All posts by Submitted Story

Bourbon County

Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition Meeting Minutes of March 2

Leave a comment

Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition

General Membership Meeting Minutes

March 2, 2022

  1. Welcome: Billie Jo welcomed ten members representing eleven agencies. She shared that applications for the 2022 Family Swim Pass program would be available at Buck Run and Beacon within the next week. She also noted that the Coalition Board was seeking a volunteer to fill the board position left open by Nancy Van Etten’s resignation.
  1. Member Introductions and Announcements:
  • Michelle Stevenson sent word to the group that FSECP was thriving and growing; she now has ten pre-natal clients participating. She continues to accept referrals to her programs.
  • Sandy Haggard, RSVP, announced that she had just received word that her grant had been extended for three additional years; her grant goals continue to be focused on food distribution and opioid cessation; she is also looking into partnerships with area museums as a place for seniors to volunteer.
  • Sandy also updated the group on the Recovery House in Iola, SEK Substance Misuse Prevention Coalition project spearheaded by April Jackson.
  • Christine Abbott, SEK Works, reminded members that she has funds available to help 16-24 year old young adults with GED funding, work experience, etc.; there are public computers available for use at the Fort Scott office.
  • David Gillen, Beacon, noted that they were gearing up for an inspection from the food bank organization; he also invited members to come view the new concrete drive on the west side of the Beacon building.
  • Allen Schellack, Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries and Salvation Army, mentioned that he is able to help with emergency lodging, taxi passes, etc. He also has heaters, bedding, towels available.
  • Hannah Geneva, SEK Multi-County Health Department, shared that the department had received a generous donation of diapers from the Nazarene Church. They had also received a Tiller grant that allows them to provide birth control for uninsured women. Hannah also reminded members that Holly Fritter continues to hold “Mommy and Me” classes on the third Thursday of each month.
  • Gabby Gier, CHC, 620-223-8015, is partnering with the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to work on tobacco cessation in Bourbon County. Gabby will present our May program to give details.
  • Patty Simpson, Fort Scott Housing Authority, does have vacancies for two bedroom apartments; there is a waiting list for other units. If members have clients who might qualify for the KERA program, Patty is willing to help with those applications.
  • Tonya Cliffman, Evergy, shared that LIEAP applications can be found at Evergy.com; deadline for applications is March 31.
  1. Program: Tanya Cliffman with Warming Hearts. Warming Hearts was organized by a group of caring individuals who have a heart for the homeless community. Through research and word of mouth, they were able to secure initial funding, gain permission from the City Commission, and build and place one “pod.” The group’s goal was to keep the homeless person off the ground, dry, and out of the weather. Although they were not able to place a homeless person this winter, they have learned about the obstacles and are working to eliminate those obstacles in order to grow the program.
  1. Open Forum: Nothing further was discussed; Billie Jo reminded members to sign the attendance sheet.
  1. Adjournment: Next General Membership meeting will be April 6, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. The program will be presented by Josh McCloud, Donor Relations and Community Outreach Coordinator, Comm
Opinion

The Big Picture by Gregg Motley

2 Comments
Gregg Motley. President of the Regional Economic Development, Inc. Submitted photo.

 

The dramatic globalization that has taken place in the last few decades means that what happens in China, India, Europe, etc., affects all 3,143 counties in the United States, including Bourbon in Kansas. The most obvious example is COVID-19, which most experts agree originated in Wuhan, China; our county lost 45 residents.

Additionally, we have many manufacturing and retail businesses in Bourbon County that rely upon the import/export supply chain, which has experienced disruptions in recent months. These events impacted the profit of local companies and the earnings of our citizens. One Bourbon County manufacturer had presold a custom product for nearly $500,000.00, only to have the completed item delayed for weeks by a couple of parts that are normally readily available at a cost of about $600.00. Rural Kansans cannot say that global markets do not matter.

How does the United States (“US”) stack up when compared to global markets? Looking at Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”), which is the sum of the value of all products and services produced by an economy in a year, the US became the world leader in GDP in 1890 at about $13 billion, passing China and Great Britain. We have been number one every year since then, and by 1907, we had doubled our nearest rival. Between World War I and the Great Depression our economy was often three times bigger than the number two nation.

After World War II, our biggest economic rival was the Soviet Union; this lasted until 1977 when Japan overtook them to rank second. Japan stayed in second place until passed briefly by Great Britain in 2001; China took over second place in 2009. At that time, the US economy produced 10 times more than the Chinese economy.

What about today? We are number one at $21 trillion; China is number two at $14 trillion. China has exploded in growth in the last twenty years, and is expanding at a rate to pass the US within the next two decades.

Looking at the largest companies in the world in 2019, of the top 20 in market capitalization, the US has produced 13; second place is China with three. No other country in the world has produced more than one. Apple is number one on the list at over $2 trillion in value; for perspective, that is almost 10% of the annual GDP of the US.

The same list 30 years ago contained only six US companies, with Exxon coming in at number five on the list as the largest domestic company at $63 billion. Japan was the global leader with 13 companies in the top 20. Interestingly, no company on the list in 1989 is still on the list in 2019; apparently, innovation and value creation are still important, and, while totalitarian states like China can create efficiencies, the US system remains the most potent producer in the world. There is no need to change our economic system, unless it is less government intrusion into free markets.

China and other emerging economies bear watching, but the US is still strong and competitive worldwide. Stay informed and listen to reports coming from your representatives in government; rural America has much at stake.

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda for March 8

Leave a comment

Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: March 8, 2022
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Ashley Shelton
MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM
Call to Order
• Flag Salute
• Approval of Minutes from previous meeting
• Eric Bailey – Road and Bridge Report
• 2022 Noxious Weed Management Plan
• 2022 Annual Noxious Weed Eradication Progress Report
• Mowing & Snow Removal Bids
• Discussion of Liquor Sales in the County
• Lora Holdridge – Discussion of 17 County Meeting (Date to be determined)
• County Counselor Comment
• Susan Bancroft, Finance Director Comment
• Public Comment
• Elected Officials Comment
• Commission Comment
Justifications for Executive Session: KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy KSA 75-4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship KSA 75-4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency KSA 75-4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships KSA 75-4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property KSA 75-4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.

2022 Annual Noxious Weed Eradication Progress Report

2022 Noxious Weed Management Plan

Obituary

Obituary of Shanna Griffiths

Leave a comment

Shanna R. Griffiths, age 65, a resident of rural Bronaugh, Missouri, passed away unexpectedly Friday, March 4, 2022, at the Nevada Regional Medical Center Emergency Room in Nevada, Missouri.

She was born August 19, 1956, in Olathe, Kansas, the daughter of Douglas Brian Culp and Marilyn Dee Vermillion Culp.

She graduated from the Ft. Scott High School. She married Robert Dean Griffiths on February 15, 1975, in Ft. Scott.

Her life’s work was health care. In earlier years, Shanna worked as a nurse at Mercy Hospital in Ft. Scott and later St. John’s Hospital and Freeman Medical Center in Joplin, Missouri. For ten years, she taught nursing classes at Missouri Southern University. She later completed training to become a nurse practitioner. She was currently serving at nurse practitioner at the Nevada Regional Medical Center’s Rich Hill Clinic.

She was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nevada.

One of her hobbies included doing family genealogy.

Survivors include her husband, Bob, of the home; two children, Douglas Brandon Griffiths (Priscilla) of Deerfield, Missouri and Lisa René Peterson (Shane) of Albany, Missouri; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Sarah McCulley (Les) of Deerfield, Missouri and Sherry Daniels of Topeka, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Father Pete Savidge will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, March 9th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Following funeral services, there will be cremation.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Schools

4th Grade All-State Musician Performs

Leave a comment
Submitted photo.

Eugene Ware Elementary 4th grader, Charly Gulager, performed on February 24th with 160 of the best elementary
singers in the state of Kansas.

600 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders auditioned in autumn to be a part of this prestigious ensemble, twelve of them from Eugene Ware.

Charly was selected in December and had just two months to
memorize the music for the performance, requiring her to meet each week outside of class with her music teacher, MJ Harper, and to practice on her own at home.

Students who made All-State Elementary Choir rehearsed from 10 AM until the performance at 6 PM on Thursday, February 24th at the Century II Performance Hall in Wichita, KS.

Of the five pieces of repertoire, Charly said “Dust in the Wind is my favorite, but I also really like Oye!” Charly Gulager also performs with Eugene Ware Youth Choir.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Government, Health Care

CHC/SEK Update: $8 million Reno Has Begun

1 Comment

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas has begun the renovation of the old Price Chopper store at 2322 S. Main, which will be fully operational by December 31, 2022.

“We have completed the interior design of our new clinic in the Price Chopper building and renovation started,” CHC/SEK  Cheif Executive Officer Krista Postai, said.

Krista Postai, President and CEO of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. Submitted photo.
A graphic floor plan of the new CHC/SEK Fort Scott Clinic. Submitted.

 

Postai sent a graphic on the reconfigured building and explained the color designations.

In the above graphic the entrance is shaded pink, with the CHC Walk-In Care area in the space where the Price Chopper Donut Shop was, she said. Walk-In Care has its own entrance and waiting area.

Behind the walk-in area is the Wellness Center, which will have offices for staff including a chiropractor.

“That space will also have a shower,” Postai said. “Walk-In staff will also be able to exit the building for drive-in testing and vaccinations with dedicated parking for this purpose, should it still be needed in the future.”

“The main entrance will remain where it currently is with a spacious waiting area with a receptionist and check-in area,” Postai said. “The lab (blue shaded area on the graphic) is immediately inside next to the entrance for those coming in just for lab work.”

“The yellow space will be dedicated to the imaging ( department), including our new 64-slice CT Scanner, 3-D mammography, ultrasound and x-ray,” Postai said. “Our bone density unit will also be housed here. Centrally located it will be easily accessible from Walk-In Care, as well as the main medical clinic, which is the lighter purple shaded area in the graphic. This portion is laid out in pods with exam rooms plus a nursing station for each. There is space for current staff, plus extra pods have been created for the recruitment of additional medical providers.”

The pharmacy (at the bottom) –  will have a large space for over-the-counter items and a drive-through. It will be accessible from the lobby and from an exterior entrance.

“The green area off the lobby will be dedicated to behavioral health services and the blue area behind that for telemedicine/specialty services.”

“To the far right (in light blue) is the back of the building which includes the staff entrance, break room, administrative offices, conference and classrooms, which will be available to Fort Scott Community College Nursing Students,  and storage space,” she said.

“While this is our design, it may be modified as we go if we encounter something unexpected which almost always happens during renovation,” Postai said.

The renovation of the building is still on schedule and is expected to be fully operational by December 31, 2022, she said.

“The estimated cost of the project is $8 million, including the building,  which CHC/SEK is funding itself,” Postai said. “A portion of the equipment has been purchased with American Rescue Act funds which CHC/SEK received in 2021. This is the single largest investment in our history which we feel is critical to adequately handle the needs of our Bourbon County patients.”

The new clinic will be in the former Price Chopper building that left the building empty after a year’s business in Fort Scott failed to produce the income needed to sustain it.

 

FORT SCOTT PRICE CHOPPER TO CLOSE DOORS

The Price Chopper building, 2322 S. Main.

 

Renovation began Feb. 2022 on the future CHC/SEK Fort Scott Clinic in the former Price Chopper building on South Main Street.

On Feb. 23 there were several work crews inside the building at 2322 S. Main.

Jason Nutter, president of Nutter Electric, one of the crews, said his workers were “doing some demo work. Some electric stuff is being disconnected in preparation for walls being built.”

He said his crew will be there for approximately two weeks.

Others working simultaneously are framers, plumber and heating/ventilation/airconditioning crews, he said.

All together Nutter estimated about 16 people were working inside the building that day.

Wound Care Clinic Will Open In March

“The Wound Care Clinic is opening later this month in Ft. Scott,” Postai said. “We are pleased we could bring this service back.”

The current location of the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.

About CHC/SEK Fort Scott

CHC/SEK Fort Scott provides healthcare to anyone, regardless of their insurance or financial circumstance, according to information received from CHC.

In 2021 they had 71,000 patient visits in their Fort Scott clinics, have provided 1,400 mammograms, filled 57,700 prescriptions, given 8,769 COVID-19 tests and 7,972 COVID-19 vaccines.

They are investing $8 million dollars to create a modern clinic for everyone in Fort Scott.

More than 100 people are employed who live and work in Bourbon County, and have invested $6.3 million in the community in 2021.

 

 

COVID-19, Government

Senate Passes Resolution To End COVID-19 State of Emergency

Leave a comment

Senate PASSES Marshall’s Resolution to End COVID State of Emergency

(Washington, D.C., March 3, 2022) – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted 48-47 in favor of his legislation to end the COVID-19 national state of emergency currently in effect under the National Emergencies Act (NEA). Despite all scientific advances and our possession of a much greater understanding of COVID, President Joe Biden stealthily extended the national emergency declaration two weeks ago. You may click HERE or on the image below to watch Senator Marshall’s speech.

“After nearly two years of living under this state of emergency, the American people are worn out and yearning to breathe free; they long for their God-given freedoms, and for leaders to take their side. There is no doubt, it’s time for our nation to learn to live with COVID,” said Senator Marshall. “I am proud my colleagues came together to repeal this emergency declaration and delivered a symbolic victory to our citizens that normalcy is around the corner and that limited government and our constitutional rights still reign supreme. It’s high time to stop talking about restrictions and the unknown. We must chart a new course to victory today that respects the virus and our freedoms.”

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Bourbon County REDI Receives Award

Leave a comment

Bourbon County REDI Named Winner of Site Selectors Guild 2022 Projects with a Purpose Award

March 3, 2022 – The Site Selectors Guild (the Guild), the professional association of the world’s leading corporate location advisors, named Bourbon County Regional Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) the winner of its 2022 Projects with a Purpose award.

This award was presented during the Guild’s 2022 Annual Conference in San Diego, California. This award honors individuals or organizations who have successfully implemented location selection projects that go above and beyond job creation to address social and/or environmental issues within a community.

“We are thrilled to present the second annual Projects with a Purpose award to Bourbon County REDI,” said Chris Lloyd, Site Selectors Guild board chair. “Now in its second year, the awards recognize communities which see economic development as about more than just creating new jobs but as a way to help to address pressing social issues and to enhance opportunities for all.”

“What an honor!! Thank you to the Site Selectors Guild for presenting Bourbon County REDI with the Projects with a Purpose award, for our work with the Bourbon County Commission, Fort Scott Commission, and Noble Health Corporation. It is an honor to be accepting this award, and I am humbled by the recognition we received from such a prestigious group.” said Robert Harrington, Executive Director Bourbon County REDI.

In 2019, the local hospital in Fort Scott, Kansas closed. The hospital is reopening thanks to Project Phoenix, led by Bourbon County REDI. The reopened hospital will bring 150 jobs and $20 million in annual payroll back to the community. Moreover, the reopened hospital provides the healthcare necessary to attract and retain future job opportunities.

To learn more about the Site Selectors Guild Awards program, visit https://siteselectorsguild.com/guild-awards.

About the Site Selectors Guild

The Site Selectors Guild is the only association of the world’s foremost professional site selection consultants. Guild members provide location strategy to corporations across the globe and for every industry, sector, and function. Founded in 2010, the Site Selectors Guild is dedicated to advancing the profession of international corporate site selection by promoting integrity, objectivity and professional development. Members are peer-nominated, vetted, and must demonstrate significant professional location advisory experience. In the past three years alone, Guild members facilitated the announced creation of approximately 165,000 jobs and $90 billion in announced capital investment. Guild membership is the highest standard in the site selection industry. For more information, visit siteselectorsguild.com or follow @siteselectguild on Twitter.

Uncategorized

Victory over Drug Addiction

Leave a comment

 

Fort Scott Aglow Lighthouse welcomes Benton Cavaness who will share his story.

After a 20-year drug addiction, Benton is free! “God miraculously gave me complete victory over addiction and I have experienced more miracles and blessings in the last year than most people ever get to witness!”

Benton is from Thayer, KS. His interests now are God, church, family, farming, cattle, horses and staying free!

Guests welcome Thursday, March 10th at 6:30 pm.

They will gather in the conference room of Fort Scott Inn, 101 State Street.

Aglow International is an interdenominational ministry for women and men. The goal is: Every nation touched, every heart changed.