The recent announcement of Mercy Hospital closing, announced October 1, has stirred up Fort Scottians.
The loss of the hospital that has been a part of the town since 1886 has driven the local government to step in.
During the Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet Tuesday morning, Fort Scott City representatives spoke to the group.
“The City (of Fort Scott) is doing everything we can to facilitate the Mercy transition…the physicians will stay on…We are working on solutions,” Rachel Pruitt, Fort Scott Economic Economic Director, said.
“Ambulance and emergency room (services) are being worked on,” added Robert Uhler, Fort Scott Community Development Director.
Here is an excerpt from a later press release Pruitt wrote:
“The City intends to support our residents in every way possible through this transition. Robert Uhler, Community Development Director; Rachel Pruitt, Economic Development Director; and Dave Martin, City Manager are actively working on solutions and have been pleased with the outreach of interested parties. Our citizens work hard and deserve affordable healthcare. We are confident Fort Scott will overcome this challenge and continue to be a great place to work and raise families.”
To see the full press release send yesterday, click:
First off, the City would like to recognize the incredible effort by all of the Mercy employees and it’s local leaders.
1886.
That is the year the first Mercy hospital opened and we have been blessed to have their services. The tireless effort of these employees proves the strong community character of Fort Scott.
What makes Fort Scott a great place is the people. Our people have seen this town thrive, face challenges, and rebound like never before.
Fort Scott continues to see remarkable industry growth with the addition of over 800 jobs within the last 5 years. Over a 24% increase in the hourly median wage. In addition to the commercial investment with employer expansions, the residential investment has grown by 45% within the last two years.
Fort Scott is home to generations of families.
People who have been raised here and are returning home to raise their families.
People who have gone to the Community College here and choose Fort Scott as their home.
We have a district-wide student to teacher ratio of 13 to 1. An aquatic center which opened in 2012. One of the top 10 best public golf courses in the state. A 360-acre lake for fishing, boating, and recreation. Over 7 miles of bike trails within Gunn Park which is home to 7 shelter houses, 2 fishing lakes, playground areas, and a 9 hole Frisbee golf course. A state of the art baseball facility featuring a 1,200 seat stadium, 2 indoor batting cages, clubhouse with lockers and lounge, turf infield and grass outfield.
Fort Scott has tremendous community pride. The City intends to support our residents in every way possible through this transition.
Robert Uhler, Community Development Director, Rachel Pruitt, Economic Development Director, and Dave Martin, City Manager are actively working on solutions and have been pleased with the outreach of interested parties.
Our citizens work hard and deserve affordable healthcare. We are confident Fort Scott will overcome this challenge and continue to be a great place to work and raise families.
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Program Director Megan Felt, left, with Cathy Werling, the author of Mommy Who Was Irena Sendler? book.
It’s been 19 years since the story of Irena Sendler, the rescuer from death of 2,500 Jews in Poland, was discovered by three Uniontown High School students in Norm Conard’s history class. The Jews were being killed in Europe by the Nazi Germans.
“It was September 23, 1999, when we found the clipping that day in Norm’s class,” Megan Felt said. That clipping mentioned Sendler as one of a few people in Europe at the time who stepped up to save the Jews.
The students, Elizabeth Cambers Hutton, and Sabrina Coons Murphy along with Felt, did a history project on Irena Sendler that changed the lives of many, including Sendler who was still living at the time.
Several books and a movie have been made of Sendler’s life and are available for sale at the center.
Now one of the “rescuers of the rescuer”, Megan Stewart Felt, is featured in a book on Sendler that features she and her daughter, Blair, in re-telling the story for younger children.
The children’s book, self-published by the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, is entitled Mommy Who Was Irena Sendler?, by Cathy Werling.
Werling is an employee of the center and Felt is the program director of the center, located at Wall and Main Street in downtown Fort Scott.
“Cathy surprised me with her idea of telling the story,” Felt said. “I think it’s special to tell about Irena, involving my daughter, Blair.”
Blair, who is 8-years-old, is “very excited,” Felt said. “She has been practicing her cursive handwriting to sign books for the family,” she said with a smile.
While Werling was writing the book, Blair came to the center and got a tour from Werling.
“I hadn’t told her much about Irena and the holocaust,” Felt said.
Werling explained the story in a way that Blair could understand, Felt said.
“We continued to have conversations about Irena and…. how one person can make a difference,” Felt said. “I want her to know that even though she is a girl in Southeast Kansas, she has the power to make a difference and being a positive change in the world. That’s the goal of the center.”
Werling agreed.
“When I got involved with the center, I found the work of the center is to help people understand that one person can make a difference,” she said.
“Young children need role models to show what you can do in circumstances where someone needs to step up,” Werling said.
“If we can help them be a positive force, that’s my mission, to see that,” she said. “Everyday people like them that can have a powerful impact.
Mommy Who Was Irena Sendler? is the third book that Werling has written on unsung heroes at the center.
Area elementary students come to the center for book readings at their appropriate level.
The children are then encouraged to choose to make a difference in someone’s life.
“It’s moving to see the little kids become involved in the stories on unsung heroes,” Felt said. “You hear them saying ‘I saw a little girl who sits alone. I can sit with her.'”
Werling uses a “hook” in her children’s books to get the child interested, then the story is told, the book ends with how the child can “be like that person,” Werling said.
In her latest book, Werling has additional pages of facts on the story, including photos.
“I want them to understand that the story is true,” Werling said.
The illustrator of the book is Maggie Raguse, Werling’s sister-in-law, who is a professional artist.
The book Mommy Who Was Irena Sendler? will be published by the end of October 2018, then will be for sale at the center, Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble bookstores, Werling said.
This is the building on Wall and Main Street in Fort Scott’s Historic downtown that Dr. Tim Crawford purchased.
Dr. Tim Crawford’s dental office, Family Dental, plans to move from its current location on South Main Street to the building at Wall and Main Streets within a few months.
“Construction on historic Fort Scott buildings is slow,” Crawford said.
Dentist Tim Crawford, center, with office personnel, from left: Alison Harper, hygenist; Jessica Terry, assistant; Crawford; Karis Hopkins, reception and assistant; Carina Guajardo, office manager. Not pictured: Ashley Rogers, assistant. They are pictured outside the Wall Street portion of the historic building Crawford is renovating.
Crawford and his staff hosted a Fort Scott Chamber Coffee at the new site on September 27.
Dr. Tim Crawford speaks to the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee attendees Sept. 27 at the site of his new office, which is still in the construction stage of renovation.
He spoke to the crowd in the reception room of his new office.
Coffee attendees share conversations before the announcement segment of the weekly coffee. They are in the reception room of the new dental office of the renovated historic downtown building at Wall and Main Street.
“I’m excited to be downtown for accessibility,” Crawford told the coffee attendees. “We hope to be open in a few months.”
Dental services offered are implants, oral surgery, pediatrics, “Everything you want to be done at a dentist.”
Coffee attendees mill around the still-being-constructed operating room of the dental office.
Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin thanked Crawford for moving his office downtown and taking on the renovation of a historic building.
“I know you run into things that throw you behind,” Martin said.
The building Crawford owns faces both Wall Street, pictured, and North Main Street.
Mirna Santana, one of the owners of La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, holds the new menu which includes sections of calorie and fat counted food offerings.
The La Hacienda Restaurant recently redesigned its’ menu to include selections in which the calories and fat content have been counted for those wishing to eat healthier.
A Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways Grant financed the initiative whose purpose was to increase food transparency, Jody Hoener said.
Hoener is a part of the Restaurant and Food Retail subcommittee of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team that consists of Sherise Beckham (Registered Dietitian) and Joy Miller (RD)and Hoener.
“Joy was able to use KSTATE Extension software to calculate nutritional content,” Hoener said.
The restaurant collaborated on the calorie/fat content additions with a Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways To Healthy Kansas Initiative.
La Hacienda owners have pledged to increase access to healthy food, she said.
The new counted calorie menu items are spread throughout the listings and are highlighted in green.
Bourbon County public schools have noted an increase in enrollment, which means an increase in funding.
Fort Scott Community College President Alysia Johnston.
Fort Scott Community College
Fort Scott Community College enrollment is up around 1,000 credit hours from last year at this time, President Alysia Johnston said. “15 credit hours (per semester) is considered full time.”
“We also report numbers based on Full-Time Equivalency (FTE); therefore, the 1,000 credit hour increase would be an FTE increase of 66,” Johnston said.
How does the increase in students benefit the school?
“It is hard to give you an exact dollar amount – as I’m not sure how many of the 1000 credit hour increase we would have provided tuition scholarships for; and if the credit hours were generated from in-district, out-district, or out of state,” Johnston said. “If I assume that 50% of the hours we gave scholarships for , and they were all in-district, it would be approximately an increase of around $80,000.”
“Our enrollment is up due to the great work our faculty and staff at FSCC do to ensure we meet the needs of our students and community,” she said. ” Their dedication, expertise in their area, and devotion to quality is reflected in our increased enrollment. Our focus is not just on growing enrollment, but maintaining and improving excellence in our programs and meeting student needs so they can be successful and reach their goals.”
USD 235
Bret Howard, superintendent of USD 235, Uniontown.
The Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) for Uniontown is 451 with enrollment of 458 students, Bret Howard, superintendent for USD 235 said.
“Unofficially we are up 6 (from last year),” Howard said. “We will still be audited by the Kansas State Department of Education and numbers can change slightly. Nothing is ever “official” until after the audit.”
“A school district receives $4,165 for each full-time equivalent (FTE),” Howard said. ” All Kindergarten through 12th-grade students are 1.0 FTE. A Pre-K student is funded at .5 FTE per student and each district has a cap determined by the KSDE. We are funded with 14 Pre-K slots or 7 FTE in Uniontown USD 235.”
“A district also receives weighted funding for At-Risk Students, Students on Free Lunch, Students who ride district provided transportation to and from school, etc,” Howard said. “A district budget has many different factors that make it up.”
USD 234
USD 234 Assistant Superintendent Nicki Traul.
The enrollment has also increased at USD 234, said Assistant Superintendent Nicki Traul.
Fort Scott Schools have seen an increase of 27 students from last school year.
In 2018-19 there are 1934 students, in 2017-18 there were 1907 students and in 2016-17 there were 1890 students, she stated.
The north wing of the Bourbon County Courthouse, on the right in this photo, has been reconfigured to house the county clerk, treasurer and commission offices. Additionally, at the back of the wing, Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative has leased a space for their business operations.
The public will be using a different door to get to the Bourbon County Commission, Treasurer and Clerk offices at 210 S. National.
The Bourbon County Courthouse personnel moved the offices late last week from the second floor to the north wing, the space of the former Sheriff’s Office and jail.
The Sheriff’s office and jail moved to a new facility at 293 E. 20th Street, earlier this year
The Bourbon County Commission room, September 2018.
The commission room is on the north side of the courthouse door as one enters in the north wing, There is room for the public to attend meetings comfortably now and space is more handicapped accessible on the ground floor.
The Bourbon County Clerk’s Office. Whitney Ball man’s the desk Monday. The office is located on the south side of the hall as one enters the doors on the north wing of the courthouse.The Bourbon County Treasurer’s Office employees wait on the public in the new office on Monday. This office is located on the north side of the hall as one enters the doors on the north wing of the courthouse.The north door of the courthouse is now for the Public Works Department.
To enter the county public works office, use the north door on the 2nd Street side.
The driver’s license office will be moving to the Bourbon County Attorney’s Office at Second and Judson Streets, behind the courthouse, pictured here.
The county attorney will move from the office building at 108 2nd Street to the 2nd floor of the courthouse on October 9.
The last day the driver’s license will be in its current location on the second floor of the courthouse, is Oct. 26, according to Shane Walker, Bourbon County Information Services Director.
On November 1, the driver’s license office will be open for business at 108 2nd Street, Walker said.
The Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative space is seen at the back of the Judson Street side of the courthouse. The county commission has leased Craw-Kan two cells from the former jail at the courthouse for its business operation in Bourbon County.
“We’ve leased them two cells in the former jail in exchange for internet and phone services for life,” Walker said. “That will save the county $250,000 over the next 10-12 years. We currently have internet from them and will be switching to their phone service in the next month.”
“The other cells of the former jail are empty,” Walker said, “There are some future plans ahead for them.”
September 27. Thursday. Post 25 Executive Committee meets at 6 pm in Memorial Hall.
September 27. Thursday. Post 25 Color Guard meets at 7 pm in Memorial Hall. All Post 25 members are invited to join the Post 25 Color Guard. Meetings last about an hour.
October 1. Monday. Post 25 general membership meet and greet begins at 6:30 pm. Light refreshments will be available.
October 1. Monday. Post 25 general membership meeting starts at 7 pm.
October 2. Tuesday. American Legion Post 25 Commander Carl Jowers has office hours at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Carl is available to discuss any suggestions or concerns you may have about Post 25, Veterans or just to help solve world problems. Carl will meet with you at other times by emailing him at [email protected] or calling him at 904.553.1848 to schedule an appointment.
October 2. Tuesday. American Legion Service Officer Myra Jowers is at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Myra is available to assist you with questions about your VA claims or paperwork. She is not allowed to complete your forms for you, but rather provide guidance and directions in pursuing your claims. She will meet with you at other times by emailing her at [email protected] to schedule an appointment.
November 9 – 11. Veterans weekend in Fort Scott.
November 9. Friday evening, 5 pm: Reception @ Boiler Room Brewhaus, 2 S. National Ave.
November 9. Saturday, 10 am: Veterans Day Program @ Memorial Hall, 1 E. 3rd St.
November 10. Saturday, 12 – 4 PM. “A Gathering of Veterans” at VFW Post 1165 for fellowship and camaraderie.
November 10. Saturday, 5 pm: Veterans Day Parade in Downtown Fort Scott. All Veterans are encouraged to participate. Transportation will be available for those unable to walk in the parade.
November 10. Saturday, 7 pm: 1800’s Grand Ball @ Memorial Hall, 1 E. 3rd St. Tickets required. Email [email protected] for information on purchasing tickets.
November 11. Sunday, 9 am: Veterans Church Service @ Community Christian Church, 1919 S. Horton St.
November 11. Sunday, 11 am: Veterans Day Service @ US National Cemetery No. 1, 900 E. National Ave.
November 11. Sunday, 12pm: Lunch @ VFW, 1745 S. National Ave.
Robbie Forrester, president of Fort Scott Munitions told FortScott.Biz. that the business will be blowing up tannerite at a location southwest of Fort Scott in a short while. The tannerite is used in conjunction with firearms practice.
Joining them is race car driver, Spencer Boyd, Forrester said.
Remick Paulsen, 22, is the new U.S. Postal Service Clerk at Uniontown.
This is an employee profile to let the community better know her.
Experience: First job in the postal service
Education: Graduated from Paola High School in 2014, Fort Scott Community College in 2016 and earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural business from Kansas State University in 2018.
Why did you choose this as your career?
“I enjoy working with people. I feel like you get the small town feel working in a post office, and it’s a career.
Paulsen also works in the Fort Scott Post Office as needed.
The Uniontown Post Office is located at 106 2nd Street.
Hours of the office are 7 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday, 7 to 9 a.m. The phone number is 620-756-4377.
The Uniontown mail delivery includes Uniontown, Mapleton, and Redfield, she said.
Karen Saker, the longtime Uniontown Postmistress, retired at the end of August 2018.
Robert Uhler became the City of Fort Scott Community Development Director Sept. 10.
This is an employee profile to allow the community to know him better.
Age: 49
Family: Married to Laurie Uhler, two grown children, one granddaughter.
What will be your duties in this position?
“Community Development is all about creating a positive quality of life in our community. Everything from infrastructure to parks, sidewalks, trails, to the historic downtown structures/district. I will also be participating in the zoning process and procedures. Housing is one of the very important issues that we need to deal with as a community.”
Experience:
“Over 20 years in the construction building industry, spending the last eight years as the executive vice-president of a non-profit serving independently owned building material suppliers.”
Education:
Baker University, US Chamber Foundation – Institute of Organizational Management, Certified Association Executive, Univ. Texas – Arlington, Specialist in Safety and Health.
Community involvement:
Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Board Member, Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene Treasurer, Project 17 – (17 SE KS Counties) Board Member, US Chamber Foundation Northeast Regent Member.
Hobbies: Golfing, outdoor sports, music – playing drums.
“I just love this community and anything that I can do to help our community grow, and prosper, I’m excited about doing.”
