CHC/SEK Announces New Pharmacy Residency Program

PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) has expanded its graduate medical education offerings with the addition of a community-based pharmacy residency program.

CHC/SEK, with a long-standing commitment to clinical education, also offers a family medicine residency developed in partnership with the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Both residency programs were created to address the healthcare workforce shortage by cultivating a new generation of professionals committed to delivering quality, compassionate care to rural communities.

Located in Pittsburg, Kansas, the 52-week program enables residents to build upon the skills learned in pharmacy school and provides them with hands-on experience caring for underserved and rural populations. Each year, CHC/SEK will welcome two pharmacy residents, and the first class will arrive in June 2026. The residents will join the team at Apothecare, CHC/SEK’s in-house pharmacy.

“Residents will become an integral part of our healthcare team, learning not just by observation but by taking an active role in patient care,” said Amanda Treiber, PharmD, CHC/SEK Director of Pharmacy. “Supported by dedicated preceptors and a culture of continuous learning, residents will receive structured training that empowers them to grow as empathetic, skilled, and community-focused pharmacists.”

Residents will develop expertise in patient-centered care, education, leadership, administration, pharmacy practice, professional development, specialty pharmacy, and the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, which helps ensure patients have access to lower-cost medications.

“One of the standout features of this program is the opportunity it offers residents to explore many different aspects of community pharmacy practice,” said Megan Martin, PharmD, CHC/SEK Pharmacy Residency Program Director. “It’s our goal to help residents find fulfillment in their careers while equipping them with the skills and experiences they need to excel as pharmacists.”

The program features a personalized approach to professional development, giving residents the flexibility to explore and expand their expertise in their areas of interest. “We’ll tailor each resident’s experience by aligning their training with their personal career goals. For example, if a resident has an interest in specialty pharmacy, we’ll include additional time and mentorship with our specialty pharmacy team,” said Treiber.

Through this residency program, CHC/SEK strives to nurture a strong commitment to caring for all patients, regardless of their financial circumstances, and ensuring they have the medications they need. “This program provides the foundation for a career defined by leadership, compassion, purpose, and lifelong learning,” said Martin. “This is a wonderful opportunity for residents to grow their clinical skills while making a meaningful impact on countless patients’ lives.”

The CHC/SEK pharmacy residency program has an accreditation pre-candidate status with American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

CHC/SEK is currently accepting applications into the program. For more information, contact Megan Martin at 620-258-5731 or [email protected], or visit chcsek.org/pharmacy-residency.

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About Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) serves as a healthcare hub for communities in Kansas and Oklahoma. CHC/SEK delivers quality, integrated care to nearly 90,000 patients each year with a goal of improving health, sustaining rural communities, and providing purpose-driven work to 950 staff members. Beyond healthcare, CHC/SEK finds innovative ways to improve lives by focusing on education, housing, and transportation. Regardless of income or insurance status, CHC/SEK ensures everyone receives the care they need. For more information, visit chcsek.org.

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CHCSEK Announces New Pharmacy Residency Program 12-18-25.docx

Dec. 18 Bourbon County Commission Special Meeting Agenda

The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.

Bourbon County Commission Special Meeting

Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025 Time: 3:00 PM Location: Bourbon County Commission Chambers, 210 S National Ave.


Meeting Agenda (Page 1)

Agenda 12.18.25

  • Call Meeting to Order

  • Roll Call

  • Opening Ceremony

    • Pledge of Allegiance

    • Prayer

  • Executive Sessions

    • Non-Elected Personnel Interview (Item I)

    • Non-Elected Personnel Interview (Item II)

  • Resolutions for Signing

    • Resolution 48-25: County Owned Building Signing

    • Resolution 50-25: Noise Resolution Signing

    • Resolution 49-25: Vacation/Sick Leave Policy Signing

  • Minutes Approval

    • Approval of Minutes from the December 8, 2025 meeting

  • New Business & Updates

    • Elevator Modernization

    • Executive Session: Non-Elected Personnel (Milburn-Kee)

  • Adjournment

Note: The Commission will not meet on December 22nd or December 29th, 2025.


Detailed Packet Summary

Executive Session Guidelines (Page 2)

The packet includes the standard legal forms for entering executive sessions according to KSA 75-4319. It outlines justifications such as personnel matters, attorney-client privilege, and financial affairs of corporations.

Resolution 48-25: County Building & Office Space (Pages 3–6)

This resolution establishes formal office and storage assignments within the Courthouse and Courthouse Annex.

  • Courthouse 3rd Floor: Dedicated to District Court operations.

  • Courthouse 2nd Floor: Primary space for the County Attorney.

  • Courthouse 1st Floor: Houses the Kansas Driver’s License Office (Suite 10), Appraiser (Suite 11), Extension/4-H (Suite 13), and Recorder of Deeds (Suite 14).

  • Courthouse Annex: Contains the County Clerk, Commission Room, Treasurer, and Public Works.

  • Restricted Areas: Specific “Cell Pods” and suites (like Suite 12) are designated for secure IT storage, Emergency Management, and specific department overflow.

Resolution 49-25: Vacation & Sick Leave Policy (Pages 7–8)

This resolution amends the County Policy and Procedure Manual effective January 1, 2026.

  • 2026 Transition: Due to end-of-year constraints, 2026 will serve as a transition year. Half of the annual vacation leave will be front-loaded in January, with the remaining half released monthly from July to December.

  • Standard Accrual (2027): Starting January 1, 2027, all leave will be accrued monthly at 1/12th of the annual amount.

  • Rehire Policy: Employees returning to the county will use their most recent hire date for benefits; “bridging” of prior service time is no longer permitted.

Resolution 50-25: Noise Limitations (Pages 9–10)

This resolution establishes regulations for excessive noise in unincorporated areas of the county.

  • Standards: Uses EPA guidelines to define violations (e.g., noise greater than 55 dB outdoors near residences during daytime).

  • Evidence: Measurements recorded within 75 feet of a source serve as evidence of a violation.

  • Penalties: Violations can result in a fine of up to $500 per day.

Minutes of Previous Meeting: Dec 8, 2025 (Pages 11–14)

A summary of the actions taken during the previous special meeting:

  • Solar Projects: Approved resolutions and agreements for the Tennyson Creek and Hinton Creek solar projects, exempting them from the commercial solar moratorium.

  • Property Relief: Approved real property relief for a local resident following a house fire.

  • Public Comments: Included discussions on the 3-minute speaking limit and requests regarding equipment storage and department moves.

  • Administrative: Rescinded a previous motion to transfer $200,000 from inmate housing fees to the general fund.

Elevator Modernization Proposal (Pages 15–32)

The packet contains a detailed “Turnkey Modernization Proposal” from Otis Elevator Company for the Courthouse elevator.

  • Cost: The base contract amount is $199,700.

  • Payment Terms: 50% initial payment ($99,850) is required to start engineering and ordering; 25% upon material delivery; and 25% upon completion.

  • Timeline: Approximately 14 weeks for manufacturing and 5 weeks for installation.

  • Scope: Includes a new microprocessor control system, new door operators, infrared protection devices, and aesthetic/safety upgrades to hall fixtures.

    The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.

Hyundai and Kia Settlement in Kansas

Kansas To Receive $71K-plus in AG settlement with Hyundai, Kia

As a result of the settlement, Hyundai and Kia will offer free hardware fix for all affected vehicles that will thwart further thefts and protect public safety.

TOPEKA – (Dec. 17, 2025) –Attorney General Kris Kobach announced today that Kansas, along with attorneys general from 34 states, has reached a settlement with automobile manufacturers Hyundai and Kia over their sale of millions of vehicles nationwide that lacked industry-standard, anti-theft technology. This failure resulted in an epidemic of car thefts and joy riding across the country that continues to threaten public safety. Under the settlement, Hyundai and Kia have agreed to:

  • Equip all future vehicles sold in the United States with industry-standard, engine immobilizer anti-theft technology;
  • Offer free zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors to owners or lessees of eligible vehicles, including vehicles that previously were only eligible for the companies’ software updates;
  • Provide up to $4.5 million in restitution to eligible consumers whose cars are damaged by thieves; and
  • Pay $4.5 million to the states to defray the costs of the investigation.

Kansas will receive $71,427.88 for the costs of the investigation. Significant consumer restitution will allow Kansas consumers to drive a vehicle that will no longer be a target for criminals. Almost 48,000 of these vehicles were sold in Kansas.

Hyundai and Kia chose not include anti-theft “engine-immobilizer” technology in millions of their vehicles sold throughout the United States, including in Kansas.  An engine immobilizer prevents thieves from starting a vehicle’s engine without the vehicle’s “smart” key, which stores the vehicle’s electronic security code. Hyundai and Kia were slow to respond to the crisis, waiting until 2023 to launch a service campaign to update the software.

Eligible consumers will have one year from the date of notice from the companies to make an appointment to have the ignition cylinder protector installed at their local Hyundai or Kia authorized dealerships. Attorney General Kobach urges consumers to schedule the installation of the ignition cylinder protector as soon as possible.

In addition, consumers who previously installed the software update on their vehicles (or were scheduled to do so) but nonetheless experienced a theft or attempted theft of their vehicle on or after April 29, 2025, are eligible to file a claim for restitution for certain theft and attempted-theft related expenses. For more information about eligibility and how to submit a claim for compensation from Hyundai or Kia, please visit the following website as soon as possible:

http://www.HKMultistateimmobilizersettlement.com

Assistant Attorney General Kaley Schrader was on the case.

 

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County Commission approves noise resolution, fails to pass budget amendment

The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.

Continuation of yesterday’s county commission story

Sanitation Issue – Milburn-Kee

Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee has been working with the county counselor to get the information needed to the county attorney so that appropriate action can be taken regarding a residence with sewage seeping into the lake.

She also noted that in the Dec. 20, 2024 county commission meeting, the county attorney at the time handed this information off to the chairman of the board when he resigned his position. Neither she nor Commissioner David Beerbower knows what happened to the work that was done by the previous county attorney.

Commissioner Samuel Tran asked if the homeowner had been notified of the problem. Milburn-Kee said that a letter was sent April 5, 2024 notifying of a $200 per day fine.

Parliamentarian Kaety Bower said that the county had the tank pumped a few years ago, at the taxpayers’ expense, but it hasn’t been maintained since then, and now there’s human waste running into the lake and puddling in driveways.

Tran expressed frustration that it had not been followed up on. Milburn-Kee said that the county lacks a policy and proceedure that would lead to a satisfactory conclusion at this time.

Tran asked how the county would go about condemning the building, if it becomes necessary. He also suggested that the commission give the county assessor the authority to ticket violators of the only code in the county, which is the sewage code.

Beerbower proposed that the county pump the tank to give them time to get the problem fixed. Bowers said it would take 4 weeks to fill back up.

Elevator Estimate KSA 19-214

It will cost approximately $200,000 to bring the courthouse elevator up to requirements. The elevator is currently out of compliance. The current projected start date for the project is the end of January, 2026.

Tran and Beerbower both expressed that they want to see the statement of work from the contractor so the commission is aware of what is involved in the job.

The courthouse maintenance supervisor, who has gathered the bid and information for the work needed, is leaving his position at the end of 2025.

Noise Resolution – Beerbower

Beerbower presented the commission with an updated noise resolution. The county counselor said that it should be handed over to the planning commission.

The revised resolution has EPA decibel level guidelines: decibel levels are to be no greater than 70dB for a 24 hour period, or greater than 55dB outdoors from 7a-10p near sensitive areas (residences), or 45dB indoors 7a-10p in sensitive areas, and no greater than 45 dB outdoors overnight (10p-7a). These measurements, recorded within 75 feet of the source, will be considered in violation. Enforcement shall be by the Bourbon County Commission or its designee. Violations will result in: notice of violation, demand for corrective action, citation, or all three. Fines can be up to $500, and each day in violation is considered a new offense.

Beerbower then moved that the commission adopt the resolution, numbered 50-25.

Milburn pointed out that there is already state code that the commission hasn’t been able to enforce and questioned the county’s ability to enforce a new ordinance without a procedure for follow-through.

Resolution passed, Milburn voting against.

Planning Commission Moratorium – Beerbower

In the last meeting of the planning commission, they reintroduced that they would like a moratorium halting all other entities from coming in to Bourbon County and starting up to allow them a year to develop a comprehensive plan and zoning for the unincorporated areas of Bourbon County.

The temporary moratorium would include: utility level, power generation and storage systems, including but not limited to wind, solar, battery energy storage systems, nuclear fission, crypto mining, data centers, and waste disposal.

Tran told the commission they did a good job at their meeting. He had no issue with the moratorium. Milburn-Kee said she didn’t have an issue either.

Beerbower said the moratorium would give the planning commission time to get its feet under it and make a plan.

He moved to have the county counselor draft a moratorium as directed by the planning commission, with a deadline of Jan. 5, 2026.

Motion passed unanimously

New Business

Budget Amendment (Need Date and Time)

County Clerk Susan Walker said that two funds require a budget amendment at this time: the Law Enforcement Fund and the County Sales Tax Fund.

The amendment for the Law Enforcement Fund will take it from $2.2 million to $2.6 million, and the County Sales Tax from $926,935 to $1,633,692.

Commissioners Beerbower and Tran are unavailable for the budget amendment meeting before the end of the year.

Without the amendment, the county will have two budget violations in its regular audit.

Sheriff Martin got Bern Hart, his department’s financial advisor, on the phone to address the commission.

Hart said that the Sheriff’s 2025 budget did not take past costs or the trends of those costs into account.

“The Sheriff’s over budget because he wasn’t given enough budget for 2025 to operate,” said Hart.

Milburn said her expectation is for departments to stay within their budget, rather than levy more mills and “give everyone what they want.”

Sheriff Martin and County Clerk Susan Walker were at the table for the discussion. They both left to have a discussion outside of the open meeting.

When they came back, Sheriff Martin said that the three offices the county must support reasonably to operate: the Sheriff, the County Attorney, and the District Court.

Hart pointed out that all the sheriff’s operations come from one fund. He also said that his department raised $395,000 from housing inmates.

“The sheriff’s brought in more than enough money to cover the budget amendment that he’s asking for,” he said. “He’s not asking for any more money. He’s just asking to use the money that he’s already raised.”

Susan Walker said the budget in question was made while she was CFO. She didn’t make the decisions independently, but in conjunction with the commission at the time.

“We are at an impasse on the budget amendment,” said Beerbower. No further action was taken.

Info On Driving in Kansas Dust Storms

Pull Off, Lights Out: KDOT, KHP launch

Kansas dust storm safety campaign

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) are launching a new safety campaign sharing safety guidance for western Kansas drivers traveling through areas with blowing dust and high winds.

A public service announcement (PSA) highlighting dangers in dust storms was created as part of the safety campaign. KDOT and KHP encourage media outlets, traffic safety partners and the public to share the PSA, which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/DoDWPzY_kRM.

Dust storms often occur from December to April. The region’s flat plains, open agricultural fields, ongoing drought conditions and strong wind patterns create an environment where hazardous dust storms can develop rapidly.

“In Kansas, a windy day can turn dangerous fast. Knowing how to react properly can save lives,” said Technical Trooper Tod Hileman.

Drivers are urged to prioritize safety over speed when encountering high winds or sudden reduced visibility. The high winds can create sudden gusts and cause larger vehicles, including large trucks, RVs and trailers, to sway or lose control.

Blowing dust adds another layer of danger, with visibility capable of dropping to zero within seconds. These sudden “brownout” conditions increase the likelihood of multi-vehicle crashes.

“It’s important to remember what to do in these situations, because these steps may be the difference between safety and disaster. We want the traveling public to be knowledgeable, so they can respond when visibility is low,” said KDOT Director of Safety Troy Whitworth.

The Pull Off, Lights Out campaign outlines several critical safety steps for motorists involving dust storms, which include:

  • Avoid driving into or through a dust storm, if possible.
  • Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway — do it as soon as possible.
  • Turn on low beam headlights if you must drive through dust.
  • Never stop in a travel lane; look for a safe place to pull completely off the roadway and away from other vehicles.
  • Turn off all vehicle lights, including headlights and emergency flashers, while parked.
  • Set the emergency brake and take your foot off the brake pedal.
  • Stay in the vehicle with your seat belt buckled and wait for the visibility to clear.

Residents are encouraged to monitor local weather alerts and be aware of rapidly changing conditions throughout the region. For current road conditions and traffic information before you leave, visit Kandrive.gov or call 511.

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NOTE: Media outlets are encouraged to use the link above or to download the PSA at https://kansashighwaypatrol.sharefile.com/share/view/sf4419024c00347888b1a50990bb1d7ae

Storytelling through Art Session: Access to Lesson Plans

Storytelling through Art Session
View Recording and Download Lesson Plan
You can now access the lesson plan and recording for the Storytelling through Art professional development session led by Brad LeDuc. This session guides students through novel and effective approaches to visual storytelling about the inspiring stories of Unsung Heroes from history. View the session recording and download the lesson plan below:
View Recording
Download Lesson Plan
This session featured tools to help students
work on their Impact Statements. 

In developing an ARTEFFECT project, students prepare written Impact Statements (500-1000 words) to accompany their visual artworks. In this essay, students should address the following prompts:

  • Introduce your Unsung Hero.
  • Discuss your Unsung Hero’s impact. 
  • Describe your artistic vision and process. 
  • Share the impact of your artwork. 

Download the Impact Statement Outline PDF for detailed instructions, or download the Impact Statement Worksheet to guide students through each prompt. Please submit your Impact Statement in English.

Impact Statement Outline PDF
Impact Statement Worksheet
2026 ARTEFFECT Competition Info Session
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
4:00-5:00 PM Pacific Time
Join this session to learn about the annual ARTEFFECT visual art competition for students in grade 6-12. Rules, guidelines, judging criteria, tips for submission, prizes, and lesson plans. Competition open through April 21, 2026.
Register Now
Ambassadors in Action!
Meet our 2024-2025 Ambassador Anna August, an art teacher at Sinai Akiba Academy in Los Angeles, California.

Each ARTEFFECT Ambassador culminates their visual arts online fellowship with a capstone project that brings the inspiring stories of the LMC Unsung Heroes into their classrooms and communities. Here is an excerpt from Anna’s multifaceted Capstone Project report:

“My students designed and created original artworks that visually expressed their emotional connection to their chosen Unsung Hero. Using color theory, symbolic imagery, and compositional choices, students told dual stories—their own and that of the hero—through a single piece of art.”

Congratulations to Anna and her students at Sinai Akiba Academy for their inspiring ARTEFFECT projects!

Read more about Anna’s capstone project

JOIN THE GROWING COMMUNITY OF EDUCATORS:
ARTEFFECT Educators Facebook Group
For inquiries, contact: [email protected]
ARTEFFECT Facebook
ARTEFFECT Instagram
ARTEFFECT
ARTEFFECT YouTube
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Healthy Bourbon County Action Team: 2025-2026

Jody Love

Submitted by  Jody Love

HBCAT/RCP

President and CEO

To Our Communities and Partners:

 

“We’re not working to win Kansas. We’re working for Kansas to win.”

 

I recently heard Destany Wheeler with Elevate Kansas share this sentiment, and it perfectly captures how I feel about our work in Southeast Kansas.

 

We believe in abundance. We are not chasing recognition or competing for credit or resources. We are working for this region to succeed on its own terms. That belief carried us through a year marked by both meaningful progress and significant hardship.

 

In 2025, we navigated funding uncertainty, shifting policies, and economic pressures affecting families, businesses, and organizations across the region. We experienced pauses, delays, and moments that required us to rethink timelines and approaches. Quite frankly, this was a hard year. Each time we took a hit, we pivoted, picked ourselves up, and moved forward, guided by community need and shared responsibility.

 

At the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, we remained deeply committed to our mission: increasing access to physical activity and healthy food, promoting commercial tobacco cessation, enhancing quality of life, and encouraging economic growth. These priorities are not abstract goals. They are shaped by the lived experiences of residents across Southeast Kansas.

 

We are equally committed to responding to priorities identified by residents who live the reality of these decisions every day. Community trust, resident leadership, and equity remain central to how we design, implement, and sustain our work.

 

That commitment is visible through Rural Community Partners and our work to find, connect, and engage small business owners and entrepreneurs across Southeast Kansas. We meet entrepreneurs where they are, connect them to the right expertise, capital, and networks, and ensure they are not navigating fragmented systems alone. This approach reduces barriers, builds trust, and helps entrepreneurs move forward with clarity and confidence.

 

Despite the challenges, we expanded small business and entrepreneurship support, delivered hands-on technical assistance, helped unlock new capital, and strengthened workforce development partnerships. Together with Rural Community Partners, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, and Balloon Media, we elevated regional storytelling. With support from Kansas University Medical Center, we convened partners across counties and continued building coalitions focused on practical, community-led solutions. Our role as a regional convener and backbone organization grew, not because it was easy, but because it was necessary.

 

We also invested in the long view by advancing the Southeast Kansas Small Business and Entrepreneurship Endowment. This commitment to sustainability allows us to lead with integrity rather than urgency, remain accountable to communities rather than funding cycles, and speak honestly when systems fall short. It is a promise to Southeast Kansas that this work will endure.

 

We are change agents, and with that comes a responsibility to speak up when systems no longer serve the communities they were designed to support.

 

What makes our work different, and why does it endure locally and regionally where many well-intended efforts have struggled? Three things have mattered most:

 

  1. We remain financially independent and are not reliant on local or regional gatekeepers.
  2. Our work is guided by community need rather than access, favors, or external approval.
  3. We are willing to say what others won’t, even when it risks relationships, status, or funding.

 

Looking ahead to 2026, our vision is clear. 

 

We will continue scaling entrepreneurship and mentorship efforts, strengthened by our partnership with the KU School of Business, Kansas Food Action Network, and BCBS Pathways to Healthy Kansas, while expanding access to capital and expertise. Working alongside partners such as WorkforceONE, we will deepen workforce pathways by listening directly to local employers. By supporting locally driven solutions, we will build resilience across counties while protecting the trust and relationships that make progress possible.

 

This role requires resilience, clarity, and courage. As Virginia Barnes, BCBS Pathways Director, reminded me earlier this year, it means acknowledging setbacks without being defined by them. It means staying focused on long-term impact and believing in the capacity of Southeast Kansas, even when circumstances test that belief.

 

Thank you to our partners, funders, donors, and residents who continue to stand with us.

Together, we are not working to win Southeast Kansas. We are working for Southeast Kansas to win.

 

 

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