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Ascension Via Christi

Via Christi’s Program To Increase Breastfeeding/Duration Rates Earns Recognition

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Pittsburg’s Ascension Via Christi Hospital

earns High 5 for Mom & Baby recognition

 

Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg has once again earned recognition by High 5 for Mom & Baby, a program developed by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates in Kansas.

“I’m very proud of our team and the work they do to continue to promote breastfeeding for our moms and babies,” says Janelle Wade, director of Inpatient Services, which includes Women’s Health. “They understand the importance and the health benefits that breastfeeding provides newborns.”

Ascension Via Christi in Pittsburg first received High 5 recognition in 2018 and has maintained it each year since that time. High 5 for Mom & Baby provides resources and a framework to help Kansas hospitals implement 10 evidence-based practices proven to support successful breastfeeding, improve maternal and infant health outcomes and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities.

To obtain recognition, each facility must complete a voluntary and self-reported evaluation and demonstrate that it follows at least five of its 10 evidence-based practices:

  • Have a written maternity care and infant feeding policy that addresses all 10 High 5 for Mom & Baby practices supporting breastfeeding
  • Maintain staff competency in lactation support
  • Provide all expectant mothers with information and instruction on breastfeeding
  • Assure immediate and sustained skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby after birth
  • Provide all families individualized infant feeding counseling
  • Give no food or drink to newborns other than breast milk unless medically indicated
  • Allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day
  • Encourage feeding whenever the baby exhibits feeding cues, regardless of feeding methods
  • Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants
  • Provide mothers with information about community resources for breastfeeding support following their discharge from the hospital

These steps are designed to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates in the state of Kansas. Factors that influence how long or if a baby is breastfed include hospital practices, education and encouragement, policies or support in the workplace, and access to community support.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, six out of 10 mothers stopped breastfeeding sooner than they had planned.

“Our goal is to provide the support that mothers and babies need to be successful at breastfeeding,” says Miranda Caskey, RN, the certified lactation consultant who led the hospital’s High 5 for Mom & Baby efforts.

That support is critical, which is why Ascension Via Christi converted its lactation and childbirth education classes to virtual offerings led by a registered nurse and offer them at no cost to parents. Breastfeeding mothers also can schedule in-person follow-up appointments and weight checks with Caskey to help ensure a successful breastfeeding experience.

Learn more about Labor and Delivery or sign up for a class at Ascension Via Christi by visiting viachristibaby.com.

 

 

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About Ascension Via Christi

 

In Kansas, Ascension Via Christi operates seven hospitals and 75 other sites of care and employs nearly 6,400 associates. Across the state, Ascension Via Christi provided nearly $89 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2021. Serving Kansas for more than 135 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the leading non-profit and Catholic health system in the U.S., operating more than 2,600 sites of care – including 145 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org.

 

 

 

 

Government, Kansas

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran Newsletter

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America Needs a Fair & Transparent Organ Transplant System
For years, Senator Roy Blunt and I raised the alarm about the nation’s fundamentally unfair and biased organ transplant system. Our warnings were heeded when the Department of Health and Human Services announced its intent to overhaul the organ transplant system.

Breaking up the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) contract and adding transparency to the process are good first steps to rectify the fundamental bias in the system dominated by a monopolistic contractor. Getting the organ transplant and donation system right is a matter of life and death. There is no room for bias, reckless mistakes or an opaque process. It is important to continue oversight and make certain the organ donation process is transparent and fair so that more organs can be donated and more lives saved.

Continue reading U.S. Senator Jerry Moran Newsletter →

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee hosted by Woodland Hills Golf Course on April 6

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to the Chamber Coffee this Thursday, April 6th at 8am. This week’s coffee will be hosted by Woodland Hills Golf Course located at 2414 Horton St. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

Fort Scott’s Woodland Hills Golf Course was named a Top 10 golf course in Kansas by Best Things Kansas and number 6 in the entire state. Woodland Hills has also been named one of the best municipal courses in Kansas. Woodland Hills is an 18-hole park-style course, winding through beautiful scenery, with elevation changes and some of the best views in Bourbon County. Come enjoy one of Southeast Kansas’s hidden treasures at the Woodland Hills Golf Course.

 

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.

 

Government, Kansas

KS March Taxes Surpass Estimate

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Governor Kelly Announces March Total Tax Collections Surpass Estimate by Nearly $65 Million

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that total tax collections for March 2023 were $758.3 million. That is $64.9 million, or 9.4%, more than the monthly estimate. That is also $78.7 million, or 11.6%, more than March 2022.

“Time and again, we have exceeded our estimated tax collections, providing further proof that we can responsibly axe taxes on groceries, retirement, and property for Kansans,” said Governor Laura Kelly.

Individual income tax collections were $314.6 million. That is $438,000 less than the estimate but $16.4 million, or 5.5%, more than March 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $102.6 million, which is $75.6 million, or 279.9%, more than the estimate and $74.9 million, or 271.1%, more than March 2022.

Combined sales and compensating use tax receipts were $275.4 million, which is $422,000 more than the estimate and $4.9 million, or 1.7%, less than March 2022. The reduced year-over-year receipts for March from these tax sources are due in part to the reduction of state sales tax on food and food ingredients.

The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group, comprised of the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Budget, Legislative Research Department, and economists from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University, will meet on April 20. The Group will review the fall estimate and make any revisions it may consider necessary.

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet scheduled for April 4th!

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Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet scheduled for April 4th!
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Downtown Meet & Greet will be held Tuesday, April 4th from 8:00-9:00 a.m. at City State Bank, 202 Scott Ave.
These informal, quarterly meetings are hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives, and community members to network and share ideas on events, promotion and anything related to downtown.
Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Fort Scott Police Department

Brody Johnson Arrested on Assault & Firearm Charges, Middle School Was Placed in Lockdown

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Today, April 3, 2023 at 11:05 hrs, officers from the Fort Scott Police Department (FSPD) and deputies from the Bourbon County Sheriff’s office (BBSO) responded to a 911 call of a gun shot in the area of the Highland Apartments on Shepherd Street, in Fort Scott.

 

Due to the close proximity of the incident to Fort Scott Middle School, SRO’s had the middle school placed into lockdown status.

 

When officers arrived on scene at the apartment complex, they learned information about a firearm being discharged.   There were no reported injuries as a result of this incident.

 

Officers & deputies established a perimeter around the building in question, then went about evacuating that building.

 

During the initial on-scene investigation, officers were able to determine which residence the alleged shooter resided in.  Once this information was established, officers used a PA system to call out to the occupants of the residence, and have them exit.

 

FSPD officers successfully called out the male resident of 802 Shepherd St, #14, who was taken into custody without incident.  This individual was identified as being Brody Johnson, 22.

 

Mr.  Johnson was transported to the Bourbon County Jail where he was booked on the following charges:

Aggravated Assault

Criminal Discharge of Firearm

Mr. Johnson is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.  If you have information that you believe will help our investigation, please contact us at:  620-223-1700

Bill Downey Jr, Administrative Sergeant / Public Information Officer

Fort Scott Police Department

Bourbon County, Business, Government, Schools

Community Connection Panelist Luncheon April 5

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Community Connection Panelist Luncheon on Wednesday, April 5th, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Empress Event Center, 7 N. Main St. Chamber members and the community are invited to attend for updates by the City of Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Fort Scott Community College, USD-234, USD-235,
and Bourbon County REDI.
The event is free to attend but registration is requested. Box lunches are available by pre-order for $10 and those need to be ordered by
April 3rd at 10am. Those planning to attend may RSVP here.
There will be a 7-minute update from each of the following panelists, ending with time for questions:
City of Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin
Bourbon County Commission Chair Jim Harris
FSCC President Alysia Johnston
USD-234 Superintendent Destry Brown
USD-235 Superintendent Vance Eden
Bourbon County REDI Executive Director Rob Harrington
Moderators for the event will be Bailey Lyons of Lyons Realty Group, 2023 Chamber Board Chair and Katie Casper, Union State Bank, Past Chamber Board Chair & Current Board Member.
This event is being sponsored by Davis Accounting, Inc. and Labconco.
Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566 for more information or visit fortscott.com.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members
shown below!
History, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Native American Olympic Medal Winner Billy Mills: April 12 at LMC.

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Billy Mills. Submitted photo.

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Announces

Wednesday, April 12th Special Event

 

In honor of the Great Onondaga Chief Hiawatha, unsung Native American hero, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes invites all to attend a reception for and discussion with the Olympic Gold Medal Winner of the 10,000meter at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics – Billy Mills. Three students will be awarded $100 for writing and performing a poem about “The Leader We Need.” They will each have the opportunity to perform their poem for the audience, after which we will discuss “The Leader We Need.”  This event will take place on Wednesday, April 12th at 2:00pm at the Lowell Milken Center at 1 South Main St.

The Lowell Milken Center is located at the corner of First and Wall Streets.

 

Billy Mills’ visit is sponsored by a grant from Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area, the Lowell Milken Center, and the Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site, Inc. This event is in preparation for the “Wahzhazhe: an Osage Ballet” which will have performances on July 21st and 22nd at the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center at the Fort Scott Community College.

 

 

About Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area: The FFNHA tells the stories and builds awareness of our region’s past, present and future: the Kansas-Missouri border war, the Civil War, the settlement of the western frontier and rural America, and our enduring struggle for freedom.

 

About the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes: The Lowell Milken Center is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) that works with students and educators within a range of diverse academic disciplines, to develop projects focused on unsung Heroes.

 

About the Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site, Inc.: The Friends of the Fort provides volunteers and financial support for the Fort Scott National Historic Site special events including the annual immersive Winter Candlelight tour, the annual Naturalization Ceremony, and other educational programming. The Friends advocate for the NHS and solicit and administer contributions/grants to help support the goals and missions of the NHS.

 

 

 

 

Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Pete Allen

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Peter Earles, Earles Engineering, left, and Kevin “Skitch”Allen, right in this photo from 2021. Earles has a contract with the City of Fort Scott for engineering and inspection services. He is also  Pittsburg’s City Engineer. Submitted photo and caption by Pete Allen.
Two years ago Earles was chosen by the commission that night to lead us through the infrastructure mess left by previous administrations.
Engineers are employed for their expertise and work ethic and dedication to their clients.
Earles has stepped up to the plate and given us all we could have asked for.
We now have storm sewer work going on, funds being used for their intended use, proper inspection of projects, grants for streets (and as city attorney recently remarked “we even have a brick crew”) and our sanitary sewer plant ready for re-build. With Earles, we have the answer to the ADM issue with billings that have increased tenfold.
The piece of the puzzle, previously missing, is now in place with Earles Engineering. Are they expensive? The answer is NO! I would estimate for every dollar spent with them; we have benefited fourfold or more.

Thanks Peter and Jason and the rest of the Earles organization. Keep up the good work!