Ready to elevate your career or pave the way to a four-year degree?
Enroll now for the spring and summer semesters at Fort Scott Community College! Spring classes kick off on January 10th.
Fun fact: Most classes at FSCC are transferable and we offer lots of online courses for your busy schedule!
Don’t miss out—enrollment is OPEN. Visit https://fortscott.edu/admissions for more information and connect with our awesome Admissions Representatives today!
Patty LaRoche. 2023. Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection www.alittlefaithlift.com AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)
Cases of depression are at an all-time high, and for far too many people, the Christmas season exacerbates the problem. Shopping creates emotional stress as credit cards are maxed out in order to keep those little kiddies happy. Many feel overwhelmed by the endless television promotions of holiday celebrations, knowing they don’t measure up. I get it. Their tables would make Martha Stewart envious. Seriously. I mean, who has a table big enough to hold 16 Lenox China place settings? Still, adults aren’t the only ones suffering.
Schools today are spending much of their resources, hiring mental health counselors to help students cope, and pharmaceutical companies are making billions on drugs intended to reduce anxiety and depression. At a doctor’s visit this past week, I was asked a routine question: “Are you depressed?” I knew she didn’t mean the usual feelings of working through the stress of Christmas travels or being sad because I didn’t lose the weight I vowed to lose for the last several New Years’ Eve resolutions. She was talking about the overriding feeling of being down with no hope. Just a few years ago, that question was not asked in a doctor’s office.
Yesterday, I visited with a local woman who shared the story of her relative who spent years suffering from drug-induced depression, and after multiple stays in the penitentiary, decided to come clean and turn back to Jesus. For over two years, he has held a job, been promoted to management, and now speaks to students, warning them never to start drugs. His heart-felt prayer at Thanksgiving, I was told, caused every adult to tear up.
A few days ago, I met a woman who is seeking answers for her granddaughter who feels hopeless and claims she is picked on in school. Her medication doesn’t seem to help.
Granted, there are people who need medicine. But there are some who do not. They just need Jesus. Of course, our laws prohibit us from sharing this answer with our students or our employees or our soldiers or our patients. We who can offer Hope, are told we cannot. And yes, for some, the answer is medicine-plus-Jesus, but we don’t even give him a chance to make a difference.
It makes no sense. If you had a migraine and I had a pill that would cure your headache, should I not be able to tell you about it? If your marriage were on the rocks and I had a way to solve your problem, should our legislative body deny me the right to explain such Hope to you? If your company was about to go belly-up and I had an answer to keep you in the black, should anyone keep me from speaking up?
Finding 2023 statistics on how many people suffer from depression led to ads on specific drugs to reduce depression, but Rexulti did promote its company by saying this: “Major depressive disorder is a serious medical illness affecting an estimated 21 million American adults…A large study showed that 2 out of 3 people taking an antidepressant still experienced symptoms of depression.”
Someone posted this: “When Elijah said ‘Lord, I want to die,’ God gave him the strength to live. Depression is real. But so is God. Anxiety is real. But so is hope.”
The worst thing we Christians can do is to judge those who suffer with mental health struggles. But we should be allowed to intersect faith and mental health by supporting and loving those who seek answers. By offering them the Hope that Jesus offers.
Governor Kelly Unveils Middle-of-the-Road Medicaid Expansion Legislation
~~Proposes Expanding Medicaid at No Additional Cost to Kansas Taxpayers~~
HOLTON – Today at Holton Hospital, Governor Laura Kelly unveiled the Cutting Healthcare Costs for All Kansans Act to expand Medicaid, a state and federal health insurance program, to an estimated 150,000 Kansans at no additional cost to state taxpayers. The commonsense legislative proposal builds on previous bipartisan Medicaid Expansion proposals to address Republican concerns, including by making the bill revenue-neutral.
The introduction of this legislation follows the months-long “Healthy Workers, Healthy Economy” tour in which the Governor rallied healthcare workers, farmers and ranchers, business leaders, faith leaders, and rural Kansans across the state in support of Medicaid Expansion. The bill would expand health coverage to working Kansans who currently make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but don’t receive health insurance through work or make too little to afford private health insurance.
“Each year I’ve been in office, I have introduced a bill to expand Medicaid with support from both sides of the aisle. The year, we’re going a step further to meet Republicans in the middle, putting forward a plan that would cut healthcare costs, create jobs, and grow our economy – all at no additional cost for Kansas taxpayers,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We have taken such a bipartisan approach to incorporate what I’ve been hearing from Kansans during my tour and to reflect conversations we’ve had with Republican lawmakers. Now, there’s no excuse – at this point, every legislator standing in the way of Medicaid expansion is going against a commonsense, fiscally responsible proposal that benefits their constituents.
“As Governor Kelly’s ‘Healthy Workers, Healthy Economy’ tour highlighted, Medicaid expansion is an obvious solution to provide healthcare to hardworking Kansans and to support our hospitals,” said Ed O’Malley, President and CEO of the Kansas Health Foundation. “We appreciate that, by putting forward this measured proposal, Governor Kelly is clearly working to bring Republicans to the table. That’s what’s needed to get Medicaid expanded in Kansas.”
Addressing key Republican concerns, the Cutting Healthcare Costs for All Kansans Act:
Comes at no additional cost to Kansas taxpayers. The federal government pays for 90% of the costs to expand Medicaid, while states pay 10%. Under this proposal, the state’s 10% share is completely covered by drug rebates, a hospital fee, savings from higher reimbursement rates for existing Medicaid recipients, and additional federal funding. This does not include expected additional revenue from Kansas businesses boosted by a healthier workforce or reduced state expenditures on incarceration and state services because of a healthier population.
“My goal is to ensure Kansans’ tax dollars never go to waste, which is why I support this approach to expanding Medicaid,” said Kansas Senator Carolyn McGinn. “Right now, Kansans’ federal tax dollars are going to support hospitals and jobs in states like New York, California and every state adjacent to us instead of being invested in the people of Kansas.”
“It makes no sense to me that, while 40 other states have expanded Medicaid, we have not. Our tax dollars are going to every one of our neighboring states, while healthcare costs rise and hospitals close here in Kansas,” said Kansas Representative Dave Younger. “By including a work requirement and making sure Kansas taxpayers won’t pay for Medicaid expansion, this proposal addresses many of the concerns my Republican colleagues have had. Now, those in leadership positions need to let this topic be debated and voted on.”
Grows the Kansas workforce. This compromise proposal goes a step further than Governor Kelly’s other Medicaid Expansion proposals by including a work requirement for Medicaid enrollees to ensure Kansas’ workforce remains strong. There will be exceptions to this requirement, including for full-time students, full-time caretakers, veterans, and Kansans with medical conditions.
The bill will also reduce uncompensated care costs – the costs healthcare providers take on when uninsured patients can’t afford to pay a medical bill — which will allow providers to compete for healthcare workers in an environment in which all the states surrounding Kansas have now expanded Medicaid.
“This proposal addresses a lot of the concerns I’ve heard from Republican colleagues by including a work requirement and multiple funding streams to ensure Kansas taxpayers won’t foot the bill for Medicaid expansion,” said Kansas Senator John Doll. “I urge my Republican colleagues to join me in supporting this bill to ensure our rural hospitals stay open, to cut healthcare costs and lower taxes, and to get affordable healthcare to more working Kansans.”
Improves public safety. For too long, prisons and jails have been shouldering the burden of providing medical care to uninsured inmates at their own expense. Governor Kelly worked with the law enforcement community to include this provision so that law enforcement can redirect those resources to focus on keeping Kansans safe. This would also reduce pressure on local governments to increase property taxes for correctional healthcare costs.
“This bill provides relief for county jails like the Sedgwick County Jail, which have been burdened with covering the high costs of health care for uninsured inmates,” said Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeffrey Easter. “If this part of the expansion proposal were to pass, it would cut down on expenses for local taxpayers and ease up resources so our law enforcement can focus on public safety.”
”I support expanding Medicaid with this provision to include health coverage for recently admitted inmates,” said Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister. “We have seen benefits and cost savings in working with local providers for having health care rates that match Medicaid. Doing so takes the financial and administrative burden of providing that care off counties and keeps our attention focused on our top priority: public safety.”
Language for the proposed Cutting Healthcare Costs for All Kansas Act is available here.
Background information about the proposed Cutting Healthcare Costs for All Kansans Act is available here.
Come to the Fort Scott Public Library on December 18 at 4 pm for a family holiday party! Enjoy holiday stories, songs, games, snacks, crafts, prizes, and gifts. Teens will have their own games & activities upstairs. Adults will have their own craft table! Everyone will have something fun to do.
Kids 1st grade & under must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Activities include holiday stories & singalong, cookie decorating, candy cane hunt, “snowball fight,” teen games, and crafts. All children and teens will receive at least one gift and a free book!
The library is seeking volunteers to help supervise the activities and groups, and donors to help provide food. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/Nofhf7aYuChp1aRL8 if you’d like to help.
After stories and songs, the event will be split up by family groups rather than age groups (with the exception of 4th-12th graders, who will remain upstairs for the majority of the event), although age-appropriate activities will be offered for each level. If you will have your children with you and would like to volunteer to help, you may stay with your family or group the entire time while helping to keep the event supervised and activities running smoothly. Email [email protected] or fill out the form linked above to volunteer or donate.+
Want to donate food but aren’t sure what to give? See this list for suggested items: Holiday Party Food Donation List Happy Holidays!
Jan and Dick Hedges, owners of Hedgehog.INK! in 2018.
Jan and Dick Hedges opened Hedgehog INK! on October 31, 2018, because they wanted to support the community, encourage others to invest in downtown Fort Scott and provide a market for local vendors and authors.
“I’ve decided I have one more ‘moving on’ left in me”, Jan Hedges said. “I knew this day would come but had hoped not yet. I knew I would know when it was time and the time is now.”
She will be actively pursuing selling Hedgehog.INK! in the next few months.
Hedgehog INK is located at 16 S. Main in historic downtown Fort Scott.
“Please know that we will stay open with our regular hours until that transition takes place,” she said. “We will definitely give you advance notice.”
Dick died in the spring of 2022, but Jan said “He would be so impressed to see the difference (in the downtown) and knowing we had a part in it happening.”
“Since before we opened the store, there has always been construction going on in this block, ” Jan said. “Always a dumpster, product being unloaded, extra dirt and noise. The beautiful sounds of progress. Soon every building in this block will be filled with a viable business.”
The Store’s Staff
The bookstore staff “is amazing…(and) has helped me through some difficult times,” she said. “I could not do it without them.”
Employee Sheryl Bloomfield has been with her from the very beginning, she said “She is our window decorator among her many other jobs.”
Lynn Pallaske began working at the bookstore in 2020. “She handles the social media, and book displays, is super organized, and can help you find the perfect book.”
” Rylan Mason joined us during her sophomore year in high school, as a volunteer,” Jan said.” She became an employee when she turned 16, she is now a freshman at Pittsburg State (University).”
About the Store
Hedgehog.INK! started basically in one storefront at 16 S. Main with almost 10,000 books.
“We have expanded into a children’s room, the great room, and the reading loft with nearly 30,000 books.”
“We also carry a variety of bookstore-type items: bookmarks, bookends, journals, and art supplies. We host 11 vendors and 32 local authors, both sold on consignment,” she said.
The bookstore’s events include storytimes, author talks, Wednesday Writer’s group, and an annual writing seminar. The great room is available for rent for the evening and Sunday afternoon groups.
‘My hope is that someone will step up and take Dick’s and my dream to the next level,” she said. “It has turned into an active business and is one I know can continue to grow.”
Jan Hedges wants to give a special thank you to Dacia Clark and the staff at SEK Economic Development.
“They have walked me through the steps of opening and running a business, including this last step,” she said “And to Jared Leek, my landlord and Ed Lundberg, who I’m sure rolls his eyes when he sees my number on his phone.”
Hedges said she has had many jobs through the years.
“In college, I worked in the circulation department at then Farrell Library at Kansas State University,” she said. “I learned a lot about books and book systems. I spent 40 years in education, working as a teacher, building administrator, and district-level administrator.”
She also owned and operated a preschool for two years, worked for an educational technology company for one and a half years, and spent several years as a coach through the Kansas Educational Leadership Institute.
“Of all my jobs over the years, owning and operating this bookstore has been my greatest love,” she said. “I always say, we are a store full of books, but the best stories are the ones who walk in our doors. Fort Scott and Hedgehog.INK! has made my story so much richer.”
“The bookstore has provided an amazing way to meet people and to hear their stories,” she said. “We have out-of-town customers who have become regulars anytime they are in the area. Locals bring their visiting families over holidays and special occasions. It is so rewarding when a young child enters the store and heads straight to the kid’s room. Being a gently used bookstore, the books are affordable and just a little bit already loved.”
Lynn Pallaske, left and Jan Hedges stand in front of the mural that directs children to a reading room just for them in 2022.
Her retirement plans?
“To finally, really retire,” she said. “I’ve retired three times already. I will stay in Fort Scot for the short term, but will be moving closer to family.”
Hedges wants to thank the community for making Hedgehog INK! the business they became in five short years.
“And if you know anyone who might want to own an awesome bookstore, send them my way,” she said.
The Southwind Extension District is proud to recognize PrairieLand Partners in Iola for their outstanding support of the mission of K-State Research & Extension.
Prairieland Partners has been a large supporter of the 4-H program for many years.
Most recently, they graciously sponsored a multi-specie 4-H livestock “Barn to Ring” series that provided the opportunity for participants to learn livestock management and showmanship tips from top industry leaders.
PrairieLand Partners has also made purchases at the Allen, Woodson, Neosho and Bourbon county 4-H Livestock Premium Auctions.
The K-State Research and Extension Appreciation Award was authorized by Extension administrative staff in 1977. Its purpose is to honor a person, business or organization who has made outstanding contributions to extension programs in a county or district. The Southwind District Extension board and agents want to express their sincere gratitude to PrairieLand Partners for their support and look forward to partnerships yet to come.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces the winners of the 2023 Christmas Light Contest with cash prizes sponsored by Niece Products.
Top Residential is awarded to three places:
1st Place: John Willis, 806 S. Barbee
2nd Place: Jordan Vansickle, 320 Sunset Drive
3rd Place: Carla Farmer, 2146 Jayhawk
Top Business is awarded to Mayco Ace Hardware Store, 205 Scott Ave.
Special recognition is also given to Clark Street Lights at 753 S. Clark Street who continue to have amazing displays this year for the community and visitors to enjoy.
The Chamber would like to thank everyone in the community who put up lights to make our town festive this holiday season.
Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566 or [email protected].
Fort Scott Washateria has teamed up with Healthy Bourbon County, SEK Community Health Center, Community Organizing to Promote Equity, and Bourbon County Health Equity Action Teams to assist folks with washing their clothes and bedding this Saturday, December 16 at the laundry mat located at 501 S. National.
“Since November 1st we have made machines available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Wednesday for folks free of charge,” Washateria manager, Lori Lovelace said. “The Washateria provides laundry soap and dryer sheets for folks that don’t bring their own.”
“In honor of the holiday season, we are hosting our first Wash Wednesday Weekend on Saturday, Dec 16th from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and all machines are free,” she said. “We are not limiting people to one machine.”
“Those that come at 8 a.m. probably won’t have to wait to put their laundry in,” she said. Noting later in the morning, there will probably be a wait for the machines.
“We do have some guidelines,” she said. “We are limiting, depending on the size of the washing machine. Up to four small machines, up to two 40-pound machines, up to one 60-pound machine, and up to one 80-pound machine and the corresponding dryer. One dryer per machine.”
Some of the washing machines that will be available for the program.
Lovelace and the staff want to prevent people from “stuffing it too full,” she said. “If they need more than one dryer, they will have to pay for that.”
The larger machines are designed for bedding, “but if nobody is using them, I will let someone with a big load of clothes use them,” she said.
That day also, the Community Day will happen in the clothes closet that the Washateria provides for those in need.
From left: Carol Oakleaf, owner, and Lori Lovelace, manager of Fort Scott Washateria.
The Community Closet is full of donated items that have been washed at the Washateria and made ready to give away.
“We … want to sincerely thank St. Mary’s Catholic Church who have once again had an Advent Clothing Drive and provided us with much-needed coats, bedding, and clothing,” Lovelace said.
“The Community Closet is having our Community Day in conjunction with this (free washing machine availability) event on Saturday and will have our clothing out and available to anyone in need,” she said. “The coats will be pulled out to make them more accessible.”
In the last month, Lovelace has added vintage kiddie rides that range from 50 cents to $1 per ride, including Dino, a train, and a pony. These are for customer’s children while waiting to clean their clothes.
She has also added massage chairs for those who wish to relax during the wash/dry time. “It takes dollar bills or cards, and has been popular since they came in,” she said.
On Saturday, Christmas music and free popcorn will be added to the experience.
In addition, her husband will have backpacks for homeless people with socks and food put together. “Let us know if you need one, we’ll have a backpack.”
