President and CEO of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas Krista Postai gave an update on some recent collaborations.
Food Storage With New Ft. Scott Grocery Store
One collaboration is with the Star Emporium Downtown General Store, owned by Bill Michaud of BAJA Investments.
Michaud reached an agreement with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas to provide food storage space to expand the food distribution and delivery programs CHC/SEK is currently offering in Crawford County into Fort Scott, with services beginning in January, he said. The store will provide the food storage piece.
“With the pandemic, we’re finding more and more people are struggling and challenged to find food, so we’re going to be adding food distribution to our list of services,” Postai said. “The folks in Ft. Scott are providing our freezer and refrigerator space within the basement of the grocery store for any donated food or purchased food from Kansas Food Bank or other local partners.”
“This will not be used as a distribution point for community members, just a place for us to store it,” she said. “Our long-term plan is to create a Food Rx program for chronically ill and food-insecure patients and to offer grocery delivery to homebound patients throughout our region. It’s always great to find partners willing to help and this is a great example.”
Part of Kansas Distribution Plan For COVID-19 Vaccine
“We are part of the state’s overall plan for (COVID-19 vaccine) distribution and are anxiously awaiting its arrival,” Postai said. “We just learned that we may be receiving one of the ‘super’ freezers from the state which would make the vaccine more accessible. Once available, we will be following state guidelines on priority immunizations which I believe will be front-line medical personnel first. For the latest information on the state’s plan, go to https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/284/COVID-19-Vaccine.”
Adonis Lamonte Johnniel Brown, 6-day old son of Macretia Brown, passed away Sunday, December 20, 2020 at the Via Christi Emergency Room in Ft. Scott, Kansas.
He was born December 14, 2020, in Nevada, Missouri. In addition to his mother, he is survived by two sisters, Adele and Avaya. Also surviving are his grandmother, LaToya Grant, great-grandmother, Willa Wilson, two uncles, Tabias Wilson and Eric Grant, an aunt, Synee Brown and a host of extended family members.
Funeral services will be held at 3:30 P.M. Monday, December 28th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Following services, there will be cremation. Memorials are suggested to the Adonis Brown Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O Box 347 Ft. Scott, KS 66701.
Nevada Regional Center Center (NRMC), is pleased to announce the addition of two new podiatrists who will begin visiting the NRMC Professional Practice Clinic next month. Shelly Sedberry, DPM, AACFAS and Brittany Ciaramello, DPM, AACFAS will take over for Dr. David Dowell who is leaving to practice closer to his home in Tennessee.
Dr. Sedberry received her doctorate from Des Moines University and has served practices in Des Moines, suburban Chicago and Joplin. She specializes in the treatment of all ailments related to the ankle and foot.
Dr. Ciaramello received her doctorate from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine with additional credentialing in reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery. She has served patients in New Haven and Waterbury, Connecticut and Joplin.
Drs. Sedberry and Ciaramello will alternate weeks, providing a podiatric care and surgery five times each month beginning January 5. The Professional Practice Clinic is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is located on the second floor of the south tower at NRMC. For more information, or to make an appointment, call the NRMC Specialty Clinic at (417) 448-2121.
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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.
Patricia Ann Enslow, age 62, resident of Redfield, KS, died Saturday, December 19, 2020, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, KS.
She was born on April 20, 1958, in Wichita, KS, the daughter of Miles Rollin Veach and Alexandria Elizabeth Christina Ure Veach. Patty, nicknamed Gypsy, enjoyed shopping and everything Christmas. She collected snowmen and snow globes and driving to see the Christmas lights. She was an avid watcher of all the Christmas shows on Hallmark television.
Patty loved her family and had the greatest joy in spending time with them, especially her grandchildren. She was a free-spirited person who will be greatly missed.
Survivors include 3 sons, Corey Breese, Wichita, KS, Butch Burns (KayLynn), Redfield, KS, and Sylvester Burns, OK; 5 daughters, Katina Veach-Forwerck, OH, Christina Lucas, Frontenac, KS, Angela Hixon (Travis) Redfield, Heather Burns (Kalob Chaplin), Ft. Scott, KS, and Clara Burns, OK; a sister, Denice Kellum, Wichita; 18 grandchildren, Brian, Gage, Audra, Lorenza, Kristal, Alex, Angelica, Christina, Destiny, Jenna, Earnest, Libby, Mason, Harley, Christina Marie, Corey Jr., Joshua, and Vivian; 5 great grandchildren; 2 nephews; and her beloved Chihuahua, Todd Eugene.
She was preceded in death by a son, Joshua Veach; and her parents.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 AM Wednesday, December 23rd, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Cremation will follow. Memorials are suggested to the Patty Enslow Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Susan Bancroft is the Fort Scott Finance Director. Submitted photo.
The Fort Scott City Commission is discussing a charter ordinance that will be voted on in a special election on Jan. 5, 2021.
“The purpose of Charter Ordinance 31 is to clean up language to our local ordinance that is in direct conflict with Kansas Law and to prevent property tax increases during difficult budget years,” Susan Bancroft, Fort Scott’s Financial Director.
Also to discuss is the issue that money transfers are an accounting mechanism to reimburse other funds or departments for work performed on behalf of a utility, she said.
The Fort Scott City Commission will meet at 6 p.m. today, Monday, December 21, in the City Hall Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street, to discuss Charter Ordinance No. 31 and in addition, some insurance issues: Supplemental Extended Reporting Law Enforcement Liability, Public Officials Liability, and Employee Benefits Liability coverage for the city, according to a city press release.
This meeting is open to the public, but no action will be taken.
“Early in the year, Commissioner Pete Allen pointed out that past administrations had been illegally making transfers to the General Fund based on City Ordinance 2842 adopted in 1982,” Bancroft said.
Bancroft followed up during a regular commission meeting agreeing that the local ordinance essentially states all funds ‘shall’ stay in the sewer fund. Research done also showed that transfers from the sewer fund to the general fund had been made dating back to 1980 according to audited financial statements, she said.
“Prior to 1978, the City of Fort Scott had a combined ‘water and sewage system’ under K.S.A. 12-856,” Bancroft said. “Ordinary Home Rule Ordinance 2692 of May 1978 separated these systems and created various utility funds for each utility. The city now has separate funds for water, sewer, and stormwater.”
“Precedence of the law is as follows: 1. the Federal Constitution and laws, 2.the Kansas Constitution, including valid charter ordinances, 3. state statutes, and 4. local ordinances and laws,” she said.
Bancroft gives a history of the precedence:
“In 1973, K.S.A. 12-631p passed which governs sewer reserve funds,” Bancroft said. “The statute allows cities to deposit funds in a reserve fund or funds for ‘construction, reconstruction, expansion, operation and maintenance’ of municipal sewer systems. The statute also allows transfers from these reserve funds back to the originating fund. K.S.A. 12-852d amended in 1977 give certain powers to cities that own waterworks. Cities may use monies ‘derived from the sale and consumption of water’ for the purposes set out in K.S.A. 12-825d. Sewer monies are derived from the sale and consumption of water. The statute later also allows the governing body ‘in judgment’ to authorize transfers to other funds. K.S.A. 12-631p gave all cities powers and limitations and later K.S.A. 12-852d allows governing bodies additional power.”
“In 1982, the city passed ordinance 2842 that conflicts with K.S.A. 12-825d,” she said. “Because this is an ordinary home rule ordinance, not a charter ordinance, the favor would be given to K.S.A. 12-825d. Because the current state law is in conflict as well as our own ordinary ordinance, charter ordinance 31 was presented to make the language clear, giving the governing body the ability ‘in judgment’, to authorize transfers.”
“During the August 18, 2020 commission meeting, the commission voted 4-1 to approve Charter Ordinance 31 which would allow for transfers to other funds,” Bancroft said. “A petition was filed on October 5th with the County Clerk to call an election so that the voters can decide whether the ordinance shall take effect. The commission had 30 days (November 5th) to decide whether to have an election or rescind the ordinance. The commission chose to move forward with the election. The election is required to be held within 90 days of October 5th and is scheduled for January 5, 2021.”
The following are questions that Bancroft answered regarding the ordinance:
“Why was Charter Ordinance 31 presented?
“Currently, the governing body has the cash available to transfer $200-400K each year into the sewer reserve fund. The ability to sell wastewater to a commercial industry allows the utility to generate additional revenue on top of regular service fees.
“Over time as the utility improves infrastructure, systems will improve and should become more efficient and reduce operational costs which will keep rates stable and possibly generate excess funds.
“No transfers are scheduled in the sewer fund for 2020 or 2021 with the budget changes presented to the commission on October 20, 2020. These changes required a 10-13% reduction in the general fund budget across all departments which results in $300,000 less to operate. The budget is tight, and any emergency or annual inflation costs could affect quality of life amenities or public safety services.
“”The funds being transferred are not property tax dollars but could prevent a property tax increase.
“Charter Ordinance 31 was an option presented to allow the governing body the ability to make financial decisions when appropriate or during times of need. Good financial practice would be to limit the amount of funds that can be transferred and noted in the governing body’s financial policies. The suggested maximum amount of transfer would be 5% of gross revenues which is similar to normal utility franchise fees for the use of right of way and street oversight, maintenance, street cuts etc.
“The movement of funds allows for reimbursement of costs incurred when the utility is making infrastructure changes in the cities right of way. Furthermore, it covers the cost of permitting, inspections, equipment, and material for the utility cuts made and legal fees.
“Transfers are an accounting mechanism to improve efficiencies in all departments to not have to track each detailed expenditure supported by General Fund departments.
How is the city ensuring sewer infrastructure is being addressed?
“City administration continues to develop plans on how, when, and where to rehabilitate the city’s sewer system. Inspections of the condition of the city’s sewer infrastructure, rating the condition, and then mapping these findings through GIS will ensure customers that plans are developed methodically. In addition, through a five-year capital plan, the utility resources will be managed prudently.
Are city sewer rates sufficient to support the failing infrastructure?
“City administration will be seeking governing body approval in 2021 to pursue a professional rate analysis to see if any changes are needed to the current declining rate structure.”
Starlite FCE held its December meeting on the 17th at the Yeager building on the fairgrounds. President Glenda Miller called the meeting to order. Joyce Allen led the club in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Club Collect. The eleven members in attendance reported twenty-five and a half volunteer hours and that they had recycled 115 pounds of paper.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Glenda Miller announced that Helen Carson will be one of our County Counsel representatives, she also informed us of information she had received from Joy Miller.
It was announced the Marge Stringer had passed and that her visitation will be on Sunday. Karen Peery moved that we donate $25 to her Memorial Fund and do the same for any other member that passes. Joyce Allen seconded the motion, motion carried.
Before the meeting, the members assembled gift bags decorated as reindeer for Tri-Valley. Each bag contained a pair of socks, gloves, a Christmas mug, an ornament, fruit snacks, rice crispy treats, popcorn a candy cane, and a Christmas card. Cards were also signed for Clarice Russell and Nolene Whiteside.
Deb Lust moved that the meeting be adjourned, Helen Carson seconded the motion, meeting adjourned.
Club members enjoyed a variety of finger food provided by members.
Many thanks to the American Legion family members who stepped up and “Ring The Bells” for the Salvation Army on December 18 and 19. This is what the American Legion is all about: community service. 100% of all donations will stay in Bourbon County.
Also, thanks to the many Fort Scott Walmart shoppers who took a moment and donated to this fundraiser. When I turned in the kettle at 5 pm, it was definitely full, and the volunteers had to keep pushing the donations into the kettle to make room for other donations.
These are the Post 25 members who braved the Kansas wind and cold weather to give back to the community: Ken Armenta, Ron Beltz, Steve Dean, Michel Lyon, Marvin Taylor, Garyl Coleman, Darrell Spencer, Jeannie Hart, Karen Hansen, Shirly Wilmon, Mike Call, Leslie Montee, Carl Jowers, Mike Hansen.
Thanks to Dorothy Taylor for providing some of the photos.
Congratulations to our Fort Scott High School 2020-2021 4A State Qualifiers in 4-Speaker debate!
Trent Toth and Sam Deloney on the Affirmative with Regen Wells as alternate and Kinsley Davis and Lillian Collins on the Negative with Anna Hall as the alternate.
Fort Scott placed 3rd at regionals with a 5-5 record and 14 ballots!
The 4A regional tournament was hosted virtually by Fort Scott High school.
We are looking forward to the New Year! Go Talking Tigers!
When there’s a challenging situation in your life, you’ll find Jesus at the front end prompting His compassionate servants into action. These kind people are the “givers.” And then you’ll also find Jesus at the back end, where hopeful individuals are the “receivers.”
God likes to use His children as givers to accomplish His plans. He does miracles without human assistance, but He also works through those who love and serve Him. Jesus was talking about compassionate believers with obedient servants’ hearts in Matthew 25:37-40 NKJV: “The righteous will answer Him, saying, ’Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, ’Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”
God likes for His children to pray boldly and specifically ask Him for what they need (see Hebrews 4:16). As God moves in response, these believers become receivers. The scripture reveals, “And my God shall supply ALL your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NASB). Well, there He is again. Jesus is everywhere we turn. But we should already know that because He says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Revelation 22:13 NKJV).
Make sure you recognize Jesus when He shows up because He wears a lot of different faces. Here’s a partial list of what He’s done for us over the last several months: Jesus has baked a blackberry pie, shoveled gravel onto our lane, brought out Schwan’s meals, baked desserts, provided home-cooked meals, and sent cards. Jesus has changed the oil in our van, filled up our gas tank, cut hair, shared garden vegetables, mowed our yard and pasture, and cut and delivered wood. Jesus has been a chauffeur, changed the lawnmower oil, prayed for us, run the Weed Eater, given money, and even mailed a box of Queen Anne’s chocolate-covered cherries to us. The face of Jesus is beautiful — and He looks just like our family and friends! As humble receivers with grateful hearts, we count our blessings and thank God.
There are times when life lands you in a pit to slug it out with a vicious lion. In the Old Testament we read about Benaiah, one of King David’s mightiest men. He was a valiant warrior who did many heroic deeds. “…on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it” (2 Samuel 23:20 NLT). Humanly speaking, the odds were against him, but Benaiah won anyway. I don’t think it’s too far-fetched to believe that Benaiah looked up from the bottom of the pit and saw the offered hand of a friend to help him climb out.
Jesus is a chain breaker and a heart mender, and He’s not afraid of lions or hard work. So when you’re asking, believing, and standing for your breakthrough, rest assured Jesus will show up with His sleeves rolled up and His work gloves on.
The Key: No matter which end you’re on, Jesus is there.
Joy Miller, RD, LD Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent Adult Development and Aging Family Resource Management K-State Research and Extension Southwind Extension District 210 S. National Fort Scott, KS 66701 Office: 620-223-3720 Fax: 620-223-0332 [email protected]
As the holiday season approaches, resist the temptation to taste uncooked batter or dough, no matter how delicious it might be.
You have probably heard it’s a bad idea to eat uncooked dough because it contains raw eggs. But raw flour can also make you sick and is not safe to eat until properly cooked. Bacteria can contaminate grains in the fields or throughout the grain transportation and flour production system. Flour from milled grain is typically not treated to kill bacteria.
What about cookie dough ice cream? Commercially purchased cookie dough ice cream should be safe because it contains heat-treated flour and pasteurized eggs. Store bought cookie dough for baking, may not be the same and it is important to follow package directions when baking.
You might have licked cake batter or cookie dough from spoons lots of times with no ill effects, but some haven’t been so lucky. Food safety tips for preparing baked goods to keep your family safe this holiday season:
Don’t eat uncooked dough, batter, or other foods containing raw flour or eggs.
Cook or bake foods to proper temperatures and follow recipes or package directions.
As with raw meat, keep raw flour or eggs separate from ready-to-eat foods.
Clean bowls, utensils, countertops and other surfaces thoroughly after use.
Wash hands often.
More Food Safety at https://www.southwind.k-state.edu/health-nutrition/
Follow us on Facebook @southwindextensiondistrict or Instagram @southwind_ext. For more information, contact Joy Miller at [email protected] or by calling 620-223-3720.
