Category Archives: Submitted

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Submitted

Free Concert at Belltown May 17

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 Image may contain: tree, grass, plant, sky, house, outdoor and nature
The Belltown Trail Pavilion at Riverfront Park on North National Avenue will be the site of a ribbon cutting for the newly built pavilion on May 17 following the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee at 8 a.m.
In the evening,  a free spring concert will be held at the site.
Bring your lawn chairs.
6:00 PM Supper: Hotdogs, chips, desserts, bottled water.
6:30 PM Concert: Rick Cook & Seminole with special guests Jason Richison and Kinley Rice.
Free admission. (Donations accepted and much appreciated.)

This is a kid-friendly event.

Fort Scott, Submitted

Summer Reading Program Kick Off May 30

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Fort Scott Public Library, at the corner of National Avenue and Second Street.

The Fort Scott Public Library’s 2018 Summer Reading Program theme is Libraries Rock! and this year’s program will include activities and challenges for all library patrons ages 0 – adult.

The family kick-off party is from 10 a.m. to noon May 30 at the Ellis Fine Arts Center.

Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College on South Horton Street.

Early registration is now open. Any summer reading registrations turned in before May 30 will receive a prize for each child or teen. Forms are available at the library circulation desks and have been sent home through all Bourbon County schools.

If you are able to volunteer or donate, please email Miss Val at [email protected] or call 620-223-2882.

“We still need more donors for weekly snacks,” Youth  Librarian Valeta Cannon, ” said. “And more volunteers to help with regular program weeks. All volunteers will receive a letter for their resume or college application upon request.’

2018 Summer Reading Performers Schedule:

Musician Alan Cunningham – June 13 at 10 a.m. at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center (FSCC)

Musician Aaron Fowler with a service dog, Bella – June 19 at 1 p.m. at the  Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center (FSCC)

Storyteller & Puppeteer Priscilla Howe – July 11 at 10 a.m. at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center (FSCC)

Other Events Scheduled:

Rock Star Kick-Off Family Party – May 30 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center (FSCC)

Just Dance & Guitar Hero Teen Kick-Off Party – June 4 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Keyhole

Regular Weekly Programs (Kids 0 – 5th grade) – Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10 a.m., June 5 – August 1 at Fort Scott Public Library. NO regular meeting on June 12, July 4, or 10, due to performances and Independence Day. Events will begin in our event room and the computer room, located downstairs, and finish upstairs for awards, registration, and book browsing.

Regular Weekly Programs (Teens, 6th – 12th grade) – Wednesdays at 4:15 pm, June 6 – August 1 at the library and once monthly at Common Ground Coffee Co. NO Meeting on July 4 (July 3 instead). Teens are also encouraged to volunteer at children’s meetings.

Rock-Painting Party with Julie and Kallie Norris – Date TBD at Fort Scott Public Library

Wrap-Up Party TBD – Tentative Date, August 7

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Submitted

New Online Mercy Sponsorship Application

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Mercy’s Application Process for Donation/Sponsorship Requests

FORT SCOTT, Kan. (May 9, 2018) – Mercy is committed to supporting charitable organizations and activities consistent with our mission to improve the health and quality of life in the communities we serve. Just one way that Mercy does so is by donating money to sponsor a multitude of annual events or organization’s efforts to promote health and wellness.

In order to better serve the organizations which submit sponsorship/donation requests, Mercy has introduced a new online sponsorship application system.  

To be considered for funding from Mercy between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, all organizations seeking charitable support are asked to complete the online application at www.mercy.net/sponsorships.  

The deadline to apply is June 1, 2018. Recipients will be notified by email after July 1, 2018.

To create your organization’s online proposal, you will first need to create an account by logging on to www.mercy.net/sponsorships. Note that the application will require a W-9, and Federal Tax ID number or a Social Security number to submit.

“The application review committee looks forward to receiving proposals and learning more about your organization’s plans to use funds to further our mission among the people you serve,” said Tina Rockhold, Community Relations Manager, and Philanthropy Director.

“We strongly encourage your organization’s members to think ahead for the next 13 months and submit applications for programs they foresee having funding needs through June of 2019.”

Mercy Hospital Fort Scott is an acute care hospital with 46 licensed beds, offering comprehensive medical, surgical, OB/GYN, pediatric, home care and hospice services. Inpatient care is provided with 24/7 physician coverage. In 2017, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott received The Leapfrog Group’s prestigious A rating. Mercy Clinic Fort Scott is located on hospital grounds as well as Mercy rural health clinics in Arma and Pleasanton.

Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2018, 2017 and 2016 by IBM Watson Health, serves millions annually. Mercy includes more than 40 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, 800 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 44,000 co-workers and 2,100 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In addition, Mercy’s IT division, Mercy Technology Services, supply chain organization, ROi, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients in more than 20 states coast to coast.

Government, Kansas, Submitted

Governor Signs School Finance Bill Fix

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Governor Jeff Colyer Signs School Finance Bill Fix 

OLATHE- Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. today signed House Substitute for Senate Bill 61 during a ceremony at the central office of the Olathe School District. This bill was intended to fix an error made in the school finance bill that the Governor signed last month in Topeka.

“I’m very happy that the House and Senate were able to come together and fix the mistake in the previous legislation,” said the Governor. “This bill gets more money in the classroom and adds accountability measures without raising taxes on hardworking Kansas families and I’m happy to sign it.”

 

Government, Kansas, Submitted

DCF Announces New Communications Director

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Taylor Forrest assumes a leadership role in DCF communications

TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel is pleased to announce that Public Information Officer Taylor Forrest has been promoted to Communications Director, effective Monday, May 7. Forrest replaces Theresa Freed, who was named Deputy Secretary of Public Affairs for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).

“I would like to thank Theresa for the hard work, leadership, and dedication that she has demonstrated at DCF the last five years. I wish her the very best of luck at our sister agency,” said Secretary Meier-Hummel. “I have full faith that Taylor will pick up where Theresa left off and engage the public purposefully to share the important work of our agency.”

Forrest has served as the public information officer for DCF since June 2017. She has a bachelor’s degree in convergent journalism from Southwestern College. Previously, she interned for Senator Jerry Moran and former Congressman, now Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo.

Government, Kansas, Submitted

Freed Shifts To KDHE

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KDHE Welcomes Deputy Secretary of Public Affairs

Theresa Freed makes move from DCF to KDHE in a leadership role, continuing State service

Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Secretary Jeff Andersen is pleased to announce that Theresa Freed will join KDHE today, Monday, May 7, to serve in a newly-created position of Deputy Secretary of Public Affairs. Theresa served as the Communications Director for the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) for five years, and prior to that, served as Public Information Officer for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.

“I’m excited to have Theresa heading our Communications and Legislative divisions,” said Secretary Andersen. “She has done tremendous work at DCF, engaging the public and embracing new technology to share the good work of the agency. We look forward to her doing the same and more at KDHE.”

As DCF Communications Director, Freed was instrumental in leading many DCF public relations projects, including the launch and implementation of Foster Kansas Kids, digital signage, and the children’s room redesign. She successfully initiated DCF’s presence on social media and played a key role in the redesign of both the DCF public website and intranet. She worked closely with the agency’s Legislative and Policy division to create and review legislative testimony and supplemental information for lawmakers. Prior to State service, Freed worked for 13 years as a print and television reporter and anchor, honored with numerous journalism awards. She obtained bachelor’s degrees in broadcast journalism and political science from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in mass communications from California State University.

“I have greatly appreciated my time at DCF,” said Freed. “After many years of working at an agency that assists families at some of the most difficult points in their lives, I am now looking forward to helping Kansans in this new capacity. KDHE does amazing work through a wide range of programs and services, and I am excited to share those stories.”

Relevant experience from State service that Freed brings to KDHE includes serving on the initial KanCare Communications Workgroup, supporting the work of the KanCare Ombudsman, leading communications planning on the KEES project related to DCF services, and working closely with the DCF child care program to launch and promote a quality recognition system. She has previously worked in collaboration with KDHE on joint messaging related to child care facility safety and hot car awareness related to children.

Freed will lead the team of communications professionals at KDHE, including Director of Communications Gerald Kratochvil and Public Information Officers Kara Titus and J.C. Reeves. She will also oversee the legislative division, which includes Legislative Liaison Liz Dunn.

Freed and her husband, Larry, reside in their hometown of Topeka, with their two sons.

Government, Kansas, Submitted

Governor Responds to Decision on Lifetime Caps

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Governor Colyer Responds to CMS Decision on Lifetime Caps

TOPEKA- On Monday, Governor Colyer and the State Medicaid Director received a letter from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (“CMS”) announcing they would not approve lifetime caps.

Gov. Colyer issued the following statement:

“As we indicated during the last Bob Bethell KanCare Oversight Committee meeting on April 23, Kansas is no longer pursuing a lifetime limit provision in its 1115 waiver.

“The decision to remove lifetime caps was made after a series of discussions with CMS in which they indicated they would be unable to approve the measure.

“While we will not be moving forward with lifetime caps, we are pleased that the Administration has been supportive of our efforts to include a work requirement in the 1115 waiver. This important provision will help improve outcomes and ensure that Kansans are empowered to achieve self-sufficiency.”

 

Fort Scott, Schools, Submitted

FSCC Grade School Music Festival

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The 49th Annual Invitational Grade School Music Festival was held at Fort Scott Community College Saturday.

“The day was a huge success!Ellis and Bailey Halls (were) packed full of excited young musicians performing as soloists as well as in small and large ensembles,” Seth Ernst, FSCC music instructor said.

“Here are some numbers from the day:

–        Thirty-four schools and private music studios attended, just shy of 300 solos performed,  46 small and large ensembles, upwards of 400 students, in total, across all entries.

“There were hundreds of family and friends in attendance to watch and listen,” Ernst said. “I must give my sincerest thanks to the following people:

–          The maintenance staff, for their hard work in helping me set up and tear down all of the festival rooms,

–          The business office, for their excellent help with getting me resources for the festival,

–          The festival judges, two of whom include our very own Ronda Bailey and Dr. Greg Turner, for their expertise in assigning students’ ratings and giving valuable performance suggestions,

–          The student workers, who put in a long day and made sure that all of the performance rooms ran smoothly and that students received their earned awards. These included Abigail Gilligan, Alexandreia Johnston, Allison Gilligan, Ashley Lockwood, Dayton Knight, Donnie Flowers, Erin Deatsch, Jackalynn Neher, Katie Palmer, Kevin Kerr, Megan Thomas, Shayla Button, Tim Higgins and Ty Covey.”