Updated cancellations, postponements as of Monday, March 23

Due to the threat of COVID-19, several agencies are closing their doors to the public and several events have been cancelled or postponed.

Most restaurants are providing curb, carry-out or drive-through service.

As the week progresses, many other events and agencies may close to the public as well. This is a compilation of press releases the Tribune has received as of 4:30 p.m. Monday.

The Tribune will update this alphabetical list as information becomes available and post it on our website daily.

4-H Clubs

All 4-H club meetings in the Southwind Extension have been cancelled until further notice.

The Beacon

Effective March 16, until further notice, there is a new procedure for obtaining food boxes through The Beacon.

Residents should call The Beacon at (620) 223-6869 with his or her name and timeframe for picking up their order. It will then be filled between normal business hours. Orders will be picked up off the back deck. No one will be allowed in the building except staff.

Residents who need to see Executive Director Gary Murrell for any reason may call him at (620) 223-6869.

Bourbon County Courthouse

For the health and safety of its employees and the public, the Bourbon County Courthouse will remain closed at least until April 5.

Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center, Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office

The following restrictions have been put in place due to the coronavirus situation, according to information from Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center Administrator Bobby Reed:

• The front lobby of the sheriff’s department and jail are closed to the public. People who need to make a criminal report can call (620) 223-1700 and a deputy will either respond or call the person back. If the caller needs emergency assistance, call 911.

• There will be no video visits for inmates for 30 days. If family members of inmates wish to schedule a visit, they can do so through www.jailatm.com. Reed said this is the company the jail uses to conduct video visits.

• Walk-ins for vehicle inspections, which are conducted in the south parking lot of the courthouse Mondays and Fridays, have been suspended.

• People who need to request accident reports can call the sheriff’s department at 223-1440, choose option 3 and leave a message and email so that report can be sent to the caller.

• Registered offenders are asked to not visit the jail, but to instead call 223-1440, choose option 4 to talk with someone about an appointment.

• Jail staff are not bringing anyone from the public for fingerprinting at this time. Reed said there are procedures in place to handle packages that are delivered daily.

Bridge

Bridge, which was played Sundays and Mondays at the First Presbyterian Church, has been cancelled until further notice.

Buck Run Community Center

Buck Run Community Center is closed to the public March 16-18 due to precautions with the coronavirus.

Cheney Witt Chapel

Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel must limit all services and visitations to family only and even that to 50 or less until further notice. The Cheney Witt chapel encourages everyone to keep families with loss in their thoughts and prayers. Friends may still visit the funeral home to sign the guestbook or take advantage of the Chapel’s online guestbook at cheneywitt.com. Memorial contributions can be dropped off at the Chapel’s physical location at 201 S. Main or mail them to P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.

All previously announced services will be subject to this new gathering policy.

Compassionate Ministries/Salvation Army

Client assistance will be done over the phone as much as possible. When documentation is required, staff will utilize email and fax as much as possible. If hard copies are the only option, those documents will be accepted with gloves and they will be sprayed with Lysol before filing or additional procedures will be followed.

Salvation Army appointments can still be made by calling (620) 223-2212

People have turned to The Salvation Army for over 150 years. The Salvation Army is committed to facing the Coronavirus crisis and will continue to do everything possible to provide for those in need. To face this challenge, help is needed from the community. The best way to help is by providing hygienic supplies, or a monetary gift that will help staff and volunteers keep facilities sanitized, put food on people’s tables, and restore hope.

Country Place Senior Living

A spokeswoman for Country Place Senior Living said there is “temporarily a visitor restriction except for direct care providers.” The spokeswoman said family members of residents may visit, but must fill out a form before entering a resident’s room.

Extension programs

“Protecting the Pollinators” program set for March 30 has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce has cancelled the Chamber Coffees for Thursday, March 26.

The chamber Annual Dinner and Award Celebration scheduled for March 26 has been postponed until further notice.

The Chamber office and Visitor’s Center is closed until further notice. Call (620) 223-3566 to speak to Chamber Executive Director Lindsay Madison or Administrative Assistant Rita Schroeder in regards to Chamber events or go to the Chamber’s website, fortscott.com, to view community event cancellations.

Fort Scott City Commission

The city of Fort Scott has postponed the scheduled budget work session that was to take place at 6 p.m. Monday, as well as the regularly scheduled Fort Scott City Commission meeting that was to take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

All Fort Scott advisory board meetings have been postponed until further notice. City officials are working diligently to provide meetings open to the public using an online platform.

Fort Scott City Hall

Fort Scott City Hall is closed to the public.

Water bills can be paid by one of the following services:

• Visit www.fscity.org and click on ‘online bill pay,’ then click on Water Department tab and pay online.

• Call (833) 269-5988 and press 1 to make a payment over the phone on the city’s 24/7 automated system.

• Customers who prefer to pay with a check should use the drop box in the alley behind City Hall, 123 S. Main St.

• Customers who prefer to mail their payment can send it to P.O. Box 151, Fort Scott, KS 66701.

• To speak with a water utility clerk, call (620) 223-8133 or 223-0550.

For up-to-date information about COVID-19, visit https://www.cdc.gov or http://www.kdheks.gov.

Fort Scott Community College

The Fort Scott Community College Spring Commencement scheduled for May 15 is cancelled. Students planning to graduate in May still need to complete the Petition to Graduate Form found on the college website. Students who have already submitted the form to the registrar’s office do not need to resubmit. Graduate assessment testing (ETS Proficiency Profile and WorkKeys) is cancelled for this semester.

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Fort Scott National Historic Site has modified operations to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing.

The park store and visitor contact desk area is closed until further notice.

The upcoming Spring Civil War Encampment event will be rescheduled for a future date to be determined.

Where it is possible to adhere to the latest health guidance, all museum, exhibit areas, and fort buildings (including the Post Hospital) remain open. Rangers will rove the site, providing information and orientation. Outdoor spaces will remain open to provide healthy options for the public such as park walkways, trails, and the tallgrass prairie.

Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the digital tools already available, or through the park’s mobile app. There are many educational resources available on the site’s webpage to stay connected to your national park.

The site exhibit areas and buildings are open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The park grounds are open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

Fort Scott Public Library

Fort Scott Public Library will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time in response to the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Library patrons are encouraged to keep library materials until the library reopens. Those who wish to return materials can place them in the library’s drop box.

Items will be renewed as they become due so patrons won’t receive overdue notices or lose access to their accounts. Anyone who receives an overdue notice should contact the library email at either fortscottlibrary@yahoo.com or fsplcirc@gmail.com, and the items will be renewed.

All library events through April 1 have been cancelled.

This library is not accepting book donations at this time.

Library staff encourages patrons to make the most of available online resources. The library offers free options to download, stream, and learn on devices. See library’s website: fortscott.mykansaslibrary.org for more information.

“We look forward to seeing you soon. Thank you for your continued support of our community and our library,” the press release states.

Fort Scott Regional Tourism Center

The Fort Scott Regional Tourism Center will be closed to the public until further notice.

The trolley tours, which were scheduled to begin on Saturday, March 21, have also been postponed until further notice. If you would like more information please visit our website, www.visitfortscott.com.

Guest Home Estates

Guest Home Estates is “not letting visitors come in unless there is an exceptional reason to come in” as the caregiver facility follows CDC guidelines.

Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt

The Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt scheduled for April 4 at Gunn Park has been cancelled.

Kiwanis Pioneers Club meetings

Face-to-face meetings of the Kiwanis Pioneer Club have been cancelled until further notice. The board meeting will be held via teleconference on Thursday.

Medicalodges

Visitors are restricted at Medicalodges of Fort Scott.

The facility is not allowing visitors “unless it’s medically essential to the resident’s care.

Presbyterian Village

Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America visitors are discouraged and limited to essential family members.

All activities that were planned are cancelled.

Southwind Extension District offices

The Southwind Extension District Offices are closed to the public until further notice. Even though the physical offices are closed to the public, Extension staff are working normal office hours, and phone calls and emails will be answered in a timely fashion. The district has cancelled or postponed all K-State Research & Extension face-to-face events (workshops, club meetings, shows, etc.) through May 16. County fairs are expected to continue as usual, but the district will continue to monitor the situation and follow state and national protocols.

Tribune

For the safety of everyone, The Tribune office will be closed to the public until further notice.

Payments may be placed in the drop slot located on the front door.

Staff is still available to assist you by phone, 223-2110 or email receiptionist@fstribune.com.

Uniontown City Hall/Public library

Uniontown City Hall and the Uniontown Public Library is closed to the public.

Business will be conducted by phone or email. The city clerk will be in the office to answer phones or emails.

Phone number – (620) 756-4742

Email – cityofuniontown@ckt.net

Anyone who needs to register their cat or dog are encouraged to email documents for proof of current rabies and whether spayed/neutered.

Make payments (utility or fees) by phone, online or through the drive-through at Union State Bank.

VA clinic, Fort Scott

The VA Eastern Kansas remains open to Fort Scott veterans, however visitors are limited.

The VA has implemented Tier III screening process, which includes controlled entry to ensure safety. The Fort Scott clinic remains open, but upon arrival to the clinic, VA staff will perform an administrative screen for active illness.

Non-emergent appointments are being rescheduled to limit risk of any infectious exposure to patients and staff.

The clinic is also utilizing secure messaging, video virtual care, and phone consultations as needed.

Clinic staff requests that all veterans call the clinic prior to arriving at (620) 223-8655.

VFW

The Olson-Frary-Burkhart VFW Post No. 1165 Chicken Night scheduled for March 26 has been cancelled.

A luncheon scheduled Saturday to honor Vietnam Veterans has been cancelled.