emergency-trained staff will be employed, which will total approximately 70 employees, according to Renee Denton, Chief Operating Officer at Freeman Neosho Hospital, who is helping in this project.
Baker said they have to be licensed by the State of Kansas and that process is long and complex, but they hope to be open by April 1, 2025.
There will be clear separation between Freeman’s hospital bed unit and the Kansas Renewal Institute which also operates in the former Mercy Hospital building, Denton said. Freeman will use the former birthing wing of the hospital.
Baker said they have been working with local city and county entities to make this happen and Bourbon County Commissioner Clifton Beth spoke to the crowd as well as Baker.
She commended Beth and County Commissioner Jim Harris.
“They have worked to get this together and they care,” she said.
Beth said the process to reopen a hospital began about five years ago and thanked the sales tax committee that recently spearheaded a May 20234 vote that will produce some money for the project. In addition, he thanked the voters for supporting the tax.
Also helping in the process were present and former county commissioners, Fort Scott City Commissioners, health agencies, the Bourbon County E.M.S., and Kansas Renewal Institute personnel, Beth said.
“We have been in communication with Kansas on the licensure entities, they have committed to help us expedite the licensure,” Denton said.
A Long-Standing Neighborhood Tradition: 42nd Annual Burke Street 4th of July Parade
Come One, Come All, Let Freedom Ring! It is once again time to celebrate U.S.A.’s 248th Independence Day with a neighborhood parade on Fort Scott’s “Tower Hill,” better known as Burke Street on the Fourth of July.
Following patriotic songs by “Kids on Burke” led by two of the parade founders: Jill Gorman and Susan Foster; the parade will depart at 10:00 AM from Tenth and Burke going south around the Marblecrest Triangle and returning north to the point of origin. Cheering spectators, who are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and dress in red, white, and blue, will line the parade route with family and friends.
Post-parade refreshments will be served and ALL ARE WELCOME to the corner of Ninth and Burke. Neighbors and friends-of-the-parade donate the cookies and drinks are provided by this year’s hosts Matthew and Lisa Cady.
A severe storm or lightning cancels the parade and there are no large vehicles allowed due to the many children participating in the festivities.
Parade questions can be answered by Margaret Humphrey 620-223-0388 –- 620-224-7388 or Theresa Bahr 620-215-2889.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports June 13
New Fort Scott School Administrators: Gilmore and Johnson
Nicole Gilmore. 31, is the new Winfield Scott Elementary School Assistant Principal in Fort Scott.
Gilmore earned Building Principal Certification from Pittsburg State University in 2023, Master of Social Work from the University of Washington-Seattle in 2016, and Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of General Studies in Political Science from the University of Kansas in 2015.
For the past six years, she has been a School Social Worker with the SEK Interlocal #637 at The Learning Center in Girard, KS, which is a day school program across 13 school districts in Southeast Kansas for K-12 students with significant emotional and behavioral disabilities.
“I additionally have experience as an Adjunct Instructor through the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare for the past four years and as the Colorguard Instructor at Pittsburg High School for seven years.”
“Previously, I have had clinical experience in child welfare and medical settings, along with working internationally in schools with the Peace Corps in Thailand,” she said. “I have had administrative experience in nonprofits through tasks such as quality assurance, planning and public policy, grant writing, and data analysis.”
She will start her duties on August 1.
“I have been actively working with Mr. Garzone, the new principal of Winfield Scott, as well as teachers in the building already! I was fortunate enough to attend the Missouri School-Wide Positive Behavioral Supports Conference in Osage Beach this summer (June 3-5) and we are excited to start implementing some of the ideas that we learned while attending!”
“As an assistant principal, I will support the principal and co-lead in all academic programming.
” I will assist in overseeing daily activities, committees, meetings, and school operations,” she said. “I will work collaboratively in the planning of school needs, alongside students, families, staff, and community stakeholders.”
“The best part of being in education is building relationships with students, staff, and families,” she said. “I love to see students grow and develop over time, with the knowledge and skills that they’ve learned while at school, and that we can do it because we work in partnership with each other. I’m excited to work with the K-2 students, specifically, because that is often where they start to develop a hate or love relationship with the school, and the staff at Winfield Scott has a huge role in that! I believe that we have fantastic teachers in the Winfield Scott building, who will foster that love of learning, and I’ll be here to help augment and magnify all the great things they do every single day!”
“Some challenges include having limited resources and funding, as well as the ever-growing need for additional personnel,” she said. “There is a teacher shortage across the United States today, not just isolated to Fort Scott, but there is a significant need to not only attract but focus on retaining and growing our teachers here. Additionally, with the increase in behavioral and emotional challenges, our teachers and support staff need help in navigating appropriate ways to respond and how to work with community partners such as SEKMHC (Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center) to implement quality wraparound services that meet the needs of the student and their family.”
Her email is [email protected]
Jeff Johnson, 34, is the new assistant principal
at Fort Scott High School.
At Pittsburg State University he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in 2013 and majored in Biology. Also from
Pittsburg State, he earned a Master of Science in Educational Leadership in 2018.
Johnson has worked 11 years at Pittsburg High School as a science teacher, coach (football and basketball), and administrator and was an assistant principal for the last four years at Pittsburg High School.
He officially starts on August 1.
Johnson’s duties are safety and security for staff and students, student and staff supervision, instructional leadership, student support services, student discipline, and extracurricular activities.
What is the best part of being in education for you?
“It is working alongside amazing educators and the opportunity to positively impact students’ lives and help them reach their full potential.”
What are some challenges?
“Some challenges include meeting diverse student needs and finding solutions for staffing needs.”
“I am a proud graduate of USD 234 and I am excited to be a Tiger again! ” he said.
Contact info: [email protected]
