Category Archives: Fort Scott

Bourbon County, Business, COVID-19, Fort Scott

Second COVID-19 Positive at Presbyterian Village

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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.

 

Fort Scott, Government

Public Servant Profile: Deputy Fire Chief Mike Miles

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Mike Miles. Submitted photo.

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.”

 

Fort Scott

Tucker’s Celebrate 60th Anniversary

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The Don and Jean Tucker family. Submitted photo.

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.

Fort Scott, Schools

USD 234 Special Board Meeting Aug. 6

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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.

Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

What’s Happening in Fort Scott, Aug. 7 Edition

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UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS
8/7thru8/9 –NO SALES TAX HOLIDAY WEEKEND! Select retailers have volunteered to pay for for 9.4% Sales Tax for Shoppers!
8/7 & 8/8 – Liquidation Sale at Captured Images-FIRST liquidation sale at Captured Images. We are offering display prints, books, frames, albums and more! We are also selling negative files and digital files from finished sessions. Stop by from 9-6 Friday and/or 9-12 Saturday and take a look!
8/7 -Pickup Softball Game @ Ellis Park at 6 pm to 9 pm. Public invited to participate & attend. Planned by Locals. Fort Scott Rec. Dept will work the field and will start a fall League if there is interest. Dustin Fowler
8/7thru8/13 –Fort Scott Cinema: Field of Dreams, 2 Fast 2 Furious & Happy Gilmore!
8/8 – Mo’s Swap Meet– Every Saturday from
8am – 4pm (3rd & Margrave St)
Plaza in front of the Fort, 8am to noon.
8/7 & 8/8 – Fort Scott Livestock Sale starts as 10am – Sale Barn
8/8 -Briggs Drive-In Movie Night! – Showing Ford Vs Ferrari at 8:30 pm. Free Snacks will be served. Turn in on Radio station for Audio. Stay in your own car!
8/7 – Boiler Room Brewhaus – Come in and drink and sing Karaoke night!
8/9 – Boiler Room Brewhaus Brings back Trivia
night for teams of 2 to 6 people, $5 entry
per team, 5-7 pm
8/19 – Boiler Room Brewhaus “Brews & Brushes”
Hosted by Creative Canvas $25 – This is already “SOLD OUT”
SAVE THE DATE!
8/22 -SPECIAL OLYMPICS CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT! Sat. starting at 1:30 pm until 5 pm at the Woodland Golf Course to Sign up!
8/22 –SMALLVILLE ATHLETICS – FORT GAMES 2020! Competition starts Friday, 8/22 at 5 pm & all Day Saturday 8/23 – Annual Fitness Competition includes:2 Day M/M F/F Partner Competition Divisions Include: Rx, Intermediate, Master’s 35+ & Scaled – Be held at 1905 S. Judson St.
Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue
No Sales Tax Holiday
Liquidation Sale at Captured Images
Pick up Softball Game
Briggs – Drive In Movie Night
Mo’s Swap Meet
The Boiler Room Brewhaus
Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber? Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.
THANK YOU TO OUR BOOSTER MEMBERS!
Fort Scott, Schools

Torrie Singmaster: New Winfield Scott First-Grade Teacher

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Torrie Singmaster. Submitted photo.
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.”
COVID-19, Fort Scott, Schools

Public Meeting for U234 Reopening Is Aug. 6

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School Opening Format
Your Feedback is Requested
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce has
received feedback from employers/members related to the effect that reopening school only partially in-person will have on their employees’ ability to work while balancing remote learning and lack of childcare. Many are concerned how employees and the businesses where they work will be able to operate under those circumstances.
Therefore, we are encouraging you to provide feedback to the school board in preparation of the public meeting being hosted by USD-234 as noted below.
PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE
Thursday, August 6th, 2020
5:30pm
Fort Scott High School Gymnasium
Enter through east doors, wear a mask, and practice social distancing when sitting down.
 There will be two items on the agenda for this special board meeting. The first item will be a public forum. USD 234 stakeholders will have the opportunity to give comments to the USD 234 School Board. Each individual will have three (3) minutes to address the school board. The second agenda item will be a follow-up discussion from the USD 234 Special Board meeting held July 27, 2020, regarding USD 234’s Return to School Plan.
Anyone wishing to speak should arrive a little early to complete a “Request to Appear before the Board” form. The form is also online here if anyone would like to complete one prior to the meeting. The form may be returned to Connie Billionis prior to the meeting ([email protected]), or brought with you.
   At the special board meeting held on July 27, the USD 234 School Board heard initial information on possible learning formats for students when they return to school. Based on the information presented at this special board meeting, the USD 234 School Board unanimously voted to delay the first day of school for students to September 9, 2020. No action was taken on what learning formats would be available for students. At the meeting on August 6, the school board will be provided more specific information about learning format options for students.
Click here for formats being considered.
CONTACT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
The Chamber encourages you to send your feedback on the format of school fully re-opening or a hybrid model of students attending in person at 50% of the week, and remote learning 50% of the week, or any other feedback you may have.
Please email your feedback to the following
school board members
(click their names below to email or see this link for their email addresses):
David Stewart, School Board President
James Wood, Vice-President
USD-234 Superintendent Ted Hessong
School Bus

 

Fort Scott, Government

Firefighters Needed in Fort Scott

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The local fire department is looking for a few good men….or women.

The Fort Scott Fire Department is currently looking for men or women who are interested in serving in the fire department as a reserve firefighter, said FS Deputy Chief Mike Miles, who is also the fire marshal.

“We prefer ones with experience or past training but we will recruit and train the right candidate,” he said.
“Currently, Fort Scott Fire has 14 full-time members and three reserves,” Miles said. “That consists of Fire Chief Bruner, Deputy Chief Miles and three shifts of four crew members that work 24 hours on and 48 hours off, revolving.”
“Our reserve program is essentially a part-time job,” he said.  “They can pick up open shifts from full-time guys needing off for vacation or sick leave. We do allow them to work as a fifth man on any shift to get training and comfortable with the job and skills.”
” We are needing reserves because our roster is very limited right now,” Miles said.  “We need candidates that are available to work to cut down on the overtime.  When a reserve can’t work, a full-time member is required to stay and work another 24-hour shift causing overtime.”
The new reserve firefighters are needed to help cut operating costs throughout the year, he said.
 ” Also a bonus about being a reserve firefighter, you kind of get to pick and choose what days you can and can’t work,” Miles said. “This is also a great program to get your foot in the door to the fire service and work your way into a full-time spot and career.”
The reserve firefighter position is just a title, he said.
“You are a firefighter just not full-time status,” Miles said. “That does not take away from the job required. They do everything a full-time firefighter would do on a daily basis.  Run rescue, ambulance calls. Work all fire calls involving hazmat (hazardous materials), fire alarms, vehicle, and structure fires.  During the daytime when not running calls this time of year we are currently flowing hydrants. Our crews stay busy throughout the days performing assignments required.”
A job description for the position can be seen on the Fort Scott Fire Department’s Facebook page.
The requirements of the job:
“We do require candidates to hold Firefighter 1 certification,” Miles said.  “Along with Hazmat Ops and Awareness. Those are the basic requirements to legally be able to work as a city employee in the fire department.  We look for candidates with prior experience and many more certifications.  EMT is a plus. We will recruit the right candidate we believe may be a good fit for our department and provide them the proper training or academy to become certified.”
Candidates can contact Miles directly at the firehouse. 620-223-2140. Lieutenant Clint Lawrence can also assist callers.
Fort Scott, Government

FS City Commission Meeting Today at 11 a.m.

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There will be a special City Commission meeting scheduled for 11:00 am today, August 5th, 2020. This meeting will not be held in public.  This is due to an outbreak in coronavirus at City Hall.   You can call into the 1-620-724-9910, participant code 515698# to listen to the meeting.
 This meeting will be held to consider approval of the Consent Agenda and four items under consideration.
City Hall will be closed to the public until further notice.
Fort Scott, Schools

Kaitlyn Arnold: New Winfield Scott First Grade Teacher

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Kaitlyn Arnold. Submitted photo.

Kaitlyn Arnold, 26, is a new Winfield Scott Elementary School first-grade teacher.

She earned her bachelor of science in education from Pittsburg State University, and has taught in first and second grades.
” I was born and raised in the best town in the country! Fort Scott, Kansas!,” Arnold said.
In her spare time, Arnold likes to garden, raise cattle and chickens, sew, crochet, “go junking” and redo antiques, attend concerts, work out (especially yoga), travel, hike,  and spend time with family and friends, she said.
Kaitlyn Arnold. Submitted photo.
How did you become an educator?
“I decided at age eight that I wanted to become a teacher. Even at the age of three, I was saying I wanted to be a teacher. “
Is there someone who inspired you to teach?
“I became an elementary teacher for many reasons. The one who inspired the most would be my mom who has taught for over 30 years. Her care and love she shows her students inspires me daily to become a better teacher. I also have had many aunts, uncles, cousins and a grandma who have been in education and inspired me as well.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“The students. I dearly treasure each day with my students. I love getting to know them and building good teacher-students relationships. Watching them grow positively in social, emotional and educational skills gives me so much joy. I love hearing about the new dog they got over the weekend, the tooth that got yanked out by a string and a door or the flat tire they had while going to see their grandparents.”
What are the greatest challenges?
“Saying goodbye to the students at the end of the year is hardest for me. I’m so excited and celebrate their success of accomplishing a year of growth but the goodbyes are hard.”
“I treasure each moment I get to have with my students and do my very best to help them grow positively in every way,” Arnold said.” I am so ready to get this school year started and meet my awesome future students!”