The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office daily reports can best be viewed on a computer.
They can be contacted at (620) 223-2380.
Category Archives: Submitted
Jimmy DeYoung to Speak at First Southern Baptist Church June 20
Jimmy DeYoung is a world-renowned author and prophet of Gods Word. This rally he will be talking on the subject “Presidents, Politics, and Prophecy”.
The Rally will be held at First Southern Baptist Church, 1888 S. Main at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2018.
The doors will open at 6:00 pm to visit with Mr. DeYoung or look through his book collection.
VCY of Wisconsin will be bringing singers as well. After the message, refreshments will be served in our fellowship hall. All are welcome.
For additional information call 620-223-2986 or go to vcyamerica.org or fortscottsbc.com
Paid Parental Leave Available To Mercy Workers
Mercy Offers Paid Parental Leave to 40K Co-workers
Paid leave also extends to foster and adoptive parents, both moms, and dads
ST. LOUIS (June 13, 2018) – While paid parental leave is fairly standard in other developed countries, it’s less common in the U.S., particularly in the healthcare industry. Two weeks of paid parental leave are now available to nearly 40,000 Mercy co-workers across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. To learn more about opportunities at Mercy, visit bit.ly/Mercy-Careers.
“This is awesome,” said Sherise Beckham, a registered dietitian at a Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. “I am proud to work for a hospital that cares about their employees…especially us working mommas!”
In 2017, Mercy surveyed co-workers about benefits and services. Mercy listened and then took action.
“Paid parental leave was one of the top concerns,” said Cindy Rosburg, Mercy’s chief human resources officer. “In the U.S., only about 10 percent of healthcare organizations offer paid parental leave. Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, never married or had children herself, but she adopted children. She founded the order in Ireland almost 200 years ago to help address critical human needs, especially those of children and mothers. For Mercy, providing paid parental leave is the right thing to do. Catherine would be proud.”
For co-workers, it’s no small change. Heather Schroeder, a registered nurse in Ozark, Missouri, has fostered children for nearly four years.
“Placement of foster children comes with the same joy and challenges as a birth or adoption,” she said. “To be honest, foster placements often come with more challenges because you are unable to prepare for the children in your home before they come and there are many requirements and tasks to complete within the first week they are placed. I am so thankful to work for Mercy and appreciate that every family, no matter how God chooses to bring them together, is valued.”
For Mercy, it’s a significant commitment. With 54 percent of Mercy’s nursing workforce under age 40, compared with an industry average of 37 percent, Mercy has a higher ratio of employees at the prime age for having children. In 2017 alone, nearly 1,000 Mercy co-workers gave birth. Although the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires all large employers to provide 12 weeks of unpaid leave, the U.S. has no law requiring paid leave.
In addition to paid parental leave, Mercy is piloting a program to provide child and elder care assistance. Mercy also recently rolled out a program for co-workers to refinance student loans, as well as share the benefit with family and friends. One co-worker refinanced a $314,244 loan, the largest submitted to date, and will likely save almost $80,000 over the life of the loan.
Like paid parental leave, these were some of the co-workers’ top concerns.
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.
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports May 31-June12
The Fort Scott Police Department daily reports can best be viewed on a computer.
The department can be reached at1604 S. National, Fort Scott, KS 66701 or by phone 620-223-1700.
Obituary of Jeanie Wiley
Jeanie Wiley, 58, of Fort Scott, passed away early Monday morning at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
She was born July 24, 1959, in Scott City, Kansas, the daughter of Billy Lee and Marjorie Ann (Heim) Riggs.
She married Pete Wiley August 10, 1984, in Garden City, Kansas, and he survives of the home.
In addition to her husband, Jeanie is also survived by her daughter Cheyenne Von Krosigk and her husband Randell, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Following cremation, there will be a visitation 6:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday evening, June 14, 2018, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, and a Celebration of Life afterward at the Wiley home, 1476 225th Street, Fort Scott.
Memorial contributions may be made to Care to Share and left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Fuel-saving Tips for the Farm
Submitted by: Carla Nemecek, Southwind Extension District
Although the cost of fuel has declined the past few days, input costs are still high especially on the farm. With hay baling, planting soybeans and wheat harvest upon Southeast Kansas, one of the largest expenses will be fuel, so being conscientious how certain vehicles are used could aide in lowering those costs. Several tips are offered by K-State Research & Extension.
- Avoid unnecessary driving. Maybe the task can be handled with a phone call instead of a trip.
- Match the vehicle to the task. Take the family car to pick up parts instead of the four-wheel-drive truck.
- Get rid of junk. Extra tools, supplies and other nonessentials in the back of a vehicle add weight that decreases fuel mileage.
- Keep vehicles in good running order. Clogged filters and injectors rob power and efficiency from tractors, trucks, and cars.
- Check the tire pressure. Underinflated or overinflated tires can increase rolling resistance and fuel use.
- Switch to a minimum or no-till farming practices. Fewer tractor passes through the field means less fuel used.
- Match the tractor to the task. Don’t use a large field tractor when a smaller one will work.
- Make sure the tractor is ballasted properly. Tires on a poorly ballasted tractor will slip and increase fuel use. Too much ballast for the task uses more fuel than necessary.
- Gear up and throttle back when performing field tasks that don’t require full engine power. Operating a tractor at three-quarters power can save 5 to 15 percent, compared to full-throttle operation.
- Consider auto steer attachments for field tasks. Accurate work reduces overlaps or skips with sprayers and tillage equipment, reducing fuel use.
- Avoid unnecessary engine idling. Idling can account for 15 to 20 percent of fuel use.
- Paint fuel storage tanks white. A dark-colored, 300-gallon fuel storage tank can vent up to 120 gallons of fuel a year.
For more information, contact the Southwind District Office in Iola at 620-365-2242 or www.southwind.ksu.edu
Mercy’s Golf Classic Results
A whopping 32 teams participated in the third annual Mercy Health Foundation Golf Classic held at Woodland Hills Golf Course on June 9. The event is quickly becoming one of the largest tournaments in southeast Kansas and the most successful fundraisers for the foundation. Organizers predict net funds to surpass the $14,000 mark.
“We are extremely grateful to the participants, our huge and growing list of sponsors, golf course employees and our Mercy volunteers who came together to support this amazing fundraiser for the Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott,” said Tina Rockhold, foundation executive director and community relations manager.
Proceeds from 2018 Mercy Golf Classic will be paired with the July 27th Hit the Bricks Wine Stroll, Art Walk, and Blane Howard Concert proceeds to help the Mercy Health Foundation to purchase a new transport ambulance for Mercy EMS.
The fourth Mercy Golf Classic is already scheduled for Saturday, June 8, 2019.
Event results:
1st Flight Winners
1st Place ($300) with a score of 50 – Jon Allen team
2nd Place ($200) with a score of 51 – Shawn Marshall team
3rd Place ($100) with a score of 52 – Barry Queen team
2nd Flight Winners
1st Place ($300) with a score of 57 (won in scorecard playoff 2 on 2) – Steve Anthony team
2nd Place ($200) with a score of 57 – Mitch Quick team
3rd Place ($100) with a score of 58 – Clay Campbell team
3rd Flight Winners
1st Place ($300) with a score of 60 (won scorecard playoff 3 on 4) – Mike Harper team
2nd Place ($200) with a score of 60 – Beth Nuss team
3rd Place ($100) with a score of 62 – Jed Perez team
4th Flight Winners
1st Place ($300) with a score of 62 (won scorecard playoff 3 on 14) – Allen Bukowski team
2nd Place ($200) with a score of 62 – Dean Crager team
3rd Place ($100) with a score of 65 – Cliff Yarick team
Special Events
Chipping Contest – (golf bag, umbrella, $30 LaHacienda and grilling utensils) – Matt Sanders
Men’s Longest Drive (1 dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls) – Blake Hudson
Women’s Longest Drive (1 dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls) – Jordan Mason
Closest to Pin (1 dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls) – Jim Ermel 37.5 inches
Closest to the Line (1 dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls) – Jordan Mason at 16 ft.
Closest to the Line (1 dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls) – Drew Clark at 4 inches
Sponsors for the event include: Queen’s Price Chopper, All Hit 103.9, 5 Corners Mini Mart, McDonalds of Fort Scott and Nevada, Briggs Auto of Fort Scott, Care 4 All, Landmark National Bank, Walgreens, Go2Partners, WCA, City of Fort Scott, Extrusions, Inc., Fort Scott Family Dental, City State Bank, Union State Bank, Cancer Center of Kansas, Names & Numbers, Cheney Witt Chapel, Inc., Citizens Bank, R & R Equipment, Mid-Continental Restoration Company, Inc., HydroWorx, Central States Fitness, EVCO, Campbell Print Solutions, Inc., Bourbon County Assisted Living, LLC, Pumpin Pete’s, Lowell Milken Center, SMM Holdings LLC, Peerless Products, Timken, Stutesman’s Action Realty, Watts Fitness LLC, Ward-Kraft, Common Grounds, Atkins Insurance Agency, Fort Scott Community College, Hammons Realty Company, Marsha’s Great Plains Deli, Medicalodges, Inc., Goody’s Department Store, {Re:Freshed Aesthetics} by Delane, LaHacienda of Fort Scott, and Labconco Corp,
The Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott in a not-for-profit corporation which secures public support for projects that enhance health care in the Fort Scott area. Over the years, contributions have helped purchase medical equipment, support programs and established an endowment to meet Mercy’s future health care needs.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports June 12
Local Author at Library June 18
Local author, Carol Russell, will read portions from her books “Brianna Meets Lemonade Lucy” and “Brianna Meets Sybil,” which are books two and three in her Back In Time series, in the Fort Scott Public Library event room, June 18, 3 – 4 p.m. She will also be selling and signing copies of her books, including the first in the series, “Brianna Meets Miss Addie.” Russell’s stories are historical fiction and are geared toward children ages 8-12. All ages are welcome to attend the event.
Information from the back covers:
“Brianna Meets Lemonade Lucy”: Brianna finds herself in the White House in 1878. How can the radio transfer her in time and place? When she is discovered, she is mistaken for hired help. What happens to her in this era? And can she get back to Kansas?
“Brianna Meets Sybil”: Brianna is transported back in time. How can the strange radio transfer her? The minute she sets foot in Connecticut in April 1777, she realizes that she is not alone. Will she be able to get both her and another person home? Can she convince Katie to keep their secret?
Federal Grant to Help Traumatic Brain Injuries
KDADS Awarded Federal Grant to Expand and Improve TBI Services
TOPEKA – The federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living has awarded the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) a three-year grant to expand and improve the services the state provides to individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
KDADS will use the $150,000-a-year grant to create and strengthen a system of services and supports that maximizes the independence, well-being and health of Kansans with TBI in collaboration with the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators and other key stakeholders.
The objectives of this project are to increase representation of people affected by TBI on Kansas’ TBI Advisory board, develop an annual State TBI Action Plan, develop a TBI Registry, increase enrollment of at least 30 people onto TBI Medicaid waiver, conduct annual seminars and educational events that increase knowledge and build capacity for advocacy, and create a sustainability plan to maintain and expand services in the future.
“We expect this project to result in an increased number of individuals with TBI receiving services under the state’s 1915(c) Medicaid waiver for TBI, which currently serves about 425 individuals,” KDADS Secretary Tim Keck said. “Another aim of this project is to educate people experiencing TBI, and the public, about brain injuries and to make them aware of the community resources available to support them.”
Kansas’ TBI Medicaid waiver provides a range of services and supports to individuals with TBI and their families with the aim of ensuring that individuals can remain in their homes and be as independent as possible in a safe, healthy environment. The HCBS/TBI program serves individuals who would otherwise require institutionalization in a TBI rehabilitation facility. The TBI waiver is designed to be a rehabilitative program for consumers to receive therapies and services that enable them to rely less on supports as their independence increases.
In 2018, the Kansas Legislature enacted a law requiring that the TBI Medicaid waiver cover children and people with acquired brain injuries as well as those with traumatic brain injury. Kansas is in the process of renewing federal approval for its TBI waiver and the proposed new waiver will include children and individuals with acquired brain injuries as required. The waiver is due for renewal in July of 2019. If approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Kansas will become the first state in the nation to establish a rehabilitation program for children who have a brain injury.
Agenda For the Bourbon County Commission June 12
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
2nd Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: June 12th, 2018
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
9:00-Firework permit
9:45-Decker Electric
10:00-10:30-Benefits Direct-Andrew Allen
10:30-11:00-Bill Martin-trash bids for the new jail/sheriff
11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks
Executive Session-Privileged in the attorney-client relationship-15 min.
Executive Session-Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel-15 min.
Bids and contract title insurance-7 min.
Sale of County Property-5 min.
Update on NRP-5 min.
12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch
` 1:30-1:45-Old Jail/New Jail-Justin Meeks
Justifications for Executive Session:
Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel
Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property
Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system
KDOT Funding Improvements For Local Public Agencies
Governor Colyer, KDOT Announce Local Projects Funding Improvements
Topeka – Governor Jeff Colyer today announced that the Kansas Department of Transportation is increasing the exchange rate for local public agencies seeking to fund local projects with state funds through the Federal Fund Exchange Program, returning the exchange rate to $.90 in state funds made available for every $1.00 in federal funds awarded a local agency, upon that agency’s request.
“By participating in the Federal Fund Exchange Program, we are hoping to increase the control that localities have over their transportation projects and make sure that funds are available when they need them,” said Governor Colyer. “It is important to me that local governments have access to resources for local projects with less federal regulation and bureaucratic red tape. We want Kansas solutions for Kansas transportation issues.”
The Federal Fund Exchange Program is a voluntary program allowing local public agencies the option to sell all or a portion of their federal funds for state transportation dollars, which provides greater flexibility of use and allows local agencies the opportunity to fund larger projects that may not have been possible with federal funding.
“We value the partnership we have with local public agencies and we are looking forward to maximizing our capacity to help them improve their local transportation infrastructure,” said Secretary of Transportation Richard Carlson. “We want to continue providing a statewide transportation system that meets the needs of the people of Kansas.”
Federal funds exchanged for state funds can be used for local projects such as road construction, maintenance or preservation, safety improvements, sidewalks, ADA ramps, bridge construction, rehabilitation or repair, and low water crossings. The funds exchange program allows local agencies to deposit federal funds over a period of years to bank funds for larger projects or to fund projects that would not have fallen under federal requirements.
Max Dibble, Phillips County Commissioner and Kansas Association of Counties President, said, “Restoration of the $.90/$1.00 ratio in the federal funds exchange program will allow counties to further stretch our transportation dollars. This means safer local roads and bridges for our citizens, farmers and businesses depending on them.”
Michael White, Executive Director of the Kansas Contractors Association commented that, “our economy depends on good roads and infrastructure. We appreciate the Governor and KDOT’s leadership to leverage innovative opportunities for transportation funding. This is a perfect example of how we can all work together – at the local, state and federal level – to repair and grow our economy through results-driven infrastructure investments.”
“As we travel the state and talk to cities, we repeatedly hear transportation funding and infrastructure development is critically important to maintain and grow our state,” said Erik Sartorius, Executive Director of the League of Kansas Municipalities. “We appreciate the Governor and KDOT for reinstating the 90-cent exchange rate for local projects. These funds are used to build important projects in cities including the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of roads and bridges.”
The exchange rate was $.90 for fiscal years 2011-2017 and was at $.75 for fiscal year 2018. Approximately $30 million in federal funds has been eligible for the program. The new rate will take effect with all new contracts.