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Fund Raiser For City Fireworks Display on June 13
State Farm Ins. Hosts a Beacon Food Drive
FSCC Is Adapting Due to COVID 19 Pandemic
Fort Scott Community College employees have been working on how to provide an education safely to all involved during the pandemic that has played havoc across the world.
“We have been working with local, regional, and state health officials to determine how best to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 for our students, employees, and community,” President Alysia Johnston said. “We want to meet the unique needs of our students while keeping everyone safe.”
Schedules have been changed.
“The June summer schedule has been changed to an all-online format with the exception of John Deere,” she said. “The classes will be split so there are not more than 10 students at one time.”
“Currently, John Deere has two classrooms and a total of 15 students will be on campus in June,” Adam Borth, vice president of academic affairs, said. ” This will allow us to utilize both classrooms and appropriate distancing requirements. We will also be cleaning and sanitizing surfaces to exceed recommendations. We are hoping and planning for all of our technical classes to begin in August 2020, just as they did in 2019. While we prepare for this, we also will likely need to be prepared to have quite a bit of hands-on training in the first portion of the classes, should we need to go back online again. Our plan, at this time, is face to face courses for fall.”
“We are looking at a possible change to our fall calendar schedule that would have students finish the fall semester before Thanksgiving,” Johnston said. “We believe this would help mitigate the spread of the pandemic as we would not be bringing students back once again from a wide geographical area.”
“We are discussing the idea of moving our start date up for fall classes, to begin on August 10,” Borth, said.
“We have tentatively set the commencement ceremony for Saturday, November 21, 2020 for graduates from spring 2020, summer 2020, and fall 2020,” he said.
“This would allow us to end the week of Thanksgiving, and hopefully minimize exposure during the fall semester. Our spring 2021 semester has not changed at this point, although this could change, given the fluidity of this situation,” Borth said.
“We are still evaluating courses which begin in July, and will continue to do so while the situation evolves,” he said. “The primary changes will be the amount of students in a classroom at any given time. We will ensure 15 occupants are in a classroom during this phase of reopening, and also ensure social distancing is occurring. This may mean significant changes to how our courses are scheduled by the time August rolls around.”
Some students will be tested for COVID 19.
“We plan on bringing back some student-athletes in July and have been working with Community Health Center of SEK to perform COVID-19 testing for the students,” Johnston said. ” We have procedures and protocols in place if someone tests positive for COVID-19. We are extremely grateful to CHC of SEK for working with us to establish best practices and administering the tests at no cost to the college or students.”
Budgets are revisited.
“We are currently developing the 2021 fiscal budget and analyzing available data and information to determine the best budgeting solutions,” she said. ” We know our state funding will be lower and we are making adjustments – keeping in mind the critical needs of students and all stakeholders must be met.”
Safety is a priority.
“Making sure students, employees and the community are safe is our greatest concern and we are working every day on best practices to make sure we meet all our stakeholder’s needs,” Johnston said.
On-campus classes for the fall semester are planned for students.
“The students, faculty, and the staff have done an amazing job adapting to online classes and working remotely,” she said. “However, we are all looking forward to having students on campus for the fall semester.”
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports May 27
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports May 26
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Obituary of Michael Johnson
Michael Louis “Pookie” Johnson, age 69, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Friday, May 22, 2020, at his home.
He was born October 18, 1950, in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Donald Leroy Walker and Mary Louise Johnson.
He graduated from the Ft. Scott High School. He then attended Ft. Scott Community College and later attended Baker University on a football scholarship. He had worked for several years for Bourbon County. Pookie loved spending time with his family and playing cards with his friends.
Survivors include three sisters, Joyce Johnson, Glenda Kimani, and Diana Johnson, all of Ft. Scott and a special cousin, Cadillac McNack, also of Ft. Scott. Also surviving is a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Janice Ray and Barbara Wilburn and two infant brothers.
Private burial will take place on Friday, May 29th at the U. S. National Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Michael Johnson Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Resident Death at El Dorado Correctional Facility
TOPEKA, Kansas. – El Dorado Correctional Facility resident Bobby Edwards died on Sunday, May 24, 2020, at the correctional facility.
Edwards, 44, was pronounced dead by facility staff at approximately 2:15 a.m. The cause of death is pending an autopsy but is not believed to be COVID-19 related.
Per protocol when a resident dies in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC), the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Edwards was serving a 247-month sentence for a 2011 Sedgwick County conviction for Aggravated Robbery.
Bobby Edwards’ KDOC identification number is # 63488
The 1,955 bed El Dorado Correctional Facility opened in 1991 and was expanded in 1995 and 2001. The facility is designed for maximum- and medium-custody inmates and to serve as the Reception and Diagnostic Unit (RDU) for all adult males sentenced to KDOC. In RDU, residents receive orientation and are assigned to a custody classification, appropriate programs and a permanent housing assignment.
Reopen Kansas Framework Changes to Recommendations Tomorrow
As Governor Kelly’s Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas framework changes to a recommended guidance document tomorrow, the Local Health Officer of Allen, Anderson, Bourbon and Woodson Counties continues to recommend residents and businesses of these counties follow this guidance document through its entirety. The guidelines that were issued by SEK Multi-County Health Departments will be taken down tomorrow, as it took us through the first phase and now there are less restrictive guidelines in place, as well as other guidance now issued by multiple state boards, KDHE, CDC, etc.
The Local Health Officer urges the public to continue to take appropriate actions, by taking responsibility for themselves and their loved ones. Individuals should continue to practice social distancing, clean/disinfect any high touched surfaces, wash their hands with soap and water routinely, use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available and avoid touching your face (especially eyes, nose & mouth).
Please remember if you have the symptoms to:
Call before going to a Clinic, Hospital, ER, or Health Department
Close contact means: 6 foot or less for 10 minutes or more, with a positive case.
If you are experiencing life threatening symptoms, PLEASE CALL 911.
For more information you may call the SEK Multi-County Health Department: Allen: (620)365-2191 Monday-Thursday 7:00am-5:30pm; Anderson: (785)448-6559 Monday-Thursday 7:00am-5:30pm ; Bourbon: (620)223-4464 Monday-Thursday 7:00am-5:30pm; Woodson (620)625-2484 Monday-Thursday 8:00am-5:00pm OR the COVID-19 Hotline: (866)534-3463.You may also visit the
COVID-19 Resource Center at: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/OR Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments on Facebook for local updates.
Governor signs disaster declaration, calls for special session, warns of grave consequences to state without legislative action
Encourages Legislature to do what’s right to protect Kansans
TOPEKA – Today Governor Laura Kelly announced a series of actions her administration is taking to respond to the emergency situation COVID-19 currently presents to the economy and to public safety.
- After careful review, Kelly has vetoed House Bill 2054. This sweeping, hastily crafted legislation pushed through the Kansas Legislature last week includes provisions that will damage Kansas’ ability to respond to COVID-19 and all future disasters. The bill also weakens local county health officer authorities and adds unnecessary layers of bureaucracy to their emergency response efforts.
- Kelly has signed a new state disaster declaration to ensure that Kansas can effectively respond to the current emergency situation, which includes an unprecedented economic emergency and the imminent threat of new outbreaks of COVID-19, specifically regarding food supply. This will also ensure the state can continue its coordinated response with federal and state partners.
- Kelly has called a special session starting June 3. She has asked the Legislature to put politics aside, work with her, and deliver an emergency management bill that has been vetted, debated, is transparent and addresses the need to keep Kansans safe and healthy.
“As I’ve said from day one, the safety and well-being of Kansans is my number one priority. What the Legislature sent to my desk does not protect Kansans. It does not help Kansans. It puts their lives at risk,” Kelly said. “I’m calling on the Legislature to come back and put a carefully crafted, bipartisan bill on my desk that will provide the resources Kansans need, in a timely manner. We must stop putting Kansans at risk.”
The new state disaster declaration addressing the current emergency enables Kansas to provide the following services through the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Kansas National Guard and the federal government:
- Allows National Guard members supporting numerous field missions throughout the state to serve communities in response to the disaster and threat. To date, a total of 678 National Guard personnel are supporting these missions.
- Allows KDEM and National Guard to provide vital food support to communities and protect against threat of food supply shortages. Guard members have packed more than two million meals which are being distributed to food banks across Kansas.
- Allows KDEM and National Guard to swiftly provide medical and non-medical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to hospitals, first responders and many more to combat the imminent threat of COVID-19 surges. To date, over 7,000 cases of PPE have been delivered across the state, which includes 3.2 million individual pieces of PPE. More will be needed to address the imminent threat of new outbreaks.
- Allows KDEM to assist the Kansas Department of Corrections to provide support personnel – including medical and food preparation personnel.
- Allows KDEM to make deliveries of Remdesivir to counties across Kansas. So far, KDEM, along with their state agency partners which include the Kansas National Guard, Kansas Highway Patrol and Civil Air Patrol, have made 26 deliveries of Remdesivir to 10 counties. Remdesivir is delivered to hospitals to treat critical patients, and this service is potentially life-saving for those patients. KDEM makes these deliveries immediately when needed for patients throughout the state.
- Allows KDEM to continue providing non-congregate shelter for positive and exposed persons who are essential workers. There are currently 50 contracts related to non-congregate sheltering needed for the present disaster. Continuing to provide this support will mitigate the threat to the food supply and the threat of surges in COVID-19 infections.
- Allows medical workers and first responders to rely on the Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System to decontaminate their PPE. This system is provided by FEMA and continuing to provide this service will mitigate the threat of surges in COVID-19 infections.
- Allows KDEM to manage donations and warehouse space necessary to store PPE. This storage is necessary due to the threat of new COVID-19 outbreaks as statewide restrictions are lifted and the economy reopens.
- Allows KDHE to provide community-based testing under the State Emergency Response Plan. Increased testing will help the state mitigate the threat of, or respond to, future outbreaks and allows businesses, employees, and customers to resume economic activity with increased confident that outbreaks will be prevented or mitigated.
- Allows KDEM to continue transporting testing samples. KDEM has transported over 1,000 samples to state labs since April 29, 2020. By transporting the tests via KDEM couriers, the tests arrive at the lab the same date they are collected, and results are provided the following day. Without this same-day service, the results of the tests will be delayed and the ability to contact-trace will be severely limited, risking additional illness and death as well as economic insecurity.
- Allows KDEM to provide translation support. Currently, KDEM is providing 16 translators to support contact-tracing operations to mitigate the current and imminent threat of a new COVID-19 outbreak.
- Allows the Civil Air Patrol to continue to provide needed emergency transportation.
If the state disaster declaration is not extended by the Legislature within 15 days, the following significant problems will likely occur:
- Possible closure of meat processing plants;
- Inability to assist hog farmers with the euthanasia and disposal of excess hogs;
- The loss of unemployment benefits;
- Significant delay and possible frustration entirely of the economic recovery of the State;
- Reduced PPE inventory for healthcare workers and first responders;
- KDEM would be unable to receive, sort, package, and transport PPE and other commodities to health care workers and first responders;
- Food shortage and an inability of state agencies to provide the various food programs needed to assist Kansans;
- Reduced testing and a lack of timely test results;
- Inability to conduct contact-tracing missions;
- Increased outbreaks of COVID-19 in the prison population;
- Increased outbreaks of COVID-19 in nursing homes;
- Inability to service or transport ventilators or anesthesia machines;
- Inability to coordinate mission assignments or take emergency actions necessary to deal with issues related to the current disaster;
- No immunity for state employees or volunteers providing vital services;
- Inability to initiate and maintain the Kansas Response Plan; and
- Increased costs to the State of Kansas as a result of losing federal funding.
Under the new disaster declaration, the operative provisions of the following Executive Orders will be reissued:
- 20-08: Temporarily expanding telemedicine and addressing certain licensing requirements to combat the effects of COVID-19
- 20-12: Driver’s license and vehicle registration and regulation during public health emergency
- 20-13: Allowing certain deferred tax deadlines and payments during the COVID-19 pandemic
- 20-17: Temporary relief from certain unemployment insurance requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- 20-19: Extending professional and occupational licenses during the COVID-19 pandemic
- 20-20: Temporarily allowing notaries and witnesses to act via audio-video communication technology
- 20-23: Licensure, Certification, and Registration for persons and Licensure of “Adult Care Homes” during public health emergency
- 20-27: Temporarily suspending certain rules relating to sale of alcoholic beverages
- 20-32: Temporary relief from certain restrictions concerning shared work programs
- 20-33: Extending conditional and temporary relief from certain motor carrier rules and regulations in response to COVID-19
Milken Center Reopens June 4
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Scheduled to Re-Open June 4th.
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes plans to re-open for tours on Thursday, June 4th. We will be following the State of Kansas guidelines for our re-opening. Until then we can be reached at 620-223-1312, [email protected], as well as through social media.
Our work continues and we invite you to follow us on social media for daily inspirational stories of Unsung Heroes.
We also invite you to take our virtual tour, read about Unsung Hero projects, learn how to enter our Discovery Award and ArtEffect Project competitions, and utilize our lesson plans and Unsung Hero curriculum.
Our work as a non-profit organization depends on donors like you. Your donations are important to us as we remain committed to providing educational resources which empower students to create positive change in their communities. Thank you for your support.
We look forward to re-opening and seeing you at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes soon!
About the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes:
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes works with students and educators across diverse academic disciplines to develop history projects that highlight role models who demonstrate courage, compassion and respect. Through our unique project-based learning approach, students discover, develop and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes who have made a profound and positive impact on the course of history. By championing these Unsung Heroes, students, educators and communities discover their own power and responsibility to effect positive change in the world. Visit www.lowellmilkencenter.org to learn more.
FSCC COVID-19 UPDATE
Date: May 26, 2020
Time: 2:15 P.M.
RE: FSCC novel coronavirus, COVID-19 update
Making sure students, employees, and the community are safeguarded from the current pandemic is our priority as we plan for the upcoming academic year. We believe adjusting the Fall 2020 calendar to begin classes on August 10 and end the semester November 24 will allow us to meet the critical needs of students, while also mitigating the possible effects of bringing students back to campus from a large geographical area after the Thanksgiving break. We will send an updated calendar with adjusted withdrawal dates, etc., once the dates have been finalized.
Updated information:
- Fall 2020 classes will begin August 10
- Labor Day, September 7, will be observed – campus closed
- No Fall Break
- Finals will be November 19, 20, 23, 24
- Last day of classes will be November 24
- Winter graduation will be Saturday, November 21, 2020
- These offices will be open: admissions, advising, bookstore, business offices, financial aid, instruction office, IT, library, registrar, and the Student Success Center.
- We will abide by all local, state, and national guidelines; masks are encouraged.
- Employees are encouraged to work with their supervisor to determine the plan for returning from remote work.
- Remote work is still allowable with approval or request from the appropriate Vice President.
- Remote work equipment will remain in your place of residence at this time, if applicable.
- No outside entities or groups will meet on campus. We will continue to meet all requirements for maximum allowable people in rooms, and maintain a conservative approach.
- Miami and Crawford County locations will be open to public access, abiding by appropriate guidelines.
- Campus is open for tours. Appointments are encouraged 620.223.2700 ext. 3510
- Our goal as of today is to have face-to-face courses, and also have students in the dorms when the fall semester begins. However, we continue to evaluate both fall and July courses to determine the appropriate modality.
- June summer school classes will be moved from face-to-face to an online format (with the exception of John Deere Technician Training)
- Current FSCC Spring 2020 students may apply for Emergency Relief Funds at: FSCC COVID-19 Student Emergency Relief Grant Application
- If you have any questions regarding the FSCC COVID-19 Student Emergency Relief Grant, please contact us at [email protected].
- Enrollment is open. Please encourage students to contact advising to schedule an appointment to enroll [email protected]
- Students desiring to setup a payment plan for an outstanding balance, need to access their Gizmo account and click the link located in the “Account Balance Information” section.
- Craw-Kan is providing free wi-fi to locations in our region. Here is a link to the map https://ckt.net/hotspots/
Internet
For students without readily available internet access, please contact your local area internet service and cellular service providers. Many companies are working with students during this time to ensure access to internet services. If this is unsuccessful, please contact Janet Fancher ([email protected]) or Adam Borth ([email protected]).
Advising and Enrollment:
Fall enrollment is open and advising will be assisting students via phone appointments and email. To schedule an appointment please contact via email:
· Russ Souza ([email protected])
· Ashley Keylon ([email protected])
· Quentin Choice ([email protected])
You may call 620.223.2700, ext. 3630 and leave a detailed message, including name, student ID (if applicable), and contact information.
We appreciate everything all of you do, and your understanding of this situation. The guidance may change with minimal notice, depending on guidance provided. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Stay safe and healthy,
Alysia Johnston, FSCC President