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Flags At Half-Staff For Fallen Officer Mosher
Governor Laura Kelly to order flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Overland Park Officer Mike Mosher
Governor Laura Kelly today announced she will order flags throughout the State of Kansas to be flown at half-staff in honor of Mike Mosher, Overland Park Police Officer who lost his life while on duty Sunday.
Flags will be flown at half-staff on the day of Officer Mosher’s memorial service. The flag order will be distributed once the date is announced.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of Officer Mike Mosher’s death,” Kelly said. “When our officers sign up to protect and serve our communities, they are putting their lives on the line for us. The sacrifices he and his family have made will certainly not be forgotten. Officer Mosher was an outstanding officer, and I offer my sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time.”
Overland Park Police Department: Officer Mosher was a 14-year veteran of the department, a field training officer and a community policing officer. Officer Mosher was involved in an ambush shooting in 2018 and received a Metropolitan Chiefs and Sheriffs Association Officer of the Year award for his actions during that incident. He was also the president of the Overland Park Fraternal Order of Police.
In addition to ordering the flags to be flown at half-staff for Officer Mosher, Governor Kelly today signed Executive Order #20-30, which amends a previous order to add first responders to the list of those who are to be officially recognized through this posthumous honor. The new Executive Order replaces Executive Order #10-12, which was originally signed under Governor Mark Parkinson. The original order did not provide guidance for first responders who are killed in the line of duty. The new order covers members of the law enforcement, fire and emergency response communities.
To view EO #20-30, click here.
To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honors.
FSHS Speech and Debate: 11 Qualified For Nationals
Submitted by Angella Curran, FSHS teacher
This year Fort Scott High School qualified 11 students to nationals!!
While we won’t be traveling this year, we will still be competing through an online competition.
FSHS also received the Leading Chapter Award, which is only awarded to 110 schools in the nation each year.
Despite the hardships, we have all been facing I am very pleased to announce that these amazing students will be representing our school!
Congratulations to the 2020 National Speech and Debate Association National Qualifiers:
Madison Toth (sr): Program Oral Interpretation
Elizabeth Ngatia (sr): Program Oral Interp and DUO (will compete in DUO)
Zoe Self (sr): Foreign Extemp and DUO (Will compete in DUO)
Mark Adams (sr): Congress House and Lincoln Douglas Debate (Will compete in Lincoln Douglas)
Shekhar Gugnani (soph): Public Forum Debate and Congress House (Will compete in Congress)
Neil Gugnani (soph): Public Forum Debate and United States Extemp (Will compete in US Extemp)
Ivy Bailey (jr): Congess Senate
Jonie Antonio (sr): Congress House
Hannah Vann (sr): Congress Senate and World Schools team(Will be competing in World Schools)
Kinsley Davis (fr): World Schools team
Lillian Collins (fr): World Schools team
Governor Kelly announces recovery team leadership
As part of her continued commitment to protecting the health and safety of Kansans and the state’s economy, Governor Laura Kelly today announced the appointment of two individuals who will head the team charged with leading Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19.
Kelly selected Cheryl Harrison-Lee as the Recovery Office’s executive director and Lyle Butler as the chair.
Harrison-Lee has more than 30 years of experience in strategic leadership positions in a variety of corporate, entrepreneurial, private and public environments. Previously, she served in leadership roles for several cities to include Gardner, Kansas and Orlando and Daytona Beach, Florida.
Last year, Governor Kelly appointed Harrison-Lee to serve on the Kansas Board of Regents.
“Cheryl has a robust, national reputation as an extraordinary manager,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “She made an instant positive impact in her new role on the Kansas Board of Regents, and I have every confidence that she will provide big-picture insight during the recovery effort, while also paying necessary attention to detail.”
“I am honored to support Governor Kelly and the citizens of Kansas as we recover from unprecedented challenging times,” Harrison-Lee said. “I look forward to developing a strategy to help us regain and enhance our future and long-term economic sustainability.”
Butler recently retired from his position as the President and CEO of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, a position he held since July 2000. He has also served as the Chamber President and CEO in Dodge City, Kansas, and Greeley, Colorado.
“Lyle is a proven coalition builder who will be a strong contributor as we move forward in the recovery from COVID-19,” Kelly said. “He brings years of experience working with the business community and in economic development. We are going to need Lyle’s expertise as we move into the recovery phase of the pandemic.
“In these unprecedented times with numerous challenges facing the citizens of Kansas, I look forward to working with Governor Kelly and her leadership team to provide assistance and guidance to help get Kansas moving forward,” Butler said.
“Both Lyle and Cheryl have a keen understanding of the needs of local communities in Kansas, which will be paramount during the recovery effort and in the statewide distribution of CARES Act funding,” the Governor said.
Kelly will soon announce the remaining members of the recovery team, which will include involvement from members of the Kansas Legislature.
FSHS THESPIANS HOST VIRTUAL AWARDS CEREMONY
The Fort Scott High School Thespian Troupe #7365 held it’s 3rd Annual Golden Thespie Awards Banquet on May 4.
This year’s banquet was quite different, as it was held over a virtual Zoom call. Current Thespian Officers and Thespian Director Angie Bin made the presentations. Officers include Vice President Sage Hill, Historian Alexa Bukowski, Publicity Chair Zaria Byrd, and State Representatives Jenna Stockstill and Ashanti Green.
The troupe recognized Thespians who performed at the KS State Thespian Festival in January including Mackenzie Peoples – Musical Solo, Amber Russo & Wendy Monahan – Duet Acting, Tina Ramirez – Musical Solo, and Dominic Cannon and Sage Hill – Duet Acting. Special recognition went to the following students who received Superior Ratings at State and will perform in the Virtual International Thespian Festival in June: Ashanti Green – Monologue, Mesa Jones – Musical Solo and Jenna Stockstill – Musical Solo. The troupe was also recognized for receiving the highest state honor a troupe can receive, the Gold Honor Troupe Award given for performance, public service, community involvement, and troupe organization. This is the fourth year in a row that Fort Scott has received the Gold Honor.
The FSHS Thespian Improv Troupe was recognized for participating in Operation Show this year at the Westport Coffee House Theatre in Kansas City, MO under the direction of Mark Bergmann. These students studied improvisational comedy with professional actors and performed for a public audience along with other students from around the KC area. They include Daniel Watson, Kaitlyn Leavell, Justin Stevens, Lola Umarova, Jo Goodbody, Dominic Cannon, Wendy Monahan, Tina Ramirez, Sierra Long, Anthony Russo, and Improv Troupe Captain Amber Russo.
To letter in Theatre, students must participate in both main stage productions (cast or crew), participate in 6 theatre-related fundraisers, activities, or community service projects, and be in good academic standing. First year letters went to Israel Carreno, Kinsley Davis, Bareigh Farrell, Ashanti Green, Jacob Ham, Christina King, Luke Majors, Khris Patel, and Olivia Wilterding. Second year bars were awarded to Alexa Bukowski, Zaria Byrd, Avery Dorsey, Gabriel Graham, Tailynn Harding, Sage Hill, Mesa Jones, Wendy Monahan, Amber Russo, Jenna Stockstill, Carlee Studyvin, and Alexis Williams.
The highlight of the banquet is the awarding of the Golden Thespies. These are awards voted on by the troupe members. Honors went to the following: Most Involved – Alexa Bukowski, Drama Mama (someone who helps out everyone else) – Zaria Byrd, Drama Papa – Jacob Ham, Newcomer of the Year – Kinsley Davis, Designer of the Year – Amber Russo for lighting design, Techie of the Year – Jacob Ham for Stage Management, Dancer of the Year – Addy Labbe, Singer of the Year – Mesa Jones, Actor of the Year – Sage Hill, Actress of the Year – Ashanti Green, and Triple Threat (best overall singer, dancer, and actor) – Mesa Jones.
The troupe also recognized graduating seniors and ended the banquet with a slideshow of pictures from throughout the year. New officers will be elected when the new school year starts.
Kansas COVID 19 Update
County Seeking Businesses That Need Funding Due to COVID 19 For Grant
Bourbon County Economic Director Jody Hoenor is exploring business needs, outside of Fort Scott City limits, for the CDBG-CV grant opportunity. The goal of the grant is job retention.
” We are looking for all business in the county, outside of Fort Scott city limits, with 1 to 50 employees who have been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. Funding can be used for inventory or working capital needed to reopen or help keep a business operating.”
“The City of Fort Scott will have opportunity to apply for funding if they have used all their current funding.” she said in a press release.
Please share and reach out to Jody Hoener, [email protected]
“So we can be sure to get your business included in our grant application,” she said.
Online Classes Pose Some Challenges For Middle School Student
Alexis Tourtillott, age 11, attended Fort Scott Middle School until the COVID 19 Pandemic, closed down classes nationwide in March 2020.
Tourtillott started about a month ago to do lessons with teachers on the internet as a part of USD 234 Continuous Learning Plan.
“I started four weeks ago and I am doing online school for about five classes,” Tourtillott said via an email interview.
“A typical school day is waking up, doing a zoom class, then work,” she said. “I probably spend about one-and-one-half hours on it daily.”
She has faced some challenges, she said.
“Doing my work at home is kind of hard because there are so many distractions,” Tourtillott said. “My greatest challenge is pushing myself to do the work even though I don’t want to.”
“I think the new learning plan is going well, especially for the amount of time the teachers had to plan for it,” Alexis mother, Amy Wiltse said. “I cannot imagine the stress that this causes for them.”
SEK Health Department COVID 19 Update
SEK Multi-County Health Departments
Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
May 6, 2020
Allen County
| Current Positive Cases | 0 |
| Current Recovered Cases | 0 |
| Total Positives Since Testing | 0 |
| Deaths | 0 |
Anderson County
| Current Positive Cases | 0 |
| Current Recovered Cases | 0 |
| Total Positives Since Testing | 0 |
| Deaths | 0 |
Bourbon County
| Current Positive Cases | 0 |
| Current Recovered Cases | 5 |
| Total Positives Since Testing | 6 |
| Deaths | 1 |
Woodson County
| Current Positive Cases | 1 |
| Current Recovered Cases | 5 |
| Total Positives Since Testing | 6 |
| Deaths | 0 |
Recovered cases are based on dates of onset of symptoms, not on day testing results are received.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports May 6
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports May 4-5
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Kansas Farmer Honored For Mask to New York Disaster
Governor Kelly, K-State President Myers confer degree upon Kansas farmer who sent N95 mask to New York
Ruhnke shows the best in humanity, encapsulates what it means to be Kansan
Editor’s note: Please take time to view the video from the presentation. I think you will find it inspiring.
A video of the presentation can be found here.
Governor Laura Kelly today joined Kansas State University President Richard Myers to confer a bachelor’s degree upon Dennis Ruhnke, of Troy, Kansas.
Ruhnke recently garnered national attention when he sent a letter to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in which he enclosed an N-95 mask to give to a nurse or doctor in New York.
Ruhnke wrote to Governor Cuomo: “I am a retired farmer hunkered down in Northeast Kansas with my wife who has but one lung and occasional problems with her remaining lung. She also has diabetes. We are in our 70s now and frankly, I am afraid for her.
“Enclosed find a solitary N-95 mask left over from my farming days. It has never been used. If you could, would you please give this mask to a nurse or doctor in your city. I have kept four masks for my immediate family. Please keep on doing what you do so well, which is to lead.”
“Dennis’ donation, at the height of our country’s protective gear shortage, showed us the best in humanity when we needed it the most,” Governor Kelly said. “I would like to thank Dennis for the example he’s set on how to serve – and how to be thoughtful and generous in an extraordinary way.”
In 1971, Ruhnke was studying agriculture at Kansas State University when his father passed away. At that time, he was two credits away from earning his degree, but chose to leave school to take care of his mother and the family farm.
“After speaking with President Myers, we both agreed that Dennis perfectly encapsulates K-State’s democratic mandate to be of service to people,” Governor Kelly said. “Which is why I am very honored that I was able to help present Dennis with his well-deserved bachelor’s degree in agriculture.”
“Along with his fantastic demonstration of kindness and generosity, Mr. Ruhnke’s academic work at K-State in his chosen field of agriculture qualifies him to receive his degree,” President Richard Myers said. “Kansas State University is proud to officially recognize Mr. Ruhnke as an alumus and valued member of the Wildcat family.”
. A video of the presentation can be found here.