Government, Health Care, Kansas

Horton Hospital Closes: Governor Sends Help

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Governor comments on Horton Community Hospital closure, sends agency assistance

Following the closure Tuesday of Horton Community Hospital, Governor Laura Kelly extended assistance from her administration and highlighted the critical importance of community hospitals in rural Kansas.

“I’m concerned for the community of Horton as they face the serious loss of their local hospital,” Kelly said. “This is becoming a far too frequent occurrence in our state. Local hospitals are key to the health of Kansas families and are often one of the largest employers in a small town. Elected leaders must work together to do more to support our local hospitals.”

Three rural hospitals have closed in the last three months. Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott closed on December 31st. Oswego Community Hospital closed in February. And Horton Community Hospital closed its doors Tuesday.

“I’ve directed our agencies to coordinate support for hospital staff during this challenging time,” Kelly said. “A closure of a hospital has ripple effects through the community and region. Our KANSASWORKS team will be in Horton Thursday to assist hospital staff with filing for unemployment benefits, as well as job applications and re-employment services.”

The Governor’s Office, Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas Department of Labor are working to provide support to employees of the hospital, ensure unemployment benefits applications are streamlined, and re-employment opportunities are available.

In response to Tuesday’s closure, KANSASWORKS will be hosting Rapid Response Informational Meetings Thursday in Horton in conjunction with the Community Outreach Event at the Horton Public Library.

Efforts to assist affected hospital employees will include Rapid Response Informational Meetings at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday at the Horton Public Library, 809 1st Ave E. No registration is required. Information will be shared about KANSASWORKS, Workforce Center employment and training services and how to file unemployment insurance benefits.

Also, the KANSASWORKS Mobile Workforce Center will be at the Horton Public Library from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to provide additional re-employment services. Workforce Center staff will be available to help with registering on KANSASWORKS.com, creating a resumé, job search assistance and filling out job applications.

The Rapid Response team was also sent to Oswego following the closure of its hospital last month.

Any questions about KANSASWORKS should be directed to the Department of Commerce:

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Presents The Curious Savage

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A thoughtful and funny performance will intrigue audiences at the Fort Scott High School spring play. Performances are this Friday, March 15 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 16 and 2 and 7 p.m. at the high school auditorium, 1005 S. Main.

From left: Karina Kantilal, Dominic Cannon, Addy Labbe, Kaden Kiwan, Mesa Jones, Daniela Belcuore, Mary Gladbach, Sage Hill, Jo Goodbody, Hunter Adamson attempt to find the culprit who stole the Savage money bonds in this scene.

 

The comedy, “The Curious Savage” by John Patrick,  has kept the thespians practicing lines for the last six weeks, according to FSHS teacher and play director Angela Bin.

“An ensemble cast of eleven students have worked for the past six weeks to embody the interesting characters in this show,” she said. “They include senior Mary Gladbach playing the lead role of Mrs. Savage who is left ten million dollars by her late husband; and junior Dominic Cannon as Titus Savage, senior Daniela Belcuore as Lily Belle Savage, and senior Kaden Kiwan as Samuel Savage, the greedy children who when their mother won’t spoil them with the inheritance, decide to commit her to a group home.”

The Savage siblings have put their step-mother in a home, called The Cloisters. In this scene, Savage is talking to Dr. Emmett of the home.

“In the Cloisters group home, we find characters with a multitude of different personality disorders including senior Hunter Adamson as Fairy May, and juniors Jo Goodbody as Hannibal, Mesa Jones as Florence, and Addy Labbe as Mrs. Paddy; and sophomore Sage Hill as Jeffrey.  Dr. Emmett, played by senior Karina Kantilal and Miss Wilhelmina played by senior Alyx Brooks are part of the caring staff who run the Cloisters group home.”

Residents of The Cloisters befriend Savage when she is placed in the home.

 

The Curious Savage Cast is as follows:

Ethel Savage

Mary Gladbach

Lily Belle Savage

Daniela Belcuore

Titus Savage

Dominic Cannon

Samuel Savage

Kaden Kiwan

Florence

Mesa Jones

Fairy May

Hunter Adamson

Mrs. Paddy

Addy Labbe

Hannibal

Jo Goodbody

Jeffrey

Sage Hill

Miss Wilhelmina

Alyx Brooks

Dr. Emmett

Karina Kantilal

Crew

Female Understudy/Ast. Director

Wendy Monahan

Male Understudy/Ast. Director

Mark Adams

Stage Manager

Carlee Studyvin

Assistant Stage Manager

Gabriel Graham

Lighting Designers

Amber Russo

Sound/Music Designers

Christina King

Jade Bailey

Props Manager

Kathelra Murray

Costumers

Tristen Ziegler

Alexa Bukowski

Make-up/Hair Crew

Allie Hawkins

Madelynn Barr

Tina Ramirez

Set Construction

Katherine Salaiz

Landon Doherty

Wendy Monahan

Jade Bailey

House Manager

Mark Adams

 

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Weekly Chamber Coffee at Tri Valley

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WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
Join us for Chamber Coffee

Hosted by:

Tri-Valley Developmental Services

Location:

4305 Campbell Drive
Thursday, March 14th, 2019

Visit Tri-Valley’s website

by clicking 

 

Chamber members and guests are encouraged to attend for networking, community announcements, and to learn about the hosting business or organization.
Members may pay $1 to make an announcement about an upcoming event, special/sale/discount, or news of any kind.
Upcoming Coffees:
March 21 – Briggs Auto of Fort Scott
March 28 – Bourbon County
April 4 – KOMB FM Home Show
April 11th – Fort Scott Christian Heights
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K-State Extension

Bermuda Grass Basics

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K-State Research and Extension Southwind District presents:
Bermuda Grass Basics
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Southwind Extension District is presenting “Bermuda Grass Basics”
covering topics on
Establishment, Fertility and Haying
Tuesday, April 2nd at 6:00pm
Please RSVP to Southwind Extension District Fort Scott Office: 620-223-3720
$10 registration includes dinner
Obituary

Obituary of Ronnie Renee Byrd Allen

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Ronnie Renee Bryd Allen

Ronnie Renee Byrd Allen, age 36, a resident of Pittsburg, Kansas, passed Monday, March 11, 2019, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.

She was born September 24, 1982, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Alonzo Byrd and Lenna McNamar Byrd. Ronnie attended Fort Scott Schools. She enjoyed singing and drawing and was known for her outgoing and charismatic personality.

Survivors include her three children, Brantley Prock, of Pittsburg, and Darious Prock and Zaria Byrd, both of Ft. Scott. Also surviving are two sisters, Sarah Allee and Jessica McComb and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alonzo Byrd and Lenna Bruce.

There was cremation. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.

Business, Fort Scott, Jobs

Walmart Remodels for Beer Sales and Online Grocery Shopping

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Mike Mulrey, superintendent for JRJ Construction, Texas, watches on Monday morning as plumbers install a drain in preparation for the coolers that will be installed in Walmart for new beer coolers. A hole was dug in the floor of the area for the plumbers to install the pipes for the drain.

Customers may have noticed some bare grocery shelves at a local store.

Walmart at 2500 S. Main is reconfiguring the grocery section to “make it flow better,” said Steve, the assistant manager.

Beer Sales

A recent law has precipitated changes in the beer/liquor section of the store.

“The state law changed and effective April 1, we will carry up to six-percent beer,” Steve said. “Hopefully in the future liquor will be added.”

Former Gov. Sam Brownback signed a law in 2017 allowing the sale of higher percentage alcohol beer in grocery and convenience stores to start in 2019, according to a Wichita Eagle newspaper feature story on April 18, 2017.

It’s a significant shift in the way the state regulates alcoholic beverages, according to the Eagle story. The bill was proposed as a compromise between big stores and liquor stores in response to changes in alcohol laws in neighboring Colorado and Oklahoma.

Online Grocery Shopping

“Part of the remodel is for our online grocery that will start,” Steve said. “I don’t have an exact date right now. There is pre-work going on.”

Approximately six more employees will be hired to work in that new section, he said.

The new service will target young customers, Steve said.

“You can order groceries then when you arrive we bring it out to your vehicle. We do the shopping,” he said.

Fort Scott Walmart Employees 160-plus People

Currently, there are 160 employees at Walmart in Fort Scott.

That doesn’t include the pharmacy.

“Pharmacy is a separate entity,” Steve said. “Eyewear is staffed by the pharmacy. That’s why if somebody needs help, we can’t just send someone from the store to help.”

 

 

 

 

Government, Kansas

Senator Caryn Tyson’s Weekly Communication March 12

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The halfway point in the 2019 legislative session is officially passed so all of the work in the eighth week of session was in committees. 

Kansas Toll Roads, 236 miles of highway, are managed by the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA).  In 2015 there was a push to get rid of the tolls.  It was not successful but a law was passed requiring the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and KTA to “achieve the maximum coordination in planning, development and operation of the highway systems in this state”.  I supported that legislation and it has helped create efficiencies according to the Interim Secretary of KDOT.  The KS turnpike was built from 1954 to 1956 and has been collecting tolls ever since.  The initial $160 million bond was paid off in 1994.  Since then KTA has issued over $200 million in bonds and over $140 million in interest.  Estimates are it will not be paid off until 2040. 

A bill brought to the Senate Transportation Committee would allow some roads in Kansas to be funded by tolls.  The Interim Secretary of KDOT stressed that local input would be a factor as to where toll roads would be implemented.  The KTA collects over $100 million a year in tolls to support the turnpike.  Are toll roads the answer to supporting Kansas highway infrastructure?  I understand the need for safe infrastructure and it being one of the main functions of government.  My record demonstrates this by voting NO on bills that took money from KDOT projects.  The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, i.e. the Interstate Highway, did not allow tolls except in some cases.  Tolls are allowed on the KS turnpike because it was established before and grandfathered into the Interstate.    

Kansas Taxes, Exemptions, and Credits were discussed in the Senate Tax Committee.  Kansas taxpayers paid over $15.2 billion to support state and local governments in 2018.  The largest portion of this was property tax at $4.9 billion.  Less than 2% of property taxes in Kansas fund state government.  The rest, over $4.8 billion, funds local governments and schools.  Sales and use tax  was more than $4.4 billion and income tax was over $3.8 billion.  The rest came from other taxes such as vehicle registration, liquor, beer, cigarette, tobacco, transient guest, and other taxes.  The $15.2 billion is an increase from $13.3 billion in 2015.  Almost a $2 billion increase in three years!  This is not sustainable. 

Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) SB 9, requiring a missed state payment into KPERS be paid, was signed into law by the Governor.  Research reported the delay of payment cost around $24,000 a day, for a total payment plus interest of $115 million.  The Governor let the bill sit on her desk 9 days before signing it on the 10th day.  Can you imagine letting a bill sit on your desk knowing it was costing almost $24,000 a day?  The practice of delayed payments started in previous administrations.  I do not support this practice under ANY administration. 

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Bourbon County Local News