Broadband Test Results In Kansas: Challenging The FCC

Governor’s Office Challenges FCC Mobility Fund Phase II Eligibility Map


Test Results Could Mean More Funding for LTE Service Buildout in Kansas

 

Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. announced that his office has successfully challenged the Federal Communication Commission’s Mobility Fund Phase II (MF-II) Eligibility Map, which the Commission will soon use to determine areas that will be eligible for funding for mobile LTE broadband service buildout in unserved areas.  Unlike surrounding states, Kansas was originally slated to receive almost no funding from the MF-II program unless the initial eligibility map could be challenged.  The map below indicates the areas that were initially deemed eligible for MF-II support (shaded in blue), based on coverage data reported by the nation’s mobile service providers.

Thanks to a $225,000 grant from the Information Network of Kansas (“INK”) Board of Directors, the Governor’s Office was able to partner with non-profit Connected Nation to conduct professional drive testing of mobile network coverage across the state.  Between the months of June and September, Connected Nation staff covered 15,620 road miles to conduct tests across parts of 56 Kansas counties (Allen, Anderson, Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Brown, Butler, Chase, Clark, Comanche, Crawford, Decatur, Ellsworth, Ford, Geary, Graham, Grant, Greeley, Hamilton, Harper, Jackson, Jewell, Johnson, Kearny, Kingman, Kiowa, Linn, Logan, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Mitchell, Morton, Nemaha, Neosho, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Rawlins, Republic, Riley, Rooks, Russell, Saline, Seward, Shawnee, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Wallace, and Wichita).  The areas tested were chosen based on analysis of areas that were reported to be served by no more than two mobile carriers—areas deemed most likely to be unserved.

 

Of the 187,397 tests that were conducted, 119,994 failed (64.03%)—meaning that the tests indicated less than 5 Mbps of mobile data service, or no service at all, in areas that the carriers had reported to be served.  The Governor’s Office was then able to use the testing data to challenge 13,158.63 square kilometers of the MF-II Eligibility Map—or 5,080.58 square miles—an area slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut.  While the challenge data submitted is still subject to review and adjudication by the FCC, it is now possible that a significant portion of the state of Kansas will be opened up for MF-II funding support—meaning many rural Kansans could finally see their mobile services improve.

 

The map below shows individual speed tests conducted in Jewell County. Red dots indicate failed tests, while green dots show passing tests.

“Mobile broadband service has become an essential tool in the daily lives of all Kansans, regardless of where they live, and it is quickly becoming a necessary resource for agriculture as well,” said Governor Colyer.  “I have driven all across this state, and I know how poor mobile coverage can be in some areas.  That’s why I was shocked to see that the FCC’s Mobility Fund Phase II eligibility map showed almost zero eligibility for funding in Kansas.  I knew we had to do something.  With support from the INK Board and our partners at Connected Nation, we did—and now there is a great chance that we’ll see large swaths of service buildout in rural parts of the state.”

 

The map below indicates all of the one square kilometer grid cells that were challenged within Kansas:

 

 

 

It is important to note that the Governor’s Office’s MF-II challenge will be supplemented by testing conducted by Kansas Farm Bureau, which received a waiver from the FCC to file its own challenge.  Kansas Farm Bureau has been working aggressively over the same period in collaboration with its membership to conduct thousands of mobile speed tests across the state—the results of which will be announced later this month.  To participate, or to learn more about Kansas Farm Bureau’s efforts, visit www.kfb.org/connectingkansas.  All MF-II challenge data must be submitted no later than November 26.

Toy Soldiers Painting Contest: Entries Due Nov. 30

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Announces Its Toy Soldier Decorating Contest – Deadline to Submit Entries is November 30th
Pick up your precut (life-size) wooden soldier at the Chamber now, then let your creativity fly. Return your painted masterpiece back to the Chamber by Friday, November 30th at 5pm. 1st Place prize winner will be awarded $50.00 in Chamber Bucks certificates!
Toy soldiers entered in the contest will be on display on the light poles of Main Street, in Downtown Fort Scott.
After the holidays you may take your toy soldier home, or donate it for next year’s display! $10.00 entrance fee.
Soldiers can be picked up at the Chamber: 231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott. For more information, call (620)223-3566.

Obituary of Gregory Heathman

Gregory Dean Heathman, 52, Nevada, MO, passed away on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at Medicalodges of Nevada.

Greg was born November 17, 1965 in Nevada to Bert Allen and Ida Pauline (Hogan) Heathman.

Greg was raised in Lansing, KS then came to Ft. Scott with his family where he graduated from High School in 1985. Greg worked for various restaurants including Pizza Hut in Ft. Scott and Nevada, becoming manager in Nevada. He also worked at Woods Supermarket in the Deli, at Walmart Radio Grill, and later in the meat department at Walmart where he was manager until retiring due to poor health.

Throughout his life Greg was a Christian.

Survivors include a sister, Rhonda Pottorff, Nevada; brothers, Glen “Allen” Heathman, Nevada, and an adopted brother, David Cagle and his wife Abby, Nevada; niece, Angela Witt and her husband Adam, Sheboygan, WI; sons, Nick Cagle, Nevada, Tyler Cagle, Nevada; daughter, Katie Cagle, Ft. Scott, KS; four grandchildren, Kayden, Bentley, Laylah, Analaya; several aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, and one sister, Ruby Heathman.

Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Pastor David Rorabaugh officiating. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Family in c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

Obituary for Mary Frances Townsend

Mary Frances Townsend, age 88, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, November 12, 2018, at the Mercy Hospital in Ft. Scott.

She was born January 10, 1930, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Dewey E. McFadden and Virginia Crick McFadden.

She graduated from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1947. She married Howard Eugene Townsend in 1950, at Blytheville, Arkansas.

Mary graduated from the Mercy School of Nursing and became a registered nurse. She was employed by both Mercy Hospital and Newman Young Clinic and retired in 1991. She was a long-time member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and later St. Francis Anglican Church. She enjoyed traveling and genealogy and especially working in her yard and tending her flowers.

Survivors include her children, Debra Ramsey of Uniontown, Kansas and Mike Townsend (Tammy), of Ft. Scott; four grandchildren, Lisa Stich (Aaron) of Springfield, Missouri, Michael P. Townsend of Collinsville, Oklahoma, Brandon Boyd of Ft. Scott and Steve Ramsey (Courtney), of Colorado Springs, Colorado and five great-grandchildren, Alden, Lake, Landree, Aiden and Denton. She was preceded in death by her husband and a brother, Ernest McFadden.

Father David Lewis-Dix will conduct a Requiem Mass at 10:00 A.M. Friday, November 16th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the COPD Foundation 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.

Mercy Hospital Update by Reta Baker

Reta Baker. Courtesy photo.

On October 1, 2018,  Fort Scott Mercy Hospital President Reta Baker announced the closing of the hospital  at years end.

Mercy Hospital has been a part of the community since 1885, and the news sent shock waves into Bourbon County and all of Kansas.

Baker has been working on transitioning to a new medical care system in Fort Scott in these specific areas:  a medical clinic,  an ambulance service, a patient transportation service, an emergency room service, therapy services and home health and hospice services.

 

The following is an update provided from  Baker, following a request from FortScott.Biz.

“New models of care are becoming a reality for many rural communities,” Baker said. “It is not an easy change. At the Kansas Hospital Association meeting this week it was reported that 73% of the rural hospitals report having a negative operating margin, and over the upcoming year we will see many more communities faced with this change and we may be in a position to be the cutting edge example of doing this successfully.

 

“These new models of care have at least at least three components, we are striving for five:

 

  1. A clinic that is designed to meet the needs of the community.  Mercy has assured this need is met through the transition of all clinic operations to the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK).  They are a primary care clinic with expanded services to support dental and behavioral needs of communities they serve. CHC/SEK is in the process of interviewing and hiring as many of our current staff as they can accommodate.  The following list of providers have confirmed that they will be continuing their practices with CHC/SEK:
  • Dr. Katrina Burke, who will continue to provide prenatal care and deliver babies at Via Christi in Pittsburg.
  • Dr. Maxwell Self, who will continue to provide support to the Home Health and Hospice.
  • Dr. P.K. Gugnani, who will continue to provide an important role in our occupational medicine efforts.
  • Beth Newkirk ARNP will practice part-time at the FS location.
  • Pam Moyer, ARNP, will be joining CHC/SEK in the FS location, she has worked convenient care and is currently working in the ER.
  • Christine O’Dell, ARNP, who will continue to practice at the Convenient Care Location.
  • Hannah Born, ARNP, will be practicing with CHC/SEK at the Pittsburg location.
  • Amber Hunziker, ARNP, will be practicing with CHC/SEK in the Pittsburg and Arma location.
  • Amanda Stice, ARNP, will continue her practice with CHC/SEK.

 

The following list of providers are continuing to consider their options:

 

  • Dr. Larry Seals has not decided where his office will be located but intends to remain in the area, and will be delivering babies at Nevada Regional or Via Christi.
  • Dr. John Fox has not decided where his office will be located but intends to remain in the area, once he makes his choice this will be shared with the community.
  • Greg King, ARNP, has not decided where his office will be located but also intends to remain in the area, once he makes his choice this will be shared with the community.

 

 

  1. A strong ambulance service. Mercy has been contracted by (Bourbon) County to provide the ambulance service since 1991.  Mercy is working with the county to transition ownership of the ambulances and equipment to the county.  The county will engage the City (of Fort Scott) under the structure of the fire department to operate the ambulance.  It is expected that the same highly trained staff will provide the service seamlessly to the community.

 

  1. A transportation system to facilitate patients being able to get to provider appointments as well as to those that require a specialist.  Through CHC/SEK, facilitating transportation to physician appointments if they have no means of transportation, is a service they do provide.

 

  1. An emergency room is an added component we are striving for and consider a high priority but is not always present in rural models.  Mercy is in discussion with an entity for the provision of an emergency department.  This entity is in the process of completing due diligence to determine whether it can be a feasible and sustainable investment for them. As with the other services, Mercy is facilitating to remain in the community all of the equipment to operate the ER would be transitioned to this entity.

 

  1. Therapy services of physical, speech and OT which is another added and the fifth component to the model of care. A group of therapists has formed a company “I Am Rehab” to provide physical and occupational therapy as well as the continued (Health For Life) fitness center facilities for the community.

 

“Mercy has offered and is willing to work with the city and county to facilitate a smooth transition of EMS and ambulance services.

 

“Home health and hospice services will continue but transition around Feb. 1, 2019, to the new name of Integrity. A large percentage of the providers will stay with the new management. The service area will remain the same and perhaps expand.”

 

Chamber After-Hours Event: Nate’s Place Today

Chamber of Commerce After-Hours Event at Nate’s Place – TODAY, November 13th at 5:15pm
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Invites you to an After-Hours event TODAY, November 13th at Nate’s Place of the Lyons Twin Mansions, 750 S. National (at the corner of 8th and National) from 5:15 pm to 7 pm. Chamber members Nate’s Place and Highway 3 are co-sponsors of the event which will be a fun evening of networking, drawings and fun.
Nate’s Place will be unveiling their recent kitchen remodel and furnishing upgrades made possible in part by a Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthy Pathways grant. Highway 3, owned by sisters Erin Vann and Trisha Newton, will be promoting their customized products available on www.shophighway3.com. There will be a two-dollar admission for a Chamber half-and-half drawing.
For more information contact the Chamber at www.fortscott.com or at (620)223-3566

November is National Adoption Month

Adopted Teen Shares Her Story at Adoption Celebration

 

TOPEKA – Kimberly Allen-Thompson spent most of her life in foster care, aging out of the system. But, that wasn’t the end of Kimberly’s story because at age 18, she was adopted by her forever family, the Thompson’s.

The Thompson’s had adopted Kimberly’s younger siblings, and while she was already legally an adult, she chose to become adopted and have a family to turn to, no matter what.

Kimberly and the Thompson’s were present at the 42nd Annual Governor’s Conference in Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, Adoption Month Reception on Nov. 8, to share their story about adoption and kick-off National Adoption Month with Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and Kansas Children Service League (KCSL) staff.

Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D., signed a proclamation on Monday, Oct. 22, designating November as Adoption Month. Throughout the month, DCF, and its contractors and community partners are taking part in a series of events to call attention to the need for more adoptive and foster families. Currently, there are approximately 500 children available for adoption in Kansas. Of those 500 youth available, 125 are 15 years or older. In FY 2018, 766 children were adopted from foster care.

Helping youth achieve timely permanency has been a focus for DCF Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel. Recently, DCF met internally and with contractors to identify and remove policies that were serving as a barrier to timely permanency. DCF also reviewed all cases where a youth was awaiting adoption and created working plans to safely finalize as many adoptions as possible in 30, 60 and 90 days. As a result of the many initiatives to streamline the adoption process, DCF anticipates finalizing approximately 1,500 adoptions in FY 19, double the number of adoptions from the previous fiscal year.

“When I arrived at the agency, remedying the adoption process was one of my top initiatives because timely permanency is vitally important for the child and the family. In my 25 plus years in child welfare, I have seen thousands of adoptions finalized, and each story and each family is unique,” said Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel. “But at the end of the day, each adoption finalized means a youth found their forever family.”

DCF’s contracted service providers and several courts around the state will celebrate National Adoption Day on Nov. 17, when many adoptions across the state will be finalized. As the final step of the adoption process, these events are often emotional culminations of months of effort. Media are invited to the following adoption finalizations:

  • Saturday, Nov. 17: Shawnee County Courthouse, Topeka, 8:30 a.m. – Approximately 35 children’s adoptions will be finalized, KVC Kansas
  • Saturday, Nov. 17: Johnson County Courthouse, Olathe, 9 a.m. – Approximately 19 children’s adoptions will be finalized, KVC Kansas

DCF also encouraged faith organizations to educate their members about adoption on Adoption Sunday, Nov.12.

To learn more about children who are currently available for adoption, visit www.adoptkskids.org or call 877-457-5430. On the website, you can view photos and read profiles of each child available for adoption.

 

Left (left to right): Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel listens as Kimberly Allen-Thompson shares her adoption story and talks about her journey through the foster care system.

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Free Friday Night Concert at Common Grounds

This Friday night, Nov. 1 “Take A Note”  will be the featured, according to Ralph Carlson, the coordinator of the free, weekly concerts.

The concert will be held at The Common Grounds Coffee Shop Friday at 7 p.m. Come early as seating is limited.

“The group, led by Dr. Buck features a seven-member band from Iola, Kansas,” Carlson said.  “The group does Gospel, classic country and traditional music. They have been a favorite with the Friday night crowd.”

Flags Subscription Project Underway

Volunteers place a flag in front of the Daughters of the American Revolution office as part of the Friends of FSNHS, Inc. U.S. Flag Project.

FRIENDS OF FSNHS KICK-OFF NEW FLAG PROJECT

The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site Inc. kicked off a new fundraising project by posting U.S. flags at 57 locations around the city this past Veteran’s Day.

The U.S. Flag project is a subscription service where the Friends of FSNHS will place a flag at your residence or business on five holidays throughout the year for a fee of $35.

The holidays include: Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and Veteran’s Day.

It is not too late to get your flag for the 2019 season. Applications can be obtained at the Fort Scott Area Chamber Office or by e-mailing [email protected].

Gift subscriptions are also available and include a gift card perfect for holidays or birthdays. Please allow a week for processing and delivery of gift cards.

All proceeds are used to support and promote programs at the Fort Scott National Historic Site.

 

Bourbon County Local News