Category Archives: Bourbon County

New Concept to Provide Staff for Local Businesses: MyShift

Myshift. Submitted grapic.
Cole Bowman, 37, Fort Scott, and Scott Morris, 47, Parsons, have launched a new computer application called MyShift in the Apple Appstore.
 Since the beginning of the  COVID-19 Pandemic, businesses have been struggling to fill staff vacancies and operate at their full capacity because of illness, quarantine and other measures taken during the pandemic.
Nine months ago, Bowman began to think of a way to help this situation.
“I came up with the idea on May 24, 2021 while waiting for one of my sales reps at a hotel in Tulsa to go have dinner,” Bowman said.  “He was late, so I was looking through the food delivery apps and overheard a hotel worker talking to a customer about how none of the employees they had before the shutdown would come back to work, or had found other jobs, and she must have been the first person on their list that was willing to come back to work for the pay they were offering.”
Bowman said he thought to himself that surely there is an app for that.
“A situation where businesses could look through available workers that they could bring them in to cover a shift, but there wasn’t,” he said.
Bowman enlisted help from Scott Morris.
“I talked to Scott about the idea for the app and he liked it,” he said.  “We searched and searched for something that worked like our app and never found anything, so we began our path of figuring out how to build an app in late June.  Finally, our app is complete and went live in the Google PlayStore and iOS Appstore this last week,” Bowman said.
New Ways To Work
“Businesses were unable to operate at full capacity after reopening from the pandemic, and people have evolved to find new ways to work without the traditional employment requiring them to commit to a schedule,” Bowman said.
MyShift is starting in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, then within the next few weeks expanding to four more states.
Their plan then is to release nationwide by October 1, 2022, Bowman said.
“This is a web/ mobile app-based platform for businesses to connect with workers to fill shifts on-demand with the transaction being as simple as using a ride-share app,” Bowman said.
How It Works
MyShift allows businesses and workers to connect anywhere, anytime, to fill shifts and have the entire payment transaction handled through the app, according to a press release.
 Businesses can list open shifts including details about when, where, description of work, and the amount they will pay for the shift.
“Shifters” will then be able to see the open shifts in their area and can select which one they would like to work.
MyShift. Submitted graphic.
After a Shifter has requested the posted shift, the business is able to review the applied Shifter’s ratings in their profiles and click on the one they would like to work their shift.  Then the Shifter shows up to the business at the agreed-upon time and works the shift; upon completion of the shift, the business will then rate the Shifter between 1-5 stars and confirm the payment triggering Myshift to deposit the payment in the Shifter’s account.
  Myshift is free for everyone to download, and the business will only pay a fee once they agree to accept the Shifter to work a shift they have posted.
 There are no fees to the Shifters, and there are no commitments beyond the shifts they choose to work.
 For the business, it allows them to find help on-demand to fill shifts hassle-free.
 Business owners will now have a pool of vetted professionals ready to fill their shifts, all without the hassle of recruiting and onboarding, according to the press release.
Shifters have the freedom to work as often as they’d like and get paid each time they complete a shift, allowing the flexibility to earn money without the commitment of traditional employment.
The first target markets for MyShift will be Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma & Texas for the initial startup.
Cole Bowman. Submitted photo.

About the Creators

Bowman is a 2003  Fort Scott High School Graduate and 2007, Pittsburg State University Graduate with a  Bachelor in Plastics Engineering.

He has 15 years of professional experience in plastics engineering and is currently the regional sales manager for Sepro Group, a robotics and automation manufacturer based in France.

He and his wife, Wendy Bowman, have four kids Luke, Lily, Nora, and Gage. His parents are John and Cindy Bowman, who own the NuGrille Restaurant.

His contact info: Phone 620-215-5250, Email [email protected]

Scott Morris. Submitted photo.
Scott Morris is a 1993 Labette County High School graduate and earned a BBA in accounting for Pittsburg State University in 2002 and an MBA in 2009 from Friends University.
He has 20 years of experience in plastics manufacturing as vice president and chief financial officer of Charloma, Inc.
His wife, Jeanna Morris, and he have four children: Grant, Hallie, Mason, and Brady.
In his community Morris coaches multiple youth sports, he said.
For more info:

Google Play-https://play.google.com/store/apps/details…

iOS-https://apps.apple.com/app/id1602791238

Web- https://web.myshiftapp.com/

 

 

 

 

 

The Bourbon County Commission Agenda for March 29

Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: March 29, 2022
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Ashley Shelton

MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM
Call to Order
• Flag Salute
• Approval of Minutes from previous meeting
• Eric Bailey – Road and Bridge Report
• Millie Lipscomb, Elks Lodge – Consideration of Donation for Fireworks
• Hamlin Energy Contract
• EMS – Dave Bruner
• County Counselor Comment
• Susan Bancroft, Finance Director Comment
o Executive Session – KSA 75-4319(b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships
o Executive Session – KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy
o Reminder: April 5th Commission Meeting at the Mapleton Community Center, 6pm
o Budget Forms & CIP Forms
• Noble Health
• Public Comment
• Elected Officials Comment
• Commission Comment

Justifications for Executive Session: KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy KSA 75-4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship KSA 75-4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency KSA 75-4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships KSA 75-4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property KSA 75-4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.

Walk To A Healthier Lifestyle: Walk Kansas Starts March 26

Clara Wikoff. Submitted photo.

This is Clara Wikoff’s first Walk Kansas event as a Nutrition, Food, and Health Kansas State University Extension Agent.

This year K-State Southwind District, which includes Bourbon County, is hosting the annual walk-team event in conjunction with Wildcat District, she said.

“We hope you’ll join us at the Wild Wind Fun Walk/Run Walk Kansas Kick-off,” she said. “It will be at Chanute, which is more central to each district.”

“Anyone can participate and those 18 and younger, can for free,” Wikoff said.

Adult registration is $25 which includes the event entry, T-shirt and Walk Kansas registration.  If one just wants to participate, the program is free, she said.

If already registered for Walk Kansas, then pay $15 for the event and T-shirt.

The kick-off fun run starts at 9 a.m. this Saturday, March 26, in the Neosho County Community College Student Union at 800 W. 14th in Chanute.

There will be a closed Walk Kansas Facebook support group page, she said. “To help people reach their goals. If a state of Kansas employee, you are eligible for Health Quest Credit.”

There will be a weekly newsletter, recipes, and a youth newsletter to all who participate, she said.

Walk Kansas is a team-based program that will help you and others lead a healthier life, according to a K-State press release.

Join this program and

  • Learn how eating a certain way can help protect brain function and reduce your risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
  • Be more active with friends and family
  • Make better nutrition choices
  • Walk away your stress

You can register online at https://www.walkkansasonline.org

Print resources to get started are listed below:

For Team Captains:  Captain GuideTeam Registration

For Participants: Participant GuideIndividual RegistrationDaily Log

For Everyone: Walk Kansas Activity Guide

Guess what?  There’s an app for that!  You’ll need to register online first, then you can use it to log minutes, chat with your team, and more!  Please note that the app is for iOS systems.  An app for Android systems is in the works, and you’ll see it here when it becomes available.

If you have questions about Walk Kansas, please call Clara Wicoff: 620-365-2242, or email: [email protected]

wild wind

 

 

30-40-30 Tax Refund Plan

Joy Miller. Submitted photo.

KSRE Southwind District

FACS News Column

Joy Miller

620-223-3720 or [email protected]

 

Put Your Refund to Work

For many people, a tax refund is the largest check they will receive all year. And most of us wouldn’t be at a loss for ideas on how to spend that check, the dilemma is deciding what to drop from the list.

The IRS reports that the average tax refund is close to $3,000. This isn’t a crazy, change your life forever amount of money, but definitely an improve your financial standing amount. General rules of thumb are helpful in determining how to divide and utilize your tax refund. One option is the 30-40-30 plan to pay for your past, present, and future financial needs. Designate 30% of your refund to paying off debt and catching on up bills. Earmark 40% for current use. And utilize the other 30% to jump start an emergency fund or long-term savings.

It is always important to catch up or be prepared to pay current bills and financial commitments. If possible, use part of a tax refund to eliminate service or installment payment fees, late fees, or pay down high interest (double digit) debt. Paying for car, home, or renter’s insurance can be cheaper if paid in full instead of monthly installments. Some medical services provide a discount if the balance is paid in full, too. Avoiding late fees on bills or taxes and paying down debt increases future income to meet other financial needs and goals.

Another option is setting some funds aside for the expected but yet unexpected expenses such as a car repair, the air conditioner quitting, a medical bill, or loss of a job. Creating an emergency fund for these type of expenses helps reduce stress and the possibility of taking on debt.

You may also have a big ‘shopping list’ of wants and needs. Do you have plans for a kitchen remodel? A family vacation? College tuition? A tax refund can serve as the seed money for expenses that are two to five years away. Check with banks and financial companies for investment options that pays a return but not at the risk of losing value to help fund short term financial goals.

While it may seem far off, pay attention to your retirement savings, too. If it is thin, dedicate some of your tax refund into a retirement account such as an IRA. Time and compounding interest allow investments to grow, furthering your financial stability in the future.

Plan today on how to best use your tax refund for you and your family’s financial well-being.

For more information, please contact Joy Miller, Family Resource Management Extension Agent, at [email protected] or by calling 620-223-3720.

# # #
K – State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

Second Annual Cattle Show At Bourbon County Fairgrounds March 19 Results

Photos submitted by Hannah Montee.

Submitted by Hannah Montee

The second annual Southeast Kansas Spring Classic was held at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds in Fort Scott, KS on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Kids from across Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma came out for a shot at winning banners, cash, and prizes.

This is a one-day cattle show featuring bulls, breeding heifers, market heifers, market steers, and a showmanship class for all ages.

This year there were 6 Bulls, 93 Breeding Heifers, 6 Market Heifers, 51 Market Steers, and 71 Showmanship entries (ages 7-18) + a peewee and adult class, for a total of 152 calves and 227 total entries. There were 18 total breeds represented between the bulls and heifers.

The show is hosted by Adam and Hannah Montee of Arma. They hosted the show for the first time last year to give kids another chance to showcase their animals. Plans are already underway for next year’s show.

A huge thank you is extended to the Bourbon County Fair Board for the use of the fairgrounds. Their support and help throughout the process is greatly appreciated.

The results of the show:

Bull show –

Champion Angus: Easton Newsome

Grand Overall: Adysin McCarley – Lim-Flex (Girard, KS)

Reserve Overall: Josie Wilkins – Maine-Angus (Lamar, AR)

Top 2 breeding heifers –

• Angus: Grand – Grant Ward  ||  Reserve – Corbin Ellerman

• Balancer: Grand: Hadlee Ketcherside

• Charolais: Grand – Jaden Teter  ||  Reserve – Kensi Reed

• Charolais Comp: Grand – Braelynn Reed  ||  Reserve – Kristy Beene

• Chi: Grand – Stockton Scott  ||  Reserve – Carmun Scott

• Commercial: Grand – Mayci Wilkins  ||  Reserve – Addy Burns

• Hereford: Grand – Grant Ward ||  Reserve – Drew Ballard

• Limousine: Grand – Aliston McCarley || Reserve – Maddix Small

• Lim-Flex: Grand – Adysin McCarley  ||  Reserve – Clara Farran

• Maine-Angus: Grand – Cassidy Barker || Reserve: Stockton Scott

• Maine-Anjou: Grand – Dexter Small  ||  Reserve – TJ Mills

• Maintainers: Grand – Madison Mcgee ||  Reserve – Braxtyn Evenson

• Mini Hereford: Grand – Morgan Pattimore || Reserve: Jayson Peterson

• Red Angus: Grand – Lucas Bowling  ||  Reserve – Greta Rosenhagen

• Shorthorn/Shorthorn Plus: Grand – Wyatt Fechter  ||  Reserve – Kristin Penn

• Simmental: Grand – Ethan Kunkel  ||  Reserve – Hayes Rickstrew

• % Simmental: Grand – Olivia Walrod  ||  Reserve – Elsie Rickstrew

Breeding Heifers Final Drive Results –

Grand: Grant Ward (Angus)

Reserve: Cassidy Barker (Maine-Angus)

3rd: Corbin Ellerman (Angus)

4th: Olivia Walrod (% Simmental)

5th: Ethan Kunkel (Simmental)

Market heifers:

Grand: Mayci Wilkins (Lamar, AR)

Reserve: Wyatt Fetcher (Howard, KS)

Market Steer Final Drive Results –

Grand: Wyatt Collard (Class 9)

Reserve: Kyanna Lankton (Class 10)

3rd Overall: Wyatt Collard (Class 4)

4th Overall: Jarrett Birk (Class 5)

5th Overall: Halle Delk (Class 3)

Top 5 Senior showman –

Grand: Josie Wilkins (Lamar, AR)

Reserve: Kyanna Lankton (Le Roy, KS)

3rd: Corbin Ellerman (Atchison, KS)

4th: Lilly Parks (Emporia, KS)

5th: Clara Farran (El Dorado Spring, MO)

Top 5 Intermediate showman –

Grand: Elsie Rickstrew (Wamego, KS)

Reserve: Olivia Walrod (Bronaugh, MO)

3rd: Kennedi Hettinger (Drexel, MO)

4th: Jaylynn Birk (Yates Center, KS)

5th: Drew Ballard (Inman, KS)

Top 5 Junior showman –

Grand: Mayci Wilkins (Lamar, AR)

Reserve: Halle Delk (Harrison, AR)

3rd: Stockton Scott (Havana, KS)

4th: Braxtyn Evenson (Eureka, KS)

5th: Josephine Razey (Augusta, KS)

Results from our peewee and adult showmanship classes:

• Adult showmanship –

Grand: Austin Waltz

Reserve: Brook Falk

• Peewee showmanship –

Grand: Kash Hettinger

Tie for Reserve: Kane Stainbrook and Emery Mengarelli

 

Bo Co Commisson Special Meeting Today at 2 p.m.

Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701

Date: March 25, 2022
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Ashley Shelton
MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM AT 2:00PM
Call to Order
• Flag Salute
• Noble Health Update

Justifications for Executive Session: KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy KSA 75-4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship KSA 75-4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency KSA 75-4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships KSA 75-4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property KSA 75-4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.

Input Sought in Health and Wellness Assessment

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team staff are looking for up to 12 participants to give information to a community health and wellness assessment in eight separate sectors in the community, according to Jody Hoener, President and CEO of the HBCAT.

“Please take a look below and consider providing your input either online or in person,” she said. “Eight different dates with 24 time slots!! We are hoping you can find a time that fits your schedule!”

HBCAT is located at 104 N. National Avenue, Fort Scott.

Update on Ascension Via Christi Fort Scott: Staying and Expanding

Drew Talbott. Submitted photo.
The closing of Mercy Hospital Fort Scott in 2018, left the community lacking emergency care.  The community was apprehensive about the closure because the nearest emergency care facilities are in hospitals in Pittsburg, which is 30 miles south or Iola, which is 47 miles west.
History
In 2018, leaders in Bourbon County approached Ascension Via Christi Hospital leaders in Pittsburg to provide continued access to emergency care in the former Mercy Hospital Emergency Room.
After careful deliberation,  Ascension determined they would play a role, President Drew Talbot of Ascension Via Christi Hospital said.
Mercy Hospital kept the ER open after the hospital closed on Dec. 31, 2018, until the Ascension Via Christi Fort Scott Emergency Department could get the approval to operate under the Pittsburg hospital licensure.  Then Ascension filled the hole in services and saw its first patient on Feb. 28, 2019.
Ascension Via Christi Hospital has imaging and laboratory services at 401 Woodland Hills, Fort Scott.
Services
 Since that date, the emergency department has seen more than 16,000 emergency room patients, performed more than 20,000 imaging studies, and processed more than 54,000 lab tests, according to Talbot in an interview.
And they have expanded services.
109 S.Main is the location of Ascension Via Christi’s Medical Clinic in downtown Fort Scott. The photo was taken in January 2020.
“We subsequently opened a primary care and prenatal clinic with a local provider and later added a second provider to meet the community need,” Talbot said. “When our hospital in Pittsburg successfully recruited David Robbins, MD, and Justin Ogden, MD, we further expanded the services offered at our Fort Scott clinic to include cardiology and orthopedics.”
“We utilize the same laboratory used by our Ascension Via Christi hospitals throughout Kansas,” Talbot said. “We have on-site diagnostic imaging capabilities, including CT, digital X-ray, ultrasound, and most recently-cardiac echo ultrasound. As part of Ascension Via Christi, these images are read by a Kansas group of 30 board-certified radiologists with advanced training in a variety of areas, providing our Fort Scott ER and Pittsburg hospital with diagnostic capabilities on par with those of a large metro-area hospital.”
They currently have 35 associates serving in Fort Scott, he said.
Future
“We have an agreement with Bourbon County (Commissioners)that will take us to February 2023 and we hope to continue to offer our services in Fort Scott for as long as there is an unmet need,” Talbot said.
“We are proud of the sustainable model of care that we have established,” Talbot said.
“While we understand Bourbon County leaders’ desire to explore the viability of returning to a community hospital model,  (see: Noble Health Announces Reopening a Hospital in Fort Scott) our lived experience as the community’s emergency care provider indicates that the volumes are too low to do so without federal or local taxpayer funding,” he said.
“However, as a department of our hospital in Pittsburg, we have demonstrated that we can operate an ER and supporting services in a financially sustainable manner,” he said. “We have an essentially self-supporting model of care and we are proud of our caregivers’ contribution to patients and families and to Fort Scott’s growth and development.”
Via Christi is working on securing a  facility to continue to expand its services once the Feb. 2023 agreement is completed.
“We recognize and appreciate the need for patients and families to receive close-to-home care whenever there is sufficient demand to support services,” he said. “That’s what led us to respond to the community’s needs when Mercy closed its doors. Our clinics have received tremendous community support. We are already looking to expand the availability and types of services being offered. With that in mind, we are working on securing a long-term home where we can offer these and potentially other needed services under one roof.”
Precedent
 
“We accepted the community’s invitation to serve because ensuring Kansans’ access to care is in keeping with our mission as a non-profit Catholic healthcare system,” Talbot said. “It also has historical precedent,  given that Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph nearly 120 years ago at the request of Mt. Carmel Coal Mining Co. founder Charles Devlin, who recognized miners’ need for close-to-home care.”
 
 
 
 
 
 

Bourbon County Local News