Business, COVID-19

COVID-19 Ventilator Production in Kansas

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Governor Laura Kelly Praises Spirit AeroSystems and their Workers for COVID-19 Ventilator Production

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today visited and toured Spirit AeroSystems’ new assembly line making ventilators for the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

As the public health crisis progressed, Spirit shifted their production to making ventilators to ensure hospitals would have the necessary lifesaving equipment to treat COVID-19 patients. The ventilators are portable and suitable for long-term care, ambulatory settings, and ICUs. They are providing the ventilators to local units, FEMA’s strategic stockpile, other states, and countries around the world.

 

“I applaud Spirit’s quick action to pivot their manufacturing capabilities to produce ventilators, the men and women I met today exemplify what it means to be a Kansan – innovative, courageous, and selfless,” said Governor Kelly. “This crisis has produced many challenges for our families, businesses, and communities. The staff at Spirit are working hard in anticipation of a possible second wave, and we appreciate them for helping not just Kansans, but people across the world.”

 

Vyaire Medical Inc and Spirit AeroSystems are collaborating to build ventilators at this facility in Wichita in response to COVID-19. Vyaire is the world’s largest healthcare company fully dedicated to respiratory care. This partnership will increase production of ventilators and other related respiratory equipment for COVID-19 patients who need it the most.

 

In addition to the national stockpile request, Vyaire is working with state and private hospital and health system clients to ensure delivery of ventilators to areas of greatest need. The manufacturing and supply collaboration will help to balance the needs of clinicians urgently treating patients at the bedside with the commitment to fill or replenish strategic stockpiles.

 

Below are photos available for media use:

 

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Entertainment, Fort Scott, Government

FS Swimming Pool Opens June 22

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The Fort Scott Aquatic Center will open at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 22nd, 2020.

Due to COVID-19 and extra precautions put into place, there will be NO pool passes sold in 2020.

There will also be NO locker rental.

Credit card purchases will NOT be allowed.

Gift card purchases will NOT be allowed.

Daily passes and concessions will be sold on a cash basis ONLY.

There will be NO flotation devices allowed.

There will not be any deck chairs set out.

Patrons of the pool may bring their own deck chairs for their use and take with them when they leave.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Please call City Hall at 223-0550 if you have questions.

Government, Kansas

U.S. Supreme Court Decides to Uphold DACA

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Governor Laura Kelly’s Statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision to Uphold DACA

 

The following statement is from Governor Laura Kelly on the United States Supreme Court’s decision Thursday to uphold the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:

“Today’s decision by the United States Supreme Court to uphold protections for Dreamers was the right one. Dreamers have contributed much to our communities and to our economy, and ending DACA would have cost our state more than $335.9 million every year.

“There are more than 6,000 DACA recipients in Kansas — they serve in our military, work in our hospitals, teach our kids, and pay taxes. They were brought here as children, this is their home, they belong here.”

Business, Government, Kansas

KCC Investigates Evergy Agreement with Eliot International

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Out of concern for customers, KCC launches an investigation into Evergy’s deal with asset management company Elliot International

TOPEKA – This morning, the Kansas Corporation Commission voted to open a general investigation into an agreement between regulated utility, Evergy, and asset management company Elliot International. The agreement, reached in February, requires the utility to consider cutting costs or pursuing a merger transaction in order to increase shareholder profits.

KCC staff petitioned Commissioners to launch the investigation out of serious concern that the agreement could negatively affect Kansas electric customers.

“Staff is very concerned that Elliott’s focus on increasing shareholder value will place Evergy’s customers at a high risk of paying higher rates or receiving lower quality service in order to support an increase in shareholder value,”  the KCC filing said.

By opening an investigation, the Commission, stakeholders and customers will be fully informed of the analysis and rationale of Evergy’s decisions relating to the Elliott agreement.

Staff’s report outlines an extensive number of issues that present a challenge to Elliot’s shareholder enhancement concept. Those include:

  • Merger commitments made in 2018 when the Commission approved the merger of Westar and Kansas City Power & Light into one company now known as Evergy.
  • KCC Staff and Evergy rate studies that point to extensive capital expense investments and reduced sales as major drivers of the increases in Evergy’s rates.
  • Legislative efforts to reduce Evergy’s rates to become more regionally competitive.
  • The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evergy will be required to file a report addressing questions posed by KCC staff no later than two weeks after its board makes a decision whether to pursue a cost reduction plan or a merger transaction. The deadline for that vote is August 17.

Today’s order can be viewed at http://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx?Id=509dd85d-5964-4d3c-923d-1f2ba1811834

Food, Fort Scott

A Free Pantry Opens In a Fort Scott Neighborhood

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The Warner’s  Little Free  Pantry at 4th and Holbrook Street.
A couple of Fort Scottians saw a need in their neighborhood and decided to help meet it.
Chase Warner and Whitney Wratchford purchased their house last summer and immediately saw the need within their neighborhood for some food assistance.
“Chase and I have had this on our hearts since we first became homeowners in our community,” she said. ” We noticed immediately that our own neighborhood was in need of a little help. We were seeing children daily that would make comments like ‘Can I have a banana? I had Ramen Noodles for breakfast.’ And ‘My mom doesn’t have money to buy us dinner.’ We know that this problem isn’t just in our neighborhood but all throughout our community and when the Covid-19 pandemic really hit hard and people started to lose jobs we set out to put the pantry up as soon as the stay-at-home order lifted! Chase and I just really wanted to help and the best way was to provide food that any individual could choose from on their own time and when they feel comfortable.”
Warner’s Little Free Pantry is located at 4th and Holbrook Street.
“We ourselves are a working-class family and have at times in our lives struggled to provide as well and knowing the heartache that those parents and children are feeling just put our plan in motion,” she said. “I have since seen our pantry helping lots of people and lots of people helping fill the box! That is exactly how the pantry should work!”
They opened Warner’s Little Free Pantry on June 6, 2020.
It is a box on a stand that contains numerous items for the taking: food, hygiene items and other shelf-stable items that can stand Kansas temperatures housed in a box.
“Take what you need,” Wratchford said. ” Leave what you can. Above all be blessed! We ourselves donate whenever possible and just hope that others will decide to donate as well. The pantry is open for donations for nonperishable food items and various toiletries and household items. If anyone has any questions or concerns they can reach us via email, phone or on our Facebook page Warner’s Little Free Pantry.”
The inside of the Warner’s Little Free Pantry on Wednesday afternoon.
Wratchford stumbled across a grassroots movement and decided this would help fill that need.
The Little Free Pantry is a grassroots, locally sourced solution to local need, Wratchford said.  “Whether a need for food or a need to give, our mini pantry helps neighbors feed neighbors, nourishing neighborhoods. It is meant to meet immediate needs for families or individuals who are struggling to make ends meet. “
“Jessica McClard launched the movement in May 2016 in Fayetteville, AR,” Wratchford said. “Since that time there have been many families like ours, building and opening little pantries of their own…. We used wood we purchased for our fence and Chase and his dear friend Lincoln Brubaker built the box in a day! “
“The box sits on 4th Street between Holbrook and Eddy facing north., she said. “If you need to use GPS to find us you can program 314 W. 4th St. You can’t miss it!”
Business, Fort Scott

Alternative Payment Arrangements Now Available for Kansas Gas Service Customers

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Customers Encouraged to Call About Options Available to Them

Overland Park, KS – Kansas Gas Service is encouraging customers who have experienced financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic to contact the company to take advantage of a variety of payment options and alternative payment plans.

“We understand this is a stressful time for everyone,” said Abbey Frye, Kansas Gas Service director of customer service. “It’s important to us that our customers know there are several options to avoid disconnection that can be helpful for anyone having trouble paying their natural gas bill.”

Customers can visit a dedicated web page at www.kansasgasservice.com/cares for information on energy assistance programs and other financial resources. Customers can also call 800-794-4780 to speak to customer service representatives about payment options, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Frye also reminds customers that by paying what they can now will help to avoid building up a balance that will be hard to pay off later.

“We take our commitment to deliver safe and reliable natural gas service to the homes and businesses we serve very seriously,” said Frye. “What we’re asking now is for customers to contact us so that we can do everything we can to help.”

About Kansas Gas Service
Kansas Gas Service delivers safe, clean and reliable natural gas service to more than 638,000 customers in 360 communities in Kansas. We are the largest natural gas distributor in the state, in terms of customers.
We are a division of ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS), a stand-alone, 100 percent regulated, publicly traded natural gas utility that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “OGS.” ONE Gas is included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index, and is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States.
For more information, visit the websites at kansasgasservice.com or onegas.com.
For the latest news about Kansas Gas Service, follow us on Twitter @KansasGas or Facebook at Facebook.com/KansasGasService.

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Friday Free Concert This Friday, June 19

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Friday Free Concerts resume this Friday at 7 p.m. at Common Grounds Coffee Shop, 10 E. Wall. This is a new venue, as prior Friday Free Concerts have been at Heritage Park.

“This Friday is first night of the summer concert series, sponsored by the Fort Scott Chamber Of Commerce,” said organizer Ralph Carlson.  “The featured entertainment will be Rick Hite on vocal and guitar. Rick has been a regular contributor to our Friday night series. The concert will be held at the New Common Grounds Coffee Shop at 7pm Friday night.”

Government, Kansas

Driver’s License Renewal Made Easier

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Governor Laura Kelly Announces Executive Order Extending Relief from Online Driver’s License Renewal Age Restrictions

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced she signed an Executive Order Monday that will help make renewing driver’s licenses easier for people across the state.

 

Executive Order #20-46 offers temporary relief from age restrictions that prohibit applicants 50 years of age or older from applying to renew their driver’s license online. Under the new order, all drivers under the age of 65 are permitted to use the online renewal system.

 

“Providing every opportunity for Kansans who are at a higher risk of COVID-19 to conduct business virtually is crucial in our efforts to safely get Kansans back to work and back to school as quickly as possible,” Governor Kelly said. “This order is one of several actions my administration is working on to help Kansans return to normal while making sure we protect the health of our of seniors and others who are at higher risk in this pandemic.”

 

The order will remain in place until rescinded, until July 31, 2020, or until the statewide State of Disaster Emergency expires, whichever is earlier.

 

To view Executive Order #20-46, click here.

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Kansas Quarantine List Changes

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KDHE adds states to travel quarantine list, removes others

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has added three states to the quarantine list: Alabama, Arizona and Arkansas, and removed six states from the list: Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. This is effective for persons returning today, June 17, and moving forward. The state will review/update this list on July 1.

 

A comprehensive list of those individuals in Kansas needing to quarantine for 14 days includes those who have:

 

Traveled to:

  • Maryland on or after May 12.
  • Alabama, Arizona and Arkansas on or after June 17.
  • Been on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15.
  • International travel on or after March 15.

 

Others needing to continue quarantining:

  • Received notification from public health officials (state or local) that you are a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19.

 

Please note these quarantine orders do not apply to critical infrastructure sectors needed to continue operations during this pandemic. Public health, including hospitals, clinics, law enforcement, meatpacking supply, etc. need to have the staffing resources to continue serving Kansans. While KDHE strongly recommends these quarantine restrictions for everyone, we do recognize that services need to continue. KDHE encourages facilities to ensure they have updated their Emergency Preparedness Plans and implement protocols to ensure that no employee comes to work symptomatic.

 

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the KDHE website at www.kdhe.ks.gov/coronavirus.

Government

Census Results Affect Government Representation, Funding and Community

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Why The Governments Asks The Census Questions

Census results affect your voice in government, how much funding your community receives, and how your community plans for the future.

The 2020 Census is easy. The questions are simple.

Responses to census questions provide a snapshot of the nation.

When you fill out the census, you help:

Determine how many seats your state gets in Congress.

Inform how more than $675 billion in federal funding is distributed to states and communities each year.

Create jobs, provide housing, prepare for emergencies, and build schools, roads and hospitals.

The 2020 Census will ask for the following information:

Number of people at address

We ask this question to collect an accurate count of the number of people at each address on Census Day, April 1, 2020. Each decade, census results determine how many seats your state gets in Congress. State and local officials use census counts to draw boundaries for congressional districts, state legislative districts, and school districts.

Any additional people living or staying there

Our goal is to count people once, only once, and in the right place according to where they live on Census Day. Keeping this goal in mind, we ask this question to ensure that everyone living at an address is counted.

Owner/Renter

We ask about whether a home is owned or rented to create statistics about homeownership and renters. Homeownership rates serve as an indicator of the nation’s economy and help in administering housing programs and informing planning decisions.

Phone number

We ask for a phone number in case we need to contact you. We will never share your number and will only contact you if needed for official Census Bureau business.

Name

We ask for names to ensure everyone in the household is counted. This also helps us to keep ancestry records. Listing the name of each person in the household helps respondents include all members, particularly in large households where a respondent may forget who was counted and who was not.

Sex

We ask about the sex of each person to create statistics about males and females. Census data about sex is used in planning and funding government programs, and in evaluating other government programs and policies to ensure they fairly and equitably serve the needs of males and females. These statistics are also used to enforce laws, regulations, and policies against discrimination in government programs and in society.

Age and date of birth

We ask about age and date of birth to understand the size and characteristics of different age groups and to present other data by age. Local, state, tribal, and federal agencies use age data to plan and fund government programs that provide assistance or services for specific age groups, such as children, working-age adults, women of childbearing age, or the older population. These statistics also help enforce laws, regulations, and policies against age discrimination in government programs and in society.

Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin

We ask about whether a person is of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin to create statistics about this ethnic group. The data collected in this question is needed by federal agencies to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act.

Race

We ask about a person’s race to create statistics about race and to present other statistics by race groups. The data collected in this question is needed by federal agencies to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act.

Whether a person lives or stays somewhere else

Our goal is to count people once, only once, and in the right place according to where they live on Census Day. Keeping this goal in mind, we ask this question to ensure individuals are not included at multiple addresses.

Relationship

We ask about the relationship of each person in a household to one central person to create estimates about families, households, and other groups. Relationship data is used in planning and funding government programs that provide funds or services for families, people living or raising children alone, grandparents living with grandchildren, or other households that qualify for additional assistance.

For more information, visit:
2020CENSUS.GOV

Bourbon County Local News