Government, Kansas

Nurses Urged to Renew License

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Governor Kelly Urges Nurses to Renew Licensing Before August 28 Deadline

~Nurses with license expiration dates between March 31, 2020 through July 31, 2021 must renew before Saturday~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly urged Kansas nurses to renew their licensing requirements before the Saturday, August 28, 2021 deadline. The Kansas State Board of Nursing announced the notice for Kansas Nurses, and employers of Kansas Nurses, who were working under the professional licensing waivers issued via the COVID-19 disaster declaration Executive Order 21-09. Licensed nursing professionals impacted by the ending of these waivers are urged to renew their license as soon as possible.

“Since COVID-19 invaded Kansas, our nurses have been on-call around the clock to keep Kansans safe and healthy and I can’t thank them enough for their life-saving work,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Right now, we need our Kansas nurses more than ever. I urge all Kansas nurses to renew their licensing, so we can continue to care for patients.

“To all the unvaccinated Kansans – we owe it to our nurses to get vaccinated now. We must reduce the strain on our hospital system and our healthcare workers. We all need to step up and do our part to protect each other,” Governor Kelly said.

The Board of Nursing began sending multiple electronic and postcard mail renewal notices to licensees and stakeholders about the expiring waivers in the weeks and months leading up to the ending of these waivers.  The Board has also continued to release public notices via social media, the agency newsletter and the KSBN website throughout the COVID pandemic emergency.

Without a disaster declaration, the governor and Board of Nursing cannot further extend the waivers. Legislative action is necessary to extend any waiver beyond August 28th.

The nurses impacted by these waivers are those who had a Kansas nursing license with a normal expiration date of March 31, 2020 through July 31, 2021 and who have NOT yet renewed their licensure.

Any of these licensees that are NOT renewed by August 28, 2021 will begin to lapse on August 29, 2021.

A nurse with a lapsed Kansas nursing license can no longer work until their license is reinstated.

If you are a Kansas Nurse or if you employ a Kansas Nurse and you are unsure when your nursing licenses expires, you may check the status of your license via the Nursing License Verification Database.  This is a free service offered to the public and nurses.

Renewing your Kansas nursing license is a simple process that takes only minutes to complete.

  • To renew your license, simply visit the “Getting Started” section of the Board of Nursing website.
  • Read and follow all applicable instructions.
  • Then, log into the Kansas Nursing License Portal to complete your renewal and pay applicable fees.
  • To confirm your renewal has been completed, the nurse may do so via the same portal or by checking the Nursing License Verification Database.  (Please allow up to two hours for the public verification database to update prior to checking.)

For more information or to renew your nursing license, please visit the Board of Nursing’s website at https://ksbn.kansas.gov/

Government, Kansas

Bucks Rewarded to Drivers Who Buckle Up

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Safe Kids Kansas, State Farm and KDOT partner up for safety message

Topeka – Thousands of vehicles will be traveling the Kansas roadways during the Labor Day weekend.  Many families will head out on one last camping trip or getaway as the school year begins.  Safe Kids Kansas, (sponsored in part by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment), State Farm and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) want to encourage families to buckle up and drive safely to protect their most valuable asset, their families.

This year, August 28 through September 12, a safety belt awareness campaign called “Bucks for Buckles” is being held in 46 cities across Kansas.  Dollar bills are being distributed by local volunteers to drivers who have all occupants buckled up securely in their vehicle.  Those riding unrestrained will receive educational materials about the effectiveness of seat belts and child safety seats in saving lives and reducing injuries.

“No one can predict when they will be involved in a motor vehicle crash, yet almost all of us will be involved in an automobile crash in our lifetime.  In 2020, 365 people lost their lives on Kansas roadways and 56 percent of them were unbuckled,” said Cherie Sage, State Director for Safe Kids Kansas.  “The single most effective means of protecting the lives of you and your passengers is wearing seat belts and using appropriate child restraints every time you ride in the vehicle – even short distances.”

According to the 2020 KDOT Seat Belt Survey, 85 percent of Kansans surveyed were wearing their seat belts.  This compares to the national average is 90 percent.  Kansas ranked 42nd in belt use in 2019, among 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Seat belts save more than 15,000 lives every year and are the best defense against drunk, aggressive, and distracted drivers. “Seat belts are the single most effective device you can use to save your life during a vehicle crash,” said Sage.   “They also reduce your chances of having a serious injury by as much as 50 percent.  It’s such a simple thing, so take your life into your own hand and buckle up.”

For more information about safety belt or child safety seat use, call 785-296-1223 or visit www.safekidskansas.org, www.safekids.org and www.facebook.com/safekidskansas.

A list of Bucks for Buckles sites and coordinators can be downloaded here.

This information can be made available in alternative accessible formats upon request. For more information about obtaining an alternative format, you may contact Safe Kids Kansas at 785-296-1223, or [email protected]. Both speech/hearing disabled and hearing Kansans can access the Kansas Relay Center by calling toll-free 1-800-766-3777. Callers should inform the relay operator of the number they wish to call and the type of call they are making direct, credit card, collect, person-to-person, etc.

Visit us at www.safekidskansas.org and on Facebook.

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Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

New Realtor Added to Lyons Realty Group: Chelsea Harrison

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Chelsea Harrison, 28, is a new realtor at Lyons Realty Group.
Originally from Frontenac,  in 2012 she moved to Fort Scott and fell in love with the community, she said.
She started a career in health care and worked for the Mercy Physicians Group, transitioning to Mercy Emergency Room until the closure of the hospital.
“Up until recently, I held a position at the office of Dr. Katrina Burke,” she said.
She decided on a career change after renovating a home.
“My interest in real estate started when my fiance and I purchased our first home and did a full renovation on the property,” she said. “It was such a rewarding experience to be able to create our own space and watch it transition into our family home”
“My fiance and I have two boys, 4 and 6 years old,” Harrison said.
” I fell in love with the idea of getting to help other clients and families find their dream homes,” Harrison said.
“I was immediately drawn to Lyons Realty Group for that reason,” she said. “Upon meeting with Bailey, it became clear that the mission of Lyons Realty Group was to truly serve the client and give them the best possible experience when purchasing or selling their home, which made it a great fit for me.”
“After working in health care for the last 10 years, I am truly excited to be able to serve the community of Fort Scott and surrounding areas in a new way,” she said.
Lyons’ Realty Group, taken from its Facebook page.
Contact Harrison at the Lyons Realty Group office:  620.266.9448 or her cell phone: 620.249.9825, or her email:
 chelsea@lyonsrealtygrp.com
Obituary

Obituary of Pauline Dunn

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Pauline Marie Dunn

Pauline Marie Dunn, age 91, a former resident of Macomb, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at the Medicalodge in Ft. Scott, Kansas. Pauline moved to Ft. Scott fourteen months ago to be near her daughter.

Pauline is survived by her three children, Christy Pollock, Jim Dunn and Randy Dunn.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Macomb, Illinois under the direction of the Dodsworth-Piper-Wallen Funeral Home. Local arrangements were handled by the Cheney Witt Chapel of Ft. Scott, Kansas.

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum

Jazz and R and B Violinist to Play October 8

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The Gordon Parks Museum Presents:
“DOMINIQUE HAMMONS”
“I AM STRADIVARI”
Multi-Talented Contemporary
Jazz & R&B Violinist
PERFORMING AT
The River Room
3 W. OAK ST., FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
Doors open at 6:30 pm
Performance at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $30 in advance, or $35 at the door.
Tickets are available at the Gordon Parks Museum or over the phone (620) 223.2700, Ext. 5850
ClickHERE to visit the Gordon Parks Museum website.
Click HEREto view the Press release from The Gordon Parks Museum and learn more about his amazing and talented performer that is coming to Fort Scott!
Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

KDHE Announces Release of Kansas COVID County Rankings Report

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Editors note: SEK Multi County Health Department Administrator Becky Johnson provided the following helpful links: https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data (this has numbers of persons vaccinated)
This is the link for number of cases in Kansas by county: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas

 

TOPEKA – Today, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced the release of the Kansas COVID County Ranking report. This report is designed to help county commissioners and local leaders stop the spread of COVID-19 in their communities by tracking critical COVID-19 metrics including testing, case and vaccination rates.

“I believe that data is a powerful tool we can use to guide our response to COVID-19,” Dr. Lee Norman said. “I am hopeful this report empowers action in communities and encourages sharing and implementation of best practices across Local Health Departments. Local leaders and communities are working tirelessly to keep us safe; to help them, helps all of us.”

This report is not a report-card, as multiple factors impact COVID-19 testing, case and vaccination rates in our communities. It brings together the most critical COVID-19 metrics at a local level to help state, county, and local leaders work together to stop the spread of the dangerous COVID-19 delta variant and keep Kansans safe and keep the economy open.

“Over the past 18 months, Kansas Counties have worked tirelessly to provide ongoing response and vital resources for county residents to keep them safe and informed on the evolving COVID-19 virus,” shared Bruce Chladny, Executive Director, Kansas Association of Counties, “And, the county response efforts, including vaccinations and essential messaging, continue as Kansas now experiences yet another surge from the deadly virus.”

Three metrics are reported and ranked across each county:

  • Full series vaccination rate of eligible population (12+ year olds)
  • 7- day daily average number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people
  • 7- day daily average number of COVID-19 tests administered per 100,000 people

Each county’s rankings are added together to generate a total score for the county. The total scores for counties are then ranked from 1-105.

The report will be refreshed three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It can be found on KDHE’s website at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas. Data for the report is provided by the CDC and KDHE.

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Governor Directs State Agencies to Return to Remote Work

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TOPEKA – In response to the continued spread of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, Governor Laura Kelly today released new guidance directing state agencies under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch to resume remote work operations where possible.

“Since the start of the pandemic, my administration has followed the best public health guidance to keep our communities safe, mitigate the spread of the virus, and reduce strain on hospitals,” Governor Kelly said. “The decision to return to remote work was not made lightly – but we know that this is a necessary step to prevent COVID-19 infections. I am confident that our state employees will continue to provide quality services to all Kansans who need them.”

The remote work model will remain in place through October 4th. At that time, a re-assessment of current COVID-19 infection rates will determine when state employees can return to fully on-site work.

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, state agency operations shifted to remote work for employees whose job functions could be performed remotely. In June, after a significant reduction in daily COVID-19 infections, state employees began returning to state office buildings.

As infection numbers began to rise again throughout the summer, a transition to remote work will help control the spread of the virus among state employees. Onsite staffing will be limited to only those necessary to safely conduct agency operations.

Mask requirements, social distancing and other mitigation measures will remain in place for employees whose jobs must be performed on-site. Public offices serving customers will be encouraged to re-institute mitigation measures that were previously utilized during the pandemic, such as scheduling “by appointment only” or making allowances for virtual as opposed to in-person interactions. All such measures will be carried out in a way as to have as minimal an impact or inconvenience on customers.

View the new guidance here. 

Government, Kansas

Kansas Industrial Hemp Regulations Amended for Harvest Season

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MANHATTAN, Kansas — The state rules and regulations board has approved the adoption of temporary amendments to the Kansas industrial hemp regulations which were proposed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. The regulation amendments will align Kansas’ industrial hemp regulations with the USDA’s Final Rule on commercial hemp production.

The amended regulations extend the timeframe to complete sampling and harvest, provide flexibility to producers regarding potential remediation of plants if sampling tests above acceptable THC levels, and increases the threshold at which a crop will be deemed to have been produced negligently. The full amended regulations for K.A.R. 4-34-24, K.A.R. 4-34-25 and K.A.R. 4-34-29 can be found at www.agriculture.ks.gov/IndustrialHemp.

Because these amendments directly address regulations that affect harvest, they were expedited to be in place on a temporary basis. Plans are in progress to make them permanent through the official rules and regulations approval process. Public comments may be submitted online after September 2 and a public hearing will be held on November 8 as KDA considers finalizing the regulations; KDA will release details on the public comments and hearing soon.

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Kansas Industrial Hemp Regulations Amended for Harvest Season.pdf
Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

COVID Vaccine Offered by Health Department

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The Southeast Kansas Multi County Health Department offices are now offering an additional dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine for those moderately to severely immunocompromised.

Mondays are walk-in days, but otherwise someone wanting vaccinated would need to call for an appointment.

Please bring ID and your COVID-19 vaccine card to the appointment.

Office numbers are as follows:

Allen County: (620)365-2191;

Anderson County: (785)448-6559,

Bourbon County: (620)223-4464;

Woodson County: (620)625-2484

Submitted by

—
Rebecca Johnson BSN, RN

SEK Multi-County Health Department

Administrator

Bourbon County, Schools

New Teachers At USD 235: April Stock, Linda Rogers and Stephanie Defebaugh

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This is part of a series of features on new educators in the Uniontown district. USD 235 School District starts school on August 26.

April Stock, center, with her family. Submitted photo.
April Stock, 35, is a new first-grade teacher at West Bourbon Elementary School, Uniontown.
Stock earned her  Master of Science in Elementary Education from Fort Hays State University.
“This will be my first year as a classroom teacher but I have been lucky enough to be a para and work with the amazing special education teacher and be a part of the great team of paraprofessionals at West Bourbon Elementary!” she said.
She is married to Kolby Stock and has three  children, Klara (13), Kyson (10), and Kort (8).
“I have wanted to be an elementary teacher ever since I was in the first grade and I wanted to be just like my first-grade teacher,” she said.  “I have been blessed with being a stay-at-home mom for many years and now that my children are all in school, I decided it was time for me to pursue teaching.”

 

“The best part of teaching is getting to spark the curiosity and creativity inside of students and instill within them a desire to learn and seek out knowledge,” Stock said.  “I enjoy connecting with each student to see just what each of their individual needs are so that I can provide them with what is necessary for them to learn.”

 

Linda Rogers. Submitted photo.

Linda (Ramsey) Rogers will be teaching reading and math for 1st and 2nd-grade students at West Bourbon Elementary School.

She graduated from Uniontown High School in 1974, Pittsburg State University in Elementary Education in 1979, and received a master’s degree in 1987.

She and her husband, Harold, have been married for 31 years and have two sons, and Harold’s married daughters have given them seven grandchildren, she said.

“Most of my career was spent in second grade for USD 234, Fort Scott,” she said.  “I’ve also taught 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, for a total of 39 years.”

For the past two years, she has substituted for USD 235 in Uniontown.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching for me is working with children; to see their progress and watch them take pride in their accomplishments,” Rogers said.  “Education is a tough job, but being a part of something that will impact the future of our community, our nation, and our world makes this profession extremely rewarding.”
In her spare time she is involved in her church and crafting.
“This summer and last, I’ve helped with Feeding Families In His Name Ministry every Monday,  through Community Christian Church, and also led a women’s Bible study on Sunday mornings.  For the past 2 1/2 years, I’ve learned how to quilt, and have become addicted!”
Stephanie Defebaugh. Submitted photo.
Stephanie Defebaugh, 29, will teach preschool at USD 235.
She graduated from Pittsburg State University after receiving her associates degree at Coffeyville Community College.
Defebaugh has taught the last three years in Iola as a kindergarten teacher.
She has been married for five years to her husband, Andrew and has a son, Blaine, who is four years old and a daughter, Kendall, who will turn one this month.
She pursued her career because of a teacher she had.
“I had a wonderful and patient teacher who was able to identify my learning struggles and helped me overcome them. I would like to pay that forward to others.”
“One of the basic human needs is belonging, and teaching can provide that,” she said. Teaching plays a vital role, alongside the families, in shaping young children of our community and nation. Plus, I enjoy coloring with them.”
“Teaching is a tough job, but it is one where you can make the most impact in another person’s life,” Defebaugh said. “The challenges we, as teachers, face is different by the day, so you have to make sure you have a Plan Z as A-Y may not work.”
In her spare time, she has been playing one of her husband’s past times, golf.
“I am enjoying it more than I thought,” she said.  “I also enjoy watching baseball.”

 

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee hosted by Museum of Creativity on August 26

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Chamber Coffee hosted by Museum of Creativity

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, August 26th at 8 a.m. hosted by Museum of Creativity located at 102 S. National Ave. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served and attendees may enter a drawing for door prizes.

Owners Lorina & Jonathan have recently been working on renovations as funds become available. They welcome everyone to come and see what they have changed and accomplished since they have become Chamber members.

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.

Bourbon County Local News