Government, Kansas

KDHE Looks At Accomplishments

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KDHE Looks Back at Accomplishments in 2018, Looks Forward to 2019

Areas include Public Health, Environment and Health Care Finance

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is looking forward to 2019 and looking back at some of its accomplishments in 2018.

 

“We made great strides in a number of areas,” said Secretary Jeff Andersen. “KDHE’s Divisions of Public Health, Environment and Health Care Finance all had great achievements of which the citizens of Kansas can be proud. We look forward to continuing that work in the coming year.”

 

Some of the achievements at KDHE included:

 

Public Health

  • Launching the Maternal Mortality Review which includes a review committee focused on implementing a comprehensive review of maternal and pregnancy-associated mortality.
  • Helping to organize and lead the Governor’s Substance Use Disorder Task Force chaired by KDHE Chief Medical Officer Dr. Greg Lakin, presenting a series of proposals to the Governor to combat the opioid epidemic in 2019 and beyond.
  • Introducing the “Count the Kicks” stillbirth prevention initiative with over 326 expectant Kansas mothers having downloaded and used the free CTK app.
  • The KDHE Office of Vital Statistics making birth certificates available online with the PayIt app and opening its new office in Topeka with increased space for customers and a new registration system on the way in early 2019.

 

Environment

  • Coordinating its Dry Cleaner Remediation Program, connecting 209 homes to city water in the Haysville area and coordinating with the City of Haysville to complete the design and installation of 8.7 miles of new city water main.
  • Initiating its Private Well Water campaign, including an instructional video for homeowners to properly take a water sample for nitrates and total coliform, a webpage, a public service announcement, flyer and social media infographics.
  • Assisting in the aftermath of natural disasters including the tornadoes in Eureka and flooding in many counties across the state.
  • Monitoring our rivers, streams, lakes and ponds for harmful algal blooms.

 

Health Care Finance

  • Approval of the state’s 1115 waiver extension application granting the state of Kansas the authority to operate KanCare, the state’s managed care program.
  • Awarding a new MCO contract to Aetna and holding statewide KanCare education meetings to explain the changes that will occur in 2019.
  • Effective Jan. 1, 2019, handling training and quality at the KanCare Clearinghouse for Medicaid eligibility. Effective, July 1, 2019, the state will take over responsibilities for the processing of elderly and disabled applications.

“These are only a few of our accomplishments during 2018,” said Secretary Andersen. “In 2019 we look forward to building on these and all of the areas KDHE addresses to follow our mission to protect and improve the health and environment of all Kansans.”

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Jan. 2

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

Date: January 2nd, 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

10:00-10:30-Lora Holdridge and Clint Anderson-Executive Session-Non elected personnel-20 min.

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks

Executive Session-Privileged in the attorney-client relationship-15 min.

Ambulance-EMS CLIA Application

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

1:30-Resolutions for 2019

Obituary

Obituary of Edward Byerly

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Edward Blair Byerley, 91, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2018, at Country Place Senior Living Center, Fort Scott, KS.

Ed was born in Mapleton, KS, on 20 April 1927. He was the only child of Blair D. “Sandy” Byerley and Myrtle P. Byerley (Brown). Ed graduated from Fulton H.S., KS, in 1945 and joined the U.S. Navy shortly thereafter.

Ed married Eva M. Byerley (White) on April 27, 1947. He worked his adult career for The Western Insurance Companies from September 1946 through 1986, supervising the computer room operations at the time of his retirement.

Ed and Eva moved from Fort Scott to Sun City West, AZ in the 1980s, where he enjoyed golf, bowling, and the warm weather.

Ed is survived by his wife, Eva, three sons, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

There was cremation. Memorial services will be announced at a future day by the Cheney Witt Chapel with burial at Fort Scott National Cemetery.

Health Care, Mercy Hospital

Mercy Hospital: Clinics and Emergency Room Are Open

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“The (Mercy Hospital) emergency room will operate as Mercy until Feb. 1,” said Tina Rockhold, whose last day as the communication director for Mercy Hospital Fort Scott was Dec. 28.

“The emergency room is open as usual until Jan. 31,” Reta Baker,  Mercy Hospital Administrator, said. “The clinics are available and open until January 31, then will continue as Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.”

“Convenient Care is closed Jan. 1 (because of the New Year’s holiday) and will be open Jan 2, with the same hours and phone number,” Baker said.

The phone numbers will remain the same for the clinics, Rockhold said.

Mercy Convenient Care on National Avenue’s phone number is 620-223-8428. Mercy’s Clinic at the hospital is 223-8402. The Mercy Emergency Room can be contacted by phone through the main Mercy phone line at 223-2200.

The clinics scheduled transitions are as follows:

  • Mercy Clinic Family Medicine Linn County, located at 11155 Tucker Road, Pleasanton, Kansas, will transition to CHC/SEK effective January 1, 2019
  • Mercy Clinic Family Medicine Arma, located at 601 E. Washington Street, Arma, Kansas, will transition to CHC/SEK effective January 1, 2019
  • Mercy Clinic Fort Scott, located at 403 Woodland Hills Boulevard, Fort Scott, Kansas, will transition to CHC/SEK effective February 1, 2019
  • Mercy Convenient Care National, located at 1624 S. National Avenue, Fort Scott, Kansas, will transition to CHC/SEK effective February 1, 2019

Patients who plan to transition care the CHC are required to complete a medical release form.

 This will allow past medical records to be uploaded into the CHC/SEK electronic health records so providers can view a patient’s medical history once they are seen as CHC/SEK patients.

Parents and guardians may complete a release of medical records for those patients less than 18 years old. A durable power of attorney designation is necessary to complete a form for anyone older than 18 who is unable to sign.

An online release of medical records is available at https://tinyurl.com/chcsekROI.

Filling out online takes about 10 minutes or less.

To complete a hard copy form, please contact Jessica Marsh at [email protected] or call 620-223-8515. Completed forms may be mailed to Jessica Marsh; Mercy Fort Scott Medical Records; 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.; Fort Scott, KS, 66701.

Area News, Exercise

First Day Hike at Crawford State Park

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Begin the New Year connecting with the outdoors by taking a healthy hike at Crawford State Park.

Meet January 1 at 10 a.m. at the Beach Shelter.

Crawford State Park is located at 1 West Lake Road
Farlington, Kansas, just over the Bourbon County line off Highway 7 in Crawford County.
 
Crawford State Park can be reached at  620-362-3671.

Event website

The trail is moderate difficulty. Pets must be on a leash. Wear weather appropriate clothing, including water-resistant boots.

Contact/cancellation info: 620-362-3671. Tag #FirstDayHikes and #NoPlaceLikeKS.

Government, Kansas

Kansas Water Authority Approves 2019 Surplus Water Report

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Recently the Kansas Water Authority (KWA) met in Wichita for their December meeting. The KWA received updates on water priorities in the state but two main topics were the focus: 2019 Surplus Water Report and the Annual Report to the Governor and Legislature.

 

The KWA received updates on vital water projects and issues in the state including current interstate compacts, the Kansas Water Reservoir Protection Initiative, Harmful Algal Blooms as well as the Water Technology Farms.

The KWA approved the 2019 Surplus Water Report, and agreed to allow the Kansas Water Office to enter into Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Kansas River Reservoirs Flood and Sediment Study.

The KWA approved the 2019 Annual Report to the Governor and Legislature and they also heard a presentation regarding non-public household water wells. The host was American AgCredit and the lunch was sponsored by KITS and 96 Agri Sales.

 

The KWA is responsible for advising the Governor, Legislature and Director of the Kansas Water Office on water policy issues.

They also ensure that water policies and programs address the needs of all Kansans as well as serve as advisors of the Kansas Water Vision and Kansas Water Plan.

The KWA was established in 1981 and consists of 13 voting members who are appointed by the Governor or Legislative leadership. State agency directors serve as ex-officio members.

 

The next meeting will be in Topeka, Kansas in January. The KWA meetings are throughout the year and for additional information and other upcoming meetings, visit www.kwo.ks.gov.

 

Recipes

From Linderhof’s Kitchen by Martha Meinsen Scott

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Taken by Martha Meinsen Scott. Apricot sesame chicken with garlic-sour cream noodles.
Apricot Sesame Chicken
I like easy chicken recipes.      One that you can throw in the oven and in 30 minutes or an hour you have your dinner entree.     This is good and easy and I like the hint of cinnamon. My favorite way to serve it is with Garlic-Sour Cream Noodles (really linguine).
6 chicken breasts, skinned and deboned
¼ c. butter
1 cup flour seasoned with salt and pepper
¼ c. butter
2 T. sesame seeds
1 ½ c. chopped onions
12 oz. jar apricot preserves
½ t. Cinnamon
1 T. pepper
In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.     Roll chicken breasts in seasoned flour and place in skillet.     Saute breasts until lightly browned on each side, then place in a 9 x 9 glass casserole.     Melt ¼ c. butter and sautee onions and sesame seeds until onions are tender. Add apricot preserves, cinnamon and pepper, cooking until preserves are dissolved, and sauce is smooth.     Pour sauce over chicken breasts, cover tightly (I use foil) and bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.
Martha Meinsen Scott is a Fort Scott foodie who creates from her home, called Linderhof.
Entertainment

New Years Eve Party at The River Room

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The Buffalo Grill was purchased in May 2018 by Al Niece, the River Room Event Venue is located on the second floor.

New Year’s Eve at the River Room Event Venue consists of a cocktail party, catered dinner and live music with dancing.

The cocktail party with live music by The Gary Thompson Trio is from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.

The dinner, catered by Crooner’s Lounge with live music by the Gary Thompson Trio from is from 7:30 to 9:00 PM.

There will be a live concert and dancing with MultiPhonic  from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM.

Tickets are $50.00  per person which includes dinner, live music and a champagne toast at midnight.

Seating Arrangements will be at tables accommodating eight people per table.

For more information or to purchase tickets call 620) 224-9787.

Opinion

Kayak by Patty LaRoche

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As I write this, I am looking out my condo window at the ocean. This morning, all is peaceful. The tide is low, many early morning types are strolling the beach, picking up sea shells or just loosening their joints. The sea looks harmless. Maybe I will go for a swim. After all, this is my last day here. Tomorrow, Dave and I begin our trek home to Kansas. From there we will drive to Florida where he has taken a job for the next 12 months.

But I won’t go for a swim. Not after last night’s phone call from my youngest son, Andy.

First, a little background. He and his brother Jeff take a trip every year, and since Andy is getting married in two weeks, this would be their final one together. They, along with their friend Chris, chose Belize.

According to Andy, mid-afternoon the three rented a kayak to use as a sort of landing pad when they snorkeled. Before long, they realized the current had carried them further from their starting point, so they attempted to head back. No matter how hard they rowed or swam, the shoreline became increasingly distant. For over an hour they tried… to no avail.

Realizing it soon would be dark, Jeff and Andy decided to swim to shore for help. Chris, although a national Rugby player, was not a good swimmer, so he would stay on the kayak and wait for help. After twenty minutes of struggling against the current, my sons realized the futility in their efforts and returned to the kayak. Occasionally they would see a boat in the distance and would yell for help, but no one heard their screams. They prayed. Their fun excursion was turning out to be anything but.

“Don’t panic.” “Remain calm.” “We rented this kayak, so someone has to know we haven’t returned and send help.” All great advice, but as night fell, they decided to make one last effort to make it to shore. Jeff threw his arm over the front of the kayak, Chris rowed, and Andy pushed from the end of the kayak, figuring their swim fins would help. They would go as long and as hard as they could…which lasted about fifteen minutes. Suddenly, a wave lifted them up and threw them onto a reef. Their goggles and one of the oars went flying as the kayak tipped, dumping them all onto the hard surface. Jeff’s leg was bleeding badly, and while they were tending to that, they noticed a boat’s light in the distance.

This time, their screams were heard. They were rescued and taken to shore where they were told that no kayak should have been rented that day. The tide was far too dangerous, and just the week before, two men dared the same type of current and never made it back. My sons and their friend had trusted a young man (wanting to make a few dollars) instead of investing a little time into Googling the sea condition for that day.

As a result, what started out looking harmless proved that accomplished athletes have no power compared to the ocean’s undercurrent. I told Andy that I hoped they realized how God had protected them that night. He assured me they did.

Many people I know have found that something “harmless” has led to their downfall. A tiny white lie. A bit of gossip. An angry word. A sneak peek at a porn site. A choice not to forgive. And suddenly, they are in over their heads in sin. They have depended on their own abilities to control those harmless temptations instead of taking the time–and making the effort– to find where their trust should be placed. Psalm 9:10 speaks to that perfect constant: “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

Just ask Andy, Jeff and Chris.

Bourbon County Local News