Volunteers at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg handmade Christmas outfits for the newest arrivals on the Labor and Delivery Unit.
One of the unit’s nurses, Rachel Johnson, photographed the bundles of joy as a gift to parents.
Volunteers at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg handmade Christmas outfits for the newest arrivals on the Labor and Delivery Unit.
One of the unit’s nurses, Rachel Johnson, photographed the bundles of joy as a gift to parents.
The SEKnFind Newsletter
December 2022
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Please donât be like my friendâs ungrateful staff who failed to recognize the intent of their giftâs giver. Take the time to be grateful, especially to the One after whom this holiday is named. Happy birthday, Jesus!
CHC/SEK CLINICS ADAPTING TO WINTER STORM/ OPEN FRIDAY WITH MODIFIED HOURSÂ
As extreme winter temperatures continue to drop over the next 12 to 24 hours, Â Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas will be open on Friday with modified hours from 9 AM to 3 PM at all clinic locations. Wind chills reaching below -40 degrees are expected in some areas before warming begins.
CHC/SEK CEO Krista Posta says, âas an essential services provider, the communities we serve count on us to be there. Weâre seeing many flu cases, and some patients need access to our walk-in care clinics. Others need to keep important scheduled appointments. We are contacting our patients through our texting system and their patient portals, to let them know of the hours changes, and asking what they need from us during these emergency conditions.â
At the Pittsburg location, the CHC/SEKâS Apothecare Pharmacy staff have taken to 4-wheel drive vehicles to deliver needed medications to area patients. âBlood pressure, diabetes meds, you do not want to stop those,â says pharmacist Chris Reynolds.  âYou want to take those continuously, and weâre here to take care of our patients.”
All CHC/SEKÂ clinics will close Saturday at noon, (Christmas Eve) remain closed Christmas day and reopen Monday.
Kevin “Skitch” Allen purchased Aunt Toadie’s Restaurant in October but officially took over the business on Dec. 12, 2022.
“My heart is on the east side of town,” he said.
Allen started his construction business and car wash on the east side of Fort Scott. Nineteen years ago he demolished a house on the west side of the Aunt Toadie’s restaurant property for the former owners Larry and Mary Jane McHenry.
That started a relationship with the McHenrys. Then two years ago he started dating their niece Alisha Jamison.
“One evening we were talking to Mary Jane and Larry and discovered they wanted to work less hours,” Allen said. “Alisha and I talked about it. She was interested in running the eating business and I am interested in eating.”
“I’ve never owned a restaurant before,” he said. But the McHenry’s have stayed on to help the transition until the end of December.
“Thankfully, Larry and Mary Jane made it a success,” he said. “It’s one more way to help out on my side of town.”
Allen has been doing work on the outside of the restaurant on East Wall since purchasing it.
The west side of the building will have an addition, which will double the size of the eating area.
“It will be called the Lily Pad,” he said. “That will be for people who enjoy watching (sport) games on TV. Possibly with beer, in the future with dining.”
Possible futuristic plans are a pickle ball court to the north of this new addition, he said.
“You’ll be able to walk out to a pickle ball court,” he said. “Playing off the idea of chicken and pickle ball.”
On the east side of the restaurant there will be table and chairs for an outdoor eating area in warmer weather.
Inside, he has purchased a new soft-serve ice cream machine and discovered an old milk shake machine which will be put to use once again.
“We plugged it in and it went,” Allen said.
Alisha Jamison is the new manager and they are keeping the current wait staff. Matt McHenry, Larry and Mary Jane’s son, has decided to stay as cook.
“That’s a blessing,” he said. “He has worked there since he was a child.”
“I’m the taste tester,” Allen said.
The hours and menu will remain the same, but there might be additional hours on Monday and Saturday in the future.
There may be some additions to the menu because “we’ve got some good cooks thinking up ideas,” he said.
“I want to thank the McHenry’s for allowing us to take over their family business,” Allen said. “We are going to work hard to keep the family food atmosphere.”
“And thanks also to Fort Scott customers for the years of patronage, we know they won’t be disappointed,” he said.
Taken From Bourbon County’s Facebook page:
The city will be opening Buck Run Community Center, 735 S. Scott as a warming shelter today. The phone number is223.0386.Â
Please do not go out unless necessary and if you do, take extreme caution in driving and make sure you have warmer than usual clothing on in case of a breakdown or accident.
Power is still an issue south of town to the Garland area but crews are working as fast as possible to get it restored.
TOPEKA â Governor Laura Kelly today announced Kansas has received nearly $5.7 million to expand broadband access, adoption, and affordability, from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Office.
“Communities across the Kansas have enormous potential for a new chapter of innovation and success,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This funding will propel the state forward, accelerating our efforts to ensure all Kansans can fully participate in the digital world.”
The funds are part of the designated $65 billion as outlined in the federal bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021, dubbed the âInternet for All Initiative.â
âThe Internet for All initiative will bridge the digital divide in Kansas and ensure rural areas have the service they need to access telehealth, education and jobs,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “I appreciate Governor Kelly’s commitment to connecting all Kansas homes and businesses to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service.”
âKansans use the internet to work, learn, keep in touch with family, grow a business, get health care, and more. While access to high-speed internet is a gateway to opportunity, that opportunity is not distributed equally in our state,â said Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03). âIâm proud to have voted for this new federal funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law that will help every Kansan thrive in the digital age.â
The Kansas Department of Commerceâs Office of Broadband Development (OBD) will use these funds in a variety of ways. Almost $5 million will be used to deploy the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program that is part of the Internet for All Initiative. The remaining $692,000 will be used to deploy the first phase of NTIAâs Digital Equity Act.
âBroadband equity starts with access, but also includes adoption and application,â Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. âThe state is committed to providing capacity and resources to ensure everyone has the access and skills needed to benefit from digital technologies in their lives.â
OBD will engage with stakeholders across Kansas to develop both a five-year action plan and a Statewide Digital Equity Plan, which will provide direction and measures to assist in deployment of high-speed affordable and reliable internet to all Kansans. Both plans will be submitted to NTIA by August 2023.
The office will hold events at 25 to 30 locations around the state beginning in January. Special attention will be paid to groups and communities that are disproportionately impacted by digital inequity. These groups include low-income households, aging populations, people with disabilities or language barriers, racial and ethnic minorities, rural inhabitants, incarcerated individuals, and veterans.
âThese planning dollars will allow our office the opportunity to connect and engage with all Kansans,â said Jade Piros de Carvalho, Director of the Office of Broadband Development. âWe will launch our planning efforts at our inaugural Kansas Broadband Summit on January 19 at Wichita State University. This event will be the first opportunity to connect with communities across Kansas and ask for partnership and support as we coordinate efforts to connect Kansans with high-speed, reliable internet access.â
All 50 U.S. states and six territories applied for planning grant funding from the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program and the Digital Equity Act program. Grant awards for all 56 eligible entities will be announced on a rolling basis.
Please visit the Kansas Office of Broadband Development website here. More information about the federal efforts is available at AffordableConnectivity.gov and InternetforAll.gov.
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