Click below:
Keepers By Patty LaRoche
As I previously have written, since Covid-19 I am on a mission to throw away everything I do not need. At this moment, I am sitting on the floor, staring at “keepers”: my Bible; refrigerator; microwave; a spatula; laptop; cell phone; and Dave, although I may rethink this if he keeps moaning when I threaten to get rid of his guns, used puzzles and Perry Como CD’s. I tackled this project when I became concerned about what will happen when I die and my kids go through my “things,” an endeavor inspired when some of my girlfriends, quarantined with their husbands, began sharing their irritations with their hubbies’ peculiarities.
The behaviors that at one time made my friends laugh have become fodder for torture. One husband “under no condition” will part with his collection of old, worthless lottery tickets. Instead, he spends time counting and stacking them. Another husband refuses to get rid of his life-size Elvis cut-out that stands in the corner of his gun room, the same room with holsters hoarding space on glass shelves. His latest purchase hasn’t found its way to that cabinet because he sleeps with it strapped to his waist, certain that he’s on someone’s hit list for his stash of toilet paper. One friend, mid de-cluttering old clothes, is threatening to set a match to her husband’s jogging suit collection from the 1970’s. According to him, you never know when someone will have a ‘70’s party, and he will be able to clothe the entire list of invitees.
Um-hmmm.
Anyway, because of Covid-19, I am beginning to appreciate what matters most: the “keepers” I leave my family.
What could I be holding onto that will cause them all to “lose it” when divvying up my possessions and say things like, “Grandma was a lot more uncool than we thought”?
I assure you that comments will fly when they come across my red high heels with spikes that could double as an earlobe piercer. My family will not be impressed with my basket of saved letters, kept in case I ever need a little emotional pick-me-up, even I’ve never re-read them. It won’t even be my Cabbage Patch doll or cased accordion, tucked away neatly for who-knows-what-reason.
You see, right now, in light of this virus, I am realizing that there are only a few things that matter, and most of them deal with relationships, relationships that I have taken for granted. I’ve had plenty of time to think about what it is in people that I admire and how this might be a good time to work towards developing those virtues. But get this: none of the qualities dealt with anything glamorous. Not their looks or their possessions or their talent or their position.
Instead, I am thinking about their sense of humor and how they are confident enough to poke fun at themselves. Their ability to be courageous and defend someone who is being gossiped about. Their willingness to always have an open door to guests arriving unannounced (well, not now, of course). Their generosity with meeting a need of someone else, even when it greatly inconveniences them, without laying any guilt on that person. Their ability to be happy for others, even when their own lives are in the pits. Their ability to pray unceasingly.
Aren’t those the attributes for which I want to be remembered? How much better would it be for family members to tell their children about how Grandma always made them feel special or lived every day for Jesus or even shared her red, spiked high heels with them for that crazy costume party (a very real possibility, knowing my family)? And what if one chooses to take up the accordion? Priceless.
Perhaps it’s time I reconsider my “keepers,” including Dave who will be thrilled to know that I’m going to allow him to stay. His Perry Como CD’s, however? That’s an entirely different matter.
 |
Governor Kelly announces resumption of State of Kansas operations
Governor Laura Kelly today announced that public access to state office buildings will remain closed until April 19, 2020. This restriction matches the stay-home order that Governor Kelly signed on March 28.
Following the two-week suspension of state government operations on March 23, state government operations and the delivery of services will resume on Monday, April 6. However, Governor Kelly made it clear that to reduce the risk of infection to state employees, all employees who are able will begin working remotely.
“Our public employees perform critical functions that the people of Kansas depend on,” Kelly said. “Their work must continue despite this ongoing crisis.
“This crisis has been unprecedented, but the state will deliver critical state services, even though the delivery of those services may look different than they have in the past.”
Public facing offices, such as the Division of Motor Vehicles or the Office of Vital Statistics, will remain closed to the public until April 19 to limit the number of individuals gathering in small spaces.
Senior Scholarship Giveaway Nets 1000 Entries
State Treasurer Jake LaTurner receives 1000 entries in the first day of $50,000 Surprise a Senior Scholarships Giveaway
Topeka— Over 1000 nominations for the Surprise a Senior scholarship giveaway have flooded in following Wednesday morning’s announcement that Kansas State Treasurer Jake LaTurner will be awarding 20 scholarships of $2500 each to Kansas high school seniors from across the state.
“We are thrilled at the response we are seeing as teachers, parents, grandparents, and friends have been filling our inboxes with nominations to surprise their favorite high school senior with one these scholarships,” said Treasurer LaTurner. “It is heartwarming to know that even though the senior class of 2020 won’t be finishing up the school year the way they had hoped, there is no question that the people of Kansas care about their success after graduation.”
Contest entries will continue to be accepted through midnight April 30, 2020. The student must be nominated by someone who is 18 years or older. A student can receive multiple nominations; however, they will only be entered into the contest one time for the drawing.
Twenty scholarships of $2,500 each will be awarded to high school seniors obtaining their diploma in the 2019-2020 school year. Five scholarships will be given out in each of the four Kansas congressional districts. The winner will be selected via random drawing and the $2500 will be deposited into a new or existing LearningQuest® 529 Education Savings account for the student to use for qualified educational expenses. Entry rules can be found on the Kansas State Treasurer’s website at www.kansasstatetreasurer.com/sas.html. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.
All completed entries will be considered and winners will be notified by May 6, 2020.
U234 Food Service Routes For Week of April 6
USD 234 FS Week of April 6th – Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
FOOD SERVICE ROUTES (UPDATED 04/02/20)
BUSES WILL STOP AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS. BUSES WILL BE AT EACH-IN TOWN LOCATION FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN MOVE TO THE NEXT LOCATION.
ROUTE D AND ROUTE E WILL DISTRIBUTE MEALS AT EACH STOP AND KEEP MOVING.
USD 234 will be doing three (3) distributions the week of April 6th
Children will receive the same amount of meals for the week but will pick them up over 3 days.
Monday – Child will receive 2 meals per child
Tuesday – Child will receive 4 meals per child
Wednesday – Child will receive 4 meals per child
ROUTE A
1. St. Mary’s– 10:00 am
2. 8th & Burke– 10:15 am
3. 4th & Couch– 10:30 am
4. 5th & Judson– 10:45 am
5. Wall & Judson– 11:00 am
ROUTE B
1. 8th & Wilson – 10:00 am
2. 5th & Wilson – 10:15 am
3. 2nd & Andrick – 10:30 am
4. 1st & Cameron – 10:45 am
5. Pine & Caldwell – 11:00 am
ROUTE C
1. Emmert & Beach– 10:00 am
2. 1900 Margrave (Church of Christ)– 10:15 am
3. 15th & Ransom– 10:30 am
4. 17th & Crawford– 10:45 am
5. 19th & Huntington (CCC)– 11:00 am
ROUTE D
1. Devon Fire Station – 10:05 am
2. Fulton Community Center – 10:30 am
3. Hammond Community Center – 10:45 am
ROUTE E
1. Indian & 187th Terr. (Airport)– 10:00 am
2. 69hwy & Deer (Faith Church)– 10:25 am
3. Jayhawk & 240th– 10:50 am
Register using Google Form: USD 234 COVID-19 Food Service.
Form can be found at www.usd234.org or call 620-223-0800. You must register for each day you want USD 234 to provide meals.
*There will be NO distributions on Thursday or Friday
*Please maintain social distancing recommendations of 6 feet between individuals.
SCHOOL DRIVE THRU PICK UP
10:00 am – 11:00 am
High school- 9th street*
Eugene Ware- 4th street*
*Please remain in your vehicle and maintain social distancing recommendations of 6 feet between individuals.
*There will not be pick up at the Middle School or Winfield Scott
DROP OFF INCLUDES BREAKFAST AND LUNCH. CHILD MUST BE PRESENT TO RECEIVE MEALS.
IF YOU HAVE DIETARY RESTICTIONS, PLEASE NOTIFY THE BUS ATTENDANT.
Bourbon County Commission Meeting Canceled For April 5
The April 5, 2020 Commission meeting at 9:00 has been canceled, according to Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason.
Uniontown Disc Jockey Plays Music To Cheer The Neighborhood
Rayma Ridge said she was influenced by scenes of people around the world who started singing from their windows or balconies while being quarantined because of the pandemic.
She works from home and has a disc jockey business (Rayma’s D.J. Services) as an extra job.
“I’m an extrovert,” Ridge said. “This (stay-at-home order in Bourbon County) is hard on me. I’m sure it’s hard on others.”
All of her disc jockey events were canceled for April because of the order to stay home.
So Ridge decided to put her d.j. skills to use for her neighborhood.
“I got permission from the City of Uniontown,” she said. “I had to ask all my direct neighbors if it was fine. All of them were cool with it.”
So Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m. on Third Street in front of Ridge’s house, she put up her speakers and a sign that said “Quarantine Block Party” and began playing kid-friendly music.
“I picked an evening that it wasn’t going to rain so people could be outside to enjoy it.”
Soon children and some adults were in the streets dancing, socially distancing of course.
Papa Don’s Serves Uniontown
Although Ridge did not know it, Papa Don’s Restaurant, Fort Scott, had put out on social media that they would bring orders at 7 p.m. to Uniontown’s square.
Those people also got to enjoy the music from Ridge, who was just down the street.
Brita Bolton, owner of Papa Don’s said they served 25 families at the drive-through in Uniontown on Wednesday.
Protective Masks Being Made
Ridge has also devoted time to making protective masks for area essential businesses and medical personnel.
“I’ve been making masks, there is a Facebook group, Masks For SEK,” she said.
Bourbon County Commission Agenda for April 5
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: April 5, 2020
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
Special Meeting
9:00 am – Executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel – the meeting will take place over the telephone. The meeting can be viewed on the Bourbon County Facebook page.
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports March 31-April 1
Click below:
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports April 2
Department of Commerce launches COVID jobs website
Topeka, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Commerce today launched a new jobs website, connecting job seekers with Kansas businesses hiring to fill urgent needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 jobs site, kansasworks.com/coronavirus, allows employers from essential industries to quickly and easily post critical positions that need to be filled to support activities related to helping individuals and businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. The site, which is available at no cost to employers or job seekers, will be updated continuously as businesses add new jobs to the system.
Job seekers can visit the site to find companies hiring for COVID-19-related positions and quickly access company hiring portals.
“While the COVID-19 crisis has led to many Kansans losing their jobs, it’s also driven demand and opportunity for some functions in critical industries such as food and grocery, shipping and logistics and healthcare,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The COVID-19 jobs website allows us to quickly connect individuals looking for work with companies that have urgent hiring needs, particularly those related to support needed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.”
To access the COVID jobs website, visit kansasworks.com/coronavirus.
For current information on COVID-19 in Kansas and to sign up for updates, go to the KDHE COVID-19 Resource Center at kdhe.ks.gov/coronavirus. To access resources available to businesses, please visit kansascommerce.gov/covid-19-response.
April 1, 2020 Public Update COVID-19
For more information: www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus
2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kansas Test Results
Updated 4/1/20 at 10 a.m.
Total Positive Cases
482
Private Labs
361
Kansas Health and Environmental Lab (KHEL)
121
Deaths (included in above numbers)
KDHE does not release locations of deaths.
10
Out-of-State Resident Positive Cases* (not counted in KS #s)
2
Total Negative Cases for Kansans
Note: Update on 3/29 should have read 4,194 negative
5,411
Positive Case Information
County Number
Atchison
1
Finney
1
Lyon
12
Reno
8
Barton
2
Franklin
7
McPherson
5
Riley
4
Bourbon
3
Gove
1
Mitchell
2
Saline
1
Butler
5
Harvey
2
Montgomery
6
Sedgwick
64
Chautauqua
1
Jackson
1
Morris
2
Shawnee
18
Cherokee
3
Jefferson
1
Neosho
1
Stafford
1
Clay
1
Johnson
143
Osage
3
Stevens
1
Coffey
16
Labette
1
Ottawa
1
Sumner
1
Crawford
5**
Leavenworth
25
Pottawatomie
2
Woodson
3
Doniphan
1
Linn
5
Pratt
1
Wyandotte
93
Douglas
31**
*Ford and Miami Counties reported positive cases in out-of-state residents.
**1 case in Douglas and 2 cases in Crawford are presumptive positive at a reference lab, but were not confirmed through the KDHE lab, so are included in the county numbers, but not in the overall state total or demographics at this time.
Demographics
Gender
Female
242
Male
240
Age Range
Age range on patients is 0 to 95 years of age, with a median age of 55.
Hospitalized
114 hospitalizations to date reported*
* this is a cumulative number, based on 354 cases where information is available.