Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Health Care

Fort Scott Dialysis Center to Close Sept. 30

Leave a comment

Fresenius Medical Center, 2526 S. Main, Fort Scott.

 

Fresenius Medical Care of Fort Scott, the only dialysis clinic in the community, is closing September 30.

Shirley Irvin, a representative of Fresenius, did verify that the center will close on September 30. A formal statement from the company was not available at publishing time.

“I have talked to Fresenius,” Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin, said. “They haven’t made money to the point of, they can’t stay open.”

“We are reaching out to see where we are able to help,” Martin said. “CHC (Community Health Center, who has a medical clinic in Fort Scott) and Via Christi ( who has an emergency department in Fort Scott) can’t provide the service, but they are helping me look at options.”

The closing will impact patients and their families that have been served at the center in Fort Scott.

Several family members were waiting on their loved ones at the center on Friday afternoon.

One young lady helped her father-in-law in a wheelchair into their car.

She stated that the family lives in Moran and now will have to drive to Chanute, Pittsburg or Nevada, MO for dialysis.

Another woman was waiting in the waiting room for her husband, whom she said just started dialysis last week.

She stated that her husband will, hopefully, be finished with his dialysis by the end of the month. His treatment was in response to an infection. They live in Missouri.

 

The following is a quote from a KOAM News segment on July 24, 2019:

“An executive order from President Trump gives the secretary of health and human services a number of deadlines to deal with kidney disease patients.

“In thirty days after July 10th, 2019, he is to pick payment models for kidney care providers to increase treatments for at-risk patients, home dialysis, and transplants.

“In ninety days to propose regulation to enhance procurement and utilization of organs; revise rules for procuring and using organs and to remove financial barriers to donation.

“And in 120 days to start an awareness initiative.

“Then in 180 days to expedite kidney matching and reduce the organ discard rate.”

Click below the recent KOAM News story on the subject:

https://www.koamnewsnow.com/news/home-dialysis-encouraged-in-trump-executive-order/1099450079

See President Trump’s executive order on  advancing kidney health:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-advancing-american-kidney-health/

An excerpt from Trump’s order:

“Kidney disease was the ninth-leading cause of death in the United States in 2017. Approximately 37 million Americans have chronic kidney disease and more than 726,000 have ESRD. More than 100,000 Americans begin dialysis each year to treat ESRD. Twenty percent die within a year; fifty percent die within 5 years. Currently, nearly 100,000 Americans are on the waiting list to receive a kidney transplant.”

Fort Scott, Schools

New FS Student Success Center Teacher: Bo Graham

2 Comments
Bo Graham. Submitted photo.

Bo Graham, 36, is the new Fort Scott High School Student Success Center Teacher.

“I became an educator because I had coaches and teachers that made a huge impact on my life,” he said. “I hope to do the same for the students and athletes I come in contact with! Bob Campbell was the main person who inspired me to teach. But I also had many others who played a role in that.”

Graham has been in education for 15 years, having graduated from Pittsburg State  University with a masters of arts degree in education.

“The best part of teaching for me has been having students or athletes come back seven, eight or nine years later letting me know the impact I had on them. It makes every second worth it,” he said.

For Graham one of the challenges in education is technology.

“The greatest challenge I see in education is probably technology, and that being good and bad,” he said.  “The technology you use to run school changes yearly. And with the use of computers, tablets, and cell phones good and not-so-good things can happen.”

Fort Scott is Graham’s hometown.

He has been married to Jamie for six years and has a 3-year-old daughter named Blakely.

In his spare time, Graham likes spending time with family, golfing, and watching Duke basketball.

Opinion

Gary Sinise Foundation by Patty LaRoche

1 Comment

While biking in our subdivision the other day, I came across this construction site. A group of donors are making it possible for Sgt. Stefan Leroy and his wife to have a new home. I later Googled Sgt. Leroy and found this article posted on the Gary Sinese Foundation website:

“On June 7, 2012 while deployed in Afghanistan, Stefan and his platoon were clearing improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Suddenly, two IEDs detonated and Stefan rushed to aid those injured by the blasts. While carrying an injured soldier to a Medevac helicopter, Stefan was struck by a third explosion. He lost both of his legs immediately.

“Stefan was transported to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where he spent over a month in the hospital. He spent two years learning to adapt to his prosthetics, drawing strength from his friends and the other amputees at the hospital. Sixteen months after his last surgery in September 2014, he ran the Boston Marathon. “Stefan’s current living situation does not accommodate his wheelchair, causing him stress in his day-to-day activities. The Gary Sinise Foundation looks forward to providing Stefan with a specially adapted smart home to ease his daily challenges.” Actor Gary Sinese, most known for his performance in “Forrest Gump,” started this foundation to make dreams come true for our defenders, veterans, first responders and their families. His website claims that over 1,000,000 soldiers have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan “bearing the mental and physical wounds of war.” Thanks to donations to his foundation, fifty-seven homes are completed, and twenty more are under construction. I rode back to the site to talk to some of the workers. Everything in this house will be wheelchair-friendly, from wider doors to lower sinks. The painters praised the efforts of Mr. Sinese who used his public platform to help those in need. When I got home, I looked further into what drove this incredible man to give so sacrificially. I was excited by what I found. Speaking at a Knights’ of Columbus dinner, an organization with which he has partnered, Sinese said this: “When I think about the life and sufferings of Christ, when I think about the stories of the extreme hardships and heavy burdens that our military men and women and their families were willing to, and continue to bare, I can’t help but think about this verse: ‘For greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.’” If there is a better motive for sacrificial giving, I don’t know what it is.

 

Church news, Fort Scott

Aglow Meets Sept. 3

Leave a comment

Join us for the Fort Scott Aglow Lighthouse Monthly gathering at

Rodeway Inn Conference Room, 101 State St., Fort Scott, KS

Tues. Sept 3, 2019 at 6:30-?

 

An interdenominational opportunity for like-minded believers to come together for worship, prayer, grow in God’s word, and to meet needs in Bourbon County.

 

We welcome our guest speaker: Linda Kay Woodworth.

 

Woodworth is the Kansas State Prayer Coordinator for Aglow International.

She has spent 35 years in Aglow, having held several positions on the North Area Aglow Board. Linda Kay lives in Topeka with her husband Bill.

She is a former high school language arts teacher, working now during the legislative session at the state capital as a senator’s office assistant.

 

At the age of 31, Woodworth found herself a single mother raising two small daughters, when she discovered Aglow. She loves to introduce people to the Holy Spirit and does so every month in the ladies’ prison.

She believes that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17. KJV.

 

Linda Kay and her daughter, Amber, will present a generation to generation message on what God is doing in their lives today. After a horrific motorcycle accident sent Amber and her husband into emergency surgery with numerous broken bones, God’s kingdom power showed up in the reality of Romans 8:11 KJV, and quickened their healing process. The doctor said it would take two years to heal.  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. The quickening spirit of God is available for us! Come hear and see what the Lord has done.

 

Incredible testimony for the whole family! Feel free to invite some friends.

 

Fort Scott Aglow Lighthouse desires to bring the body of Christ together, (men and women and the youth) We are also in the preparation stage of expanding the Kingdom of God through centers that transform lives. We are getting food, clothing, pregnancy supplies, and shelter ready. Donations welcome!

Entertainment, Fort Scott Community College

Kick Off Time For Centennial Celebration Sept. 9

Leave a comment

September 9 is the  kick-off event for the Fort Scott Community College  Centennial Celebration, and the public is invited.

At 11 a.m. there will be an assembly at the Ellis Arts Center on the campus.

“We will have an assembly reflecting on the schools history, lunch, tree dedication, aerial picture, all free and open to the community,” Kassie Cate, Director of Strategic Communications & Student Activities, said.

“The school’s first day of classes was September 8th in 1919 so since the 8th is on a Sunday, so we are doing it on September 9th.”

 

Business, Fort Scott

Free Wash/Dry The First Week of Washateria

Leave a comment
From left: Carol Oakleaf, owner and Lori Lovelace, manager of Fort Scott Washateria, stand in front of the alterations/starch and press building still being completed.

Carol Oakleaf and Lori Lovelace are gearing up for the grand opening Sept. 7 of the Fort Scott Washateria, 501 S. National Avenue.

From Sept. 7 to 14, Lovelace said free washing and drying will be offered at the laundry mat with the signing up for a loyalty card.

“It’s free promotion of the business,” Lovelace said. “You have to provide your own detergent and drying sheets or buy them from us.”

Oakleaf and Lovelace give a tour of the Washateria to Lindsay Madison, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Director and Jody Hoenor, Bourbon County Economic Director on Wednesday morning.

The promotional first week of business will be to help customers get used to the highly technical washing and drying machines, Carol Oakleaf said.

Lovelace is the manager, Oakleaf is the owner and they have hired D.J. White as the manager-in-training, and Christina Walker as a part-time employee.

“It will be all hands on deck that week,” Lovelace said.

The hours will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.  On Sunday mornings no assistant will be available, Oakleaf said.

In addition to the laundry mat, the business is offering a variety of other clothes cleaning services, which will begin at a later date, once the first week is over, she said.

Services such as pick up and delivery of laundry for both residential and commercial, alterations, starch and press,  and wash-dry-fold of clothing.

The alteration building, separate from the main facility will also house the starch and press equipment for clothing.
Work is not yet completed in the shed.

Community Clothes Closet

The Community Clothes Closet shed is adjacent from the laundry mat, north.

The Community Clothes Closet had an organizational meeting on Aug. 15, with about ten people attending, Oakleaf said.

Lovelace will be the director and Oakleaf the president of the philanthropic group that will sort, stack and distribute donated clothing to those in need.

The inside of the CCC shed is nearing completion.

Another meeting will put into place others needed on the board: secretary, treasurer and five directors, plus members.

“They will plan how to operate and chart the course for the clothes closet,” Lovelace said.

“A lot of people on the Beacon board were at the meeting,” Lovelace said. The Beacon is another helping agency that recently stopped accepting clothes donations.

The closet is “expensive and time-consuming,” Lovelace said. “We already have a set up (to launder and store the clothing). We are going to work with as many service organizations as we can,” to get it up and running.

Lovelace said they are already accepting clothing donations, even though the Community Clothes Closet building is not complete yet.

“We won’t be distributing until at least Oct. 1,” she said. “My sheds need to be finished.”

Contact Lovelace at 620.215.1314 for more information.

 

Government, Kansas

KDOT calls for Transportation Alternatives Program projects

Leave a comment

 

 

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is announcing a call for projects for the 2021 Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program.

 

KDOT’s TA Program provides funding for a variety of alternative transportation projects. These include the construction of pedestrian and bicycle facilities and infrastructure for non-driver access to public transportation, projects that enhance safety and mobility for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders, projects that improve scenic or environmental assets in the state, Safe Routes to School projects and more.

 

“We know how important these projects are to quality of life.” said Julie Lorenz, Secretary of Transportation. “We are hearing from Kansans at recent local consult meetings around the state about how much these projects matter to them for improved safety and mobility.”

 

An estimated $7 million in federal funds are anticipated to be available to award for Federal Fiscal Year 2021. All selected projects will be required to meet a minimum 20 percent local match and cover all non-participating expenses (e.g. right-of-way, utilities, design, etc.).

 

Important Dates:

 

  • TA Program Workshops – KDOT will host two workshops to inform applicants about program requirements and expectations. Space is limited – please RSVP by 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, to [email protected] or (785) 296-5186 and indicate which workshop you would like to attend.

o Topeka: Sept. 20 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eisenhower State Office Building, 4th Floor Auditorium, 700 SW Harrison, Topeka, KS 66603.

o Salina: Sept. 27 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Kansas Highway Patrol Academy, Classroom 58, 2025 East Iron, Salina, KS 67401.

 

  • Nov. 1 – Applications are due and must be postmarked by this date. Please submit one paper copy and one digital copy in PDF format on a USB flash drive, mailed to:

KDOT headquarters/Attn: Jenny Kramer, 700 SW Harrison St. 2nd Floor,

Topeka, KS 66603.

 

  • December 2019 – January 2020 – KDOT staff will conduct site visits.

 

  • Spring 2020 – Project selections and public announcement of awards.

 

For more information, please contact Jenny Kramer at [email protected] or call (785) 296-5186.

Bourbon County Local News