Obituary

Obituary of Beverly Lind

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Beverly Ann Lind, “Aunt Bev,” born in Blue Mound, Kansas, December 7, 1942, to Ray Everett and Virginia Maxine DeMott, in Blue Mound, Kansas, passed peacefully at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas, Saturday morning, March 6, 2021.

Bev married the love of her life Raymond “Rayme” Lind in Fort Scott, Kansas, September 1, 1972, and he preceded her in death on February 20, 2007.

Rayme and Bev enjoyed attending dirt track and Nascar races and were avid Dale Earnhardt fans. Bev loved to tell stories of all the excursions spent with Rayme to all the different Nascar tracks and enjoyed listening to and attending country music concerts along the way. Bev was well known for providing daycare for many children in Fort Scott throughout the years.

Bev is survived by her sister Janet and husband, Richard Johnson of Fort Scott, and she dearly loved her five nephews, six great-nephews, three great-nieces, three great-great nephews and one great-great niece.

In addition to her husband, Rayme, she was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Virginia DeMott, and her brother, Ronald DeMott.

Lloyd Houk will conduct graveside services at the Sunny Slope Cemetery in Blue Mound, Kansas, on Friday, March 12, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Bev has requested that all donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and may be sent to, or left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701.

Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Health Care

Area Residents Eager to Receive COVID-19 Vaccinations  

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CHC/SEK creates www.chcsek.org/getmyshot  for vaccination appointment requests 

PITTSBURG — Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is seeing a strong interest for the COVID-19 vaccine under phase 2 of the Kansas COVID-19 vaccination plan.

On Friday alone CHC/SEK had almost 9,000 phone calls to its 866-888-8650 number, not including additional vaccine inquiries from its general phone lines, and obviously many went unanswered. The number is still active for vaccination scheduling.

Vaccine calls are answered by a team of more than 20 people, 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The phone line itself only allows for 100 calls to come in at a time and last week after the vaccination number went live, it went down after callers overloaded the telephone capacity. 

To reduce some of its call center’s stress, CHC/SEK has created www.chcsek.org/getmyshot where people can send their contact information. There is a short questionnaire to type contact information and indicate which CHC/SEK location the recipient would prefer to receive their vaccination. There is also an option to select “first available” if they are willing to travel to the site of the first available appointment.    

CHC/SEK schedulers will contact people as soon as appointment slots become available at the preferred locations. Currently, CHC/SEK is booked out for more than two weeks in some clinics. 

CHC/SEK began receiving weekly vaccine allotments last week after President Joseph Biden announced the launch of the Federally Qualified Health Center program for community health centers to receive a direct supply of COVID-19 vaccine to ensure underserved communities are equitably vaccinated.  

To date, CHC/SEK has administered more than 6,300 first doses of the vaccine and 3,117 second doses across its service area. 

The health center has also begun to reach out to essential businesses under Kansas Phase 2 by taking vaccinators on site.

“The purpose of going onsite is two-fold,” according to Dawn McNay, who’s leading the vaccination outreach effort. “First, essential businesses need their employees at work, so going on-site is the most efficient way to get them vaccinated quickly and without business disruptions; and, by getting these employees vaccinated at work, it leaves more vaccination appointments available in our clinic locations.”

CHC/SEK is also exploring other avenues to speed the vaccination process.  

“Please be patient,” McNay says, “We are confident there will be plenty of vaccine available in the coming weeks, however with more than 170,000 people in our service area, it’s going to take some time before we can get to everyone who wants to get vaccinated.”  

The complete list of eligible individuals under Kansas Phase 2 can be seen at https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/

Government, Kansas

Caryn Tyson Legislative Update Week 8

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Caryn Tyson

Legislation Flood Gates

The Senate worked over 40 bills in three days.  Topics such as emergency powers, energy costs, tax, and others.  There were too many bills to cover in this update.  You can find all of the bills at www.KSLegislature.org.

 

Emergency Powers

Kansas has laws that allow the legislature to provide the Governor legislative authority in an emergency.  The emergency power laws, passed decades ago, had been invoked during natural disasters but never a state-wide pandemic.  Last year I spoke out against turning over all legislative authority to the Governor.  I was accurate.  The Governor overstepped and it has resulted in a financial crisis for many families.  As a result of the crises and government overreach, the Senate voted to replace existing statute with SB 273.  The bill would establish an emergency legislative oversight committee so there are checks and balances on any Executive Order (EO) issued during an emergency declaration.  The bill passed 27 to 12.  I voted Yes.  The House passed their version so a conference committee made up of six legislators, three from each chamber, are working out differences.  We’ll see what the final product looks like.

 

Energy Costs Skyrocket

Because of the record freeze a couple of weeks ago, most people will have higher energy costs.  Can you imagine expecting a $200 bill and getting a $2,000 bill or maybe a $6,000 bill?  Humboldt city manager reported their entire gas bill for the year 2020 was $270,139.14 and the estimated bill for just February is $1.5 million!  Many communities throughout the state were impacted.  House Sub for SB 88 was signed into law providing loans to help municipalities and others with extremely high electric and gas costs.  The bill was needed but it is a prime example of how we get poor results.  The bill gave all authority to the State Treasurer in deciding who gets the money so it is first-come first-serve for $100,000 million.  Some of the larger communities could use all of that money with a few loans, leaving out-to-dry small communities like Ottawa, Fort Scott, Garnett, La-Cygne, Lane, Moran, Prescott, and at least 32 other towns in our senate district.  There were reasons to vote No, but any money available in this emergency is needed to be in place so I voted Yes.  The bill passed the senate 39 to 1.  Myself and others asked the Senate President to form a special committee to investigate what happened and why one person is given the power to determine the fate of so many Kansas energy users.  The President said he was thinking along those same lines so this isn’t the last you will hear on this topic.

 

Tax

Last week, SB 46 exempting your retirement accounts from state income tax passed out of the Senate Tax Committee.  However, it doesn’t look like it will make it to the Senate floor on the grounds that the bill could be amended making it too expensive.  Opponents argue the state cannot afford it.  What they neglect to tell you is the State has collected $190 million over estimates since July 2020 – in 7 months.  As I have said, Kansas can afford removing state income tax on retirement accounts – we just have to make it a priority.

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Caryn

Obituary

Obituary of Robert Stine

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Robert “Bobby” Lee Stine, age 67, resident of Ft. Scott, died Monday, March 8, 2021, at his home.

He was born July 6, 1953, in Ft. Scott, the son of Kenneth and Elizabeth “Betty” Anderson Stine.

He graduated from Uniontown High School with the class of 1972. Bobby married Cindy Bollinger on November 17, 1979, in Ft. Scott. He worked for Peerless Products in Ft. Scott for over 40 years, retiring in 2019.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, casinos, bowling, softball, and anything outdoors. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandsons.

Survivors include his wife Cindy of the home; a daughter, Alisha Varner and husband Clifton, Ft. Scott; a brother, Jim Hubbell; a brother-in-law, Dale Bolinger, Ft. Scott; a sister-in-law, Susan Wood and husband Terry, Ft. Scott; two grandsons, Austin, and Owen Varner; and several nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Jim Bollinger; father-in-law Leo “Buzz” Bollinger and mother-in-law Mary Louise Bollinger; and his parents.

There was cremation.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Friday March 12th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Private family burial will take place in Uniontown Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Bobby Stine Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County, Government

KDOT K-3 bridge survey begins March 15

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Monday, March 15, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to begin a field survey at the Little Osage River Bridge on K-3 in Bourbon County. The bridge is approximately two miles south of the Bourbon-Linn county line.

 

The length of the survey is 3,000 feet on the existing highway alignment. Survey findings will be used to design a bridge replacement project. KDOT expects the survey to be finished by April 16.

 

Activities include the use of survey instruments on the ground to determine locations of existing features within the corridor. A member of the survey crew will contact property owners or tenants for permission to enter private property. Joe Bowen will oversee this KDOT survey. Persons with questions may contact KDOT Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433.

 

Bourbon County, Health Care

Stephanie Hallacy: New Nurse Practioner At Uniontown Clinic

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Stephanie Hallacy is the Nurse Practioner when the Uniontown Clinic opens in April 2021. Submitted photo.

Stephanie Hallacy, APRN, FNP-C. will be the medical care provider when the new Girard Medical Center at Uniontown opens in April 2021.

 

“We hope to open in the first couple of weeks in April, but that is dependent upon when our Rural Health Clinic Certification is completed,” Hallacy said.

 

Hallacy has worked for Girard Medical Center since 2013 as a Nurse Practioner in their clinics as well as its walk-in clinic, she said.

From 2006-2014 she was a flight nurse for EagleMed.

 

Prior to that, she worked as a registered nurse in an intensive care unit in Oklahoma from 1994 – 2006.

 

Hallacy received her 1994 associate degree in nursing from Grayson County College in Denison, TX,  her bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Oklahoma, and her master of science in nursing from Pittsburg State University in 2012.

She was originally a pre-pharmacy major in college.

 

“But that changed while working there as I realized that I wanted to be more directly involved in the care of the patient,” she said.

The clinic is housed in a building on the campus of Uniontown High School, south of the football field and will serve both the school and the community.
The Girard Medical Center at Uniontown Clinic is located south of the Uniontown High School football field. 

“We are hoping to be a resource for the Uniontown school for their student physicals and hopefully other medical services,” she said.  “We also want to be the provider for the community for both acute illnesses as well as for the prevention, screening and management of chronic health conditions.”

 

In the first stages of the brand new clinic, she will be part-time.

“I believe initially the days that I will be providing care will be Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.,” she said.  “This may change as we depending upon the volume of the clinic and needs of the community.”

 

To see prior features on the clinic:

Girard Medical Center of Uniontown To Open In March 2021

Uniontown Collaboration: New Health Clinic Coming

 

Bourbon County

February Uniontown 4-H Report

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The Uniontown 4-H club met on Sunday, February 14 2021 via zoom. There were 11 members and 3 leaders present. The club recognized all members that participated in 4-H Days, which was held via zoom on Saturday, February 4th.

Senior Reading – Bareigh Farrell – Top Blue.

Intermediate Reading – Kendyl Bloesser – Top Blue, Seth Shadden – Blue, and Hailey Shadden – Blue

Junior Reading – MaKinlee Bloesser – Red.

Intermediate Demonstration/ Illustrated Talk – Austin Maycumber – Top Blue.

Senior Instrumental – Bareigh Farrell – Top Blue

Senior Vocal Solo – Bareigh Farrell – Top Blue.

All participants receiving a top blue are able to move on to Regional 4H Days on March 6, 2021.

Beef tag-in is Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at Bourbon County Fairgrounds from 4 pm – 6 pm. Sheep, Meat Goat, and Swine Tag in: Wednesday, April 28 at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. Also, Bourbon County Born animals need to be identified at tag-in to be eligible for that class. The next Uniontown 4H meeting is to be held on Sunday, March 14, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.

Submitted by Kendyl Bloesser, Club Reporter

Bourbon County, Government

Uniontown City Council Agenda For March 9

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CALL TO ORDER AT ________ by _____________________________

ROLL CALL: ___ Jess Ervin ___ Danea Esslinger ___ Josh Hartman ___ Amber Kelly ___ Charles Wehry

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

Personal Service Insurance, Loren & Matt Korte

CITIZENS REQUESTS

FINANCIAL REPORT

Charlene Bolinger – Financial reports

APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA

A. Minutes of February 9, 2021 Regular Council Meeting and February 18, 2021 Special Council Meeting

B. Treasurers Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Superintendent: Bobby Rich

Codes Enforcement: Doug Coyan

Dog bite

Clerk Report: Sally Johnson

Citywide yard sale – May or August

Meter Deposit Refund –

COUNCIL & COMMITTEE REPORTS

Councilman Ervin –

Councilwoman Esslinger –

Councilman Hartman –

Councilwoman Kelly –

Councilman Wehry –

Mayor Jurgensen –

OLD BUSINESS

Whether to pass on gas daily gas prices in February to customers –

Utility Hearings –

NEW BUSINESS

 

03-21 Informational items

2021 Financials – February

Bourbon County, Government

Uniontown City Council Unapproved Minutes of Feb. 18

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The Special City Council Meeting on February 18, 2021 at Uniontown City Hall, was called to order at 7:00 PM by Mayor Jurgensen. Council members present were Jess Ervin, Danea Esslinger, Josh Hartman (by phone), Amber Kelly, and Charles Wehry. Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting were Joe George, City Superintendent Bobby Rich, and City Clerk Sally Johnson.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

To Discuss and make decisions on the following topics:

KMGA February 17, 2021 invoice – Invoice consisted of usual March 2021 estimate prepayment, January 2021 true up, but also included a Collateral Call to reimburse for the $1,000,000 cash collateral required to secure gas to all of their members through the holiday weekend. Our portion of the collateral call is $6,295. Invoice is due by Monday, February 22, 2021 instead of the usual 30 days.

Motion by Ervin, Second by Wehry, Approved 5-0 to pay the KMGA February 17, 2021 invoice in the amount of $10,178.22 by March 22, 2021

How to pay KMGA March Invoice – Council reviewed the usage to date and the daily indexes to date. Clerk Johnson estimates the bill to be $133,678.47 without the collateral call adjusted back off. She will ask KMGA if the collateral call will be adjusted on the next billing and if we could possibly get a month-to-date or weekly statements/invoices to better understand the true financial impact for the month. Council will look at whether to pass on to customers, how much, and in what manner at the March 9, 2021 regular meeting.

Finalize emergency procedures for this gas/extreme weather emergency. Mayor Jurgensen, Councilman Wehry, Superintendent Rich, and Clerk Johnson met on February 16, 2021 with Will Wallis, Bourbon County Emergency Manager, and Commissioner Lynne Oharah.

Bourbon County Emergency Management has cots, blankets, etc needed to set up a warming station. Clerk Johnson had spoken with Bret Howard, Superintendent USD #235, about using the WBE gym for a warming station in the event of loss of gas. It was verbally agreed on. A calling tree has been set up to notify gas customers in the event of loss of gas.

Superintendent Rich informed that manpower would be an issue if this occurred. All gas meters would have to shut off and when flow was reinstated all meters would have to be turned on, bled, and all pilots lit. This would require several people if to be done in a timely manner and each person would have to have to proper tools to complete the task. It was suggested to compile 4-5 tool kits with all the tools that would be needed.

The emergency procedures for a loss of gas event would be:

  1. Notify Bourbon County Emergency Management and USD 235.
  2. Notify Governing Body to implement calling tree. If no answer, visit the location. If they have special needs or need transportation they are to call City Hall.
  3. Shut off meters.
  4. Help transport citizens to warming station.
  5. End of event, an adult household member must be present to turn on gas, bleed lines, and light pilots.

Council also approved a public statement:

As many of you have heard, with the extreme cold we have recently experienced, gas prices have skyrocketed. At this time the City of Uniontown is able to pay for the gas we supply to you. However, a portion of this may have to be passed on to you. We have an emergency plan if for some reason our gas supplier is unable to supply us. We appreciate all of the conservation efforts you have put forth and ask that you continue to conserve. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Moved by Ervin, Second by Hartman, Approved 5-0, to adjourn at 8:40PM

Bourbon County, Government

Uniontown City Council Unapproved Minutes of Feb. 9

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The Regular City Council Meeting on February 9, 2021 at Uniontown City Hall, was called to order at 7:00 PM by Mayor Jurgensen. Council members present were Jess Ervin, Danea Esslinger, Josh Hartman, Amber Kelly, and Charles Wehry. Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting were Mark Warren, City Treasurer Charlene Bolinger, Codes Enforcement Officer Doug Coyan, City Superintendent Bobby Rich, and City Clerk Sally Johnson.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

Smoothwall firewall & guest internet connections, Mark Warren – Mark started out going over all the technology that has been added. He gave a quick tutorial on the function of the Smoothwall firewall and presented options for allowing access to WIFI by guests.

Motion by Hartman, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to allow guests open WIFI access with acceptance of terms and conditions before connection

CITIZENS REQUEST

None

FINANCIAL REPORT

Treasurer Bolinger presented the January Treasurer’s Report. Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds was $401,098.47, Receipts $70,486.17, Transfers Out $3,026.00, Expenditures $19,809.54, Checking Account Closing Balance $448,749.10. Bank Statement Balance $453,583.25, including Checking Account Interest of $36.11, Outstanding Deposits $0, Outstanding Checks $4,834.15, Reconciled Balance $448,749.10. Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $26,921.23, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $17,390.08, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $23,221.60, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $516,282.01. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $36.11 and Utility CDs $0 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $36.11. Also included the status of the Projects Checking Account for the month of January 2021, Beginning Balance $225.33, Receipts $197.23, Expenditures $197.23, Ending Balance $225.33. January Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,400.00, from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond & Interest $1,622.00, for Total Transfers of $3,026.00. Net Income for the month of January $47,650.63, Year-to-Date Net Income $47,650.63. Budget vs Actual Water Fund YTD Revenue $8,828.46 (8.8%), Expenditures $6,048.52 (4.9%); Sewer Fund YTD Revenue $3,048.49 (8.8%), Expenditures $1,969.31 (4.5%); Gas Fund YTD Revenue $20,260.03 (15.7%), Expenditures $7,280.52 (2.2%); General Fund YTD Revenue $33,588.86 (45.6%), Expenditures $6,834.21 (4.2%); and Special Highway YTD Revenue $1,734.33 (29.0%), Expenditures $0 (0.0%). The February 2021 estimated payables in the amount of $46,224.68 were presented.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0, to approve Consent Agenda including:

  • Minutes of January 19, 2021 Regular Council Meeting
  • Treasurer’s Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables

Mark Warren gave an update on the medical clinic. Building is ready. They are looking for a local nurse practitioner. They will be open three days a week to begin.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Superintendent Rich reported that the steel basketball backboard was received and installed. Clerk Johnson reported that the backboards were donated by the school. A partial payment by the vandal has been received.

The amount of water kept in the tank was discussed. He will keep the tank at a level to accommodate weather and fire protection.

Codes Enforcement Officer Coyan reported that letters regarding the dog bite were sent to the owner of the dog and to the complainant. We have received no response from the Smith Estate regarding the punch list letter from our attorney.

Clerk Johnson stated that the Park Committee would like for their funds to be used for a dedicated pickleball court with a fence at 105 Third St. It was also suggested to consider 210 Sherman St as it already has a cement slab. She will look into measurements for the court and measurements of the lots suggested and the cost of building/fencing a court.

A contract for 2020 financial audit was received from Diehl, Banwart, Bolton.

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to accept contract from Diehl, Banwart, Bolton for 2020 financial audit

Clerk Johnson received an inquiry about citywide yard sale. It was decided to have ours the weekend before or the weekend after Fort Scott has theirs. Citywide cleanup was also discussed. It was decided that due to amount of misuse of the service last year that we will not host a citywide cleanup this year.

The Cornhole project based learning group notified us that the target date to complete the project is April 1. Clerk will send a response to have someone from the group and their project teacher contact Superintendent Rich about placement and timing.

A voting delegate needs to be selected for KRWA.

Motion by Ervin, Second by Wehry, Approved 5-0 to appoint Bobby Rich as KRWA voting delegate

A Notice of Conditional Renewal was received from EMC regarding communicable disease exclusion endorsements on the general liability coverage.

COUNCIL REPORT

Councilman Ervin – nothing

Councilwoman Esslinger – nothing

Councilman Hartman – nothing

Councilwoman Kelly – nothing

Councilman Wehry – nothing

Mayor Jurgensen – nothing

OLD BUSINESS

Liquor Sales and Sunday CMB Sales – an ordinance authorizing the retail sale of liquor and an ordinance authorizing Sunday sales of liquor and CMB was presented.

Motion by Hartman, Second by Wehry, Approved 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 190 authorizing the retail sale of alcoholic liquor within the city limits of Uniontown, Bourbon County, Kansas

Motion by Kelly, Second by Esslinger, Approved 5-0 to set the biennial occupation tax at $200 on Ordinance No. 190

Motion by Hartman, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 191 authorizing Sunday sales of alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverage in the original package within the city limits of Uniontown, Bourbon County, Kansas

Ordinance No. 191 must be published two consecutive weeks on the same day of the week, allow for a 60 day petition period, and, if petitioned, put before the voters before becoming effective. If no petition filed, the ordinance will become effective April 22, 2021.

SPARK funding – Clerk Johnson still has not received a ship date on the service window. The $225.33 left in the project account is for reimbursement of expenditures between March and June of 2020. These funds were transferred to the general fund February.

NEW BUSINESS

Water Rate Increase – a notice of a 5% rate increase from Consolidated RWD #2 was received. Treasurer Bolinger and Clerk Johnson presented some options on passing the increase on to our customers.

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to accept Option B, increase minimum charge 5% (to $25.69 inside city limits, $26.87 outside city limits) and usage charge 5% (to $11.56 inside city limits, $12.10 outside city limits) and adopt Ordinance No. 192 repealing Ordinance No. 188, relating to water rates and amending any previous ordinances or resolutions setting forth water rates for the City of Uniontown, Kansas

Moved by Ervin, Second by Hartman, Approved 5-0, to adjourn at 8:47PM

 

Bourbon County Local News