Bourbon County, Government, Health Care

County Health Update April 16

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SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

April 16, 2020

Allen County

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

Anderson County

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

Bourbon County

Current Positive Cases 0
Current Recovered Cases 6
Total Positives Since Testing 7
Deaths 1

Woodson County

Current Positive Cases 2
Current Recovered Cases 2
Total Positives Since Testing 4
Deaths 0

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

Government, Kansas

Governor Extends Renewal Deadlines For Adult Care Homes and Suspends Non-Essential Fire Inspections

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Today Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive Order #20-23 as part of her administration’s ongoing, comprehensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The order brings Kansas adult-care homes in line with other occupational licensing exemptions the Governor has issued in recent days. All state agencies working or collaborating with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services shall extend renewal deadlines for any occupational or professional license, certificate or registrations as needed.

 

“This order is critical to ensure adult care-home workers can continue to do their jobs during this pandemic,” Kelly said.

 

Additionally, the order temporarily suspends non-essential fire inspections for new or renewal of KDADS-licensed facilities during the State of Disaster Emergency. The suspension will remain valid until 90 days after the State of Disaster Emergency is terminated, and all fees are suspended until that time.

 

KDADS Secretary Laura Howard thanked the Governor for signing the order.

 

“This order will give nursing facilities the latitude to create alternate care sites or designated units to ensure safe care for all residents and support adherence to infection control measures,” Howard said. “Our agency is committed to continuing our work with community partners and local health officials to stem the tide of this pandemic in the state’s nursing facilities.”

 

Executive Order #20-23 can be found here.

Obituary

Obituary of Lorna Smith

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Lorna May Smith, 79, of Redfield, Kansas, passed away suddenly on Monday, April 13, 2020, at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, Missouri. Lorna was born August 23, 1940, the daughter of Albert Johnston and Mona (Shoemaker) Johnston in Tulare, California.

Lorna is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Glenn Smith of the home, daughter Glenna Hendrickson (Kevin) of Osceola, Missouri and son Craig Smith (Cathy) of Leavenworth, Kansas; siblings Earl Johnston (Sharon) of Ellsworth, Kansas, and Sharon (Lonnie) Horner of El Cajon, California; 5 nieces and 5 nephews.

Upon Lorna’s graduation from Fort Scott High School in 1958, she received her Associates of Arts Degree from Fort Scott Community College in 1960 before graduating from Pittsburg State University in 1962 with a BSED in secondary education and in 1991 with MSED in school counseling. Lorna also received her library science and journalism certifications while attending PSU.

Lorna put her education degrees to use by spending over 53 years in the field of education. Lorna taught for 2 years at Fort Scott Junior High, 35 years at Uniontown High School, and 19 years as an adjunct teacher at Fort Scott Community College. During her teaching career, Lorna taught English, speech, journalism, general business, psychology, and world geography along with being the school librarian and facilitator for the Interactive Distance Learning Center. As a coach, Lorna began the very successful volleyball program at Uniontown High School in 1969. Lorna was also the cheerleader coach, pom pom coach, Pep Club sponsor, student council sponsor, school newspaper sponsor, and play director. Lorna also assisted students in preparing for various contests in band, music, choir, FFA, and numerous other activities. Lorna has received numerous awards and honors during her educational and coaching careers. Lorna was also a member of numerous educational, coaching, professional, and community organizations.

Lorna has been a very active member of the Cherry Grove Baptist Church for the majority of her life. She has been the church organist and pianist for over 50 years. She participated in the Cherry Jammers musical group while performing throughout the community. Lorna used her musical talents in a variety of ways. She played for many weddings and funerals, accompanied many 4-H members and college students preparing for local, state, and national music contests. Lorna also spent 12 years playing for rodeos throughout the mid-west.

During her spare time, Lorna enjoyed spending time with her family, doing crafts, and traveling. She also enjoyed spending time with Glenn while he participated in sporting events, rodeos, team roping events, Corriente shows, and church.

The family will hold a private inurnment in Memory Gardens Cemetery.

A public memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Lorna’s name to Cherry Grove Baptist Church in Garland, Kansas, and may be left in care of Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Government, Kansas

DCF to Distribute Emergency Food Assistance Benefit

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Kansans to receive maximum benefit

 

Governor Laura Kelly and Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard today announced the agency will begin issuing an emergency food assistance benefit to current program households. The emergency allotment increases a household’s monthly benefit to the maximum allowed for the size of the family. The maximum monthly benefit for a family of four is $646.

 

“The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act allows states to provide this emergency assistance,” Howard said. “We know these additional funds will allow families to purchase more essential groceries for their family while also reducing their visits to grocery stores during this time of social distancing.”

 

“At a time when we are seeing long lines at food distribution sites these additional funds are necessary to keep Kansans fed,” Kelly said. “I also want to thank all of the eligibility workers who are making sure this money gets to families quickly.”

 

No application is necessary to receive the emergency funds. Families should start to see their March emergency benefit on their EBT card beginning April 15. The distribution will follow the standard alphabetical schedule. DCF will distribute April emergency benefits in mid to late May.

 

Households that already receive the maximum monthly allotment are not eligible for emergency assistance. The allotment is for March and April only.

 

Those interested in applying for food assistance can visit the DCF website at www.dcf.ks.gov.

For more information on COVID-19 visit: www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus.

Government, Health Care, Kansas

VA: Temporary Job Opportunities

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VA Collaborates with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on

Temporary Job Opportunities to Fight COVID-19

 

 

The Trump Administration has called for a whole-of-government approach toward fighting the Coronavirus.  For the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), this means an extensive outreach and social media campaign to Federal retirees with a deep sense of public service duty to return to Government and join the fight.  The whole-of-government approach also includes partnership with OPM.  OPM is helping VA communicate temporary COVID-19 job opportunities to the public on USAJobs at:  https://www.usajobs.gov/.  OPM has also established a portal in response to COVID-19 where VA can post reimbursable and non-reimbursable details and temporary opportunities to the Federal workforce.

 

The COVID-19 Surge Response Program is designed for Federal employees to have an opportunity to support the overall response to COVID-19.  The COVID-19 Surge Response Program uses Open Opportunities as a central location for Federal agencies to post details and/or temporary assignments.  VA is especially looking for nurses and other health care providers, including physicians, pharmacists, social workers, technicians, housekeeping aides, and food service workers.

 

VA needs current Federal employees with applicable skills to join us in the national effort to combat COVID-19.  To apply, Federal employees must have supervisory approval, in writing, and need not be in a similar or related position to qualify for the detail and/or temporary rotational assignment.  The supervisory approval may be in the form of an email message from the supervisor.

 

Employees may follow these steps to learn more about the program and how to apply:

 

1.      Visit the COVID-19 Surge Response Program on Open Opportunities.

 

2.    Read about the details and/or temporary assignments.

 

3.    Apply to a detail and/or temporary assignment:

 

    1. You will need to create a user profile account on OpenOpportunities.gov in order to apply to a detail and/or temporary assignment.

 

·         To apply, Federal employees must have supervisor approval in writing to include email.

 

4.    Federal Agencies review applications and select individual(s) for the detail and/or temporary rotational assignment.

 

5.    Prior to starting the detail and/or temporary rotational assignment, a Memorandum of Understanding will be completed between the host agency and the home agency (or component, where individual rotates within their home agency).

 

Thank you for supporting the Federal response to COVID-19.

 

by

Veteran Administration Secretary  Robert L. Wilkie

Fort Scott, Schools

Terry Chance Retires From Christian Heights School

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Terry Chance, Christian Heights Principal, is retiring. Submitted photo.

After 32 years as principal of Fort Scott Christian Heights and 14 years as a teacher before that, Terry Chance is retiring as of June 1.

Chance, 70, says his becoming an educator was a process of time.

“I felt like God wanted me to be involved full-time in a Christian ministry,” he said. “I got into music education and have been in education ever since.”

“John Page was our pastor and principal of Christian Heights and was my mentor,” Chance said. “He is my hero.”

Chance said he loves the interaction with students.

“It has been a thrill when they understand what you teach,” he said.

For him, seeing students go on from Christian Heights to serve their family, their community and their church, “That’s success,” he said.

The biggest challenge in his career has been the current pandemic that has closed down all schools in the nation.

“We are trying to figure out how to help our students right now,” Chance said.

Chance said he made up his mind to retire last summer and told the FSCH Board of Education in September.

The board has hired Larry Davolt as the new principal.

Davolt has been a science teacher at the school for 28 years.

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County Local News