Mercy Hospice Hosts Seminar for Caregivers

Renowned expert Elaine K. Sanchez speaks on “Finding Hope, Humor and Heart in Caregiving”

FORT SCOTT, KAN. (Nov. 3, 2017) – Caring for a loved one or friend during a long-term illness may be one of the most rewarding and selfless things a person can experience. It may also be taxing on the caregiver’s physical and emotional health.

That’s why it’s important to learn more about the delicate balancing act in the role of caregiver.

Mercy Fort Scott Home Health and Hospice invites the public, as well as registered nurses, respiratory therapists, and other clinicians to attend “Finding Hope, Humor and Heart in Caregiving” by Elaine K. Sanchez on Thursday, November 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.

The presentation will cover many topics including anger, guilt, depression, grief, and self-care. There will also be time to visit with local professionals to collect helpful information and resources about being a caregiver.

Register online at www.mercy.net/FtScottCares by Nov. 24. Lunch is provided. Space is limited, so register today.

The general admission fee is $10 or $60 for six CEUs. CEUs can be provided to Registered Nurses and Respiratory Therapist. Certificates of Completion will be given for all other disciplines.

For more information, contact Chris Welch at (620) 223-8060.

Note: Partial funding was provided by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation. FSACF serves to fulfill the philanthropic goals that benefit the common good and improve quality of life by providing leadership and programming that is responsive to the interests and needs of the residents of the Fort Scott area.

Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2017 by Truven, an IBM Watson Health company, serves millions annually. Mercy includes 44 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, more than 700 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 40,000 co-workers and more than 2,000 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Mercy also has outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Advance voting for the November 7 election for city and school boards has begun. Don’t forget to bring photo identification to the Bourbon County Courthouse if choosing to vote early.

To see who is running and for what position, reference here:

City/School 2017 Election Forum Oct. 26

Local helping agencies, businesses, and organizations were presented with grant awards Thursday morning as part of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee, at the Landmark Bank in downtown Fort Scott.

“From the interest of the general endowment fund, we are handing out $30,000 today,” Blake Hudson, chairman of the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF) board, said. “Last year $150,000 was raised for the general fund.”

Hudson said a new fundraising campaign is set to begin with FSACF.

This year, 29 entities submitted grant applications this year, with 18 funded, he said.

Grant committee members are Hudson, Stephanie Witt, Greg Mottley, Larry Seals, Patty LaRoche and adviser, Dave Martin.

LaRoche is committee chair of the granting committee.

The Beacon inadvertently did not receive a check at the coffee and will at a later date. The helping agency received a grant to add healthy food additions to the food pantry they facilitate.

New wayfinding signs will soon dot the walking/biking trails in Fort Scott and Uniontown.

With $7,500 received in late summer from The American Planning Associations  Kansas Chapter and Pathways to Healthy Kansas, the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team will provide information kiosks to be placed around the county, according to Jody Hoener, member of the team.

Hoener is also a member of the sub-committee tasked with pulling the kiosk project together. Also serving on the sub-committee are Todd Farrell, Frank Halsey, Lindsay Madison,  and Jerry Witt.

Each kiosk will have maps of the trail and the surrounding community placed on them for reference to walkers/bikers using the trails, Hoener said.

The 10- foot- long, four-foot-wide and nine- feet -high wooden signs with roofs will be placed at Riverfront Loop Road,  Bell Town Trail,  the new trail at Gunn Park, Ellis Park Trail,  Fort Scott Community College Trail, Industrial Park Trail, and in the western part of the county, the Uniontown Trail.

The construction of the kiosks is being completed by Fort Scott High School Carpentry Classes, under the instruction of Larry Lawrence.

Lawrence was looking for community projects for his students to work on, he said.

This summer, Fort Scott Superintendent of Parks Todd Farrell called with the kiosk idea, Lawrence said.

Two carpentry classes have been working on them since school started, Lawrence said.

“We are building four (kiosks) right now, and maybe four in the spring,” Lawrence said.

“They gave me the initial plans and I created them in more detail on AutoCAD (computer-aided design),” Lawrence said.

Simon Ballou will do the artwork for the kiosks and Darren Crays will print and apply the work on plastic panels, Crays said.

“Frank Halsey is going to take them to his place (following completion),” Lawrence said. “He’ll keep them until the city is ready to put them up.”

New sidewalks to be unveiled Nov. 14

In addition to wayfaring signs, the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team has been planning for more sidewalks in the county.

That team, along with PedNet will be at both the Fort Scott City Commission and the Uniontown City Council  November 14 to show the results of the sidewalk plans, according to its Facebook page. They will unveil the proposed non-motorized transportation plan from 5-6 p.m.  at the Fort Scott City Hall, 123 S. Main, and from 7-8 p.m. at Uniontown City Hall, 206 Sherman, on the east side of the square.

PedNet is a non-profit consulting firm specializing in Safe Routes to School, non-motorized transportation, and nutrition, according to the Facebook page.

U.S. military veterans can enjoy a dance, show off their uniform, or if they can’t fit in that uniform anymore, show off the medals earned while serving their country.  For veterans, the dance, a semi-formal ball, is free of charge.

Memorial Hall, 1 East Third, will be the venue for that dance to honor military veterans in a unique way on November 11 from 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site (FFSNHS )decided to have a second ball, following the Labor Day Grand Ball they facilitated last year in honor of the centennial of the National Park Service.

“Everybody had a great time,” Dee Young, member of the Friends group, said of the ball last year. “People asked ‘When is the next one?'”

That began Young thinking about another event, this one to honor vets. She brought the idea to the Friends board, who decided a ball was a great way to honor veterans, she said.

Veterans who wear their uniform or bring military identification of some sort, a ribbon or medal, for example,  will get in for free.

Since the theme of Fort Scott National Historic Site is looking at life at the fort on the prairie in the 1840s, other attendees are encouraged to wear appropriate period clothing to the ball. Or, alternately semi-formal party wear may be worn.

Sweet and savory refreshments will be served and all proceeds go to the FFSNHS organization.

Don’t know how to dance like people in the 1840s?

1800s style dance lessons will be offered for free from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the day of the event, November 11, at the fort, in the Grand Hall.  Street clothes are appropriate for the dance lessons, Young said.

Tickets for the ball: general public– $20 in advance/$25 at the door per person or two for $30 in advance/$40 at the door;  FFSNHS members– $15 in advance/$20 at the door; and children 12 and under and dance observers– $5. 

All proceeds go to the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site.

Each year the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site provide a meal for the citizens following the U.S. Naturalization Ceremony on the grounds of the fort, they also serve ice cream at the fort’s Independence Day celebration and provide educational programs throughout the year as well.

Other 2017 activities the FFSNHS group helped with: the Native Neighbors event, a  Fort Scott Community Foundation grant to help with the 175th anniversary of the fort,  a grant for youth engagement at the fort through an Irby Family grant, a Sunflower Castle Home Tour, a Candlelight Tour in December, the Friends Fest 2017, Dancing With Our Stars 2017,Every Kid In A Park Grant,  and drinks during the solar eclipse.

Candlelight Tour

Tomorrow is the first day that tickets for the annual Candlelight Tour at Fort Scott National Historic Site go on sale. Tickets should be purchased early for choice of times. Usually, all tickets sell out, according to the fort’s website. This year’s tours will be offered December 1 and 2. Tours on December 1, will begin at 6:30 p.m. and go every 15 minutes until 9 p.m. On Saturday, December 2, the tours will run from 5 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 620-223-0310 or by coming to the visitor center at the fort. The fort is located at the north end of downtown Fort Scott. Tickets are $8. each and are non-refundable. Children 5 and under are free.