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Category Archives: Fort Scott
Public Servant Profile: FSFD Lieutenant Shelton
This is part of a series on Fort Scott and Bourbon County Public Servants.
Scott Shelton, 38, is a lieutenant with the Fort Scott Fire Department.
He is a Fort Scott High School graduate and earned Emergency Medical Technician Certification from Fort Scott Community College, and also graduated from FSCC Graduate. In addition, has Kansas University Fire Certifications.
Shelton has 18 years experience in fire fighting.
He works from both Station 1 and Station 2.
What are your duties?
“Fire suppression, EMS, equipment/ vehicle maintenance, public education, training, Life Safety Inspections, and manages a shift in the event of captain’s absence.”
He is married and has two sons.
Community involvement, interests or hobbies:
“Taking kids to ball games, volunteer time to community projects,
cars, motorcycles, running/fitness.”
Why did you pursue your career?
” I am a third-generation firefighter.
I enjoy serving the community and protecting the citizens and property. “
Public Servant Profile: FS Fire Department Captain Roberts
This is part of a series of City of Fort and Bourbon County public servant profiles.
Clint Roberts, 37, is a captain with the Fort Scott Fire Department.
He earned his Associates Degree from Fort Scott Community College and also Emergency Medical Training. In addition, he has received Kansas University Fire Service Training.
He has 14 years of experience.
Roberts works out of Fire Station 1, 1640 S. National Avenue.
What are your duties?
Fire suppression, EMS, rescue calls, shift management, public education.
Family:
He is married to Crystal, and they have two boys, Reece and Ryan.
Community involvement, interests or hobbies:
” Several members from the fire department have a motorcycle group,” Roberts said. “Every year we hold an annual benefit ride fundraiser for a child in need.”
In addition to motorcycles, construction is an interest of Roberts, he said.
Why did you pursue your career?
“I had a lot of interest in the fire (service) and EMS profession when I was younger.”
USD234 Press Release Aug. 10
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, August 10, for their regular monthly meeting.
Vice-President James Wood opened the meeting and the budget hearing. There were no comments, and the budget hearing was closed. The board approved the official agenda. The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:
A. Minutes
B. Bills and Claims
C. Payroll – July 17, 2020 – $1,244,239.62
D. Financial Report
E. Activity Fund Accounts
There were no public forum comments.
Board members heard a report from Brenda Hill, KNEA President.
Superintendent Ted Hessong reported on teacher meetings on August 14, gave special education updates, and remote and onsite plans for school.
Gina Shelton, Business Manager, discussed the special ed and financial audits, SPARK funds, and employee pandemic guidelines.
Board members approved the 2020-21 budget. The board tabled approval on the 2020-21 school calendar. Superintendent Hessong reviewed the Return-to-School Plan. Board members approved a roof payment and a New Generation contract. Board members also approved no salary increases for the administrative and classified staff for the 2020-21 school year and a fundraising and mask awareness campaign.
Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting
The board approved the following employment matters:
A. Resignation of Lakyn Coyan, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year
B. Resignation of Tammy Wollenberg, high school paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year
C. Resignation of Linda May, Winfield Scott cook, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year
D. Transfer of Dee Peters, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, to Eugene Ware paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
E. Change in work agreement for Kristin Bishop, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, from a 6- hour work day to a 5-hour work day for the 2020-21 school year
F. Change in work agreement for Moriah Dillow, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, from a 7.5-hour work day to a 5-hour work day for the 2020-21 school year
G. Leave of absence for Norma Floyd, Winfield Scott paraprofessional
H. Leave of absence for Debra Endicott, middle school cook
I. Employment of Vangie Korinke as a Eugene Ware paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
J. Employment of Vernon Hill as a Winfield Scott 6.5-hour cook for the 2020-21 school year
K. Addition of a one-year middle school elective teaching position for the 2020-21 school year
L. Employment of high school supplemental employees as follows:
Freshman Head Boys’ Basketball Coach – Joel Harney
Head Boys’ Track Coach – Bo Graham (move from assistant)
Assistant Track Coach – Matt Glades
Vocal Presentations and Musical Music Director – Remove Abby Helt
Assistant Girls’ Tennis – Kenny Hudiburg
M. Resignation of Alicia Hansen, middle school 8th grade social studies/6th grade keyboarding teacher and fall intramural coach, for the 2020-21 school year
The board adjourned.
Return to School and Remote Learning Plan for USD234
Click below for the USD 234 Return to School and Remote Learning plan put in place with possible changes due to the pandemic in Bourbon County.
Second COVID-19 Positive at Presbyterian Village
Second Fort Scott Presbyterian Village
employee tests COVID-19 positive
FORT SCOTT, Ks. – A second Fort Scott Presbyterian Village non-direct resident care employee tested positive for COVID-19 in testing conducted at the campus last week. Seven employees and two residents were tested after being identified as close contacts of an employee who tested positive August 1. The seven employees have been in quarantine at home and the two residents have been in isolation at the campus.
Six employees and the two residents tested negative. One non-direct resident care employee tested positive. No residents or employees, including the employee who tested positive, are showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19 at this time.
The Bourbon County Health Department and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Epidemiology Hotline have been notified. At this time, the health department is not recommending any additional testing because the positive employee has been in quarantine since August 1.
“Our top priority continues to be the safety of our residents and staff members,” said Jeanne Gerstenkorn, PMMA’s infection preventionist and vice president for health and wellness.
Families were been called August 7 to alert them to the positive case, and all state and county mandatory required reporting agencies have been notified.
All employees are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines and best practices as these are continually updated. The community regularly reinforces with all staff that an employee should not report to work if he or she is experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness or are not feeling well.
The employee is quarantined and will not be allowed to work until they meet CDC and KDHE guidelines for when an employee may return to work. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic employees may return to work when at least 72 hours have passed since resolution of the employee’s fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and the employee’s symptoms have improved and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Asymptomatic positive employees will quarantine for 14 days. Upon the employee’s return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.
For more information about Fort Scott Presbyterian Village’s response, go to PMMA’s (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s) website, Presbyterianmanors.org/Media- room.
Public Servant Profile: Deputy Fire Chief Mike Miles
Mike Miles, 33, is the Fort Scott Fire Deparmtent Deputy Chief / Fire Marshal.
He works out of Fire Station 1, 1604 S. National .
Miles graduated from Fort Scott High School, then attended Fort Scott Community College EMT, EMT A. He has also attended the Hutchinson Fire Academy, and Kansas University for numerous fire training classes and certifications.
“I started my career as a reserve firefighter in 2006,” he said. “I have held positions as Firefighter, Senior Firefighter, Lieutenant and most recently promoted into the Deputy Chief position.”
Family: ” I have a beautiful, loving wife, Danyell, and four kids. Gavin, Benson, Luci Kate, and Emmett.”
Why did you pursue your career?
“I got into the fire service because I wanted to be there to help people. I want to be the bright light for people in their time of darkness. The fire service is a very humbling and rewarding job to have. I love being able to lend a helping hand when someone is having a bad day. It is also an amazing feeling to give back to the community I call home. ”
What are your duties as deputy fire chief and fire marshal?
“I act as second in charge behind the Fire Chief (Dave Bruner). In the event of his absence, I take on his responsibilities as well. On fire scenes, I am incident commander. I control the scene and make sure the fire crews have all the resources they need. I also get my hands dirty when they need some extra help. The fire marshal side of the job I handle a lot of the inspections for businesses being built or remodeled. Reviewing plans to make sure they follow the building codes we are currently under and following the fire and life safety code as well.”
What services does the FS Fire Department provide for the city?
“The Fort Scott Fire Department provides many services for the city and citizens. We provide a rescue truck that covers the entire county. That truck provides rescue services for entrapment, water rescue and vehicle extrication countywide. The rescue truck responds and assists Bourbon County EMS within the city limits for ambulance calls. We may also assist in the county if specifically requested by EMS for our service. We also provide fire protection for the citizens in the city limits. We do have mutual aid agreements with Scott Township we will provide water and manpower if requested. The Fire Department also runs the third out ambulance when the other two ambulances are on calls. Outside of the medical and fire services, we provide many other services as well. We provide fire prevention for all of the schools public and private for the month of October. We offer smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for citizens. We provide fire extinguisher training classes for citizens as well as CPR classes. There are many services we provide that may go unnoticed.”
Anything new on the horizon?
“The fire service is always evolving. We have been blessed this year with many new pieces of equipment. We were able to upgrade our old rescue equipment to brand new battery-powered equipment from the Mercy Foundation. We also received a grant to upgrade our 20-year-old air packs to new MSA air packs. We upgraded from our 1992 Firetruck and was able to get a new Pierce Pumper to serve the community for 20+ years with. Finally, we were able to get a grant to help cover half the cost of a major purchase in replacing our aerial ladder truck. We should receive it next year. We are upgrading from our 1993 E-One Ladder 75’ to a Pierce 100’ ascendant tower with many safety upgrades for our firefighters. All of this new equipment will help and assist our firefighters in performing their jobs to the public at the highest level.”
Tucker’s Celebrate 60th Anniversary
Don and Jean Tucker’s three sons and their families hosted a 60th wedding anniversary dinner at their parent’s home Sunday, August 10.
Their sons and daughters-in-law were also celebrating their wedding anniversaries.
Pictured are from left: Larry and Brenda Rowe, Reed Springs, MO( who will be married for 40 years on Aug. 30); Don and Jean Tucker, (Sept. 3, 60 years; Doug and Sandy Tucker, Booneville, NC, (March 23, 30 years) and Darren and Kelley Tucker, Fort Scott ( August 30, 17 years).
Also attending the celebration were their grandchildren, Kelly Rowe, Winfield, KS; Kyle Rowe and Katlin Cuesta, Chanute, KS; Dylan Spry, Booneville, NC; and Dana, Delci, Delaney and Keith Tucker, Fort Scott.
The entire family attended Sunday morning worship at the First United Methodist Church.
USD 234 Special Board Meeting Aug. 6
From the U234 Facebook page:
Thursday, August 6th, 2020 the USD 234 School Board approved, in a 4-3 vote, to open our schools on September 9th with two learning options for USD 234 students, those being Onsite and Remote Learning.
Onsite means if students want to attend in-person, daily in the school buildings they can. They would follow a “normal” school schedule for a school day in the building when school is in session.
Remote learners would receive asynchronous learning with the on-site learners. The remote learner will be expected to be directly involved in learning for at least 6 hours a day when school is in session. Parents will need to log the learning time for remote learners which could be either online, engaged with a teacher in a classroom or while doing “homework” as assigned by the teacher on their own. The remote learner will also need to have daily contact with at least one teacher. USD 234 will provide a device for all remote learners.
On Monday, August 10th, 2020 USD 234 will be releasing the learning plan and school operations guidance document to the public.
This document will provide specific information for families about the learning plans and how schools will operate when students and staff are in the buildings. This document will be a fluid document as we learn more about the coronavirus and how the school district needs to respond to provide a safe learning environment for our students and staff.
USD 234 will be working with the SEK Multi-County Health Department in regard to isolation and quarantine of students and staff, contact tracing, and the school’s response to the level community spread.
USD 234 teachers return on August 14th, 2020 to being preparing for the return of our students on September 9th, 2020.
Our staff will be receiving training and professional development in areas of hygiene and symptom checking, viable remote learning, and focusing on content, standards, and assessments to measure students learning and social/emotional gaps to be prepared for the return of students.
The USD 234 School Board appreciates the feedback they received from the community in regard to reopening our school buildings. USD 234 takes very seriously the safety of our students and staff, and community input helps in making decisions in the best interest of everyone.
What’s Happening in Fort Scott, Aug. 7 Edition
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Torrie Singmaster: New Winfield Scott First-Grade Teacher
Torrie Singmaster, 24, is a new first-grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.
She earned her Bachelor of Art in Elementary Education from Ottawa University.
She has bee a paraprofessional educator and substitute teacher for USD 234 for three years.
Singmaster’s hometown is Fort Scott.
Her family includes her husband, Dakota, and two sons, William, 3, and Tyson, 1.
In her free time, Singmaster likes going on vacation to Branson, golfing, and taking their boys new places.
“I also coach girls basketball at Fort Scott Middle School,” she said.
How did you become an educator?
“I started subbing at Winfield Scott and fell in love with the school and students. I completed my degree this past May thru Ottawa University while working for the school district as a paraprofessional and coach.”
Is there someone who inspired you to teach?
“I honestly can say the students I started working with inspired me to teach. I always loved school and had many great teachers that I can look up to. I also wanted a career that I could make a difference in children’s lives and be able to be there for my little family.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“I love being able to make connections with students. I have worked with many different ages over the last three years. Elementary-aged students are so full of life and joy. Seeing them so excited about learning makes me excited every day to walk into my classroom. I can’t wait to see each student get to the point where they are growing in their confidence as a student and as a person.”
What are the greatest challenges?
“The greatest challenge as a first-year teacher this year is definitely the unknowns. Being a first-year teacher during a pandemic is not something you learn during college. I am so blessed to have the support from my family and my school family. The staff at Winfield Scott and USD 234 are amazing and I cannot wait to start and continue my journey as an educator in Fort Scott.”
Public Meeting for U234 Reopening Is Aug. 6
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