This is part of a series of City of Fort Scott and Bourbon County public servant profiles. If you would like to nominate a person to be featured, please send their email address to [email protected].
Grant Moberly, 21, is a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician for the Fort Scott Fire Department.
He graduated from Mill Valley High School and is pursuing an associate’s degree in fire science from Johnson County Community College, having obtained his EMT from JCCC.
Moberly is a first-year firefighter, who works from Station 2.
What are your duties?
“Fire suppression, EMS assist, vehicle and station maintenance, fire prevention training, rescue calls.”
Community involvement, interests or hobbies:
Hunting and fishing, gardening and mini-tree farming.
4D Rafter H: Travis and Kellie Duncan, Justin, and Megan Hahner from last year’s Old Settlers Picnic Ranch Rodeo.Submitted photos by Julia Hall.
Even though there will be no traditional Uniontown Old Settlers Picnic activities in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be rodeo events at the arena west of Uniontown.
“This virus has things shut down,” Wayne Hall, contact for the rodeos, said. “The rodeos are an outside event. We have hand sanitizer in the bathroom. We encourage people to not get too close. We find families stay together.”
Team Roping
On Friday, September 4, there will be a team roping contest at the Uniontown arena.
“It’s open to anybody that wants too,” Levi Motley, contact for the team roping said. “They’ll enter with people when they get here, find a partner and enter up,” although he added, “This isn’t a spectator sport.”
Teams compete for a jackpot prize, he said.
“Team roping begins at 7 p.m. and lasts about two hours,” Motley said.
Contact Motley at 620-768-9166.
Ranch Rodeo
Top Woman at the 2019 Old Settlers Ranch Rodeo was Shanna Eck. Submitted photo.
The 34th Annual Co-Ed Ranch Rodeo will happen on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.
There are four people on a team.
“Two people on the team have to be a woman or kids,” Hall said. “The crowds enjoy it.”
“Last year we had eight teams,” Hall said. “Local teams mostly. But I’ve had calls from up around Topeka (this year).”
Each team pays $200 to compete.
“There is a 100 percent payback other than a stock charge,” Hall said. “The person who provides livestock for the events gets paid a fee.”
Contact Hall at 620-363-4206 for both rodeos.
Olson Ranch: Wally and Jennifer Olson, Travis and Kellie Duncan. Submitted photos from last year’s Old Settlers Picnic Ranch Rodeo.Top man at the 2019 Old Settlers Ranch Rodeo was Kolby Stock. Submitted photo.2019 Top Youth at the Old Settlers Ranch Rodeo was Kara Stock. Submitted photos.
Old Settlers Youth Rodeo
The 54th Annual Old Settlers Youth Rodeo begins on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. with the registration of events at 5:30 p.m. It is also located in the arena west of Uniontown on Hwy. 3.
Youth who are high school senior age and younger can register to do barrel racing, pole bending, steer riding, ewe busting, a “little kids stick horse race”, calf roping, team roping, goat tying, and a flag race, Hall said.
The 2019 Stick Horse Race winners at the Old Settlers Youth Rodeo. Submitted photos.
Costs to enter each contest is from $4 to $10 per person, per event.
This is part of a public servant profile series featuring the City of Fort Scott and Bourbon County employees. If you would like to nominate a person to be featured, please send their email address to [email protected].
Travis Mewhinney, 33, is a Fort Scott Fire Department Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician.
He is a Fort Scott High School graduate, attended Fort Scott Community College for college classes and EMT classes; Hutchison Community College for fire science classes and Kansas University Fire Rescue training certifications.
Mehinney has five years of experience and works from both Station 1 and 2.
What are your duties?
“Driver operator, fire suppression, EMS and rescue, vehicle maintenance, hydrant maintenance and records.
He and his wife Becky, have two sons: LT, 10 years old, and Jaxon, 4 years.
His community involvement, interests or hobbies:
Avid car collector, diesel mechanic, sign and antique collector.
Why did you pursue your career?
“I enjoy helping others in times of need and serving my community.”
The former St. Andrews Episcopal Church is getting a new roof.
The former St. Andrews Episcopal Church at 123 S. National Avenue is getting a new roof.
“The building was formerly decommissioned so it is no longer St. Andrews Church,” said owner DandeLyon Vredenburg.
Roofers from Kansas City were hired by owners Vredenburg and her partner, Carl Repp, for the installation of a new roof on the entire sloped portion of the building.
This completes the exterior envelope work they have been working on, she said.
“We have also replaced the flat roof in 2017,” Vredenburg said. “We have replaced the rotted windows with thermal pane energy-efficient windows. This… ensures it’s preservation for the long term. We have also completed our planned work on the interior. This includes two New York loft-style residences and professional offices/workspace. “
The building houses offices and currently is occupied, except for one suite, she said.
“That rents for $250 which includes electronic access, water, garbage, electricity, gas and WiFi,” she said. “There are four businesses that currently lease space from us and run out of that building.”
Vredenburg was asked if the building is for sale.
“The building is not officially on the market but we are always open for interesting business opportunities.,” she said.
Vredenburg and her partner, Repp, stay here when in the area.
“This endeavor has been a labor of love,” Vredenburg said. “Built with our own hands and funded entirely by our own dollars. This building has offered us and continues to provide a sanctuary when we return to Fort Scott throughout the year from working abroad.”
Uniontown residents who are interested in culling down unused items are invited to have a yard sale on Aug. 22.
Persons may have their names on a list, courtesy of City of Uniontown by calling 620-756-4742 by August 17.
Addresses of those participating will be put on a list and a map posted at the post office on the town’s square and at Union Station Convenience Store on Hwy. 3.
This is part of a series on Fort Scott and Bourbon County Public Servants.
Scott Shelton, 38, is a lieutenant with the Fort Scott Fire Department.
He is a Fort Scott High School graduate and earned Emergency Medical Technician Certification from Fort Scott Community College, and also graduated from FSCC Graduate. In addition, has Kansas University Fire Certifications.
Shelton has 18 years experience in fire fighting.
He works from both Station 1 and Station 2.
What are your duties?
“Fire suppression, EMS, equipment/ vehicle maintenance, public education, training, Life Safety Inspections, and manages a shift in the event of captain’s absence.”
He is married and has two sons.
Community involvement, interests or hobbies:
“Taking kids to ball games, volunteer time to community projects,
cars, motorcycles, running/fitness.”
Why did you pursue your career?
” I am a third-generation firefighter.
I enjoy serving the community and protecting the citizens and property. “
This is part of a series of City of Fort and Bourbon County public servant profiles.
Clint Roberts, 37, is a captain with the Fort Scott Fire Department.
He earned his Associates Degree from Fort Scott Community College and also Emergency Medical Training. In addition, he has received Kansas University Fire Service Training.
He has 14 years of experience.
Roberts works out of Fire Station 1, 1640 S. National Avenue.
What are your duties?
Fire suppression, EMS, rescue calls, shift management, public education.
Family:
He is married to Crystal, and they have two boys, Reece and Ryan.
Community involvement, interests or hobbies:
” Several members from the fire department have a motorcycle group,” Roberts said. “Every year we hold an annual benefit ride fundraiser for a child in need.”
In addition to motorcycles, construction is an interest of Roberts, he said.
Why did you pursue your career?
“I had a lot of interest in the fire (service) and EMS profession when I was younger.”
Chelsi Boydston, Mounds, OK, in her new student housing room at the former Mercy Hospital building.
School started Monday, August 10, for Fort Scott Community College, and the administration took the difficult situation of the COVID-19 Pandemic and used available community resources for expanding student housing.
FSCC is leasing 30 rooms at the former Mercy Hospital from the Mercy corporation.
“The reason we are leasing rooms at the Mercy building is that we had to leave rooms vacant in student housing, in case we need to quarantine students,” FSCC President Alysia Johnston said.
FSCC students moved in over the weekend to the west side of the former Mercy Hospital building. FSCC is leasing the building until May from corporate Mercy.
“It’s a beautiful facility,” Tom Havron, FSCC Vice President of Student Affairs, said. “It’s in really good shape. Mercy maintenance has been good to help us (accommodate the students). We like having them out here. We are excited about it.”
“There are lots of perks for staying here,” Havron said. “The rooms are larger, student lounges are larger and each room has its’ own bathroom.”
In student dorms on the main campus, two rooms share a bathroom.
Two students are in each room.
This FSCC student lounge has access to the Mercy outside enclosed courtyard.
One of the student lounges has available the Mercy courtyard, an enclosed outside area, that former Mercy employees and patients may remember.
Currently, there are 57 students and three residential assistants living at the site.
“The RA’s will supervise and make sure the students are safe,” he said.
The students will still be on the cafeteria plan on the main campus at at 2108 S. Horton, just down the street. The nursing stations will be used for studying, with internet availability, Havron said, and there will be tutoring available in the facility.
A former Mercy nursing station will be a study area for FSCC students with Wi-Fi availability.
Students moved their items in this past weekend and stayed at Sleep Inn Motel, until the Kansas State Fire Marshall gave approval of the building, which happened yesterday, Aug. 10.
The hallway of the repurposed Mercy building which now houses FSCC students.
FSCC had 11 positive cases of COVID-19 when students started arriving in July, Havron said.
They were quarantined, meals were delivered and coaches checked with them to make sure they were on track academically, Havron said.
Currently, there is no sign on the outside of the building that the site is now FSCC student housing.
“We had people who thought this was the emergency room over the weekend,” Havron said.
The west entrance of the building is locked 24 hours a day.
Other changes
“August 10 is one week earlier than originally scheduled,” FSCC President Alysia Johnston, said in an email interview.”We will not have a spring break and the semester will be over before Thanksgiving on November, 24. The reason we are starting early and ending before Thanksgiving is part of our (pandemic) mitigation plan. We do not want to bring students back from a large geographical area after thanksgiving and risk introducing COVID-19 again. Also, KDHE had predicted COVID-19 would spike in December, with the rise of the flu and cold season, therefore increasing our chances of positive cases.”
“We do not have any new programs or classes,” she said. ” We do have more classes offered online than in the past.”
Despite the pandemic, class numbers are up.
“As of this morning (August 10), overall enrollment is slightly up compared to this time last fall. On-campus and online enrollment are up, off-campus enrollment is down.”
Mike Miles, 33, is the Fort Scott Fire Deparmtent Deputy Chief / Fire Marshal.
He works out of Fire Station 1, 1604 S. National .
Miles graduated from Fort Scott High School, then attended Fort Scott Community College EMT, EMT A. He has also attended the Hutchinson Fire Academy, and Kansas University for numerous fire training classes and certifications.
“I started my career as a reserve firefighter in 2006,” he said. “I have held positions as Firefighter, Senior Firefighter, Lieutenant and most recently promoted into the Deputy Chief position.”
Family: ” I have a beautiful, loving wife, Danyell, and four kids. Gavin, Benson, Luci Kate, and Emmett.”
Why did you pursue your career?
“I got into the fire service because I wanted to be there to help people. I want to be the bright light for people in their time of darkness. The fire service is a very humbling and rewarding job to have. I love being able to lend a helping hand when someone is having a bad day. It is also an amazing feeling to give back to the community I call home. ”
What are your duties as deputy fire chief and fire marshal?
“I act as second in charge behind the Fire Chief (Dave Bruner). In the event of his absence, I take on his responsibilities as well. On fire scenes, I am incident commander. I control the scene and make sure the fire crews have all the resources they need. I also get my hands dirty when they need some extra help. The fire marshal side of the job I handle a lot of the inspections for businesses being built or remodeled. Reviewing plans to make sure they follow the building codes we are currently under and following the fire and life safety code as well.”
What services does the FS Fire Department provide for the city?
“The Fort Scott Fire Department provides many services for the city and citizens. We provide a rescue truck that covers the entire county. That truck provides rescue services for entrapment, water rescue and vehicle extrication countywide. The rescue truck responds and assists Bourbon County EMS within the city limits for ambulance calls. We may also assist in the county if specifically requested by EMS for our service. We also provide fire protection for the citizens in the city limits. We do have mutual aid agreements with Scott Township we will provide water and manpower if requested. The Fire Department also runs the third out ambulance when the other two ambulances are on calls. Outside of the medical and fire services, we provide many other services as well. We provide fire prevention for all of the schools public and private for the month of October. We offer smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for citizens. We provide fire extinguisher training classes for citizens as well as CPR classes. There are many services we provide that may go unnoticed.”
Anything new on the horizon?
“The fire service is always evolving. We have been blessed this year with many new pieces of equipment. We were able to upgrade our old rescue equipment to brand new battery-powered equipment from the Mercy Foundation. We also received a grant to upgrade our 20-year-old air packs to new MSA air packs. We upgraded from our 1992 Firetruck and was able to get a new Pierce Pumper to serve the community for 20+ years with. Finally, we were able to get a grant to help cover half the cost of a major purchase in replacing our aerial ladder truck. We should receive it next year. We are upgrading from our 1993 E-One Ladder 75’ to a Pierce 100’ ascendant tower with many safety upgrades for our firefighters. All of this new equipment will help and assist our firefighters in performing their jobs to the public at the highest level.”
There is a current surge of COVID-19 in the world and in Bourbon County. Those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms have several options to choose from for testing for the disease.
Fortscott.biz contacted five area medical agencies to look at their requirements and costs for testing.
Requirements are very similar, and most costs are covered by insurance, the government CARES Act or other means.
The return time to receive the results back varies in each facility.
Here are the results:
SEK Urgent Care, Pittsburg
From Angie Andrew, administrative assistant for Dr. Brent Cosens and PA Michele Cosens.
Requirements: call the Bourbon County Health Department
Cost: $125
How long for results?
One-half hour
Girard Medical Center
From Girard Medical Center’s CEO Ruth Duling:
Requirements:
* a physician’s order to be tested for COVID-19.
*a call to their laboratory for an appointment.
How long for results?
* within 24 hours.
Cost?
* most health plans cover the COVID-19 test.
“We will make every concession possible for an uninsured patient,” Duling said.
Community Health Center
From Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas Communications and Marketing Manager Robert Poole:
Requirements:
* individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms,
*those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19.
“A close contact is defined as any individual who was within six feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to positive specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated,” Poole said. “It is recommended for persons with close contact exposure to wait five to seven days following their exposure to be tested, for improved test accuracy.”
* $140, however, the cost of patient testing is being covered by the CARES act, currently.
How long for results?
* 14 days, “with the number now decreasing.”
On the horizon for CHC:
“In another two weeks, we expect to be doing in-house molecular testing using Abbott ID Now testing equipment which delivers results in 30 minutes or less, with a capacity of up to 1000 tests per week, system-wide. We ordered this equipment very early in the pandemic and have been waiting since for it to arrive.”
Why do results take a while?
“Across the country, the very high demand for Covid-19 tests exhausted many lab’s physical capacity, (manpower, equipment, logistics) as well as their abilities to obtain raw testing supplies,” according to the CHC press release. “That issue continues, see the latest from Quest Diagnostics, who has processed more than 100 million tests to date. https://newsroom.questdiagnostics.com/COVIDTestingUpdates”
“General tips:
For people with medical conditions and older adults
Older adults and people of any age with medical conditions like lung disease, heart disease, or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 and should seek care as soon as symptoms start.
Separate yourself from other people in your home.
Stay in a specific room away from others and use a separate bathroom if you can. Do not share personal household items. Wear a mask and maintain 6ft. distance if you need to interact with others.
Stay home except to get medical care.
People who are mildly ill are able to isolate at home. Rest, stay hydrated andmonitor your symptoms carefully. If your symptoms get worse, seek medical care. Call before you go to prevent others from being exposed.
Wash your hands often & avoid touching your face.
Wash frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, and before eating or preparing food. If soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your face.
Designate someone to clean high-touch surfaces every day.
Clean counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, phones, keyboards and bedside tables. Use diluted bleach solutions (4 teaspoons per quart of water), alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol or most common EPA-registered household disinfectants.”
Nevada Regional Medical Center
Holly Bush, Chief Quality Officer, Quality and Compliance at NRMC, Nevada MO provided the following:
Requirements:
* a doctor’s order sent to NRMC lab or
*participate in workplace screening if workplace has made the decision to screen.
Cost?
*”No cost…insurance or if uninsured, through…. recent legislative acts.”
How long for results?
* 3-5 days, in a few instances up to 8 days.
“Right now … within 48 hours but there is not a guarantee of this. If you sign up for the patient portal, you will get your results at the moment we have them.”
How long are the results good for?
“That is a good question with a long answer.
The CDC states if you test negative for COVID 19 by a viral test, you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected.
However, that does not mean you will not get sick.
The test result only means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing.
You might test negative if the sample was collected early in your infection and test positive later during your illness.
You could also be exposed to COVID-19 after the test and get infected then.
Technically a negative test ONLY means you aren’t actively shedding virus at the time you were swabbed. It’s possible you were infected but not far enough into the infection to be shedding virus, which is why guidelines for asymptomatic patients call for waiting at least 72 hours after known exposures before testing.
And of course, any exposure after being tested means you could be infected.”
From Kayla Stewart, RN, Manager of Ascension Via Christi Emergency Department in Fort Scott.
Requirements:
* a physician’s order
Testing dates and times are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10-11 a.m. The order for testing must be received before 9:30 a.m. to get tested the same day.
Cost?
*insurance
How long before test results?
* 24-72 hours. “Most of ours have been coming back within a day.”
While waiting for the results what are people to do?
“POST EXPOSURE to COVID-19 TESTING
If you have been tested for COVID-19 because you were directly exposed to someone with COVID-19 you will need to continue to quarantine for the 14 days from last exposure even if your initial test is negative. (Definition to Quarantine is below) Those with symptoms and are tested, they should isolate for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms and fever free for 72 hours without fever-reducing medication even if their test is negative.
COVID-19 TESTING NO KNOWN EXPOSURE
If you have not been exposed and have not traveled to an area that is a high risk according to CDC.gov and you are negative you will not need to continue to quarantine. This however does not mean you cannot get COVID-19 and you will still need to take precautions against this illness. See cdc.gov for how to prevent COVID-19. Those with symptoms and are tested, they should isolate for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms and fever free for 72 hours without fever-reducing medication even if their test is negative
COVID-19 TESTING POST TRAVEL EXPOSURE
If you travel to an area that is a high risk for COVID-19 per cdc.gov listing and you are an essential employee, you may go to work only per your workplace regulation and with a mask on and monitoring symptoms per KDHE recommendations. (these recommendations are subject to change) If you are not an essential employee a 14-day quarantine after a return is required by KDHE. Those with symptoms and are tested, they should isolate for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms and fever free for 72 hours without fever-reducing medication even if their test is negative.
PRE-SURGICAL TESTING
If you were tested for COVID-19 Pre-op you will Quarantine up to your surgery day to prepare for surgery and limit the risk of exposure to COVID prior to surgery. If you are positive you will be notified, and all non-emergent surgeries may be postponed until COVID-19 is cleared. Those with symptoms and are tested, they should isolate for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms and fever free for 72 hours without fever-reducing medication even if their test is negative and let your provider know.
Testing can take up to 2-3 days for completion or longer depending on lab volumes.”
For more informationon how to care at home and clean:
Rebecca Johnson, administrator of Bourbon County Health Department sent the following info.
To clarify terms:
Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.
“WHEN SHOULD I STAY HOME?
After you have been tested for COVID-19, until told otherwise by the County Health Department
If you have been in close contact with a confirmed positive COVID-19 case, until told otherwise by the County Health Department
If you are feeling sick
If your Doctor or the County Health Department has instructed you to do so
WHEN SHOULD I GO BACK OUT IN PUBLIC AFTER ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE?
When you have been instructed to do so by your County Health Department
HOW LONG COULD MY ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE LAST?
If you are in isolation because you were tested POSITIVE for COVID-19, your isolation time is a minimum of 10 days after onset of symptoms or testing date (if onset unclear or asymptomatic). You can be released from isolation after fever free and asymptomatic for at least 72 hours. Release from isolation is up to the County Health Department.
If you are a household contact of a positive COVID-19 case, you must quarantine for a minimum of 24 days. Release from quarantine is up to the County Health Department.
If you are a non-household contact of a positive COVID-19 case, you must quarantine for 14 days from the date of last contact with the positive case. Release from quarantine is up to the County Health Department.
You may contact your County Health Department by calling:
Torrie Singmaster, 24, is a new first-grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.
She earned her Bachelor of Art in Elementary Education from Ottawa University.
She has bee a paraprofessional educator and substitute teacher for USD 234 for three years.
Singmaster’s hometown is Fort Scott.
Her family includes her husband, Dakota, and two sons, William, 3, and Tyson, 1.
In her free time, Singmaster likes going on vacation to Branson, golfing, and taking their boys new places.
“I also coach girls basketball at Fort Scott Middle School,” she said.
How did you become an educator?
“I started subbing at Winfield Scott and fell in love with the school and students. I completed my degree this past May thru Ottawa University while working for the school district as a paraprofessional and coach.”
Is there someone who inspired you to teach?
“I honestly can say the students I started working with inspired me to teach. I always loved school and had many great teachers that I can look up to. I also wanted a career that I could make a difference in children’s lives and be able to be there for my little family.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“I love being able to make connections with students. I have worked with many different ages over the last three years. Elementary-aged students are so full of life and joy. Seeing them so excited about learning makes me excited every day to walk into my classroom. I can’t wait to see each student get to the point where they are growing in their confidence as a student and as a person.”
What are the greatest challenges?
“The greatest challenge as a first-year teacher this year is definitely the unknowns. Being a first-year teacher during a pandemic is not something you learn during college. I am so blessed to have the support from my family and my school family. The staff at Winfield Scott and USD 234 are amazing and I cannot wait to start and continue my journey as an educator in Fort Scott.”
