Area News

Resident Escapes Parsons State Hospital Treatment Program

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PARSONS – Sexual Predator Treatment Program (SPTP) resident Randy Snodgrass, a 58-year-old white male, was being transported by a Parsons State Hospital and Training Center (PSHTC) staff member earlier today when he escaped on foot.

 

Local law enforcement and EMS responded to the scene. A hospital staff member was transported to a local hospital where she was treated and released this afternoon.

 

“The priority for us right now is the safety of our hospital staff and of the general public. Officials at the hospital are working very closely with local law enforcement to ensure this resident is apprehended quickly and without further incident,” said Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard. “I am in constant contact with the superintendent at Parsons and am actively monitoring the situation.”

 

Snodgrass is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 195 pounds and was last seen wearing a black hoodie and black pants. Labette County Emergency Management has issued a “Be on The Lookout” through its code red notification system and is instructing the public to not approach, call 911. Snodgrass is considered armed and dangerous.

 

PSHTC and KDADS officials are fully cooperating with law enforcement’s ongoing investigation. New information will be released as it becomes available.

Kansas, Schools

Kansas Students Build Own Wind Turbines in Challenge

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Participation in the Kansas KidWind Challenge quadruples
The science behind wind energy has captured the attention of Kansas students and boosted the number of competitors in the state’s KidWind Challenge from 17 teams in 2018 to 71 teams this year. The increased number of participants also prompted the addition of a fifth regional competition. Regional events begin on February 5 and continue through March 6 culminating in a state competition on April 4.

KidWind is an annual competition where student teams build and test their own wind turbines, then compete in a regional event for a chance to move on to state and national competitions.  The events are part of the Energy Education partnership between the Kansas Corporation Commission and K-State Engineering Extension with a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

“KidWind is a fantastic hands-on opportunity that allows students to tinker and experiment with wind turbine designs. They experience the thrill of scientific discovery as their designs are validated through performance testing, and they hone their public-speaking skills as they present their turbine design to a panel of judges,” explained David Carter, Director of the Kansas Energy Program at K-State Engineering Extension.

Tatum Vogel, a teacher at Dighton Elementary, said the skills her students learned from KidWind extended beyond science to include perseverance and other life skills.

“We went to the regional competition with a turbine that was heavy and barely turned. We weren’t out of the city limits that day, and these students had already redesigned the entire top. The life skills involved were priceless. They had to communicate, work together, take initiative to learn more, and apply all the science and physics along the way,” said Vogel.

Teams compete by age group, 4th – 8th grades or 9th – 12th grades, with three to five students per team (recommended). At each regional competition, the top two teams in each age group advance to the state finals. State winners move on to the national competition in Denver. The complete schedule of events appears below. All events are open to the public.

Region                                  Date                      Location______________________________________ 
Kansas City                         Feb 12                   Olathe (Olathe West High School)
Northeast                           Feb. 20                  Manhattan (Unger Complex)
Southwest                          Feb. 25                  Dodge City (Village Square Mall)
Northwest                          Feb. 27                  Oakley (NW Kansas Educational Service Center)
Southeast                           March 6                Burlington (Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant)
State Finals                         April 4                   Topeka (Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers)
National Finals                   June 1-4               Denver

More information about KidWind is available at https://kansasenergyprogram.org/kidwindchallenge.

Business, Fort Scott

Gordmans Teams With American Heart Association

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HOUSTON (Feb. 3, 2020) – Gordmans joins the American Heart Association on National Wear Red and Give Day, Feb. 7, by donating 10% of total store sales up to $50,000 to AHA. Gordmans’ support will help advance the American Heart Association’s mission to build healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke.

 

On Friday, Feb. 7, Gordmans invites guests to wear red to raise awareness for heart health. Nearly 80% of cardiac events can be prevented. Gordmans’ donation will help educate the community about heart conditions and provide tools to help make heart health a priority.

 

Gordmans, as part of the Stage community of stores, has teamed up with the American Heart Association since 2019 and, with the generosity of its guests, has raised over $250,000 to help educate families on how to prevent heart disease. Gordmans believes that saving lives starts with each of us – it invites guests to join in supporting the American Heart Association to help fund research and advocacy initiatives that will change the landscape of women’s and men’s health from the inside out.

Government, Kansas

Agribusiness Development Workshops In March

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KDA to Host Regional Agribusiness Development Workshops in March

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. —  The Kansas Department of Agriculture will host four Regional Agribusiness Development Workshops in March 2020 to provide Kansas rural communities with resources and current business development and organizational contacts to assist with recruiting, retaining, and growing ag businesses in their communities.

 

Workshops will be held in the following locations:

  • Wednesday, March 4 — Colby Community College Student Union, Colby
  • Wednesday, March 11 — Municipal Building, Parsons
  • Wednesday, March 18 — Stockgrowers State Bank, Ashland
  • Wednesday, March 25 — Kansas Department of Agriculture building, Manhattan

 

“Economic development in Kansas is tied to agriculture, which makes up $47 billion of the state’s economy,” said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam. “These workshops will help communities consider the unique needs associated with agricultural opportunities in Kansas which will create an environment that facilitates growth.” Beam added that expanding resources and education will make Kansas’ rural communities better prepared to serve as economic engines for rural Kansas.

 

Featured speakers at the events will represent the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Department of Commerce, and local economic development organizations. The workshops will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and will include a meal. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required to ensure sufficient food and materials. Find out more information and register at agriculture.ks.gov/BusinessDevelopment.

 

The KDA Division of Agriculture Marketing received a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant to help fund these statewide workshops. Established in the 2014 Farm Bill, USDA’s Rural Business Development Grant is a program intended to help with technical assistance, training and other activities to allow small businesses in rural areas to expand.

 

KDA is committed to providing an environment that enhances and encourages economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy. These workshops will provide support and assistance to help make Kansas rural communities more successful.

 

For additional information about KDA’s agribusiness development workshops, contact Russell Plaschka at 785-564-7466 or at Russell.Plaschka.ks.gov.

 
Government, Kansas

Kansas Newborn Screening Program Expands

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New screen for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) added

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s (KDHE) Kansas Newborn Screening Program (KS-NBS) began screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) on February 1. The Kansas Newborn Screening Program (KS-NBS) strives to protect and improve the health of all newborn Kansans. With one small blood sample, more than 30 life-altering and life-threatening disorders will be detected. These are completely undetectable at birth without this screening. Nearly 35,000 Kansas babies receive the newborn screen shortly after birth each year.

 

“We are very excited to be able to add SMA to our screening process and directly impact the health and future of our youngest Kansans,” said Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary.

 

SMA is a disease affecting the motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. By limiting infant’s physical strength, SMA can take away the ability to walk, eat or breathe. Approximately 1 out of every 11,000 newborns is diagnosed with SMA. About 1 in every 50 Americans is a genetic carrier for SMA.   SMA was added to the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) for newborn screening in 2018. Evidence shows that early diagnosis and treatment leads to better outcomes.

 

“Since 2016, we have safe, effective and FDA-approved treatments that are dramatically changing the natural history of this disease,” says Dr. Britton Zuccarelli, a pediatric neurologist in Salina and a member of the Advisory Council for Newborn Screening. “Affected children are achieving motor and other milestones we never would have anticipated based on the severity type and are living to ages without invasive respiratory support that are unprecedented in this condition.  With over a dozen other investigational drugs in the SMA pipeline, our options for treatment for this rare neurological condition are only going to continue to grow, and early recognition is paramount.  With 1/40 to 1/60 of us Kansans being carriers of this disease, newborn state screening is important and will change the lives of babies, children, adults and families across Kansas.”

 

For more information on Kansas’s Newborn Screening Program, visit: www.kdheks.gov/newborn_screening/index.html.

Government, Kansas

Tax Collections Above Estimates

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January’s compensating use tax collections come in 26.9% higher than January FY 2019

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Revenue begins the FY 2020 third quarter with total tax receipts above estimates and above the same month of last fiscal year. Total tax collections came in at $725.5 million, $59.7 million or 9.0% more than estimated. This is $79.3 million or 12.3% more than January of FY 2019.

 

Retail sales tax collections were $220.8 million; $8.8 million or 4.2% more than estimated. Compensating use tax collections saw a 26.9% increase compared to the same month last fiscal year with $52.6 million in collections. This is $7.6 million or 16.8% more than estimated.

 

This increase can be attributed to online shopping trends and the increase in the number of remote retailers registering to collect and remit the compensating use tax that is due and owed to the state.

 

Individual income tax collections were $408.7 million; $38.7 million or 10.5% more than estimated. Those collections are $56.9 million more than the same month last fiscal year. Corporate income tax collections were $21.3 million; $3.3 million or 18.6% more than estimated.

Bourbon County, Business, Government

Bourbon County Commission Meets Feb. 4 and Feb. 11

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The Bourbon County Commissioners will have a meeting on February 11th at FSCC in the Ellis auditorium from 6– 7:30 pm for a wind farm discussion.

Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: February 4, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00-9:45 – Jim Harris

9:45-10:15 – City of Fort Scott (Robert Uhler & Susan Bancroft), Executive Session-Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

11:00-11:15 – Justin Meeks, EMS

11:15-11:30 – Justin Meeks, Executive Session-Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

1:30-1:45 – Jeff Fischer, Windfarm impact on BBCO property tax goals

2:00-2:15 – Tim Emerson, Windfarm

2:15-2:30 – Kim Simons, Windfarm

Business, Fort Scott

Modern Woodmen Moves Uptown

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Scott Gander and Jolynne Mitchell in front of the new office of Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, 14 S. Main.

Another business has moved uptown.

 

Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial employees rented an office space at 14 S. Main in December 2019.

Modern Woodmen Financial and Bolton Law Firm are located at 14 S. Main.

 

“It’s a better location,”  Scott Gander, managing partner for the business said. “It’s more exposure.”

 

“The business helps people with all financial planning,” Gander said. “Anything with protecting money and making money grow.”

 

“Scott and I both feel the best part of our job is helping families and their loved ones achieve their financial security through all stages of their lives,” Jolynne Mitchell, financial representative, said.

 

 

“The fraternal side is giving back to the community,” Gander said.

 

“We do $2,500 in matching funds every year, and
$1,000 in three service projects each year,” she said. “We plant trees, do Hometown Hero and provide educational events for our members.”

 

“As a Premier Chapter, we are awarded additional funds to participate in additional activities in the community to show our Modern Woodmen support,” she said.

 

 

Business hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 

Phone: 620-223-3000 for more information.

 

Bourbon County, Schools, Sports

UHS Basketball Teams Sweep Jayhawk-Linn

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by Adelay Martin, UHS Student Sports Media Reporter

The Uniontown Eagles and the Jayhawk-Linn Jayhawks played at Uniontown Tuesday, January 28. Both Varsity teams won against them, as did the JV teams.

The girls’ Varsity beat the Jayhawks 52 to 35. Danielle Howard and Karleigh Schoenberger once more lead in points, earning the team 16 and 22 points respectively. Howard also had 6 assists and 8 steals. Sammie Hampton garnered 8 points and 4 rebounds. Breleigh Harris had 3 steals. Coach Miller said, “Proud of these girls in their effort in winning all 4 quarters of this ball game. We will get back to work tomorrow and prepare for another home game this Friday against Crest.”

The boys also beat Jayhawk tonight with a score of 43 to 38. Jake Harvey scored 13 points and made 3 of his 6 three-point shots. He also had 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 steals. Luke George scored 11 points and Luke Perry scored 9 points. Hunter Schaaf had 7 rebounds and 2 assists. “I thought we played well defensively against Jayhawk,” Coach Hays said. “Our defense kept us in the game the first half. We were able to come out in the second half and make a few shots which helped us build a lead. We need to continue to work hard and improve because we have some big league games coming up.” Korbin Miller, who usually plays for the JV team, commented, “They played really well on defense, and our shots started falling toward the end of the game.”

Bourbon County Local News