WIC Program: Weekly at The Health Department Starting Oct. 5

SEK Muliti-County Health Department, located at 6th and Lowman Streets, Fort Scott.

A program geared to all aspects of a mother and young child’s life will start weekly appointments in Fort Scott, next Wednesday.

The Women’s, Infants and Children (WIC) federal program is for low-income pregnant women and  follow up care,  and also for children five years and under who are at nutritional risk.

The program will start on  October 5 by appointment in Fort Scott at the Southeast Kansas Multi County Health Department, 6th and Lowman Street.

Rebecca Johnson, SEKMCHD Director.
Some of the benefits of the program, according to the US Dept. of Ag website
  • Supplemental nutritious foods. Examples of WIC foods include milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs, juice, fish, whole grains, cereal, peanut butter, beans (dried or canned), fresh fruits and vegetables, infant formula and baby food.
  • Nutrition education and counseling at WIC clinics.
  • screening and referrals to other health, welfare and social services.

“WIC has been available to the county for years now by the Crawford County Health Department, but will be now located in one location rather multiple locations,” said  Becky Johnson
Administrator/SEK Local Health Officer at the SEK Multi-County Health Department. “Since the Bourbon County Health Department moved to a much larger building, we have been working to acquire other services here at our new location.”

“Previously WIC was at Buck Run Community Center, Mercy Hospital and for the last couple of years it has been at our new location about three days a month,” she said.” We are excited to have it housed in one location and are very glad to be able to provide this program to our residents.”

 

Monday, 7:00am To 5:30 pm
Tuesday, 7:00am To 5:30pm
Wednesday, 7:00am To 5:30pm
Thursday ,7:00am To 5:30pm
Note: Closed for lunch from noon-12:30pm.

The health department can be reached at (620) 223-4464.
Also offered for women at the health department is a mother’s support group:

Breastfeeding Help

“We also will be starting training for a new service next month which is the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program through WIC,” she said. ”

“Breastfeeding Peer Counselors (BFPC) are women in the community with personal breastfeeding experience similar to WIC participants including: age; language; similar ethnic/cultural background; current or previous WIC participation; and an enthusiasm for breastfeeding. Peer Counselors provide education and support for WIC mothers. Programs vary but in general peer counselors are available to WIC clients both inside and outside usual clinic hours and the WIC clinic environment,” according to https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1433/Breastfeeding-Peer-Counselor-Program

Holly Fritter. Submitted photo.

“Our Breast Feeding Peer Counselor, Holly Fritter, has been working for us since 2019 as the Home Visitor for Bourbon County,” Johnson said. “Home visiting for families with young children is a longstanding strategy offering information, guidance, risk assessment, and parenting support interventions at home.”

“The typical ‘home visiting program’ is designed to improve some combination of pregnancy outcomes, parenting skills, and early childhood health and development,” Johnson said. “Holly works out of our Fort Scott office, but will also cover Allen, Anderson and Woodson Counties for the BFPC Program. These programs are an asset to our counties, as it is free to the clients, and provides much needed support and guidance to mothers and families. ”

Other Services Provided by the Health Department

 

Women’s Health – Breast Exam, Pap Smear, Lab Work, Sexually Transmitted Disease testing, Blood pressure screening, hemoglobin, blood sugar & birth control if desired.


Immunizations
– Call to schedule an appointment. We are not having walk-in days due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


KanBe Healthy Screening
– For Kancare eligible children up to 18 years of age. Full physical, hear & vision screenings, developmental screenings and lab work.


Maternal Child Health Home Visitor
– Provides home visits to pregnant mothers and parents of newborns. Provides parents with resources and referrals for various assistance programs they are eligible for. They also provide a breastfeeding support group meetings, call for dates and times.


Adult Physicals
– Basic adult physical provided by registered nurse for employment purposes. Physicals also provided for State of Kansas foster care or adoptions.


Childhood Physicals
– Physicals for public schools, daycares, Headstart or preschool. Full physical, hearing & vision screens, lab work. No Athletic Physicals.

 

Blood Pressure & Glucose Checks – We will monitor blood pressure/blood glucose and keep a record for you.

 

Pregnancy Tests – Provided for $15.00. Referrals to SRS, WIC, HSHV, and family doctor are provided.


Sexually Transmitted Disease Testing & Treatment
– We will test for and treat gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis.


Lab/Blood Draws
– Cholesterol, diabetes, drug screens, pregnancy, CBC, Thyroid, prostate. Lab tests are on a cash basis and with a physician order. Please call for full list and pricing.

Uniontown High School Homecoming This Saturday

UHS Homecoming Candidates are , ront row, left to right:  Bareigh Farrell, Skyler Coulter, Emiley Greenway
Back row, left to right: Treden Bastian, Jett Harvey, Caleb Davis
Uniontown High School Fall Homecoming is this coming Friday, Sept 30th.
The UHS Homecoming Coronation will begin at 6:30 pm on the football field, and the homecoming football game against Erie High School will begin at 7:00 pm.
Submitted by
Rebecca Sutterby
West Bourbon Elementary Secretary
and UHS Student Council Advisor

KS Renewable Energy Conference Registrations Close Oct. 3-4

Registration Closing Wednesday for 2022 Kansas Renewable Energy Conference

TOPEKA — Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today said there still is time to register for the upcoming 2022 Kansas Renewable Energy Conference. Those interested, however, will need to act quickly. Registrations for the Oct. 3-4 event in Manhattan will close at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 28th.

“Renewable energy is a rapidly developing and growing segment of the state economy,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Wind energy alone, our state’s leading source for electricity generation, has attracted more than $15 billion of investment to Kansas. This conference will provide a great opportunity to further our role as a leader in the renewable energy industry.”

The Kansas Department of Commerce holds the Renewable Energy Conference every year to showcase the latest trends and developments in the renewable energy industry. After a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the conference will return in-person at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan.

The conference will have three general sessions and four breakout sessions on topics of wind energy and transmission, solar energy and storage, hydrogen development, electric vehicles, and renewable natural gas, as well as a panel featuring public and private sector perspectives from within the industry.

This year’s conference will be highlighted by U.S. Department of Energy representative Crystal Perkins, who will discuss the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The Act includes funding and incentives for clean power generation and storage, domestic manufacturing of clean energy and transportation technologies. IRA also will make purchasing energy-efficient appliances more affordable for Kansas families and support climate-smart agricultural practices.

In addition, the conference will feature a session with Southwest Power Pool representative Mike Ross that will discuss the state of the power grid and how transmission facilitates renewable energy growth.

The conference will also feature business and community leaders discussing renewable energy developments in wind, solar, storage and hydrogen, and highlighting the economic impacts associated with these areas. Program sessions will look at innovations in transportation and the role of transmission in facilitating renewable energy growth and economic expansion.

Conference attendees will have the chance to test drive two electric vehicles provided by Evergy and learn how businesses can receive funding to install charging infrastructure. The two EVs that will be at the conference will be Ford’s F-150 Lightning and Volkswagen’s compact SUV, the VW ID.4.

This year’s conference sponsors include:

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

For more information about the conference, please visit www.kansascommerce.gov/renewable-energy-conference.

If you are interested in attending the conference, online registration is open until September 28 for $125 or a discounted student rate of $60. You may register online here. Please note, if you require an invoice for registration, select that option at the bottom of the first page.

The Hilton Garden Inn Manhattan has a reduced-rate, room block reserved for conference attendees. Contact the hotel online or by calling (785) 532-9116. The group code is KSDPTC.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021 and 2022, and was awarded the 2021 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

###

KDOT Debt Paid Off Early

Kelly Administration Pays Off Transportation Debt Early, Saving Taxpayers $22.2M

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that for the first time ever, debt issued by the Kansas Department of Transportation has been paid off early, resulting in a savings of $22.2 million in interest payments. The Kelly Administration was able to pay off the debt due to strong state revenues and its work to close the Bank of KDOT.

“Kansas taxpayers continue to see the benefits of our fiscal responsibility,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “By closing the Bank of KDOT and balancing the state budget, my administration has saved taxpayers millions of dollars – all without compromising the quality of our state infrastructure.”

The now-retired C Series bonds issued to KDOT in 2012 initially had a principal of $200 million. This summer, KDOT was able to pay off the remaining $97.8 million in principal of the 20-year bond, thus saving $22.2 million in interest. The bond was retired with current cash flow and without negatively impacting existing programs or construction projects as part of the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). Under the Kelly Administration, KDOT has increased construction lettings by 300 percent across the state.

From 2014 through 2018, under the Brownback Administration, the state transferred more than $1.7 billion from KDOT to other parts of the state budget – a practice known as raiding the “Bank of KDOT.” The state budget for fiscal year 2023, as approved by the Kansas Legislature and signed by Governor Kelly last April, did not include a transfer out of the agency and effectively closed the Bank of KDOT.

“We are always mindful that this not KDOT’s money; it’s the taxpayers’ money and we have responsibility to manage it in a way that generates the most benefit for Kansans now and in the future,” said Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz. “Saving Kansans $22 million and delivering IKE projects as promised is testament of that and I want to thank all our KDOT workers who worked hard to make this happen.”

KDOT has had the authority to issue debt to ensure necessary cash flow since 1992. On a 20-year bond, refinancing or full payment can take place at the 10-year mark. This was the first time the agency was able to pay off a highway bond early. To date, KDOT has not issued bonds during the IKE program.

“KDOT focuses on making sound financial and investment decisions that allow the agency to be good stewards of state resources,” said Pam Anderson, Interim Director of Fiscal and Asset Management. “Saving money and spending wisely go hand in hand to make every dollar count.”

###

Friday Night Free Concert: The Hemphill Family Bank

Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.

On Friday night, September 30th at 7:00 PM, the Chamber of Commerce Concert in the Park series continues with the performance of the Hemphill  Family Band. Members of the band include Jack Hemphill on keyboard and vocals, Sandy on fiddle and keyboard, Brad on guitar and vocals, and Kristen Hemphill Weeks on drum. Floyd Feezell will be singing songs of Ray Price with the band.

The Hemphills have performed at the Pavilion at First and Main many times in the past. They play classic country music including a little Hank and Lefty and a lot of Merle Haggard. They will also play a variety of other songs during the concert.
Come out and enjoy the fall weather and music this Friday at the Pavilion at the corner of First Street and Main Street. Bring a chair since seating is limited. In case of bad weather, the concert will be moved to Common Ground Coffee Shop.

FS Planning Commission Meets Oct. 3

The Fort Scott Planning Commission will meet on Monday, October 3rd, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.  This meeting will be held to consider the following:

 

A change of zoning from R-1 (Residential) to C-3 (Commercial) and consideration of a Conditional Use Permit to allow an animal kennel for the property located at 205 Arthur Street.

 

This meeting is open to the public. This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.

 

Diane Clay Retires as City Clerk On Oct. 1

Diane Clark, Fort Scott City Clerk, sits at her desk at city hall.

Diane Clay’s first job with the City of Fort Scott was as Administrative Assistant to the City Manager Richard U. Nienstedt in March 1998.

Her last day on the job is October 1, 2022.

“I have been employed for 24 years…with the City of Fort Scott,” she said.  “I have been City Clerk 23 of those years.”

For many, Clay was the first contact with the city that citizens had.

And for this reporter, she was always helpful and timely in her responses to questions.

The best part of the job for Clay has been helping citizens and working for the city commissioners, she said.

No job is without challenges, and for her,  “Changes are a challenge and there has been lots of them.”

Indeed, there have been five new city managers in the last two years, and a high turnover rate of city commissioners.

Clay said her duties as city clerk included:

  • All licensing – Cereal Malt Beverage, Drinking Establishment – Liquor Stores – Electrician – Plumbers – Trash – Fireworks – Golf Cart – UTV
  • Preparing city commission agenda packets
  • Taking and transcribing minutes from all meetings as well as 12 advisory board meetings.
  • Keeping the city website up to date
  • Posting all street closings/notices on Facebook and city website
  • Plus many, many more

Besides the city clerk, Clay has been the Municipal Court Clerk for the city, whose duties include:

  • Attending court and taking accurate recordings of the court sessions.
  • Inputing actions into the city’s software
  • Keeping accurate accounting of payments made on cases
  • Preparing a court docket twice monthly
  • Preparing reporting statements to the State of Kansas

Clay became a Certified Municipal Clerk in November 2003 and a Master Municipal Clerk in June 2008, through Wichita State University.

In 2018, Clay was named Outstanding Court Clerk for the State of Kansas.

Plans for retirement?

“Travel and relax!” she said.  “My husband and I have a daughter and son-in-law and a precious 4-year-old grandson that live in Joplin Missouri.  We will spend more time with them I’m sure.”

In addition to her family, Clay has been a constant at her church.

” I have taught Sunday School at Grace Baptist Tabernacle for 49 years!” she said.  “I have sung in the choir for probably 49 years also, and been very involved in the church and will continue to do so.”

Lisa Lewis will assume the Fort Scott City Clerk position on Oct.1 and has been training for the job from Clay for three months.

 

Freeride Motocross Fort Scott Course Results

AXELL HODGES RECLAIMS FREERIDE VICTORY ON THE LARGEST FREERIDE COURSE IN THE WORLD AT RED BULL IMAGINATION

 

Tyler Bereman and Julien Vanstippen Complete the Podium in Second and Third Place Respectively

 

Viewers can Watch the Competition Highlights on ESPN2, ESPN+ or Red Bull TV

 

KANSAS, Sept. 25, 2022 – Every so often a unique and exceptional phenomenon comes along leaving almost every person in its presence speechless – the third year of Red Bull Imagination was kind of like that. Event visionary Tyler Bereman proved that there were plenty of ideas left in the tank, as he and Jason Baker of Dream Traxx brought forth a course so large and dense that it set a new standard for the already watershed event. To put it to use, ten of the world’s top freeriders journeyed to Fort Scott, Kansas for a week of remarkable action and progression, taking the sport to new heights, figuratively (and almost literally as well). As freeriding is not all about competition, a three-day “expression session” preserved the integrity of the sport before the final event day that saw Axell Hodges claim a victory with Bereman and Julien Vanstippen earning second and third place, respectively.

 

The terms “art” and “dirt bikes” aren’t usually used in the same sentence to describe anything, let alone freeride motocross, but there are few words to translate the visual impact of this year’s course. Rookie and returning riders, judges, and spectators were stunned at first sight of it, with some describing it as “an art installation in its purest form,” and others’ just shaking their head in disbelief. The bespoke playground spans twelve square acres and contains more than 120 confirmed jumps (an increase from 94 jumps in 2021). The smallest jump was an estimated 65 feet long and the largest jump reached more than 160 feet. Once the initial shock wore off, the riders took to this “art installation” and used their dirt bikes like paint brushes to bring it to life.

 

The complete lineup of riders at Red Bull Imagination 2022 included:

  • Red Bull Imagination visionary, host, and 10-time X Games medalist Tyler Bereman
  • 2022 X Games Gold medalist, 12-time X Games overall medalist Axell Hodges
  • 2022 X Games ‘Best Whip’ Gold medalist, six-time X Games overall medalist Tom Parsons
  • Four-time X Games medalist and World Record Holder Vicki Golden
  • Two-time X Games medalist and current freeride motocross rider Josh Hill
  • 2022 Hill Jam ‘Best Whip’ winner freerider Christian Dresser
  • 2022 X Games quarterpipe medalist Guillem Navas
  • Two-time X Games medalist Julien Vanstippen
  • X Games participant Kohl Denney
  • Best Style at Farm Jam New Zealand rider Lewi Woods

 

The top of the week started with the riders steadying their nerves and feeling out the course for the first time. But what started with hesitation quickly turned into enthusiasm, and it didn’t take long before everyone was feeding off each other’s energy, navigating the jumps, finessing the technicality, and truly pushing each other to try more and more. Riders brought their A-game in every way possible, often hitting a line so creative others might not have envisioned it before. And because everything was taller, bigger, steeper, and more technical, the anticipation, camaraderie and downright fun persevered all week long. By Thursday’s final session, the skills on display were astounding, and the vibe was unmatched.

 

Some of the expression session highlights included:

  • Bereman hitting an iconic 184-foot jump at approximately 70 feet in the air – soaring for about six seconds and stealing the attention of every single person on the course, before finally pulling off a somewhat sketchy landing. The entire place erupted in celebration with raw emotion and many describing it as “the gnarliest jump they had ever seen.”
  • Golden shined in true form as a leader amongst the other riders in the practice sessions. She led the pack into the 120-foot road gap transfer over the container just before dark, which inspired Twitch, Hodges and Vanstippen’s back flip session later that night.
  • Shortly after, Vanstippen hipped a transfer from the technical jib zone to K-Dubs Kingdom and landed a 130-foot super flip, sending the riders and onsite personnel into a roar.
  • Jeremy ‘Twitch’ Stenberg, Hodges and Denney landed backflip transfers thereafter, while the other riders hit the jump with whips and nac nac’s.

 

On competition day, the riders had two three-minute windows to ‘wow’ the judges and showcase their most artistic line they had dreamt up all week. The riders were scored on magnitude, creativity, execution, and the overall line they carved on the competition day with only the best single score run counted. The panel of legendary judges included Robbie Maddison, ‘Twitch,’ Steve Haughelstine, and Ronnie Faisst, observed the competition from a tower overlooking the entire course.

 

Australian Woods opened the competition, giving the first-time spectators a rich taste of what the next several hours of riding would bring. Denney was next, and in true Denney fashion, the vibe of his button-down shirt was all party as he led off his run with a backflip nac nac on the big air zone. Navas, Vanstippen, Parsons, Dresser and Hill maximized creativity through their lines, hitting massive whips, flipping the “moon booter,” and throwing no footers over the “dumb and dumber” double jumps. Bereman and Hodges followed suit, giving the crowd an absolute show, and arguably spending more time in the air than on the ground. Despite Bereman’s impressive “big dawg” jump and huge air over the Fasthouse on-course feature, Hodges wowed the judges with a run that tricked nearly every jump including clearing the 180-foot jump with a no-footed can can, a massive backflip over the road, catching big air in K-Dubs Kingdom and playing to the crowd throughout. Hodges, Bereman and Vanstippen led 1-2-3 after the first round with 98, 96 and 92 points respectively.

 

The winds were higher than desired heading into round two and many riders weighed risk and reward, ultimately making the tough decision to sit out and end the day pleased with their first round’s score. But Dresser and Navas weren’t quite done yet, as both took a second run on the course and further displayed their inventiveness by hitting tricks and new lines not seen from them before. Dresser’s score increased from 82 to 85 and Navas’ score increased from 85 to 88, moving him up to fifth place.

 

As for Hodges and Bereman, they put their second pass at a competition run aside and paired up to show the crowd exactly what the sport is all about. In the spirit of freeride, the two hit their final line together. It’s hard to overstate how important this moment was for freeride motocross. Two competitors, setting aside the competition to simply vibe. Parallel lines, tandem hits, culminating in both riders revving their engines atop the Fasthouse feature at the center of the course. Hodges and Bereman embraced each other amid the smoke of their rear tires. It was a joyful moment, a celebration of sport, and the purest expression of Bereman’s imagination.

 

The final scores for the event were as follows:

  • Axell Hodges – 98
  • Tyler Bereman – 96
  • Julien Vanstippen – 92
  • Kohl Denney – 90
  • Guillem Navas – 88
  • Josh Hill – 87
  • Christian Dresser – 85
  • Lewi Woods – 82
  • Tom Parsons – 80

 

Coming off a compound fractured wrist with a 12-week mandatory recovery period, Bereman was only cleared to ride the week of Red Bull Imagination. “There is something to be said about facing your fears and overcoming them,” said by Bereman. “We [Bereman and Baker] are just scratching the surface of what’s possible at Red Bull Imagination.”

Continue reading Freeride Motocross Fort Scott Course Results

WIC Program Starts Oct. 5 at Bo Co Health Department

Rebecca Johnson, SEKMCHD Director.

The Bourbon County Health Department (524 S. Lowman, Fort Scott) will be the location where WIC (Women, Infants, Children) Program will be held at in Bourbon County from here on out. It is every Wednesday, starting October 5th. If anyone has questions, we’d be happy to help and our number is 223-4464.

We do have flu shots available now as well as the new COVID-19 Bivalent Booster shots.

Submitted by Becky Johnson
Administrator/SEK Local Health Officer
SEK Multi-County Health Department

Underage and No Headlights by Carolyn Tucker

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

Underage and No Headlights

 

I like to drive and I get that honest from my Dad (whose life was as colorful as a big box of crayons.) More than once, Dad told me about his childhood experience of driving in California in the 1930s. Just a kid, he would sneak (push) his parents’ car out of the garage and go for joy rides by himself. He was so little, he had to sit on a pillow to drive. The cops were getting used to seeing him drive around; once in awhile they’d pull him over and talk to him, but they’d just let him go (times were different back then). One time he stayed out longer than he planned and it was dark when he got back home.  So a little distance from the house, he killed the engine and turned off the lights so he could coast the car into the garage. Well, he couldn’t see and he ran into the side of the garage door with a big bang! The only option was to start it up, turn on the lights, back up, and then properly park it in the garage. Feeling terrible, he walked into the house and handed the keys over to his father. Neither one said a word. And that was the end of the joy rides.

 

The fact Dad couldn’t see in the dark is what abruptly concluded his driving excursions. It‘s not that he was a bad driver, he just needed to use his headlights. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 NKJV). I’ve memorized this  scripture and it comes out of my mouth almost daily. Actually, I was stumped as to why believers would need a lamp for our feet and a light on our path. I began to think of driving instead of walking. The lamp could be compared to headlights on a vehicle and the light could be compared to street lights. Living in a world of chaos and darkness, we need all the help we can get. The headlights are great, but when streetlights are added, it’s even better.

 

God has equipped believers with everything we need to live victoriously in a dark world surrounded by silliness and sin. God’s Word lights our path and we have access to this Light, but we have to make the effort to use this power. If your only Bible has an on/off switch, then that’s just sad. And if your Bible sits on the coffee table with dust on it, that’s sad too. It’s like starving to death with a pantry full of food because we’re too busy to eat it.

 

“God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the Light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the Light; he was simply a witness to tell about the Light. The One who is the true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. …But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:6-10,12 NLT).

 

When Jesus began his ministry, He fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined” (Matthew 4:16 NLT). When I sleep in the dark, my physical body is restored and rejuvenated. But I don’t want to live in the dark. I want Jesus to light my world, to guide me and teach me. “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life’” (John 8:12 NLT).

 

The Key: As a child of God, you have the right to turn on all the light switches.

Bourbon County Local News