Tag Archives: featured

Bourbon County, Business, Government

Bourbon County Commissioner Answers Questions on Raises

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Lynne Oharah, District One Bourbon County Commissioner. Submitted photo

Bourbon County Commissioners are trying to close the gap in wages for its’ elected officials, according to chairman Lynne Oharah.

Recently the commission raised four elected officials earnings with a combined total of $46,000.

At the Dec. 17, 2019 county commission meeting Ohara made a motion to approve a salary resolution for elected officials effective Dec. 15, 2019, according to commission minutes. This raised the clerk and treasurer’s salary to $47,248 annually, the register of deeds to 44,821 and the sheriff’s salary to $60,000. Commissioner Jeff Fisher seconded and all commissioners approved.

Ohara then made a motion approving a wage resolution for Bourbon County employees changing the following: the salary for the correctional center captain, the emergency preparedness director and the deputy county appraiser were raised to $35,568 annually to comply with the U.S. Dept. Of Labor standards for salaried employees. A Maintenance 5 position was added at a rate of $17.47 per hour.  Commissioner Nick Ruhl seconded and all were in favor of those changes.  The economic development director’s salary was changed to $70,000 a year on the same resolution.

Jeff Fischer, District 2 Bourbon County Commissioner.

Ohara made a motion to approve changing her salary to $70,000. He said that if Bourbon County gets an administrative fee from Phase 2 of the Healthy Bourbon County Grant then part of the $70,000 salary would be subsidized from the grant, Fisher seconded this motion, Ruhl voted against this motion,  and the motion passed.

Nick Ruhl, District 3 Bourbon County Commissioner.

The following is an interview with Bourbon County Commissioner Lynn Oharah.

He started with a  history of the raises.

“In 2015, Sheriff Martin contracted an agency to do a wage study to compare Bourbon County wages with other comparable counties because he thought there was a large wage disparity between Bourbon County employees and other like counties,” Commissioner  Oharah said. “The county commissioners also accessed Kansas county wage information from the ks.gov website. The results indicated that Bourbon County wages were significantly behind our peers. The commissioners resolved to address these wage disparities and devised a plan to increase FTE (Full Time equivalent) positions first and address the next positions that had the most wage disparity, which happened to be the elected officials. Along with this effort we wanted to incentivize employees to continue working for the county and we did this by approving a $100 per year of service longevity pay increase.”

Where did the money come from to give the raises?
“We gave four elected officials raises when combined totaled $46,000.00. This money came from most of the departments managing their budgets and workforce which created a carryover from the 2015 and forward budget years. These wage increases did not increase the mill levy and this carryover gave us the resources to create a competitive wage with our peers although Bourbon County wages are still on the low side.”
What is the justification for the doubling of the earnings of the Bourbon County Economic Development Director?

 

“This position was initially created to see how the position could help the county,” Oharah said.  “It was created with a minimum of 20 hours of work per week at $35,000 annual salary and we would look at the performance and scope to see if we needed to increase the hours and wages.”

“Our economic developer has been a great asset and for the first six months spent a lot of time helping get the Bourbon County Ambulance Service up and running along with the other duties.”

“Since then all Bourbon County businesses and government entities have been contacted and surveyed to address their needs and identify what’s important to them.  Also, new businesses have been guided through the process of starting a business, grants have been written, the County NRP program has been implemented and coordinated under economic development.  Meetings and plans regarding healthcare are ongoing with economic development highly involved. This is just naming a few projects that are ongoing and the time spent well exceeds what was required.”

“Based on the need, the commission voted to increase the economic development salary and scope. The salary was based on what was being paid to other economic development directors in our surrounding market and the Bourbon County Economic Development budget is still lower than most of our competitive counties.”

 

“Bourbon County needs to grow and prosper and we cannot get there by doing the same thing that we have been doing for the last 100 years,” Oharah said.
The commission meets on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. at the courthouse.
To contact Ohara: 620-223-3800, ext 110; Fisher at ext. 112 and Ruhl at ext. 111.
Ascension Via Christi, Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Health Care

Via Christi Opens Clinic in Downtown Fort Scott Jan. 13

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Dr. Katrina Burke, courtesy of Ascension Via Christi.

Dr. Katrina Burke’s first day at the new AscensionVia Christi Medical Clinic in downtown Fort Scott is Monday, Jan. 13.

She will be accepting new obstetrics and pediatric patients.

Burke will also see previous patients but is accepting no new adult patients, according to her receptionist Kristal Farmer.

Dr. Burke said that the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK), her previous employer, did not send out letters, telling of the change to her patients when she left on Dec. 31. She had given CHC a 90 days notice of her intent to leave CHC/SEK.

Hours for the clinic, located at 109 S. Main (north of the Liberty Theater) are 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday.

Thursday afternoon she is out of the office, but is in the office in the morning, according to her receptionist.

To contact the office call 620-223-7008.

109 S.Main is the new location of Ascension Via Christi’s Medical Clinic in downtown Fort Scott. A new sign will be up soon.
Ascension Via Christi employee Niki Bishir mans the desk of the new medical clinic on Jan. 9. She was temporary, while the employees were in an orientation meeting, she said.
Dr. Katrina Burke has already added her personal touches to the new clinic: a hallway lined with a photo of her family and framed degrees she has earned during her career as a medical doctor.

New clinic employees are Farmer, Registered Nurse Rachel Judy, and Medical Assistant Chelsea Harrison.

For more information about the clinic, visit
viachristi.org/ftscott-clinic.

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Free Parenting Classes Offered at The Health Department

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The Public Health Department, located on 6th Street, between Lowman and Horton Streets, Fort Scott.

“Parenting the Love and Logic Way”, a free parenting class, will be conducted by Jan and Dave Elliott, with class pre-registration beginning next week.

Jan and Dave Elliott. Submitted photo.

The Elliotts are independent facilitators of the curriculum.

Classes are presented in six sessions beginning Jan. 23  at 6:00 P.M. at the Health Department. Other sessions will be Jan. 30, February 6, February 13, February 20, and February 27.

There is no charge for participation in the sessions but space can be limited.

The new site for the health department is located at 524 S. Lowman St., 6th and Lowman Streets in Fort Scott.

Please pre-register at the health department by calling 620-223-4464.  The deadline for sign up is Jan. 16th.  The target audience is individuals that have children or take care of children.

 

The curriculum was developed by Jim Fay, Ph.D., and Foster W. Cline, M.D. of the Love and Logic Institute Inc. in Golden, Colorado.

“The goal of the program is to provide parents the opportunity to gain practical and proven tools for raising respectful, responsible, and happy children,” Alice Maffet, RN, said.  “The program will teach responsibility and character, how to lower your stress level, have immediate and positive effects and up the odds that you will enjoy lifelong positive relationships with your children and grandchildren.”

For more information, click below:

https://www.loveandlogic.com/

 

 

Bourbon County, Schools

Mentoring Program to Support Youth at USD235

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Meaghan Russell meets with a student for lunch on Jan. 7 in the conference room at West Bourbon Elementary School, Uniontown. Russell is a school counselor and facilitator of the district’s mentoring program, TeamMates, that will be starting soon.

USD 235 staff have been working on the details of a mentoring program for the district’s students since August 2019.

 

On January 15, the school district will implement the program with training for mentors.

 

Mentors and mentees will meet during the student’s lunch period to eat and talk. There is a conference room available should the mentors/mentees want a little quieter space to talk.

 

Permission slips will be sent home with students for parents to agree to their child having a mentor.

 

“Once the forms come back signed, we will begin to match mentors with mentees, and the program will officially be up and running,” Meaghan Russell, one of the TeamMates USD 235 facilitators, said.

 

“We work with Michael McCambridge out of Greenbush (Education Service Center),” she said.

 

“We also have an advisory committee consisting of… Mike Reith (JH/HS principal), Vance Eden (elementary principal), Bret Howard (superintendent), Jeanne Camac (JH/, HS counselor), Marty DeWitt (Uniontown Baptist Church pastor), Chad Holt (banker), Sally Johnson (city clerk), Jeff Feagins (HS business teacher and pastor of Marmaton Church),” Russell said.

“The TeamMates Coordinators are out of Nebraska, and they will be here on January 15th to conduct the training,” she said.

 

The following is an interview with Russell:

What is the purpose of the program?
      “The purpose of the program is to build interpersonal skills in our students by having them talk with an adult from the community at lunch once a week.  This should not only help to build their communication skills, but also their confidence in talking with adults and having to get to know someone new.”
If one becomes a mentor, what are the expectations?
   “Mentors must be 18 years of age, willing to provide three references, able to pass a background check, and willing to attend a one-time, two-hour training.  After that, it just comes down to making the commitment to come and eat lunch with a student once a week.  We are very much in need of mentors, so if you are someone that has a flexible lunchtime, and you could sit with a student for twenty to thirty minutes once a week, we would love to have you participate!  Our students can easily keep you entertained as they are full of stories!”
Who is paying for the program?
  “This year, the school has paid the initial fees to get this program started.  That money covers the cost of the background checks, training, and all communication and support provided by the TeamMates coordinators and Greenbush.”
Initially, Third Through Fifth Grade
   “The TeamMates program recommends third through twelfth grade have mentors and trying to get as many students matched as possible.  This program is not intended for a certain demographic of students.  Initially, the plan is to begin with third through fifth-grade students, but then add grades as the program grows and expands.  Mentors will be matched with the same gender of students, and the matching will be based on interests and hobbies as much as possible.  One of the aspects that makes this program special is that all communication between the student and the mentor is to be done through the school.”
Why start a mentoring program?
   “When students leave our district, we want them to be as prepared as possible for what lies ahead for them.  We may not know what they are going to face, but we do know that relationship will be a part of it.  Any skills that they learn from talking with adults will definitely be beneficial to them in the long run.  Also, from a social/emotional perspective, we want to ensure that all students have connections to people.  Life has ups and downs, and it is nice to have a slightly larger circle of people to help listen to you in good times and in bad.  The benefit of going through the TeamMates organization to start this program is that they have already completed the research to successfully implement this in different schools, and they are a great support system to help launch this here at USD 235.”

Mentors are needed for the program.

 

If interested, go online to www.teammates.org/become-a-mentor or they can contact Russell for more information.  Her school email is [email protected] and the school phone is (620)-756-4335.

 

For more information about this program:  www.teammates.org.

TeamMates Mentoring Program began in 1991 with the vision of the University of Nebraska Head Football Coach Tom Osborne and his wife Nancy.  Osborne felt that the athletes in his program could make an impact on the middle school students, and twenty-two football players began meeting with middle school students in the Lincoln Public Schools. Of the 22 original mentees, 21 went on to graduate from high school while one left school early to pursue a successful Motocross career. Eighteen of the original mentees also obtained some form of post-secondary education.

The program has changed quite a bit since then. Now thousands of boys and girls across the Midwest are served, and mentors come from all walks of life. One thing, however, remains the same-mentors just have to be there. It’s that simple.

Fort Scott, Government

New FSFD Chief: Dave Bruner

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Dave Bruner

Dave Bruner, 46, is the new Fort Scott Fire Department Chief, effective Jan. 6, 2020.

 

Bruner has worked 25 years fulltime in the FSFD.

 

“He’s got all the training and certificates he needs for the position,” Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin, said of Bruner.

 

“I began with the department as a reserve firefighter in 1992,” he said.  “I was hired full time in May of 1994. I was promoted to Lieutenant in 1999, then promoted to Deputy Chief in 2014.”

In addition to numerous firefighter, rescue, and fire officer certifications, Bruner is an Advanced EMT, and hold certifications as a Fire Investigator II, Certified Public Manager (CPM), and Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS).

 

“I am a member of the MERGe team, Kansas Region VI EMS Council, Fire Marshal’s Association of Kansas, and the Kansas Chapter of International Association of Arson Investigators,” Bruner said.

 

Bruner received his Associates of Science from Fort Scott Community College in  1994 and also earned a Fire Science Degree from Hutchinson Community College.

 

He is following in his father’s footsteps.

 

” My father was a firefighter with the department for five years before taking a full-time position with the National Guard,” Bruner said.  “After he left the department, he remained in close contact with many of the members.  As a child, I would go to the fire station often with him to visit and over the years developed an interest in the fire service.”

 

For Bruner, the best thing in being a firefighter is helping people, he said.

 

Some of the challenges of the job?

 

“The constant changes in the fire service,” he said.  “Changes from equipment, firefighting techniques, as well as rescue and EMS services will always be challenging.”

 

“The department has worked hard the past few years to update equipment,” he said. ” I want to continue that project in order to have the tools and equipment needed so that our department can continue to operate safely and effectively.”

 

Bruner has bee married to Michelle for 22 years and has a daughter Kylie, 21, and a son Dylan. 15.

 

“Michael Miles will be the new deputy chief,” Martin said. “We will find a replacement for Michael as a firefighter.”

 

Paul Ballou retired as FSFD Chief on Jan. 3.

 

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Celebrates 100 Years

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A public program to start the Fort Scott Community College Centennial Celebration was one of speeches, a prayer and a song on Monday morning at the Ellis Arts Center on the campus.

Students, guests and the public were invited to hear the experiences of former students and teachers, then eat a quick hot dog lunch and some cake and cookies in celebration of the community college’s 100th year.

Speakers were  FSCC President Alysia Johnston who welcomed the crowd and introduced Kansas Senator Caryn Tyson. Tyson then presented the college with a commendation from the Kansas Senate for its’ 100 years of serving the community.

The speakers at the Centennial Celebration were FSCC Vice President of Student Services Janet Fancher, retired FSCC instructor Jack Gilmore; Mark Muller, FSCC Class of 1979; Tyson; retired FSCC instructor Marcel Normand; Gina Findley Shelton, class of 1999; Jim Barrows, class of 1968 and Johnston. A letter read by Fancher from  Esther Anne (Weeks) Sewell, class of 1941, who is 96 years old.

Additionally, FSCC Class of 2013 Taylor Bailey produced an introductory video, narrated by Tyler Covey, class of 2019. FSCC President’s Ambassador Hannah Reel led the flag salute and Dusty Drake, lead minister at Community Christian Church, said the closing prayer.

FSCC President Alysia Johnston, left, receives the commendation for the school of 100 years of continuous education in the county from Kansas Senator Caryn Tyson, right.
The speakers at the Centennial Celebration from left: FSCC Vice President of Student Services Janet Fancher, retired FSCC instructor Jack Gilmore; Mark Muller, FSCC Class of 1979; Kansas Senator Caryn Tyson; retired FSCC instructor Marcel Normand; Gina Findley Shelton, class of 1999; Jim Barrows, class of 1968 and FSCC President Alysia Johnston. Not pictured is Esther Anne (Weeks) Sewell.

Following the program and lunch, the crowd was asked to stop by the tree planted in honor of the celebration near the front of the building, where a fly-by drone took an aerial photo of the group.

Some of the students, faculty and guests who stayed to be a part of the aerial picture taken by a drone, to commemorate the celebration.
A tree was planted in front of the Ellis Arts Center in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of FSCC.
The plaque placed in front of the tree planted at the Ellis Art Center. John Bartelsmeyer, Kenny Blake and Stewart Gulager helped to provide the plaque to the college.

During the welcome FSCC President Alysia Johnston told the audience that the school was established in 1919 and is the oldest continuous public community college in Kansas.

FSCC President Alysia Johnston welcomes students, faculty, guests and the public to the Centennial Celebration program Monday morning at the Ellis Arts Center.

The school, established in 1919, was originally located at the Fort Scott High School building until 1967 when it moved to the 150-acre current site, and 200 students started classes. At this time, FSCC also began offering classes in Paola, according to information provided by the college.

In 1973 the administration building was completed and was later named the Dick Hedges Administration Building.

In 1982, Arnold Arena was completed, with one side a rodeo arena and the other a basketball gym, weight training area, athletic dressing rooms, classrooms, a computer lab and athletic offices. Arnold Arena just completed a renovation of the gym in Sept. 2019.

In 1986, the college acquired the cosmetology school from Pittsburg State University and N. Jack Burris Hall was completed in  1989.

A dormitory was opened in 2002 and named  Chester Boileau Hall.

In 2004, FSCC purchased and renovated the former Sisters of Mercy Convent on Burke Street for the nursing program. Also in 2004, the college remodeled a wing of the former Miami
County Hospital in Paola, which then became the FSCC Miami County Campus.

The Gordon Park Museum and Center of Diversity also was established in 2004 at FSCC to honor Fort Scott native Gordon Parks, a photographer, writer, poet, musician and filmmaker.

The Danny And Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center was opened in 2009 which included a 600-seat theater, community meeting rooms, the Gordon Parks Museum the Kathy Ellis Academic Hall.

The Kansas National Guard Armory was purchased in 2010 and houses the John Deer technician program and the welding program.

The cosmetology department moved to a newly remodeled space in 2014 on campus and the rodeo program opened a new rodeo building.

This year, an addition to the Burris Hall which was provided by donations from the Chester Boileau and Lonnie Cleaver estates, opened with new offices, classrooms, bathrooms, and a trophy display area for the FSCC Livestock and Meat’s Judging Teams awards.

There will be a banquet on Sept. 20 as part of the continuing celebration, and a tailgate party with free food at the Greyhound Football Game, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.

For more information: 620-223-2700.

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Schools

Ashlea Taylor: New Special Ed. Teacher at WS

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Ashlea Taylor. Submitted photo.
Ashlea Taylor, 29, is a new special education teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.
Taylor has taught pre-school children at  Head Start 0-5 from September 2016-April 2019.
Her hometown is Phoenix, Arizona and she graduated from Pittsburg State University.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family, she said.
Is there someone who inspired you to teach?
“I have two aunts who are educators and I have always loved kids. Several family members have seen me with children and suggested it is where I belong.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“Learning each child’s individual way of learning and watching them experience breakthroughs in moments of doubt. “
 
Fort Scott, Schools

New Principal For FSHS: Amber Toth

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Amber Toth, 42, was hired as the new principal of Fort Scott High School at the June 2019 USD 234 Board of Education meeting.
She has been assistant principal for one year at FSHS and has 18 years experience in education.
“When the district opened the position for high school principal, I applied in hopes of moving to the principal position,” she said. “After interviews were conducted, I was offered the position. The board of education approved my hiring at the June board meeting. “
The following is from an interview with Toth:
What is your education background?
“I have my Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from Pittsburg State University and my Masters in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University.”
Hometown: Caney, KS.
Family:
“I have been married for 18 years to my husband, Travis Toth. We have four children. Darby Toth is entering her second year of college at Missouri Western State University. Madison will be a senior this year. Trent is entering 8th grade and Kennedy is a 4th grader.”
What is the best part of the job for you?
“I love our kids. We have the most amazing students I have ever had the pleasure to serve. The best part of my job is being a servant leader. We have a wonderfully giving, hardworking and dedicated staff. I get to walk through the doors of a building I love, help students that I wouldn’t have been able to help staying in my classroom and work with adults who truly love the students in our building. I am blessed to be a part of this district, work with the parents we have, and watch the growth of students based upon that partnership.”
Any new responsibilities?
“As I move into this new position the biggest change will be in instructional leadership. While I had some of these duties as the assistant principal in the form of evaluation, it will be the center of my new role.”
Any challenges?
“The challenges at Fort Scott are the same as most schools. Students must be prepared for some type of schooling beyond high school. Changing the perception that high school graduation is the end goal can be difficult. But we know that students are most successful when they attend a vocational school, community college or a 4-year university. We have to ensure our students are prepared to be successful, regardless of the path they choose.”
Entertainment, Fort Scott

Free Entertainment July 13 at Gunn Park

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Frank Halsey, the event organizer, hugs his grandson following a first place win in the 2018 kids’ race.

“The Marmaton Massacre Festival is rapidly approaching,” Frank Halsey event organizer said. “Once again I’d like to get the invitation out that Saturday evening entertainment is for our community.  We would love to see locals come to enjoy the evening. ”

 

The event is held at Gunn Park on the west side of Fort Scott at 1001 Gunn Park Drive.

 

“The race part is important because it draws a lot of visitors to Fort Scott, but our real goal continues to be providing an evening of entertainment for visitors, as well as locals,” he said.

The Kansas State Mountain Bike Championship will be held Saturday starting at 10 a.m.

 

There is a free kid’s bike race at 5:30 p.m. for children under 10 years old.

 

A participant jam session will be at  7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13, followed by a performance by Damaris Kunkler.

 

Sam and Louie’s Food Truck will be selling food.

 

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy Gunn Park as a backdrop of this entertainment.

The event is provided free by Gunn Park Trails.

The weekend activities:

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Meet and Greet: Lots of Activity in Fort Scott

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Community members interested in downtown Fort Scott meet  throughout the year to talk about downtown issues at the Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet.

On July 2, the meet and greet was hosted by La Hacienda Restaurant and sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, with the City of Fort personnel and attendees giving updates on happenings.

Mirna and Jose Santana, owners of La Hacienda, thanked the attendees for supporting the restaurant for the nine years they have been in Fort Scott.

“We try to do our best,” Mirna said.

Chamber Executive Director Lindsay Madison led the meeting.

Madison talked about the First Impressions program that Kansas State Research and Extension provides to improve a community’s image and quality of life for its’ citizens.

Fort Scott was visited this last winter by a K-State First Impressions visitation team and presented the public with a “snapshot of what they observed,” Madison said, which she had copies of and handed out to attendees.

She highlighted some of the findings.

“Go out and look at the front of your business,” Madison said. “Are the windows clean? What types of things are in the window? Make sure they are welcoming and inviting.”

“Offer something to make you stand out,” she encouraged the business owners.

The findings discouraged using detering signs such as “no public restroom'”  “don’t touch”, etc., she said.

Cross marketing each other was encouraged.
“When they ask if you have something, say ‘no, but so and so down the street has it,'” Madison said.

Another issue is vacant buildings noticed by the K-State group.

“We’ve made huge progress in the last few years, but we still have some vacant buildings,” Madison said and invited sharing of ideas for potential businesses be given to her.

Lindsay Madison leads the downtown meeting on July 2.

Market assistance is offered by the Chamber, one on one, Madison said. She encouraged a web presence, Google business listings ,a  free Google website, and a good business profile on fortscott.com.

Other happenings:

  • Marmaton Massacre Mountain Bike Championship is July 13-14 at Gunn Park and businesses are encourage to get their items  by July 9 to the Chamber of Commerce for the 100 swag bags that will be distributed to participants. Volunteers are needed with no race experience necessary. There will be a public concert in a “beautiful setting,” Madison said.
  • August 2-4 there will be a sales tax holiday by some of the local businesses.
  • July 17 a workshop “Get Productive with Google’s Digital Tools” from 11 a.m. to noon at the Lowell Milken Center. Sign up on fortscott.com.
  • Grants are available for painting facades of downtown businesses, for up to $500 from Steve Buerge.
  • July 19 will be a downtown movie night on Skubitz Plaza, featuring Sgt. Stubby, August 16 the movie featured will be Beauty and the Beast.
  • Hedgehog INK, a local bookstore, is hosting a writing festival on October 19.
  • The second Art in the Yard Festival will be Sept. 14 with more vendors and is free. Contact Bobbie Kemna at 224-7480.
  • Fort Scott Paws and Claws Animal Shelter sells pet food and pet supplies and is located downtown. There will be fundraiserfor Paws and Claws at the Boiler Room Brewhaus July 27 at 7 p.m. featuring the Wayward Bettys, with $10 tickets available at the Chamber office, the animal shelter and Kate Sweetser.
  • Bid and Dibs owner, Angie Simon, asked for ideas for increasing sales for retailers in June. “June is terrible for retailers,” Simon said.
  • The Union Block renovation is underway and will produce 25 market value apartments when complete.
  • The Stout Building demolition started on July 1.
  • Mid-Continental Restoration is restoring the storefront at Wall Street and National Avenue.
  • Lori Lovelace is opening a laundry mat business on National Avenue which will include clothes alterations and a clothing pantry.
  • Peerless Products is opening a warehouse space in Nevada, MO, “But it won’t impact Fort Scott at all,” Fort Scott Economic Director Rachel Pruitt,  told attendees.
  • Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas will build a health care facility on six acres on Horton, west of the present Mercy Building, Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin said.
  • Via Christi is looking at the land on the east side of the property of the former Mercy Hospital for a future emergency department option, Martin said.
  • The city and Bourbon County’s public works departments are beginning to “work with each other,” Martin said.
  • July 26 at Crooner’s Lounge, Flagship Romance will be performing.
  • July 4 at the Fort Scott National Historic Site there will be a full day of activities including an ice cream social by the Friends of the Fort at noon.
  • The annual naturalizaiton ceremony will be Sept. 20 at the Fort.
  • Riverfront Park Authority has purchased and will be installing lighting for the trail soon.
  • July 4, there will be a Burke Street Parade with refreshments following at Nate and Bailey Lyons home on Burke Street and Shane Walker providing hot dogs.
  • Fort Scott Street Department employee Chad Brown is working on a plan to repair brick streets in the city, Martin said.
  • The city has a group working on National Avenue renovation, Martin said.
  • Westar Energy is completing a merger with Kansas City Power and Light and will become Evergy in October 2019.
  • Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative will begin fiber optic installation on Fort Scott’s east side next year.
  • The tiny houses project north of Hwy. 54, has all the monthly rentals rented and are currently working on the Airbnb segment.
  • Mark Calvin, a new New York Life Insurance Company agent, introduced himself to attendees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business, Fort Scott, Health Care

Minnis Buys Brown’s Dental Practice

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Dr. Daniel Minnis’s new location, 204 S. State Street.
Dr. Daniel Minnis is no stranger to Fort Scott.
Dr. Minnis managed Dr. Gary Brown’s dental practice for the last 14 years and when Brown wanted to retire, a buyer was sought.
” We diligently looked for a buyer without success and rather than close down the practice I decided to purchase … so patients would have access to care,” Minnis said.
Accent Dental LLC now has a new office at 204 State Street and is dedicated to providing high-quality dental care for the residents of Bourbon County, Minnis said.
The hours of operation are  Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and the office can be reached at 620-223-0130.
Dr. Daniel Minnis and Jennifer Doherty, dental assistant prepare for the next patient at Accent Dental LLC.
The following questions were part of an interview with Minnis:
Education: University of Missouri Kansas City School of Dentistry
Experience: 30 Years, since 1988
Community involvement:
“Founded the Community Health Center of SEK Dental Clinic and serves as Chairman of the Board of the Community Health Center of SEK.  I have worked as a volunteer for CHC/SEK for the last 14 years to help bring affordable Medical, Dental, and Mental Health Care to Southeast Kansas.”
 What services do you provide to our community?
“All aspects of General Dentistry.”
Why did you pursue your career?
“I have desired to be a healthcare professional since the age of 14.”
Minnis employees from left: Alison Leach, receptionist; Dr. Minnis, Jennifer Doherty, dental assistant; Ashley Doyle, hygenist; Baylea White, assistant; Destiny Allen, assistant; Angie Smith, assistant. Not pictured: Katy Kanes, hygenist; Roger Nolte, DDS, and Latasha Vick, DDS.
Art, Bourbon County, Fort Scott Community College

Exhibit Donated to Gordon Parks Museum by Mercy Foundation

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Gordon Parks Museum Director Kirk Sharp holds the donated copy of the book,  Half Past Autumn, that was donated by Mercy Hospital Foundation.

The Gordon Parks Museum Foundation received the Gordon Parks Exhibit from the Fort Scott Mercy Hospital Foundation Board on June 20, 2019.

The exhibit includes 67 of Parks’ photos and poems along with a church pew of the AME Church,  a bronze bust of Gordon Parks and the book featuring Parks’ works, Half Past Autumn.

The bust of Gordon Parks that was donated to the museum.

The donated Gordon Parks Exhibit was formerly located at Mercy Hospital-Fort Scott until the hospital closed in December 2018.

Fort Scott native and world-renowned photographer and artist Gordon Parks,  donated the collection of his work to Mercy Hospital-Fort Scott in 2002 to be displayed in honor of his parents, Sarah and Andrew Jackson Parks, according to Kirk Sharp, Gordon Parks Museum Director.

Prairie Land, a photograph by Gordon Parks taken in 1948,  was donated to the museum.

The exhibit pieces will be rotated out periodically for public view and when not in use, will be stored in the museum’s archives.

Blue Dawn, by Parks in 1995, was donated.

“On behalf of the Gordon Parks Museum Foundation Board along with myself, we are extremely beyond excited and greatly honored to receive the collections here at the museum from the Mercy-Fort Scott Foundation Board,” Sharp said.

The Frisco Railway Station, Fort Scott, KS by Parks in 1949 was donated.

“Our goal with some of the collections is to eventually create a community travel exhibit on a temporary loan-out basis for local schools, organizations and businesses for the community to view,” he said.

The pew donated from the Mercy Foundation Board to Gordon Parks Museum.
The plaque on the donated pew.

Work is beginning to create new space to display as much of the exhibit as possible, along with starting a Gordon Parks Travel Community Exhibit, he said.

“The Gordon Parks Museum Foundation would like to give thanks and gratitude to the Mercy-Fort Scott Foundation Board for its great gift to us and the community of Fort Scott,” Sharp said.

The Gordon Parks Museum is located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

The museum is located inside the Ellis Fine Arts Center at FSCC. The museum is funded through donations and through the support of FSCC, Sharp said.

The annual Gordon Parks Celebration is Oct. 3-5, 2019 and will be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Gordon Parks film, The Learning Tree.

A sign near the front of the Gordon Parks Museum at FSCC gives a synopsis of Park’s accomplishments.