Senior Communications Manager for Kansas Action For Children
Now that the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” has been passed and signed into law, advocacy groups like Kansas Action for Children are diving deeper into the provisions to understand exactly how everyday Kansans will be impacted. Join the KAC experts on Tuesday, July 15, at 11:30 a.m. (CT) to learn what the bill means for kids and families. After the briefing, KAC policy advisors will be available for questions.
All American schools, including local schools, will be impacted by the funding freeze that President Trump has directed the U.S. Department of Education to delay, pending a review.
Destry Brown, superintendent of USD 234, Fort Scott’s school district, wrote the following about how the funding freeze will affect his district.
Destry Brown. Submitted photo.
“The federal funding freeze has affected two of our Title funds.
“The first is Title IIA. This money is used for professional development for our teachers and administrators. Title IIA provides $120,000 toward professional development. This accounts for 90% of our professional development budget. The impact of withholding that funding is that we will not be able to send staff for professional development. The State no longer provides funds to be specifically used for professional development any longer. As we prepare our budget for this school year, we do not expect to be able to fill this gap in funding.
“The other fund that is impacted is Title IV. This fund provides funding for innovative programs that enhance Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math programs in the district, to provide more hands-on, interactive learning activities for our students. Title IV provides $38,000 to the district for these activities. The loss in funding will impact our ability to provide some of these updates and enhancements. Any updates will be funded through our regular supply and equipment accounts for each building.
“Currently, the State (of Kansas government) has advised us to budget as if we will receive the funds and spend as if we will not. The State expects to hear more about this funding later this month. Our understanding is that the money is being held while the US Department of Education evaluates these two programs.”
To contact your elected representatives with your views on this matter, according to the Bourbon County, KS website:
US Senator
Roger Marshall – (R)
PO Box 1588
Great Bend, KS 67530
(202) 224-4774
Jerry Moran – (R)
PO Box 1372
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620-232-2286
Derek Schmidt (R)
1223 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6601
This graphic is taken from a Newsweek online story dated July 7, 2025.
Commerce Groundbreaking ROI Study on Registered Apprenticeships
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the release of a study recognizing the positive return on investment (ROI) companies receive by participating in registered apprenticeship programs. The analysis was drawn from surveys of Kansas employers involved in the state’s Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAP) for high-wage and high-demand occupations.
“These results make the case that businesses who adopt apprenticeship programs simply perform better by attracting and retaining more skilled workers,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “As we continue to expand apprenticeship opportunities in Kansas, this research will help inform employers’ workforce decisions — and keep up with industry demand for trained talent.”
As more companies show interest in RAPs, and more individuals pursue earn-and-learn pathways, there is a need to understand the benefits to employers who invest in this important workforce and educational initiative.
Key findings from the recent study revealed:
Identified company participation has grown 228% since 2022 – from 280 to 919 in just three years since Governor Kelly established the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship
At program completion, half of all employers report breaking even in the short term, while nearly two-thirds break even within five years — demonstrating both immediate and long-term returns on investment
After five years, the median ROI increases dramatically to 246%, or $2.49 in net direct benefits for every $1 invested
In addition to financial gains, employers also report indirect benefits such as improved employee satisfaction, stronger workforce culture, and a more reliable pipeline of skilled workers
The size of the sample group included 18 Kansas employers who provided full ROI responses and 16 reporting on indirect outcomes. The insights offer valuable insight into how RAPs are creating value for Kansas companies.
“This study alone confirms the feedback we’ve heard from our industry partners — that registered apprenticeships pay off,” Director of Apprenticeships and Internships Shonda Anderson said. “With this important data showing the monetary value of these programs, we can elevate our efforts to expand apprenticeship opportunities across the state.”
The Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship and its partners will use the findings to support future policy, expand employer engagement and drive investment in high-quality training programs to meet the needs of the workforce and businesses.
To learn more about the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship and its resources, visit the webpage here.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses, and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
About the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship:
The Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship was established by Governor Laura Kelly on Sept. 6, 2022, through Executive Order #22-07. The office supports apprenticeships across multiple industries to provide a highly skilled source of labor for employers and ensure occupational proficiency for career-seekers. The program incorporates on-the-job learning, technical instruction and mentorship to create long-term employment opportunities in Kansas.
The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at noon on Thursday, July 10 in the Cleaver-Burris-Boileau Hall to address the RNR rate for the 2025-26 budget and approve personnel items.
Charles Paul Sellers, 65, passed away at the VA home in Warrensburg, Missouri, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. He was born August 4, 1959, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the son of Garland Dell Sellers and Norma Jean (Quick) Sellers. He married Amy Seal July 29, 2016, in Miami, Oklahoma, and she survives of the home.
Charles graduated from Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1977. He was an Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts, and he served in the United States Navy, retiring as Chief Petty Officer on December 24, 1998. He attained Master Mason June 11, 1979. Charles was a Facility Manager for St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa. He was also a Teaching Pastor at New Freedom Church in Sioux City, as well as pastoring at Gospel Mission. He received two Master’s Degrees, Human Resources and Hospital Administration, from Briar Cliff University, where he was an Adjunct Professor.
In addition to his wife Amy, Charles is also survived by his mother, Norma; his children, Tawnya Elisabeth Riddell (Mike), of Grants Pass, Oregon, David Paul Sellers (Rachael), of Rathdrum, Idaho, Cassandra Lynn Covelli (PJ), of Tampa, Florida, and step children , Mia Perry, of Mission, Kansas, Kyle Perry (Katilyn), of Olathe, Kansas, Ryan Porter (Rhiannon), of Jacksonville, Texas; two brothers, Donald Sellers (Debbie), of Wellsville, Kansas, and James Sellers (Jackie), of Fort Scott, Kansas; and three grandchildren, Matthew, Rylee, and Dawson, and three step grandchildren, Keyleigh, Ava, and Wesley. He was preceded in death by his father, and his second wife, Cindy Syrcle, both respectfully in 2015.
Following cremation, Pastor Christopher Eshelman will officiate graveside services at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 11, 2025, at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kansas, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. The family will receive friends prior to services on Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, and leave for the cemetery at 10:45 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Veteran’s Community Project either online at https://www.veteranscommunityproject.org/kansascity or may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS, 66701. Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee hosted by CarHelp Full-Service Repair Shop, 1114 S. Clark St., located in the 5 Corners Mini-Mart complex at 12th and Clark Streets, just off of 69 highway, this Thursday, July 10th at 8am. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees may register to win a special drawing.
CarHelp is owned by Leroy Walker and Lori Lovelace and offers a wide range of auto repair services. With over 35 years combined experience, Leroy, along with Mechanical Technician Andrew Burenheide specialize in brakes, struts, tune-ups, A/C servicing, and more. CarHelp is also a BG dealer and a local outlet for U-Haul truck and trailer rentals.
For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.
Joe Love, Colorado, is the winner of the vehicle. Submitted photo.
25th Raffle Drawing Winner Announced
On Friday, June 20th, the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation drew a winning ticket for their 25th Annual Truck Raffle Drawing. This year’s winner was Joe Love from Colorado. Joe is pictured above standing next to his 2025 Ford F150 Platinum Edition Truck. The Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation thank everyone who entered in this year’s raffle drawing. One thousand six hundred eighty-three tickets were sold. All funds raised from the raffle drawing go towards providing quality and affordable housing for persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities in Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties in SE Kansas. Raffle License: RAF000005.
ROLL CALL: ___ Jess Ervin ___ Amber Kelly ___ Mary Pemberton ___ Savannah Pritchett ___ Bradley Stewart
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS
CITIZENS REQUESTS
FINANCIAL REPORT
Sally Johnson – Financial reports
APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of June 10, 2025 Regular Council Meeting
June Treasurers Report, Monthly Transaction Report & June Accounts Payables
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Codes Enforcement: Doug Coyan
202 4th St- Mowing and Overgrown Weeds
306 Washington St- Mowing and Overgrown Weeds
406 Fulton Street- Mowing and Overgrown Weeds (nuisance vehicle?)
405 Hill Street-letter sent to owner with requested repairs needed & mowing
Smith Estate-falling down shed & tin roof
Superintendent: Bobby Rich
Clerk Report: Danea Esslinger
Junk Vehicle Citation-Citation given on 6/13/25
Keys made for all Council Members
Dakota Harrison/Lilly Wright Final Bill not paid-CBK to collect?
Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA-new audit agreement
KMGA Choose Director & Alternate-
COUNCIL & COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilman Ervin –
Councilman Kelly –
Councilwoman Pemberton –
Councilwoman Pritchett –
Councilman Stewart–
Mayor Jurgensen –
OLD BUSINESS
SEED Grant – have received all supplies ordered, and some work is complete, but still an ongoing project for
the City Library and City Office
FEMA Flooding–Ag Engineering did stop the Hydrology Study. Conference call with Carlise Jones, new FEMA Project
Manager, he stated will send the mitigation project on to be approved or disapproved without the Engineer Hydrology Study.
Sidewalk-Letter sent to Rainbow Organic Farms, but not picked up, another letter sent to owner’s home address.
Park electric –Kelly Electric will work on this project soon.
NEW BUSINESS
Motion by _____________, Second by __________, Approved ______, to enter into executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel exception, KSA 75-4319(b)(1), in order to discuss performance of non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at ____________.
Dr. Ryan Longnecker with cath lab equipment. Submitted photo.
Investing in Heart Care
Joplin, MO. – There was a time, decades ago, when Freeman Health System Cardiologist Dr. Ryan Longnecker heavily relied on rolls of chest X-ray film to help diagnose a patient’s heart problem.
On Monday morning, Freeman’s Director of Cardiovascular Service Line was proud to exhibit Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute’s newly renovated Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Room 1, which will enable the Institute to provide more advanced care for Freeman’s cardiac patients.
The Institute, Dr. Longnecker said, is home to four cath labs; the renovated Room 1 opened just 11 days ago.
“This is an exciting time for us,” he said. “We’ve continued to upgrade and enhance our equipment over the years with cutting-edge technology for the benefit of our patients, and also for the benefit of our staff.”
To that end, the ceiling-mounted, Phillips-manufactured cath lab equipment reduces the radiation dosage a cardiac patient – and the cardiac team working on that patient – receives by nearly 50 percent.
“The reason we’re so excited about this lab is not only is the picture quality amazing, but it actually uses less radiation to take pictures,” Dr. Longnecker said.
X-ray dosage has always been a concern for cardiac physicians and their teams working inside cath labs; it’s the reason why they wear lead-lined suits or aprons to protect themselves from radiation exposure. In the past, a reduction in radiation meant less reliable imaging. Thanks to the new technology, radiation from x-rays is reduced without negatively impacting image quality.
“The pictures this machine generates – they are just amazing,” Dr. Longnecker said.
The system’s technology, he continued, can produce extremely high-quality images for angiograms.
“This is an advancement that we feel is very important for our patients and staff,” Dr. Longnecker continued. “The less radiation that we can be exposed to, the less amount of side effects there will be when working inside the lab.”
Additional benefits the system provides include:
* Creating three-dimensional representations of a patient’s heart and blood vessels.
* Overlaying those 3D images onto a real-time, two-dimensional fluoroscopic view of a patient’s heart helps create a detailed “roadmap” for Dr. Longnecker to follow.
* Due to quality and sharpness of images, less contrast (dye) injections are needed. The dye enhances the visibility of certain tissues or structures in x-rays or CT scans, but the dye can sometimes cause allergic reactions.
* Stent visualization technology so physicians can see old stents inside arteries and help them more easily land new stents
* Can estimate the size of a blockage, helping the physician determine a optimal-sized stent.
The renovated cath lab will only enhance Freeman’s Level 1 STEMI designation, in which Freeman’s door-to-balloon time is less than 55 minutes, lower than the 90-minute recommendation.
“We’re so excited to have this technology and to bring it to the Joplin area,” Dr. Longnecker said, “It’s really second to none.”
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About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2024, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers and their experiences. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System one of the Best Hospitals for 2022. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
