Business, Food, Fort Scott

Star Emporium Downtown General Store To Open Early Next Year

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A1 Towing and Moving, Fort Scott, move shelving into the new grocery store in November 2020. The store will be located in the Old Kress Building, at 17 S. Main.

The new grocery store in downtown Fort Scott is progressing.

 

“Lots of things have fallen into place really well and a few things have been a struggle due to long lead times due to COVID-related manufacturing delays,” said Bill Michaud, of BAJA Investment, the owner.  “The most significant delays have been the mechanical components for the refrigerators and freezers. The final pieces of the equipment order won’t be arriving until January 4th.”

 

This sets the opening back a little.

 

“Before this delay, we had anticipated opening Dec 29th but because of this delay we now expect to open either January 8 or 11,” Michaud said. “The final decision on the actual opening date will be made as we get closer.”

Store hours will be 8 am – 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 am – 6 pm on Sunday.

 

“We will offer online ordering,” he said. ” Our website is still under development, but we will be activating our Facebook page in the next day or two.”

 

The store has a name and it was inspired by a downtown mural.

 

“The store name will be the Star Emporium Downtown General Store,” Michaud said.

 

This name was inspired by a mural on Skubitz Plaza on the north side of a building facing the Fort Scott National Historic Site.

 

“While we know that the original Star Emporium was a clothing store, the mural boasts that the Star Emporium was ‘the most unique shop in the land of oz’,” Michaud said. “We believe this store will be unique and serve a broad base of community needs.”

 

Products at the store will evolve, he said. Currently, they range from budget-conscious to specialty label food items.

 

“We will offer a very broad range of products ranging from budget-focused brands all the way to very high-quality specialty and private label products that people can’t get anywhere other than our store,” Michaud said. ” We understand people need to stretch their food dollar in these tough times so we are going to be very value-conscious in our pricing. We recognize that our product offering is going to evolve to suit the needs of our customers.”

 

Local producers and suppliers will feed into the store.

 

“In addition to recognized branded products we are also working with a variety of small local producers and suppliers including Bourbon County beef from Bronson Locker, several local produce growers, Good Natured Family Farms. We hope to continue to develop additional partnerships as we go along and continually adapt to the needs of our customer base.”

 

“In addition to our produce co-op and grocery options the store will also feature a large salad bar and deli which will also utilize as many fresh local ingredients as are available,” he said. ” The deli menu will be seasonal and offer 5 – 6 rotational feature sandwiches, wraps, and specialty items.”

 

Food insecurity is addressed in the venture.

 

“While the grocery store and deli will provide sustainability for our operation, one of the driving factors behind the community need for the store was the food insecurity and need for community-based food distribution programs,” Michaud said. ” We have reached an agreement with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas to provide food storage space to expand the food distribution and delivery programs they currently offer in Crawford County into Fort Scott. These services will also begin in January.”

 

BAJA Investments was granted SPARK funds for $450.000 for the project. SPARK grants were a part of the monies given Kansas from the federal government to help with the on-going effects of COVID-19.

Kress Building, 17 S. Main, August 2020.

The second floor of the building houses the offices of B-WERC.

B-WERC is a multi-partner collaboration of the Bourbon County Commission, the Kansas Small Business Development Center, Southeast KANSASWORKS, Fort Scott Community College, the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, and BAJA Investments. The center focuses on growing and sustaining businesses, connecting jobs, and serving people.

The B-WERC program is funded through the Federal Cares Act Relief, dispersed to the county from the state in SPARK Phase 1, to address current and immediate COVID related needs. These include assisting businesses, encouraging economic activity, and addressing unemployment, according to Jody Hoener, spokesperson for the program in Bourbon County.

 

 

Fort Scott, Schools

U234 Board Meeting Press Release Dec. 14

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Monday, December 14, 2020

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, December 14, 2020, for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart opened the meeting.  The board approved the official agenda.  The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:

 

A.    Minutes

B.    Bills and Claims

C.    Payroll – November 20, 2020 – $1,424,756.14

D.    Financial Report

E.     Activity Fund Accounts

F.     Fundraiser Application

 

There was one comment during the public forum.  Board members heard reports from the

following:

·       Brenda Hill, KNEA President

·       Dalaina Smith, Director of Academics

·       Ted Hessong, Superintendent

·       Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk

 

Superintendent Hessong discussed the Return-to-School Plan.  Board members approved an update to the length of quarantine time for close contacts to seven days if there is a negative COVID test taken along with no symptoms; otherwise the close contact quarantine is ten days.

Superintendent Hessong also reported on the KSHSAA COVID-19 guidelines.

Board member approved the following items:

 

·       The release of Dave Regan Tiger Tough Scholarship funds to the Regan family for future investment

·       Workers Compensation Insurance with Ryan Insurance

·       An adjustment in the 2020-21 school calendar for January 4, 2021, to change from a student contact day to a teacher collaboration day

·       Health insurance rates for 2021

·       Broker contract with RPS Benefits by Design Inc.

·       Technology purchase

 

Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting

The board approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Retirement of Deb Rice, Winfield Scott special education teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

B.    Early retirement request from Larry Lawrence, high school technology teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

C.    Leave of absence request for Andrea Heckman, preschool teacher

D.    Employment of Jennifer Durkin as a high school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year

E.     Employment of Allison Nighswonger as a high school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year

F.     Addition of a Winfield Scott paraprofessional position; employment of Francis Torres as a Winfield Scott paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year

G.    Addition of a high school wrestling coach position; employment of Tyler Bell as a high school wrestling coach for the 2020-21 school year; cancellation of Strategic Games for the 2020-21 school year

H.    Resignation of Mikiah Anderson, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020 year

The board adjourned.

 

 

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Kansas COVID-19 Arrival

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Governor Laura Kelly Announces Pfizer Vaccine Arrival in Kansas

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly yesterday announced that the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine began arriving in Kansas this morning. The vaccine has been received in several ultra-cold storage locations across the state, with delivery anticipated to continue through tomorrow. A total of about 24,000 doses is expected.

“I want to thank our state’s dedicated public health workers for their efforts to protect our communities from the threat of COVID-19 – often at personal risk to their safety – while we waited for a vaccine to become ready and available,” Governor Kelly said. “While the news of initial vaccine distribution is exciting for our state, I want to remind Kansans that the threat is not over. We must all continue practicing commonsense COVID-19 mitigation efforts to protect our neighbors’ health and safety, keep businesses open, and get our kids back in school.”

From the ultra-cold storage facilities, the vaccines will be going to secondary sites – hospitals – later this week. These vaccines will be for at-risk healthcare providers as identified by these hospitals.

Due to safety and security, the state will not coordinate any requests for media attendance or filming of vaccine arrival or transfers. Individual facilities may choose to offer opportunities to local media.

Obituary

Obituary of Zachery Wisely

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Zachery Thomas Wisely

Zachery Thomas Wisely, 28, passed away unexpectedly from heart complications on Friday, December 11, 2020, at Via Christi in Pittsburg.

Zach was born on November 10, 1992. His childhood was spent in North Carolina, the Wichita area, and, finally, Redfield.

As the oldest of four brothers, Zach was full of life and definitely ornery while still being very dependable. Zach graduated from Uniontown High School with the class of 2011 and was in the process of finishing his degree from FSCC. He loved to fish, hunt, and play golf, especially with his Grandpa Hoover. His many interests included playing the guitar, sketching, mastering video games, creating crafts, making repairs, and trying new adventures.

The family will miss Zach’s wisdom, calming personality, teasing nature, and the peals of laughter from playing with his many nieces and nephews. He was a dog lover; his favorites were Max, Charlie, and Leo.

On June 17, 2017, Zach married his high school sweetheart and perfect match, Caitlin Jackson, daughter of Dale and Alicia Jackson, of Uniontown. They first met in second grade. The couple lived and worked in Bella Vista, Arkansas, before moving to the Fort Scott area. Zach was employed by Timken.

Zach was preceded in death by his birth dad, Michael Stanley. He also lost a paternal grandfather, Roger Wisely, Uncle Teddy Wisely as well as Aunts Connie Pickerell and Brenda Asbury.

He is survived by his cherished wife, Caitlin; his parents, Jodi and Shane Wisely of Redfield; his siblings, Wade (Reba) Wisely and children, Adaleigh and Jaxson; Shawn (Danielle) Wisely of Fort Scott; Josh Wisely of Pittsburg; and Brooke Stanley and daughter, Abigail, of Wichita; his grandparents, Ron and Flo Hoover of Fort Smith, Arkansas; Robert and Sue McGowen of Wichita; Rick and Mary Stanley of Belle Plaine; Melanie and Greg Grissom of Newton; Great-Grandpa Dale Holmes of Augusta; and many other relatives. He was especially close to his aunts, Lori Hayes of Greenwood, Arkansas, and Tami Morgan, Uniontown.

Rev. Marty Dewitt will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, December 19th at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown.

Burial will follow in the Uniontown Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Extension offers virtual meeting service 

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Carla Nemecek is Southwind District Director and agent.

 

Just because COVID-19 continues to plague our communities, does not mean the good work done by community organizations and clubs needs to come to and end. It is suggested we avoid face-to-face gatherings, and the Southwind Extension District is making it possible your group to convene and continue important community activities.

K-State Research & Extension in the Southwind District would like to offer virtual meeting hosting and collaboration services to any business, club or organization. We will establish your meeting through Zoom and be as involved as you choose. We respect your privacy and understand this is your meeting.

The basic zoom license gives you unlimited time for one-on-one meetings, but group meetings are limited to 40 minutes. The Southwind District utilizes the pro license with unlimited group meetings up to 100 people and can collaborate as long as you need, without worrying about time limits or having to start another meeting. Recording options are also available at your request.

My zoom meeting experience has grown immensely over the past year, and I have found it to be a useful way to collaborate with groups and individuals from across the state and in my own community. Our 4-H club has meet by zoom several times, and the members have found fun and creative ways to practice parliamentary procedure, sing songs and even play games in recreation! Sometimes just seeing someone’s face is just as important as hearing their voice, and with zoom you can do both.

I have helped a wide variety of organizations meet via zoom, and I can assure you that it gets easier each time you use it. Smartphones, tablets and computers with webcams work best, but if you only have a phone, a number is always provided to call into the meeting.

With a vaccine making its way across the country as I write this column, I am hopeful the pandemic is nearing an end. However, until we receive the all-clear from health officials it is our responsibility to remain diligent about our health, wear masks and practice social distancing whenever possible. Social distancing doesn’t mean the good work your businesses, clubs or non-profit organizations must come to an end and that is why I hope you will consider the offer to help you meet through virtual means.

If you are interested in this free service offered by the Southwind Extension District, please give me a call at 620-365-2242 or send an email at [email protected]. For more information about programs and services offered by the Southwind Extension District, go to our website at www.southwind.k-state.edu.

I wish you the very best during this holiday season, and may the 2021 prove to be a year of recovery, peace and prosperity for all.

Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent
[email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749

…

Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Trustees Meet This Evening Dec. 14

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The Board of Trustees of Fort Scott Community College will meet in regular session on Monday, December 14, 2020. The meeting will be held via Zoom from Fort Scott Community College.
5:00 p.m. Regular board meeting at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom link
THE AGENDA
5:00 DINNER
5:30 ROLL CALL, 3
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
CALL TO ORDER, 4
A. Comments from the Chair, 4
CONSENT AGENDA, 5
A. Approval of Agenda, 5
B. Approval of Minutes of previous Regular Board Meeting conducted on November 14, 2020, 6
C. Approval of Treasurer’s Report, Bills, and Claims, 9
D. Approval of Personnel Actions, 5
E. Approval of Gordon Parks Museum Policy Revisions, 44
ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS, 80
A. Approval of Disposal of Property – She Shed, 80
B. Approval of Disposal of Property – E-Waste, 83
C. Consideration of Bids for Cloud Based Phone System, 84
REPORTS, 378
A. Administrative Updates, 379
EXECUTIVE SESSION, 389
ADJOURNMENT, 390
1
UPCOMING CALENDAR DATES:
• December 14, 2020: Board Meeting
• December 16, 2020 – January 4, 2021: Winter Break – Campus Closed
• January 11, 2021: Spring Semester Begins
• January 18, 2021: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Campus Closed
• January 25, 2021: Board Meeting
• February 15, 2021: Board Meeting
• March 22, 2021: Board Meeting
• March 26, 2021: Aggie Day
• April 1 – 2, 2021: Good Friday – Campus Closed
• April 19, 2021: Board Meeting
• May 1, 2021: Graduation
• May 17, 2021: Board Meeting
• June 21, 2021: Board Meeting
Sincerely,
John Bartelsmeyer, Chair
Alysia Johnston, President
FSCC’s vision for the future is to support “Students First, Community Always” through a central focus on teaching and learning; advancing strong, innovative programs and departments; maximizing and leveraging opportunities; initiating efficient and effective processes; and developing the region’s workforce.
2
ROLL CALL
_____ John Bartelsmeyer
_____ Jim Fewins
_____ Dave Elliott
_____ Kirk Hart
_____ Bill Meyer
_____ Robert Nelson
3
CALL TO ORDER
A. COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR
4
CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
1) Attached are the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting conducted on November
14, 2020.
C. APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT, BILLS and CLAIMS
Attached are the Treasurer’s Report and the Bills and Claims Report.
D. APPROVAL OF PERSONNEL ACTIONS
1) Additions
a) Rory Chaplin, Academic Advisor, effective January 5, 2021
b) Brian Stedman, Custodian, effective January 5, 2021
2) Separations
a) Judy Nelson, Nursing Instructor, effective May 24, 2021
E. APPROVAL OF GORDON PARKS MUSEUM POLICY REVISIONS
Following are revised policies for the Gordon Parks Museum, pertaining largely to the collections in regards to control and monitoring for viewing access and ownership. All
revisions have been reviewed and approved by the Gordon Parks Museum Board of Directors. The Collection Access Policy replaces the previously approved Archive Access Policy. All other revisions are highlighted in yellow. December approval allows grant
application submission in January.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Consent Agenda items be approved as
presented.
BOARD ACTION: MOTION _____ SECOND _____ VOTE _____
DISCUSSION:
VOTE: Bartelsmeyer Elliott Fewins
Hart Meyer Nelson

To view the full 105 page agenda packet, click here:

12 14 20 Consent Agenda 2

Fort Scott Community College, Government

FSCC Trustees Minutes of Nov. 14

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FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
November 14, 2020
PRESENT: John Bartelsmeyer, Jim Fewins (via Zoom), Dave Elliott (via Zoom), Kirk Hart (via Zoom, Bill Meyer
(via Zoom), and Robert Nelson (via Zoom)
ALSO PRESENT: Alysia Johnston, President, Juley McDaniel, Board Clerk (via Zoom), and staff
Chairman Bartelsmeyer called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of
Allegiance.
COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR: None.
CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Hart, and carried by unanimous vote to
approve the consent agenda.
ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:
A. A motion was made by Nelson, seconded by Hart, and carried by unanimous vote to appoint Jim Fewins to
represent FSCC on the Bourbon County Economic Development Council.
ITEMS FOR REVIEW:
The Board reviewed letters of appreciation/correspondence.
REPORTS:
A. ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES: The Board reviewed and heard reports from Miami County Campus,
Gordon Parks Center, Student Services, Student Affairs and Athletics, Instruction, Finance and Operations,
Development, and the President.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Trustees, a motion to adjourn was made at
6:07 p.m. by Meyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote.

Fort Scott

Ellis Park Playhouse Vandalized This Past Weekend

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The playhouse at Ellis Park was vandalized this past weekend. Submitted photo.

Vandalism occurred at an Ellis Park playhouse for children sometime between Dec. 11 and 12.

 

“I discovered it on Saturday afternoon. I went there to get measurements to make roof repairs,” said Seth Needham, an organizer of the Citizens for Park Improvement group.  “We assumed the original damage to the roof was wind damage.”

 

However, Needham heard from multiple people that some kids were bragging to their friends about tearing up the roof several weeks ago.

 

“Friday night they just finished what they started,” he said.  “It also sounds like they may be responsible for the damage to the picnic tables, but there is no way to verify that because it’s hearsay.”

 

Needham also just recently became a member of the newly formed Fort Scott Park Advisory Board, organized by the city commission.

 

As a volunteer worker, he went to Ellis Park on Saturday to get measurements for some minor repairs, and discovered the damage, he said.
“I contacted Mike Braim, because he had been gathering materials to make repairs,” Needham said. “We met down there to survey the damage and see if it could be saved.”
“I posted a video of the aftermath to Facebook to try to get support for materials,” Needham said. “Shortly after that, I received a message with the video of the boys tearing it up. A parent of another teen who was not involved saw the video on her son’s Snapchat, and thankfully decided to save it.”
The Fort Scott Public Works Director was sent the video of the youth vandalizing the playhouse, as well as two Fort Scott City Commissioners, he said.

The FS Public Works Director Chad Brown did not want to comment on this particular case at Ellis Park since it is still being investigated, he said.

 

“But vandalism is a problem in our world, not just in Fort Scott but everywhere,” Brown said. ” Vandalism costs the taxpayers on so many levels you often have to wonder if the cost of having or re-building these things is worth it. Here in Fort Scott, we do not have much to begin with, so we as a community need to make sure that we are trying to take care of the amenities that we do have.”

 

Brown said the city is working to add security to the parks.

 

“In the future, we will be installing security cameras at various locations across the parks and other areas to make sure we can keep these things in as good a shape as we can and hopefully prevent this type of activity in the future,” Brown said.

 

“I would also like to see cameras installed at our parks, so if this happens again, people can be held responsible,”Needham said.  “Cameras are something we did discuss at the last parks advisory board meeting. Vandalism has been a huge issue in our parks this year.”
The vandals tore off the roof, siding, and trim, Needham said. “They were on video destroying the floor for the second story. They broke the steps inside. They tore up the gables and ripped off 90% of the exterior trim.”
The picnic table that was vandalized at Ellis Park. Submitted photo.
“We decided to try and rally community support to save it, because the damage was so widespread the material list was more than we could afford ourselves,” Needham said.
After an assessment to repair the damaged playhouse, Needham said the following work is needed.
  • New roof, including rafters, shingles, sheathing.
  • New floor joists and sheathing for the second story floor.
  • New stairs to the second story.
  • Exterior trim on corners and gables
  • Window trim.
  • Siding
“The plan is to move it to Gunn Park where it can be watched over and better maintained,” Needham said.
The following photos were submitted by Needham of the playhouse at Ellis Park.

 

 

 

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

CHC/SEK now offers pelvic floor physical therapy  

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 New to Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Physical Therapist Samantha Curran, PT, DPT, CMTPT, who will deliver pelvic floor physical therapy to patients. In her hands is a plastic pelvis which includes organs and the muscles that are in the pelvic region. 
 

 

PITTSBURG ‒ Pelvic floor physical therapy is one of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas’ newest services delivered by Physical Therapist Samantha Curran, PT, DPT, CMTPT. 

Curran sees patients at the Pittsburg clinic where patients will receive an evaluation to determine therapy needs and treatment plan. The patients will have physical therapy appointments weekly. While at the clinic, patients will be educated in a home exercise program and will receive hands-on treatment. At this time, Curran does not currently see children under the age of 17 unless by case-by-case basis. 

Curran, a Pittsburg native and St. Mary’s Colgan High School graduate, still remembers one of her first patients that needed pelvic floor therapy while she was doing her clinicals for school. The patient struggled with urinary incontinence after a stroke. She was a young mother with a three-year-old. She pushed away her spouse and friends because she didn’t want to go into public for fear she would become incontinent.

“During our appointment, during our history taking, she just started crying and at that point it was when I realized it wasn’t just physical,” Curran said. “There was a lot of social and psychological components that played a role and there were not a lot of providers that were doing it, especially in our area.”

Thus, she started her career in the field of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy. 

Curran completed a Bachelors in Health, Sport and Exercise Science in 2012 from the University of Kansas and received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2016 from Missouri State University. She went on to the Foundational Concepts clinic in Kansas City, Missouri, where she continued her training and mentorship. 

Curran said she’s grateful her education has allowed her to be able to bring something unique back to Pittsburg. 

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, just like any other muscle group in the body, Curran said. It helps in the control of bladder, bowel, and sexual functions. The pelvic area has been a taboo topic for many years, she said, and it is becoming more of a common discussion. Curran said she encourages people to talk to their doctor. Not speaking to the doctor in turn “leads to isolation, sometimes relationship issues and often times anxiety and depression,” she said, “had this been discussed early on and addressed there is a good chance the rest could have been avoided.” 

CHC providers are there to listen to their patients and “consider the whole person,” Curran said, adding that the health providers work closely with the physical therapists. 

“Believe it or not this is not an uncommon issue, it’s just one that isn’t talked about much,” she said. “If you have issues that are not normal for you please ask about it.” 

Men can have a pelvic floor issues also, Curran said. 

“We see men with urinary leakage, bowel leakage, constipation and urgency, erectile dysfunction, pelvic pain, and many men post prostate cancer treatment,“ she said. 

Already, her career has been rewarding and she looks forward to continuing to help patients with their pelvic floor therapy at CHC/SEK. 

“Whenever patients come for that first appointment, they are very nervous and scared, they don’t know what to expect,” Curran said, adding that the most rewarding part is after approximately four to six weeks of therapy the patient begins to noticeably feel better. “It’s so awesome for them to come in and you can see a visible change in their demeanor, they may say thank you or their spouse comes in and says thank you for helping to get them their life back and their relationship back.”

Bourbon County Local News