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Saturday, September 13th was a perfect day for the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation to hold their 6th Annual Fort Scott Golf Classic at the beautiful Woodland Hills Golf Course. It was fantastic weather. Play began at 9 am with 17 teams.

Prizes were given to 1st and 2nd places in A and B Flights. The winners were: A Flight 1st Place – the team of Josh Query, Jonathan Allen, Jordan Herren, and Miles Adams; A Flight 2nd Place – the team of Allen Bukowski, Cody Clayton, Chase Halsey, and Jed Perez; B Flight 1st Place – the team of Billy Portwood, Johnathan Portwood, Shawn Eaton, and Roger Eaton; and B Flight 2nd Place – the team of Chase Cannon, Hayden Lowe, Noah Panington, and Chad Purdy. Prizes were also handed out for Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive. Chase Halsey won Closest to the Pin and Jonathan Allen won the Longest Drive contest.
Players were given the opportunity to try their chances with several contests and games. The hole games were Paul Bunyon and Trouble Hole-In-One. Another contest was the 50/50 raffle, which was won by Millie Lipscomb. The Orange Ball Contest, which was won by the team of Terry Pruitt, Tyler “Goose” Cook, Dustin Fowler, and Ricky McDaniel. New this year to Fort Scott were “grenades.” Each team received one grenade to use during the game. Kat Lorenz-Moore and Sue Schropp oversaw the Hole Games and had fun interacting with the golfers.
At the end of the tournament, door prizes were given out to several lucky golfers. Lunch consisted of hamburgers fresh off the grill, potato salad, and chips. The hamburgers were grilled by Tri-Valley’s own Neil Kisner. Water was provided by G & W Foods of Fort Scott.
For the third year, a raffle drawing was held. This year, three prizes were given away. The prizes were: a fire pit donated by Niece Products of Fort Scott; $100 Gift Certificate to Ruddick’s Furniture, and 4 tickets to a 2026 Kansas City Royals game along with a backpack cooler courtesy of SEK Financial. The winners were: Fire Pit – Randy Ruby; Ruddick’s Gift Certificate – Ben Lyons; and KC Royals Tickets – Don Krone.
The tournament’s sponsors were: Cheney Witt Chapel; Don’s Spirits and Wines, LLC; Diehl, Banwart, & Bolton; Holmtown Pub, Kansas Teachers Community Credit Union, Mertz Tax Service, Neighborhood Rx, Peerless Products, and Wise Accounting. G & W Foods of Fort Scott and SEK Financial were goodie bag sponsors.
All money raised from the event goes toward the Foundation’s mission of providing quality and affordable homes for our neighbors with intellectual/developmental disabilities in the eight counties of Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson. Since 2001, the Foundation has built six houses and acquired nine houses and a duplex. Four of these homes are located in Fort Scott and are home to 26 of our neighbors with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
“Without the generosity of our communities, this fun event could not have been held. Thank you to all the golfers who participated as well as to our event sponsors: corporate, hole, and in-kind. It is friends like you that allow us to provide services to our neighbors with I/DD and to help them achieve the quality of life they seek. Thank you” stated Special Projects Coordinator, Tricia Campbell.
The Beacon Food Pantry, Fort Scott, receives $5,000 grant.
The Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative Board of Directors has selected six projects throughout the co-op’s service area for funding through the Concern for Community grant program. A total of $30,000 will be awarded.
“We look forward to working with some outstanding partners to put these funds to work for the good of Heartland members and their communities,” said Mark Scheibe, Heartland CEO.
This year, six applications out of 68 received were approved for funding by the Heartland board. Projects selected are as follows:
As a non-profit, member-owned cooperative, Heartland issues capital credits to members each year, but sometimes those credits go unclaimed. Because those monies were intended to be returned to the communities from which they came, Heartland’s Board of Directors decided to use unclaimed funds for community grants and started the Concern for Community program in 2019.
The Concern for Community program provides grants of up to $5,000 for capital improvement projects throughout the Heartland service area, which covers parts of 12 counties in eastern Kansas. Capital improvement projects are those that involve investment in structures or equipment that will last for many years.
Applications were accepted from June 1–July 31 and selected by the Heartland Board of Directors at their September 22 meeting. Heartland plans to reopen applications in summer 2026 for the next round of funding.
About Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. powers rural lifestyles throughout more than 11,000 locations in eastern Kansas. Heartland’s service area includes members in 12 counties: Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Miami, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.
Top Knee Doctor in Nation

JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Health System’s Dr. Derek Miller was named one of America’s most talented knee surgeons working in the field today by New York-based news magazine Newsweek and global data intelligence firm Statista.
The accolade, the board-certified surgeon admitted, caught him off guard.
“I first found out when my office notified me that I was ranked the number 19th knee surgeon in the United States,” Dr. Miller said. “For sure it’s quite an honor, given that there are more than 25,000 orthopedic surgeons practicing in the U.S.”
Dr. Miller said it’s always good to receive affirmation for the quality care he and his team provide daily to their patients at Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Joplin.
“Especially when you consider the metrics that they use; complication rates, ER visits, unplanned re-admissions and doctor performance data from Medicare claims,” the board-certified surgeon said. “I think these are the things that people really care about – optimizing patient outcomes.
“To be honest, it takes a team to get results like we have,” he said. “I’m blessed with an incredible office staff that is both thorough and detail-oriented, and OR (operating room) personnel who are really good at their jobs and just truly care about people.”
Dr. Miller specializes in primary and revision knee and hip replacements, performing 500-plus surgeries each year.
“Joint replacement is a rewarding surgery,” he said. “And often, it’s truly life-changing for so many of my patients. Their quality of life has suffered as they become so debilitated and disabled from arthritis, or maybe they’ve had a terrible injury in the past. I have the privilege of helping relieve their pain and ultimately improve quality of life.”
Dr. Miller, who has been at Freeman for 18 years, is a primary user of the CORI robotic-assisted total knee system, a technological wonder that allows greater precision than traditional knee instrumentation of the past, increasing both patient satisfaction and long-term outcomes. He also utilizes lovera injections, which freezes the nerves to a patient’s knees, providing immediate, non-opioid pain relief for up to 90 days.
“It’s technology like these combined with a competent, compassionate team that makes Freeman the leader in knee surgery and gets us this kind of national recognition,” he added.
Dr. Miller is currently accepting new patients at Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, 3105 McClelland Blvd. in Joplin. Call 417.347.5400 to make an appointment.
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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. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, 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.
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The SEKnFind Newsletter
September 2025
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Top Shoulder Doctor in Nation

JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Health System’s Dr. Todd Twiss was named one of America’s most talented shoulder surgeons working in the field today by New York-based news magazine Newsweek and global data intelligence firm Statista.
“It certainly is a privilege to be recognized by Newsweek with some of the best shoulder surgeons in the country, and I think it speaks volumes to the team we work with in both clinic and the operating room at Freeman to provide high-level care to our shoulder patients,” Dr. Twiss said.
In all, 2,845 specialists across 15 medical fields, from hearts to hips to hands, were named by the magazine from a pool of more than 1 million specialists nationwide. Dr. Twiss admitted the recognition came out of left field.
“An out-of-town professional colleague forwarded the article to me, and I was surprised to see our name on the list,” Dr. Twiss said.
His recognition comes from the excellent results from two of his primary shoulder surgeries – rotator cuff repairs and total shoulder replacements.
“These would be the two most common operations we performed, and the lion’s share of any shoulder surgery practice,” the board-certified surgeon said.
Additional shoulder surgeries he performs regularly include reverse total shoulder replacement, labral repairs, instability repairs, fracture fixation, arthroscopic bone resection, open shoulder reconstruction, and biceps tenodesis.
Dr. Twiss gravitated to orthopedics as a medical subspecialty for one primary reason – he simply wanted recreational and occupational athletes alike to get back into the game they enjoyed playing.
“I enjoyed treating the various traumatic and degenerative conditions with targeted interventions to relieve pain, restore function, and improve quality of life,” he said. “I chose to pursue a year-long fellowship after residency in the shoulder because of a love for the complex pathology and evolving treatments being developed during my training.”
Dr. Twiss also treats a large spectrum of shoulder disorders, including rotator cuff pathology, Instability and labral lesions, frozen shoulder, osteoarthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy, sports injuries, fractures, dislocations, post traumatic abnormalities, and generalized shoulder pain with both surgical and non-surgical treatments.
“I think all of the physicians and staff members at Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine strive to provide high-level, musculoskeletal care for the people of the four-state area,” Dr. Twiss said. “For myself, to be recognized for the shoulder, the recognition validates those efforts and motivates us toward continued improvement.”
Dr. Twiss is currently accepting new patients at Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, 3105 McClelland Blvd. in Joplin. Call 417.347.5400 to make an appointment.
TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) will host its 51st annual Workers Compensation Seminar on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 23-24, 2025, at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kan.
The two-day event provides legal, medical and case management professionals with the latest updates on workers compensation and the opportunity to earn continuing education credits.
This year’s seminar features a variety of educational opportunities, including morning general sessions and three focused tracks: Legal, Management and Medical.
Event Details:
For more information about the seminar agenda, please visit dol.ks.gov/wc/seminar
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Erie, KS – Area Homeschool families are invited to participate in a day of hands-on science learning at the upcoming STEM Discovery Day for Homeschoolers on Friday, October 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Neosho Valley Event Center, 321 N. Wood St., Erie, Kansas.
This free event is designed to spark curiosity and excitement about science, technology, engineering, and math through interactive, age-appropriate sessions led by experienced educators and professionals. Students will rotate through engaging stations that encourage exploration, problem-solving, and discovery.
All materials are provided, but participants are asked to bring a sack lunch. Parents must accompany their children.
Registration is required by October 10. To register or for more information, call 620-244-3826.
STEM Discovery Day is hosted by K-State Research and Extension, Southwind District, Wildcat District, and Cherokee County.
Better in Every Sense

PITTSBURG, Kan. – There is a new option for ear, nose and throat care in Southeast Kansas.
Freeman Health System Otolaryngologist Dr. Scott McClintick is now treating patients at the Freeman Specialty Clinic of Pittsburg, 1606 N. Broadway.
Dr. McClintick provides patient care for a variety of ailments, including tonsil and ear infections, neck and thyroid surgery, nose and sinus disease, and skin cancers.
“I’m pleased and proud to be able to provide our trusted skills and services to Pittsburg and the surrounding communities,” he said.
No stranger to the Sunflower State, Dr. McClintick regularly sees patients in Parsons and Girard. Pittsburg, he said, was the next logical step for his outreach services. He began seeing Crawford County patients earlier this year.
“I’ve already done a ton of outreach in Southeast Kansas,” said the Kansas native, who attended the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed both his internship and residency at Freeman Health System. “Now we’re getting into the Pittsburg market. Our goal is to see patients every three to four weeks, which is not bad for a specialty clinic.”
As Dr. McClintick’s patient list grows, the plan is to expand appropriately his clinic hours in Southeast Kansas. And by conducting outpatient care at Pittsburg Specialty Clinic in downtown Pittsburg, it saves his patients a long drive south to Joplin.
“Not only is it a huge convenience for my patients, but they also receive high-quality, compassionate, and safe patient care,” the board-certified head and neck surgery specialist said.
Services Dr. McClintick offers to his Pittsburg patients include:
“ENT can be a pretty complex specialty,” Dr. McClintick said.
His deep love for rural healthcare stems from his childhood growing up in Eureka, a town of less than 3,000 people located in Greenwood County, a two-hour drive from Pittsburg. His father practiced medicine there for 45 years.
“So, growing up with my dad being a physician, I was always around medicine, and that’s what really inspired me to become a doctor,” he said.
Incidentally, his sister and brother are also physicians, along with two sisters-in-law and his father-in-law.
“It’s a family thing,” Dr. McClintick said with a chuckle.
His goal is to establish comprehensive ear, nose and throat care and surgical services in the Pittsburg area.
“There is just something different about going to these smaller towns,” Dr. McClintick said. “Joplin is great, but it’s nice to give back to the smaller communities. I just have an appreciation for them.”
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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. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, 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.

Hector Juarez Brings Extensive Experience to Key Community Service
JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman officials are proud to announce the appointment of Hector Juarez as Freeman Health System’s new Vice President of Imaging following an extensive nationwide search.
Juarez brings vast experience to Joplin’s largest employer, having overseen multi-site imaging operations while supervising more than 30 facilities across multiple markets during his career.
“I am ecstatic to be part of Freeman Health System,” Juarez said, who starts this week. “I look forward to working with our teams to expand imaging services and ensure our surrounding communities have access to high quality, innovative care.”
Prior to moving to Southwest Missouri, Juarez successfully directed daily operations of more than 350 employees across 16 departments at Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center, one of the nation’s busiest Level I trauma centers. He directed one of Houston’s largest and most complex imaging programs, performing more than 372,000 examinations annually and leading initiatives that improved efficiency, expanded access, and enhanced patient experience. As the flagship facility of the Memorial Hermann Health System, TMC anchors one of Texas’ largest not-for-profit health systems, comprising 17 hospitals, eight cancer centers, and three heart institutes.
“We’re excited to welcome Hector to Freeman Health System as our new Vice President of Imaging,” said Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Fry. “His deep expertise and engaging leadership style will help shape our future and ensure we are able to provide exceptional care to our patients.”
Hector holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences from Midwestern State University. He is credentialed by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists as both a Registered Radiologic Technologist and a Registered Computed Tomography Technologist.
“I believe in leading imaging services through collaboration that blends data driven strategy with a people first approach,” Juarez said of his vision for Freeman’s imaging services moving forward. “When leaders invest in their teams, excellence in patient care naturally follows.”
Freeman, accredited by the American College of Radiology, offers a full range of services that include state-of-the-art computed radiography, computed tomography (CT), stationary positron tomograph/computed tomography (PET/CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, digital mammography – including the region’s first use of the GE Healthcare’s Senographe Pristina™ Dueta 3-D mammography system – and diagnostic angiography.
“As technology continues to evolve, we want to make imaging more accessible, more efficient, and more robust, ensuring patients across our region have access to the very best imaging services,” Juarez said.
His goal for Freeman Health System is a simple one: “I want to advance imaging as both a clinical and community resource, aligning our services with Freeman’s strategic planning, growth, and improving the overall patient experience.”
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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. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, 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.

Aging = Living Conference Offers Resources, Education, and Inspiration for Seniors and Their Families
The Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging (SEKAAA) invites seniors, caregivers, and families to attend the Aging = Living Conference, a one-day event dedicated to helping older adults live life to the fullest. The conference will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the SEK Impact Center, 1500 W. 7th Street, Chanute, Kansas.
The Aging = Living Conference will feature expert speakers, interactive workshops, and resource booths covering a wide range of topics, including healthy aging, financial planning, home safety, community resources, and ways to stay active and engaged. Attendees will have opportunities to connect with local organizations, discover services available in Southeast Kansas, and take part in meaningful discussions about aging well.
Registration Information:
Admission includes access to all sessions, resource fair, lunch, and materials. Early registration is encouraged to ensure space availability.
“Aging is living – it’s about embracing every chapter of life with purpose, joy, and the right support,” said Kathy Brennon, CEO of SEKAAA. “This conference is designed to empower our seniors and their families with tools, connections, and inspiration to make the most of every day.”
Whether you are planning for your own future, caring for a loved one, or simply interested in learning more about resources for aging well, the Aging = Living Conference is a valuable opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired.
About SEKAAA
The Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging is committed to improving the quality of life for older adults and their families through advocacy, education, and access to community resources. Serving 10 counties in Southeast Kansas, SEKAAA provides services that promote independence, dignity, and well-being.
