Chamber Coffee being hosted by Lucci’s Cafe
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces that this week’s Chamber Coffee will be hosted by Lucci’s Cafe of Fort Scott on Thursday, July 8th at 8:00 a.m. at 101 State St. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees may register for a prize drawing.
Chamber members and guests are invited to Chamber Coffee events each Thursday at 8 a.m. to network, make announcements, hear about happenings in the community as well as learn about the host business or organization.
The County Fair
July is in full swing and that for most of the country means it’s time for the county fair. For many, this is the best time of year.
The county fair is more than just a carnival or night time events. It is an exhibition of talents from all ages with exhibits ranging in a variety of sizes and categories. Most exhibits have taken an entire 4-H year to complete and some a lot less, but all of the exhibits have a special story and add value to the county fair.
As any 4-H’er can tell you, there is a lot of blood, sweat, and tears involved with preparing for the county fair. The animals you see were raised by youth not just because of the county fair, but to help the youth learn invaluable life lessons to become responsible, caring individuals. The same goes for any of the indoor exhibits from cooking to sewing to photography to woodworking and so on! The opportunities are endless.
I would like to encourage you to take a minute and attend a county fair near you. Explore all of the great accomplishments within the indoor exhibits and the barns full of animals. Visit with a 4-H’er about their project and see the excitement they display.
In the coming weeks, there will be three fairs held within the Southwind Extension District. The first is Bourbon County Fair – July 10th-17th, Woodson County Fair – July 17th-21st, Neosho County Fair – July 22nd-26th, and Allen County Fair – August 22nd-25th. We hope to see you at the county fair!
If you would like more information on how to be involved either to enter exhibits or be a helper, please contact your local Extension Office. Contact information can be found on our website at www.southwind.ksu.edu. For more information about being in 4-H, contact Jennifer Terrell, 4-H Youth Development Agent at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports July
Kansas Parental Leave Policy Expands
Governor Laura Kelly Expands Parental Leave Policy for State Employees
~~Encourages other employers to develop similar models to strengthen Kansas’ workforce~~
TOPEKA – As part of her ongoing commitment to supporting State of Kansas employees, Governor Laura Kelly today issued Executive Order 21-24, which expands parental leave benefits to primary caregivers, secondary caregivers, and foster parents.
“Supporting working parents in our workforce is not only the right thing to do – it’s good for our economy,” Governor Kelly said. “We’re committed to recruiting and keeping talented Kansans in our state and creating a supportive environment for our families.”
Under the new policy, primary and secondary caregivers, along with foster parents, receive the additional leave. The new policy is as follows:
- Primary caregivers receive eight weeks of leave (an increase of two weeks from the original policy);
- Secondary caregivers receive four weeks of leave (an increase of one week from the original policy);
- Foster parents are now eligible for parental leave, with primary caregivers receiving eight weeks of leave and secondary caregivers receiving four weeks of leave;
- Parental leave can now be used thirty days in advance of the birth date, adoption, or fostering of a child or children per calendar year;
- New State employees become eligible after 180 days of employment. Current employees will not be subjected to this requirement.
“Paid family leave is a win-win for both families and employers,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO, United WE. “Policies like this that expand these benefits to women and their families bolster economies, improve health and education outcomes and strengthens business through a stronger employee workforce. We applaud Governor Kelly’s action today and urge other states without paid family leave policies to consider the research-backed benefits of strong economic policies that support employees and their families.”
Effective immediately, the Kansas Department of Administration’s Office of Personnel Services will implement the new policy and provide information to State of Kansas agencies and employees.
Human Resource Roundtable July 7
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City Water Flushing Starts July 8
The City of Fort Scott Water Utility is initiating our flushing/ free Chlorine burnout program for the year.
The flushing will start on Thursday, July 8th and last approximately two weeks throughout the City of Fort Scott and Bourbon County Rural water districts.
This is in order to maintain water quality.
If this maintenance is not performed in the water distribution system, the water will eventually lose all of its disinfection residual, which could cause the utility of incurring disinfectant residual violations from KDHE.
The Fort Scott Water Utility has commenced the annual flushing program along with a free chlorine burnout of the water distribution system. This burnout is a part of the necessary maintenance of the distribution system which will help maintain the disinfection residual levels required by KDHE.
During this flushing and free chlorine burnout, the disinfectant used in the distribution system will be changed from chloramines to free chlorine which is a stronger and faster-acting disinfectant. Flushing and chlorine burnouts are routine distribution system maintenance conducted by utilities with chloramine disinfection.
There are two common types of chlorine used in water treatment for disinfection purposes, combined chlorine (or chloramines) and free chlorine.
A benefit of using chloramines is that they will retain disinfection residual longer in the distribution system and they do not lend themselves in promoting taste, or a “chlorine” taste in the water.
Except during a burnout in the summertime, the City of Fort Scott Water Treatment Plant uses chloramines to disinfect the finished water before entering the distribution system.
However, chloramines are not as strong of a disinfectant as free chlorine and it can allow certain types of nitrifying bacteria to grow in the distribution system. These natural occurring bacteria feed on the ammonia found in our finished water. These bacteria are nonpathogenic – they are not a health concern. Nitrifying bacteria which naturally grow in any distribution system when using chloramines can become prolific in warm summer temperatures. They will eventually cause water quality to degrade in the warmer summer months. Also, heat alone is a major factor that will cause disinfectant residuals to dissipate.
Surface water systems across the State do annual or biannual free chlorine burnouts. The term burnout is commonly used because free chlorine is a much more powerful disinfectant than combined chlorine. Free chlorine will oxidize nitrifying bacteria and keep it in check.
Fire hydrants will be utilized to allow flushing of the system to help remove sediment from the pipes and distribute the change in disinfectant.
Customers may notice city personnel flushing fire hydrants throughout the city during this period. This free chlorine is pulled through the distribution system by flushing the entire system through fire hydrants, and overflowing water towers.
Occasionally during this process customers may temporarily experience low pressures, taste or odors, discolored water, or even some sediment in their water.
During the flushing and burnout you may notice that your tap water tastes different than normal. This is because most people cannot smell or taste combined chlorine in the water, however most people can smell and taste free chlorine in the water. It could also affect the taste of fountain drinks. If you find the chlorine taste unpleasant, it can be helpful to leave an uncovered pitcher of water sit overnight. This will allow some of the chlorine to evaporate and could help improve taste during this time.
The burnout process normally takes two weeks after which we can return to the combined chlorine residual and the excellent tasting water of which we are accustomed.
The city is extremely fortunate to have such a quality water supply available. Quality water helps promote quality life. Much of the rest of the world is not as fortunate in water supply and water quality.
If questions, concerns, or comments please contact Michael Mix or Scott Flater at the Water Treatment Plant at 223-5160 between 8:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday.
Unvaccinated Individuals Comprise 90% of New COVID Cases In The Region
CHC/SEK requests patients to wear masks in clinics
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas clinics are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases and is reminding all patients to wear a mask during their clinic visits. Masks are also available for patients who need them.
COVID-19 testing is also available at all locations, and patients are asked to call ahead to their local clinic and request a test, and to remain in their cars for testing.
Unvaccinated individuals have comprised about 90% of the new cases, 95% of hospitalizations, and 98% of virus-related deaths in our region, according to CHC/SEK Chief Medical Officer Linda Bean D.O.
“Vaccination against COVID-19 continues to be the best way to protect yourself and others from serious or long-term effects of the virus,” Bean says. “CHC/SEK has now given over 40,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine which has shown to be safe and effective protection from the virus.”
COVID-19 vaccinations are available at all CHC/SEK clinics for anyone age 12 and older. People can walk-in or can request an appointment by calling their local CHC/SEK clinic or by going online at https://chcsek.org/getmyshot/
At this time the current vaccines appear to be effective against the variant Delta strains of COVID-19 which is more transmissible and can cause more significant illness in younger patients.
Art Offerings For Children
Happy Snappy Art offers five different paintings reflecting a weekly theme for children.
“Our upcoming Kids theme will be ‘Down on the Farm’,” said Judy Earp, Happy Snappy Art. “We will paint country scenes and farm animals while learning new techniques and having fun.”
“The Teen Art Camp theme will be ‘French Impressionist Painting’,” she said. “We will paint five different paintings inspired by the Impressionists. We will even paint our own version of Monet’s Garden.”
Christopher Eshelman is the New First United Methodist Pastor
Rev. Christopher Eshelman, 53, is the new pastor at First United Methodist Church in Fort Scott as of July 1.
“People can call me Pastor Christopher, some have been known to shorten that to Pastopher,” he said.
He has been a pastor for 14 years, and prior to that worked in small businesses in Wichita.
“I attended Wichita State (University), earning a bachelor of arts in sociology with a minor in political science in 1991,” he said. “My Master of Divintiy was earned in 2011 from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. My wife Robin and I met at WSU and she has degrees in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, recently accepting a job with USD 257 in Iola.”
Wichita is his hometown.
“My parents were Lutheran and Catholic,” he said. “I was baptized at St. Paul Lutheran in Wichita – but after my parents’ divorce, mom took my brother and I to St. Albans, a ‘high rite’ Episcopalian congregation,” he said.
He then did catechism in the Roman Catholic Church as a child, “but found I had too many disagreements and questions to continue,” he said.
His wife Robin had ” basically dragged” him to a University United Methodist Church Disciple Bible Study.
Midway through the study, the leader retired and Eshelman accepted the leader position.
Not long after that, he was offered a staff position at a Methodist church that he had wandered away from.
He was now in charge of creating the classes that he used to refuse to go to, he said.
“After a lifetime of wandering, I found a home in Wesleyan theology with its emphasis on therapeutic grace – and then was sent forth to share what I’d found with others,” he said.
“As I continued to grow in faith and understanding, the path to seminary, ordination, and serving as a pastor became more and more clear,” he said. “In the United Methodist Church, we believe pastors are both called by God and sent by congregations – and that has certainly been my experience. God’s grace has transformed my life and it is my honor to share that with others.”
Rev. Gayla Rapp was a key influence in his life.
“She accepted my (sometimes imprudent) questions and often responded by handing me a book, then we’d discuss it after I’d read it,” he said. “She helped me deepen my spiritual and religious journey – without imposing answers.”
Other mentors include Rev. Cheryl Jefferson Bell, Rev. Barry Dundas, Rev. Cindy Watson, Revs. Howard West and Terry Murray and many, many others, he said.
“We Christians hold that Jesus is fully human and fully God…and is transcendent,” he said. “We hold that we are to become like Christ. Exactly when would we be done growing?… We always have something new to learn.”
“I love connecting people more deeply with scripture, rituals, and spiritual practices,” he said. “A personal motto is ‘Find your path… share your journey.’ It is so fun to see a light go on in someone’s eyes as they make a connection, deepen a relationship or even develop a new question that draws them further along their own path!”
This past year with the COVID Pandemic has been by far the most difficult in his career, he said.
“Trying to make decisions to keep people safe, while continuing community has been extremely taxing,” he said.
“Beyond that, people are sometimes all too human – but I often say ‘Jesus hasn’t given up on me, so I’m not allowed to give up on anyone else.'”
He is an avid reader and listens to a wide variety of music, especially rock and jazz; is a huge soccer fan, following teams in several leagues and countries; enjoys writing icons (in the Eastern Orthodox tradition) and also enjoys walking labyrinths as a spiritual practice.
“I’m eager to set one up here in Fort Scott and share that ancient tradition with more people,” he said.
In the past, he has served as the president of the Pretty Prairie Community Association and looks forward to getting to know Fort Scott and finding places he and his wife can contribute to building up the community.
Times of church services:
Worship- 10:30 a.m. each Sunday, Sunday school at 9:30 a.m.
The church hosts “Feeding Families in His Name” each Wednesday evening. “It is open to everyone and you are invited!” he said.
For more information phone (316) 833-4974 or email[email protected]
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports July 6
Friday Night Free Concert Features the Apostolic Christian Church
The program for this week’s Friday Night Concert in the park will be presented by the Apostolic Christian Church. The music will feature a concert of hymns and gospel songs in a variety of stylings.
Concert series organizer Ralph Carlson said, “The vocalists
represent all ages and excel in their close harmony and exuberant presentation. This local church group is a crowd favorite and we are pleased to welcome them to the park pavilion.”
The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, are free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs as seating is limited.
In the event of inclement weather, the show will be moved to the Common Ground Coffee Shop, 12 E. Wall Street.