Bourbon County has six cases.
“The reason the number of cases went from 7 to 6 is because one of the positive cases was living in Bourbon County, but was actually a resident of Woodson County, KS. So, now Woodson County has 5, where they had 4 cases,” according to Rebecca Johnson, administrator of Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department.
For a complete report click below:
https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/921/4-21-20-update-numbers
Uniontown’s school district began a continuous learning plan to allow students to learn from home during the nationwide closure of schools, due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Last week, a parent’s story of how the learning plan was working was published on FortScott.Biz.
This feature is from a teacher’s view.
Rose Gauthier teaches kindergarten at West Bourbon Elementary School.
Following is an interview by email from Gauthier.
When did the USD235 Continuous Learning Plan begin?
“We began Thursday, April 2nd with a practice run with the parents and students to work out kinks. We started our remote learning officially on Monday, April 6th. We will finish on Tuesday, May 19th.”
How much daily planning do you have for the classes?
“A lot. A teacher’s job has never been a 9:00 to 5:00 job, but even more so with this new way of teaching. It is hard to put a certain time frame on all the work the teachers, administration, and staff have put into it. From getting devices into student’s hands, the tech department working out tech issues for teachers and parents, and teachers creating different ways to teach their students with this new way of learning.”
Did you get together as a group of teachers and decide what the most important things to teach are?
“Yes. The school began with many “Zoom” meetings that included administration and teachers, with guidance from KSDE, to determine the best way to reach the kids.”
(Zoom provides users with a cloud (internet) platform for video and audio conferencing, collaboration, chat, and webinars across mobile devices, desktops, telephones, and room systems, according to the Zoom website).
“I create a meeting on Zoom and send the parents an invite.,” she said. “The students click on a link and have a password to log in.”
“Our focus, as for many schools, is primarily the social and emotional spirit of the kids. This is a difficult and confusing time for them and many of the kids do not understand what is going on, especially at the primary levels. Letting them know that we are here for them, we miss and love them. Academically we are focusing on maintaining what the kids have already learned and limited new material to the essential outcomes that were agreed upon as a team”
Do you teach from home or do you go to school?
“Both, the less I need from my classroom the more I teach from home. I go in once or twice a week.”
Have you seen any good come out of this difficult situation of not having the students in a classroom?
“Out of every bad situation, something good always comes out of it. Nothing will replace the social and emotional aspects of being together in the learning environment. The hugs, the high fives, being right beside them to guide them in their learning.”
“This situation has given us the appreciation of each other, the parents an opportunity to be a bigger part of the learning experience, and for all of us to step back and remember what is really important in life. And mostly, we get reminded of what a great community we have. We couldn’t do this without the support of great parents.”
What are some of the challenges?
“The biggest challenge is not seeing the kids every day. Adjusting to remote learning and tech issues are some other challenges, which gets easier as we go along. Also, reaching those kids without internet access is a challenge.”
How do you grade the kindergartners in this new plan?
“In Kindergarten we don’t give a traditional letter grade. We use checklists to provide feedback to parents about where the students are academically. During this time, we will still focus on those checklist skills while understanding that we will need to be prepared to provide the needed remediation to students at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.”
“The district has worked together to provide a similar learning experience for all students, but obviously this looks slightly different based on the grade, content, teaching style, etc.”
Just like many of you, I’m having difficulty wrapping my mind around how quickly our lives have changed in a very short period of time. Seeing the panic and chaos that’s happening around us can be concerning. Now more than ever, it might be the time for folks to think about becoming more self-sufficient and grow some of their own food.
I have been in contact with a couple of our local suppliers and have seen social media posts that they are stocked with garden seed and supplies. Like many other local retailers, I know they are willing to work with you if you do not feel comfortable going inside the business. Just give them a call and arrange for outside pick-up.
If you are reading this and thinking to yourself that you have never grown anything in your life and just don’t think it’s possible, let me assure you that it is possible. Even for the most novice! You might be thinking that you don’t have space for a garden, or maybe you don’t have a tiller or other equipment. Don’t let that stop you because almost all vegetables can be grown in containers.
The containers don’t have to be anything fancy. Literally, anything that can hold soil and have drain holes drilled in the bottom can be used. Containers that are 16 to 24 inches in diameter work well. Containers less that 12 inches are probably too small – except for lettuces. The most important component of growing vegetables in a container is getting the right potting media. Potting mixes are ideal (instead of soil from your yard). The components are lightweight and hold water and oxygen much better. Make certain that you don’t forget to drill some drainage holes into the bottom of the container.
Fertilizer should be added at planting time and mixed into the soil. If you want to go the organic route, mix blood meal or bone meal into the soil before planting. If you use a synthetic fertilizer, add a slow-release type when preparing the container.
Another benefit to growing vegetables in containers – you don’t have to fight the weather quite as much. Right now, traditional garden soils are way too wet to even think about planting. But with the container system, you can keep them dry inside a garage until you are ready to plant.
Early spring is the ideal time to plant cool season vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, radish, onions, carrots and potatoes. All can be easily grown in containers, even potatoes!
Gardening is a great stress reliever. It also allows for good social distancing. If you have kids at home, gardening is the perfect activity to get them outside to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine, all while learning at the same time!
Here’s where I come in. I have lots of resource material to help you. In addition, I’m always available by phone, e-mail or social media to answer your questions. Don’t be afraid to ask! In Extension, we say there are no “dumb” questions! I am here to help you in any way that I can. The Extension mission continues. We are committed to being innovative to connect you with research-based resources and education. We appreciate your patience as we all navigate the challenges associated with this time.
Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Highway construction projects are continuing across the state with modified work practices. And as always, work zone safety is a top priority for the Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Turnpike Authority and partner organizations. Unfortunately, there are oftentimes close calls in work zones.
KDOT Equipment Operator Specialist Kent Portenier, from the Phillipsburg office, realized a vehicle traveling through a work zone did not see him.
“I took off towards the ditch just as the driver hit the corner of the stopped pickup,” Portenier said. “The driver also swerved into the ditch and fortunately missed hitting me as I was running to safety.”
KTA Structures Worker Caleb Provo, from the Wichita office, was in a dump truck during a striping operation when he saw a semi traveling in the wrong lane.
“There was no way the driver could stop in time, and he tried to – unsuccessfully – squeeze between me and the barrier wall to avoid a collision,” Provo said. “Ultimately, the semi driver ended up crashing into the back end of my attenuator.”
Portenier, Provo and others are sharing their stories this week as part of a blog series to help illustrate the importance of work zone safety. Read all the blogs here –www.kansastransportation.blogspot.com.
“Close calls are all too common for highway workers, law enforcement and emergency responders who are serving the public,” said KDOT State Transportation Engineer Burt Morey. “It’s imperative that all drivers make paying attention and focusing on the road their main priorities every time they get in a vehicle.”
National Work Zone Awareness Week, which is April 20-24, raises awareness of the dangers highway workers and motorists face in work zones. Last year in Kansas, 1,420 work zone crashes occurred in which 437 people were injured and seven people were killed. A few locations around the state will be lit in orange to highway work zone safety, such as the Amelia Earhart Memorial bridge in Atchison.
For more information about work zone safety in Kansas, go to KDOT’s website, www.ksdot.org, and click on the work zone safety slide.
Bourbon County has six cases.
Corrected:
“The reason the number of cases went from 7 to 6 is because one of the positive cases was living in Bourbon County, but was actually a resident of Woodson County, KS. So, now Woodson County has 5, where they had 4 cases,” according to Rebecca Johnson, administrator of Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department.
https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/912/4-20-20-update-numbers
Why participate in completing the census?
According to the census website: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/2020-census/about/why.html
Here are the reasons:
Federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities are based on population totals and breakdowns by sex, age, race and other factors. Your community benefits the most when the census counts everyone. When you respond to the census, you help your community gets its fair share of the more than $675 billion per year in federal funds spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs.
A post from the Kansas Dept. of Commerce explains some more detail of why it is important for rural areas to send back the census forms:
The current census response rates compared to the state and national average and Bourbon County were pulled together by Madison.
The response rates:
National- 48.6%
State- 53.3%
Bourbon County- 45%
City of Fort Scott- 46.8%
“Becki Roberts is our local ‘on the ground’ contact for the census leading the local census takers, etc.,” Madison said.
Online, phone and mailed self-responses will continue throughout the data collection process, according to information provided by Madison.
In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau is adjusting 2020 Census operations in order to:
Under the adjusted 2020 Census operational plan, field activities would resume after June 1, 2020, as Area Census Offices begin returning to full staff capacity.
Extended Time To Collect Data
For more info: 2020census.gov
The world-wide COVID 19 Pandemic has been dealt with by state-of-emergency declarations and a stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of the disease.
Now governments are making plans for economic recovery.
Yesterday, President Trump spoke of his plan.
“Last night President Trump announced ‘Guidelines Opening Up America Again’,” Jody Hoenor, Bourbon County’s Economic Development Director, said in an email. “The President’s plan mirrors the Bourbon County Framework and Roadmap we have created to prepare. We are in phase one.”
To view the President’s plan, click here:
“Governor Kelly has said in a daily briefing, implementation of plans will be county-by-county,” Hoenor said.
Bourbon County Commissioners approved a framework, a beginning of a plan, at their meeting on April 14, proposed by Hoenor.
“The most prominent plan widely used that outlines a phased approach is called National Coronavirus Response: A Road Map to Recovery by the American Enterprise Institute,” Hoener said in a press release.
“The phase we are in right now is called ‘Slow the Spread,'” Hoenor said. “Experts are saying to move on we must see a slowed rate of infection and our healthcare infrastructure must be scaled up to safely manage the outbreak and care for the sick.”
“Today, nationwide, healthcare workers who have been exposed to COVID-19 are contracting the virus and are dying,” she said. “To scale up our healthcare infrastructure, the framework identifies the need to put in place technology, for today’s pandemic as well as the need for if/when the outbreak of COVID-19 should rise again.”
Government planning for the transition to opening-up the economy should begin now, Hoenor said.
The framework of the county plan:
1. Technology:” Experts are saying for us to have the ability for screening and data collection, technology (like a phone app) for healthcare providers and other essential front line workers is a must,” Hoenor said.
The frontline workers are the healthcare workforce, ambulance crews and law enforcement officers.
2. Testing and Test Kits: “Testing accessible for those who meet the criteria for testing,” she said.
“Those are the framework, the skeleton, to have in place to move forward,” she said. “Where the access is, who the partners are, how it will be funded, and the details of the equipment are to be developed like a working document. We have developed the framework… to facilitate a path forward.”
Many chambers of commerce, cities, counties, and state governments are working on plans, Hoenor said.
“We have to have a starting point, and this is our starting point” Bourbon County Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah, said, in a press release. “This is a long-term process. Our team does an extraordinary amount of data mining and researching expert advice. We do not have a timeline, but we know what the triggers are to move to the next phase.”
History
On March 14, 2020, Bourbon County Commission declared a state of disaster as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a press release from Hoenor.
On March 26, 2020 the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department Officer Rebecca Johnson issued an order to stay at home.
Since that time there has been measurable progress at the county level, building a framework and preparing for when Governor Kelly tells Kansans we can reopen, according to the press release.
“Bourbon County Commissioners acted swiftly in declaring an emergency existed in the county,” Hoenor said. “This resulted in opening doors to federal resources.”
Additionally, Bourbon County Emergency Management Director Will Wallis has worked to keep the local frontline healthcare workers safe with the necessary personal protective equipment, (PPE), she said.
“Available relief has been communicated through Facebook, email, radio, webinars, and hosting teleconference meetings with state-level government officials such as with David Toland our Secretary of Commerce,” Hoenor said.
On April 14, Hoener presented the commission the framework to move forward, with all three commissioners voicing full support.
Life is different since the COVID 19 Pandemic has gripped the world.
People are staying home to prevent the spread of the virus, some businesses have closed, and parents are helping teachers with student’s learning at home.
One such parent is Christal Martin of Uniontown.
Christal and her husband, Seth, have two sons, Caden, 5, and Casen, 4.
Caden attended West Bourbon Elementary School and is in Rose Gauthier’s kindergarten class.
He and little brother Casen are learning from the USD 235 Continuous Learning Plan.
“I have been really impressed with USD 235 and Mrs. Gauthier,” Martin said. “Getting technology in the kids’ hands, giving technical support and also getting food to our kid’s communities.”
For her, the best part of the continuous learning plan that the school district USD 235 has is “Being able to have hands-on in Caden’s education. I have really enjoyed it, once we’ve gotten into a routine,” Martin said.
A challenge for her is learning all the different applications that are available online for the continuous education plan.
Her solution?
“In the evening, I play on the app so I’ll be ready to go the next day,” she said.
Caden received an IPad from the school district for use at home.
On Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Caden has a Zoom call at 9:30 a.m. from Mrs. Gauthier.
On Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Physical Education Teacher Jackie Hall and Music Teacher Rhonda Allen give lessons.
Art Teacher Chris Woods prerecords a video of art projects then posts it as an assignment in Google Classroom for students to do.
“The Zoom call is 30 minutes,” Martin said. “We’ve read books, done science lessons, interviewed another student in their class and afterward in a journal they will describe the student.”
Other resources are used throughout the day with reading and math the main focus,” Martin said.
“We spend about three and a half to four hours each day,” Martin said. “The state recommends 45 minutes a day. I don’t want him to get behind. We do a lot of extras. We want to keep them learning and not have them stall, in my opinion.”
“It’s been a learning curve,” Martin said. “It’s adjusting to take care of both of their learning. I’ve been homeschooling Casen, too.
After 32 years as principal of Fort Scott Christian Heights and 14 years as a teacher before that, Terry Chance is retiring as of June 1.
Chance, 70, says his becoming an educator was a process of time.
“I felt like God wanted me to be involved full-time in a Christian ministry,” he said. “I got into music education and have been in education ever since.”
“John Page was our pastor and principal of Christian Heights and was my mentor,” Chance said. “He is my hero.”
Chance said he loves the interaction with students.
“It has been a thrill when they understand what you teach,” he said.
For him, seeing students go on from Christian Heights to serve their family, their community and their church, “That’s success,” he said.
The biggest challenge in his career has been the current pandemic that has closed down all schools in the nation.
“We are trying to figure out how to help our students right now,” Chance said.
Chance said he made up his mind to retire last summer and told the FSCH Board of Education in September.
The board has hired Larry Davolt as the new principal.
Davolt has been a science teacher at the school for 28 years.
Continuous Learning plans at USD234 were started the week of March 30, Superintendent Ted Hessong said.
“Each building rolled their plans out gradually throughout the week,” Hessong said.
“Since school buildings are closed for the remainder of the school year (following stay-at-home orders during the pandemic), school districts needed to come up with a way to provide continuous learning for our students to help them not only academically but also socially,” he said.
” Our principals worked with their Building Leadership Teams using the Continuous Learning Plans guidance from the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE),” he said. ” KSDE collaborated with teachers from all across the state of Kansas to help create these guidance documents to assist school districts. After meeting with their leadership teams, they then worked with the rest of their staff to create the Continuous Learning Plans.”
“Most of the teachers are teaching from home,” Hessong said. “We do have a few staff members who are working from their classrooms to provide Continuous Learning to our students.”
Each school building’s personnel contacted every student to see what they needed to be able to participate in Continuous Learning, he said and based on the feedback each received from the students, the staff worked to provide the necessary materials to be able to participate.
Grading for the new plan will be different.
” With the implementation of our Continuous Learning plans each building is handling grades a little different,” Hessong said. “Each building is keeping in mind what is in the best interest of our students during these uncharted waters of what school looks like today. Our teachers and administrators are demonstrating grace and understanding for all students to do what is best for our students.”
Hessong is thankful, he said.
“I want to thank all of our staff for their help to implement our Continuous Learning plans and our foodservice and support staff in providing meals for the students in our communities. With the assistance of our communities, the county, Kansas State Department of Education, Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Southeast Kansas Health Department it has allowed our school district to navigate these uncharted waters to make the most of this health crisis.”
The annual Fort Scott event of Good Ol’ Days, the first weekend in June, will not happen this year.
The event is provided by donations from local businesses and individuals, Shawn O’Brien, chairman of the Good Ol’ Days committee, said.
“With everything that has happened (the effects of the pandemic stay-at-home orders), with people losing their jobs and businesses going under, we didn’t feel we could ask for donations,” O’Brien said.
The group met last week, and made the decision then.
Members of the committee are O’Brien; Melissa Wise, treasurer; Cheryl Van Hoecke, treasurer; Tim Van Hoecke, in charge of vendors; Kayla Hall, secretary; Charlotte Thompson, in charge of logistics; Kelsey DeMott and ShayLynn Clements, in charge of kids activities and Janet Braun, “the guiding light,” O’Brien said.
The group meets monthly following the annual event, except July, to plan all the components that make up Good Ol’ Days.
Vendor registration, donations drive, putting entertainment in place, securing a carnival contract, planning kids activities are the tasks that require months of planning.
Next year the organizing committee will facilitate the event on June 4-5, 2021.
The theme, Family, Friends and Fun, will be held for next years Good Ol’ Days celebration.
“It would’ve been 40 years this year, we’ll celebrate the 40 years next year,” O’Brien said.
As temperatures begin to warm up, this spring, you may begin to notice an increase in insect populations. Now is a good time to consider what fly control measures you may want to put into practice for your cow herd.
Flies are irritating to cattle, and cause loses in performance and weight gain. Fortunately for farmers and ranchers, there are a variety of options for fly control. You can select from pour on insect control measures, foggers, ear tags, and insecticides in livestock feed. It is easy to find an option that will work well in your own farming or ranching operation.
Foggers are a good way to regularly get close to your cattle, and get them accustomed to human interaction. Pour on insect control works well if you also need to control lice. Ear tags and feed products are popular options. These choices are popular on many farms and ranches, but there are some considerations to be made when choosing either of these two options.
With ear tags, it’s very important to choose a tag with a different active ingredient, each year. Continually using the same ear tags will quickly cause resistance in localized fly populations. When working cattle during the fall, it is very important to remove the the old fly control ear tags, and dispose of them in a closed container. Leaving old tags laying around, or in your cow’s ears, may also cause long term resistance issues.
With feed through insecticides (products mixed directly in feed or mineral mixes), you need to be able to begin feeding before flies become a problem. Also, you need to be able to feed these products consistently throughout the season. Inconsistent feeding patterns, or using feed through products after the occurrence of high fly populations, will decrease their effectiveness.
This summer, K-State Research and Extension will begin year three of a research project to determine if all-natural spice products included in livestock mineral have effective fly control properties. This ongoing project is taking place at the Kansas State University Bressner Pasture, located in the Southwind Extension District near Yates Center, Kansas. These proprietal spice mixes often include things like garlic, cloves or cinnamon. It will be exciting to see if these mineral products can be successfully included into a farmer or ranchers fly control tool box!
