All posts by Loretta George

Bourbon County, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office

Slick Roads Today

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Sleet on streets and roads make driving difficult today..
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to be cautious driving, according to its’ Facebook page.
The office states that roads are slick and one can stay updated on road conditions by visiting the KanDrive website: www.kandrive.org 
KanDrive
kandrive.org
KanDrive
Reports regarding traffic incidents, winter road conditions, traffic cameras, active and planned construction, etc.
Bourbon County, COVID-19, Health Care

Uniontown Health Clinic Moving Forward To Open in 2021

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The building for the medical clinic is south of the Uniontown High School Football Field.

Uniontown will soon have a health clinic.

The small town in western Bourbon County, population approximately 300, is 20 miles away from health care in Fort Scott and 25 miles from Iola, the two largest towns with clinics nearby.

 

Spearheaded by Uniontown Ruritan, and the vision of several members of the community, the Uniontown health clinic is a collaboration of Ruritan, USD 235 School District, the Bourbon County Commission, the City of Uniontown and Girard Medical Center.

To see a prior fortscott.biz story on the clinic, click below:

Uniontown Collaboration: New Health Clinic Coming

Girard Medical Clinic, Girard, Ks. Photo from its’ website.

“We at GMC want to partner with the local community there in Uniontown to offer primary care services for an area where it is difficult to access those services currently,” Ruth Duling, Girard Medical Center CEO said.

The project is moving forward quicker since receiving U.S. coronavirus emergency funds which is distributed locally through the Bourbon County SPARK program. That program is to spur on the Kansas economy following the devastating effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) grant was applied for by Uniontown’s school district, which owns the property for the health clinic. The building is the former superintendent’s office.

Mark Warren, Uniontown Ruritan member, opens the door of the medical clinic building just south of the Uniontown High School football field.

“The school district applied for SPARK funding because the property to be renovated for use as the clinic,  belongs to the school,” Duling said.

“Completion will be after the first of the year,” Duling said. ” I don’t have any idea yet on a date when the clinic will be fully operational.  Since the renovation stage is being completed by mostly volunteer work and the availability of that workforce, it’s just difficult to say until we get further in the process…the renovation is in the very early stages.”

Uniontown Ruritan MemberJoe George has taken the lead on the renovation project with input from Girard Medical Center Engineering staff Judd Pride and Pat Holt and its’ Director of Clinic Operations Candi Adams, Duling said.

 

History The Clinic

Uniontown Mayor Larry Jurgensen explored a health clinic in the town with Fort Scott Mercy Hospital, Mark Warren said.
“At the time the Marathon Valley Nursing Home shut down,” he said.
” Mercy told him they didn’t want to explore a clinic out here because we were close enough to go to Ft. Scott, but instead put clinics in Arma and Pleasanton which were approximately the same distance from Ft. Scott ,” Warren said.  “This irritated people out here. The matter was then dropped for a period of years.”
Warren then visited with Holly Koch, Chief Financial Officer of Girard Medical Center and a resident of Uniontown.
He shared with Koch about the possibility of a Girard Medical Center satellite clinic.
After Koch spoke with Duling, meetings were organized which included the City of Uniontown, Ruritan, Girard Medical Center, Senator Jerry Moran’s office, Uniontown citizens, a Pittsburg doctor, Bourbon County Commissioner Lynn O’Harah, and Bourbon County Economic Director Jodi Hoener.
When Mercy Hospital closed in Dec. 2018 things began to progress, Warren said.
“We had residents here now (who were) a longer distance from health services,” Warren said.  “Girard went to work then.  Ruth asked me and I asked Larry and Judy Jurgensen both to come with me to a Girard Hospital board meeting.  Larry gave the historical timeline of his interaction with Mercy to them of which we left that meeting feeling we had their support.  The only thing left was funding.”
“The  Uniontown Ruritan Club offered to help fundraise but as federal SPARK money became available and Jayhawk Wind ( a wind energy company) heard about it, we found we could still fundraise but possibly not have to work so hard at it.  Jayhawk and SPARK money was the final piece of the puzzle to get this project finally started and going and to make a Uniontown clinic a reality.”
Jayhawk Wind contributed a $20,000 grant to help fund the Uniontown Clinic, which will also serve the towns in nearby communities, according to its’ website: http://www.jayhawkwind.com/
The SPARK Grant was for $88,000, according to Warren.

 

 

 

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Pioneer Kiwanis Initiates Collaboration For Community Friendship Swing

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A photo of a Friendship Swing, much like the Fort Scott Pioneer Kiwanis are collaborating with others to install in a Fort Scott park in 2021. Submitted photo.

Fort Scott Pioneer Kiwanis, a service organization helping the children of Bourbon County, has started a project in memory of a longtime member.

A Pioneer Kiwanis meeting, taken from its’ Facebook page.

The Joyce True Memorial Project for children began following the passing of True in July 2019, according to a press release sent by Gayle Sackett and Kelley Collins, spokespeople for the group.

Collins is secretary for the organization, Sackett is a board member.

“The club began looking for a suitable project to honor her that would benefit children of the community. The Friendship Swing seemed to meet the criteria.”

“The multi-user, one size fits all swing offers a unique opportunity for area children and families to engage in healthy outdoor play together and help youth to develop and a variety of physical and social skills,” according to the press release.

Funding for the project was multi-faceted.

“To supplement the memorial, the club decided to contribute money that had been raised previously for playground equipment. They applied for and received a grant from the Kiwanis Kansas District Foundation. Lastly, they partnered with the City of Fort Scott and jointly applied for a Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Grant.”

That FSACF grant, awarding of a generous $2,000, allowed the project to be on track for a completion date in spring 2021.

The project is truly a community collaboration.

The group will also need hands-on volunteer involvement when the installation begins.

The swing will be located in an agreed-upon location in a Fort Scott park.

To learn more about the company that makes the chair:

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Fort Scott, Government

Dave Martin Retires As City Manager, Effective Oct. 30, 2020

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Dave Martin

Dave Martin, Fort Scott City’s Manager retired today, with an effective date of  Oct. 30, 2020. He was hired as city manager in August 2010.

According to the retirement/severance contract provided by the City of Fort Scott, Martin through the remainder of 2020  will receive his full rate of salary, $4,133.60 bi-weekly.

Martin will remain on the city health plan until Dec. 2021, also according to the document, which can be viewed below:

DOC102120-10212020134903

 

To see a prior story on Martin, click below:

City Commission Approves Raise For Martin

 

 

Bourbon County, Elections, Government

Advance Voting Up in Kansas and in Bourbon County

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American Flags and Pins on White Background

The number of advance voting ballots mailed out for the Kansas 2020 General Election has sharply increased, according to The Kansas City Star newspaper dated Oct. 15.

“The state said it was shipping 456,148 advance ballots this year, way beyond the 133,822 in 2016 and 128,220 in 2018.

“Democrats so far have had the highest mail-in ballot turnout. Officials reported that among ballots received, 1,261 were from those affiliated as Democrats, followed by Republicans (556), unaffiliated voters (549) and Libertarians (17).”

“On Day 1 of early voting Wednesday, (Oct. 15) Kansans returned more than triple the number of mail-in ballots sent in 2016, according to the Secretary of State’s office.”

“Officials reported 2,383 ballots sent back as of Wednesday. That’s three times the 771 after the first day of mail-in voting in 2016 and 423 in 2018.”

“The Secretary of State’s office explained in a subsequent Tweet that the ballots returned thus far are from military personnel and overseas citizens, who are sent ballots beginning 45 days prior to the election.”

To see the entire story, click below:

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article246473700.html

 

In Bourbon County to date,  there have been 432 advance in-person voters with two weeks left until the Nov. 3 election, according to Clerk Kendell Mason.

“We have mailed 970 ballots and 376 have been returned,” Mason said.

 

Kendell Mason. Submitted photo.

 

In the 2019 general election, there were  493 total in-person advance voters, she said.

 

“Advance voters put their voted ballots in a machine that counts their votes, but we will not know the results of those votes until we close down the machine on November 3rd,” Mason said.

Voters took advantage of advance voting at the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office.

 

 

 

Art, Business, Fort Scott

Family of Eight Moves Into the Beaux-Arts Centre

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The Bowman Family moved into the Beaux-Arts Centre. Submitted photo.
Before March 2020, the Bowman family was quite content living in North Kansas City in a wonderful neighborhood, Lorina Bowman said.  “I accidentally came across the Beaux-Arts Centre on Zillow ( a real estate website) and saw a lot of potential. “
The Beaux-Arts Centre, 102 S. National Ave, is next door to the post office.
“When my husband saw it, he was also excited,” she said.
They set up several appointments with the owners to view the property.
” We tried to talk ourselves out of it because the building needs to be updated quite a bit, but every con was able to be twisted into a pro,” she said.  They prayed and feel God led them to purchase the property.

The family plans to open a museum with interactive components and call it Exploratorium.

“It’s always been a dream of ours to open a business that would incorporate all of my family’s hobbies and talents,” Lorina said.  “The fact that my family is able to live on the top floor while we build the museum is the only way our vision is possible.”

“We will have fun, unique exhibits that all ages will enjoy, such as; Barbie, Model Trains, Lego, and more,” Lorina said. “We will have play structures and other hands-on activities. The building will also include a gift shop and eventually a snack bar. We are most excited about our classroom which is where we will host workshops and clubs to really get the community involved in teaching, learning and exploring new hobbies and talents.”

The Bowman Family is comprised of Johnathan, a computer programmer who works from home since leaving California in June 2017. “He is excited to learn new handyman skills as he tackles different projects in the building,”  Lorina said.
Lorina is a stay-at-home mom but loves to make crafts to sell at fairs and is excited to have a full-time gift shop to sell all the creations she’s made over the years, she said.
She’s also happy she can put on events to “appease her overzealous party planning passion,” she said.
Marshall is 15  years old and enjoys creating Electonic Dance Music on the computer and building weapons out of polyvinyl chloride pipe.
Vivian is 13 and loves Harry Potter, Legos, and reading.
Theodore is almost 11 and a master at creating obstacle courses and unique games for his siblings to play, Lorina said.
Lawrence is 9 and can fold origami for hours and keep his family laughing with his humor, she said.
 Adelaide is 4 and does her best to keep up with the rest of the family, she said.
The youngest is  Harriet, 2, who has the cutest smile and curls, Lorina said.
The timeline for the project is undetermined.
“The timeline really depends on the community,” Lorina said. ” My husband and my dad have been doing a lot of the projects tackled so far. If left to our own devices we could eventually open our doors to the public but it would be years in the making. Why wait that long? “
“With enough community support through funding and volunteer labor we could open as early as next spring and then ALL generations could come together to enjoy our Exploratorium,” she said.
Follow the project on Facebook @ Fort Scott Exploratorium to find out how you can help and see what they have accomplished and what currently working on.
Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Special Meeting Agenda For Oct. 21

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

Date: October 21, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

 

MEETING WILL BE HELD IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BUILDING. PUBLIC MAY VIEW MEETING ON YOUTUBE.

 

7:00AM EMS (Lynne Oharah, Jeff Fischer, Clifton Beth, Justin Meeks, Will Wallis, Shane

Walker, Dave Bruner, Kayla Stewart, other hospital personnel, Rebecca Johnston, Susan Bancroft)

Bourbon County, Elections, Government

Bourbon County Ballot For Nov. 3

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COUNTY CLERK’S NOTICE OF CANDIDATES TO BE VOTED ON

AT THE GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 2020

 

State of Kansas County of Bourbon

 

In compliance with K.S.A. 25-105, and the General Election Laws of the State of Kansas, I submit herewith the list of National, State and District Candidates certified to me by the Secretary of State, and the list of those filed as candidates in Bourbon County in the forthcoming General Election to be held, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

 

And, I hereby give further notice that the election will be held in the voting places listed below in Bourbon County, Kansas, and that the polls will be opened and closed at the regular time specified by law for the conduct of elections.  All precincts in the county will open at 7:00 am and will close at 7:00 pm.

 

Sales Tax Question on the ballot:

 

To vote in favor of any question

submitted upon the ballot, darken

the oval to the left of the word

“YES”;

to vote against it, darken

the oval to the left of the word

“NO”.

 

Shall the following be adopted?

Shall Bourbon County, Kansas,

levy (renew) a one percent

countywide retailers’ sales tax to

take effect on July 1, 2021, and

expire on June 30, 2031, with the

allocated shares pursuant to

K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-192 to be

used as follows: (1) to Bourbon

County, for the purpose of

maintenance and construction of

hard surface roads, and (2) to

each city located in Bourbon

County, for the purpose of

providing funding for public

services?

 

Residents living in the City of Fort Scott vote at the following locations:

1st Ward       Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

2nd Ward       Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

3rd Ward       Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

4th Ward       Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

5th Ward       Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

6th Ward       Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

7th Ward       Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

 

Residents living out in the county vote at the following locations:

Drywood       Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

Franklin        Mapleton Community Building – 565 Eldora, Mapleton, KS

Freedom      Fulton Community Building – 408 West Osage, Fulton, KS

East Marion  Uniontown City Hall – 206 Sherman Street, Uniontown, KS

West Marion Bronson Community Building – 504 Clay Street, Bronson, KS

Marmaton     Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS

Millcreek       Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS

Osage          Fulton Community Building – 408 West Osage, Fulton, KS

Pawnee       Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS

North Scott   Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

South Scott  Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

Timberhill      Mapleton Community Building – 565 Eldora, Mapleton, KS

Walnut         Uniontown City Hall – 206 Sherman Street, Uniontown, KS

 

NATIONAL AND STATE OFFICES
For President and Vice-President of the United States
Joseph R. Biden / Kamala D. Harris 1209 Barley Mill Road

Wilmington, DE 19807

 Democratic
Donald J. Trump / Michael R. Pence                     1100 S. Ocean Blvd.

Palm Beach, FL 33480

 Republican
Jo Jorgensen / Jeremy “Spike” Cohen Greenville, SC Libertarian
For United States Senate
  Barbara Bollier 6910 Overhill Road

Mission Hills, KS 66208

 Democratic
  Roger Marshall PO Box 1588

Great Bend, KS 67530

 Republican
  Jason Buckley 8828 Marty Ln

Overland Park, KS 66212

 Libertarian
For US House of Representatives – District 2
Michelle De La Isla 3250 SW Briarwood Dr

Topeka, KS 66611

 Democratic
Jake LaTurner 2329 SW Ashworth Pl

Topeka, KS 66614

 Republican
Robert Garrard 2287 N 300 Rd

Edgerton, KS 66021

 Libertarian
Kansas Senate, District 12
Mike Bruner 1002 Pecan St.

Humboldt, KS 66748

 Democratic
Caryn Tyson PO Box 191

Parker, KS 66072

 Republican
Kansas Senate, District 13
Nancy J. Ingle 511 E. 21st

Pittsburg, KS 66762

 Democratic
Richard Hilderbrand 240 Cleveland Ave

Baxter Springs, KS 66713

 Republican
 Kansas House of Representatives, District 2
  Lynn D. Grant 202 S. Appleton

Frontenac, KS 66763

 Democratic
  Kenneth Collins 102 E First Street

Mulberry, KS 66756

 Republican
Kansas House of Representatives, District 4
  Bill Meyer 14 Golfview Drive

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Democratic
  Trevor Jacobs 1927 Locust Road

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
For County Commissioner – District 2
  Jim Harris 2302 Jayhawk Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
For County Commissioner – District 3
  Clifton Beth 2236 215th,

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
  Phillip G. Hoyt 2422 242nd Terrace

Fulton, KS 66738

 Democratic
For County Clerk
  Kendell Dawn Mason 2 S Eddy

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
For County Treasurer
  Patty Love 901 Shepherd St

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
For Register of Deeds
  Lora Holdridge 1814 Richards Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
For County Attorney
  Jacqie Spradling PO Box 576

Spring Hill, KS 66083

 Republican
For County Sheriff
  Mike Feagins 1964 Justice Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Democratic
  Bill Martin 502 Meadow Ln

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
Drywood Richard Cullison, Jr. 506 260th

Garland, KS 66741

 Republican
Franklin Tony Bradbury 631 Soldier Rd.

Bronson, KS 66716

 Republican
Freedom Janice Seested 2330 215th St.

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
Marion Steve Geiger 1121 Hwy 3

Uniontown, KS 66779

 Republican
Marmaton David Duffey 1201 Locust Rd

Redfield, KS 66769

 Republican
Millcreek Yvonne Beck 1821 159th Street

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
Osage Brian Wade 2618 Soldier Rd.

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Democratic
Pawnee Karen A. Endicott-Coyan 1635 Fern Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
Scott Jim Sackett 2019 Maple Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
Timberhill Dan Laughlin 2275 105th St.

Mapleton, KS 66754

 Republican
Walnut No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
TOWNSHIP TREASURER
Drywood No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
Franklin No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
Freedom Karen A. Paddock 608 W Cedar St.

Fulton, KS 66738

 Republican
Marion Rex Wilson 905 Clay St.

Bronson, KS 66716

 Republican
Marmaton Wilma K. Graham 102 W 4th

Redfield, KS 66769

 Democratic
Millcreek Betty L. Graham 1458 Tomahawk Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Democratic
Osage Kathleen Valentine 2638 Tomahawk Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
Pawnee Sharon Middleton 1374 Eagle Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Democratic
Scott Harold Rogers 2189 Ironwood Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 Republican
Timberhill David Scharenberg 1045 Yale Rd

Mapleton, KS 66754

 Republican
Walnut No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
 
STATE OF KANSAS OFFICIAL JUDICIAL BALLOT
Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judges, District Court Judges and District Magistrate Judge
Question #1, Shall the following Supreme Court Justice be retained in office?
Eric S. Rosen 1928 S.W. Indian Woods Ln.

Topeka, KS 66611

 Position 4
Question #2, Shall the following Court of Appeals Judges be retained in office?
Sarah E. Warner Kansas Judicial Center

301 SW 10th Ave

Topeka, KS 66612

 Position 4
David E. Bruns Olathe Position 6
G. Gordon Atcheson 301 SW 10th Ave

Topeka, KS 66612

 Position 8
Karen M. Arnold-Burger 301 SW 10th Ave

Topeka, KS 66612

 Position 9
Kathryn Gardner 301 SW 10th Ave

Topeka, KS 66612

 Position 14
 
Question #3, Shall the following Judges of the District Court be retained in office?
  Terri L Johnson PO Box 311

Pleasanton, KS 66075

 District 6, Division 2
  Mark A. Ward 829 190th St

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 District 6, Division 3

 
  Steven C. Montgomery 22404 S. Roosevelt St.

Spring Hill, KS 66083

 District 6, Division 4
 
Question #4, Shall the following Judge of the District Magistrate be retained in office?
  Valorie R. Leblanc 210 S. National

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 District 6
Shall the following be adopted?

Shall Bourbon County, Kansas,

levy (renew) a one percent

countywide retailers’ sales tax to

take effect on July 1, 2021, and

expire on June 30, 2031, with the

allocated shares pursuant to

K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-192 to be

used as follows: (1) to Bourbon

county, for the purpose of

maintenance and construction of

hard surface roads, and (2) to

each city located in Bourbon

county, for the purpose of

providing funding for public services?

Kendell Mason, County Clerk &

(SEAL)                                                              Bourbon County Election Officer

Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Nursing Program Seeks Community Input

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Jordan Howard. Submitted photo.
Wednesday, October 21, the Fort Scott Community College Nursing Program will have its accreditation visit with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
“Accreditation in nursing education is voluntary, but we remain accredited to ensure quality education in nursing,” Jordan Howard, the FSCC Director of Nursing, said. “This is verified by the peer-reviewed process that happens every eight years.  We maintain our accreditation so agencies that hire our graduates know they have employed a student that graduated from a program that has consistently graduated competent nurses.  In addition, we continue to be accredited for our students, as they are able to further their education if they so choose.  Being accredited shows a higher level of nursing education, that we are an institution of quality education.”
“During this (accreditation) time they want to visit with community members,” he said. ” I am trying to reach as many community members as we can. I have written a write up on our nursing Facebook page.”
“We’re looking for anyone that wants to join(the meeting),” Howard said. “The site team will ask them questions about our program them will allow them to give their concern if they have any.”
“They will ask several questions and give the opportunity to have your voice heard,” Howard said.
The meeting is Wednesday, October 21 at 2:40 p.m.
“You can remote in from home or call in from your phone,” Howard said.  “We will also have rooms available in Fort Scott at 810 Burke Street. If you decide to come to our campus please enter the northeast door and bring a mask if you have one. For additional information on ACEN, you can visit acenursing.org. Below is the information you will need to attend this meeting.”
ROOM LINK:
MEETING ROOM 35- JS at 810 Burke Street
Access Information for the Program:
Dial-in Information:
United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679
United States: +1 (571) 317-3116
Access Code: 551-390-933

About the Nursing Program

The Fort Scott Community College Nursing Department offers students an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing for students who have completed prerequisite courses and four semesters of nursing courses, according to information on the school’s webpage. Graduates are eligible to take the national licensing exam for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) and to apply for state licensure as a registered nurse. Our program prepares students for beginning staff nursing positions and delivering nursing care to individuals and groups as members of a healthcare team to promote health and wellness.

 

FSCC’s Nursing Department participates in the Kansas Academic Progression Model, which allows LPNs who hold a Kansas license to continue their studies at FSCC to obtain an associate’s degree in nursing. FSCC nursing graduates can continue their studies at any of the state’s 12 colleges and universities to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

 

The FSCC nursing program is approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN). The nursing curriculum reflects the Kansas ADN Alignment project and is current with nursing theory and practice using Quality and Safety for Nursing Education (QSEN) as its framework.

 

Educational facilities include four lecture classrooms, a skills lab, human simulation lab, computer lab, IV skills lab, conference/library, and audio/visual viewing room. Students may also take advantage of the student commons area for study and informal gatherings.

FSCC main campus resources are available for all students. Clinical settings include healthcare agencies in Fort Scott, Paola, Girard, Osawatomie, and Pittsburg in Kansas and Nevada in Missouri. Instruction at the Miami County Campus is provided through Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) with the instructor present at the Burke Street Campus. All campus nursing lab experiences are provided at the Burke Street Campus.

Bourbon County, COVID-19, K-State Extension

Keeping Halloween Fun and Safe During a Pandemic

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Cassidy Lutz. Submitted photo.

Cassidy Lutz
Southwind Extension District
4-H Program Assistant

As October 31st approaches, many families are thinking about Halloween plans and wondering how to celebrate safely this year. In the times of COVID-19, one could argue that Halloween is the most pandemic friendly holiday. Whether you choose to be a ghost, goblin, or ghoul, many creative and fun costumes include masks or one can be incorporated easily.

Many traditions practiced on this holiday are perfectly acceptable and safe to do during the time of a pandemic. Pumpkin carving and scary movie marathons are both activities that can be done from the comfort of your own home with those in your household. If you have loved ones over the age of 65 or at high risk for getting sick, consider setting up virtual options such, such as Zoom, so your loved ones don’t miss out on the celebration.

Just like any other year, there are things to keep in mind when planning for a safe trick-or-treating experience:

  • Add reflective tape to costumes, have kids carry glow sticks, or encourage them to carry a flashlight after dark so they are visible to cars
  • Address the importance of staying on sidewalks and looking both ways before crossing streets
  • Encourage kids to eat healthy meals as normal before the trick-or-treating fun begins, this will help reduce the urge to gorge out on those tasty sweet treats
  • Never let a child go door to door alone
  • Remind them to visit houses with exterior lights on, stay at the doorway to accept treats, and never enter the house unless it is a family member or family friend they are visiting

This time of year should be enjoyable for all ages of people. Be sure to follow your community guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19. By preparing yourself and your youth for what to expect, you can create a more enjoyable time for yourself and your loved ones. Enjoy this opportunity to rewind back to a “more normal” holiday with your family and friends! Happy Halloween, 2020 style!