COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Governor Seeks to Improve Response Time For Unemployment Services

Leave a comment

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Update on KDOL Operations

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that Accenture, will work with the Kansas Department of Labor to provide operational and technological assessments and improvements to support the delivery of unemployment services. 

 

“I am pleased to announce that Accenture will be assisting the Kansas Department of Labor to improve response times for Kansans who need help and to revamp our systems, so we can mitigate the technical issues we have been experiencing the past several months due the unprecedented high volume of claims,” Governor Laura Kelly said.

 

Accenture will be working on a fast timetable to improve the unemployment system and services through evaluating and providing recommendations for claims processing optimization, call center operations, and a comprehensive technology review. 

 

Accenture has deep experience in this type of work, including rapidly assisting more than half a dozen other states with COVID-related programs during the pandemic and economic downturn. Accenture will immediately begin a first phase of the review and initial options for actionable steps, followed by additional data gathering, analysis and ongoing recommendations for the duration of their work.

Entertainment, Fort Scott

38th Burke Street Parade July 4: On Schedule

Leave a comment
Burke Street residents offer food following the parade in 2019.
The community is invited to a neighborhood parade to celebrate America’s Independence Day.
At 10 a.m. on July 4, 2020, Burke Street residents will begin to line up at 10th and Burke Street.
“It’s for everyone,” Barbara Albright, who is charge of information distribution, said.
Severe storms or lightning cancels the parade…but we have conquered the rain,” Albright said.
“This year patriotic masks can be worn, (optional),” she said.  “Depending on COVID 19 (the disease of the pandemic), it might be a small parade or biggest ever.”
“Please no big vehicles and watch for the children, who are all over the place,” Albright said.
Parade entrants are asked to dress in patriotic attire.
Bring lawn chairs to sit along the street and cheer the parade, she said.

Patriotic songs will be lead by Phil Hammon, with help from others.

Burke Street Parade. Susan Foster and grandson, Jack Foster. Foster is the person with the original idea of a neighborhood street parade in Fort Scott. Submitted photo.
The parade starts at the corner of  10th and Burke Street, goes south to Marblecrest and back north to the starting point, Albright said.
“The parade goes south on Burke Street to the Marblecrest Triangl,” she said.
Traffic control will be organized by Burke Street resident Frank Halsey.
For more information contact Margaret Humphrey at 223-0388, Theresa Bahr at 223-1582 or Albright at 224-7762.
Steven Anthony in the Burke Street Parade. Submitted photo.
The Burke Street Parade is provided by Albright.
“About 40 years ago Susan Stapleton Foster was visiting her brother Dr. Burder Stapleton’s family in Memphis, TN over the Fourth of July,” she said.   “She was fascinated with several neighborhood Independence Day parades on her visit, particularly the veterans who proudly marched in the parades.  Upon return to Fort Scott, she shared the idea with neighbors Margaret Humphrey and Jill Gorman.  The rest is history. ”

Burke Street Parade. Margaret and Merl Humphrey and granddaughter, Meg Norman. Submitted photo.
Fort Scott

Fire in the Shrubs at McDonald’s On June 25

Leave a comment
The drive-through of McDonald’s Restaurant had a fire on June 25 in the shrubbery.
On June 25. 2020 the Fort Scott Fire Department was dispatched at 4:16  p.m. to a fire at McDonald’s Restaurant, 2224 S. Main.
911 had numerous calls on the event,  Deputy Fire Chief Mike Miles said.
FSFD responded in Engine 1.  Deputy Chief Miles, Captain Hutchison, Lieutenant Schafer, Firefighter McGee, Firefighter Carpenter were in attendance.
While en route to the call, heavy smoke could be seen from the Station 1 at 1604 S. National, Miles said.
Engine 1 arrived on scene and found heavy flames and heavy smoke present from the rear of the structure.  Firefighters quickly deployed the front jump line off Engine 1 and began extinguishing the flames.
  The fire was under control within minutes.  The fire spread throughout the entire landscaping area in the drive-thru.  The fire destroyed the area and spread to the drive-thru stall #1 and damaged the ordering screen and stand.  The secondary drive-thru landscaping and screen were not exposed because the firemen were able to get the flames under control in a timely manner.
Firefighters continued to mop up the hot spots around the vegetation area until all the smoldering was gone, he said.
The crew then checked the interior of McDonald’s with the thermal imaging camera to make sure there was no breach of fire through the walls or foundation and everything on the inside was normal, he said.  Engine 1 then cleared the scene and responded to another call that came out during that time.
The fire was undetermined but dry conditions may have played a major factor.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Beerbower of the fire at McDonald’s on June 25, 2020.
Fort Scott, Government

FS Special Meeting June 30 To Discuss Opening Facilities

Leave a comment

There will be a Special Meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30th, 2020. This meeting will be held to discuss opening of City facilities, the opening of City Commission meetings, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This meeting will be held at 123 S. Main Street in the City Commission meeting room. This meeting will be broadcast on the City’s You tube channel. This meeting will not be open to the public.

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

Bourbon County Has 21 COVID-19 Cases as of June 29

Leave a comment

SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

June 29, 2020

Allen County

Current Positive Cases 3
Current Recovered Cases 1
Total Positives Since Testing 4-1 removed-out of state and to remain there
Deaths 0

Anderson County

Current Positive Cases 0
Current Recovered Cases 3
Total Positives Since Testing 3
Deaths 0

Bourbon County

Current Positive Cases 12
Presumptive Cases 1-listed on KDHE website, tested negative
Current Recovered Cases 10-includes presumptive case
Total Positives Since Testing 21
Deaths 1

Woodson County

Current Positive Cases 2
Current Recovered Cases 6
Total Positives Since Testing 8
Deaths 0

Recovered cases are based on dates of onset of symptoms, not on day testing results are received.

Obituary

Celebration of Life for Carolyn Stancer

Leave a comment

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Carolyn Jean Stancer, age 67, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at the Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held at 12:00 PM Sunday, June 28th, on the front lawn of 757 S. Margrave St.

Friends are encouraged to drive by and show their support for the family.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.

Opinion

Happy Father’s Week

Leave a comment

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

The brilliant philosopher, Rodney Dangerfield, once said, “I get no respect.” As a father, I appreciate that statement. There are times when I get no respect. For example, for Mother’s Day, the kids went all out. Momma got breakfast in bed, a spa treatment, lunch at a fancy restaurant, jewelry, flowers, a magnificent steak dinner, followed by coffee and dessert. For Father’s Day, I got a coupon for a half-price kid’s meal and a pair of socks.

So, my family was shocked when on Monday I announced that it isn’t Father’s “Day,” it’s Father’s “Week.” I said, “All week long we are going to celebrate Dad.” My announcement was met with audible sighs and rolling eyes. One of my precious children said, “Whatever!”

What is Father’s Week? It is a week where I get the TV remote – I choose what shows we watch. For Father’s Week, we are watching John Wayne movies and bad TV preachers. I like John Wayne, well, because he’s John Wayne. I like bad TV preachers because I like to make fun of them. One guy, who claimed to have the power to heal all manner of sickness, was wearing a cheap toupee. If that guy could heal, don’t you think he should be able to heal himself up some hair? But I digress…

Father’s Week means that I get to take undisturbed naps in the middle of the day. I get ice cream and cookies with every meal. I get to sit on the porch and read a book while the family mows the grass. I get unlimited refills on my glass of iced tea. I get the first fruits (that’s biblical) of all junk food that comes into the house. I get waited on hand and foot.

So far, none of my children are on board with Father’s Week. Oddly enough, my wife isn’t either. Maybe I have the wrong idea about my role versus their roles.

Similarly, Christians often get the wrong idea about their role versus God’s role. Sometimes we think God is sitting in heaven, waiting to meet our needs. God is indeed a loving Father who provides for us, but He doesn’t exist to serve us.

The truth is that we exist for God. He created us and has equipped us to serve Him. The Bible says that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which He prepared beforehand so we would do them. Everything about us was designed by God to equip us for the work He preordained long before our birth.

The point is: God uniquely created you, and He has provided you with everything you need to serve and glorify Him. All you must do is step out in obedience and fully rely on His grace and power.

Are you serving your Heavenly Father like you should? Get busy serving Him.

Oh, and Happy Father’s Week.

I must go now. The kids have stolen the TV remote again…

James Collins is the pastor of First Southern Baptist Church. Follow him on Twitter @collins_point, Facebook James Collins “The Point Is,” or at the website thepointis.net.

 

Due to the county health order dated June 24, First Southern Baptist Church will have Drive-In Church this Sunday, June 28, and next Sunday, July 5. People can safely social distance by staying in their car and listening to the service on 88.7 FM.

 

Bourbon County Local News