Lynette Emmerson has been a licensed long-term care administrator in the community for almost thirty years.
“After both of my parents passed away this past year and after becoming a grandparent for the first time, I re-evaluated my priorities,” she said. “With the help of my family, I realized I can look for a career in which I have less pressure and responsibility. I prayed about it and God opened a door. I have the opportunity to spend more time with my growing family, which includes a daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and a future son-in-law.”
As of January 2, 2024, Emmerson will be a new secretary at Fort Scott Middle School.
She has been at Medicalodge, Fort Scott, for the past nine-and-a-half years.
The best part of her job is helping people.
“Whether it is our residents, families, or staff,” she said. “I love to help people find resources. I especially loved hands-on care and spending time with so many residents over the years.”
“The challenges: being responsible for the decisions and actions staff make and working in a job in which I am on-call continuously because in healthcare you are never closed for business.”
Through the decades, there have been changes in long-term care.
Emmerson noted that long-term care residents in nursing homes need a higher level of staffing and experienced nurses than when she first started her career.
“Hospitals are not admitting or keeping people as long anymore so skilled nursing facilities must be prepared to provide that kind of care,” she said.
Another difference, is “Over the years, residents have been referred to us from all over the region from Kansas City to Wichita to Joplin while in the beginning, it was more local- Fort Scott and the surrounding communities.”
“Also, less of the workforce seems to want to work in long-term care so it is very important to recruit and retain staff who love caring for the elderly and individuals who need long-term care,” she said.
“The loneliness of grief can be comforted,” said Laura Meeks, a local leader of GriefShare. “GriefShare is a nationally recognized support for those left with the pain of the death of a loved one.”
“We invite you to GriefShare to help you recover from the death of your loved one,” she said. “We are sorry for the reasons that bring you to this group, but we welcome you. If you are uncomfortable taking this step and don’t know what to expect by joining a small group, your feelings are normal.”
The first GriefShare meeting led by Meeks starts on Tuesday, January 9 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic School, 714 S. Eddy in Room 203, which is across from the parish office.
“Thirteen sessions will be held for our group each Tuesday at the same time and place,” she said. “This is a non-denominational grief recovery program. Hospitality will be provided and you will be given a helpful book to support your journey.”
“After the first of thirteen sessions ….you will start noticing you find it helpful to be around others who also are dealing with their emotions, questioning, and feeling exhaustion,” she said.
“We all grieve differently,” Meeks said. “There are no rules nor measurements such as time.”
For more than 25 years, GriefShare has helped over 1 million people heal from the pain of grief, according to a press release from Meeks. Professionally developed videos and a workbook help you meet people who have faced grief and share what helped them. You get practical suggestions from counselors and pastors, experts in grief recovery who have also experienced deep loss.
“Pastor Fr. Yancy Burgess recommended this program when I told him I wanted to help those who faced the death of a loved one,” Meeks said. “He referred me to his former Kansas Parrish GriefShare leader who guided me as I prepared. Last July, Fr. Burgess ordered all the materials we needed to provide this support for the community specifically intending to include all, in this non-denominational approach. He has a formidable background in bereavement support and provides support to us.”
To find more information about GriefShare go to griefshare.org or email [email protected].
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Meeks, by calling: 740-317-6379, or emailing [email protected] for questions or registration support. To register directly go to griefshare.org/findagroup.
Another GriefShare will be available in fall 2024.
At the end of November, Community Christian Church just finished a 13-week course, led by Jon Bailes and Jeanette Perry, according to Jamie Beckham, at CCC.
“They are preparing to do another in the fall,” she said.
The KDOT building is located on Hwy. 69. Part of the proposed STAR Bond project is south of the KDOT property.
Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI), the City of Fort Scott Commission, and the Bourbon County Commission announced a Sales Tax Revenue (STAR) Bond initiative.
REDI presented the STAR Bond project at the last Fort Scott City Commission meeting.
The Fort Scott Project, taken from the Memorandum of Understanding. Submitted document. The district runs from Heidrick’s True Value store at 1508 S. National, south on National Avenue to Highway 69 then south to the property south of the KDOT building south of the industrial park. Harrington said this map is only of the northern part of the STAR bond district. To view the rest of the district, see the attachment.
“The (Fort Scott)Commission was presented a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the multi-million dollar ‘Event Center’ project which would include an 8,000 seat event center focusing on rodeo type events, stockyard, two hotels, travel center type convenient store, restaurants, multi-use turf field, and luxury recreational vehicle (RV) park,” said Brad Matkin, Fort Scott’s City Manager.
The MOU was signed by the city and a signatory, Robb Heineman, for 635 Holdings LLC.
This MOU begins preliminary negotiations on a development agreement.
“As of right now there is no obligation from the City of Fort Scott,” Matkin said. “The signing of the MOU shows the City of Fort Scott supports the project and wishes to proceed.”
The proposed Fort Scott project will be approximately 77 acres located just south of the KDOT building and in the lot south of LaRoche Stadium, all along U.S. Hwy. 69 on Fort Scott’s south side. There will also be 20 acres of the development located in front of the former Mercy Hospital that will house a hotel, ret,ail and restaurants, according to Robert Harrington, REDI’s Executive Director.
“STAR Bonds empower municipalities to issue bonds for the development of major commercial, entertainment, and tourism projects,” according to the REDI Facebook page. “Repayment is secured by the additional sales tax revenue generated by the project itself! This isn’t just about construction; it’s about sparking economic growth, creating jobs, and boosting tourism. These large-scale projects contribute positively to our local economy, creating a ripple effect of benefits.”
“This project is a unique opportunity for Fort Scott to harness its potential for growth and development, ” said Harrington. “It is a momentous chance for the community to embrace change and shape a prosperous future.”
Rob Harrington. Submitted photo.
“The South Sports Project represents a transformative $116 million development aimed at bolstering tourism and increasing sales tax revenues in the region,” said Harrington.
“At the heart…. is the construction of an 80,000-square-foot, 8,000-seat professional rodeo arena,” Harrington said. “This versatile facility, designed in collaboration with leading rodeo companies, is set to become one of the nation’s premier rodeo venues. Beyond rodeo events, the arena will host conferences, trade shows, sporting events, and concerts, positioning Fort Scott and Bourbon County as a prominent destination.”
In addition to the arena, there are plans for new hotels and retail spaces, including restaurants.
“These additions are projected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in sales and property taxes over the next two decades,” Harrington said.
One part of the project is a “super field” for local soccer teams and a multi-purpose facility with four baseball and softball fields.
“This will not only bring in sports tournaments but also facilitate an upgrade to LaRoche Stadium, saving significant tax dollars for the school district and city,” Harrington said.
Also included is the establishment of a luxury recreational vehicle park, which will accommodate tourists, sports enthusiasts, and concertgoers, further enhancing the area’s appeal, according to Harrington.
A new truck plaza along Highway 69 is included and will increase sales tax revenue from non-local traffic. This strategic location fills a crucial service gap for truck drivers traveling between U.S. Interstate Hwy. 44 and Kansas City, Harrington said.
Overall, Harrington said the South Sports Project promises to create approximately 300 new jobs and generate nearly a billion dollars in sales and property tax revenues over 25 years. “This growth, driven by external investment, offers the prospect of reducing the tax burden for local residents.”
Pittsburg State University has released the honor roll for the 2023 Fall semester.
To qualify for Dean’s Scholastic Honors, a student must complete at least 12 semester hours, receive a grade point average of 3.6000 for all credit course work that semester, and have no grade lower than a B and no grade of I in any course during the semester.
To qualify for All-A Scholastic Honors, a student must complete at least 12 semester hours, receive a grade of A in all credit course work for the semester and have no grade of I in any course during the semester.
Submitted photo of the Fort Scott Airport runway maintenance was completed in November.
Emery Sapp & Sons, a Kansas City, Missouri full-service heavy civil
contractor recently completed the Fort Scott Municipal Airport runway and taxiway improvements for the City of Fort Scott.
“This maintenance needs to be done every so many years,” said Fort Scott Airport Manager Seth Simpson. “I am very happy with Emery Sapp. They are easy to work with. I can’t praise their services enough.”
Seth Simpson, Fort Scott City Airport Manager, started duties in Dec. 2018.
The pavement was completed ahead of schedule just before the Kansas hunting season brought increased air travel to the area, according to a press release from Sapp.
Construction began Sept. 11 and was completed 16 days later, requiring minimal airport closure.
The company used stringless paving technology to decrease the project schedule and optimize the budget for the city. The stringless paver follows fixed points to control elevation and steer the paving, resulting in an improved runway and taxiway, according to the press release
Runway health longevity, construction schedule optimization, and decreased travel impact were vital to the City of Fort Scott, according to the press release. The publicly owned airport is the base of 18 aircraft, averaging 27 daily operations.
A sky crane stops over in Fort Scott on Dec. 18, on its way to Kansas City, from the airport’s Facebook page.
Other Projects
Simpson said the expansion of the runway is on hold.
“It’s a complicated project,” Simpson said. “You can’t get the funding because you don’t have the traffic. You can’t get the traffic because the runways are not long enough. That’s why it is so difficult. There is a lot more red tape.”
Simpson said one project the staff have been working on is remodeling the interior of the terminal, “To update to more current standards.”
The staff is comprised of Simpson and Bryan Matkin, who is the assistant manager.
Fort Scott Airport Assistant Manager Brian Matkin helps remodel a conference room at the airport. From its Facebook page.
“We have a pilots lounge where they can come in and rest and have a bite to eat or watch TV,” he said. “We are trying to find ways to make it more attractive.”
In September 2024, Simpson is organizing a fly-in at the airport.
“It’s a one-day event where a pilot can fly in for some food,” he said. “I am looking for some food trucks to come in.”
Contact Simpson at 620-223-5490 for more information.
Teresa Davenport, president of Care to Share, and Cory Bryars, vice president, hold the organization’s banner in front of the front desk area of the former Mercy Hospital which is the new office for the organization.
A local grassroots helping organization is reorganizing and expanding to a space in the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
Care to Share is a cancer support group that provides both emotional and financial help to cancer fighters and their caregivers.
All services and items for the cancer fighter/caregivers are free.
The 501c3 cancer support group formed in July 2007, said Teresa Davenport, president of the group.
For about 15 years the group has had a small office in the building at 902 S. Horton. First Mercy Hospital, then Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas owned the building, and Fort Scott Community College briefly from June to December 2023. Now USD 234 is purchasing the building for an expanded preschool program.
The Care to Share group began to think about a different site for the organization to have an office and talked to Bourbon County Commissioner Jim Harris, said Cory Bryars, vice president for the group.
Harris in turn talked to Rob Harrington.
“Legacy Healthcare Foundation owns the building and…gave the go-ahead for them to move in,” Harrington said. “I contract with Legacy to do property management for them so I was the initial contact. I want people to know that they are giving back to the community. ”
On Sunday, December 17, Care to Share volunteers moved the items stored at 902 S. Horton to 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
Cory Bryars stands in the room behind the front desk with all the items that were moved and now need to be organized.
At both sites, both Mercy and Legacy have given rent and utilities for free to the organization, for which they are grateful, Davenport said.
The New Space Has More Rooms
“When you walk in (the former Mercy Hospital building), you can go to the front desk,” Davenport said. “It will be… more availability to the public.” The front desk is the first thing seen when entering the facility.
Behind that front desk, thereis a large room with door access to the desk and several smaller rooms.
The smaller rooms are envisioned to be for trying on wigs and bras, a room for consultation, a large storage room, and a room for all the equipment that Care to Share loans to people who need them.
Some of the smaller rooms in the hall will be used by the organization. Here Bryars unlocks a door to a small room, which was a former registration clerk’s office.
Community Fundraisers Help Save Lives
Last year, Care to Share gave over $97,000 to cancer fighters and their caregivers, mostly gasoline money for appointments and treatments, and other personal concerns of the people with cancer, such as housecleaning, meals( including Ensure-a highly nutritional drink), respite care for caregivers, mowing of lawns, etc.
The year-round fundraisers in the three counties they serve contribute to the Sharing Bucket, the financial arm of the organization. Besides Bourbon, they also serve people in Crawford and Linn Counties.
A Care to Share Donation Jar can be placed at a business for those wanting to support this organization. Some employers might be interested in starting a payroll deduction plan to support the organization’s goals for cancer fighters at a local level, said Cory Bryars. Submitted photo.
“All those tournaments, bake sales, etc. have raised over $1.5 million since 2009,” Davenport said. “We run strictly by volunteers, no one gets paid.”
“I want the communities to know they are saving lives with this community involvement,” she said. “Helping them get to treatment.”
In January 2024 they will be reorganizing following the resignation of Lavetta Simmons, a founder of the group.
“We had a volunteer meeting last week,” Davenport said. ” We have a ride coordinator, a meal coordinator, and a chore coordinator to better serve the counties. We are separating all the volunteer’s responsibilities. We want to serve more efficiently.”
“Delegating all this volunteer stuff, I’ll be able to do more grant writing, etc.,” Davenport said.
Following the move on December 17, the volunteers will be working on and off at the new site to organize the office space.
“We’ll need help organizing the new space,” she said.
To help this organization through talent or time, one can contact Davenport at 620.238.0902 or email [email protected] or Bryars at 913.269.3122 or email [email protected]
Upcoming Events
On Sunday, January 22, Care to Share will have an open house at the new site for the public and also provide a sign-up sheet for potential volunteers.
The first Saturday in February, they will reinstate cancer support meetings, which will be held at the McAuley Center, she said.
Starting on March 6 there will be a volunteer manning the front desk each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“If people need things in the meantime, call us,” she said.
Lavetta Simmons, who is a founding member of the organization, resigned in October and her last day is December 31, 2023.
“My priorities have always been God, family, and Care to Share,” Simmons said. “Family is overshadowing Care to Share at this point in my life, I will be taking care of two great-grandchildren.”
With Davenport and Bryares serving on the board starting in this new year are Carol Hill, treasurer; Kathy Clark, Tammy Miller, Leah Lewis, Richard Long, JoVoli Clark, Joyce Nicholson, and Jerry Witt. Simmons will be an emeritus member and Dr. Boban Matthews is an ex-officio member.
“On this newly reorganized program, we are looking for a secretary for the board that will start in January,” she said. “There are two open positions on the board, that we would like a nurse or doctor to fill.”
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, December 21st at 8 a.m. hosted by the City of Fort Scott which will be held at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
At this week’s Coffee, the City staff will provide a recap of the year 2023, and give a preview of what is to come in 2024.
Any member business or organization wanting to host Chamber Coffee in 2023 is encouraged to contact the Chamber to save a date by calling 620-223-3566 or emailing [email protected].
Ascension Via Christi will cease operations at its emergency department in Fort Scott on Wednesday, Dec. 20. This decision was made after a thorough analysis of trend data, patient census, and the current and future challenges and opportunities facing this facility.
Over the past several years, a multidisciplinary team that includes Ascension Via Christi clinical and operational leaders have been working together to understand the current operating environment at the Emergency Department in Fort Scott. This department has seen a steady decline in visits and its overall average daily census. These factors, coupled with other economic challenges, have limited the emergency department’s ability to continue operations.
“After exploring the options available, it was clear that this was the only option for us. There are other providers in the region positioned to serve the residents of Fort Scott and neighboring communities. These providers will help us ensure continuity of care for our patients as we approach closure,” says Drew Talbott, president of Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg.
Ascension Via Christi is committed to supporting associates, patients and community members through this transition.
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About Ascension Via Christi
In Kansas, Ascension Via Christi operates seven hospitals and nearly 80 other sites of care and employs approximately 6,200 associates. In FY2023, Ascension Via Christi provided more than $65 million in community benefit programs. Serving Kansas for more than 135 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the leading non-profit and Catholic health system in the U.S., operating more than 2,600 sites of care – including 145 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org.
On December 11, the USD 234 School Board approved the purchase of the former Family Physicians building located at 902 S. Horton Street from Fort Scott Community College.
The building is slated to become the school district’s new Early Childhood Center, according to a press release from the center’s principal, Nick Johnson.
The Fort Scott Preschool Center is currently located at 409 S. Judson Street.
“We will find out if we receive grant funding in early February,” Nick Johnson, the principal, said. “Renovation should begin in the spring of 2024 and be completed by the end of 2024. We are planning to begin classes in the new building in January 2025.”
Nick Johnson. Submitted photo.
“This building houses three preschool classrooms, two operated by USD 234 and one operated by Head Start,” Johnson said. “USD 234 also leases a classroom in the Happy Kids Daycare and Preschool building.”
“All USD 234 preschool classrooms are half-day, blended classrooms,” he said. “The blended classrooms contain a combination of students who qualify for an Individualized Education Program, students who qualify for the state Preschool-Aged At-Risk Program, and peer models.”
“All students participate in an engaging, interactive curriculum that is aligned with the Kansas Early Learning Standards and focuses on physical, academic, and social-emotional development,” Johnson said. “Special Education staff provide cognitive and social-emotional intervention, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy to students with developmental delays.”
In addition to providing special education services for students attending classes, the preschool staff also provides services to home-based students and students in community-based preschool programs.
“Through partnerships with the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center and Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, students and families have access to a variety of mental health and healthcare services,” he said.
The Fort Scott Preschool staff members include four Early Childhood Special Education teachers, one part-time intervention teacher, and ten paraprofessionals.
902 S. Horton.
“The new building will bring the three existing preschool classrooms and two additional preschool classrooms under one roof,” Johnson said. “Two new classrooms are much needed as the desire for early childhood education continues to grow.”
The current preschool has 103 students enrolled, with 29 on the waiting list.
“The two additional classrooms will increase the program’s maximum capacity to 180 students which will eliminate the need for a waitlist and reduce class sizes,” Johnson said.
District staff have been working with representatives from Greenbush Education Service Center and Hight Jackson Architects to apply for the Capital Projects Fund Accelerator Grant administered by the Kansas Children’s Cabinet & Trust Fund, he said.
If awarded, grant funds will be used to remodel the existing building so that it can meet the range of employment, health, education, and childcare needs of families in the community.
To fulfill the grant requirements, current plans for the building include space for preschool classrooms, a small health clinic, a workforce development room, and a daycare area, he said.
“These new opportunities, combined with existing partnerships, will allow the Fort Scott Scott Preschool Center to achieve its vision of a community working together to support the academic, social-emotional, and physical development of each child to ensure that they are ready for Kindergarten and beyond,” he said.
Come to the Fort Scott Public Library on December 18 at 4 pm for a family holiday party! Enjoy holiday stories, songs, games, snacks, crafts, prizes, and gifts. Teens will have their own games & activities upstairs. Adults will have their own craft table! Everyone will have something fun to do.
Kids 1st grade & under must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Activities include holiday stories & singalong, cookie decorating, candy cane hunt, “snowball fight,” teen games, and crafts. All children and teens will receive at least one gift and a free book!
The library is seeking volunteers to help supervise the activities and groups, and donors to help provide food. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/Nofhf7aYuChp1aRL8 if you’d like to help.
After stories and songs, the event will be split up by family groups rather than age groups (with the exception of 4th-12th graders, who will remain upstairs for the majority of the event), although age-appropriate activities will be offered for each level. If you will have your children with you and would like to volunteer to help, you may stay with your family or group the entire time while helping to keep the event supervised and activities running smoothly. Email [email protected] or fill out the form linked above to volunteer or donate.+
Want to donate food but aren’t sure what to give? See this list for suggested items: Holiday Party Food Donation List Happy Holidays!
