Obituary

Obituary of Ruth Mudd

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Ruth R. Mudd, 98, formerly of Uniontown, passed away Monday morning, January 28, 2019, at the Kingswood Health Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

She was born November 20, 1920, in Uniontown, Kansas, the daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Effie Bertha (Summers) Hart. She married (James) Kelly Mudd June 18, 1943, in Riverside, California. He preceded her in death February 22, 2002.

Ruth worked for the Social Security Administration for seventeen years prior to her retirement in March 1982. She was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church and the Altar Society, as well as the Social Security Administration Alumni. She was also a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, NARFE Chapter 20, and a former member of American Federation of Government Employees 1336.

Ruth is survived by several nieces and nephews, including Pat Pearson, of Emporia, Kansas, Pam Pollock, of Leawood, Kansas, Pat Price, and Jean Wiley, both of Fort Scott.

In addition to her husband Kelly, Ruth, as the last of nine children, was also preceded in death by eight brothers and sisters and her parents.

Father Yancey Burgess will celebrate the Funeral Mass 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 31, 2019, at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church with Rosary at 10:30 a.m. prior to services.

Burial will follow at the St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Walnut, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to the Catholic Community Hospice and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Fort Scott, Health Care

Via Christi To Operate Fort Scott Emergency Room

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Ascension Via Christi will Operate Fort Scott Emergency Room

January 29, 2019

PITTSBURG, Kansas – Ascension Via Christi has an agreement to operate Fort Scott’s emergency room, diagnostic imaging and laboratory services, as soon as it can get regulatory approval to do so.

As planned, Mercy Hospital will close the emergency room in Fort Scott at midnight on Jan. 31. Therefore, there will be a gap in service while regulatory inspections to operate under new management are obtained.

During that time, ambulance service will continue to be available to respond to 911 emergency calls. EMS’ well-trained staff is aware of all options for treatment and will have two crews available to respond to calls and transport, as may be necessary to the four hospitals located within an hour drive, including Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg.

Under the agreement, Ascension Via Christi will lease approximately 16,000-square feet of clinical space from Mercy and Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg will manage the emergency and outpatient services in Fort Scott.

Mercy announced the closure of its Fort Scott hospital in October, along with plans to pursue opportunities to transfer certain services to other area providers. Under the agreement, Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg will manage emergency and outpatient services at the Fort Scott hospital location.

“We have worked diligently to retain the staff working at Mercy Fort Scott and are in the process of recruiting and onboarding the clinical and non-clinical associates we’ll need to staff services in Fort Scott,” said Randy Cason, president of Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, adding that having an emergency room is critical for the residents of Fort Scott and surrounding communities.

“Taking on emergency room and outpatient diagnostics responsibilities is a continuation of our mission to care for the residents of Southeast Kansas,” Cason said. “Mercy has agreed to transfer its emergency, laboratory and radiology equipment on-site to allow for a smooth transition of services.”

 

Fort Scott

Fort Scott American Legion Thompson-Harkey Post 25 Scuttlebutt

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Post Service Officer Myra Jowers will no longer hold office hours on Tuesdays at Memorial Hall. She will meet with anyone, by appointment, who has questions about filing VA claims, who need a second set of eyes to review their claims or help understand VA documents they have received in the mail. Her service is free and is for anyone, Veteran or family member, who wish to file a claim or appeal a denied claim. She can be reached at [email protected] or 620.215.1286 to schedule an appointment.

 

Our Post 25 American Legion Oratorical competition was Saturday, January 26, 2019. Madison Toth, 11th grade student at Fort Scott High School, was our Post winner. She will represent Post at the District Oratorical competition at American Legion Post 153 in Olathe on February 16th at 10 am. All Post members are encouraged to attend and support our candidate.

 

The first shuttle run for the Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center is Tuesday, February 5. Any area Vet needing a ride for a medical appointment should call 785-925-0261 for more information or to reserve a seat. All Vets riding the shuttle must have medical appointments between 9 am and 1 pm. The deadline for scheduling a seat is 5 pm, Monday, February 4.

 

KOAM News also did a feature on the Shuttle program. It was a short-fused request for interviews, but fortunately I was able to pull together three drivers for the interview. The TV feature game additional exposure for this free Fort Scott – Topeka Veterans Shuttle Service.

 

The KOAM article can be found at https://www.koamnewsnow.com/news/veterans-shuttle-service-coming-to-fort-scott/988134458?fbclid=IwAR0p_SFiR6ZEJ-24S-zKkGtWoqUZcFBr7oZpiiXkwywWNBnjcktE_eU-3wU.

I am pleased to announce that once again Fort Scott American Legion Thompson-Harkey Post 25 leads the Department of Kansas in membership this week. Our 2019 goal was 51 members. Our current membership is at 131% and 67 members. We are 16 members over our goal. By way of comparison, Grainfield Post 301 in District 6, is in 2nd place for membership at 115%. Thanks to all members who have made Fort Scott Post 25 a highly visible and active Legion Post in the Department of Kansas.

 

Nominations for Post 25 Officers for the 2019 – 2020 Legion year will begin at our March meeting. Any Post 25 Legionnaire in good standing can be nominated for any office. “In good standing” is a Legion phrase that means that your dues are current.

 

Legion merchandise can be ordered through Emblem Sales: https://emblem.legion.org/.  Contact me if ordering a Legion cap to insure your cap has the correct lettering.

 

 Upcoming Events

 

January 31. Post 25 Executive Committee meets in Memorial Hall at 6 pm. Post 25 is member driven. Please make Post 25 Executive Committee members aware of any suggestions or thoughts you may have about improving Post 25.

February 1-3. The Mid-Winter Forum is open to all Legionnaires and offers every member, especially Post leaders and chairmen, the opportunity to learn more about The American Legion, its programs and the direction each program is expected to take if there are any changes being considered, including changes directed by National Headquarters.  In addition, the Forum provides information about how and why The American Legion functions in the manner we do as an organization. More information about the forum is available at https://ksamlegion.org/view/document/sunflower2019q1.pdf.

 

February 4. Post 25 meet and greet at 6:30 pm. Come and enjoy the fellowship of other Veterans. Bring an eligible Veteran to visit our Post.

 

February 4. Post 25 general membership meeting at 7 pm in Memorial Hall. Our membership meetings are open to all. SAL members are strongly encouraged to attend.

 

February 5. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 615 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.

 

February 11. Shuttle drivers meeting at 6 pm to discuss program details and select driving days.

 

February 14. Post 25 Color Guard meets at 7 pm in Memorial Hall. All Post members including SAL members are invited to join our growing Color Guard.

 

February 12. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 615 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.

 

February 19. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 615 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.

 

February 26. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 615 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.

 

March 4. Post 25 meet and greet at 6:30 pm in Memorial Hall. Come and enjoy the fellowship of other Veterans. Bring an eligible Veteran to visit our Post.

 

March 4. Post 25 general membership meeting at 7 pm in Memorial Hall. Our membership meetings are open to all. SAL members are strongly encouraged to attend.

 

April 1. Post 25 meet and greet at 6:30 pm in Memorial Hall. Come and enjoy the fellowship of other Veterans. Bring an eligible Veteran to visit our Post.

 

April 1. Post 25 general membership meeting at 7 pm in Memorial Hall. Our membership meetings are open to all. SAL members are strongly encouraged to attend.

 

Remember to check out Post 25 on Facebook. It contains current information of interest to Veterans and their families.

 

Carl Jowers. Commander

Fort Scott American Legion Post 25

Telephone: 620.215.1688

Email: [email protected]

Government, Kansas

Kansas Carries Highest Debt Per Capita in Five State Region

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State Treasurer Jake LaTurner Adds New Transparency to Statewide Debt Report

 

Topeka—Kansas State Treasurer Jake LaTurner today released the statewide indebtedness report in a new, more transparent, user-friendly web format for Kansans to access. The report shows Kansas carrying a debt of $1,554 per capita, placing it 18th in the nation for highest debt per capita compared to all fifty states and higher than the debt per capita of Missouri ($532), Oklahoma ($303), Iowa ($219), and Nebraska ($20) combined. This data is compiled as part of the 2018 Moody’s Investor Service’s Public Finance Report, published annually.

 

“It is important that we do not turn a blind eye to this endless cycle of mortgaging our children’s future,” said Laturner. “Adding more debt to our state must come to an end, and it starts with shining a light on where we are doing well and where we need to improve.”

 

The website, which can be found at https://kansasstatetreasurer.com/indebtedness.html, includes a series of interactive graphs that detail the sources and amounts of debt carried by the state as well as individual counties.

 

“I strongly encourage the Governor, Legislators and others to use these tools to help develop a plan that aggressively attacks this liability,” said LaTurner, “Debt is a dangerous cycle that does not end without action on our part. Kansans work hard every day to balance their budgets at home, and government should do the same.”

 

Obituary

Obituary of Carl Frederich Lyman

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Carl Frederich Lyman, age 72, a resident of rural Garland, Kansas, passed away early Monday, January 28, 2019, at his home.

  He was born November 10, 1946, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the son of Clifford Lyman and Hattie Jasmund Lyman.  Carl graduated from the Ft. Scott High School and the Ft. Scott Community College.  While in high school, Carl was a member of the 1963 championship football team.

Carl married Deborah Beth Mosher on April 23, 2004.  Carl had worked as a meat cutter in Pittsburg and then worked for twenty-five years at Ward-Kraft in Ft. Scott.  Following his retirement, Carl continued to work part-time for Wal-Mart. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren.  He also liked to cook.  He had served as a Past Master for the Rising Sun Lodge #8 A.F. & A.M. in Ft. Scott.  He was a member of the Community of Christ Church.

Survivors include his wife, Deborah, of the home; a son, Matt Lyman and a daughter, Jana Walker and her husband, Shane; three step-children, Tracie Nation, Courtney West and Brian West; fourteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

At Carl’s request, his body was donated to the University of Kansas Medical Center.

  A memorial service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, February 4th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

  Masonic rites will also be conducted.

  Burial will follow at a later date in the Sunny Slope Cemetery in Blue Mound, Kansas.  Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary

Obituary of April Michelle “Shelly” Brodnax Piatt

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April Michelle “Shelly” Brodnax Piatt, age 48, a resident of Girard, Kansas, passed away Monday, January 28, 2019, at the Freeman West Medical Center in Joplin, Missouri.

She was born April 18, 1970, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the daughter of James Erwin Brodnax and Doris Jean Stanley Brodnax.  She graduated from the Ft. Scott High School and later from Labette County Community College.

  She had worked as a CNA doing home health care and also assisting the school nurse for the Girard school district.  Shelly cared deeply for her family and was a devoted mother to her two sons.  She was always willing to help others any way she could.

Survivors include her two sons, Chase Piatt and wife, Courtney, of Arma, Kansas and Dalton Piatt, of Reno, Nevada.  Also surviving are her parents, James Brodnax, of Girard, Kansas and Jeanne Stanley of Reno, Nevada; and two sisters, Tanya Morter and husband, Matt, of Ft. Scott, Kansas and Christina Larking and husband, Matthew, of Milford, Massachusetts.

Pastor Dale Samuels will conduct graveside services at 1:30 P.M. Thursday, January 31st at the West Liberty Cemetery east of Hammond, Kansas.

  Family and friends will meet Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery at 1:15 P.M.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Business, Fort Scott, Housing

Former Western Insurance Building Renamed: Fort Scott Lofts

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Image may contain: living room, table and indoor
A one bedroom apartment in The Fort Scott Lofts. Courtesy photo.

A renovated downtown apartment complex has been renamed and had some age restrictions lifted as of January 1, 2019.

The building that used to house the Western Insurance Company, between National Avenue and Main Street in downtown Fort Scott, is now called The Fort Scott Lofts.

“They wanted to rebrand it,” said Rachel Wheeler, leasing agent and onsite manager at The Fort Scott Lofts. “Many thought it was a senior citizen building. I think it confused a bunch of people.”

Under the former name of the apartments, Western Senior Living, 80 percent of the residents had to be 55 years old, Wagner said, and 20 percent under 55.

Western Senior Living opened in December 2016 following a major renovation of the building.

“My bosses went through the proper channels and got it  (the name and restrictions)changed,” she said. “Now if a person makes this amount of money, they pay this amount.”

Monthly rent starts at $370 for a one bedroom apartment and up to $625 for a two bedroom one, depending on income, she said.

Wagner can be reached at 620-223-1718 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The apartments are not furnished, except for stove, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher.

Currently, out of 35, 11 apartments are available, Wheeler said.

Some of the amenities are 120 channel Direct TV, water and trash are paid, Wheeler said. There is also an onsite laundry facility and off-street parking.

“We have a fitness room with a couple of exercise bikes and treadmills,” she said. “Pets are allowed. There is a one-time pet addendum of $200 (in the contract for pet lovers).”

“We have caring people that live here,” she said. “A group meets for coffee in the morning and another meets in the evening for wine and talking about the day.”

There are perks for living downtown.

A coffee shop, restaurants, and shops all within a few blocks.

Residents get a front row seat for the parades that Fort Scott celebrates events with, and also for Good Ol Days, the annual community event.

There are free local-artist outdoor music concerts just across the street in the summer, as well.

The owners of the building are Flint Hills Management, LLC.

A sister property, across First Street, will soon begin renovation of the old Union Building and will be called Union Lofts, she said.

“I’ll be managing it, too,” Wheeler said.

The Fort Scott Lofts, formerly Western Senior Living, 8 East First.
Area News

WW II “Rosie the Riveter” Kansas Women Honored

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AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY NOTIFIED OF GOVERNOR’S PROCLAMATION

The Kansas American Legion Auxiliary will honor nearly 120 heroic Kansas women who earned the moniker of Rosie the Riveter. These women answered the call to work on assembly lines, in shipyards, airplane factories, and other institutions in support of World War II’s military operations. “The Auxiliary wants to recognize its Kansas Rosies for their inspiring patriotism and service to Kansas and the United States,” Auxiliary President Karen Hasting said. “The Auxiliary will honor its known Rosie the Riveters during the American Legion’s Mid-winter Forum in Dodge City on February 1, 2019.

Auxiliary Vice-president Paula Sellens spearheaded the effort to organize a Roses for Rosies Ceremony. “I was hopeful that Governor Laura Kelly would support our event,” Sellens said. “The Legion Press Committee sent a request for a proclamation and described how patriotic the Rosies were. I received the Governor’s Proclamation today. I’m thrilled! The proclamation will be made a part of the ceremony!”

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Jan. 29

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: January 29th, 2019

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00-9:45-Jim Harris

10:00-Employee Questionnaire

10:30-David Neville-Executive Session-non elected personnel-15 minutes

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks

  • Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system.- 20 minutes.
  • Privileged on the attorney-client relationship.-20 minutes

12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch.

Bourbon County Local News