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Kansas Governor Combats The Spread of COVID-19
Governor Laura Kelly Announces New Steps to Slow the Spread of COVID-19
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced several new steps her administration is taking to combat the spike in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. The new plan includes a public health campaign, community engagement conversations and an executive order establishing a statewide face-covering protocol as part of her administration’s all-of-the-above strategy to keep Kansans healthy, keep schools and businesses open, and protect Kansas’ economy.
“As COVID-19 continues to spread through Kansas communities and hospitalizations increase at concerning rates, it is clear we must take action to protect our communities and our economy,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Today’s actions are a bipartisan package of recommendations from legislators, health professionals, and business leaders to increase participation in commonsense COVID-19 prevention practices.”
E.O. #20-68 takes effect beginning 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, November 25, and will remain in place until rescinded or until the current statewide State of Disaster Emergency expires – whichever is earlier.
“My administration recognizes that each Kansas county is faced with unique challenges – and a one-size-fits-all approach can be difficult for some communities to navigate,” Governor Kelly said. “The order allows local officials one week to craft and implement their own version of a face covering ordinance that works for them and their communities.”
Under the order, Kansans shall wear face coverings when inside public spaces, or in situations where physical distancing of 6 feet cannot be maintained. Guidance regarding specific locations or situations in which face coverings should be worn is outlined within the order.
Kansans under five years of age, those with medical conditions, and others outlined in the order are exempt from face covering protocol.
In addition to the face-covering protocol, the Kelly administration is partnering with The Leadership Center to mobilize its alumni base, which is nearly 12,000 strong, to mobilize and lead virtual non-partisan convenings across Kansas beginning the week of November 17 and concluding by late December. The project will dramatically increase the number of local leaders – pastors, coaches, neighborhood leaders, business owners, community officials, and others to use their influence to combat the virus.
This week, Governor Kelly also approved CARES Act funding to assist a coalition of stakeholders including the Kansas Hospital Association, Kansas Chamber of Commerce, Kansas Farm Bureau, and others, to create a statewide public health campaign to begin next week. The campaign will encourage Kansans to follow the best practices, encourage voluntary testing, avoid mass gatherings, and use face-coverings.
No Live FSHS Performance of The Monologue Show At This Time
Fort Scott High School Thespians regret that due to new restrictions related to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the community, there will not be a live performance of The Monologue Show (from Hell) in front of an audience at this time.
FSHS Thespians WILL continue to have a streamed performance of The Monologue Show (from Hell) from Nov. 22-24. Tickets are available from fortscotthighschooltheatre.ludus.com.
The cast plans to have at least one live performance of the show at some time in the future when the school district is open again to the public.
Current ticket holders should e-mail Angie Bin at angela.bin@usd234.org to transfer tickets to a streaming on demand ticket (that can be used any time Nov. 22-24) or to receive a refund.
USD 234: No In Person Classes Starting Tomorrow
MEDIA ADVISORY
What:
Fort Scott High School – Remote Learning – November 19 & 20
Professional Development Day – No School – November 23 & 24
Abstract:
With the recent increase of COVID-19 cases in Bourbon County and a shortage of substitutes, USD 234 has decided that the students at Fort Scott High School will be in remote learning on Thursday and Friday, November 19 and 20. USD 234 has also decided that there will be no school for all students on Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24. These two days will be used as professional development for the USD 234 staff.
For high school students:
- Food service will still be provided on Thursday and Friday. Go to the following link to sign-up for lunches for Thursday and Friday. Families will need to come to the high school to pick up the lunches. https://forms.gle/soWWGAveLvXhfoQeA
- High school students without Internet can come to the school to receive their instruction remotely.
- High school students who need to attend on Thursday and Friday should follow entrance directions below:
o Senior and Juniors – enter through the East entry doors
o Sophomore and Freshman – enter through the West entry doors
As COVID-19 cases rise in our community, we have seen an increase in isolations and quarantines in the school district for our students and staff. USD 234 will continue to monitor the number of COVID-19 cases in our county as well as evaluate our Remote Learning Plan. USD 234 will release information before Thanksgiving Break about what the learning plan for the district after Thanksgiving Break will be. To continue the opportunity for students to learn in person, USD 234 will need to see a decrease in COVID-19 cases in our communities, which will cause a decrease in our schools.
Wear a mask. Wash your hands frequently. Stay socially distant from each other. We need everyone to do their part to keep our school doors open.
When: November 18 & 19 – High School Remote Learning
November 23 & 24 – No School for All Students
Where: USD 234 School District
Contact: Ted Hessong
Superintendent of Schools
No Chamber Coffee On Nov.19
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Holiday Pop Up Shop At Old Factory Connections Storefront
Local crafts people will have a place to sell their wares at a newly created holiday pop-up shop.
The Creative Sugarplums Pop-up Holiday Shop will be open at the former Factory Connections storefront weekends from November 20 to December 26 along with the weekdays the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The store is located on South Main (aka Hwy. 69) next door to Tractor Supply.
“Due to Covid-19 many individuals who create gifts out of their homes are not able to attend their usual events,” owner Emilia Whiteaker said. “This is my way of helping them.”
There will be community vendors and vendors from neighboring towns, she said.
” We have many great vendors, Locust Hill Lamanchas Goat Milk products, Sew Special Creations, Simply Blessed, Tom’s Benches, 2 Southern Ladies, CR Rustic Creations, RustnStuf and more.”
“We will also have Bijou Confectionary from Humboldt and Sweet Designs Cakery from Pittsburg creating sweet treats to go along with our old fashion candy.”
“Customers can also Adopt a Grandparent by purchasing an ornament and we will deliver them to all the residents at Fort Scott residential care facilities,” she said.
“Momentum Youth Development Foundation will have a photo where, for a donation, families can take their Christmas photos.”
There are also youth crafters involved.
“The youth vendors have handmade soaps, crocheted items and more,” she said.
“Visitors can also view the Christmas displays featuring vintage toys, ” she said.
There is still space available for both youth and adult vendors.
Contact Whiteaker through e-mail momentumtraining@yahoo.com for more information.
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports Nov.17
FS Downtown Christmas Parade: Dec. 1
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Nevada Hospital Seeks Mask Mandate
NRMC Seeks Mask Mandate
As numbers of COVID-19 cases have swiftly escalated in Vernon County, Nevada Regional Medical Center (NRMC) is experiencing strains created by the pandemic.
“In recent weeks we have seen COVID-19 numbers spiked dramatically,” says NRMC Chief Executive Officer, Steve Branstetter. “Our Hospital is very busy with COVID-19 in our emergency department and our intensive care unit. Testing also is very busy and we’ve had to extend our hours this week to help with the demand.”
Larger hospitals often have no beds available, and the transfer of seriously ill patients is becoming very challenging. As all hospitals do, NRMC has planned for this type of public health emergency and taken every measure to combat its effects. However, limited resources are being pushed to capacity.
NRMC, along with several other Missouri hospitals, are seeking mandatory mask ordinances in the areas they serve. Tuesday, Branstetter sent a request to local officials to institute such an ordinance.
“We are in a public health crisis. We need the people and our leaders to come together and take the CDC guidelines seriously,” says Branstetter.
NRMC encourages the practice of frequent hand hygiene, social distancing of at least 6 feet, and mask wearing in public to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
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About Nevada Regional Medical Center
Serving a six-county area since 1937, Nevada Regional Medical Center is a 71-bed acute, intensive and skilled care hospital. Nevada Regional Medical Center has earned recognition as a respected regional medical center for its comprehensive health care services, skilled and caring employees and state-of-the-art medical technology. Staff represent more than a dozen medical specialties, including family practice, women’s services, neurology, urology, psychiatry, orthopedics, wound care services, and general, vascular, thoracic and oncological surgery. Additionally, consultation clinics are held regularly by specialists in oncology, pulmonology, podiatry, ear, nose, and throat and cardiology.
FS Lake Advisory Board Meets Nov. 21
The Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board will meet on Saturday, November 21st, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. at the City Hall Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting is open to the public, but is limited in space due to COVID. To join by teleconference, call the dial-in number: 620-724-9910. When prompted, enter the access code 515698# and when prompted state your full name followed by the pound # key.
The meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
Lowell Milken Center Announces Four New Exhibits in Collaboration with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is pleased to announce the installation of four new exhibits in the Hall of Unsung Heroes museum in downtown Fort Scott.
The Attraction Development Grant received from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism made this new addition to the Lowell Milken Center possible. The grant and matching funds allowed the Lowell Milken Center to update and improve the exhibit area and increase connections with visitors.
The Lowell Milken Center staff has had the opportunity to explore new avenues to reach visitors, teachers, and students while continuing their mission during the last nine months. Through social media outreach, virtual tours, Zoom presentations, and special video clips, the Lowell Milken Center continues to make the exhibit area relevant for teachers, adults, and students
. The inspiring stories of Unsung Heroes and positive role models need to be heard.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism Attraction Development Grant is designed to provide assistance in the development of new tourism attractions or the enhancement of existing attractions within the State. Their purpose is to provide strategic economic assistance to public and private entities and not-for-profit groups that are developing new tourism attractions or enhancing existing ones.
The new panels feature the inspirational stories of Jackie Ormes, Doug Hegdahl, William Matthews and Harry Hue.
Watch for a virtual unveiling of the new exhibits to take place in March.
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 or visit the Lowell Milken Center exhibits in downtown Fort Scott.
Obituary of Avis Stradley
Avis Marie Boyd (Stradley), was born in Blue Mound, Kansas October 4, 1926, to Elvin Adrian and Josephine Fern (Spillman) Boyd and passed November 15, 2020. She was the eldest of three children. She was born with red hair and freckles, a true indicator she was descended from the Boyd clan in Scotland.
Her ancestors came to America before the Revolution. One grandfather, Josiah Hall, then 22, traveled from Walpole, Massachusetts to Concord, Massachusetts to warn that General Gage’s Regulars were crossing the Charles River to march to Lexington and Concord on their way to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock and to capture military supplies. Another grandfather, Uriah Tippie, marched the 17 miles in freezing conditions, barefoot, with General George Washington to fight in the “Battle of Trenton”.
After helping to secure the new country, Avis’ family moved west, pioneering their way across the new United States. Her parents continued the pioneering way, living and farming in the Blue Mound area. She attended Country School 101 until 1938 when her family moved to Redfield. Avis graduated from Uniontown High School with the Class of 1944 and then taught at Poplar Grove Common School. As usual in one-room common schools, she was the only teacher and taught all the children in the school. She later worked at and retired from the accounting department of The Western Insurance Company.
She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Red Hat Society, and a 68-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, where she served as Worthy Matron three times, District Aide in 1983, and was a Grand Representative to Kansas in Kansas.
She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church and as head of the Sewing Circle completed several fundraising projects and she also cooked and assisted with funeral dinners.
She was a member of the IZA Stomper square dance group. She enjoyed sewing and made lots of clothes for her family including school clothes, party dresses, prom dresses and two wedding dresses.
In 1945, she married Johnnie Lloyd Allen and to that union they had six children. In 1966, Avis married James Raymond (Red) Stradley.
Avis was immensely proud of her grandchildren. They have earned A.A. and B.S. Degrees, a Master’s Degree, a Medical Degree, and Juris Doctor Degrees. They are small business owners, counselor, mechanics, information technology specialists, authors, and attorneys, and a doctor.
She is survived by all six of her children. Darlene (Irvin) Gleim, Gainesville, FL, Johnnie Lloyd (J.L) Allen, Jr., Pleasanton, KS, Joyce (Ron) Steuer, Dubuque, IA, Diana Pauzauskie, Boston, MA, Carolyn (Rick) Callow, Blue Springs, MO, and Linda (Mark) Morris, Arcadia, KS, 20 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband James Raymond Stradley; parents, Elvin & Josephine; sister, Alwilla Karleskint; brother, Dale Boyd; a grandson, Christopher Allen; and a granddaughter, Kristyn Culp-Hicks. Also preceded by two daughters-in-law, Sadie Howard Allen and Shirley Pollet Allen; and a son-in-law, Denny Ray Simmons.
Rev. Dr. Jared Witt will conduct a private graveside service on Friday, November 20th at the U.S. National Cemetery. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church 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.