Category Archives: Area News

Nevada Clinic and Hospital Open Following Storm Damage

NowCare clinic is open & available to see patients today. in Nevada, MO.

 

The hospital is open with limited services due to power outages. The Emergency Room is staffed with additional help to assist with triage of patients needing care.

 

 

Jennifer Eaton

Executive Assistant to CEO

Community Relations/Marketing

Foundation Director

 

Office: (417) 448-3710

Fax: (417) 448-3848

800 South Ash

Nevada, MO 64772

Nevada Regional Medical Center

www.nrmchealth.com

Kansas Gas Service Kicks Off Safe Digging Month with Tree Giveaway

 

Kansans Encouraged to Contact 811 Before Digging

 

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – April 01, 2025 – April typically marks the start of the spring planting season, home improvement projects and large-scale excavations. It’s also National Safe Digging Month, and Kansas Gas Service is reminding residents to contact 811 before any digging project – big or small. To celebrate those who commit to safe digging practices by taking the pledge, participants will have a chance to win a free tree.

 

“Safe digging is essential to protecting our communities, preventing service disruptions and keeping everyone safe,” says Trey Pool, manager of public awareness and damage prevention for Kansas Gas Service. “Through the Safe Digging Pledge and tree giveaway, we’re reminding Kansans that simply contacting 811 before digging can prevent costly damages and hazards. This initiative not only promotes responsible digging but also supports a greener, healthier environment for all.”

 

Dig Hero Tree Giveaway

Kansas residents can prioritize safety by taking the 2025 Safe Digging Pledge at beadigherokansas.com, and recognizing the importance of contacting 811 before their shovels or excavating equipment hits the ground – regardless of the size of the digging project. After taking the pledge, residents are automatically entered into a random drawing to win a free tree in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees in the U.S. Winners of the tree giveaway will have the opportunity to pick the type of tree they wish to plant and receive information about energy savings gained from their tree.

 

Why Contact 811?

With any digging project, whether planting a tree or repairing a sprinkler system, there is a high probability of underground facilities below the site, such as natural gas pipelines, electric cables or water lines. The best way to avoid damage and injury or loss of service is to contact 811 at least two full working days before digging starts to learn the approximate location of buried facilities in your area. Contacting 811 is free, and it’s the law.

 

By calling 811 or submitting a request at kansas811.com, professional locators will mark the underground facilities within the designated project area with flags and/or paint at no cost to the home or business owner. Once the project is marked, be aware of the tolerance zone: a minimum of 24 inches. Hand or soft dig techniques should be used within this area.

 

Learn more about safe digging and take the pledge at beadigherokansas.com for your chance to win a free tree.

 

Digital Toolkit:

Access b-roll, Safe Digging Month flyer and graphics here.

 

About Kansas Gas Service

 

Kansas Gas Service provides a reliable and affordable energy choice to more than 648,000 customers in Kansas and is the largest natural gas distributor in the state in terms of customers. Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas Gas Service is a division of ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS), a 100-percent regulated natural gas utility that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “OGS.” ONE Gas is included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index and is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States. For more information and the latest news about Kansas Gas Service, visit kansasgasservice.com and follow its social channels: @KansasGas, Facebook, Nextdoor, LinkedIn and YouTube.

 

About the Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

 

 

 

 

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Grants To Support At-Risk Youth Applications Start Today

CFSEK Launches 2025 Elm Acres Foundation Grant Cycle

Since 2017, the Elm Acres Foundation has hosted an annual grant cycle through the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) to help fund projects and services supporting at-risk youth in Southeast Kansas. Since inception, the Elm Acres grant cycle has awarded over $160,000 to vital service projects benefiting area children.

“CFSEK is proud to continue the legacy of the Elm Acres Foundation, ensuring that at-risk youth in Southeast Kansas have access to essential services and programs that foster their growth and development,” said CFSEK Executive Director Devin Gorman.

Applications for the Elm Acres Foundation grant cycle are available online via CFSEK’s portal until midnight on April 30th. Questions regarding the grant applications should be directed to CFSEK Program Coordinator Kara Mishmash at SoutheastKansas.org/Contact/Kara.

Applications are available at SoutheastKansas.org/Grant-App, and more information about the fund is available at SoutheastKansas.org/EA.

Pavement marking underway on U.S. 69 at Pittsburg

 

The Kansas Department of Transportation has started a pavement marking project on U.S. 69 at Pittsburg. The project area begins south of U.S. 400/K-171 and continues north for 9.8 miles to U.S. 160.

 

A mobile operation is placing the pavement markings on the highway, with no significant effects expected to traffic. Flaggers will guide traffic through the work zone at intersections and the railroad crossing. Weather permitting, the work should be completed by the end of May.

 

KDOT awarded the $495,614 construction contract to Cillessen and Sons Inc., of Kechi. Check KDOT’s updated traveler information website, www.kandrive.gov, for more highway conditions and construction details. Persons with questions may contact Bukola Oni at KDOT-Pittsburg, (620) 308-7617, or Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433.

 

Southeast Kansas Library Newsletter March 2025

View Online
The SEKnFind Newsletter
March 2025

We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog.
This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold.
Need assistance? Your local librarian can show you how!
Happy Reading!

New Fiction

The antidote
by Karen Russell

“A gripping Dust Bowl epic about five characters whose fates become entangled after a storm ravages their small Nebraska town.”

Saltwater : a novel
by Katy Hays

Thirty years after Sarah Lingate’s mysterious death on Capri, her daughter Helen returns with the family for their annual retreat, only to uncover a buried necklace, renewed suspicions, and dangerous secrets, as betrayal and paranoia threaten to rupture the family and claim more lives.

Close your eyes and count to 10
by Lisa Unger

A single mother joins a deadly island game set up by a charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer, but a monstrous storm and an unseen menace transform the social media stunt into a ruthless fight for survival. 100,000 first printing.

All the other mothers hate me : a novel
by Sarah Harman

When single mom Florence Grimes’ son is accused of causing the mysterious disappearance of a bully classmate, she must manage her disdain of the other moms, her own self-doubts and unexpected truths to prove his innocence.

Count my lies : a novel
by Sophie Stava

When Sloane lies about being a nurse to meet an attractive single father, she becomes his children’s nanny, entering a seemingly perfect world that hides dangerous secrets and forces her to confront the consequences of her deceptions.

Book boyfriend
by Emily Wibberley

Romantasy fan Jennifer escapes to a convention celebrating her favorite series, only to encounter her work nemesis Scott, whose surprising charm and“book boyfriend” transformation spark an unexpected, real-life enemies-to-lovers romance. Original.

The buffalo hunter hunter
by Stephen Graham Jones

In 1912, a Lutheran pastor documents the chilling confessions of Good Stab, a Blackfeet vampire seeking justice for a historical massacre, intertwining themes of revenge, survival and haunting truths on the Blackfeet reservation.

Galaphile
by Terry Brooks

Galaphile, an orphan turned master mage, builds the legendary Druid citadel Paranor while experience love, loss and battling an ancient evil who threatens the Four Lands, in the new series by the author of The Last Druid.

When the Moon hits your eye
by John Scalzi

When the Moon inexplicably turns to cheese, humanity grapples with the absurd transformation through the perspectives of astronauts, billionaires, professors, and everyday people, confronting faith, science and survival over a single surreal lunar cycle.

The Trouble Up North
by Travis Mulhauser

The fractured Sawbrook family, once master smugglers on Michigan’s lakes, is forced to confront their painful past and dwindling legacy when youngest daughter Jewell’s misguided crime threatens them all, pushing them to navigate their deepest rifts and one final dangerous mission together.

The Titanic Survivors Book Club : a novel
by Timothy Schaffert

Paris bookshop owner Yorick, joining a secret society of other Titanic ticket holders who didn’t board the ship, forms a book club where they can grapple with their good fortune and anxieties through heated discussions of literature, but when one of them unexpectedly dies, he wonders what fate has in store.

Dead broke, Colorado
by William W. Johnstone

When the silver boomtown of Dead Broke collapses into chaos, Mayor Nugget enlists gunslinger Mick MacMicking to restore order, facing off against gambler Connor Boyle and his hired guns in a desperate fight to save the town from complete destruction. Original.

New Audiobooks

The Secrets of Flowers
by Sally Page

As Hollywood prepares for its most glamorous evening, five actresses compete to see who will claim the top prize. Peeling back the layers of women who are in the business of being perceived, these five women work to push their careers forward and maintain the public’s goodwill, and all five are forced to confront truths about themselves that they would rather ignore.

Broken Country
by Clare Leslie Hall

Beth and her husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. When Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, it alters the course of their lives because the dog belonged to Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident. As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel’s life, tensions around the village rise and dangerous secrets and jealousies from the past resurface, this time with deadly consequences. Beth is forced to make a choice between the woman she once was and the woman she has become.

Hang on St. Christopher
by Adrian McKinty

Rain slicked streets, riots, murder, chaos. It’s July 1992 and the Troubles in Northern Ireland are still grinding on. Based on true events, Detective Inspector Sean Duffy must unentangle parallel operations by the CIA, MI5, and Special Branch. Duffy attempts to bring a killer to justice while trying to keep himself and his team alive as everything unravels around them.

New Nonfiction

Expect great things! : how the Katharine Gibbs School revolutionized the American workplace for women
by Vanda Krefft

A social history of the Katharine Gibbs School, revealing how it trained women for secretarial roles while empowering them to challenge sexism and achieve groundbreaking success across various fields from the 1910s to the 1960s. 12,000 first printing. Illustrations.

The next conversation : argue less, talk more
by Jefferson Fisher

“From communication expert Jefferson Fisher, the definitive book on making your next conversation the one that changes everything. No matter who you’re talking to, The Next Conversation gives you immediately actionable strategies and phrases that will forever change how you communicate. Jefferson Fisher, trial lawyer and one of the leading voices on real-world communication, offers a tried-and-true framework that will show you how to transform your life and your relationships by improving your next conversation”

The lost and the found : a true story of homelessness, found family, and second chances
by Kevin Fagan

An empathetic exploration of homelessness in San Francisco through the stories of Rita and Tyson, two individuals battling addiction and striving to escape their circumstances, as well as a commentary on the broader societal issues of housing inequality and addiction, shaped by the author’s personal experiences and journalistic background.

Phenomena : An Infographic Guide to Almost Everything
by Camille Juzeau

This fabulous infographics book is packed with fascinating facts about nature, science, culture, and more. Vibrant visuals break down 124 need-to-know topics, one per page, from the structure of the atom to the makeup of the stars, animal tracks to the inner working of the brain, and echolocation to feats of human engineering. Anyone curious about life on Earth (and beyond) will relish this delightful dip into a vast ocean of knowledge.

The cure for women : Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi and the challenge to Victorian medicine that changed women’s lives forever
by Lydia Reeder

“How Victorian male doctors used false science to argue that women were unfit for anything but motherhood-and the brilliant doctor who defied them After Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to graduate from medical school, more women demanded a chance to study medicine. Barred entrance to universities like Harvard, women built their own first-rate medical schools and hospitals. Their success spurred a chilling backlash from elite, white male physicians who were obsessed with eugenics and the propagation of the white race. Distorting Darwin’s evolution theory, these haughty physicians proclaimed in bestselling books that women should never be allowed to attend college or enter a profession because their menstrual cycles made them perpetually sick. Motherhood was their constitution and duty. Into the midst of this turmoil marched tiny, dynamic Mary Putnam Jacobi, daughter of New York publisher George Palmer Putnam and the first woman to be accepted into the world-renowned Sorbonne medical school in Paris. As one of the best-educated doctors in the world, she returned to New York for the fight of her life. Aided by other prominent women physicians and suffragists, Jacobi conducted the first-ever data-backed, scientific research on women’s reproductive biology. The results of her studies shook the foundations of medical science and higher education. Full of larger than life characters and cinematically written, The Cure for Women documents the birth of a sexist science still haunting us today as the fight for control of women’s bodies and lives continues”

Survival gardening : grow your own emergency food supply from seed to root cellar
by Sam Coffman

“Learn how to grow your own food supply with advice from a survival skills expert. This essential guide includes how to choose and grow the most nutrient-dense crops without store-bought amendments or fertilizers, how to plan for a nonstop supply, how tostore food, and how to create your own seed bank”

There’s always room at the table : farmhouse recipes from my family to yours
by Kaleb Wyse

“When Kaleb Wyse started documenting his daily life on his farm in Iowa, he didn’t think many people would take notice or even care. After all, his way of life is simple, guided by the seasons–he spends his days gardening, preserving, baking, and cooking, a rhythm not all that different from that of his parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents who worked the land before him. But it turns out that people from all over the country (and even the world) connected with Kaleb’s simple, back-to-basics way of living, and fell in love with his hearty, homestyle cooking. From casseroles to biscuits, his recipes hit the sweet spot of nostalgia for some–and are a breath of fresh air for others”

Making practical backyard projects in wood : beautiful things to make in a weekend, including ready-to-use plans & patterns.
by Inc. Fox Chapel Publishing Company

Offers detailed plans for creating 20 functional backyard items, from birdhouses and herb boxes to Adirondack chairs and tool sheds, featuring expert tips and designs to enhance outdoor living spaces for DIY enthusiasts of all skill levels. Original.

Jane Austen’s bookshelf : a rare book collector’s quest to find the women writers who shaped a legend
by Rebecca Romney

“Jane Austen’s Bookshelf investigates the disappearance of Austen’s heroes-women writers who were erased from the Western canon-to reveal who they were, what they meant to Austen, and how they were forgotten. Each chapter profiles a different writer including Frances Burney, Ann Radcliffe, Charlotte Lennox, Charlotte Smith, Hannah More, Elizabeth Inchbald, Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, and Maria Edgeworth-and recounts Romney’s experience reading them, finding rare copies of their works, and drawing on connections between their words and Austen’s. Romney collects the once-famed works of these forgotten writers, physically recreating Austen’s bookshelf and making a convincing case for why these books should be placed back on the to-be-read pile of all book lovers today. Jane Austen’s Bookshelf will encourage you to look beyond assigned reading lists, question who decides what belongs there, and build your very own collection of favorite novels”

The woman who knew everyone : the power of Perle Mesta, Washington’s most famous hostess
by Meryl Gordon

An extensively researched account of the life of a wealthy and influential Washington socialite of the mid-20th century, who inspired a Broadway musical with her extravagant parties, her close relationships with U.S. presidents, and her pioneering support for the Equal Rights Amendment.

Even more reading suggestions

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Fort Scott Native Lori Bolton Fleming In Line For KS Court of Appeals Judge

Lori Bolton Fleming. Taken from the kscourts.gov website.


Governor Laura Kelly announced on March 4 the appointment of Judge Lori Bolton Fleming to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Henry Green on the Kansas Court of Appeals, according to a press release from the governor.

That is the second of four steps in the process of filling the vacancy.

The next step was for the Senate Judicial to pick her for that role and the final step is for approval from the Kansas Senate, sometime in the next few weeks, Fleming said in an interview.

Fleming is a Fort Scott High School graduate and also taught there for a year, she said.

She was inspired to attend law school by some of her students who were in the foster care system.

“They were involved in the juvenile justice system, and I hoped to advocate, be a good voice for kids,” she said.

Bolton Fleming lives in Pittsburg, Kansas, and is the Chief Judge for the 11th Judicial District, which includes Cherokee, Labette, and Crawford counties. 

“I am confident Judge Bolton Fleming will be an exceptional addition to the Kansas Court of Appeals,” Governor Laura Kelly said in the press release. “Her extensive legal career, commitment to public service, and strong reputation will make her an excellent Court of Appeals Judge.”  

Fleming’s Background

Governor Sam Brownback appointed Bolton Fleming as a district court judge in 2012. As a district court judge, she handles a wide variety of cases including felony criminal, child in need of care, Chapter 60 civil, and domestic cases. She has conducted jury trials for high-level criminal and civil cases as well as bench trials and has frequently been invited to sit with the Kansas Court of Appeals and the Kansas Supreme Court to hear and assist in deciding cases. In total, she has rendered opinions in 38 cases as an assigned appellate judge.  

Bolton Fleming was appointed as chief judge by the Kansas Supreme Court in 2021. In this role, she oversees the operations of the 11th Judicial District, which covers five courthouses in southeast Kansas.  As chief judge, she is responsible for the creation of the 11th Judicial District’s first recovery court and serves as the administrator of the program.

“It is my honor to be selected by Governor Kelly to serve on the Kansas Court of Appeals,” said Fleming. “I intend to work hard every day to be the best possible appellate judge for all Kansans.” 

She has spent her entire legal career in southeast Kansas and would be one of the few rural voices on the Kansas Court of Appeals. The majority of the justices come from Wichita, Topeka or Kansas City.

“I feel it’s important to have rural representation on the Court of Appeals,” she said.

Prior to her judicial appointment, Bolton Fleming served as an assistant county attorney in Crawford County before specializing in legal research and writing for Spigarelli Law Firm. She then practiced with Wilbert and Towner law firm, working on criminal, civil, juvenile, business, adoption, and probate cases.    

Bolton Fleming is active in her local community through many volunteer efforts, including partnering with Pittsburg State University to create a pre-law internship program to help address the rural attorney shortage. She has also served on several Kansas Supreme Court committees, including the Rural Justice Initiative, the Pretrial Justice Task Force, the Kansas Digital Evidence Advisory Group, the COVID Jury Trial Advisory Group, and the Cybersecurity Committee.  

Prior to joining the legal profession, Bolton Fleming served as an elementary music and English teacher at Fort Scott High School and Leavenworth Public Schools.  

Bolton Fleming graduated from the Washburn University School of Law in 2001, where she served as the editor-in-chief of the Washburn Law Journal. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Pittsburg State University in 1996.   

Gamechangers and Champions Event

Kansas Innovation Partners Gather for Gamechangers and Champions Event

TOPEKA – The Kansas Office of Innovation served as a convening partner last week for the Gamechangers and Champions event, held in Wichita, which brought together a diverse set of partners to support entrepreneurship and innovative startup development in Kansas. The 2025 Gamechangers and Champions was co-presented by NXTUS, a Wichita-based catalyst for the startup ecosystem.

“By bringing together startups, angel investors and ecosystem champions from across Kansas, we are creating a space where groundbreaking ideas can take root, partnerships can spark, and the future of our state’s innovation ecosystem can be shaped,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “This collaboration with NXTUS reflects our enduring commitment to empowering local startups, cultivating collaboration and fostering a culture of innovation that drives economic growth and opportunity for all Kansans.”

In addition to professional development and networking, Kansas startups competed in the Bracket Bash for Innovators and Angels — a startup pitch competition — where entrepreneurs had the opportunity to showcase their businesses, gain exposure to investors, and compete for funding that could propel their ventures forward. A $20,000 grand prize was delivered to pitch competition winner, Andrew Marquez with VU Scholarships of Roeland Park. And, selected by a vote of the more than 200 attendees, Matt Williams with Noonan brought home the “Fan’s Choice” award, which carried a $2,500 prize.

“Most Kansans have no idea the breadth and quality of entrepreneurs who are building tomorrow’s great businesses right here in Kansas,” President and CEO of NXTUS Mary Beth Jarvis said. “We’re changing that, thanks to the support from the Kansas Department of Commerce, Barton School of Business at WSU and the dozens of other sponsors. For the first time ever, we’ll collide state-wide innovators – these gamechangers for our economy – with their champions – the investors and supporters who are lifting them up as they build companies around breakthroughs in every industry.”

In addition to the pitch competition that initially included 74 companies, Gamechangers and Champions 2025 featured a variety of engaging activities, including:

  • Opening Networking Session with Startup Grind and WIBA, sponsored by IMA
  • Startup Grind Fireside Chat with Graham Krizek, CEO of Voltage Cloud, presented by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Expert-led breakout tracks – Focused educational sessions for both startups and investors, supported by the Greater Wichita Partnership, Lange Capital and Kansas State University
  • Business & Basketball Lounge – Thanks to Network Kansas’ eGrowth Ventures, attendees had access to networking sessions, complimentary headshots, and the NCAA Tournament games
  • Keynote remarks, sponsored by Koch, from Kevin Lockett – Former K-State and Kansas City Chiefs player and longtime entrepreneur, who now manages the investment firm Fulcrum Global Capital

The event successfully created a space for innovation, collaboration and the celebration of Kansas’ growing startup ecosystem.

“The Gamechangers and Champions event was a true celebration of the diverse innovators building disruptive startups right here in Kansas,” Commerce Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer Romaine Redman said.Congratulations to Andrew Marquez and VU Scholarships on winning this year’s pitch competition as they march on toward many future successes. We’re incredibly grateful to our sponsors for making this celebration possible and to the city of Wichita for warmly welcoming innovators, investors and ecosystem partners from across the state.”

About NXTUS:

NXTUS Inc. helps entrepreneurs grow companies of significance. The organization works to connect startup founders with community resources, capital and customers. NXTUS manages NXTSTAGE programs, which are aimed at connecting startups to mature businesses and regional partners looking to become customers for their innovations and to help accelerate the pace of innovation and startup growth in the region, as well as Accelerate Venture Partners, a fast-growing regional angel investor syndicate.

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, the nation and world. 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. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

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NRMC obtains Hospital Accreditation

 

 

Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality seal

NRMC obtains Hospital Accreditation

Hospitals that participate in the Medicare program must be in compliance with the Conditions of Participation by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). NRMC was recently surveyed by the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) and has successfully met the requirements for Hospital Accreditation by demonstrating compliance with CIHQ Standards. They have been NRMC’s deeming authority for 12 years.

NRMC was subjected to a rigorous unannounced onsite assessment February 4-6, 2025. The CIHQ team toured the hospital, reviewed medical records, observed care practices, and interviewed staff and patients. The hospital is surveyed every three years & NRMC team members spent months preparing for their arrival.

 

“CIHQ’ goal is to partner with hospitals to improve the care provided in our communities,” states Richard Curtis, Chief Executive Officer of CIHQ. “CIHQ is proud to recognize Nevada Regional Medical Center for achieving accreditation.”  When asked what this means for patients at Nevada Regional Medical Center, Chief Operating Officer Holly Bush noted “the goal of the survey process for hospitals is to continue to improve the care provided in our community.  This recognition reflects NRMC’s commitment to safety and quality patient care.”

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About Nevada Regional Medical Center
NRMC is a 71-bed acute, intensive and skilled care hospital providing comprehensive health care services.  Staff represent more than a dozen medical specialties including ear, nose & throat, family practice, general surgery, gynecology, internal medicine, orthopedics, pain management, pediatrics, psychiatry and wound care services. Additionally, consultation clinics are held regularly by specialists in cardiology, dermatology, neurology, podiatry, pulmonology and urology.

NRMC is centrally located between Kansas City and Joplin along the I-49 corridor.

 

 

 

Freeman Health System Breaks Ground for New Frontenac Hospital 

 

Submitted graphic.

Freeman Health System Breaks Ground for New Southeast Kansas Hospital  

                                     

Frontenac, KAN. – With ceremonial shovel scoops of dirt, what was once a wind-swept Southeast Kansas soybean field will quickly transform into Freeman Health System’s newest full-service hospital.

Wearing her iconic pink hard hat while gripping a gold-colored shovel, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker led selected dignitaries – including Frontenac Mayor Steve Morrison and Frontenac City Manager John Zafuta – through the much-anticipated groundbreaking ceremony for the 50-bed, 170,000-square-foot Freeman Southeast Kansas Hospital.

“Today we mark a historical first for Freeman Health System and the entire region,” Baker said. “We’re honored and grateful for this opportunity to improve healthcare in Southeast Kansas and beyond.”

The $168 million hospital, located on Highway 69, is set to serve a significant healthcare need.

“The region,” Baker said, “deserves the best, and that’s why we’re building here.”

Freeman Health System hired HMN Architects of Overland Park, Kansas, to design the hospital.

The construction project will be completed in three phases, over a 24- to 34-month time period, Baker said during her speech. Phases include:

  • Site development, utilities, and roadways;
  • Construction of a two-story Ambulatory Surgery Center, with the top floor dedicated to medical and physician offices; and
  • Construction of Freeman Southeast Kansas Hospital itself.

The new Freeman hospital will provide much-needed emergency care; cardiac care, including a catheterization laboratory; an ICU; maternity care; pediatrics; outpatient and inpatient surgery – including robotic procedures; medical and radiation oncology; pulmonary care; radiology; and other key services.

Freeman engineers, Baker said, are working with City of Frontenac engineers to design and upgrade sewer and water infrastructure to serve the hospital and the future of the community.

“Frontenac officials began planning for water and sewer upgrades several years before we selected this site,” she said during her speech. “The timing couldn’t be better, because they are nearly ready to start construction of a new water tower, with new pumps and piping.”

Freeman Health System is also coordinating with Kansas Department of Transportation and recently conducted a comprehensive traffic study projecting the impact of increased traffic at the hospital site, Baker said.

Once completed, the new hospital is expected to create 500 to 1,000 jobs for the area. The health system, the largest employer in the region, already serves Southeast Kansas with primary and specialty care clinics, an outpatient surgery center, and a comprehensive medical oncology program. Just down the road, Freeman will open this year a 24/7 emergency department and 10-bed acute care hospital in Fort Scott, Kansas.

“This is truly a dream come true for Freeman Health System, and for me personally, because I grew up in Pittsburg and will always hold the area close to my heart,” Baker said.

 

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About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2024, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers and their experiences. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System one of the Best Hospitals for 2022. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.

Inspire Health Foundation, CHC/SEK, and Greenbush Launch Spring Break Camp

PITTSBURG – The Inspire Health Foundation, the Community Health Center of Southeast
Kansas, and Greenbush are partnering to offer a Medical Spring Break Camp March 18 – 20 for
area students. The camp is an interactive experience designed to spark children’s curiosity
about the systems of the human body and the health careers dedicated to caring for those
systems.
The camp will be hosted at the John Parolo Education Center, located on CHC/SEK’s Pittsburg
North Campus at 3015 N. Michigan.
The camp will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, with separate sessions for different age
groups:
• March 18: Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
• March 19: 3rd – 5th Grade
• March 20: 6th – 8th Grade
Students will have the chance to create models and conduct experiments to discover the inner
workings of the skeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, and brain systems. They will
participate alongside CHC/SEK staff, including dietitians, respiratory therapists, and nurses, to
learn more about health and health careers.
“Students will engage in learning and play centered around the best of what each organization
has to offer; skills in problem-solving, scientific experiments, health education, health careers,
and community connection,” said Leah Gagnon, Director of Inspire Health Foundation. “We
know this will be the first of many student learning opportunities in partnership with
Greenbush and Inspire Health.”
“Greenbush camp staff are always looking for people and organizations within the community
to offer unique, fun experiences for students,” said Emily Roth, Greenbush Camp and
Enrichment Coordinator. “When we learned of the new education facility at the Community
Health Center of Southeast Kansas, we instantly wanted to begin a partnership to educate and
engage students about the health industry.”
To register for the camp visit www.greenbush.org/camps. Inspire Health Foundation is a
subsidiary of the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. To learn more about Inspire
Health visit, www.chcsek.org/inspirehealth
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Freeman Hospital Groundbreaking Ceremony Near Frontenac is March 7

Continued Steps Forward

 Groundbreaking Ceremony Set for Freeman Southeast Kansas Hospital

 

What: Groundbreaking for Freeman Southeast Kansas Hospital

 

When: 10:00 am Friday, March 7, 2025

 

Where: Take US Route 69 north through Pittsburg and Frontenac. Turn right off US Route 69 at East 600th Ave. – look for Freeman arrow signs for the turn (and large Chicken Annie’s restaurant sign). On East 600th Ave. heading east, the groundbreaking parking area is located to the left on 50-acre hospital site.

 

Background: Freeman Health System will break ground for the long-awaited Freeman Southeast Kansas Hospital Friday morning.

Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker, accompanied by a distinguished list of Frontenac, Pittsburg and Cherokee County dignitaries, will don hard hats and grab shovels to officially launch the state-of-the-art building’s construction.

The $168 million, 50-bed hospital will offer a full array of comprehensive care, including an emergency department, cardiac services and catheterization lab, an intensive care unit, maternity, pediatrics, outpatient/inpatient surgery – including robotic procedures – as well as medical and radiation oncology, among other key services. Overall, the hospital will create at least 500 to 1,000 new jobs in Pittsburg.

 

 

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About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2024, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers and their experiences. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System one of the Best Hospitals for 2022. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.