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U.S. Flag Subscription Available
FRIENDS OF FSNHS EXTEND 2019 FLAG SUBSCRIPTION DEADLINE
The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site Inc. have extended the deadline to sign-up for a subscription to the U.S. Flag Project an additional 10 days. Requests for a 2019 subscription are due by April 10.
The Friend’s U.S. Flag Project provides homeowners and businesses, within the city limits of Fort Scott, the opportunity to fly the Stars and Stripes on five different flag holidays without the hassle of purchasing, erecting, and storing a flag and pole. You don’t even have to remember the holiday!
For $35 annually, the Friends will install a 3’x5′ flag on a 12 foot staff at your home or business on each of the following Flag Holidays in 2019:
Memorial Day, May 27th
Flag Day, June 14th
Fourth of July, July 4th
Labor Day, September 2nd
Veteran’s Day, November 11th
Applications can be obtained at the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce or can be requested by e-mail at [email protected].
All proceeds support programs at Fort Scott National Historic Site. These include: Symbols of Sacrifice, a Citizenship Ceremony, Candlelight Tour, Youth Engagement, and many others.
Show your patriotism and help our local National Park by lining the streets of Fort Scott with our nation’s symbol!
Hedgehog.INK Storytime Changed On April 13
Second Saturday Storytime at Hedgehog.INK Bookstore has been changed from 10:30 a.m. on April 13 to 10:00 a.m., to allow the children to attend the Easter Egg at Buck Run at 11:00 a.m.
Budgeting For the New Ambulance Service
The budgeting process for the new Bourbon County Emergency Medical Service has two government bodies amending their budgets for 2019.
These actions are because of Mercy Hospital closing in December 2018, and along with that, the hospital ambulance service.
A collaboration between the city and the county will provide the new ambulance service.
The City of Fort Scott will operate the ambulance, Bourbon County Commissioners will bill the insurance and receive the revenue and then reimburse the city. The majority of this budget is wages, taxes and benefits, according to the Fort Scott City Commission March 19 minutes.
A task force was formed to put together a new ambulance service that will serve the community. The task force was comprised of representatives of Mercy, Bourbon County and the City of Fort Scott.
On March 19, the Fort Scott City Commission approved to create a new EMS fund and adopt an EMS budget of $1,004,242, according to the commission minutes.
The county government is also revisiting its budget.
“The county’s projected budget for 2019 for ambulance service is 1.1 million dollars,” Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah said.
“The county has always had a line item budget for ambulance service which was paid to Mercy,” Oharah said. “I think that that budget item was approved for $316,000 for 2019. This is a budget line item where we will amend our budget.”
“We have (Certified Public Accountant)Terry Sercer working with us on an amendment to the ambulance budget…,” Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah said.
“This budget will be figured on what we contracted with the city to provide ambulance service, plus what we pay an outside company, OMNI, to provide medical billing and collections, wages for the volunteer employees that staff the third ambulance and other ancillary expenses associated with handling ambulance. Building a budget item for future ambulance replacement included,” Oharah said.
Statewide Broadband Availability Map
Governor announces statewide broadband availability map, requests public input
Governor Laura Kelly and Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers announced today the completion of the first iteration of a broadband availability map for the State of Kansas. Rogers announced the map at the Rural Opportunities Conference in Dodge City yesterday. The map was made possible through a grant from the Information Network of Kansas (“INK”) Board of Directors.
“High speed broadband access is no longer a luxury, and unfortunately, there are still many areas throughout Kansas without adequate access to quality, affordable advanced broadband services,” Governor Kelly said. “Gaining public feedback and input on this map is an important step that my administration will be taking to identify and close broadband coverage gaps across the state.”
The map indicates where there are areas served and unserved by many of our participating broadband service providers. The map can be accessed at: https://connectednation.org/kansas/interactivemap.
“Improving broadband access is key to growing rural Kansas and ensuring businesses and families can thrive,” said Lt. Governor Rogers. “We must ensure that every Kansan, no matter where they live, has access to the critical infrastructure needed to connect and participate in the 21st century economy.”
Broadband coverage was reported on a voluntary basis by the state’s broadband service providers.
Starting this month, Connected Nation will deploy network engineers across the state to validate the data reflected on the map, guided by feedback received from the public. Connected Nation will then update the map based on its findings in July. The public is encouraged to submit feedback via a form that can be accessed here: https://connectednation.org/kansas/feedback.
“I hope the public will take time to provide feedback during this mapping process as we work to develop more effective approaches to closing the digital divide, which continues to persist in our rural communities,” Governor Kelly continued. “Our goal is to leverage the knowledge developed so that we are able to target resources more effectively and make Kansas one of the most connected states in the nation.”
Feedback may be submitted via computer, tablet, or mobile phone. Persons submitting feedback are encouraged to provide a short description of the issue and enter the address where the issue can be found. A screenshot detailing the area in question will automatically be submitted if an address is provided under Section 2, which will aid the network engineers and mapping team in pinpointing the problem.
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Chamber Coffee at FSCC’s Arnold Arena April 4
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WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
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Hosted by:
KOMB 103.9 FM Home Show
Location:
Arnold Arena, located on the Campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton St.
Thursday, April 4th, 2019
Visit KOMB 103.9 FM’s website
by clicking
here.
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:
April 11th – Fort Scott Christian Heights
April 18 – Presbyterian Village
April 25 – Peerless Products
May 2 – National Day of Prayer Breakfast (Pioneer Kiwanis and
Cheney Witt)
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports April 3
Volunteer Buglers For Veterans Services Being Sought
Bugles Across America
Bugles Across America, NFP was founded in 2000 by Tom Day, when Congress passed legislation stating that Veterans have a right to at least two uniformed military people to fold the flag and play Taps on a CD player. Bugles Across America was founded to take this a step further. In recognition of the service these Veterans have provided to their country, we felt that they each deserve a live rendition of Taps by a real bugler.
The motto, “SOUND THE HONOR – HONOR THE SOUND” is meant to express the desire that each volunteer bugler be available as much as possible to honor veterans with the ‘live’ sounding of TAPS.
Robert Solomonson lives in Fort Scott and is a local member of Bugles Across America. He is available as a Bugler for military graveside services and other memorial services in the Southeast Kansas area.
His service is strictly voluntary; no compensation is required. Robert can be contacted at telephone number (620)704-7373 or by email at [email protected].
Area musicians who play the Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn or a Bugle can contact https://www.buglesacrossamerica.org/ for more information on becoming a volunteer bugler at Veterans funerals or other memorial services.
Submitted By Carl Jowers. Commander.
Fort Scott American Legion Thompson-Harkey Post 25
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Sexual Assault Awareness Program Coming to Fort Scott
April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Safehouse Crisis Center is hosting several awareness, educational, and support programs throughout the month for the southeast Kansas community. Safehouse provides free and confidential advocacy, shelter, and therapy services to victims and survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and human trafficking in seven counties in southeast Kansas. Safehouse will be honoring the national awareness month with free programming for area survivors and community members.
The awareness month will begin with the “What Were You Wearing?” Survivor Art Installation on Wednesday April 3rd, at the Pittsburg Public Library from 3:00pm – 7:00pm. The Art Installation originated at the University of Arkansas in 2013 and was inspired by Dr. Mary Simmerling’s poem, What I Was Wearing. The Installation asks participants to understand that it was never about the clothing and the act of shedding those clothes is never enough to bring peace or comfort to survivors. The violation is not simply woven in to the fabric of the material, it is a part of the survivor’s new narrative. If only ending sexual violence was as easy as changing our clothes. Instead it requires all of us to evaluate what enabled us as individuals and as a society to ask, “what were you wearing?” in the first place. Attendees can walk through the display anytime between 3:00pm and 7:00pm. The display will also be traveling to Fort Scott and be on display for community members at the Fort Scott Public Library Friday April 12th from 1:00pm – 5:00pm and Saturday April 13th from 9:00am – 12:00pm.
Throughout the month, local southeast Kansas libraries will have sexual assault awareness book displays. Check out the library closest to you that is participating: the Pittsburg Public Library, the PSU Axe Library, the Girard Public Library, the Weir Public Library, the Fort Scott Public Library, the La Cygne Library, the Pleasanton Lincoln Library, and the Coffeyville Public Library.
On Thursday April 18th, Safehouse will be hosting a Rara Rocks Painting Party at 6:00pm at the Pittsburg Public Library. Rara’s Rocks was started by Tamara Suguitan (nickname Rara), a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence. She shared her story with Rara Rocks, a platform to provide healing and comfort to sexual assault and domestic violence survivors. The mission of Rara’s Rocks is to spread awareness for sexual and domestic violence, the free support the community provides, and to let survivors know they are not alone. Rara’s motto is, “Heal when you reveal your ‘rocks’.” Each rock resembles a person because we are all works of art.
An important part of healing from sexual violence is learning to regain a sense of calm and safety in our lives and in our bodies. In the past decade, research has shown that yoga can also have a strong impact on the healing processes of many survivors of trauma. On Saturday April 20th Safehouse is partnering with Balanced Life Yoga to provide a free trauma-informed yoga class from 2:00pm – 3:00pm at the Eclectic Soul Studio in Pittsburg.
Safehouse will also be hosting a survivor writing workshop series called Write to Empower facilitated by advocates and local community writing professionals. The first workshop on Monday April 15th will focus on Safety, the second on Monday April 22nd will focus on empowerment, and the final workshop on Monday April 29th will focus on healing. All workshops take place at the Pittsburg Public Library from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. Attendees do not have to attend all workshops, but area encouraged to do so.
Community members may attend a free Lunch & Learn about the Dynamics of Sexual Violence on Wednesday April 24th from 12:00pm – 1:00pm at the Pittsburg Fire Department Training Room at 911 W. 4th Street. Attendees bring their own lunch and Safehouse brings the education.
For more information about Safehouse awareness and educational programs, contact Ali Smith, Prevention Education Specialist at 620-231-8692. Safehouse also encourages you to reach out to community and campus groups also providing free programming for Sexual Assault Awareness Month such as Ascension Via Christi (620-231-6100), the Children’s Advocacy Center (620-235-0067), PSU’s Students for Violence Prevention (620-235-4831), PSU’s Student Alliance for Gender Equality (620-235-4512), and the Southeast Kansas National Organization for Women (SEK NOW) [email protected]
American Heart Association Donations Accepted at Gordmans
HOUSTON (April 2, 2019) – Happy, healthy hearts start at home, which is why Gordmans has teamed up with the American Heart Association to raise awareness and funds in the fight against heart disease, the leading cause of death among women in the United States.
Through Gordmans’ gThanks program, store guests will have the opportunity to make a donation at the checkout counter to the American Heart Association during the month of April.
“Our guests love saving money and now have the chance to save lives by supporting the American Heart Association to create a world of longer, healthier lives,” said Michael Glazer, President and CEO of Stage Stores. “We invite our guests to get pumped for heart health by joining us in supporting the American Heart Association in our stores – every heart helps!”
Donations to the American Heart Association help pave the way for advancements in preventing, treating or even eradicating heart disease and stroke. American Heart Association research has led to the development of pacemakers, surgeries, drugs and many other lifesaving breakthroughs.
According to the American Heart Association, 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented. Leading a healthy lifestyle and being physically active are just a few heart healthy tips. Gordmans guests are invited to share a photo of how they get pumped for heart health. Throughout the month of April, Gordmans will donate a dollar, up to $10,000 for each Facebook and Instagram post mentioning #getpumpedforhearthealth.
Visit gordmans.com/getpumped for American Heart Association facts and benefits, social contest, and link for donating online.
Governor calls on Senate to vote on Medicaid expansion
Governor Laura Kelly declares disappointment with stalling tactics, calls on Senate leadership “to do their job”
Topeka – On behalf of thousands of Kansans struggling to secure affordable healthcare, Governor Laura Kelly held a press conference this morning calling on the Kansas Senate leadership to allow a vote on Medicaid expansion this week.
“By design, the legislation I presented was very similar to a plan that passed the legislature in 2017 with strong bipartisan support. That’s why I’m disappointed with Senate leadership for blocking the debate and the committee process,” Governor Kelly said. “Now with the regular session winding down, “halfway there” isn’t good enough.”
Almost two weeks ago, a bipartisan coalition in the Kansas House passed Medicaid expansion. Governor Kelly applauded this coalition during the press conference, recognizing their strength and determination in moving Medicaid expansion forward.
“I have always endorsed efforts to carefully study issues before taking action,” Governor Kelly said. “But when it comes to Medicaid expansion, “study” is a code word for “stall.” The House did what’s right for Kansas – I’m calling on the Senate to do the same.”
During the press conference, Governor Kelly outlined the timeline of Medicaid expansion in recent years. In 2011, Governor Sam Brownback asked Kansans to wait until after the 2012 Presidential Election to act on Medicaid. After the 2012 election, Kansas still failed to act. Brownback then insisted Medicaid could not be expanded until the Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Supreme Court upheld the ACA in 2015. Kansas still did not act. When the Legislature overwhelmingly approved Medicaid expansion in 2017, Brownback vetoed the bill.
By not expanding Medicaid, Kansas has forfeited over $3.2 billion of our tax dollars to other states. The economic benefits of expansion have been clearly documented. The governor noted in the press conference that there have been 300 published studies and reports on the positive impact of Medicaid expansion in other states, including:
- A reduced poverty rate;
- A growth in the number of healthcare related jobs, spurring economic growth;
- A healthier, insured population;
- A significantly lower level of uncompensated care for health facilities.
Medicaid expansion passed the Kansas House of Representatives on March 21. The governor released her plan on January 29, 2019. Neither chamber held hearings on the bill or scheduled a floor vote.
Mercy Pharmacy Tranferred to CHC/SEK April 1
Since Mercy Hospital closed in December 2018, many changes have happened at the former facility.
One of those changes is the pharmacy, it has transitioned to operating by Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas personnel.
“The Fort Scott (Mercy) Pharmacy officially transferred to CHC/SEK on April 1,” Krista Postai said.
“We participate in the federal government’s 340B Drug Discount program which allows us to purchase medications at the lowest cost possible,” Postai said. “This makes it possible for us to make sure that cost is never a barrier for people to get their medicines.”
“As a result, we are only allowed to fill prescriptions for patients of a CHC/SEK clinic. Prescriptions from out-of-town specialists may also be filled if they were referred there by one of our physicians and it is documented in their record. Our pharmacists can help with working through that if needed.”
Income from the pharmacy helps cover medicines for those who can’t afford them.
“It is worth mentioning that any income from the pharmacy is redirected back into patient services and helps covers the cost of vouchering medicines for those who can’t afford them, patient navigators, case managers, patient transportation, etc. – resources many patients need but are not reimbursable from other sources,” Postai said.
The staff remains the same.
“Same staff, although we added an additional pharmacist – Julie Pellet – a long-time Mercy employee who had, most recently, worked at the now-closed pharmacy located in Price Chopper,” Postai said.
“Same hours as in the past and delivery as usual,” she said. “Patients can also utilize the drive-through located on the emergency room (south)side of the hospital.”
There have been rumors that CHC/SEK will be leaving the facility in the near future.
“CHC/SEK’s lease for the current clinic in the hospital is for two years, after which we are planning on relocating,” Postai said. “Everything is in the discussion stages, but we know we will need about a 25,000 sq. ft. facility. An initial discussion has been on construction of a new building but we’re not even close to determining which direction we should go yet. We should know more in about a month.”