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Bourbon County, COVID-19

SPARK Projects in Bourbon County Are Varied

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Bourbon County, KS

Recently a whole slate of Bourbon County businesses, organizations, school districts, churches and other categories of entities received grants to help with COVID-19 expenses.

The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) taskforce plan is to lead Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, according to its’ website,https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/

SPARK is responsible for the statewide distribution of the U.S. Coronavirus Relief Fund.

The total amount of grants disbursed in Bourbon County:
$2,835,212.86

The following received Bourbon County SPARK Funds on October 21, 2020, according to Bourbon County Economic Director Jody Hoener.

Listed below are the names of the businesses, the category they are under and the amount received from SPARK.

4 State Sanitation, Small Business, $3,500.00
5 Corners Mini Mart, Small Business, $4,250.00

Ascension Via Christi Pittsburg Inc., Health Care, $203,150.00

Baja Management Corp, Collaborative, $450,000.00
Bartelsmeyer Jewelry, Small Business, $3,750.00
Beacon Incorporated, Small Business, $1,500.00
Bids and Dibs, Small Business, $4,000.00
BN Hunting, Small Business, $1,250.00
Bourbon County, Preapproved, $263,684.65
Bourbon County 4-H Council, Small Business, $2,000.00
Bourbon County District Court, Preapproved, $3,457.00
Bourbon County Information Technology Economic Development, $51,250.00
Bourbon County Kansas Health Care, $91,000.00

Care to Share Cancer Support, Small Business, $500.00
Cheney Witt Chapel, Inc., Small Business, $2,500.00
Chicken Shak, Small Business, $2,500.00
City of Bronson Economic Development, $111.32
City of Bronson Health Care, $1,200.00
City of Fort Scott Economic Development, $142,000.00
City of Fort Scott Economic Development, $9,974.78
City of Uniontown Economic Development, $39,041.00
City of Uniontown Economic Development, $225.33
Clayton’s Inc DBA Union Station Economic Development, $20,000.00
Clifton’s Chiropractic LLC, Small Business, $2,000.00
Community Christian Church, Small Business, $4,500.00
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Inc,. Health Care, $19,985.00
Compass Counseling Services, Small Business, $1,000.00
Crawford Dental LLC, Health Care, $15,000.00
Crossroads Camping & Cabins/Yellow Brick Road Invest., Small Business $2,000.00

Dairy Queen, Small Business, $5,000.00
Diamonds in the Marketplace Small Business $2,750.00

Findley Auto & Body, Small Business, $3,000.00
Fort Cinema, Small Business, $4,250.00
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, Small Business, $3,250.00
Fort Scott Broadcasting Co, Economic Development, $50,000.00
Fort Scott Christian Heights, Education, $4,199.00
Fort Scott Community Closet, Small Business,$2,000.00
Fort Scott Community College, Education, $287,760.78
Fort Scott Family Medicine, Health Care, $5,150.00
Fort Scott Hospitality Co., Small Business, $2,250.00
Fort Scott Motors LLC, Small Business, $3,250.00
Fort Scott Nazarene, Small Business ,$2,250.00
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, Health Care, $84,520.00

HairBow Center, Small Business, $5,000.00
HB Salon, LLC Small Business $2,500.00
Hedgehog.Ink! Small Business $3,250.00
Holmtown Pub Small Business $5,000.00
Hot Wok Inc Small Business $4,500.00

I Am Rehab and Fitness Small Business $4,500.00
Imagination Station LLC Education $17,500.00

J&W Sport Shop Small Business $2,500.00
Jamie’s Beauty Shop Small Business $2,500.00

KANROCKS Recreation Small Business $5,000.00
Kenny Felt Photography Small Business $2,750.00
Khris & Karina LLC Small Business $1,000.00
Kings Way Inn Small Business $1,750.00
KW Cattle Company dba Reprologix Small Business $5,000.00

Lana’s Daycare Education $2,000.00
Leah’s Daycare Education $2,000.00
Liberty Theater Inc Small Business $4,500.00
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Small Business $5,000.00
Luther’s BBQ Small Business $5,000.00

Mayco Ace Hardware Small Business $4,750.00
Momentum Indoor Training Small Business $2,500.00
New Generation, Inc. Education $17,500.00
Niece Equipment Products of Kansas Inc. Small Business $5,000.00
Norvell Company, Inc. Small Business $5,000.00

O’Brien Cattle Co., Inc. Small Business $2,500.00
Opie’s Inc. Small Business $2,500.00

Papa Don’s Small Business $4,000.00
Peerless Products Economic Development $50,247.00
Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, Inc. Small Business $500.00
Ponderosa Farm Collaborative $10,000.00

Re:freshed Aesthetics Small Business $2,500.00
Re:new with Julie Small Business $2,500.00
Rejuvenate with Kayla Small Business $2,500.00
RH Ventures LLC Small Business $2,000.00
RII Concrete Small Business $5,000.00
RockBallet Small Business $2,500.00

Santana’s LLC Small Business $4,500.00
SASS Inc, Hillside Guest Home Health Care $12,600.00
Sawyer Automotive Small Business $1,500.00
SEK Multi-County Health Department Health Care $7,500.00
SEKAN Printing Company, Inc. Small Business $5,000.00
Sharky’s Pub & Grub Small Business $5,000.00
Sleep Inn and Suites – Fort Scott Small Business $5,000.00
Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center Health Care $122,458.00
Spoiled Brat Small Business $2,500.00
St Mary’s School Education $80,000.00
Structure Small Business $2,500.00
Sunbeam Christian Preschool Education $10,000.00

TFI Family Services Education $50,000.00
The After Affect Salon Small Business $2,500.00
The Boiler Room Brewhaus Small Business $3,250.00
The Christian Learning Center Foundation Education $8,199.00
Two Sisters Cleaning Service Small Business $2,250.00

Unified School District 234 Education $306,000.00
USD 235 Uniontown Collaborative $88,000.00
USD 235 Uniontown Education $102,000.00

Velocity Manufacturing Small Business $5,000.00

Wise Tax and Accounting Small Business $1,750.00

Total amount of grants:
$2,835,212.86

Bourbon County, Government

County Commission Meetings Now On Youtube

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The Bourbon County Commission room, September 2018.

Bourbon County provides a service for those who wish to be in the know about the weekly commission meetings but do not wish to come in person due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

A YouTube channel was set up by Shane Walker, the information technology director.

YouTube is a  video-sharing website on the internet.

“The (Bourbon County) YouTube channel is for nothing more than to broadcast the commission meetings during the pandemic,” Walker said.  “We have a small area for meetings.  It made sense to set it up so that citizens could view meetings without risk.”

” We are working hard to keep people safe and still allow us to do business for everyone and this is just another part of that effort,” he said.

YouTube will not be used election night because the system had to be taken down so that the Bourbon County Clerk could use the commission room for voting and election duties, he said.

“All Bourbon County employees have access, and can edit our web page and also our Facebook page,” Walker said.  “All of our department heads have this ability to put information out to the public.”

The unofficial November 3, 2020 General  Election results will be posted on the county website that evening when they have them, according to Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk.

 

 

About the Bourbon County  Information Technology Department. taken from its’ website:

Walker is the Director of Information Technology

The office is located in the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S National Ave., Office 12, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Contact: 620-223-3800 X127 or email at
[email protected]

The Bourbon County Information Technology Department provides services to county departments to aid in the effective delivery of IT services that support the business needs of the county. County information technology is a vital part of the organization, providing faster and better ways for our employees to do their jobs and for our residents to access our services. They continue to keep technology current and to work with members and management of all departments to provide the computing capabilities that are needed.

Vision 
The vision is to enable each county department to better serve the public through the best and highest use of appropriate technology, using creative, progressive, and economical IT solutions with uncompromising quality, reliability, and efficiency.

Mission
To provide organizational and individual leadership in IT by researching, evaluating, planning, implementing, and supporting appropriate technologies, designed to assist county departments in accomplishing their visions and missions and to apply technology and best practices that make the delivery of government services affordable, efficient, accessible, and responsive to the citizens of Bourbon County.

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government

City Of Bronson Receives SPARK Grant

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Bronson City Hall. Submitted photo.

The City of Bronson received grant funds to better serve its’ community safely during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In mid-October, City Clerk Ellen Harper received a SPARK Grant in the amount of $1,200 for providing help to safely serve the town, located in western Bourbon County.

The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) program is charged with leading Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, according to its’ website.https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/

SPARK Committees are distributing money from the U.S. Coronavirus Relief Fund.

The City of Bronson will use it to provide masks, sanitizers and cleaning products to mitigate the spread of the virus at city hall.

“We put a shield up in our office for when we interact with customers,” Harper said.  “And we sanitize.”

In addition, the city is recommending wearing masks and social distancing as part of the plan.

“This is for employees, city council members, or anybody that comes in and wants to use it for council meetings,” Harper said.

As in the rest of America, the way meetings are organized, or if held at all, have changed.

Bronson has already cancelled its annual town-wide event, Bronson Day, because of the virus and will probably cancell the annual Christmas fundraiser as well, Harper said.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Health Care

CHC Offers Rapid COVID-19 Testing

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Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Fort Scott..

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Fort Scott now offers rapid testing for the COVID-19 virus for those with symptoms.

On October 9, 2020, the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center announced there were 33 who tested positive for COVID-19 at the jail, the biggest spike in the county since the pandemic started in March 2020.

As of October 20, there have been 303 people who have tested positive for the virus in Bourbon County, according to the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department.

To see the latest COVID-19 updates, click below:

Kansashttps://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas

 

“I can confirm we have finally received the test kits to now do rapid testing in Fort Scott for COVID-19,” Krista Postai, CHC/SEK CEO, said.  “Because of the limited supply, we have allocated these for those individuals with symptoms.”

Krista Postai. Submitted photo.

Because of the limited amount of tests, it is at the discretion of the health care provider and the availability of the test, according to a spokeswoman at CHC.

“We have standing orders to cover the testing,” Postai said.

COVID-19 testing takes about 20 minutes in total.

The test is done with nasal swabs.

The cost is $100 and covered by insurance and/or a government program for those with symptoms, Postai said.

 

“For those without symptoms, an alternative rapid test is available for $50 cash and is not covered by insurance,” she said. “However, if the test comes up positive we are required to send it off for confirmatory testing which costs another $100 cash and takes another couple of days.”

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Rural Business Relief Grants Available Until Nov. 2

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North Main Street, downtown Fort Scott.

A new round of grants for small businesses is available online as of today, Oct. 26, according to Jody Hoener, Bourbon County’s Economic Director.

This is a NEW grant opportunity for for-profit business and she advised applying before the Nov. 2 deadline, next week, she said.

“I haven’t applied for this specific grant and it is online,” Hoener said.  “If anyone needs any help though, I would be more than willing to help.”  Contact her at [email protected]

“Only small businesses located in rural communities are eligible at this time,” according to the website https://www.lisc.org/covid-19/small-business-assistance/rural-relief-small-business-grants/?fbclid=IwAR32Hywr90-CMVmhziFOfkQGynQQ–i3KqlfYX8Tvz-IH5bOfArVqtx3XGE  “Rural communities are defined as having a population of 50,000 or less. A community is defined as the city/town/village where your business address is located. If the business is mobile (a food truck, fishing boat, rideshare driver, etc) please use the address where your vehicle is stored during non-business hours.”

All potential applicants are encouraged to review this FAQ and grant information before applying.

Non-profit organizations are ineligible for the relief funding program at this time but may be eligible for later rounds of funding.

Rural Relief Small Business Grants
Grants range from $5,000-$20,000 to for-profit businesses.
Grants will not need to be repaid. They can be used for:
• Payables to include rent and utilities
• Meeting payroll (to include yourself the applicant)
• Paying outstanding debt to vendors
• Other immediate operational costs
This “round” is open October 26-November 2.
Please see the link below to apply and for more information.
Bourbon County, COVID-19, Health Care

Uniontown Health Clinic Moving Forward To Open in 2021

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The building for the medical clinic is south of the Uniontown High School Football Field.

Uniontown will soon have a health clinic.

The small town in western Bourbon County, population approximately 300, is 20 miles away from health care in Fort Scott and 25 miles from Iola, the two largest towns with clinics nearby.

 

Spearheaded by Uniontown Ruritan, and the vision of several members of the community, the Uniontown health clinic is a collaboration of Ruritan, USD 235 School District, the Bourbon County Commission, the City of Uniontown and Girard Medical Center.

To see a prior fortscott.biz story on the clinic, click below:

Uniontown Collaboration: New Health Clinic Coming

Girard Medical Clinic, Girard, Ks. Photo from its’ website.

“We at GMC want to partner with the local community there in Uniontown to offer primary care services for an area where it is difficult to access those services currently,” Ruth Duling, Girard Medical Center CEO said.

The project is moving forward quicker since receiving U.S. coronavirus emergency funds which is distributed locally through the Bourbon County SPARK program. That program is to spur on the Kansas economy following the devastating effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) grant was applied for by Uniontown’s school district, which owns the property for the health clinic. The building is the former superintendent’s office.

Mark Warren, Uniontown Ruritan member, opens the door of the medical clinic building just south of the Uniontown High School football field.

“The school district applied for SPARK funding because the property to be renovated for use as the clinic,  belongs to the school,” Duling said.

“Completion will be after the first of the year,” Duling said. ” I don’t have any idea yet on a date when the clinic will be fully operational.  Since the renovation stage is being completed by mostly volunteer work and the availability of that workforce, it’s just difficult to say until we get further in the process…the renovation is in the very early stages.”

Uniontown Ruritan MemberJoe George has taken the lead on the renovation project with input from Girard Medical Center Engineering staff Judd Pride and Pat Holt and its’ Director of Clinic Operations Candi Adams, Duling said.

 

History The Clinic

Uniontown Mayor Larry Jurgensen explored a health clinic in the town with Fort Scott Mercy Hospital, Mark Warren said.
“At the time the Marathon Valley Nursing Home shut down,” he said.
” Mercy told him they didn’t want to explore a clinic out here because we were close enough to go to Ft. Scott, but instead put clinics in Arma and Pleasanton which were approximately the same distance from Ft. Scott ,” Warren said.  “This irritated people out here. The matter was then dropped for a period of years.”
Warren then visited with Holly Koch, Chief Financial Officer of Girard Medical Center and a resident of Uniontown.
He shared with Koch about the possibility of a Girard Medical Center satellite clinic.
After Koch spoke with Duling, meetings were organized which included the City of Uniontown, Ruritan, Girard Medical Center, Senator Jerry Moran’s office, Uniontown citizens, a Pittsburg doctor, Bourbon County Commissioner Lynn O’Harah, and Bourbon County Economic Director Jodi Hoener.
When Mercy Hospital closed in Dec. 2018 things began to progress, Warren said.
“We had residents here now (who were) a longer distance from health services,” Warren said.  “Girard went to work then.  Ruth asked me and I asked Larry and Judy Jurgensen both to come with me to a Girard Hospital board meeting.  Larry gave the historical timeline of his interaction with Mercy to them of which we left that meeting feeling we had their support.  The only thing left was funding.”
“The  Uniontown Ruritan Club offered to help fundraise but as federal SPARK money became available and Jayhawk Wind ( a wind energy company) heard about it, we found we could still fundraise but possibly not have to work so hard at it.  Jayhawk and SPARK money was the final piece of the puzzle to get this project finally started and going and to make a Uniontown clinic a reality.”
Jayhawk Wind contributed a $20,000 grant to help fund the Uniontown Clinic, which will also serve the towns in nearby communities, according to its’ website: http://www.jayhawkwind.com/
The SPARK Grant was for $88,000, according to Warren.

 

 

 

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Pioneer Kiwanis Initiates Collaboration For Community Friendship Swing

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A photo of a Friendship Swing, much like the Fort Scott Pioneer Kiwanis are collaborating with others to install in a Fort Scott park in 2021. Submitted photo.

Fort Scott Pioneer Kiwanis, a service organization helping the children of Bourbon County, has started a project in memory of a longtime member.

A Pioneer Kiwanis meeting, taken from its’ Facebook page.

The Joyce True Memorial Project for children began following the passing of True in July 2019, according to a press release sent by Gayle Sackett and Kelley Collins, spokespeople for the group.

Collins is secretary for the organization, Sackett is a board member.

“The club began looking for a suitable project to honor her that would benefit children of the community. The Friendship Swing seemed to meet the criteria.”

“The multi-user, one size fits all swing offers a unique opportunity for area children and families to engage in healthy outdoor play together and help youth to develop and a variety of physical and social skills,” according to the press release.

Funding for the project was multi-faceted.

“To supplement the memorial, the club decided to contribute money that had been raised previously for playground equipment. They applied for and received a grant from the Kiwanis Kansas District Foundation. Lastly, they partnered with the City of Fort Scott and jointly applied for a Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Grant.”

That FSACF grant, awarding of a generous $2,000, allowed the project to be on track for a completion date in spring 2021.

The project is truly a community collaboration.

The group will also need hands-on volunteer involvement when the installation begins.

The swing will be located in an agreed-upon location in a Fort Scott park.

To learn more about the company that makes the chair:

Search Results

Fort Scott, Government

Dave Martin Retires As City Manager, Effective Oct. 30, 2020

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Dave Martin

Dave Martin, Fort Scott City’s Manager retired today, with an effective date of  Oct. 30, 2020. He was hired as city manager in August 2010.

According to the retirement/severance contract provided by the City of Fort Scott, Martin through the remainder of 2020  will receive his full rate of salary, $4,133.60 bi-weekly.

Martin will remain on the city health plan until Dec. 2021, also according to the document, which can be viewed below:

DOC102120-10212020134903

 

To see a prior story on Martin, click below:

City Commission Approves Raise For Martin

 

 

Bourbon County, Elections, Government

Advance Voting Up in Kansas and in Bourbon County

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American Flags and Pins on White Background

The number of advance voting ballots mailed out for the Kansas 2020 General Election has sharply increased, according to The Kansas City Star newspaper dated Oct. 15.

“The state said it was shipping 456,148 advance ballots this year, way beyond the 133,822 in 2016 and 128,220 in 2018.

“Democrats so far have had the highest mail-in ballot turnout. Officials reported that among ballots received, 1,261 were from those affiliated as Democrats, followed by Republicans (556), unaffiliated voters (549) and Libertarians (17).”

“On Day 1 of early voting Wednesday, (Oct. 15) Kansans returned more than triple the number of mail-in ballots sent in 2016, according to the Secretary of State’s office.”

“Officials reported 2,383 ballots sent back as of Wednesday. That’s three times the 771 after the first day of mail-in voting in 2016 and 423 in 2018.”

“The Secretary of State’s office explained in a subsequent Tweet that the ballots returned thus far are from military personnel and overseas citizens, who are sent ballots beginning 45 days prior to the election.”

To see the entire story, click below:

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article246473700.html

 

In Bourbon County to date,  there have been 432 advance in-person voters with two weeks left until the Nov. 3 election, according to Clerk Kendell Mason.

“We have mailed 970 ballots and 376 have been returned,” Mason said.

 

Kendell Mason. Submitted photo.

 

In the 2019 general election, there were  493 total in-person advance voters, she said.

 

“Advance voters put their voted ballots in a machine that counts their votes, but we will not know the results of those votes until we close down the machine on November 3rd,” Mason said.

Voters took advantage of advance voting at the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office.

 

 

 

Art, Business, Fort Scott

Family of Eight Moves Into the Beaux-Arts Centre

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The Bowman Family moved into the Beaux-Arts Centre. Submitted photo.
Before March 2020, the Bowman family was quite content living in North Kansas City in a wonderful neighborhood, Lorina Bowman said.  “I accidentally came across the Beaux-Arts Centre on Zillow ( a real estate website) and saw a lot of potential. “
The Beaux-Arts Centre, 102 S. National Ave, is next door to the post office.
“When my husband saw it, he was also excited,” she said.
They set up several appointments with the owners to view the property.
” We tried to talk ourselves out of it because the building needs to be updated quite a bit, but every con was able to be twisted into a pro,” she said.  They prayed and feel God led them to purchase the property.

The family plans to open a museum with interactive components and call it Exploratorium.

“It’s always been a dream of ours to open a business that would incorporate all of my family’s hobbies and talents,” Lorina said.  “The fact that my family is able to live on the top floor while we build the museum is the only way our vision is possible.”

“We will have fun, unique exhibits that all ages will enjoy, such as; Barbie, Model Trains, Lego, and more,” Lorina said. “We will have play structures and other hands-on activities. The building will also include a gift shop and eventually a snack bar. We are most excited about our classroom which is where we will host workshops and clubs to really get the community involved in teaching, learning and exploring new hobbies and talents.”

The Bowman Family is comprised of Johnathan, a computer programmer who works from home since leaving California in June 2017. “He is excited to learn new handyman skills as he tackles different projects in the building,”  Lorina said.
Lorina is a stay-at-home mom but loves to make crafts to sell at fairs and is excited to have a full-time gift shop to sell all the creations she’s made over the years, she said.
She’s also happy she can put on events to “appease her overzealous party planning passion,” she said.
Marshall is 15  years old and enjoys creating Electonic Dance Music on the computer and building weapons out of polyvinyl chloride pipe.
Vivian is 13 and loves Harry Potter, Legos, and reading.
Theodore is almost 11 and a master at creating obstacle courses and unique games for his siblings to play, Lorina said.
Lawrence is 9 and can fold origami for hours and keep his family laughing with his humor, she said.
 Adelaide is 4 and does her best to keep up with the rest of the family, she said.
The youngest is  Harriet, 2, who has the cutest smile and curls, Lorina said.
The timeline for the project is undetermined.
“The timeline really depends on the community,” Lorina said. ” My husband and my dad have been doing a lot of the projects tackled so far. If left to our own devices we could eventually open our doors to the public but it would be years in the making. Why wait that long? “
“With enough community support through funding and volunteer labor we could open as early as next spring and then ALL generations could come together to enjoy our Exploratorium,” she said.
Follow the project on Facebook @ Fort Scott Exploratorium to find out how you can help and see what they have accomplished and what currently working on.
Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Nursing Program Seeks Community Input

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Jordan Howard. Submitted photo.
Wednesday, October 21, the Fort Scott Community College Nursing Program will have its accreditation visit with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
“Accreditation in nursing education is voluntary, but we remain accredited to ensure quality education in nursing,” Jordan Howard, the FSCC Director of Nursing, said. “This is verified by the peer-reviewed process that happens every eight years.  We maintain our accreditation so agencies that hire our graduates know they have employed a student that graduated from a program that has consistently graduated competent nurses.  In addition, we continue to be accredited for our students, as they are able to further their education if they so choose.  Being accredited shows a higher level of nursing education, that we are an institution of quality education.”
“During this (accreditation) time they want to visit with community members,” he said. ” I am trying to reach as many community members as we can. I have written a write up on our nursing Facebook page.”
“We’re looking for anyone that wants to join(the meeting),” Howard said. “The site team will ask them questions about our program them will allow them to give their concern if they have any.”
“They will ask several questions and give the opportunity to have your voice heard,” Howard said.
The meeting is Wednesday, October 21 at 2:40 p.m.
“You can remote in from home or call in from your phone,” Howard said.  “We will also have rooms available in Fort Scott at 810 Burke Street. If you decide to come to our campus please enter the northeast door and bring a mask if you have one. For additional information on ACEN, you can visit acenursing.org. Below is the information you will need to attend this meeting.”
ROOM LINK:
MEETING ROOM 35- JS at 810 Burke Street
Access Information for the Program:
Dial-in Information:
United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679
United States: +1 (571) 317-3116
Access Code: 551-390-933

About the Nursing Program

The Fort Scott Community College Nursing Department offers students an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing for students who have completed prerequisite courses and four semesters of nursing courses, according to information on the school’s webpage. Graduates are eligible to take the national licensing exam for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) and to apply for state licensure as a registered nurse. Our program prepares students for beginning staff nursing positions and delivering nursing care to individuals and groups as members of a healthcare team to promote health and wellness.

 

FSCC’s Nursing Department participates in the Kansas Academic Progression Model, which allows LPNs who hold a Kansas license to continue their studies at FSCC to obtain an associate’s degree in nursing. FSCC nursing graduates can continue their studies at any of the state’s 12 colleges and universities to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

 

The FSCC nursing program is approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN). The nursing curriculum reflects the Kansas ADN Alignment project and is current with nursing theory and practice using Quality and Safety for Nursing Education (QSEN) as its framework.

 

Educational facilities include four lecture classrooms, a skills lab, human simulation lab, computer lab, IV skills lab, conference/library, and audio/visual viewing room. Students may also take advantage of the student commons area for study and informal gatherings.

FSCC main campus resources are available for all students. Clinical settings include healthcare agencies in Fort Scott, Paola, Girard, Osawatomie, and Pittsburg in Kansas and Nevada in Missouri. Instruction at the Miami County Campus is provided through Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) with the instructor present at the Burke Street Campus. All campus nursing lab experiences are provided at the Burke Street Campus.

Fort Scott, Schools

After School Choir Started at FSHS and FSMS

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The Fort Scott High School Choral Club pause for a photo during practice on Thursday. Submitted photo.

A Fort Scott Middle/High School Choral Music Teacher vacancy was not replaced by the USD 234 Board of Education this summer.

“Abby Helt, the choir teacher that was hired to replace Emily Elliott, withdrew in July, and there was not another teacher hired,” said  Mary Jo Harper, Eugene Ware Elementary School’s Music Teacher. “They opened a position up for an after-school choir at the high school that I applied for.”

Mary Jo Harper. Submitted photo.

“I got the green light to begin rehearsals in October and we started on Tuesday,” Harper said.  “Students in 9-12th grade are welcome to participate. We meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 PM-4:15 PM in the Choir Room at FSHS.”

“Our goal is to aid students interested in auditioning for district and state choir (virtual this year) to have that opportunity and to prepare students for the spring musical.”

“We are also striving to continue to cultivate a passion for choral music, preparing for community performances and other events that may be able to happen in the future.,”  Harper said.

” During the pandemic, the science is continuously updating,” Harper said.  “Our goal is to continue to follow the COVID guidelines put out by the National Association for Music Education and Kansas State High School Activities Association, meaning masked singing during rehearsals whether indoors or outdoors, limited to about 30 minutes at a time in any space, temperatures recorded, and symptom scanning.”

“Our first rehearsal was filled with folk songs to warm up and prepare for this adventure,” Harper said. “While we wait for the clearance to sing in the elementary classroom, this has been one way I get to feed my musical soul. It’s been lovely to be able to see our students continue to love singing in high school. I’m glad I get to be a part of their continued choral education!”

Fort Scott Middle School After School Choir

Jannah Farrington at Fort Scott Middle School is doing an after school choir with interested students, Harper said.

 

Jannah Farrington, Fort Scott Middle School Special Education Teacher and Choral Club Teacher. Submitted photo.

“When I was asked if I would be interested I was over the moon excited.,” Farrington said.  “Special Education is my passion but music was my first love. I am a singer and began my college career as a vocal music major. I am excited to be on this journey as it lights a fire deep in my soul.”

She started with four interested students and now has up to seven.

“That number is growing as the word gets out to more and more students,” Farrington said.

“Our purpose together is to create music,” she said. “To use our musical instrument that was given to us.”

“We meet three days a week after school,” Farrington said.  “That is adjusted to two days a week if we have a short week.”

“I am teaching basic skills on how to read music,” she said. ” I am also teaching them how to improve their tone, pitch ability and we are working on two-part harmony.”

They are working on a traditional and a contemporary piece of music.

“I am working on them listening to one another and singing together, building confidence, practicing hard and improving their singing skills,” she said.

She is striving to have fun in the club, during these uncertain and different times, she said.

 

“We are following the (pandemic) guidelines we need to and my students have adjusted well to that,” she said. ” We are not preparing for competition currently but are preparing and will host a zoom concert for their parents.”