Fort Scott, Schools

Reyna Valenzuela: New Fort Scott High School English Teacher

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Reyna Valenzuela. Submitted photo.

Reyna Valenzuela, 21, was hired as a Fort Scott High School English Teacher for 2020-21.

She graduated from Pittsburg High School in 2016 and from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor’s  Degree in English Education in May 2020 and will be starting a Master’s in English Literature in the fall.

 

“I worked at St. Mary’s Colgan as a YES Tutor for a year and a half, following that I worked for two years on campus as a writing center consultant,” she said.  “I also did my internship through PSU at Northeast High School as well as completed my student teaching at Northeast.”

 

Valenzuela was born in Fort Hood, Texas and has lived in Arma, KS since she was three-years-old.

 

Her interests include reading, Greek Mythology, British Literature, watching YouTube, and Netflix, her cat,  and hanging out with her family.

 

In addition, she loves softball, baseball, and football.

 

“So I look forward to cheering students on at their games in the future,” she said.

 

Becoming a teacher was a realization for Valenzuela.

 

” I wasn’t always sure what I wanted to do, I switched my dream career a lot when I was younger,” she said. “Eventually though, after watching my mom become a teacher and having an amazing AP Literature teacher during my senior year of high school, I realized that this was the field for me. I wanted to have the chance to make a difference in a student’s life as my mom, Tina Valenzuela, and my AP Literature teacher, Mrs. Johnson, did in mine. Because of this, I’ve worked hard through college to learn as much as I could so I could become a successful educator who makes a difference and helps her students in positive ways.”

 

“Seeing how much they both loved to teach and how they put everything they had into the classroom was incredibly inspiring and I don’t think I would have come this far without them,” she said.

 

The best part of teaching for her are the students, she said.

 

“Getting to know them, watching them grow, and succeed, they are the reason I want to teach so I guess it only makes sense they are the best part of teaching.”

 

Some of the challenges of teaching is continuing to learn and grow as a teacher “so that you are still providing students the most effective methods of learning is what I would consider one of the greatest challenges in teaching; because as humans we like routine, and so making sure that you’re constantly changing and evolving is something that can be a struggle, but it’s worth it, in the end, to watch students grow,” she said.

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

4-H Geology

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Jennifer Terrell, K-State Extension Agent

 

Did you find a rock at the park and don’t know what kind it is? What about fossils? If you would like to learn more about rocks, minerals and fossils, then dive into the geology project! Discover the types of minerals, rocks and fossils that can be found where you live. Learn about geological formations across the state and in other states.

There is 4-H Curriculum that can be purchased for anyone interested in the geology project. Here is a breakdown of what youth can learn at different levels:

Ages 7-8:

  • Learn how the earth was formed and its three main parts

  • Learn the difference between a rock and a fossil

  • Collect, clean, identify and label rocks, minerals and fossils found in Kansas

  • Learn the types and impacts of erosion

Ages 9-11:

  • Use different tests to identify minerals by hardness and color

  • Find out what rock types occur in Kansas

  • Learn how to identify fossils

  • Learn to display and evaluate geology exhibits

Ages 12-14:

  • Learn how mountains are formed

  • Discover the impact of glaciers

  • Learn to measure specific gravity

  • Read and use a topographic map

Ages 15 and Older:

  • Measure formation thickness

  • Test to determine chemical properties of minerals

  • Locate sites on a plat map

  • How to prepare for geology careers

In addition to the curriculum, youth are also offered the opportunity to attend project meetings held by volunteers. Each year, youth are able to demonstrate their hard work locally at the county fair and depending on age and placing, the Kansas State Fair.

The geology project is a great opportunity for youth to learn important life skills. For more information about this project, contact Jennifer K. Terrell, 4-H Youth Development for K-State Research and Extension – Southwind District at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Kansas Families to Receive Additional Food Support Through Pandemic EBT Program

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DCF and KSDE partner to offer one-time benefit

 

The Department for Children and Families in collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) announced today the creation of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Program (P-EBT). The program will help families who have been impacted by school closures due to COVID-19 to purchase food for their children.

 

“We know the pandemic has made it difficult for families to access food, especially if they relied on school meals,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Thanks to the partnership between DCF and KSDE the state will be able to automatically enroll most families into the P-EBT program, so they receive their benefit as quickly as possible.”

 

“Food insecurity should be the last thing our Kansas children should have to face right now,” Cheryl Johnson KSDE director of child nutrition and wellness said. “P-EBT provides temporary funding to address emergency food needs and avert financial hardship for families affected by the pandemic. I am thankful that through this partnership, Kansas is able to put healthy food on the table for Kansas children.”

P-EBT provides a one-time benefit of up to $291 on a Kansas Benefits Card to Kansas families whose children between the age of 5 to 18 would receive free or reduced-price meals at participating schools. There is no application process to receive the P-EBT benefit.

 

DCF will issue the benefit in phases. Those Kansas families who currently receive free or reduced-price meals and are enrolled in the food assistance or TANF programs should begin to receive their benefit later this week.

 

The second phase also will include an automatic match with those families on free or reduced-price meals and who also are receiving Medicaid or child care assistance.

 

The final phase will include families that need to provide additional information to receive the benefit. Those families will receive access to a parent portal to register for the program beginning June 5. Parents should receive information from their school district on how to access the parent portal.

 

 

“Most families should expect to see their benefit in the next two weeks,” DCF Secretary Laura Howard said. “If families have not yet received information about P-EBT, I encourage them to reach out to their local school district.”

 

In order to provide additional information about P-EBT and to answer questions, DCF is hosting a virtual town hall meeting tomorrow from 11 a.m. to noon.

 

Virtual P-EBT Town Hall Thursday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to noon.

Use this link to join: https://bit.ly/KansasP-EBTTownHall

Opinion

Reflecting on Hospital Week by Randy Cason

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Randy Cason, Submitted photo.

By Randy Cason, CEO of Ascension Via Christi

We are here for you, thanks for being here for us

 

As we work our way back to “our new normal,” we are taking every necessary step to help ensure a safe environment as we restore the services and programs that were temporarily paused and continue to care for individuals and communities impacted by COVID-19. We have restarted scheduling elective procedures and non-urgent appointments. Some of our providers are also offering virtual visits to help us continue caring for our community.

 

As we look toward the future, our patients coming to Ascension Via Christi for care can expect enhanced safeguards, expanded access to healthcare services and the personalized treatment you all have come to expect. We are committed to ensuring that our hospital and clinics remain a healing environment — one where quality care is delivered with the highest levels of safety and compassion.

 

While we understand people are concerned with exposure to COVID-19, but please do not delay receiving care. Our Emergency Department and care teams are here to provide 24/7 treatment for those experiencing illnesses and injuries. Delaying essential care for chronic conditions could lead to complications and in worse cases, bad outcomes or even death.

 

Each year, we take what is known and celebrated nationally as Hospital Week, to thank the dedicated caregivers who help make our community a great place to live. We are grateful for their service to our mission, especially so during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I also want to thank all of the local businesses, schools and individuals in our community who over the past few months have joined us in protecting the health of others.

 

Rest assured, together we will come through this stronger and more courageous, capable and unified than before.

—

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

Bourbon County Has Seventh Case of COVID 19

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Bourbon County has its seventh case of COVID 19, Rebecca Johnson, SEK Multi-County Health Departments Administrator, said.

The county had seven prior to this, but one was a resident of Woodson County and living in Bourbon. Has since been removed from Bourbon’s count.

The following is a press release from the county health department:

May 20, 2020;

A Bourbon County, KS positive COVID-19 test was confirmed this morning, making Bourbon County’s total number of cases 7. The testing was confirmed through a reference laboratory that was used. The individual works in multiple counties in the health care capacity and was tested as a requirement for work. This case is symptomatic. The individual is in isolation in their home. Their household is in quarantine in their home. Co-workers are taking necessary safety precautions. All potential contacts have been notified and the investigation is complete.

The Bourbon County Public Health Department urges the public to continue to take appropriate actions. Individuals should continue to practice social distancing, clean/disinfect any high touched surfaces, wash their hands with soap and water routinely, use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available and avoid touching your face (especially eyes, nose & mouth).

Please remember if you have the symptoms to:

Call before going to a Clinic, Hospital, ER, or Health Department

Close contact means: 6 foot or less for 10 minutes or more, with a positive case.

If you are experiencing life threatening symptoms, PLEASE CALL 911.

For more information you may call the SEK Multi-County Health Department: Bourbon: (620)223-4464 Monday-Thursday 7:00am-5:30pm OR the COVID-19 Hotline: (866)534-3463.You may also visit the

COVID-19 Resource Center at: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/OR Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments on Facebook for local updates.

 

Fort Scott

Fort Scott Lightning Strike Caught on Camera

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Lightning strike. iphoto.

On  Friday, May 15, 2020, Kansas Gas Service responded to a gas odor call after a report of a lightning strike that damaged two structures in the 600 block of S. National, according to a press release from KGS.

Fort Scott Fire Department and Fort Scott Police Department had National Avenue blocked off between 6th  Street and 7th Street that morning as a result of the gas leak, according to Aimee Moore, who lives in the block that was affected.

Moore had cameras on her house that caught the lightning strike. They are included at the end of this feature.

KGS technicians performed inspections and turned the gas off at two properties until the customers completed necessary repairs to the customer-owned equipment, Dawn Tripp, KGS Media Relations said on Monday afternoon.

 

“Kansas Gas came out and shut off the gas line before removing the meter,”  Moore, said.  Stoughton Inc. completed the repairs and ran the pressure test.  Fort Scott Code Enforcement personnel gave the okay and  Moore waited until KGS put the meter back and turned it on.

 

As a reminder, if you smell natural gas or have a natural gas emergency, leave the area immediately. Then call 911 and Kansas Gas Service at 888-482-4950.

 

Moore submitted the following information and links to the recent lightning strike in Fort Scott.

 

“Friday, May 15, 2020, at 9:37  a.m., lightning struck Dr. Steve Mitchell’s office at 624 South National Ave and caused a gas leak,” she said.

“The current traveled through our electrical lines and also caused arcing to blow out our gas line at 612 S National Ave.,” Moore said. “Pictures fell off of our wall and also at the florist next to us, Flowers by LeeAnn.”

 

Moore submitted the following links of the lightning strikes.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/y0t90f4mse9mzzg/cam1_05-15-2020__09-37-05_09-37-43__Back%20Yard%201.mp4?dl=0

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rtq3gfiphmd0xh7/cam4_05-15-2020__09-37-00_09-38-59__Driveway%204.mp4?dl=0

 

 

 

Obituary

Obituary of Susan Large Brown

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Susan Lynn Brown, age 65, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died late Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at her home.

She was born December 12, 1954, in Wichita, KS, the daughter of Merle Eugene and Dorothy Wiley Large.

She married James Michael Brown on July 18, 1974, in Fort Scott.

Susan worked for several years in claims processing for American States insurance Company and others. She later worked as a secretary for Mid Continental Restoration.

She enjoyed crocheting, bingo, fishing and helping with the family annual Christmas light display. She loved spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband Jim of the home; a daughter, Lori Brown, Ft. Scott; her mother, Dorothy Hofman, Ft. Scott; three brothers, Curtis Large, Meredosia, IL, Charles Large, Meredosia, IL, and Fredrick Large, Ft. Scott; three sisters, Dianna Brown, Kenney, IL, Joyce Mills, Houston, TX, and Eugena Surratt, Meredosia, IL; three grandchildren, Elizabeth, Christopher and Michael Moore; and grandmother, Enid Large, Ft. Scott.

She was preceded in death by a son, Aaron Brown; a brother, Thomas Large; and her father.

There was cremation. A private memorial service will be held. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County Local News