Tag Archives: featured

Fort Scott, Health Care

Via Christi To Operate Fort Scott Emergency Room

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Ascension Via Christi will Operate Fort Scott Emergency Room

January 29, 2019

PITTSBURG, Kansas – Ascension Via Christi has an agreement to operate Fort Scott’s emergency room, diagnostic imaging and laboratory services, as soon as it can get regulatory approval to do so.

As planned, Mercy Hospital will close the emergency room in Fort Scott at midnight on Jan. 31. Therefore, there will be a gap in service while regulatory inspections to operate under new management are obtained.

During that time, ambulance service will continue to be available to respond to 911 emergency calls. EMS’ well-trained staff is aware of all options for treatment and will have two crews available to respond to calls and transport, as may be necessary to the four hospitals located within an hour drive, including Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg.

Under the agreement, Ascension Via Christi will lease approximately 16,000-square feet of clinical space from Mercy and Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg will manage the emergency and outpatient services in Fort Scott.

Mercy announced the closure of its Fort Scott hospital in October, along with plans to pursue opportunities to transfer certain services to other area providers. Under the agreement, Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg will manage emergency and outpatient services at the Fort Scott hospital location.

“We have worked diligently to retain the staff working at Mercy Fort Scott and are in the process of recruiting and onboarding the clinical and non-clinical associates we’ll need to staff services in Fort Scott,” said Randy Cason, president of Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, adding that having an emergency room is critical for the residents of Fort Scott and surrounding communities.

“Taking on emergency room and outpatient diagnostics responsibilities is a continuation of our mission to care for the residents of Southeast Kansas,” Cason said. “Mercy has agreed to transfer its emergency, laboratory and radiology equipment on-site to allow for a smooth transition of services.”

 

Business, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Sharky’s Pub Provides Catering

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Tina and Dave Lipe, owners of Sharky’s Pub and Grub, 16 N. National Avenue.

Dave Lipe told the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee attendees that even though January and February are typically slow seasons for retail businesses, Sharky’s Pub and Grub has seen an increase in catering.

He and wife, Tina, are the owners of the business, at 16 N. National Avenue,  which opened June 1, 2011.

“We’ve done catering for seven or eight years, since we’ve been open,” Lipe said.  “Catering is one thing that has picked up for us.”

“We can do a Superbowl party, a rehearsal dinner….weddings,” he said.

There is also a third-floor event center available for rent above their restaurant, Lipe said.

They recently did catering in Kansas City.

“We did a tailgate party at the Chief’s game, we are mobile,” he said.

“If there is something you are needing, ask,” Lipe said.

The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. and can be reached at 223-4777.

 

Business, Fort Scott

City State Bank Reno Completed

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City State Bank, 202 Scott Avenue, has an updated look. Submitted photo.

A business that has been in downtown Fort Scott for over 60  years has received an update in the form of a remodel.

The original City State Bank downtown building was constructed in 1957.

It needed an update, said John Hill, president and CEO of the bank.

“The new drive-thru and ATM allow us to better serve our customers who drive larger vehicles.,” Hill said. “The remodel reflects the type of service we are trying to give our existing and new customers in Fort Scott. It also shows our commitment to downtown.”

There will be a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and grand reopening on Feb. 7 at 5 p.m.

The bank is located at 202 Scott Avenue.

“The inside is completely remodeled with a new layout that includes new flooring, teller desk, furniture, lighting and décor,” Hill said.

Submitted photo. The interior of City State Bank, January 2019.

The outside facelift includes new stone, stucco, drive-thru canopy, a new island ATM, sidewalks and lighting.

The backside of City State Bank following renovation.

The remodel started in August 2018 and was completed by January 2019.

LaForge and Budd Construction Company, Inc of Parsons, Kansas was the general contractor.

In addition, “We used many local vendors and contractors,” working of the project, Hill said.

The bank can be reached at 223-2419 for the downtown branch, or 223-1600 at the 1012 Hwy. 69 branch.

 

 

Fort Scott, Health Care

Fort Scott’s Cancer Center to Close Jan. 31

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Cancer Center of Kansas, located in Mercy Hospital Clinic, Jan. 21..

In connection with the closure of Mercy Hospital at the end of 2018, the Cancer Center of Kansas, which was located in the hospital clinic is closing.

The last day of operation for the center in Fort Scott is Jan. 31.

The center is offering the same service in Chanute and Parsons for its patients, said Dr. Yoosaf Abraham, Chief Operating Officer for Cancer Center of Kansas, Wichita.

The reason for the closure?

“We can not provide services to our patients, without ancillary services,” Abraham said.

Services such as  a labratory and surgeons are no longer available at Fort Scott, Abraham said.

Dr. Phu Truong and Dr. Nassim Nbbout, the current doctors in the Fort Scott Cancer Center of Kansas, can be seen at the Chanute and Parsons Cancer Center of Kansas facilities, he said.

The two nurses currently employed at the Cancer Center in Fort Scott are employees of Mercy Hospital, Abraham said.

“This will affect many in our community,” said Karen Endicott-Coyan. ” I currently take weekly chemo treatments at the center…this is extremely disheartening. I take chemo weekly with no end in sight, as there is no cure for my disease.”

 

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Government, Health Care

Health Department to Move

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This building. at 6th and Horton, will be the new site of the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department.

The Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, with a location currently behind the Bourbon County Courthouse, is moving.

More privacy for clients and more room for future health care collaborations are the reasons for the move said Bourbon County Commissioner Jeff Fischer, who is also a member of the SEKMCHD board.

The site chosen is the former Mercy Hospital facility at 6th and Horton.

“We needed more space to provide more services,” Fischer said.

“SEKMCHD began looking at updating their current facility that is a modular office building on the courthouse square two years ago,” said  Fischer. “SEKMCHD considered the Bourbon County Court Annex, the decommissioned jail and other properties on the market two years ago. Late this summer the Cornerstone Bible Church offered their building to SEKMCHD which was purchased in December 2018.”

The SEKMCHD received a building permit on Jan. 17. They will meet as a board on Jan. 22 for further discussions of the project.

“We are aiming for an April 1 date to move,” Fischer said.

“Moving into a structure that is more than twice the size of their existing facility presents some interesting opportunities,” Fischer said. “There are ongoing discussions on how to leverage this space to improve access to healthcare and – or provide other services that complement the mission of county health departments. This may include leveraging the Craw-Kan Fiber Optic Network and support Tele-health studios available to the public.”

“At this point, a building permit has been granted to modify the western side of the building, replacing interior walls and providing the ability to secure the SEKMCHD space from the commons areas that include the waiting room and reception area,” Fischer said. “There are no definite plans on how to best utilize the eastern half.”

“The project consists of replacing and installing approximately 120 linear foot of insulated 2X4 framed walls on a structure that was built by Mercy in 1992 to provide health care services,” Fischer explained. “In addition, the installation of nine doors to create three new office spaces and two examination rooms. The framed walls shall be covered with approximately 240 ft., 50 boards of half-inch sheetrock.”

“The plumbing portion involves replacing sinks and moving an existing sink to facilitate access to the restroom from one of the exam rooms,” he said. “The plumber will also extend a gas line to the vicinity of the generator set placed outside adjacent to the electrical service entry.”

“The electrical portion involves installing wiring for outlets, switches, dedicated circuits for critical equipment,” Fischer said.  “In addition, it involves the installation of communication wiring. The installation of a generator set and appropriate automatic transfer switches will also be furnished.”

The Bourbon County Health Department provides adult and childhood immunizations and physicals, pap exams, birth control, blood lead screening, hemoglobin and blood sugar screening, hearing screening, blood pressure checks, STD screening and treatment, disease investigations, emergency preparedness,  and labs such as CBC, Chem Panel, TSH.
“The costs depends on which service they choose, but we accept Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Kancare Insurance associated with Medicaid- Amerigroup, Etna, and United Healthcare,” said Alice Maffett, the nurse at the SEKMCHD in Bourbon County.

 For more information, contact Alice Maffett, Nurse, Bourbon County,620-223-4464 , or Jeff Fischer, board member, 620.223.6633 or Chardel Hastings, Director SEKMCHD 411 North Washington ~ Iola, 620-365-2191.

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Schools

USD 234: Redesigning Future Education?

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USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong addressing the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee attendees at Fort Scott High School Thursday morning.

USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong spoke to the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Thursday, during the weekly coffee, about the need to match what is needed in a society with what schools actually teach.

To get the community involved in the school district’s education redesign, USD 234 is sponsoring what is being called Community Conversations.

Community Conversations dates and locations:

• January 22 –Fort Scott High School

• January 24 –Eugene Ware Elementary

• January 29 –Fort Scott Middle School

• January 30 –Winfield Scott Elementary

All times starting at 6:00 PM.

“Businesses need skilled talent and those are the hardest jobs to fill,” he said.

“We need to make education fit us,” Hessong said. “We need to make changes in education, do something we’ve never done.”

From statistics Hessong presented to the attendees, the top skills that high school graduates lack are: work ethic-professionalism, teamwork-collaboration, verbal communication, ethics-social responsibility, critical thinking-problem solving,  and information technology application, among others.

Some of the school redesign principles that Hessong presented were:

  • an integrated approach to develop student socio-emotional learning.
  • teachers support students to have a choice over their time, place, pace and path.
  • family, business and community partnerships based on mutually beneficial relationships and collaboration.
  • project-based learning, internships, and civic engagement to make learning relevant.

At the Community Conversations, USD 234 is seeking feedback from parents, guardians, business, and community members in these areas:

• Emergency Operations Plan

• USD 234 Mission and Vision

• USD 234 School Board’s Areas of Focus

• What is the role of USD 234’s Preschool –12th-grade educational system in developing an independent, responsible, and productive adults?

 

 

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Baton Is Passed at Union State Bank

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Kenny Holt is retiring as President and CEO of Union State Bank, after 25 years.

Bryan Holt became the president and Chief Executive Officer of Union State Bank on Jan. 1, 2019.

“I’ll be the fifth generation of the Holt family to hold this position,” Bryan Holt said.  “It is a great honor for me.”

Union State Bank has been family-owned and operated since 1901.

“My great-grandfather, L.E. “Emett” Holt began, then grand-dad Curtis Holt, then my dad, Kent Holt,” Kenny Holt said.

Kenny Holt held the president and CEO position from 1993 to December 31, 2018.

“We (he and his wife, Nancy) are slowing down and doing things we want to do,” Kenny Holt said.

Kenny will work in the transition period to mentor Bryan and Chad Holt, his younger son, who will be taking over some duties as well, he said.

Bryan Holt has been preparing for leadership through education and career experience.

He has an associates degree from Fort Scott Community College and a Bachelors in Business Administration with a major in Finance from Pittsburg State University Additionally, he completed the Graduate School of Banking in 2012.

“I have worked at the (Union State) bank twice now,” Bryan Holt said. “Part-time as a teller from 1990 – 1993.  I returned to the bank in 2005 as the Business Development Officer and Information Security Officer, moving from McKinney, Texas. In a bank our size, all of the officers have been exposed to all parts of the business and that’s true of me.”

“My duties will be evolving to include overseeing overall operations of the bank, including strategic direction,” he said.  “Of course, I’ll still be working in lending and business development, but learning this new role will become a large part of my daily activities.”

Technology has been changed the culture in America and the world, and the banking sector is no different.

“The rapid advance of technology will continue to disrupt the traditional banking model,” Bryan Holt said.  “Our customers will rely less and less on coming into the branch, preferring to do business via mobile methods.  We are working to balance the personalized service that we’ve been providing for nearly 120 years with the convenience of banking from your mobile device.”

“Technology has allowed us to do a lot of things,” Kenny Holt said.

A negative change in banking in the last 25 years is the “regulatory burden put on us,” Kenny Holt said. “The regulation doesn’t apply to us (small banks), but we still have to abide.”

USB  stated purpose is to provide affordable, high-quality financial products and services that enhance the customers’ financial well-being and strengthen the communities they serve.  The mission is to be the bank of choice in the communities served.

Union State Bank has two locations: on the  Uniontown square and can be reached at 620-756-4305 and Fort Scott at 1009 S. Clark, 620-223-0066.

 

Business, Fort Scott

DISCOVER LOCAL Magazine Coming To Fort Scott

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Discover Local Magazine Publisher Gary Palmer with Editor Rebekah Houser, who is holding a prototype of the magazine.

Inspired by other area magazines, businessman Gary Palmer is launching a magazine called Discover Local.

The target audience will be primarily tourists, he said. “With an emphasis on local services and retailers.”

“The idea came from other magazines like 417 Magazine, which covers all those in the (telephone) area code 417 (in southwest Missouri),” he said. “It talks about the goings-on in the region with a strong emphasis on entertainment and food and what people can enjoy.”

A view of the prototype of Discover Local Magazine.

“It ties those who would be visiting to those locally that are providing services and opportunities to enjoy. It seems there is a void for something like this.”

“The whole idea behind this,” Palmer said. “I want this magazine to be beneficial to all parties involved. I personally feel that our community has an enormous amount of resources and a willingness to help others. This is just a visual way to pair our resources with those seeking to enjoy our community.”

There will be several local authors contributing to the magazine: Larry Gazzaway, Martha Scott, Jody Hoener and others he said.

And why not publish a magazine? Palmer is the owner of Captured Images, a photography business, and owns his own printer that will be publishing the magazine.

“We will be publishing this right here on Main Street,” Palmer said.

The magazine will have no subscription costs for readers but would be paid for by the advertisements that local businesses purchase.

“There may be a small postage charge if people would like us to mail it to them,” he said.

“The subscriptions for advertisers would be billed quarterly and range from $150 up,” Palmer said. “What is very unique about the magazine is we will be asking our advertisers to subscribe annually.

“An annual subscription will include a feature about the advertiser,” Palmer said. “If Capture Images buys one-half page for the year, for example, it would get a full page article at some point, featuring the business.”

There will be four publications annually.

The magazine would be placed in local hotels and the Tourism/Chamber of Commerce Office.

Captured Images Press is located at 118 S. Main and can be contacted at 223-5375.

“Our community needs something positive,” he said. “I hope this builds momentum.”

 

 

 

 

Business, Fort Scott

Front Door Realty: Real Estate Is Moving

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Front Door Real Estate staff: from left Lisa Ward and Crystal Mason, realtors; Jared Leek, broker.

Jared Leek began Front Door Real Estate in 2008 working out of his home, he told the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee attendees Thursday morning.

In October 2018 he opened an office business at 14 S. Main.

The real estate business hosted the Chamber Coffee at a new listing, a house located at 500 Sunset Drive.

Lisa Ward and Crystal Mason are agents for Front Door Real Estate, while Leek is the broker.

“A ton of real estate is moving in Fort Scott,” Leek said. “A lot of out- of-town people are moving in. We had a fantastic year, last year.”

The featured house at  500 Sunset Drive,  is a four bedroom, three bath home with 2, 252 square feet, built in 1950, listed at $149,900.

500 Sunset Drive.

“It’s a great, solid house, well taken care of,” Mason said.

The agency sells residential, commercial, lots,  land and lake property.

For more information call 620-224-9787.

Business, Fort Scott, Government

Price Chopper: No Taxpayer Dollars

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The marquee at Price Chopper on South Main Street Wednesday afternoon, announcing the closure of the store.

Price Chopper announced January 7 that they would close the Fort Scott store on South Main Street.

In addition to Price Chopper closing, Dunkin’ Donuts store and Fort Scott Pharmacy, both located in the main Price Chopper building are closing.

The closure of Price Chopper effects 85 employees, said Mike Massey, store manager.

A sign on the doors of Price Chopper Jan. 9.

“Forty full-time employees, some of whom will be going to other Price Choppers,” Massey said.

“It’s a beautiful store, Fort Scott will miss it,” Massey said with a glum face.

There was a full parking lot on January 9, the first day of the closeout sale of Price Chopper.

Dunkin’ Donuts last day open is Friday, January 11, said employee Franklin Dorres. He said they had eight full-time and four part-time employees.

Fort Scott Pharmacy is closing no later than Jan. 18, said Pharmacist Julie Pellett. “Three out of the five employees will go to Iola. The Iola group offers to provide much of the services we provided to our Fort Scott customers. Call 620-365-3176 for more information.”

The sign on the door of Fort Scott Pharmacy January 9, announcing the closure of the pharmacy.

Question about how the closure effects taxpayers

Fortscott.biz received a valid question from the public on how much local taxpayers have provided for the development of the Price Chopper grocery store.

The City of Fort Scott was given the question, which mentioned Industrial Revenue Bonds, and responded.

” There is no negative effect to the taxpayers regarding the closure,” said Rachel Pruitt, Fort Scott’s Economic Development Director. “Reimbursement is only on incremental tax revenue.  The incentive should motivate the developer (AWG)to recruit new business.  If there is no tax revenue the developer does not receive reimbursement on their investment.”

“The incentives were explained in several commission meetings prior to construction,” Pruitt said. “I found a few notes to further explain the city’s involvement.”

This image was provided by the City of Fort Scott Economic Development Director, Rachel Pruitt.

Pruitt added the following to clarify:

“Local Incentives for Price Chopper Development:

  • Developer-funded project costs  were $9.4MM
  • Reimbursement of up to $2.65MM
  • $1.9MM via Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
  • Incremental real property tax and city sales taxes
  • $750,000 via Community Improvement District
  • .05% sales tax

“The State incentive:  IRB state sales tax exemption on construction materials and labor.

“IRB (Industrial Revenue Bond) was a state tax exemption on construction materials and labor.

There was no federal government incentive involved in the property development by Price Chopper.

“The County incentive:  participation in TIF – incremental property tax revenue reimbursed to AWG (the developer).

“TIF (Tax Increment Financing) District pays the developer on the ‘incremental’ tax revenue.  There is no bond obligation to the taxpayers.”

“They were performance-based incentives.”

Price Chopper opened Dec. 13, 2017

At the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee this morning, Jan. 10, Pruitt said even though Aldi’s has been mentioned as a replacement for Price Chopper, that decision is in the hand of the developer.

 

Fort Scott Community College, Jobs

New Faces at FSCC

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Fort Scott Community College staff came back from Christmas break on January 3, teacher in-service is today, January 9, with classes resuming on January 14.

Several new staff have been added this semester, with final approval to be given at the FSCC Board of Trustees meeting on January 28, said Juley McDaniel, director of human resources.

Kirk Sharp has been hired as the new Gordon Parks Museum Director, Jentry Page as the High School Equivalency Instructional Coordinator, Cody Crim as the assistant rodeo coach who will double as a Resident Assistant at the Greyhound Lodge at 701 N. National Avenue, Jared Kaylon as a maintenance technician, Jamal Robinson as the athletic trainer, Vanessa Matlock as the assistant women’s basketball coach and Resident Assistant, and Jay Wilson and Scott Mitchell as assistant football coaches.

There are still positions open, McDaniel said and noted two: a web developer and a cashier.

To view all positions go tohttp://fortscott.edu/jobs

In addition to new staff and students arriving this semester, there is a vacancy on the FSCC Board of Trustees.

Trustee Tina Rockhold, who was the communications director at Mercy Hospital before it closed Dec. 31, has moved and the board will be following their policy for replacing her, McDaniel said.

“They will pass a resolution at their January (28) meeting which will allow us to post the vacancy and provide direction to those interested in filling the position, ” McDaniel said.

 

 

 

Business, Fort Scott

Bids and Dibs Moves, Will Reopen This Month

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Bids and Dibs consignment store has outgrown its current space and has moved to 108 Scott Avenue.

Last week the staff shut down the store at 19 S. National Avenue, and put excess merchandise out on the sidewalk to give away.

Bids and Dibs consignment store, 19 S. National Avenue is moving locations.

Bids and Dibs consignment store has been in its present location for six years and has outgrown the facility.

The store will have a larger area at the new address, 108  Scott Avenue, Suite C.

The new location of Bids and Dibs is 108 S. State, Suite C. The main door (white, at left in photo) faces the parking lot south of the facility.

Store owner Angie Simon said the employees have been working to get the shop reopened at its new site.

“We will make the main shop entrance face Second Street across from City State Bank”, Simon said. “Wise Tax and Accounting will remain in Suite A on Scott Ave. Suite B (previously The Bunker) will be available for rent or turned into something fabulous soon. We will gain a wonderful amount of square footage that will allow us to serve you better. We are incredibly excited about 2019!”

“Our hope is that the additional square footage will allow our customers a more satisfying shopping experience by offering a greater variety of merchandise,” she said. “Along with increasing the categories in which we carry resale items we are excited to announce we will be adding to our new boutique lines”.

Bids and Dibs owner, Angie Simon,  purchased the southern part of the building in October from Wise Tax and Accounting, 108 S. Scott Avenue.
A peek inside the new facility from the Scott Avenue door on Jan. 6 shows the cavernous building that Bids and Dibs will be filling with merchandise.

“Construction started on the facility last week. We are hoping to re-open sometime this month,” Simon said.

“We will be prepared to start accepting consignments within the next two weeks. We will post details about our new consignment drop off procedures and opening dates on our Facebook page as soon as they are available”.

“The new store will have a much bigger sales floor allowing us to accept larger furniture pieces and household appliances, there will be a sizable room solely dedicated to online sales and our private consignor intake area will allow consignors to drop off items quickly and easily. The larger building will also give us the freedom to host more after-hours events like private parties and fundraisers.”