All posts by Submitted Story

Bourbon County

Memorial Day Service at Bourbon County Courthouse May 25

Leave a comment
Fort Scott American Legion Thompson-Harkey Post 25 will host a Memorial Day Service on the Bourbon County Courthouse grounds at 10 AM, Monday May 25. The ceremony will last about 15 – 20 minutes and takes the place of the memorial service normally held at the Fort Scott National Cemetery.
You are cordially invited to attend this event honoring all of America’s Veterans. It will be an open-air ceremony and in keeping with government guidelines, use current social distancing recommendations of SIX FEET between nonfamily members. 
Limited seating will be available for those in attendance with mobility issues.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the program.
Submitted by
Carl Jowers. Post 25 Commander.
COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Utilities Payment Plans Offered

Leave a comment

KCC orders utilities to offer payment plans, waive late fees through 2020

 

TOPEKA – An order issued by the Kansas Corporation Commission this morning requires utilities under its jurisdiction to offer 12-month payment plans and waive late fees through the end of the year to help residential and small business customers avoid disconnection.

The Commission’s earlier order suspending disconnections is set to expire on May 31. Today’s order will help customers, struggling with the economic effects of COVID-19, pay off past due balances gradually while avoiding disconnection of service. Customers are also encouraged to apply for available utility assistance programs. Information is posted on the KCC website (https://kcc.ks.gov/consumer-information/utility-assistance-programs).

 

KCC staff filed a report with the Commission on May 6 recommending baseline customer protections prior to the end of the disconnect suspension order. Utilities had the opportunity to respond to the recommendations prior to today’s order. Several utilities have advised they plan to offer protections in excess of the minimums required.

 

The order states utilities may defer any extraordinary bad debt expense and lost fee revenue that arises from the required customer protections into a regulatory asset for accounting purposes only. Any recovery requests will be considered in a utility’s next rate case or rate recovery filing.

 

The Commission may extend the consumer protections outlined in today’s order if the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into 2021.

 

Today’s order can be viewed at: https://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx/20200521111445.pdf?Id=932794de-f0cc-4397-b1bf-948512be107e

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

4-H Geology

Leave a comment
Jennifer Terrell, K-State Extension Agent

 

Did you find a rock at the park and don’t know what kind it is? What about fossils? If you would like to learn more about rocks, minerals and fossils, then dive into the geology project! Discover the types of minerals, rocks and fossils that can be found where you live. Learn about geological formations across the state and in other states.

There is 4-H Curriculum that can be purchased for anyone interested in the geology project. Here is a breakdown of what youth can learn at different levels:

Ages 7-8:

  • Learn how the earth was formed and its three main parts

  • Learn the difference between a rock and a fossil

  • Collect, clean, identify and label rocks, minerals and fossils found in Kansas

  • Learn the types and impacts of erosion

Ages 9-11:

  • Use different tests to identify minerals by hardness and color

  • Find out what rock types occur in Kansas

  • Learn how to identify fossils

  • Learn to display and evaluate geology exhibits

Ages 12-14:

  • Learn how mountains are formed

  • Discover the impact of glaciers

  • Learn to measure specific gravity

  • Read and use a topographic map

Ages 15 and Older:

  • Measure formation thickness

  • Test to determine chemical properties of minerals

  • Locate sites on a plat map

  • How to prepare for geology careers

In addition to the curriculum, youth are also offered the opportunity to attend project meetings held by volunteers. 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 geology 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.

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Kansas Families to Receive Additional Food Support Through Pandemic EBT Program

1 Comment

 

DCF and KSDE partner to offer one-time benefit

 

The Department for Children and Families in collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) announced today the creation of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Program (P-EBT). The program will help families who have been impacted by school closures due to COVID-19 to purchase food for their children.

 

“We know the pandemic has made it difficult for families to access food, especially if they relied on school meals,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Thanks to the partnership between DCF and KSDE the state will be able to automatically enroll most families into the P-EBT program, so they receive their benefit as quickly as possible.”

 

“Food insecurity should be the last thing our Kansas children should have to face right now,” Cheryl Johnson KSDE director of child nutrition and wellness said. “P-EBT provides temporary funding to address emergency food needs and avert financial hardship for families affected by the pandemic. I am thankful that through this partnership, Kansas is able to put healthy food on the table for Kansas children.”

P-EBT provides a one-time benefit of up to $291 on a Kansas Benefits Card to Kansas families whose children between the age of 5 to 18 would receive free or reduced-price meals at participating schools. There is no application process to receive the P-EBT benefit.

 

DCF will issue the benefit in phases. Those Kansas families who currently receive free or reduced-price meals and are enrolled in the food assistance or TANF programs should begin to receive their benefit later this week.

 

The second phase also will include an automatic match with those families on free or reduced-price meals and who also are receiving Medicaid or child care assistance.

 

The final phase will include families that need to provide additional information to receive the benefit. Those families will receive access to a parent portal to register for the program beginning June 5. Parents should receive information from their school district on how to access the parent portal.

 

 

“Most families should expect to see their benefit in the next two weeks,” DCF Secretary Laura Howard said. “If families have not yet received information about P-EBT, I encourage them to reach out to their local school district.”

 

In order to provide additional information about P-EBT and to answer questions, DCF is hosting a virtual town hall meeting tomorrow from 11 a.m. to noon.

 

Virtual P-EBT Town Hall Thursday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to noon.

Use this link to join: https://bit.ly/KansasP-EBTTownHall

Opinion

Reflecting on Hospital Week by Randy Cason

Leave a comment
Randy Cason, Submitted photo.

By Randy Cason, CEO of Ascension Via Christi

We are here for you, thanks for being here for us

 

As we work our way back to “our new normal,” we are taking every necessary step to help ensure a safe environment as we restore the services and programs that were temporarily paused and continue to care for individuals and communities impacted by COVID-19. We have restarted scheduling elective procedures and non-urgent appointments. Some of our providers are also offering virtual visits to help us continue caring for our community.

 

As we look toward the future, our patients coming to Ascension Via Christi for care can expect enhanced safeguards, expanded access to healthcare services and the personalized treatment you all have come to expect. We are committed to ensuring that our hospital and clinics remain a healing environment — one where quality care is delivered with the highest levels of safety and compassion.

 

While we understand people are concerned with exposure to COVID-19, but please do not delay receiving care. Our Emergency Department and care teams are here to provide 24/7 treatment for those experiencing illnesses and injuries. Delaying essential care for chronic conditions could lead to complications and in worse cases, bad outcomes or even death.

 

Each year, we take what is known and celebrated nationally as Hospital Week, to thank the dedicated caregivers who help make our community a great place to live. We are grateful for their service to our mission, especially so during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I also want to thank all of the local businesses, schools and individuals in our community who over the past few months have joined us in protecting the health of others.

 

Rest assured, together we will come through this stronger and more courageous, capable and unified than before.

—

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

Bourbon County Has Seventh Case of COVID 19

Leave a comment

Bourbon County has its seventh case of COVID 19, Rebecca Johnson, SEK Multi-County Health Departments Administrator, said.

The county had seven prior to this, but one was a resident of Woodson County and living in Bourbon. Has since been removed from Bourbon’s count.

The following is a press release from the county health department:

May 20, 2020;

A Bourbon County, KS positive COVID-19 test was confirmed this morning, making Bourbon County’s total number of cases 7. The testing was confirmed through a reference laboratory that was used. The individual works in multiple counties in the health care capacity and was tested as a requirement for work. This case is symptomatic. The individual is in isolation in their home. Their household is in quarantine in their home. Co-workers are taking necessary safety precautions. All potential contacts have been notified and the investigation is complete.

The Bourbon County Public Health Department urges the public to continue to take appropriate actions. Individuals should continue to practice social distancing, clean/disinfect any high touched surfaces, wash their hands with soap and water routinely, use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available and avoid touching your face (especially eyes, nose & mouth).

Please remember if you have the symptoms to:

Call before going to a Clinic, Hospital, ER, or Health Department

Close contact means: 6 foot or less for 10 minutes or more, with a positive case.

If you are experiencing life threatening symptoms, PLEASE CALL 911.

For more information you may call the SEK Multi-County Health Department: Bourbon: (620)223-4464 Monday-Thursday 7:00am-5:30pm OR the COVID-19 Hotline: (866)534-3463.You may also visit the

COVID-19 Resource Center at: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/OR Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments on Facebook for local updates.

 

Obituary

Obituary of Susan Large Brown

Leave a comment

Susan Lynn Brown, age 65, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died late Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at her home.

She was born December 12, 1954, in Wichita, KS, the daughter of Merle Eugene and Dorothy Wiley Large.

She married James Michael Brown on July 18, 1974, in Fort Scott.

Susan worked for several years in claims processing for American States insurance Company and others. She later worked as a secretary for Mid Continental Restoration.

She enjoyed crocheting, bingo, fishing and helping with the family annual Christmas light display. She loved spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband Jim of the home; a daughter, Lori Brown, Ft. Scott; her mother, Dorothy Hofman, Ft. Scott; three brothers, Curtis Large, Meredosia, IL, Charles Large, Meredosia, IL, and Fredrick Large, Ft. Scott; three sisters, Dianna Brown, Kenney, IL, Joyce Mills, Houston, TX, and Eugena Surratt, Meredosia, IL; three grandchildren, Elizabeth, Christopher and Michael Moore; and grandmother, Enid Large, Ft. Scott.

She was preceded in death by a son, Aaron Brown; a brother, Thomas Large; and her father.

There was cremation. A private memorial service will be held. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.