The January meeting of Starlite FCE was held on January 21st at the Yeager building at the Fairgrounds. President Glenda Miller called the meeting to order and Joyce Allen led the members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Club Collect. Eleven members and one guest were in attendance. The members reported seven hours of volunteer work and that they had recycled three hundred and eighty pounds of paper. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
Doris Ericson presented the Treasurer’ report and reminded us to bring in our Best Choice labels. Glenda Miller reported that the County Council had cancelled the Spring Tea for this year due to Covid. She also went over the information presented in the FCE newsletter.
Old business consisted of the Valentines for the Tri-Valley clients. Cards were signed by members and placed in treat bags. Letha Johnson moved that the person in charge of event be given authority to purchase items for said event and receive reimbursement out of the club account. Del Parks seconded the motion, motion carried.
It was announced that Lois Williams a longtime previous member had passed as well as Del Parks brother. Megan Brillhart announced that Presbyterian Village residents have received their first round of Covid shots and that they should be able to start getting out in about six weeks.
Glenda Miller presented members with unity valentines and a trivia quiz on Kansas in celebration of Kansas Day January 29th.
Joy Miller presented the lesson to the club of “Taking a new look at Fermented Foods.” Fermented foods include sauerkraut, wine, kimchi, sour dough bread and yogurt, to name a few. Joy also passed out troubleshooting guide on fermentation, Information about the upcoming Aging with Attitude Regional expo and Dining with Diabetes online classes.
Deb Lust moved that the meeting be adjourned, Jackie Warren seconded the motion, meeting adjourned. After the meeting the members enjoyed cupcakes, cookies, M&M and water provided by Jackie Warren and Deb Woods.
Nevada Regional Medical Center (NRMC) announces it will host a free cholesterol screening sponsored by NRMC Foundation on Thursday, February 18 from 6 to 9 A.M. Registration is open to the public, but appointments are limited.
According to NRMC cardiologist, Dr. David Zuehlke, the two largest risk factors that can accelerate heart disease include tobacco use and diabetes. Other major risk factors include hypertension (or high blood pressure) and elevated cholesterol, followed by family history. Elevated cholesterol levels can be an indicator of heart disease while maintaining healthy cholesterol levels can lower chances of heart disease and stroke.
For men, typical symptoms of coronary artery disease or a heart attack include chest discomfort and pressure that radiates to the back, arm or neck, nausea, sweating, shortness of breath. However, for women, the symptoms can be confused with other mild illnesses.
“Women will often present with shortness of breath, abdominal pain with some nausea and fatigue,” Dr. Zuehlke said. “That’s what makes it difficult to diagnose women; these symptoms could be so many other things that coronary artery disease in women often gets missed.”
Dr. Zuehlke recommends that someone who experiences symptoms that go away with rest should visit a doctor as soon as possible to be evaluated. However, if someone is experiencing symptoms while at rest, or that are worsening, that person should call 9-1-1 for an ambulance. He does not advise driving oneself to the emergency room, or even being driven by someone else.
Persons with risk factors for heart disease can be proactive by visiting with a cardiologist or primary care provider before they experience symptoms and discover ways to prevent heart problems. The American Heart Association recommends all adults age 20 or older should have their cholesterol (and other risk factors) checked every four to six years and talk with a doctor to determine one’s risk for heart disease.
To register for the free cholesterol screening, visit www.nrmchealth.com or call (417) 448-3801.
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About Nevada Regional Medical Center Serving a six-county area since 1937, Nevada Regional Medical Center is a 71-bed acute, intensive and skilled care hospital. Nevada Regional Medical Center has earned recognition as a respected regional medical center for its comprehensive health care services, skilled and caring employees and state-of-the-art medical technology. Staff represent more than a dozen medical specialties, including family practice, women’s services, neurology, urology, psychiatry, orthopedics, wound care services, and general, vascular, thoracic and oncological surgery. Additionally, consultation clinics are held regularly by specialists in oncology, pulmonology, podiatry, ear, nose, and throat and cardiology.
Dr. Larry Seals holds a new piece of ultrasound equipment at Nevada Regional Medical Center.
Nevada Regional Medical Center (NRMC) has recently began utilizing new medical technology to provide point-of-care-ultrasound. For more than 50 years ultrasound technology has been based on the same hardware. Traditionally this involves large equipment.
Today, NRMC healthcare providers have the power of ultrasound in the palm of their hands with a compact ultrasound technology, called Butterfly IQ. The Butterfly allows physicians to convert a tablet or cell phone into a monitor for the ultrasound machine. This state-of-the-art technology has numerous advantages.
In the emergency room, the time savings is a significant benefit. Using the Butterfly allows for a Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) exam and aid the quick location of veins for IV access.
If a patient presents with very low blood pressure, the doctor doesn’t have to send the patient off to radiology. Instead he can simply plug in the Butterfly to quickly examine the chest cavity and check the left ventricular function to see if it involves fluid around the heart or lungs.
Providers in many departments of NRMC are happy to utilize the new technology as well. Larry Seals, DO can use the device for prenatal exams. Steve Marquardt, CRNA, NSPM provides interventional pain management at NRMC. Prior to a surgery, Marquardt is often called upon to inject anesthesia into a specific nerve to numb the area of the body where the surgery will take place. With Butterfly, he will be able to pinpoint the precise nerve within seconds.
Use of the new device is expected to improve patient satisfaction by decreasing wait times for some ultrasound procedures. Most importantly, it will be readily available during a trauma, when life-saving minutes count, such as a suspected internal bleed or cardiac issue.
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About Nevada Regional Medical Center Serving a six-county area since 1937, Nevada Regional Medical Center is a 71-bed acute, intensive and skilled care hospital. Nevada Regional Medical Center has earned recognition as a respected regional medical center for its comprehensive health care services, skilled and caring employees and state-of-the-art medical technology. Staff represent more than a dozen medical specialties, including family practice, women’s services, neurology, urology, psychiatry, orthopedics, wound care services, and general, vascular, thoracic and oncological surgery. Additionally, consultation clinics are held regularly by specialists in oncology, pulmonology, podiatry, ear, nose, and throat and cardiology.
Tedena Tucker, a senior branch office administrator in the Fort Scott office of the financial services firm Edward Jones, recently announced her retirement after thirty years of service with the firm.
Tucker’s retirement becomes effective February 26th, 2021. Don Savage will replace Tucker.
“When I joined this firm thirty years ago, I knew I was making the right decision,” said Tucker. “Now I can say that I truly enjoyed working with the people of this community in helping Jamie Armstrong serve their financial needs.”
A branch office administrator is responsible for the daily operation of an Edward Jones office. This includes providing top-notch client service, supporting marketing activities for the office and staying updated on technological advances.
“Tedena has been my right arm,” Armstrong said. “Not only has she been responsible for the daily operation of our branch, but she has worked closely with our clients.”
To celebrate Tedena’s contribution to the clients served by Armstrong’s branch office, the branch is hosting a “card shower.” Clients, friends and colleagues are invited to send a retirement card to Tedena at the branch, located at 1713 S National, Fort Scott, KS 66701 between February 1 – February 25th, 2021.
Edward Jones, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in St. Louis, provides financial services in the U.S. and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm’s business, from the investments offered to the location of branch offices, caters to individual investors. The firm’s 19,000-plus financial advisors serve more than 7 million clients with a total of $1.5 trillion in client assets under care. Visit edwardjones.com or the recruiting website at careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.
There is a new mayor and president, and city manager for the City of Fort Scott in the past week.
Josh Jones was selected to replace JoLynne Mitchell on the Fort Scott City Commission on December 1, 2020.
Jones became the mayor on January 7, 2021, with Kevin Allen selected to be president, according to the City of Fort Scott commission minutes. Allen was sworn in on Jan. 2020 to the commission.
The other city commissioners are Randy Nichols, Pete Allen, and Lindsay Watts.
New to the community is Jeremy Frazier, who was selected as the new city manager late last week.
The City of Fort Scott has operated under a city commission/city manager form of government since 1975, according to City Commission | Fort Scott, KS (fscity.org) . The city commission consists of a mayor, president of the commission, and three city commissioners. All members of the city commission are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis by the citizens of Fort Scott. The mayor, the president of the commission, and the city commissioners all serve without any compensation.
The Fort Scott City Commission elects the mayor and president of the board annually at their first meeting in January, according to the website.
The mayor, who has the same authority as the other commissioners, presides over the commission meetings, provides the official signature on documents, and represents the city at official and ceremonial functions. In the absence of the mayor, the president of the commission fulfills the duties of the mayor, according to the website.
The duties of the commission are to pass city ordinances and resolutions, establish policies for the city, approve the annual budget, appoint members to city boards and appoint a city manager.
A little about Jones
Jones owns rental houses in Fort Scott and also manages Bourbon County Cars, a local used-car dealership. He is a life-long resident of Fort Scott.
He has been married to his wife, Karen, for 20 years and has twin daughters, Madison and Taylor, who are 20 years old, and one son, David, 15.
A little about Allen
Kevin “Skitch” Allen was selected last week to be the president.
Allen has had a local construction company for 27 years in Fort Scott.
“Everything from construction dirt work to trash roll-off services and porta-potties,” he said. “I also own several buildings and homes in the community that I rent out.”
He is a 1988 Fort Scott High School graduate. He then attended Fort Scott Community College for two years and then earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pittsburg State University.
He has two daughters, Maddie Thorpe and Jocie Allen, and two granddaughters and a grandson on the way, he said.
The commission hired a new manager last week.
“The commission unanimously selected Jeremy Frazier to be hired as city manager of Fort Scott,” Jones said. “All five commissioners believe Jeremy is the best fit for Fort Scott and we are very excited to utilize Jeremy’s vision and ideas to move Fort Scott forward.”
Jeremy Frazier. Submitted photo.
“Jeremy will start February 1st and (Interim Manager)Jeff Hancock will leave February 3,” Jones said. “Jeff’s leadership and knowledge have been very valuable in the short time he has been here.”
Also new is the sharing of business services with the Bourbon County Commission.
“With the new makeup of the city commission and the county commission we feel like now we have the opportunities to save taxpayers money by sharing services,” Jones said.
“This will be a case by case basis, so we can evaluate each item and come up with what we believe will save the most money for taxpayers. By joining into an agreement with the county on the Finance/Business Manager need, it will save the city roughly $40,000 per year.”
The City of Fort Scott Finance Director Susan Bancroft was hired by the Bourbon County Commission last week to be its’ business manager, part-time.
The City of Fort Scott meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month in the city commission meeting room at 123 S. Main.
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Resources
To find further resources on how to protect you and your family, visit coronavirus.gov or the Kansas Department of Health and Environment website here .
Assistance
If you are a Kansas resident and you or your family needs assistance with matters related to COVID-19, please click here .
If your employment situation has been impacted by COVID-19, including reduced work hours, please refer to these resources from the Kansas Department of Labor:
For information on veteran and VA related topics, resources and contact information, please click here .
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Phone Calls to Kansans
Mike King, Hutton Construction, Wichita
Rich Felts, Kansas Farm Bureau, Liberty
Gen. Dave Weishaar, Kansas Adjutant General, Topeka
Aaron Eakins, Wichita East High School, Wichita
Jason Wiens, Kauffman Foundation, Roeland Park
Richard Beachner, RF Beachner Contractors, Pittsburg
Jason & Megan Ball, CFO, FHSU Foundation, Hays
Joel Leftwich, Envison, Wichita
Meeting with Kansans Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
Visiting a Vaccination Clinic
This week, I received a briefing from The University of Kansas Health System and toured their vaccination clinic to see how they have readied their facility in order to best serve patients and medical staff. I heard more from hospital personnel about how I can aid Kansas at the federal level in its vaccination rollout and make certain vaccine dissemination to the general public is done in a more effective manner. Currently, Kansas ranks 36th in population and ranks 36th in number of Pfizer vaccines received. Kansas also has approximately 0.874% of the U.S. population and has received 0.838% of the vaccines. As Kansas moves forward with vaccinations, we discussed the need for better communication between federal, state and local entities, as well as greater transparency surrounding the amount of doses hospitals and counties will receive each week.
I was impressed with the way The University of Kansas Heath System continues adapt to the evolving logistics involved in ordering, receiving and preparing the COVID-19 vaccine for Kansans. Thank you to The University of Kansas Health System President & CEO Bob Page, Director of the Center for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Dr. Tim Williamson, KU School of Medicine Interim Executive Vice Chancellor Dr. Steve Stites, Government and Community Affairs Vice President Kenny Wilk, Chief Operating and Nursing Officer Tammy Peterman and Assistant Chief Nursing Officer Kim Dixon for your hard work to vaccinate Kansans.
Discussing Vaccine Distribution with Ellis County Leaders
I met with leaders from Ellis County in Hays this week to discuss vaccine rollout and the next steps as COVID-19 vaccines continue to be more widely administered across the state. While Ellis County leaders told me of their decision to move vaccinations to a single location in order to most effectively administer the vaccine, they also informed me of the challenges they face as a rural community receiving the vaccine.
Thank you to Ellis County Commissioner Neal Younger, Ellis County Health Service Director Jason Kennedy, First Care Clinic CEO Brian Brady, Ellis County Emergency Manager Darin Myers, HaysMed President Eddie Herrman and First Care Clinic Medical Director Dr. Christina Fisher for your feedback and time.
Attending the 59th Presidential Inauguration
On Wednesday, January 20, I attended the 59th inauguration ceremony for President Joseph R. Biden to witness this important moment in our nation’s democracy. The inauguration represents the orderly and peaceful transfer of power that is an enduring symbol of a government of the people, by the people and for the people. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues in this new Congress to create a better future for all Americans.
Thanking the Kansas National Guard
The Kansas National Guardsmen honorably served their country these past weeks by defending our nation’s capital during the peaceful transition of power. They, and all members of the guard, deserve our deepest respect and gratitude. The decision to remove them from the U.S. Capitol last week without providing the appropriate accommodations was disgraceful and unacceptable.
While I was glad to learn that these dedicated Guardsmen were allowed back inside the Senate Office Buildings and the Capitol Complex, their removal should not have happened at all. I visited with members of the Kansas National Guard who were stationed near the Library of Congress to hear about their experience on Capitol grounds. I will work to make certain our National Guardsmen are treated respectfully during the remainder of their time in Washington, D.C.
Urging President Biden to Prioritize America’s Veterans
As chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I urged President Biden to work with Congress on behalf of our nation’s veterans. The VA committee has made significant accomplishments for veterans over the last several years, such as allowing veterans in rural states like Kansas greater choice to seek health care where and when it is convenient for them and landmark veterans health care legislation, but there are still many challenges ahead. The VA is in the midst of the greatest transformational change since the end of World War II, and the faithful execution of the laws recently passed by Congress on behalf of veterans is what will ultimately improve the lives of veterans in Kansas and all across the country.
Caring for our nation’s veterans has always been a unifying force during my time in Congress. I expressed to President Biden that it is my hope it will continue to be so under his presidency.
Protecting American Jobs and Energy Independence through the Keystone XL Pipeline
This week, I joined seven of my Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to authorize the continued construction of the Keystone XL pipeline following President Biden’s decision to revoke the cross-border operation permit. This project is expected to provide approximately 11,000 direct high-paying jobs and create up to 60,000 indirect and direct jobs, generating tax revenue, increasing renewable-energy demand, reducing emissions and strengthening North American energy independence. Construction of Keystone XL began last year, jump-started by a $1.1 billion investment. Major segments of the pipeline have already been built, including one that crosses the U.S.-Canadian border.
Canceling the Keystone XL Pipeline will cost our country thousands of jobs, raising energy prices and forcing us to become more dependent on foreign countries to supply our nation’s energy needs. At a time when our economy and communities are hurting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we should be focusing on sending people back to work rather than taking jobs away. Despite passing every environmental impact assessment more than five years ago, Keystone XL has been politicized for almost 12 years. Discontinuing construction now is reckless for the hardworking American families relying on the jobs and lower energy costs it will provide them in the future.
Calling for Senate Consideration of the Flawed Paris Climate Agreement
Earlier this week, I sponsored a Senate resolution calling on President Biden to submit the Paris Climate Agreement to the U.S. Senate for advice and consent as required by the Constitution before joining a treaty. In 2016, President Obama entered the Paris Agreement without the consent of the Senate, going directly against the U.S. Constitution. Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution states that the President may only enter into an international treaty provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur.
I opposed the Obama Administration’s decision to enter into the Paris climate accord without appropriate congressional input, and again, when the Trump Administration pulled out of the accords, I reiterated that Congress must have a role in consenting to such agreements. I urge President Biden, before he rushes our country back into the flawed Paris Agreement, to submit it to the Senate for consideration in order to avoid making a consequential decision that lacks input from Congress.
Thanking Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy
This week, I thanked Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy for his service to this nation and all that he has achieved for our national defense and servicemembers throughout his tenure as Secretary of the Army. His leadership has benefitted the soldiers, Army civilians and veterans across the country who call the Army their family. He has seen our Army through unprecedented challenges, and I know our soldiers are stronger for it.
One of my most memorable experiences in the Senate was visiting 1st Infantry Division soldiers in Germany and Poland (pictured below), followed by our trip to Afghanistan to meet with troops on the front lines of the Global War on Terror. These meetings were the beginning of a productive working relationship that formed into a strong friendship. Since then, I have appreciated his guidance and support during his visits to Kansas and our many discussions in Washington, D.C. He was able to join me in Kansas in 2019 to visit Seitz Elementary School at Fort Riley where he was instrumental in finding the funding for this school during his time as Special Assistant to Defense Secretary Robert Gates in 2011. The Big Red One soldiers and their families have benefitted from his service. A fitting culmination to his service was the opportunity to lay wreaths together at Arlington National Cemetery, a solemn occasion that I will never forget.
Remembering Roe v. Wade
For the first time since Roe v. Wade was announced in 1973, Washington D.C. will not host its annual March for Life. This event typically brings hundreds of thousands to our nation’s capital, including hundreds from Kansas, to march peacefully in protest of a decision that has enabled the elimination of more than 60 million children. Abortion rates have declined in recent years, and we must continue building on this success rather than rolling back legal protections for the unborn and their mothers, taxpayers and health care providers of conscience. I thank all who work to make their voices heard to protect the right to life for the most vulnerable of Americans.
H onored to Serve You in Washington It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a form of letter, a Facebook comment or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard.
Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email by clicking here . You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C. office.
Very truly yours,
Jerry
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Hays
1200 Main St.,
Suite 402
P.O. Box 249
Hays, KS 67601
Phone: (785) 628-6401
Governor Kelly Announces County Vaccine Data Available on Kansas’ COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard
To view the COVID-19 vaccination dashboard, click here.
TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly is announcing county vaccination data is now available on Kansas’ COVID-19 vaccine dashboard. A collaboration with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the COVID-19 dashboard will be updated Monday, Wednesday and Friday by 12:30 PM.
“I am pleased to announce county-specific vaccination data is now available on our vaccine dashboard,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “My administration is prioritizing transparency and communication with public health officials and Kansans to deliver vaccines quickly and efficiently. As we progress through Phase 2 of our vaccination framework, I encourage Kansans to visit KansasVaccine.Gov or contact their local public health departments to learn more about signing up for the vaccine.”
As of January 25, Kansas has reported:
132,145 people vaccinated,
157,520 total vaccine doses administered,
255,550 vaccine doses distributed.
To view the COVID-19 vaccination dashboard, click here.
Ogallala Aquifer Virtual Summit to Engage Stakeholders in Tackling Tough Questions
This event will be February 24-25, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (CST). Through panels and facilitated workshops, participants will discuss and identify actionable activities and priorities that could benefit producers, communities, and this critical groundwater resource.
At 8 a.m. (CST) on February 24 and 25, producers and other water management leaders will grab their coffee cups, fire up their devices, and wade into a series of highly interactive conversations designed to tackle several tough questions faced by communities that rely on the declining Ogallala aquifer resource. For example, what on-farm, district, or state-level decisions and policies could support shifts in water management to ensure future generations will be able to continue to farm and live in the Ogallala region? What can be done so that rural communities remain vital in parts of the region where aquifer depletion means irrigated agriculture will no longer serve as much of an economic backbone in coming years or decades?
This event is being led by the USDA-NIFA Ogallala Water Coordinated Agriculture Project (OWCAP) team, along with the Kansas Water Office, Texas A&M AgriLife, and the USDA-ARS supported Ogallala Aquifer Program, and support from individuals in all eight Ogallala states. Between the pandemic, an extended period of drought, and lower commodity prices, summit organizers wondered if producers and other water management leaders would be inclined to meet virtually. Together, they assessed that the value of this event, which encourages people to meet one another and exchange a wealth of practical and technical expertise, would not be diminished if held online. In fact, more than ever, having an opportunity to help people connect and hear from one another and from producers in particular on many important dimensions of the water-dependent future of this region, seemed right and necessary. This event will serve as the capstone outreach event for OWCAP, an interdisciplinary, collaborative research and outreach project underway since 2016 involving researchers from 9 institutions based in 6 of the 8 Ogallala states.
Topics covered during the summit will include updates on projects, new programs, activities and policies that were inspired at least in part due to an earlier 8-state Ogallala summit event held in Garden City, Kansas in April of 2018. Together, participants will share their expertise and identify opportunities and gaps requiring attention, resources, and expanded collaboration within and across state lines to benefit agriculture and the region’s communities.
“The increasing depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer is one of the most daunting water problems in America. Extending and restoring the life of this resource, and, in turn, the economies and livelihoods that depend on it, will require collaboration across a diverse range of water-focused stakeholders and entities,” said Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office. “This summit will provide a unique opportunity to foster and strengthen that collaboration. It will cover emerging innovations, research, and policies as well as help identify opportunities for working together across state lines to address the water-related challenges facing this region and its communities.”
Registration for the summit costs $40; the fee for producers and students attending the 2-day event is $20. Participants from each of the eight states overlying the Ogallala aquifer will be represented: South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. A detailed schedule of this event is available at https://www.ogallalawater.org/. Members of the media are invited to attend.
Stream Advisory Issued for Buck Run Creek, located East of Scott Avenue and West of 69 Highway in Fort Scott, Kansas Residents and animals should not enter the Creek at this time
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a stream advisory for the Buck Run Creek, along the area East of Scott Avenue and West of 69 Highway in Fort Scott, Kansas.
The stream advisory is a result of a manhole overflow due to heavy rainfall. The city of Fort Scott has repaired the problem and the overflow has ceased as of Monday afternoon.
The advisory has been issued because potential elevated bacteria and contaminants may be present in Buck Run Creek as it flows northward through residential areas to the Marmaton River. If you live or have activities near this stream, do not enter the stream or allow children or pets to enter the stream.
Kansas Department of Health & Environment will rescind the advisory once flows recede and subsequent bacteria testing indicates secondary (wading) contact has been deemed safe.
For further information, please contact at the city of Fort Scott, Michael Mix at 620.215.6319.
Johnson is the director of the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department and her office is in Fort Scott.
The following is a submission by Johnson.
I am honored to be recognized by Governor Laura Kelly, but do not consider myself a hero. I care about and have a vested interest in the health and well-being of the counties and communities I serve and am trying to fulfill the duties of the Local Health Officer/Administrator to the best of my ability.
Just like as for many others, this last year has been extremely trying and stressful for me. COVID-19 has forced me from my comfort-zone and made new-norms for my everyday life, as it has for the rest of us. I am thankful to God for all the blessings and support He has given me. I would like to thank my husband and children, family, friends, my church, my staff, my board and medical director for all of their support. Without them, I may not have made it this far, as around 1/3 of the Local Health Officers/Administrators in Kansas have left their positions for one reason or another, since COVID-19 began.
There have been many people that have supported our organization and I over the past year and who still are, from city/county personnel and community members and local organizations to regional and state representatives. Thank you to all of these folks for your un-ending support-we still have a ways to go!!
I would like to recognize my amazing staff, the heart and soul of our health departments, many of whom have worked countless hours after they’ve gone home at night and throughout the weekend on COVID-19 related issues, but have missed out on so much with their own families, to promote and protect the health of the communities they love. They have continued to be adaptable and determined as they have trudged through, where many in their shoes would have already given up. These are the extraordinary people who work for SEK Multi-County Health Department and serve Public Health in the counties of Allen, Anderson, Bourbon and Woodson.
Allen County:
Public Health Nurse: Megan Neville
Administrative Assistant: Ruby Gulick
Accountant: Traci Ridge
Planning & Outreach Coordinator: Susan Belt
Home Visitor: Vicki Howard
WIC Coord/Public Health Nurse: Deidre Wilson
Anderson County:
Public Health Nurse: Samantha Mason
Administrative Assistant: Mika Mader
Bourbon:
Public Health Nurse: Alice Maffett
Public Health Nurse: Hannah Geneva
Administrative Assistant: Kristi George
Home Visitor: Holly Fritter
Woodson:
Public Health Nurse: Chardel Hastings
Administrative Assistant: Joni Diver
We have also been blessed to have been able to hire some part-time staff that work primarily on COVID-19 within our four counties. These exceptional people are: Cara Walden RN, Lisa Goins RN, Sara Goins, Jennifer Hyer RN and Benjamin Fischer, plus several others that have assisted us throughout the last several months: Stacy Sauerwein RN, Robin Hughes RN, Stachia Cooper RN, and Vicki Tureskis RN and numerous volunteers.
Tedena Tucker Announces Retirement
