Tag Archives: featured

Bourbon County, Government

Tiana McElroy Selected as New Bourbon County Attorney

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Tiana McElroy. Submitted photo taken last evening by a committee person at the event.

Tiana McElroy, 46,  was selected on July 1 to be the new Bourbon County Attorney, replacing Jacqui Spradling, who resigned.

McElroy has practiced law since August 2004, primarily criminal law, she said.

“I started as the Assistant Bourbon County Attorney in January 2018 and left Bourbon County for Cherokee County at the beginning of this year, (to be its) assistant county attorney,” she said.

McElroy attended Washburn University from 2001 to 2004 earning a Bachelor of Arts in History then a Juris Doctorate.

Her hometown is Leavenworth.

She became an attorney to “make a difference,” she said. “I feel like I’m making a difference, no matter how small.”

Her goal in the new position?

“To make the office more transparent,” she said. “I want the public to trust in the office again.”

“I’ll be full-time,” McElroy said. “I don’t have expectations that it will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. I will be there as needed, but the position is classified as part-time.” She will be in her office five days a week.

She said the position is classified part-time, but she will go before the Bourbon County Commission and request they make the position full-time.

There is a backlog of cases to be tried, according to Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks. “Some of it because of COVID,” he said.

McElroy is the mother of two daughters, ages 13 and 16.

“I do not plan on moving to Fort Scott at this time so my children can finish school in Columbus,” she said.  “I am certainly open to moving to Bourbon County once they have graduated from high school.”

The Process of Selecting A New County Attorney

A meeting was held July 1 of the Bourbon County Republicans to select a new county attorney. There were seven candidates who introduced themselves, Chairman Mark McCoy said.

In addition to McElroy,  Meeks, Linus Thuston (the Neosho County Attorney), Jeffrey Williams (a private practice attorney), David Graham ( a practicing attorney), James Brun (recently Linn County Attorney) and Steven Ellis (the mayor of Spring Hill and a practicing attorney) applied for the position.

The party leaders asked questions of each candidate, he said.

The general public was allowed a brief time to speak for or against a candidate then left the meeting, The chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer, along with committee people of the party, remained to deliberate, McCoy said.

“The party, I believe, did a complete and thorough job and I am very, very comfortable with the outcome,” of McElroy being selected, he said.

McElroy will begin her duties as soon as the governor approves the selection, McCoy said.

“Today, I will send a certified, notarized letter to the governor’s office,” he said.

McElroy should be in her new position in a few weeks. The county attorney’s office is on the second floor of the Bourbon County Courthouse.

The Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Avenue.

 

Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott

Burke Street Parade at Noon on July 4

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Burke Street Parade participants Margaret and Merl Humphrey and granddaughter Meg Normanin a previous parade. Submitted photo.

The 39th Annual Burke Street Parade is Sunday, July 4 at noon.

The parade starts at 10th and Burke Street and Frank Halsey will be leading the traffic control, according to a press release.

Steven Anthony in the Burke Street Parade. Submitted photo.

After the parade, refreshments will be at Michelle and Lewis Dunkeson, 1005 Burke Street.

“Everyone is welcome,” Margaret Humphrey, one of the organizers, said. “Please donate cookies to the Dunkesons, preferably on July 3.”

The Halsey family hosted the cookies in 2018.

“Please, no big vehicles and watch for the children, who are all over the place,” she said.

Burke Street Parade. Susan Foster and grandson. Submitted photo.

“Dress in patriotic attire or just sit anywhere on the street to watch and cheer the parade.”

Patriotic songs will be led by Abby Albright, Jill Gorman and Susan Foster, a tradition at the parade.

If any questions call  Humphrey 223.0388  or 620. 224. 7388 or Theresa Bahr 215. 2889 or  Barbara Albright, 224.7762 “who is the official distributor of information,” Humphrey said..

“Severe storms or lightning cancels the parade…but we have conquered the rain,” Humphrey said.

To learn more about the parade:

Burke Street July 4th Americana: Parade and Food

 

Business, Fort Scott

New Tri-Valley Horticulture Specialist: Austin Bolinger

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Austin Bolinger. Submitted photo.

Austin Bolinger, 22, is the new horticulture specialist at Tri-Valley Developmental Services, replacing Barb McCord, who retired May 14.

Bolinger is a  2017 Fort Scott High School graduate.

“I started working in the floral industry five years ago, and while working in that industry I began collecting plants and learning as much as I could about them,” Bolinger said. “I also worked alongside Barbara McCord for six months. During this time she taught me so much valuable information about what it means to be a horticulturist.”

McCord was the person who developed the horticulture therapy program at Tri-Valley and mentored Bolinger prior to her departure.

“I chose to pursue this career because it was something that interested me,  seemed like a good cause,” he said. “I was trying to figure out which direction my life was headed when I saw that Barbara was retiring. I knew that I wanted a career that also gave back to the community, and would be something that I enjoyed. I feel like I found that here at Tri-Valley.”

“The best part of my job is definitely those who I work with,” Bolinger said. “Being able to work with the clients in the horticulture program gives me such joy to share my passion for plants with others who enjoy it as much as I do.”

” With the Bourbon County Fair coming up, the clients will be entering an array of items that they have been working on,” Bolinger said. “We are also experimenting with adding some new houseplants into the greenhouse, which is very exciting. We feel like everyone should have some nature in their home!”

“I was born and raised in Fort Scott,” Bolinger said.  “I live with my partner, Estevan, and our two dogs, Amira and Reese.”

He is a member of the Fort Scott Garden Club.

About Tri-Valley

Tri-Valley Developmental Services helps people with conditions that include autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and other physical and mental impairments, according to its’ website http://www.tvds.org/getting-started.

These conditions can result in severe chronic limitations such as:

  • Self-care

  • Learning and adapting

  • Living independently

  • Understanding and using language

  • Mobility

  • Economic self-sufficiency

  • Self-direction in setting and accomplishing goals

Bourbon County, Elections, Government

Republicans Meet: New County Attorney Selected Next Week

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Chairman Mark McCoy speaks to the Bourbon County Republicans on June 24, at the Empress Event Center.

The Bourbon County Republicans met June 24 for their regularly scheduled meeting, but a meeting to select the new county attorney, was set up for next week.

Jacquie Spradling, who resigned recently as the county attorney, will be replaced on July 1, said Chairman Mark McCoy.

“We will be selecting a new county attorney on July 1 at 6 p.m. at the Empress (Event Center, 7 N. Main),” McCoy said. “We went over the rules for the upcoming meeting. There were a number of questions asked. I explained how we would operate.”

At the next meeting, there will be a time of public comment, he said. “Each person can have up to three minutes to speak for or against one of the candidates.”

After the public has an opportunity to speak, then the meeting will be a closed meeting for the party executive board and the committee people.

The candidates will have ten minutes to speak and the Bourbon County elected officials will also have time to speak for or against a candidate.

The only people involved in the decision of picking the candidate will be committeemen and women and party chairs, McCoy said.

Three candidates have applied so far, he said.

Jeffrey Williams, Baxter Springs; Steven Ellis, Spring Hill; and Tiana McElroy, Coffeyville are the three so far, with applications still being accepted until June 28, McCoy said.

Richard Hilderbrand, Kansas State Senator for the 13th District, gives a legislative update to the Bourbon County Republicans on June 24. Submitted photo by Vickie Shead.
Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Health Care

Reopening An Acute Care Hospital In Fort Scott Being Explored by Noble Health

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Mercy Hospital Fort Scott closed in December 2018. There is a possibility that Noble Health, K.C. Mo. will open a new acute care facility in the building.

NOBLE HEALTH TO EXPLORE REOPENING ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL IN FORT SCOTT KANSAS

Editor’s note: Rob Harrington, Bourbon County Economic Director, commented on the press release:  “My organization along with the County and City have been talking about this project for the last month. We are excited to see this move forward and are hopeful that the results of the feasibility study will be positive.”

June 25, 2021 Kansas City, MO.

Noble Health Corp announced today that it will explore the possibility of reopening the acute care hospital facility in Fort Scott, Kansas. The Kansas City company has engaged in a Cooperative Agreement with Bourbon County to conduct a feasibility study that could lead to the reopening of the hospital that closed in December of 2018.

Noble Health recently acquired two hospitals and a series of clinics in Central Missouri: Audrain County Community Hospital and Callaway County Community Hospital. Both acquisitions happened between August of 2020 and March of 2021.

“We recognize and support the need for hometown healthcare in rural communities,” said Don Peterson Executive Chairman of Noble Health. “We understand the significant negative impact on local communities and citizens when their hospital closes. And we intend to work with the citizens of Bourbon County to evaluate the opportunity to restore a once vibrant and valued hospital to the local community.”

“While we are optimistic about our engagement with Noble Health, we recognize that reopening the hospital is a significant undertaking,” said Rob Harrington Economic Development Director for Bourbon County.” Harrington went on to say that the engagement with Noble is to conduct a broad feasibility study that will take a few months to complete. “At the end of the study Noble will have determined whether or not reopening the hospital makes economic sense. We hope they decide to reopen it.”

The feasibility study is similar to the engagement Noble Health undertook before they acquired the hospital in Audrain County Missouri. That work took 6 months before Noble entered into a definitive agreement and purchased the hospital.

ABOUT NOBLE HEALTH CORPORATION

Noble Health Corporation’s mission is to provide high-quality medical care that addresses the needs of the rural communities they serve. The goal: to serve the communities and their residents with comprehensive, high-quality medical services delivered at reasonable prices close to home. Headquartered in Kansas City, MO, Noble Health Corporation owns and operates rural acute care hospitals, and multi-specialty and primary care clinics.

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Government

FS Fireworks Rules Clarified

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Fireworks light the evening sky.
The City of Fort Scott recently wanted to clarify the ordinance on fireworks, with Independence Day celebrations just around the corner.
“The change came when we looked at the ordinance the city had which just stated a basic fire code,” said FS Deputy Fire Chief Mike Miles, who is also the fire marshall. “It did not give any directions or guidance. So we wanted to give the city and law enforcement as well as the citizens a better understanding.”
“The biggest change is now residents can shoot fireworks from the time (firework) retailers are able to sell,” he said. “It used to just be the 4th of July. Now they can shoot from June  27 to July 4th.  Time frames are 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. And up to midnight on the 4th.”
There was a change to prohibit fireworks in city parks.
 “There are also other locations we chose to enforce no shooting during the firework display the city puts on,” Miles said.  “All city parks are also prohibited from shooting at.”
“The ordinance just gives the basic concepts of firework discharging,” he said.  “This also gives a better understanding with the circumstances spelled out. Law enforcement with this ordinance has a better way to enforce the policies.  The previous ordinance just stated a fire code, which was pretty vague.”
View the document here:
Business, Fort Scott

Varia Quality Resale Clothing Store Opens

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No photo description available.Varia Quality Resale Clothing Shop opened June 8 at 110 E. 23rd, across the street from Walgreens.

Co-owners Robin Kendrick and daughter Darci West opened the shop because “my daughter and I like clothes and there are not many clothing stores in Fort Scott,” she said. “And we like to get quality clothes at affordable prices.”

“We sell women’s and children’s clothing from size newborn to women’s plus size,” Kendrick said.

Kendrick said they source the clothes from online sales and also buy clothing outright from local customers.

They take no consignments.

Kendrick can be reached at 620.238.1703.

One can see the latest the shop has to offer on its’ Facebook page.

Hours of operation are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce is hosting a grand opening for the store on Thursday, June 24 at 8 a.m. with remarks starting at 8:15 a.m., followed by the ribbon-cutting.

Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, in addition to a door prize drawing.

Contact the Chamber office at 620.223.3566 for more information on the weekly Chamber coffees, held at various businesses and organizations.

Varia is a French word meaning variety or miscellaneous.

 

 

 

Church news, Fort Scott

New Senior Pastor at Life Point Assembly of God: Gregg Sweet

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Life Point Assembly of God Church. Submitted photos.

Gregg Sweet, 48, is the new senior pastor at Life Point Assembly of God, 124 E. National Avenue.

Sweet went to seminary at Southwest Assembly of God University, in Waxahachie, Texas, graduating in 2020.

He has been the associate pastor at Bethel Life Center, Wichita, under Pastor Ken Squires, since 2018.

“We have a huge love for the community,” Sweet said. “We are excited to be here and to see what God has in store for the community. We love living in Fort Scott, people are so kind.”

“The church’s mission statement is ‘We are ready to meet people where they are,'” he said.

Sweet and his wife Angela, along with their pug dog, have been here since February 21, 2021.

“My wife and I love history and we like to explore, we love the old Fort (Fort Scott National Historic Site) and Lake Fort Scott and Gunn Park.”

In his spare time, Sweet likes to read and fish, he said.

His hometown is Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Sweet was encouraged by a missionary while young.

“A missionary prayed for me at 16 years old and told me God had a call on my life,” Sweet said.

For Sweet, the best part of being a pastor is ” the relationship with people and being able to share the Gospel and love of Jesus, with the community,” he said.

The biggest challenge is “learning how to do things they don’t teach you in college,” he said. “Like taxes, my wife and I are doing them now.”

His coming to the church coincided with the polar vortex extreme weather in the nation’s mid-section.

The church suffered some weather-related damage at that time and because of that, is having a community cookout fundraiser.  “We will be having a cook-out to celebrate the church’s 79th anniversary  in the Fort Scott community,” Sweet said. “And to raise money for the church’s building fund. It will be from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, 2021. We will be asking for a $5 suggested donation.”

Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, a snack cake and a bottle of water will be the cook-out menu.

If any questions, contact Sweet at 316-207-6557 or [email protected]

Sunday morning worship is at 10:30 a.m., and at 7 p.m. on Thursday is a Bible Study.

Celebrate Recovery is on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m.

For more information contact the church at 620.223.4170.

 

 

 

Business, Fort Scott, Health Care, Mercy Hospital

Pharmacist Craig Campbell Retires

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Craig Campbell at his desk. His office has been housed in a wing at the Community Health Center since the closing of the former Mercy Hospital.

Craig Campbell is retiring from his 39-year career as a pharmacist on June 30.

A chance conversation with a relative changed the course of his life when deciding on a career.

“By chance, I was visiting with my great uncle who was a pharmacist,” he said. ” Willard Higbee, he was the brother of my grandma, Bernice Campbell.”

“I confided in him that I was working on a chemical engineering degree but did not think I could get through the math requirements,” Campbell said. “He said I would love pharmacy, so I visited with Ken Asher and Bob Tuchscherer, local pharmacists at the time, and they agreed that pharmacy was a wonderful profession.”

Technology advancement has changed his job as a pharmacist.

“Technology has advanced so much with the electronic medical record,” Campbell said.  “It brings into view so much more information that lets you know more about the patient, not just in the present moment but what has gone on before.”

“Prescriptions are so much safer now that we do not have to figure out the doctor’s handwriting,” he said.  “Sorry doctor friends. Pharmacists are an integral part of the patient care team now, since when I started in the fall of 1982.”

He has most recently been Mercy Health System’s Director of Pharmacy Performance, St. Louis, since November 2014. But his office is located in a wing of the former Mercy Hospital, although during the COVID-19 pandemic, he has worked mostly from home, he said.

From 1999-2018  Campbell served as Mercy Hospital Fort Scott’s Pharmacy Director, before that from ’92-’99, was a staff pharmacist at Mt. Carmel  Hospital (now Ascension Via Christi) in Pittsburg.

Campbell worked from1983-1992  for four pharmacy’s starting with his first job in Texas.

Campbell completed a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK, and an associate of arts degree in pre-pharmacy from Fort Scott Community College.

For Campbell,  the best part of his career was being a part of patient care teams, which come up with the best plan to improve patient health, he said.

“That has been rewarding,” Campbell said. “While at Mercy Fort Scott…my hometown, I was able to care for a lot of friends and family.”

“I once went into the room of an elderly teacher I had in the seventh or eighth grade,” he said. “The patient taught math. The patient said I must have been a student, but could not recall my name. I told who I was. The patient asked what I did for a living and  I said I was a pharmacist. The patient smiled and said, ‘I must have been a pretty good teacher.’ Yes, the patient was a good teacher.”

The COVID-19 Pandemic has been the biggest challenge of his career.

“In the six years I have worked for Mercy at the system level, the main responsibility is to make sure each hospital has the medications they need when they need them,” Campbell said. “COVID was the most difficult time as we were competing with every hospital in the country to have enough meds to treat patients, especially those on ventilators. There were many 20 hour days in April and May 2020.”

What is on the horizon for you?

My wife (Jane) says I am trading one OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) for another,” he said. “I would really like to help the city and county improve the overall quality of life through organizing volunteer groups to help our neighbors with whatever they need.”

Campbell is chairman of the Good Neighbor Action Team, which helps people with work on yards, house painting, etc.

“The community has three big events coming up next year with Big Kansas Road Trip in May, Good Ole Days, and the Fort Scott High School all-class reunion next June. We really have an opportunity to show off our great town and county.”

“We will also travel some and see more of the grandkids’ activities,” he said.

Campbel has four children: Ryan (who is deceased); Brett and wife, Kayla,  Pittsburg; Trevor and wife, Jami, Overland Park; and Jenna  Campbell and her fiance Devin,  Fort Scott. His grandkids are Mackenize Campbell,  Spokane, WA; Brecken and Landry Campbell,  Pittsburg and  Kennadie, Rush, Austyn,  and Larkin Campbell,  Overland Park.

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Lavender Festival IV Tomorrow

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The Lavender Patch Farm. Submitted photos.

The Lavender Patch Farm,  2376 Locust, Fort Scott, was started in 2010  by Betsy and Davin Reichard, and this year marks the fourth time they have invited the community to a festival in summer.

Lavender Festival IV, which celebrates all things lavender, will be happening Saturday, June 19 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“The Lavender Festival celebrates the beginning of the lavender harvest and invites guests to enjoy the beauty of the lavender fields, surrounding wildflowers and prairie grasses, and other special activities of the day,” Betsy said.  “Admission is $5 for 13 and up and includes great music, games, and children’s activities around the Lavender Patch. ”

“Festival activities include you-pick lavender and wildflower bundles ($5), enjoying time with family and friends while listening to music, playing some games, watching demonstrations, going on a lavender tour, a hands-on children’s fairy garden, partaking of lavender foods that will be for sale – ice cream, lavenderade, or a pulled pork sandwich with lavender seasoning for lunch,” she said.

The Lavender Patch Festival 2019. Submitted photos.

“There will be lavender distilling (for essential oil) demonstrations throughout the day,” Betsy said.  “The lavender gift shop will be open to take home memories and lavender creations.”

“Remember to bring your camera and take as many photos as you like,” she said.

The couple’s loyal staff and many volunteers make the festival a fun event, Betsy said. They also staff other days the farm is open, most weekends in June and July.

“As a Kansas agritourism farm, guests can visit our working lavender farm when we are open,” Betsy said.  “Come pick a bundle and smell the lavender; relax and reconnect with friends and the outdoors.  Enjoy our lavender fields, surrounded by wildflowers and prairie grasses, then take home some lavender memories from our gift shop.”

Clumps of lavender plants on the Lavender Patch Farm, 2019. Submitted photos.

Check the website www.thelavenderpatchfarm.com for details.

For more information:

See their Facebook page

Or

The Lavender Patch Farm, 2376 Locust Road, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Or

[email protected]

Or

(620) 223-1364

Bourbon County, Government

Spradling Resigns as Bourbon County Attorney

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Bourbon County Attorney Jacqie Spradling.

Bourbon County Attorney Jacqie Spradling sent the following letter to Mark McCoy, Bourbon County Republican Chairman, on June 16.

“It has been my honor and privilege to have served Bourbon County as the Bourbon County Attorney for the last three years.

“I am retiring and tendering this resignation effective Wednesday, June 30, 2021.”

The process has begun for an interim Bourbon County Attorney, McCoy said.

“In this case, the Bourbon County Republican Party will convene a meeting with officers and committee persons, approximately 40 people,” McCoy said. “We have 14-21 days to convene a caucus, to select a candidate for Bourbon County Attorney to submit to Governor Kelly, to fill the position temporarily. I understand in 2022 that person will run for the position. Spradling had two years remaining, she was elected in  November 2020.”

“The date of the caucus is to be determined,” McCoy said. “Further notification will be coming out. This meeting is not open to the public.” Editor’s note: the caucus is scheduled tentatively for Thursday, July 1 at  6 p.m. at the Empress Event Center, 7. N. Main, according to McCoy on June 18, it is not open to the public.

“We will put out a notice to all interested parties (in the county attorney position) to submit a resume to me, Mark McCoy, 2138 Jayhawk Road, Fort Scott, KS 66701, applications will need to be submitted by June 28,” he said.

Brandon Cameron and Chad Taylor are the assistant county attorneys in Bourbon County, according to the Bourbon County Clerk’s office.

Spradling was selected as Bourbon County Attorney in 2018.

An attorney panel unanimously recommended the Kansas Supreme Court disbar Spradling for knowingly making false statements to juries during two high-profile trials and for misleading claims about her prosecutorial misconduct to justices of the state’s highest court, according to a story by Tim Carpenter of the Kansas Reflector news service this month.

To view the story:

KS Supreme Court Will Issue Decision on Bourbon County Attorney Jacquie Spradling

 

 

Ascension Via Christi, Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Government, Health Care, Mercy Hospital

Bourbon County Government to Receive Former Mercy Building

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The Bourbon County Commission room in the courthouse, September 2018.

The Bourbon County Commission will be receiving the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd. and $600,000 from Mercy as a donation to the county, Rob Harrington, Bourbon County Economic Development Director said in an email.

Robert Harrington. Submitted photo.

Mercy Hospital Fort Scott closed in October 2018.

The Sisters of Mercy had served the community since 1886.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas has had a clinic at the building since Mercy closed, but is moving when its’ lease is up at the end of 2022.

They have purchased the former Price Chopper store, 2322 Main Street, for their new facility.

The emergency department at the former hospital building also has a lease that will be up in 2022.

The county commission has been working on a solution to keep the building viable, as opposed to tearing the two-decades-old building down.

“Today is the beginning of a process, “Bourbon County Commissioner Clifton Beth said. “The attorneys will be going through the process of accepting the donation and the $600,000.”

Clifton Beth represents District 3. Photo from Facebook.

“We are in conversation with different entities that could potentially have use for that building,” Beth said.

The Bourbon County Commission is comprised of Beth, Lynne Oharah and Jim Harris.

First District Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah.
Jim Harris, Bourbon County Commissioner, District 2.

Beth said credit needs to go to Harrington who has been working to find entities that are interested.

“A lot of behind-the-scenes work is going on,” Beth said.

“We are trying to save the building,” Beth said. “My main priority is to have an Emergency Room in Bourbon County.”

“At the end of the day, the end users for that building, if they can use it, great,” Beth said. “If not, we’ll look at other options.”

“My goal is to be sure we have an ER,” Beth said. “Ascension Via Christi has one-and-one-half years left on their (current) lease. In conversations with them, they are planning to stay.”

Ascension Via Christi operates the emergency department at the former Mercy Hospital building.

To see more info on Ascension Via Christi:

Via Christi To Operate Fort Scott Emergency Room

Ascension Via Christi/Fort Scott Celebrates Opening of Emergency Department