USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong received a report from the Fort Scott Police Department that a criminal threat was made regarding Fort Scott High School on Oct. 28.
A person was accused of posting a social media threat against the high school on October 28, just about the time Fort Scott High School lets out for the day.
“The Fort Scott Police Department reported to me this afternoon, (Oct. 28) after school was out, that they had received information from a third party website that a criminal threat was made on the high school this afternoon,” Hessong said. “FSPD investigated the report this afternoon and found that no credible threat was made upon the high school.”
“It was a hotline based out of California,” FSPD Captain Jason Pickert said. “They received an anonymous tip that a video had been posted on a social media site.”
“We learned upon investigation the person does not have an account with that media site, so it was falsely reported,” Pickert said.
“We spoke with the suspect involved and did independent research,” he said. “The person was local, but not a high school student.”
“We notified Ted Hessong shortly after the report came in, about 3:20 p.m.,” Pickert said. “I think it was a false report from the get-go.”
The incident was communicated to the school district parents through the school messenger mass phone call system that a report of a criminal threat was made, it was investigated, and no credible threat was made upon the high school, Hessong said.
“The safety and security is the number one priority of the school district,” Hessong said. ” I want to thank Chief (Travis) Shelton and his detectives and officers for reporting and investigating the possible threat. It is nice to know that our local law enforcement agencies, FSPD and the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department, supports our schools.”
Susan Bancroft is the new Fort Scott Finance Director. Submitted photo.
Susan E. Bancroft, 44, started as the new City of Fort Scott Finance Director on October 9.
However, Bancroft is not new to the City of Fort Scott.
“I left the City of Fort Scott as Assistant City Manager/Finance Director to work for USD 234 as the Business Manager in 2012,” she said. “I was employed by them for three years when I realized I wanted to chase my career. I then went to work for NPC International as HCM Director in Pittsburg. NPC employs roughly 40,000 employees and is the largest franchisee for Pizza Hut and Wendy’s in the nation.”
Bancroft’s husband died this summer, which changed her life priorities.
” Unfortunately, life threw me a curveball when I lost my husband in June of 2019 in a car accident east of town,” she said. ” My life’s priorities changed and I started looking for something closer to home. I am thankful that the City of Fort Scott welcomed me back to work in the position of finance director. I have a lot of catching up to do but am very excited to be back.”
Bancroft replaces Rhonda Dunn, who resigned for a job in private industry.
Bancroft earned her bachelor of science degree from Missouri Southern State University in business administration.
Her family includes daughter, Bailie Hughes and son-in-law Victor Hughes; son- Gunnar Brown: step-daughter – Kynleah Bancroft and daughter – Allie Brown.
This is part of a series that highlights young entrepreneurs, under 30 years of age, in Bourbon County. If you would like to nominate a young entrepreneur, submit to [email protected] the name and email/phone number of the person, along with why you are nominating them and your name.
Taylor Qualls, 22, is the owner of her own business, Hazel Bee Ink.
” I create customized gifts and hand-lettered products,” Qualls said. “I have also created wedding invitations, signs, and decor. I have made a little bit of everything. I mostly do calligraphy, but I also make custom dip mugs and coasters, pet portraits, home illustrations, and wall signs. I have also made wedding invitations and I address envelopes! “
Qualls is currently attending Pittsburg State University and will complete her bachelor of music education with an emphasis in vocal music in December 2020. She and her husband are living in Pittsburg. She is from Fort Scott and graduated with an associate of arts from Fort Scott Community College in 2016.
“I have always been one of those people who doodled in their notebooks,” Qualls said. ” During the summer, I would change my handwriting, and then practice it over and over again until it became muscle memory just because I thought it was fun.”
Some of Qualls creations. Submitted photos.
Her first job using her penchant for drawing was for a friend.
“My first hand-lettering job was for a friend, Kristian Brennon’s, wedding,” she said. “After that, I got married and ended up making all of the signs, wedding party gifts, bouquets, programs, and centerpieces for my own wedding.”
“I honestly didn’t plan on pursuing it until my husband, family, and friends began encouraging me to,” Qualls said.
In January 2019, another young entrepreneur, Delynn Abati. asked her to make a cake topper for a customer of hers. She is a local Fort Scott baker.
“Then she asked me to make a couple more,” she said. ” One day, she asked me if I had a business name so that she could tag my page in it. That’s when I finally decided to go for it.”
Eight months later, the business has grown “beyond my wildest expectations,” she said.
Some of Qualls creations. Submitted photos.
“I used to dream about having my own business one day, and now it’s a reality. I am so thankful for all of the support and encouragement I have received from my people on this wild journey of mine. I would list them out, but there really are so many important people that helped me create Hazel Bee Ink.”
Qualls has no employees, “but my husband, friends, and family have helped me out tremendously!”
Qualls is expanding her business to retail.
“I recently started selling products at a store in Pittsburg named Sonder & Co. and it has been such a blast,” she said. ” If you haven’t heard of them, I would highly recommend looking them up. I have started looking into opening an Etsy store and I will hopefully be setting up booths at some craft shows and festivals in 2020!”
Her family consists of her husband, Levi Qualls and their pup, Hazel.
Her extended family include her parents-Travis and Tina Schilling,
grandparents-Dale and Donna Schilling, Ed and Ladonna Cox and her in-laws, Rex and Michelle Qualls.
A portrait of her dog, Hazel. Submitted.
Qualls was recommended by Kasey Eaton.
“She did a cake topper for my daughters graduation cake,” said Eaton. “She is very talented and artistic.”
The north wing of the Bourbon County Courthouse houses the county clerk, treasurer and commission offices. A digital message sign will be placed here in the near future.
A new digital message sign will soon be placed on the Bourbon County Courthouse north wing.
At a recent Bourbon County Commission meeting, Emergency Director Will Wallis told the commissioners that the Garland Fire Department sold him a digital sign for displaying emergency messages.
“Garland Fire bought this sign several years ago,” Wallis said. “When the new management of Garland Fire Department took over they discovered it. After some discussion, the department decided they really didn’t have any practical use for it.”
“They called us and wanted to know if we had a use for it and also gave us an idea of what they wanted for the sign,” he said. “After several months of discussion and deliberation Shane (Walker, Bourbon County Information Technology Director)and I decided to purchase it and use it to display messages to the public such as CodeRed signups, Red Flag fire warning days, Weather warnings such as ice storms, snowstorms, etc.”
“We paid $1,200 for it and used grant money, no county money was used to buy it and no county money will be used to pay to have it installed. The sign will be against the outside wall of the courthouse/sheriff’s old office, facing east. People can read this sign when they pull up to the four-way stop at Second Street and National Avenue.”
Wallis is currently taking bids to have it installed.
“It may take a few weeks to get this process completed,” Wallis said.
The following is a press release by Tom Havron, Fort Scott Community College Vice President of Student Affairs addressing a recent complaint on the eligibility of a football student athlete.
On October 15, 2019, Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) was contacted by the national office at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) regarding a formal complaint from a non-conference school that had been filed regarding the eligibility of a student-athlete on the FSCC football team.
Further investigation confirmed that FSCC had obtained a release and a transfer tracking form for the student, but was lacking a transfer waiver form which results in a violation of NJCAA by-laws.
On October 18th, FSCC obtained the signed form and the student will be eligible to play for the remainder of the season.
The ruling from the NJCAA is in the appeal process, and the college has no further information.
This was an honest, administrative error that the coaches and player had no knowledge. There was no malicious intent to violate NJCAA by-laws, and there was no benefit for the team to not acquiring the form. FSCC is committed to refining the eligibility process to ensure that this type of event never occurs again.
FSCC will not have a final ruling on whether some games will be forfeited until the appeal is completed, everything is still under review, according to Kassie Fugate-Cate, FSCC Director of Strategic Communications and Student Activities.
Advance voting begins today at the Bourbon County Courthouse.
A general election will take place on November 5, 2019, to vote for representation on school boards, city councils, and the Kansas State Southwind Extension District.
Also on the ballot is a constitutional amendment question.
“The amendment question seeks to do away with a census count specifically for college students and military personnel to be counted where they come from and not where they are at the time of their vote,” according to a report on KSN TV, Wichita, Oct. 14, 2019. For the whole report click below:
Advance voting will begin today, Oct. 23and continues through Nov. 4 at noon., at the courthouse only, 210 S. National. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
All of the following polling places will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. The polling places in Bourbon County are as follows:
Residents living in the City of Fort Scott vote at the following locations:
1st Ward Community Christian Church
2nd Ward Grace Baptist Church
3rd Ward Grace Baptist Church
4th Ward Community Christian Church
5th Ward Community Christian Church
6th Ward Community Christian Church
7th Ward Grace Baptist Church
Residents living out in the County vote at the following locations:
Main Street Gallery and Gifts owners, from left Julie McClellan, Josh McClellan and Rechelle McClellan. Submitted photo.
The owners of Main Street Gallery & Gifts, 23 South Main, have taken the for sale sign out of the window.
Main Street Gallery and Gifts.
Although there has been a for sale sign in the business window for several months, the McClellan’s changed their minds.
“We took the building off the market,” Josh McClellan, one of the owners said. “I had it brought up to me that ‘Why would any more vendors come rent space if I was not investing my time into them?’ We decided to not sell it. We decided to have my wife come full time to assist with the store to help manage everything.”
Home decorations are sold at Main Street Gallery.
Owners of the business are Josh, and his wife, Rechelle, and Josh’s mother, Julie McClellan. They sell home décor, flea market items, custom picture framing, and brew supplies. They have been in business since October 1st, 2000.
“We are wanting to expand the flea market with more booth spaces,” Josh said. “In order to do so, my wife, Rechelle McClellan, will be there to help vendors and buyers, so my mother, Julie, can focus on her upholstery business. Rechelle started full time on October 19.
Booth spaces have been in the lower level of the building and now they are extending the flea market booths to the first level.
The homebrew supplies section of the shop in on the first level.Booth rentals fill the lower level of the shop.
Booth Rental
The McClellan’s are taking names and phone numbers for a booth rental waiting list.
Booth space prices are as follows:
Lower Level 4X4 feet=$20.00
Lower Level 4X8 feet=$35.00
(Expanding on the main level)
Main Level 4X4 feet=$40.00
Main Level 4X8 feet=$70.00
“We take a 10% consignment fee. This fee pays for loading items, bags, credit card fees, etc.” Josh said.
Penny Vote Contest
“Main Street Gallery and Gifts will be doing a penny vote contest with our three (Main Street) windows,” Rechelle said. ” I have four vendors decorating the north and south windows. The money we raise will be donated to The Sharing Bucket. Please feel free to spread the news. Penny votes start the first Christmas open house downtown.”
“We will have mason jars that people can put pennies, dollars, etc. in, and whoever that has the most money wins,” she said.
“We are very excited about what the future holds for our business,” Josh said. “We are here to help the people and visitors of Fort Scott. We have something for everyone through all of our vendors. We couldn’t do it without all of them. We appreciate all the past, present, and future vendors of Main Street Gallery and Gifts.”
Allyson Turvey, 30, is the new Fort Scott Tourism Manager at the Fort Scott Visitors Center, 231 E. Wall.
“Most of my past experience has been in customer service, but because I worked in the tourism department for two years before the promotion, I have gotten lots of on-the-job training,” she said. ” I am a certified Kansas Destination Specialist, a credential I received last year from the Tourism Industry Association of Kansas. I’m also a Certified Professional Travel Counselor, a credential I received from the State of Kansas Tourism Department.”
Turvey graduated from Sail High School, Tallahassee, FL and attended Fort Scott Community College for an associate’s degree before attending Missouri Southern State University for a bachelor’s degree in business.
Turvey’s duties include managing the visitors center, and social media marketing.
“I also attend various conventions and trade shows throughout the year in an effort to secure group tours and conferences, for which I help plan itineraries and agendas,” she said. “I work closely with the city and county tourism assets in order to get more visitors to them, and assist in planning and marketing events.”
In addition, she handles the marketing program of the LaRoche Baseball Complex.
” The best part of my job is the people,” Turvey said. ” I not only get a chance to work closely with locals, but I also get to meet people from all over the world who have come to visit this little community. At the visitors center, I’ve met people from Mexico, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Germany, France, and so many others.”
Many in the community often take for granted Fort Scott and its’ attractions, but “Our visitors are always beyond impressed,” she said.
Her work is enjoyable in other ways as well.
“It’s also pretty awesome to work so closely with locals as well,” she said. “This community is absolutely filled with great people who love this city and want it to continue to succeed. This makes my job a lot easier because someone always has a new idea, or event, or business they want to bring here. I love that I can use my job position to help out with some of the fun endeavors people come up with. ”
Turvey grew up near Tulsa, OK, and still has family there.
Fort Scott Convention & Visitors Bureau can be reached at
The vote here sign sits in front of the north wing of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National.
Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason said advance voting will begin at the courthouse, 210 S. National. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning October 23rd. Advance voting ends on November 4th at noon.
CANDIDATES FOR THE 2019 BOURBON COUNTY GENERAL ELECTION
CITY OF BRONSON-CITY COUNCIL
JAMES E. OLSON-1218 CLAY ST, BRONSON, KS 66716
DANIELLE MINOR-506 BAY ST, BRONSON, KS 66716
MICHAEL STEWART-1111 CHARLES ST, BRONSON, KS 66716
CITY OF FORT SCOTT-CITY COMMISSION
HAROLD (PETE) ALLEN-1248 CRAWFORD, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
KEVIN “SKITCH” ALLEN-324 E. 20TH ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
CYNTHIA BARTELSMEYER-22 ½ N. MAIN ST PO BOX 266, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
JOSH JONES-617 FAIRWAY, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
DEB MCCOY-510 S. EDDY, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
LINDSEY WATTS-1310 HORTON, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
CITY OF FULTON
NO CANDIDATES FILED
CITY OF MAPLETON
NO CANDIDATES FILED
CITY OF REDFIELD-CITY COUNCIL
WILMA K. GRAHAM-102 W. 4TH ST, REDFIELD, KS 66769
JIMMIE JACKSON-502 W 1ST ST, REDFIELD, KS 66769
L.D. MORRISON-404 3RD, REDFIELD, KS 66769
ANGELA HIXON-311 N PINE ST, REDFIELD, KS 66769
CITY OF UNIONTOWN-CITY COUNCIL
DANEA D. ESSLINGER-205 7TH ST, UNIONTOWN, KS 66779
DAVE WEHRY-206 FULTON, UNIONTOWN, KS 66779
USD 234
JAMES WOOD-523 S HOLBROOK, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION 1
DANNY BROWN-424 N FRANKLIN, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION 2
MICHELLE HUDIBURG-904 S CRAWFORD, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION 2
KELLYE BARROWS-1607 S CRAWFORD, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION 3
JOSH JONES-617 FAIRWAY, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION 3
SHAWN GOANS-2102 JAYHAWK RD, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 620-223-3840 POSITION AT LARGE
LYNETTE JACKSON-25 GOLFVIEW DR, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION AT LARGE
BILL MICHAUD-7 N MAIN ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION AT LARGE
USD 235
TROY GOODRIDGE-1335 125TH, REDFIELD, KS 66769 POSITION 1
JASON SUTTERBY-148 HWY 39, SAVONBURG, KS 66772 POSITION 2
JOSHUA HARTMAN-403 CLAY ST, UNIONTOWN, KS 66779 POSITION 3
KOLBY STOCK-1486 JAYHAWK RD, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701 POSITION 3
SALLY JOHNSON-402 HILL ST, UNIONTOWN, KS 66779
FSCC BOARD OF TRUSTEES
DAVID ELLIOTT-1779 LOCUST RD, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
KIRK HART-715 S LITTLE ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
MICHAEL HOYT-1315 BEECH ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
CURTIS LEAR-643 MAPLE RD, UNIONTOWN, KS 66779
ROBERT NELSON-216 N LINCOLN ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
SOUTHWIND EXTENSION DISTRICT
DIANE BRILLHART-412 130TH ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
PETE WILEY-1476 225TH ST, FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
The school districts of Girard, USD 248 and Arma, USD 346, overlap slightly into Bourbon County, because of this, the following candidates are on the Bourbon County ballot, according to Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk.
USD 248
DALE SHIREMAN-206 E. HOWARD, GIRARD, KS 66743 POSITION 1
ROGER L. BRENEMAN-803 N. LEONARD, GIRARD, KS 66743 POSITION 2
DAVE GOBLE-478 W 680TH AVE, GIRARD, KS 66743 POSITION 3
LORI JOHNSON-124 E. 630TH ST, GIRARD, KS 66743 AT LARGE
USD 346
MAX KRULL-307 W KANSAS AVE, BLUE MOUND, KS 66010 POSITION 3
BRENT PADDOCK-6360 INGRAHM RD, MOUND CITY, KS 66056 AT LARGE
The Lowell Milken Center is located at the corner of First and Wall Street and is the site of the Fort Scott Writing Festival.
A collaborative project to encourage creative writing in the community is taking place this Saturday, Oct. 19 at Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes at Main and Wall Street.
“It was a culmination of several peoples ideas in thinking about how to support and encourage writing in our community,” Jan Hedges, owner of Hedgehog.INK, said. “Writing is an aspect of the arts that is not often recognized.”
The event is co-sponsored by the Bourbon County Arts Council, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, Books and Grannies Book Store and Hedgehog.INK!
It is a one-day event for gathering published authors to share their writing and publishing experiences with the community.
The morning session is a series of one-hour workshops that is open to high school and local college students as well as adults.
There is no cost for students to attend the workshops.
In the afternoon, there will be a fair for authors to showcase their work and answer questions from aspiring writers.
Also in the afternoon there will be three mini-lessons, 30 minutes each for the public to view.
Program Schedule
Registration: 8:30 and refreshments (inside front doors)
Opening Remarks: 8:50 Little Theater
Finding Your Writing Plan – 9:00 Little Theater
Presenter R.J. Thesman
Are you stuck between writer’s block and the fun of procrastination? Maybe you’re not blocked. You just don’t have a writing plan. Finding Your Writing Plan helps you develop a discipline for your writing craft and keeps you from avoiding that blank page. Especially for bi-vocational writers who work another job, Finding Your Writing Plan gives you a structure for each day’s work. You can still nurture your creative side by choosing more than one plan or by changing your plan, depending on your circumstances. RJ Thesman will present 12 different options for your writing plan with best practices to help you finish your Work in Progress and move toward your publishing dreams.
“Writing FOR a Child Requires Thinking LIKE a Child” – 9:00 Conference Room
Presenter: Cathy Werling
Have you often thought you would like to write a children’s book? With the current self-publishing opportunities available, the goal of writing and publishing a children’s book has become much more attainable. Through this presentation, you will learn how to get started, some important steps you need to consider before you actually start writing, and some available resources to help your children’s book become a reality.
Cathy Werling is a retired elementary educator, who works part-time at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. The opportunity to provide positive role models for children led to the Center’s Unsung Heroes book series for children. Cathy is the author of the first four books in the series, with plans to continue sharing more of the amazing stories of Unsung Heroes through additional books. Her goal is to, not only provide inspirational role models for elementary students, but to encourage them to be people who can also make a positive difference in the world around them.
* * * * * * * * *
Self Publishing – 10:00 Little Theater
Presenter: Sally Freeman Jadlow
Come learn how to publish your own book, step-by-step, in paperback or ebook throughAmazon.com. Handouts will accompany the class.
Sally Jadlow has published eleven books which have gone through the process Amazon offers authors. She writes award-winning historical fiction, inspirational short stories, non-fiction, devotionals and poetry. Sally has also been published in many magazine articles and anthologies. She teaches writing for the the Kansas City Writers Group in the spring and fall.
KnowYourSources – 10:00 Conference Room
Presenter: Ronda Hassig
Primary sources can be mysterious, exciting, and lead to creative writing at its finest. If you want to write non-fiction or historical fiction you will need to know your sources! When you leave this session, you will know what a source is, where to find it, how to use it and how to document it.
Ronda Hassig is a retired Kansas Master Teacher and middle school librarian. She is the author of two books including “The Abduction of Jacob Rote” and “The Greatest Test of Courage.” Ronda loves reading, writing, and walking her three feral dogs!
* * * * * * * * * *
Workshop Drawing – 10:55
Transformative Works & the Online Writing Experience – 11:00 Little Theater
Presenter: Qwen Salsbury
Discussion of the popularity and opportunities in online writing. How to build an online following, locate writing e-communities, and the bridge to publishing. Exploration of the importance of transformative works in society’s need to own its own stories. Presentation by author Qwen Salsbury, Amazon #1 Best-Selling author, whose online works have over 5 million unique hits.
* * * * * * * * * *
Writing the Poetic Image – 11:00 Conference Room
Presenter: Laura Lee Washburn
Laura Lee Washburn will lead this workshop on imagery. Poets will participate in a poetic game as well as write a short lyric or narrative free verse poem.
Washburn is the author of two books of poetry, This Good Warm Place (March Street) and Watching the Contortionists (Palanquin Chapbook Prize). Her poetry has appeared in numerous journals including Poet Lore and The Sun. Harbor Review’s Washburn Chapbook prize is named in her honor. She directs the Creative Writing Program at Pittsburg State.
12:00 – 1:30 Lunch Break
Authors set up for the Authors Fair
Afternoon Mini-Sessions – Conference
1:30 Thomas Yoke
2:15 Kate Emmett-Sweetser
3:00 Jan Hedges
“Why I Just Now Write” – 1:30 Conference Room
Presenter: Tom Yoke
It took me 60 years to fulfill the dream of becoming an author. The roadblocks and obstacles I had to overcome, are the motivation for telling my story. I want to encourage anyone of any age or circumstance to pursue that dream.
The main points of the talk are:
Listening to the right voices
Daring to believe in yourself
Dreaming big dreams
Following your heart’s hidden desire
* * * * * * * * * *
NaNoWriMo and Poem-a-Day: Write. Every. Day. – 2:15 Conference Room
Presenter: Kate Emmett-Sweetser
Though raised by a professor of British literature and a poet, Kate Emmett-Sweetser prefers to write non-fiction. She has worked as a free-lance journalist in both English and Spanish, as a translator, and as a Spanish adjunct at Pittsburg State University. She is currently working on a book about the Jewish families who lived in SE Kansas in the decades following the Civil War. Her biggest challenges are perfectionism and procrastination; she will share ways to adapt fiction- and poetry-writing prompts and goals to all genres of writing.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Art of Journaling – 3:00 Conference Room
Presenter: Jan Hedges
We each have a great deal to write about already tucked in our own heads. Journaling is a way to keep track of and organize these thoughts, musings and ideas. This session will cover the many aspects of journaling, how-to’s, inspiration and motivation. A drawing for a journal will be held at the end of the session.
Jan Hedges is a retired teacher and school administrator. She and her husband Dick opened Hedgehog.INK! Gently Used Books and So Much More… in October 2018. She has dabbled in writing for over 50 years. I write because I must.
* * * * * * * * * *
Author Fair Participants: (Tentative List)
Ronda Hassig Young Adult Historical Fiction
Gerri Hilger Adult Historical Fiction
Sally Freeman Jadlow Adult Christian Living/Memoir/Poetry…
Joyce Love Children/Young Adult Historical Fiction / Devotional
Krista Postai, President and CEO of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, said they expanding services.
Mercy Hospital announced in October 2018 that they would be closing December 2018.
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
CHC/SEK then assumed responsibilities, securing physicians and staff to provide a clinic to the community at the Mercy Hospital site, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
The CHC/SEK is currently planning to build a new facility on the Horton Street side of the former Mercy Hospital site.
CHC/SEK will be building a facility on Horton, just west of the former Mercy Hospital building.
“We have selected an architect for our new Fort Scott clinic,” Postai said. “It’s Zingre and Associates from Ft. Scott and we are in the midst of designing the new facility.”
“We only have a two-year lease for our current space which Mercy clearly indicated is not renewable,” Postai said. “We knew from the beginning that we would have to build a new clinic, which we’ve shared publically to the various groups we’ve talked with, including the city and county. To help make our startup affordable in Ft. Scott and give us time to plan, Mercy discounted the rent amount for us and everyone in there, which is greatly appreciated.”
“Overhead (electricity, gas, etc.) is extremely expensive in the existing space, as is ongoing maintenance on the building,” Postai said. ” So there is no way we could assume the financial burden of a 177,000 sq. ft. building that is only being minimally utilized. Others who have evaluated ownership of the building came to the same conclusion. We know Mercy recognizes that and have evaluated options including demolition although, to my knowledge, no final decision has been reached.”
“CHC/SEK is planning on expanding its services to include dental care, mental health care, a women’s center, more accessible pharmacy, etc. which can’t be accomplished in the existing space we now occupy without a major investment in renovation in a building with a uncertain future,” Postai said. “Our model of care also supports integration of services. For example, children coming in for their well child check may also have a visit with the dentist or someone struggling to manage their diabetes may meet with a therapist or a patient educator as part of their medical visit. Numerous support staff also coordinate care or work with special populations (e.g. expectant mothers) which requires space within the clinic. So, we’re working with our Ft. Scott staff to determine what they want and need in a new building built specifically to support our ‘one-stop’ approach or, as our vision says, ‘Healthcare The Way It Should Be.'”
In addition, CHC/SEK also will assume responsibility of Mercy’s clinic in Columbus in January 2020, Postai said.
” We will be combining our existing Columbus clinic with Mercy’s clinic,” Postai said. “Mercy will continue to manage the hospital in Columbus which is owned by the city.”
Postai said CHC/SEK is also extending its reach into Oklahoma.
“CHC/SEK was one of 77 health centers in the U.S. to receive grants to open new health centers and we will be doing so in Miami and Wyandotte, Oklahoma,” she said. ” Our center in Miami is currently operated by Mercy who asked us if we would assume responsibility and we agreed to do so. The one in Wyandotte is in a school and will primarily serve the students, their families and school staff. We will have the clinics open before the end of the year.”
The organization is also working to secure future doctors for the area, and former Mercy Hospital CEO Reta Baker was selected to administer the program to do just that.
Reta Baker is now CHC/SEK’s Vice President of Clinical Education, with the office located in Pittsburg.
“We also are working with the University of Kansas School of Medicine to establish a family practice residency program in southeast Kansas,” Postai said. “To provide administrative oversight of this program – and all of our clinical education students – is Reta Baker, former hospital CEO in Ft. Scott. She has been named VP/Clinical Education and her office is located in CHC/SEK’s system office in Pittsburg.”
With all the outreach activity of CHC/SEK, “We are nearing 500 full-time employees,” Postai said.
Here is the list of CHS/SEK outreach from Krista Postai:
“Crawford County: Our main clinic in Pittsburg plus a dental-only clinic downtown and we just opened a school-based health center in Pittsburg High School. A mobile medical van goes daily to the middle school and elementary schools. We also have the clinic in Arma.
Cherokee County … we have a clinic in Baxter Springs and Columbus.
Bourbon County … we have Walk-in Care and the main Ft. Scott clinic.
Linn County … we have clinics in Mound City and Pleasanton.
Labette County – we have a clinic in Parsons.
Montgomery County – we have a clinic in Independence and three in Coffeyville – a main clinic, one in the elementary school and one in the middle/high school.
Allen County – we have a clinic in Iola.
We will be opening two clinics in Ottawa County, OK in December – one in Miami and one in the Wyandotte Schools.
We also employ nurses in multiple schools, as well as behavioral health specialists throughout the region.”
CHCSEK offices are located at 3011 N. Michigan, Pittsburg, KS 66762. The phone number is 620-235-1867.
The CHC/SEK Clinic in Fort Scott’s number is 223-8040.
In three weeks voters will be electing government representation.
In addition, there will be a question to consider on the ballot.
In the November 5, 2019, General Election you will be asked to approve removing a census count adjustment.
“The amendment question seeks to do away with a census count specifically for college students and military personnel to be counted where they come from and not where they are at the time of their vote,” according to a report on KSN TV, Wichita, Oct. 14, 2019. For the whole report click below:
Following is how the amendment will appear on the ballot, followed by the Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab’s explanation of the question.
This is how it will read:
Constitutional Amendment
Vote Yes or No
Explanatory statement. The
purpose of this amendment is to
eliminate the adjustment of
the census taken by the United
States census bureau regarding
nonresident military personnel
and nonresident students when
reapportioning the Kansas senate
and house of representatives.
A vote for this proposition would
eliminate the adjustment of
the census taken by the United
States census bureau regarding
nonresident military personnel
and nonresident students when
reapportioning the Kansas senate
and house of representatives.
A vote against this proposition
would continue in effect the
requirement for the adjustment of
the census taken by the United
States census bureau regarding
nonresident military personnel
and nonresident students when
reapportioning the Kansas senate
and house of representatives.
Shall the following be adopted?
1. Reapportionment of
senatorial and representative
districts. (a) At its regular session
in 1989, the legislature shall by
law reapportion the state
representative districts, the state
senatorial districts or both the
state representative and
senatorial districts upon the basis
of the latest census of the
inhabitants of the state taken by
the authority of chapter 61 of the
1987 Session Laws of Kansas. At
its regular session in 1992, and at
its regular session every tenth
year thereafter, the legislature
shall by law reapportion the state
senatorial districts and
representative districts on the
basis of the population of the
state as established by the most
recent census of population taken
and published by the United
States census bureau of the
census. Senatorial and
representative districts shall be
reapportioned upon the basis of
the population of the state
adjusted: (1) To exclude
nonresident military personnel
stationed within the state and
nonresident students attending
colleges and universities within
the state; and (2) to include
military personnel stationed within
the state who are residents of the
state and students attending
colleges and universities within
the state who are residents of the
state in the district of their
permanent residence. Bills
reapportioning legislative districts
shall be published in the Kansas
register immediately upon final
passage and shall be effective for
the next following election of
legislators and thereafter until
again reapportioned.
(b) Within 15 days after the
publication of an act
reapportioning the legislative
districts within the time specified
in (a), the attorney general shall
petition the supreme court of the
state to determine the validity
thereof. The supreme court,
within 30 days from the filing of
the petition, shall enter its
judgment. Should the supreme
court determine that the
reapportionment statute is invalid,
the legislature shall enact a
statute of reapportionment
conforming to the judgment of the
supreme court within 15 days.
(c) Upon enactment of a
reapportionment to conform with
a judgment under (b), the
attorney general shall apply to the
supreme court of the state to
determine the validity thereof.
The supreme court, within 10
days from the filing of such
application, shall enter its
judgment. Should the supreme
court determine that the
reapportionment statute is invalid,
the legislature shall again enact a
statute reapportioning the
legislative districts in compliance
with the direction of and
conforming to the mandate of the
supreme court within 15 days
after entry thereof.
(d) Whenever a petition or
application is filed under this
section, the supreme court, in
accordance with its rules, shall
permit interested persons to
present their views.
(e) A judgment of the supreme
court of the state determining a
reapportionment to be valid shall
be final until the legislative
districts are again reapportioned
in accordance herewith.
KEY POINTS
The following is provided by Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason, who sent info from the Kansas Secretary of State to explain the amendment.
Kansas is the only state in the nation that adjusts its census numbers.
Adjustment is estimated to cost $835,000 in 2020.
In the 2010 adjustment, approximately 13,000 people, out of 2.9 million, were affected.
Eliminating the adjustment would give lawmakers an additional legislative session to complete redistricting.
Legislative and State Board of Education districts would be drawn using the same numbers as congressional districts.
The Legislature supported eliminating the adjustment with bi-partisan super majorities.
Summary:
A Proposition to amend section 1 of article 10 of the constitution of the state of Kansas.
In 2019, the Legislature passed a constitutional amendment (SCR1605) with a bipartisan super majority to eliminate a provision in the Kansas Constitution requiring Kansas to adjust census numbers for military personnel and college students. Intended to slow the impact of urban migration from rural Kansas to the more populated, eastern half of the state, the requirement has, historically, had the opposite effect by marginally increasing population numbers for urban areas.
The adjustment is antiquated, burdensome and expensive because it requires the Secretary of State’s office to contact every college student and member of the military residing in Kansas to determine their official residence. Keep in mind, the U.S. Census Bureau is responsible for counting individuals where they reside in the United States. They expend significant resources in communicating with Americans on the importance of the Census. Kansas is essentially asking students and military personnel the same question – at a cost of at least $835,000 – in a manner contradictory to what is asked by the Census Bureau.
