Response to today’s announcement of a bipartisan agreement on Medicaid expansion
” Ascension Via Christi extends our appreciation to Gov. Laura Kelly and Sen. Jim Denning for
reaching an agreement on expanding Medicaid in Kansas. Ascension Via Christi, along with the
Kansas Hospital Association and many other healthcare organizations, have been advocating for
Medicaid expansion for the past eight years as a way to make sure that all of our citizens have
access to care.
Expanding Medicaid will bring hundreds of millions in federal dollars to our state, giving Kansans
residents increased access to health care coverage while supporting healthcare providers and our
entire Kansas economy.
Across Ascension’s markets we know that expanded Medicaid has enhanced access to coverage
and care, resulted in more appropriate utilization of services, and has created financial security
among the poor and vulnerable.
Our ministry’s support of Medicaid expansion is rooted in our mission to serve all persons, with
special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable, and to protect and promote the inherent
dignity of all human life from conception until natural death .”
-Submitted by Don King, chief executive officer, Ascension Via Christi
All posts by Submitted Story
Fort Scott City Commission Work Session Jan. 15
There will be a work session of the Fort Scott City Commission held on Wednesday, January 15th, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the City Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street. This work session will be held to discuss water and sewer lines in the City of Fort Scott. This work session is open to the public.
Farmers’ Market Workshop in February
Regional Farmers’ Market Workshops Scheduled for February
The Kansas Department of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension will host six regional workshops in February 2020 to assist farmers’ market vendors and managers. Kansas farmers’ markets not only provide a fresh food source, but also stimulate the local economy. In 2019, 57 farmers’ markets were registered with KDA’s Central Registration of Farmers’ Markets.
“Farmers’ markets provide growers a wonderful opportunity to have real interaction with consumers, and a chance to tell their farm’s story,” said Londa Nwadike, consumer food safety specialist with K-State Research and Extension and the University of Missouri. “It’s also important for farmers to understand certain legal, safety and financial parameters before choosing to sell at a farmers’ market.”
Workshop topics will vary slightly by location. Main topics include:
- Double Up Food Bucks Program and Accepting EBT
- Food Safety and Regulations on Selling Meat, Eggs and Poultry
- Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Certified Farmer Training
- Marketing Tips
- Produce Grower Panel
KDA’s weights and measures program will also offer free scale certification at the workshops for attendees.Dates and locations for the Farmers’ Market events are as follows:
Saturday, Feb. 1 — Iola: Allen Community College
Saturday, Feb. 8 — Wichita: Sedgwick County Extension Office
Friday, Feb. 21 — Olathe: KSU Olathe
Saturday, Feb. 22 — Hiawatha: Fisher Center
Friday, Feb. 28 — Beloit: Beloit First Christian Church
Saturday, Feb. 29 — Leoti: Wichita County Community Building
Registration for the February workshops is now open. The cost is $20 per participant to cover the cost of lunch. Lunch will only be guaranteed to those participants who register prior to the respective workshop date. Registration for the workshops can be found at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMworkshop or at local extension offices.
Onsite registration for the workshops will open at 8:30 a.m. and the workshops will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude by 3:00 p.m. The Wichita workshop will begin onsite registration at 8:15 a.m. and the workshop begins at 8:45 a.m., concluding at 4:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Robin Blume, KDA’s education and events coordinator, at 785-564-6756 or [email protected]. The workshops are funded by the Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops, the Kansas Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, K-State Research and Extension, and the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
KDA is committed to providing an environment that enhances and encourages economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy. The Kansas Ag Growth Strategy has identified training for small companies via workshops as a key growth outcome for the specialty crop sector. The farmers’ market workshops will provide education through partnerships to help make Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses more successful.
Martin Luther King Celebration Begins Jan. 15
Gordon Parks Museum to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will be held next week, with several events planned in Fort Scott.
The event begins on Wednesday, January 15th at the Gordon Parks Museum. The day will include three film showings at 9:00am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm. A Lunch and Learn event will also be held at 11:00am featuring a dramatic reading of ‘Letters from Birmingham Jail’ by FSCC students and members of the community. A reception will follow with birthday cake. Participants may bring their own lunch.
On Thursday the community is invited to the Fort Scott High School for a Martin Luther King Jr. assembly program. The program will include presentations by the Project Based Learning students, and the Advance Placement Government class.
The celebration will wrap up with a 12:00pm Lunch and Learn at the Gordon Parks Museum on Monday, January 20th. This community discussion will be moderated by Rev. George Proctor of the United Missionary Baptist Church. Lunch will be provided by Luther’s BBQ. Films will also be shown throughout the day Monday at 9:00am, 10:30am, and 1:30pm.
A full list of film showings can be found at www.visitfortscott.com/events. For more information call the Gordon Parks Museum at 620-223-2700 ext. 5850.
Submitted by Allyson Turvey
New Kansas Department of Human Services
Governor Kelly Announces Reorganization Creating
Kansas Department of Human Services
New agency to include DCF, KDADS and KDOC Juvenile Services
Governor Laura Kelly today announced her intent to submit an executive reorganization order to the Kansas Legislature creating the Kansas Department of Human Services (KDHS). The new agency will include the current programs at the Department for Children and Families (DCF), Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) and the juvenile services division of the Department of Corrections.
Current Secretary of DCF and KDADS, Laura Howard, will lead the new KDHS.
“I ran for office, in part, to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens were protected and that somebody in Topeka was advocating for them,” Kelly said. “One of my key priorities since taking office has been fixing our broken safety net and ensuring that we have a system that is worthy of our citizens. The creation of this new, combined agency reinforces my commitment to our children and families in need and ensures they have access to critical services.
“The creation of the new agency allows us to focus on prevention, so that we can get to these families before their situation becomes a crisis,” Kelly said. “The Department of Human Services will partner with communities across the state to create a single point of entry for those who need access to services for things like child welfare, mental health, economic support and juvenile justice.”
Programs included in the new agency will include:
- Adult protective services
- Adult behavioral health
- Long-term services and supports
- Economic supports
- Employment supports
- Children’s mental-health supports
- Child protective services
- Juvenile justice and crossover youth
- Foster care
- Prevention
- Licensing, credentialing, survey and certification
- Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex
- Larned State Hospital
- Parsons State Hospital
- Osawatomie State Hospital
- Kansas Neurological Institute
Governor Kelly recognizes juvenile justice reform has resulted in a reduced need for incarceration while at the same time improving county community corrections case management. Including juvenile services in the new agency continues the improvement process.
“Given the needs of families for community collaboration and overlap, it makes sense to organize juvenile services and child welfare resources under one agency,” Kelly said.
“This is not going to be business as usual,” Howard said. “This combination of services gives us an opportunity to think differently about service delivery. We want Kansans to have seamless access to programs and services that will allow them to thrive. KDHS will be known for its innovation and willingness to work with community partners.”
“Secretary Howard is the perfect person to lead the new agency,” Kelly said. “I am confident that she has the vision and experience to launch an organization of this magnitude and ensure that all Kansans are well served by a commitment to continuous improvement and accountability.”
Governor Kelly will submit the ERO to the legislature within the first 30 days of session. The ERO becomes effective on July 1, following its transmittal to the Legislature, unless either the Senate or the House takes action on the ERO within 60 calendar days after submission.
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Report Jan. 8
Click below:
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Jan. 9
Chamber Hosts Coffee Jan. 9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meeting To Oppose Wind Farm Jan. 9
A meeting of area residents in Bourbon and Crawford counties who oppose the Jayhawk Wind Farm development will be held Thursday, January 9, 6;30 pm at Rodeway Inn, Ft Scott, Ks.
On the agenda will be the organization of a formal opposition group, assistance from successful opponents of previous wind farms, and a discussion of potential and political avenues to stop the Jayhawk development.
The meeting is open to the public. Anyone concerned about the impact on their home values and damage to our community’s natural rural vista by the Jayhawk development is urged to attend.
Submitted by Ann Dare
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports Jan. 3-7
Click below:
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Jan. 8
Kansas Whitetail Deer: Record 321 Inches Score
Kansas Bowhunter Takes World-Class Whitetail
WICHITA – Kansas bowhunter, Brian Butcher, 38, harvested a whitetail buck in Chase County last October that he knew was something special. It wasn’t until the buck’s rack was measured by Boone and Crockett Club certified measurers on Friday, Jan. 3 that Butcher confirmed just how special the deer was. Butcher’s whitetail earned an unofficial net non-typical score of 321 3/8 inches. If accepted and verified by the Boone and Crockett Club – an internationally recognized non-profit conservation organization that maintains native North American big game records – the deer Butcher harvested would rank fourth in the world for non-typical whitetail deer. As for the Kansas record books, Butcher’s buck will be the largest non-typical whitetail ever taken, surpassing the current state record for a non-typical whitetail harvested with archery equipment by 57 2/8 inches.
“When I first saw it, I thought it had some branches or grass tangled up in its antlers,” said Butcher. “But when I looked at him with binoculars, I realized it was all antlers.”
Butcher released his arrow when the giant buck was just 25 yards from his treestand and the shot was true. After waiting only 5-10 minutes, Butcher tracked the deer to a spot 50 yards away.
“I had the most opposite feeling of ‘ground shrinkage’ possible,” Butcher said of the big whitetail with 67 scorable points. “I was in complete shock.”
After sharing photos of the buck with friend Brian Crowe, the duo got together and attempted to score the deer.
“We added it up five times because it didn’t make sense,” Butcher laughed. “We had it at 341 inches gross, and 316 inches net.”
According to Boone and Crockett guidelines, the rack could not be officially measured until it had dried for at least 60 days. On January 3, Boone and Crockett measurers Marc Murrell, Newton, and Ken Witt, Burleson, Tex., took on what would become a nearly five-hour-long task of scoring the deer. Murrell and Witt came up with a pending net non-typical score of 321 3/8 inches.
The score sheet and entry materials on Butcher’s buck have been mailed to the Boone and Crockett Club headquarters for verification and acceptance. Because of its high ranking, the rack will be scored again by a panel of measurers at the Boone and Crockett Club’s next awards ceremony in 2022.
If it stands, Butcher’s buck will rank fourth in the world of non-typical whitetails. Boone and Crockett’s top two non-typical whitetails were found dead in Missouri and Ohio and scored 333 7/8 inches and 328 2/8 inches, respectively.
The largest hunter-harvested non-typical whitetail was taken by bowhunter Luke Brewster in Illinois in 2018 and scored 327 7/8 inches.
The current Kansas state record firearm non-typical whitetail was taken in 1987 by Joseph Waters in Shawnee County and scored 280 4/8 inches. The current Kansas state record archery non-typical whitetail was shot by Dale Larson in 1998 in Pottawatomie County and scored 264 1/8 inches.
For more on Kansas big game records, visit ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/What-to-Hunt.
For more on the Boone and Crockett Club, visit www.boone-crockett.org/.