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Category Archives: Jobs
Carpenter named HBCAT Executive Director
In her first two years at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Rachel Carpenter has helped lead many transformational projects.
From the downtown arch project and park improvements in Fort Scott to the countywide child care coalition, Carpenter has been instrumental in bringing positive, impactful change to Southeast Kansas.
For that work and her leadership throughout Bourbon County, Carpenter has been named the new HBCAT Executive Director.
“We are so proud to have Rachel on our team and now as our Executive Director,” HBCAT President Jody Love said. “She works tirelessly to build wealth and economic stability in all her efforts, recruiting individuals to use our services and working with community health workers on self-sustainability. She is passionate about building healthier, thriving people and communities.
“We believe people deserve access to opportunity. We believe we should have a choice and a say in our own health and welfare. We make that happen through our unique programming, and Rachel is such a wonderful partner in that mission.”
Carpenter, who leads the Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT) and Center for Economic Growth, said she is excited for this elevated role at HBCAT.
“I spearhead the LHEAT, which is a coalition that informs the work that we do at HBCAT,” she said. “Our LHEAT has been successful in bringing in free county-wide transportation and launching two laundry programs. The LHEAT received the KDADS Introductory Grant ($30,000) that focuses on building coalition capacity to develop youth drug prevention strategies.”
Carpenter also leads the Bourbon County Childcare (BC3) which is comprised of early childhood professionals and support organizations.
“The BC3 coalition received the Childcare Community Partnership Grant ($48,500) that went toward child care providers to purchase capacity building items, and to bring more in-person training to Bourbon County,” she said.
“I implemented the HBCAT Grant program that awarded a total of $194,000 to 31 businesses in Bourbon County with a capital infusion of $1.5 million,” she said. “The grant program focuses on Farmer/Ranchers, Restaurants/Food Retail, and Minority, Low-Income, or Women Owned Start-Ups. The Center for Economic Growth Program has a success rate of 74.3 percent.
“I love being able to meet people and hear about their goals,” she said. “It is so fulfilling to be able to connect them to resources and opportunities so that they can thrive in Bourbon County”
For more information on HBCAT and its services, visit https://hbcat.org/
FS-Bourbon County Job Fair February 22
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Valu Merchandisers Company (VMC) Fort Scott Closing Operations
January 8, 2024
Due to the completion of the state-of-the-art All-In-One (AIO) Distribution Hub in Hernando, Miss., we will be closing operations at our Valu Merchandisers Company (VMC) facility located in Fort Scott, Kan.
We will transition the majority of VMC Fort Scott’s inventory and shipments to the AIO and expect the transition to be
completed by the end of March 2024.
Our employees at this facility have worked hard and done an excellent job providing retailers with the best variety of quality Health & Beauty Care (HBC), General Merchandise (GM) and Specialty Foods (SF) at the lowest cost to drive sales since the facility was built in 1995.
This was not an easy decision, and we sincerely appreciate
the dedication the employees here have shown.
We are committed to helping all impacted employees through their transition to other opportunities, including potential opportunities within AWG.
Emile Breaux, Senior Vice President, Chief Sales & Support Officer, AWG
ABOUT ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS, INC.:
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) is the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned
supermarkets, serving 1,100 member companies and more than 3,400 locations throughout 31 states from 9 wholesale
Divisions.
Emmerson Retires From Long-Term Health Care Career
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.
Ashley Heathman Is the New Assistant Director at the Beacon
Ashley Heathman, 32, started her new job as assistant director at The Beacon in May 2023.
“The Beacon is a not-for-profit food bank that helps families and individuals facing food insecurity, ” she said. “We also do some financial assistance to help pay utilities and certain necessities.”
“I answer the phones, process The Beacon applications, and help our members find other resources,” she said. “Along with day-to-day activities to keep The Beacon running smoothly.”
She and Beacon Director David Gillen are the only employees of the helping organization.
“The best thing about my career is being able to help families in need and seeing the relief on their faces when they realize you care!” Healthman said. “The most challenging aspect of this position is not being able to do more to help in certain situations, but we do the best we can!”
Heathman is currently in the process of getting an associate’s degree at Fort Scott Community College for business management.
“I have worked in health care most of my life which really prepared me for this position, as opposite as they are, you need a big heart to fulfill the duties in both career paths.”
“The Beacon is always looking for and accepting food donations,” she said. “Seems like winter is the biggest season for food drives but we accept donations year round of in-date food items, hygiene necessities, and women’s feminine products.”
Call 620-223-6869 for more information or visit 525 E 6th St. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday between 9 am and 1 pm.
Timken to Close Operations in Fort Scott In 2025
The Timken LLC Plant at 4505 Campbell Road in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park will close in 2025, according to a press release from Timken Media Relations Spokesman Scott Schroeder.
“Today, we notified employees at our belts facility in Fort Scott, Kan., that we will be gradually winding down operations there and plan to close the plant in 2025,” he said. “While difficult, we’re making this change to streamline our operations and restructure our manufacturing footprint to better compete in a global market.”
“We will provide support to help those employees affected by this change, including on-site counseling, benefits planning and retention and severance pay. We wanted to be transparent and provide as much time as possible so employees can plan for their future,” he said.
“We’re committed to providing at least 60 days notice before an employee’s last day,” he said.
Approximately 155 employees work at Timken’s Fort Scott facility.
Timken engineers and manufactures bearings and industrial motion products…to help global industries operate more efficiently, according to the Timken website.
Employees of Ascension Via Christi in Fort Scott Are Offered Employment Assistance
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FSCC New Nursing Instructor: Sara Holder
Sara Holder is a new nursing instructor at Fort Scott Community College’s Nursing Department. This is Holder’s first semester of teaching.
Her nursing experience includes emergency room, same-day surgery, and a school nurse position.
Holder graduated from William Jewell College in 1999.
She became an educator “through encouragement from friends and family,” she said. “They supported and encouraged me to make a difference in the lives of students in this community.”
“I am Inspired by all the excellent nurses I have worked with over the years,” she said. “I want to teach nursing students to be like them.”
The best part of teaching for her is encouraging students to become safe, compassionate, caring nurses.
The greatest challenge is the transition from expert at the bedside to classroom instructor, she said.
The Fort Scott Community Nursing Department is located at 810 Burke.
The Fort Scott Community College Nursing Department offers students an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing for students who have completed prerequisite courses and four semesters of nursing courses. Graduates are eligible to take the national licensing exam for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) and to apply for state licensure as a registered nurse. Our program prepares students for beginning staff nursing positions and delivering nursing care to individuals and groups as members of a healthcare team to promote health and wellness.
Holder has been married to Bret for 24 years, and is Mom to Jet, a Marine and sophomore Razorback; and Kate, a freshman Razorback. “Woo Pig!”
In her spare time she enjoys providing hospitality for others, she said. “From our home to our restaurant, Pizza Republic, and this nursing department. I live to serve God, our family and friends, fellow military families, our staff, and nursing students.”
Her hometown is Kansas City, Missouri.
About the Nursing Program
The Fort Scott Community Nursing Department is located at 810 S. Burke.
The Fort Scott Community College Nursing Department offers students an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing for students who have completed prerequisite courses and four semesters of nursing courses, according to the department’s website. Graduates are eligible to take the national licensing exam for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) and to apply for state licensure as a registered nurse. The program prepares students for beginning staff nursing positions and delivering nursing care to individuals and groups as members of a healthcare team to promote health and wellness.
Building Workforce Through Apprenticeship Grants
Governor Kelly Announces Recipients of More than $500K in Registered Apprenticeship Grants
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced a total of $528,478 has been awarded by the Kansas Department of Commerce to eight entities across the state for projects that will attract and retain employees and build the state workforce through registered apprenticeships.
“Last year, I created the Office of Registered Apprenticeship to dramatically scale up our state’s efforts to train Kansas workers with the skills needed to succeed in today’s modern economy,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Apprenticeships are a win for both workers and businesses, which is why my administration will continue to invest in them.”
The Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship received total funding requests of $3.3 million from 16 applicants. Applicants identified a variety of project needs related to registered apprenticeships, such as technical instruction, outreach, staffing, partnerships, and administrative costs. Awardees are required to provide a dollar-for-dollar match, and projects must be completed by September 30, 2024.
“Unions, higher education partners, and other economic development groups have accepted the challenge to modernize the registered apprenticeship ecosystem,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Benefits will be felt throughout the economy, with Kansas workers and their families being the biggest winners.”
Grant awardees include:
- Dodge City Economic Development Council received $45,000 for capacity building and direct business outreach
- Greater Kansas City Laborers Training, Joint Apprenticeship Training Council received $36,000 for a Spanish-speaking instructor
- Ironworkers Joint Apprenticeship & Training Trust in Wichita received $29,956 for training equipment including a forklift trainer
- Kansas Farm Bureau (statewide) received $90,000 for capacity building and direct business outreach
- Kansas State Council of SHRM (statewide) received $62,160 for capacity building and direct business outreach
- Plumbers and Pipefitters Training of Kansas, United Association 441 (UA441) in Wichita received $100,000 for HVAC training equipment, capacity building, and direct business outreach
- Topeka Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 226 (IBEW 226), in partnership with Hutchinson Community College, received $66,885 for training equipment and related technical instruction
- Wichita Electrical Industry Training Fund, IBEW 271 received $98,476 for capacity building and direct business outreach
“Registered apprenticeships give Kansas workers the skills and experience they need to compete in the modern economy,” Director of Apprenticeship and Internship Shonda Anderson said. “These grants will help connect those skilled workers with good-paying jobs in an increasing number of occupations.”
“This investment in our mission will empower us to provide additional training to our current apprentices as well as attract additional apprentices to our program,” UA441 Vice President John Clark said.
To learn more about the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship, click here.
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New USD234 Transportation Director: Charlie Hensley
Charlie Hensley is the new Transportation Director for USD 234
Charlie’s background- “Joined the Army in July of 1989 right out of high school. I was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA and assigned to 197th Infantry Division, 4/41 Field Artillery. Shortly after, I deployed to Iraq in Operation Desert Shield/Storm. After several years of active duty my term ended and I returned to Washington State where I started a new career in the Automotive Industry as a painter and Tow Truck driver. After being in the automotive industry for several more years, I joined the United States Army Reserve and changed careers again to become a United States Army Reserve Administrator, assigned to the 385th Transportation Battalion out of the Port of Tacoma in Washington. While serving in the Army Reserve, I was deployed again, this time to the Port of Kuwait where we undertook various Transportation Duties on land and at sea.”
Why Charlie enjoys this new position & what he hopes to bring to it-
“As the Transportation Director for USD 234, I really enjoy working with the community,
staff, and especially the children. Our kids, as well as the Bus Drivers’ safety is of the
utmost importance as well as getting our children to and from school. Being a bus driver
is a thankless job and I hope to change that. If we all come together, we can and will
accomplish the mission.”
Charlie & his family-
I was born in Barstow, CA and raised in Washington State. Through my years, I have had several different careers from sweeping floors to overseeing millions of dollars of Military Equipment, to include large tugs and floating cranes. I met my wife while working on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA in 2010. Moved to the Fort Scott area in 2017 and I joined the USD 234 School District working with the High School kids in 2021. Our goal is to retire in the area. Combined, we have 5 children (3 out of the home),2 dogs and 2 cats. I enjoy hunting and fishing, especially river fishing when possible.
A message from Charlie-
“With the world in these trying times, we need more smiles and less hate. Together as a community we can make a difference; separated, we will crumble.”
Submitted by
Haley Jones
Administrative Assistant/Communications Coordinator
Fort Scott USD 234
620-223-0800 Ext 1119
Home Clean Home Adds More Employees
Casey Bradbury, founder/owner of Home Clean Home, started her cleaning business over five years ago
“For the first few years family and friends would step in and help me when needed,” Bradbury said.
Last year she started adding more employees.
“Chelsea Davied has been with me for a year now. Kiley Foster and Jessica Colopy started about 2 months ago,” Bradbury said.
Home Clean Home offers both residential and commercial cleaning.
The business services all of Bourbon County as well as Nevada, Missouri, and surrounding areas.
Cleaning services are also provided to the southern suburbs of Kansas City upon availability.
“The best thing about my job is knowing that we can impact families’ lives in a positive manner,” she said. “Our goal is to provide extra peace of mind at the end of your day!”
“One challenge I face, that I like to view as more of a positive, is potential scheduling conflicts,” she said. “We work hard to build trusting relationships with our clients to better navigate these scenarios when they arise.”
The business can be found on Facebook at HomeCleanHomeBB, Instagram at homecleanhome_cleaningservice, and her number is 620.644.2534.
“Please contact us with any inquiries that you may have,” she said.
