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Schools

2018 Lowell Milken Fellows Coming June 17, June 24

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The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to 12 educators who will come to Fort Scott in the next couple of weeks

The LMC Fellowship is awarded on the basis of merit to educators who have distinguished themselves in teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning or who have the potential for this distinction. The Center selects exemplary teachers from across America and Europe, drawn from a variety of disciplines, to collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.

Week 1 – June 17

Caldarelli, Emily: 2016 Rhode Island Milken Educator – Emily teaches fourth-grade in Providence. Her innovative implementation of math and science curriculum has been recognized all over New England

Flynn, James: 2009 Connecticut Milken Educator – James teaches U.S. History and is heavily involved with local history projects. His energy and enthusiasm will translate into projects. 

 

Guerra, Elisa: Global Teacher Finalist and Teacher of the Year in the Caribbean and Latin America – Elisa teaches Middle School Humanities in Aguascalientes, Mexico and is a project maker.

 

Johnson, Stephanie: 2016 South Carolina Teacher of the Year – Stephanie teaches 2nd grade and enjoys using cross-cultural lessons with her students. She has received many awards along with a Global Learning Fellowship.

McGaughey, Jordan: 2017 Missouri Milken Educator – Jordan teaches Government at the high school level. His innovation and creativity lend itself to project-based learning and our unsung hero projects.

 

Safari, Argine: 2017 New Jersey Teacher of the Year – She teaches at a performing arts high school and studied at the Moscow State Conservatory. She was the Princeton University Distinguished Teacher. Dynamic is the word from every area of our research.

Week 2 – June 24

Craven, Katie: Award-winning PBL teacher from St. Paul, Minnesota – Katie’s students have received dozens of honors in project-based learning. She comes to the Fellowship as an accomplished educator in many areas.

 

Dennison, Thomas: 2017 Maryland Milken Educator – Thomas’ work in elementary education is creative and innovative. As a 5th grade teacher, he stands out for his project work.

 

 

Franklin, Paula: 2017 Tennessee Milken Educator – Paula teaches American government at West High School in Knoxville and has much project-based learning experience.

 

 

Giannopoulos, Nikos: 2017 Rhode Island Teacher of the Year – Nikos is a Special Education teacher at the Beacon Charter High School for the Arts. He is a leader in New England education and excited about his Fellowship.

 

Heath, Penny: Award-winning PBL teacher from Canton, Oklahoma – Penny teachers US History and local history in an exciting way. Her students have won numerous national awards for projects as has she for PBL.

 

 

Jensen, Lauren: 2015 New York Milken Educator – Lauren is currently teaching high school English in Virginia. Lauren has set a high standard for creativity and innovation in the classroom.

 

Kansas

KCC Public Hearing on Westar’s Proposed Increase of $5.91 Per Month

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KCC schedules Wichita public hearing on Westar’s rate change application

 

Topeka – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) will hold a public hearing on Thursday, June 28 in Wichita to receive input from Westar Energy customers on the company’s rate change request.  The public hearing will begin at 6 p.m. at Wichita State University’s Lowe Auditorium located at 5015 E. 29th St. N. in Wichita. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the proposed rate change, ask questions of the company and KCC staff and make comments to KCC Commissioners.

 

A public hearing was held in Topeka on May 22, and broadcast live on the KCC website. This public hearing in Wichita was scheduled to provide Wichita area residents with the opportunity to speak directly to Commissioners and share their thoughts regarding the proposed rate change.

 

The application, filed by Westar in February, requests a $1.56 million dollar rate decrease effective September 2018 and a $54.2 million dollar rate increase in February 2019 for the company’s retail rate customers.  Combined, the adjustments would increase prices by $52.6 million. If approved, residential customers with average monthly consumption of 900-kilowatt hours of electricity will see a monthly increase of $5.91 per month. The request also includes updated tariffs for customers who installed their own source of electric power after October 28, 2015. A complete copy of Westar Energy’s Application and supporting testimony is available on the Commission’s website.

 

The Commission will accept public comments through 5 p.m. CDT, July 18, 2018. There are three convenient ways to submit a comment:

1)      Go to the KCC website (www.kcc.ks.gov) and click on the “Your Opinion Matters” link to submit a comment.

2)      Send a written letter to the Kansas Corporation Commission, Office of Public Affairs and  Consumer Protection, 1500 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, KS 66604‑4027. Be sure to reference Docket No. 18‑WSEE‑328-RTS.

3)      Call the Commission’s Public Affairs office at 1‑800‑662‑0027 or 785-271‑3140.

Area News, Submitted

Mercy’s Golf Classic Results

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The Jon Allen team.

A whopping 32 teams participated in the third annual Mercy Health Foundation Golf Classic held at Woodland Hills Golf Course on June 9. The event is quickly becoming one of the largest tournaments in southeast Kansas and the most successful fundraisers for the foundation. Organizers predict net funds to surpass the $14,000 mark.

“We are extremely grateful to the participants, our huge and growing list of sponsors, golf course employees and our Mercy volunteers who came together to support this amazing fundraiser for the Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott,” said Tina Rockhold, foundation executive director and community relations manager.

Proceeds from 2018 Mercy Golf Classic will be paired with the July 27th Hit the Bricks Wine Stroll, Art Walk, and Blane Howard Concert proceeds to help the Mercy Health Foundation to purchase a new transport ambulance for Mercy EMS.

The fourth Mercy Golf Classic is already scheduled for Saturday, June 8, 2019.

Event results:

1st Flight Winners

1st Place ($300) with a score of 50 – Jon Allen team

2nd Place ($200) with a score of 51 – Shawn Marshall team

3rd Place ($100) with a score of 52 – Barry Queen team

The Steve Anthony team.

2nd Flight Winners

1st Place ($300) with a score of 57 (won in scorecard playoff 2 on 2) – Steve Anthony team

2nd Place ($200) with a score of 57 – Mitch Quick team

3rd Place ($100) with a score of 58 – Clay Campbell team

The Mike Harper team.

3rd Flight Winners

1st Place ($300) with a score of 60 (won scorecard playoff 3 on 4) – Mike Harper team

2nd Place ($200) with a score of 60 – Beth Nuss team

3rd Place ($100) with a score of 62 – Jed Perez team

The Allen Bukowski team.

4th Flight Winners

1st Place ($300) with a score of 62 (won scorecard playoff 3 on 14) – Allen Bukowski team

2nd Place ($200) with a score of 62 – Dean Crager team

3rd Place ($100) with a score of 65 – Cliff Yarick team

Special Events

Chipping Contest – (golf bag, umbrella, $30 LaHacienda and grilling utensils) – Matt Sanders

Men’s Longest Drive (1 dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls) – Blake Hudson

Women’s Longest Drive (1 dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls) – Jordan Mason

Closest to Pin (1 dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls) – Jim Ermel 37.5 inches

Closest to the Line (1 dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls) – Jordan Mason at 16 ft.

Closest to the Line (1 dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls) – Drew Clark at 4 inches

Sponsors for the event include: Queen’s Price Chopper, All Hit 103.9, 5 Corners Mini Mart, McDonalds of Fort Scott and Nevada, Briggs Auto of Fort Scott, Care 4 All, Landmark National Bank, Walgreens, Go2Partners, WCA, City of Fort Scott, Extrusions, Inc., Fort Scott Family Dental, City State Bank, Union State Bank, Cancer Center of Kansas, Names & Numbers, Cheney Witt Chapel, Inc., Citizens Bank, R & R Equipment, Mid-Continental Restoration Company, Inc., HydroWorx, Central States Fitness, EVCO, Campbell Print Solutions, Inc., Bourbon County Assisted Living, LLC, Pumpin Pete’s, Lowell Milken Center, SMM Holdings LLC, Peerless Products, Timken, Stutesman’s Action Realty, Watts Fitness LLC, Ward-Kraft, Common Grounds, Atkins Insurance Agency, Fort Scott Community College, Hammons Realty Company, Marsha’s Great Plains Deli, Medicalodges, Inc., Goody’s Department Store, {Re:Freshed Aesthetics} by Delane, LaHacienda of Fort Scott, and Labconco Corp,

The Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott in a not-for-profit corporation which secures public support for projects that enhance health care in the Fort Scott area. Over the years, contributions have helped purchase medical equipment, support programs and established an endowment to meet Mercy’s future health care needs.

 

 

 

Government, Submitted

Local Author at Library June 18

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Local author, Carol Russell, will read portions from her books “Brianna Meets Lemonade Lucy” and “Brianna Meets Sybil,” which are books two and three in her Back In Time series, in the Fort Scott Public Library event room, June 18, 3 – 4 p.m. She will also be selling and signing copies of her books, including the first in the series, “Brianna Meets Miss Addie.”  Russell’s stories are historical fiction and are geared toward children ages 8-12. All ages are welcome to attend the event.
 
Information from the back covers: 
“Brianna Meets Lemonade Lucy”: Brianna finds herself in the White House in 1878. How can the radio transfer her in time and place? When she is discovered, she is mistaken for hired help. What happens to her in this era? And can she get back to Kansas?
 
“Brianna Meets Sybil”: Brianna is transported back in time. How can the strange radio transfer her? The minute she sets foot in Connecticut in April 1777, she realizes that she is not alone. Will she be able to get both her and another person home? Can she convince Katie to keep their secret?
Kansas, Submitted

Federal Grant to Help Traumatic Brain Injuries

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KDADS Awarded Federal Grant to Expand and Improve TBI Services

 

TOPEKA – The federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living has awarded the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) a three-year grant to expand and improve the services the state provides to individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

 

KDADS will use the $150,000-a-year grant to create and strengthen a system of services and supports that maximizes the independence, well-being and health of Kansans with TBI in collaboration with the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators and other key stakeholders.

 

The objectives of this project are to increase representation of people affected by TBI on Kansas’ TBI Advisory board, develop an annual State TBI Action Plan, develop a TBI Registry, increase enrollment of at least 30 people onto TBI Medicaid waiver, conduct annual seminars and educational events that increase knowledge and build capacity for advocacy, and create a sustainability plan to maintain and expand services in the future.

 

“We expect this project to result in an increased number of individuals with TBI receiving services under the state’s 1915(c) Medicaid waiver for TBI, which currently serves about 425 individuals,” KDADS Secretary Tim Keck said. “Another aim of this project is to educate people experiencing TBI, and the public, about brain injuries and to make them aware of the community resources available to support them.”

 

Kansas’ TBI Medicaid waiver provides a range of services and supports to individuals with TBI and their families with the aim of ensuring that individuals can remain in their homes and be as independent as possible in a safe, healthy environment. The HCBS/TBI program serves individuals who would otherwise require institutionalization in a TBI rehabilitation facility. The TBI waiver is designed to be a rehabilitative program for consumers to receive therapies and services that enable them to rely less on supports as their independence increases.

 

In 2018, the Kansas Legislature enacted a law requiring that the TBI Medicaid waiver cover children and people with acquired brain injuries as well as those with traumatic brain injury. Kansas is in the process of renewing federal approval for its TBI waiver and the proposed new waiver will include children and individuals with acquired brain injuries as required. The waiver is due for renewal in July of 2019. If approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Kansas will become the first state in the nation to establish a rehabilitation program for children who have a brain injury.

 

Bourbon County, Government, Submitted

Agenda For the Bourbon County Commission June 12

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

2nd Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: June 12th, 2018

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00-Firework permit

9:45-Decker Electric

10:00-10:30-Benefits Direct-Andrew Allen

10:30-11:00-Bill Martin-trash bids for the new jail/sheriff

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks

Executive Session-Privileged in the attorney-client relationship-15 min.

Executive Session-Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel-15 min.

Bids and contract title insurance-7 min.

Sale of County Property-5 min.

Update on NRP-5 min.

12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch

` 1:30-1:45-Old Jail/New Jail-Justin Meeks

Justifications for Executive Session:

          Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

          Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

          Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

          Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

          Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

          Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system

Obituary

Obituary Of Susan O’Bryan

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Susan E. O’Bryan, age 75, resident of Uniontown, KS, died Monday, June 11, 2018, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott.

  There was cremation.

  Private family burial will take place in the Uniontown Cemetery. 

The family will announce a Celebration of Life Service at a later date.  Memorials are suggested to the Mercy Cancer Center and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Kansas, Submitted

KDOT Funding Improvements For Local Public Agencies

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Governor Colyer, KDOT Announce Local Projects Funding Improvements

Topeka – Governor Jeff Colyer today announced that the Kansas Department of Transportation is increasing the exchange rate for local public agencies seeking to fund local projects with state funds through the Federal Fund Exchange Program, returning the exchange rate to $.90 in state funds made available for every $1.00 in federal funds awarded a local agency, upon that agency’s request.

“By participating in the Federal Fund Exchange Program, we are hoping to increase the control that localities have over their transportation projects and make sure that funds are available when they need them,” said Governor Colyer. “It is important to me that local governments have access to resources for local projects with less federal regulation and bureaucratic red tape. We want Kansas solutions for Kansas transportation issues.”

The Federal Fund Exchange Program is a voluntary program allowing local public agencies the option to sell all or a portion of their federal funds for state transportation dollars, which provides greater flexibility of use and allows local agencies the opportunity to fund larger projects that may not have been possible with federal funding.

“We value the partnership we have with local public agencies and we are looking forward to maximizing our capacity to help them improve their local transportation infrastructure,” said Secretary of Transportation Richard Carlson. “We want to continue providing a statewide transportation system that meets the needs of the people of Kansas.”

Federal funds exchanged for state funds can be used for local projects such as road construction, maintenance or preservation, safety improvements, sidewalks, ADA ramps, bridge construction, rehabilitation or repair, and low water crossings. The funds exchange program allows local agencies to deposit federal funds over a period of years to bank funds for larger projects or to fund projects that would not have fallen under federal requirements.

Max Dibble, Phillips County Commissioner and Kansas Association of Counties President, said, “Restoration of the $.90/$1.00 ratio in the federal funds exchange program will allow counties to further stretch our transportation dollars.  This means safer local roads and bridges for our citizens, farmers and businesses depending on them.”

Michael White, Executive Director of the Kansas Contractors Association commented that, “our economy depends on good roads and infrastructure. We appreciate the Governor and KDOT’s leadership to leverage innovative opportunities for transportation funding. This is a perfect example of how we can all work together – at the local, state and federal level – to repair and grow our economy through results-driven infrastructure investments.”

“As we travel the state and talk to cities, we repeatedly hear transportation funding and infrastructure development is critically important to maintain and grow our state,” said Erik Sartorius, Executive Director of the League of Kansas Municipalities. “We appreciate the Governor and KDOT for reinstating the 90-cent exchange rate for local projects. These funds are used to build important projects in cities including the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of roads and bridges.”

The exchange rate was $.90 for fiscal years 2011-2017 and was at $.75 for fiscal year 2018. Approximately $30 million in federal funds has been eligible for the program. The new rate will take effect with all new contracts.