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The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports April 20
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Governor addresses workers compensation for frontline responders
TOPEKA – In an effort to help Kansans who put their health and lives on the line during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Laura Kelly is directing the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) to evaluate all of its processes and procedures for handling workers compensation claims filed by law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical service providers and health care workers that are reasonably related to the pandemic.
KDOL will draft and submit a temporary regulation and develop or prepare potential legislation designed to create workers compensation coverage for our first responders and healthcare workers who contract COVID-19 while assisting in the State’s response to the pandemic. The regulation and proposed legislation will create a presumption that first responders and healthcare workers who contract COVID-19 contracted the disease arising out of, and in the course of their employment. The legislation will be reviewed or developed in time for consideration by the Kansas Legislature at the next possible opportunity, special or regular session, whichever occurs first.
Should any law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical service providers or health care workers who contract COVID-19 while assisting in the State’s response to the pandemic be found not covered by workers compensation, the Governor’s office will request that the Legislature establish a special fund to satisfy claims incurred during the emergency.
“It is imperative that we stand behind emergency responders, healthcare workers and the many other steadfast Kansans who serve the public each and every day, at risk to their own personal health and safety,” the Governor said.
“KDOL stands ready to assist in this expansion of workers compensation coverage for our healthcare workers and emergency responders,” Secretary Delía García said. “We are working on the regulation and reviewing Kansas’ current work comp statutes now.”
Confirmed COVID-19 case at Topeka Correctional Facility
TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Secretary Jeff Zmuda announced today that one staff member at Topeka Correctional Facility (TCF) tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, April 20. This is the third KDOC facility with a confirmed case, with the first cases reported at the Lansing Correction Facility and Wichita Work Release Facility.
The staff member at TCF is a male over the age of 20. In order to protect the identity of the person, no other information will be released.
The KDOC has been in consultation with officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on next steps to address these circumstances. As a result of that consultation with KDHE, the following steps were implemented:
- KDHE conducted contact tracing to determine who among our staff and residents have been in close contact with this individual
- The Shawnee County Health Department conducted contact tracing to identify anyone outside of TCF who may have been in close contact with this individual and will notify those persons
- KDOC will remain diligent in monitoring other staff and residents for symptoms
“Our corrections staff are committed to their work of preparing our residents for a successful return to their communities,” Zmuda said. “Our staff take that responsibility very seriously and we will continue to work with KDHE to ensure that we are conducting ourselves in a way that ensures the health and safety of everyone.”
The Topeka Correctional Facility is Kansas’ only all-female prison with a capacity of 948. The facility houses minimum, medium, special management and maximum custody residents.
For current information on COVID-19 in Kansas, and to sign up for updates, go to the KDHE COVID-19 Resource Center at kdhe.ks.gov/coronavirus.
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FSCC Will Livestream Tonights Meeting
To access a livestream of tonight’s regular monthly Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees meeting, follow the youtube link currently posted at the top of the Board of Trustees page on FSCC’s website found here http://fortscott.edu/trustees.
The youtube link will provide a live feed of the meeting.
Once the meeting is adjourned tonight, Zoom will process the cloud-based storage and provide a link that will provide a replay version of the meeting. The replay link will be posted to the same place on FSCC’s website by noon tomorrow.
Provided by Juley McDaniel, Clerk of the board.
Fort Scott Commission Agenda April 21
AGENDA
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
FORT SCOTT CITY HALL
COMMISSION ROOM
123 SOUTH MAIN
APRIL 21, 2020
6:00 P.M.
I. ROLL CALL:
K. ALLEN P. ALLEN NICHOLS WATTS MITCHELL
II. FLAG SALUTE
III. INVOCATION:
IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week – April 12-18, 2020
V. CONSENT AGENDA:
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Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of April 7th, 2020.
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Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1261-A totaling $495,579.32.
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Resolution No. 10-2020 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 10 N. National Street – Public Hearing Date – June 2nd, 2020 – 6:15 p.m.
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Request to Pay #8 – Crossland Heavy Contractors – $297,929.28 – River Intake Project
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Change Request Proposal #11 – Crossland Heavy Contractors – $37,859.00 – River Intake Project – Pump #3 Rebuild
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Approval of 3RK – Certificate of Pay Request #4 – MIH Housing Grant – $11,557.87.
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March financials
VI. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:
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APPEARANCE: None
B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 5 minute limit per citizen) Comments will not be taken during this meeting. If you have a topic to discuss not listed on the agenda, please contact a City Commissioner or send a written request to [email protected].
C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS: 6:00 p.m. De-annexation of property located at 1121 207th Street – Approval of Ordinance No. 3560
VII. CONSIDERATION:
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Consideration to Hire a City Engineer
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Consideration of Request to send out Request for Qualifications for City Engineer
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Consideration of Approval of Salary Ordinance Number 3561
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Consideration to repeal Ordinance No. 3556 and approve Ordinance No. 3562 establishing a Street Advisory Board
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Consideration of appointments to Street Advisory Board (Six (6) City residents – One (1) County resident within 3 mile limit)
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Consideration to reject bids – Machine Shed – Airport
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Consideration to apply for 2020 CARES Act for Airport runway improvements funding
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Consideration of approval of charter ordinance to fill a vacancy on the City Commission
VIII. COMMENTS:
- Director Updates:
- Commission:
- City Manager:
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
I MOVE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE
SESSION FOR ________________________________ IN ORDER TO
(see below justification)
DISCUSS ______________________________________. THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE ___________ MINUTES AND THE OPEN
MEETING TO RESUME AT ________________.
Justifications for Executive Sessions:
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Personnel matters of non-elected personnel
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Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
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Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative or representatives of the body or agency
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Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
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Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property
IX. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports April 20
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports April 16-19
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Obituary of Angela (Madison) Handke
Angela Kristin (Madison) Handke, 49, of Leavenworth, Kansas, passed away suddenly on Thursday, April 16, 2020, as the result of an automobile accident near Lansing in Leavenworth County. Angela was born August 30, 1970, the daughter of William “Bill” Madison and Margie (Peterson) Madison in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Angela’s family lived in Adrian, Missouri, during her early childhood, prior to moving to Columbus, Kansas, before moving to Fort Scott in 1980. She then attended Fort Scott schools and was in the FSHS graduating class of 1988. In high school, Angela was active in various sports and clubs. She earned her Associate of Science degree at Fort Scott Community College in 1990. She married Robert James Handke of Atchison on June 10, 2000. She met Robert on a blind date in Wichita, which was setup through their mutual friend Denise.
While living in Atchison, Angela worked for Blish Mize, Independent Living Center of Atchison, and K&L Greenhouse, she loved working at the greenhouse. Angela went back to college in 2004 and earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management from the University of Kansas in 2006. After graduation she worked for Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center in Kansas City as their Medical Records Manager until they moved to Lawrence in 2009.
Angela worked as a Practice Consultant for the Kansas Foundation for Medical Care, while Robert was attending the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy. Robert and Angela purchased a home in rural Leavenworth in 2016 and began their present careers with the U.S. Army at Fort Leavenworth, he as a Staff Pharmacist and her as a Voucher Examiner. Angela loved to travel and explore and lived in India for several months prior to marriage. Her favorite place was Hawaii where she and Robert took several long vacations during their years together. She was a fantastic cook and could grow anything, just ask Robert’s classmates and co-workers. She was known to have a contagious smile, funny personality, huge heart, and kind soul. She will be missed so much!
Angela is survived by her husband of twenty years come June, Robert Handke; her mother Margie Madison; brother Tom (Tally) Madison; two nieces she adored, Kendall and Lauren Madison, and their mother Lindsay; and, several pets special to her. In addition, she is survived by in-laws Robert and Frances Handke, brother-in-law’s Gary (Kathy) Handke, Wayne (Terri) Handke, Glen (Jennifer) Handke, Phillip (Robin) Handke; sister-in-law’s Peggy (Ron) Lutz, and Karen (Nelson) Birkinsha. Also surviving are aunts and uncles of the Madison family, Nora Karleskint, Norma Kramer, Warren Madison, Cathy (Pat) Thomas, Frank (Deb) Madison, Claude Madison; aunts and uncles of the Peterson Family Harry “Sonny” (Edith) Peterson, Mary Lou Schafer, Frank Peterson, Von (Susan) Peterson, Verna May “Sissy” (Jay) Mall and many cousins and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her father, Bill Madison, aunts Carol (Madison) Lefever, Joyce Peterson and Uncles Pat Peterson, Bill Peterson, Ben Karleskint and Bill Kramer.
Following cremation, memorial services will be announced for a later date by the Cheney Witt Chapel.
In Lieu of Flowers, Memorials may be made to Fort Scott Paws & Claws Animal Shelter or the Bill Madison Scholarship Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701.
Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Kansas receives additional PPE supplies, expands COVID-19 testing in Kansas
Today, Governor Laura Kelly announced Kansas has received additional supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to expand COVID-19 testing in Finney, Ford, Lyon and Seward counties.
“I want to thank our federal partners for their ongoing efforts to help our state response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kelly said. “I particularly appreciate the assistance from Senator Pat Roberts and Senator Jerry Moran.”
Kansas Department of Health and Environment is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to test and contain recent clusters of positive coronavirus cases in Kansas counties centered around food and meat processing plants.
“In order to fight this pandemic, collaboration at the state, local and federal level is paramount,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “Expanded testing and additional supplies from the federal level will equip and inform our state and local health officials as they work to protect the health of Kansans.”
The plants in southwest Kansas account for 25 to 30% of the country’s beef processing. “Agriculture is a facet of our state’s most critical infrastructure – Kansas doesn’t just feed the state, we feed the world,” Kelly said. “This is particularly true of our frontline workers in meatpacking plants across the state who process a significant portion of the nation’s supply.”
Since the start of this crisis, the Governor and members of her administration have been in communication with those plants and representatives of their employees.
The facilities have modified several production and shipping systems and have taken proactive measures including temperature and health screenings, enhanced sanitation and social distancing.
In recent weeks, Kansas has struggled to obtain the necessary supplies needed to test and treat coronavirus patients. The State received their allocation of the Strategic National Stockpile in late March. PPE received from the SNS was quickly distributed to counties throughout the state based on population.
Kansas is pleased to be able to deploy this collaborative effort between local, state and federal partners to proactively address these clusters in a strategic response to protect the nation’s food supply and the health of our essential food workers.
Fort Scott Thompson-Harkey American Legion Post 25 Update
At yesterday’s Second District Convention, held by telephone conference call, Post 25’s own Myra Jowers was elected Second District Commander for the 2020-21 Legion Year. Also elected to Second District leadership positions were Post 25 Commander Carl Jowers as Second District Adjutant and Post 25 Adjutant Leslie Montee as the Third Year Second District Committeewoman.
Myra’s eligibility for Legion membership is as a Vietnam Era Air Force Veteran. She was also elected three times as a Post Commander in Florida’s 5th District. Carl’s eligibility for Legion membership is as a Vietnam Navy Veteran. Leslie’s eligibility for Legion membership is as a Global War on Terror Air Force Veteran.
As a reminder, Post 25 has grown to 100 members since May 2017. We have more than doubled our membership since our, Carl and Myra’s, arrival in Fort Scott a few short years ago. Many of this year’s Legion programs were canceled due to Coronavirus outbreak and the need for social distancing. We had delegates lined up for Boys State and the Cadet Law programs. Plus, through no fault of the Post, we were unable to host the local or district oratorical competitions. As we say after our favorite sports teams didn’t win the brass ring, “There’s always next year.” Post 25 stands ready to offer Legion programs to our area children and youth next year.
As Post Commander, one of advantages of the office, is to select the Post 25 Legionnaire of the Year. I have selected Darrell Spencer as Post 25 Legionnaire of the Year for the 2019 – 20 Legion year. Darrell has stepped up and has done an impressive job as Post Finance Officer. He also answered the call when elected as the Color Guard Captain. I have received numerous compliments on how crisp and professional our Post 25 looks when they present colors at various ceremonies. Plus, Darrell is a Charter Member of the American Legion Riders Chapter 25. He willingly accepted the role as Chapter 25 treasurer and has participated in funeral escorts as a Rider. I salute Darrell for his selfless service to Post 25 and the Bourbon County/Fort Scott community.
If you are aware of a local Veteran in need during these stay at home times, please let me know. Myra and I stand ready to help them as we can. As we move forward in the new Legion year, let us stay positive and continue to work together to improve our community.
Carl Jowers. Post 25 Commander.
4-H Wildlife
District Extension Agent
4-H Youth Development
Southwind District – Erie Office
620-244-3826
Kansas wildlife is a large part of our state ranging from buffalo to birds to fish to deer and more. In this project youth will learn about wildlife behavior, habitat requirements, how wildlife species fit into nature’s scheme, how they are managed, and how they relate to humans.
To learn more about the 4-H wildlife project there is 4-H Curriculum that can be purchased. Here is a breakdown of what youth can learn at ages and stages:
Ages 7-8:
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Characteristics of reptiles and amphibians
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What is habitat
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Unique features of birds
Ages 9-11:
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Characteristics of reptiles and amphibians
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What is habitat
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Unique features of birds
Ages 12-14:
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Characteristics of mammals, carnivores and omnivores
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Significance of wetlands
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Protective coloring of wildlife
Ages 15-18:
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How wildlife adapt to urban environments
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Effect of humans on wildlife habitat
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Learn about the prairie as an ecosystem
In addition to the curriculum, youth are also encouraged to reach out to professionals within the wildlife industry to learn more. Each year, youth are able to demonstrate their hard work locally at the county fair and depending on age and placing, the Kansas State Fair.
The wildlife project is a great opportunity for youth to learn important life skills. For more information about this project, contact Jennifer K. Terrell, 4-H Youth Development for K-State Research and Extension – Southwind District at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.