All posts by Submitted Story

Area News, COVID-19, Health Care

Nevada Hospital Provided 200 COVID-19 Vaccinations In the Last Week

Leave a comment

January 12, 2021

 

Submitted by
Steve Branstetter, CEO
Nevada Regional Medical Center

As COVID-19 cases continue to impact our hospital, we are seeing hope in the first round of vaccines being administered throughout Missouri.
We are proud to share that over the last week, our Nevada Regional Medical Center team has provided more than 200 vaccinations to front-line health care workers who are among the first group eligible to receive the vaccines, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
As our vaccine supply increases throughout the coming weeks and months, we will expand our vaccine operations to the community, as guided by the CDC and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. We will share a defined timeline as more information becomes available.
It will take time to vaccinate all members of our community. In the meantime, please continue to follow all safety precautions – wear a mask, practice physical distancing and hand hygiene.
We will keep you informed and updated as we learn more and prepare for each phase of vaccinations. There are many moving parts related to the supply and administration of the vaccine, so thank you for your patience and understanding as we strive to take care of our community.
Please share this message with your friends, family and others in the community who have questions or concerns about the vaccine. Up-to-date resources and information also are available for individuals on the state’s vaccine website MoStopsCOVID.com.
Please continue to send well wishes to our front-line caregivers as they take care of patients and families.
Sincerely,
Steve Branstetter, CEO
Nevada Regional Medical Center

 

Natalie Eberhard,Community Relations and Foundation Manager, said Kansans may get vaccines in Missouri as well.

DO’S AND DON’TS FOR PEOPLE
SEEKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE
What can I do to know more about the COVID-19 vaccine?

Research.
Check your doctor, local hospital, local pharmacy or local health department website or social media sites for vaccine availability information.
Be patient.
Know that vaccines only are available in limited quantities and that vaccinations for certain populations, especially health care providers and first responders, take precedence.

Know what vaccination phase you are in.

Missouri’s COVD-19 vaccination website can help you understand the roll-out process, which is risk-based.

Just show up.

Supply is limited. Unlike some other vaccinations, providers will not have vaccine available for the public — outside of those in the priority categories — until Phase 3 vaccination begins.

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Government

FS City Special Meeting Jan. 14

Leave a comment

The City Commission will meet for a special meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 14th, 2021 at City Hall in the City Commission meeting room at 123 South Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. The City Commission will meet to consider financial transfers and to consider a Bourbon County contract.

This meeting will be broadcast on the City’s You tube channel. This meeting is open to the public.

Fort Scott, Schools

USD234 Press Release of Jan. 11 BOE Meeting

Leave a comment
USD 234 Board of Education Building, 424 S. Main

NEWS RELEASE

 

Monday, January 11, 2021

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, January 11, 2021, for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart opened the meeting.  The board approved the official agenda.  The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:

 

A.    Minutes

B.    Bills and Claims

C.    Payroll – December 18, 2020 – $1,425,514.45

D.    Financial Report

E.     Activity Fund accounts

 

Board members heard reports from building principals and Dalaina Smith, Director of Academics.

In addition, Superintendent Hessong gave a KSDE update, discussed vaccine distribution, negotiations update, the USD 234 COVID-19 Attendance Dashboard update, and recognized school board members for their service for January School Board Recognition Month.

Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk, presented a report on CARES funds, quarantine and COVID-19 leave, payroll and finance work, and upcoming negotiations.

Board members approved the following items:

 

·       Health insurance rates for 2021

·       A resolution to establish election of school board officers

·       A resolution to set board meeting dates for 2021

·       Board policy updates

 

Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting

The board approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Early retirement request from Kyle Parks, high school vocational agriculture teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

B.    Early retirement request from Martha Clements, middle school history/geography teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

C.    Early retirement request from Patricia Giltner, middle school language arts/reading teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

D.    Early retirement request from Ronda Peterson, middle school math teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

E.     Early retirement request from Donna Davis, Winfield Scott special education teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

F.     Early retirement request from Leslie McDonald, Winfield Scott counselor, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

G.    Early retirement request from Lois Herman, Eugene Ware technology teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

H.    Retirement of Sondra Ruhl, Eugene Ware special education teacher, effective August 1, 2021

I.      Resignation of Mariela Rico, athletic trainer, effective January 24, 2021

J.      Leave of absence for Brooklyn Newell, Winfield Scott kindergarten teacher

K.    Adjustment of work schedule for Judy Warren, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, from five days per week to two days per week; employment of Laura Gulley as a Eugene Ware paraprofessional for three days per week

L.     Termination of Allison Nighswonger, high school paraprofessional, effective December 15, 2020

M.   Employment of Baylee Newman as a Eugene Ware paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year

N.    Employment of Lucretia Olsen as a high school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year

O.    Employment of Aaron Shockley as a mentor teacher for the 2020-21 school year

P.     Employment of Mary Jo Harper as the high school musical music director; employment of Taylor Qualls as a high school second play assistant; removal of the high school after-school choir position; employment of Whitley Chesney for the high school vocal presentations position for the 2020-21 school year

Q.    Removal of the middle school after-school choral club position for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year

R.    Employment of Whitley Chesney for the middle school vocal presentations position for the 2020-21 school year

S.     Extension of Superintendent Hessong’s contract through the 2022-23 school year

T.     Retirement of RoAnn Blake, Eugene Ware third grade teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

The board adjourned.

 

 

Obituary

Obituary of James McNeley

Leave a comment

James R. McNeley, 89, of Fort Scott, passed away Friday evening, January 8, 2021, at the Girard Medical Center. He was born December 30, 1931, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the son of Loren “Bud” and Alice (Cotter) McNeley.

He married Madelyn Picht on December 26, 1953, in the Presbyterian Church parlor. She preceded him in death January 24, 2011.

Jim attended Fort Scott schools and St. Andrews Episcopal Church, where he sang in the church choir. He later served four years in the US Navy. With his father, they operated McNeley Power Equipment Company for many years. Jim studied for the ministry and became a priest and later the Bishop, in the Anglican Catholic Church. He served in the church in Fort Scott and later in Kansas City. After retirement, he attended All Saints Anglican Church in Chicopee, Kansas.

Jim is survived by two daughters, Gina (Jack) Karleskint of Fort Scott, and Mary Katherine McNeley of Grant’s Pass, Oregon; six grandchildren, Matthew (Kati) Karleskint, Doug (Kyla) Karleskint, Michael Karleskint, Aaron Stetz, Leif Stetz, and Meghan Stetz, and five great-grandchildren, Alli, Lilli, Graci, Jadin, and Jackson Karleskint.

In addition to his wife Madelyn, Jim was also preceded in death by his parents.

Services for Bishop McNeley will be held at a later date with burial at the Fort Scott National Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to All Saints Anglican Church and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

k-State Extension Resources Available 

Leave a comment

Submitted by: Carla Nemecek, Southwind Extension District, Director & Agent

 

Kansas State University provides you with research-based information through many avenues. Locally, your contact is the Southwind Extension District in Erie, Ft. Scott, Yates Center and Iola. Hundreds of publications and fact sheets, written by K-State researchers and specialists, are available through the university’s Publications Library, www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/ Another alternative is to research the information provided on the Southwind website, www.southwind.k-state.edu/  In 2021, we are working toward making more information and resources available to you in a digital format – but that initiative is a work in progress!

 

Not all of our services can be found on the internet. One of the most utilized resources is soil testing. K-State Research & Extension can test soil for $13 per sample or $11 apiece for two or more. Soil testing is recommended for gardeners, farmers, testing for lawn & turf problems, or pasture management. Feed and forage testing is also offered. The only way to know for certain the quality of the feed is to get a lab analysis of it, to take a forage test. A forage test may run from $12-24 per sample, depending on what you want the sample tested for. Other tests that are available include Radon Test Kits ($7) and Water Quality Testing resources.

 

The 2021 Chemical Weed Control Guide arrived in our offices last week and provides suggestions for chemical weed control in most major row crops and pastures. It offers recommendations, and guidelines for crop specific chemicals to ensure you are using the best product for the situation.

 

This time of the year, we sell quite a few Farm and Family Account Books ($4.50 – $8.50). If you haven’t made the transition to computerized record keeping, this resource allows for an accurate accounting of your finances in a form that makes completing taxes easier.

 

Have you ever wondered what that unidentified pest or plant lurking around your home may be, or even how you can get rid of it? The Extension Office has expertise and resources available to identify pests that are common to our area and in Kansas. This includes home and crop insects, weeds, and various plants. We can also provide information on how to remove or control the pest, depending on your situation.

 

One of our “best kept secret” products that we offer for sale are odor neutralizers.  Ecosorb ($28) is used in numerous homes, farm and industrial/commercial applications. Most of our clients seek this product to control the odor from fuel spills, mold smell, or skunk sprays.  Neutroleum Alpha ($38) is a concentrated product utilized in a similar fashion to control strong odors. Because it is a concentrate, it can be used in a larger area.

 

Extension publications are very accessible to the public, and most are free if you pick them up in the Extension Office. The Kansas Garden Guide is a popular publication that is available for only $6. If you are looking for resources on planning a garden, seeding & planting, or details about a specific crop, this publication is a must-have.  Extension offers many, many publications on home gardening so please stop by if you are looking for something specific.

 

Area farmers and ranchers often utilize the Kansas Performance Tests for various crops to determine which varieties will grow best in this area of the state. Next month, the 2021 Hybrid Reports for Corn, Soybeans, and Grain Sorghum will become available in the Extension Office. This is in addition to the Wheat Seed Book that is always available in late summer after wheat has been harvested and data collected.

 

As a consumer, you have many options for finding the answers to your questions. By choosing to use the Extension Service, you can be sure you are getting research-based, unbiased information. We encourage you to use the Southwind Extension District Offices in Erie, Ft. Scott, Yates Center and Iola to help answer your questions. For the latest information, please like our Facebook page, ‘Southwind Extension District’ or you can find us on the web, www.southwind.k-state.edu/

Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent
[email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749

Government, Kansas

Wind Energy Production Recognition For Kansas

1 Comment

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Kansas Receives National Recognition for Wind Energy Production, Capacity

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that the state of Kansas has once again been recognized as a national leader in wind energy, with Business Facilities Magazine noting lofty rankings for Kansas when compared to all other states, and awarding an Honorable Mention to the Grain Belt Express project in the magazine’s Deal of the Year competition.

According to Business Facilities’ 2020 State Rankings, Kansas was:

1. No. 1 in percentage of energy generated by wind
2. No. 4 in Aerospace
3. No. 4 in installed wind power capacity

“I’m pleased that these national accolades have confirmed what Kansans have known to be true – our state is a driving force when it comes to wind power expansion, development, and innovation in our country,” Governor Kelly said. “I thank all the hardworking Kansans across the state who put in the work to make this possible. My administration will continue to support wind power initiatives that will not only allow us to maintain our top-tier rankings, but also create jobs and boost economic development statewide.”

In 2020, Kansas reclaimed the top spot it held in 2018 in percentage of energy generated by wind, as it was No. 2 in 2019 behind Iowa. Kansas also increased its installed wind power capacity significantly in 2020 in claiming the fourth-place spot.

Due to its significant economic impact and benefit, the Grain Belt Express was honored by Business Facilities Magazine with an Honorable Mention award in its national Deal of the Year competition. A new, 800-mile transmission line connected to the Grain Belt Express is expected to bring $8 billion in investment and thousands of jobs to Kansas.

According to Business Facilities, 2020 was one of most competitive years for the Deal of the Year competition, with economic development projects from across the nation submitted and judged by an expert panel of independent site consultants and real estate executives.

Grain Belt Express, owned and developed by Invenergy Transmission, has created a renewable energy project that promises to deliver significant advantages in access to affordable energy, and added infrastructure for broadband. According to an analysis on behalf of the company, this expansion will create up to $7 billion in electricity cost savings for Kansas and Missouri consumers by 2045.

“The Grain Belt Express project reflects our state’s commitment to smart renewable energy and aggressive economic growth, and I’m grateful to Business Facilities for including this exciting project on their list of the nation’s top successes,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “We’re on a roll in Kansas, and our team is proud to demonstrate the many ways Kansas is the nation’s best place to do business. We’ll be back competing for still more accolades that reflect Kansas’ position at the best place in the nation to do business.”

The Grain Belt Express will begin in southwest Kansas and wind through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. Energy savings will result from the Grain Belt Express transmission line’s direct access to one of the country’s strongest and lowest-cost wind energy resources in western Kansas. This projected energy cost savings is in addition to the $8 billion in economic investment in Kansas associated with Grain Belt Express.

To see the full list of Business Facilities’ 16th Annual State Rankings Report, click here. The full list of Deal of the Year winners can be found on Business Facilities’ website here.

About Grain Belt Express
Grain Belt Express is an approximately 800-mile high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line being developed by Invenergy Transmission. It will deliver up to 4,000 megawatts (MW) of low-cost, homegrown clean energy from western Kansas to millions of Americans in the Midwest and other regions. Learn more at: www.grainbeltexpress.com

About the Kansas Department of Commerce
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, nationwide and worldwide. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses.

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet Jan. 12

Leave a comment
Join us tomorrow for the Quarterly Downtown
Meet & Greet,
Tuesday, January 12th, 2021!
8:30 am to 9:30 am
hosted by the Chamber at
E3 Ranch Co Headquarters
“Banquet Room”
13 S. National Ave.
Enter in the front at the Retail store at E3 Ranch and through the double barn door to enter the Banquet Room
Downtown Historic Fort Scott
Rita Schroeder, Administrative Assistant
Lindsay Madison, President & CEO
620-223-3566
These informal, quarterly meetings are hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives, and community members to network and share ideas on events, promotions, and anything related to downtown. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.
Masks are strongly encouraged and
will be available for those without one.