Excelsior Springs Standard Archive

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July 27, 2010

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Board votes to raise convalescent rates

By ERIC COPELAND
Managing Editor

The Excelsior Springs Hospital Board of Trustees voted unanimously Monday afternoon to increase rates for the Convalescent Center starting Oct. 1.

Rates were also increased slightly last year, and hospital officials review the rates each year, comparing them to rates charged at similar facilities throughout the area.

Long-term convalescent care rates are expected to rise 1.5 percent on Oct. 1, and residential care rates will increase by the same amount. Independent Living rates will climb by 3 percent.

The rates are still competitive with or less than rates at other nursing homes. Board members said they planned to notify the families of Convalescent Center residents about the increases no later than the beginning of August, so they would have 60 days to decide whether to maintain residency there or move their loved ones to another facility.

The board also voted unanimously to re-appoint two members—one of whom was going to be ineligible for re-appointment due to term limits.

In the past, the board’s members were limited to two terms. However, hospital CEO Sally Nance, City Manager David Haugland and Mayor Carolyn Schutte are unsure where that requirement came from, and most other city boards and commissions have no similar term limit requirements.

Ann Curty Case was due to be re-appointed, but Ed Duncan had already served his two terms. However, the motion made Monday afternoon—which was endorsed by the vote—was to re-appoint both. Along with that, the motion also suggests that guidelines be changed to remove the term limits imposed on board members.

Nance said as far as she knew, the Excelsior Springs City Council was not insistent upon term limits. There are good points and bad when it comes to such term limits, she said. While term limits enforce the idea of getting new faces and new opinions on the board, they also sometimes eliminate good, strong, experienced board members when they still have much to offer.

She said term limits can also be a way to calm disputes on the board, as older members are removed and new ones replace them. However, she and board members noted that many times, board members who have such problems depart the board of their own volition after their terms are up.

After Monday’s meeting, the board toured some areas of the hospital, both old and new, as Nance explained some ongoing renovations.

Now that the new outpatient and wellness clinic addition and the MRI addition are complete, the older portions of the hospital are getting a facelift as well.

Many of the hallways and rooms in the older sections of the facility have already gotten new floor tiles, and where ceiling tiles have not yet been replaced, that is also planned. The hospital rooms themselves are also getting some improvements, with new vanities and other features already added and new furniture and other cosmetic improvements still to come.

Nance also showed the board the room where the nuclear science lab and other equipment, as well as a new waiting room, will be installed in the new MRI building on the hospital’s campus. A construction permit for the project is expected to be approved within a matter of weeks, and the work will be completed this year.

Back Snack aims to feed ESSD kids

By ERIC COPELAND
Managing Editor

When school starts in a few weeks, many children will have their breakfasts and lunches provided to them during the school day.

But for families struggling to meet their everyday needs, some youngsters may not get nutritious meals on the weekends. The Northland Childhood Hunger Fund is trying to change that.

The Back Snack program provides healthy snacks for those children to take home with them every weekend. Packed handily into a backpack, that little extra bit of nutrition can make all the difference when it comes to promoting a child’s success in school.

Locally, a coalition of volunteers is helping to promote the program by matching up donors with children who might benefit from Back Snacks. For $200 per year—or just about $17 per month—a child can take home a backpack full of snacks every weekend during the school year.

To make the program work, the Northland Childhood Hunger Fund has partnered with Harvesters Community Food Network. When the program was adopted by the Northland Community Foundation last year, Harvesters was providing backpacks to about 1,000 children throughout the Northland. The extra boost provided by the additional partner—not to mention the support of donors—the program has been expanded to 1,700 children.
But more must be done. It’s estimated that as many as 3,400 children in the Northland are considered to be “food insecure,” meaning that the financial pressures in their homes prevent them from having nutritious food available all the time.

Expanding Back Snack to cover the rest of the Northland means extending the program from 26 elementary schools in Clay and Platte counties to a total of 57 schools. It also means educating Northland residents about the need right in their own communities, and how they can help.

Excelsior Springs Mayor Carolyn Schutte serves on the Northland Childhood Hunger Fund Steering Committee. She’s attempting to get Excelsior Springs residents, organizations and businesses involved early enough that the Back Snack program can start the school year off right, providing healthy snacks to all the local children who need them. Her fellow committee members—Bob Pearson, Jamie V. Cummings, Chris Donnelli, Kelley Martin and Malcolm Wilson, plus co-chairs Fred Mitchell and Michael Short—are doing the same thing in other communities throughout the Northland.

All contributions to the program are tax-deductible. Donation forms are available from Schutte, who operates the Edward Jones office in the Vintage commercial development, or you can make an online donation at www.gkccf.org. Click on “give” in the top line, then on the third box on the left side of the page, “contribute to a fund.” Scroll down to the “N” listings and click on “Northland Childhood Hunger Fund,” then scroll down to the bottom of the page and fill in the form provided.

Parked cars catch fire

Two cars caught fire at about 4:15 a.m. Monday, and authorities are unsure how the fire started.

The two vehicle blazes took place in the impound lot at Rite-Way Auto Service, 1905 W. Jesse James Rd. Anyone with information about the fires may call the tips hotline at 637-TIPS (8477).

ESH to hold Health Fair

Excelsior Springs Hospital is inviting all residents of Excelsior Springs and surrounding areas to a Health Fair from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7.

Several screenings will be available for those who are uninsured or under-insured. Among the free screenings are balance, vital signs, height/weight/BMI, blood sugar, carpal tunnel, cholesterol and much more. Several other more involved screenings will be available at low cost. For more info, visit eshospital.org.

The hospital is located at 1700 Rainbow Blvd., near the intersection of U.S. 69 and N. Jesse James Road.

Traffic pattern on 35 to switch

This week, motorists who use Interstate 35 between Route PP and the Fishing River saw the traffic patterns change. The Missouri Department of Transportation continues work on eight miles of the interstate, and the next area to see work will be the northbound lanes.

All work is scheduled to be completed by the end of November 2010.

Immunization clinic planned

The Clay County Public Health Center will offer back-to-school shots from 8:30 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Aug. 7.

Biological parents or legal guardians with proof (the only people allowed to give consent, according to a new Missouri state law) should bring their children’s complete shot records and Social Security numbers. The vaccinations are for children kindergarten through 12th grade only.

The clinic will be held at the center, 800 Haines Dr., Liberty. Anyone with questions about giving consent for shots may call the center at (816) 595-4355.

Harvesters, Good Samaritan Center serve around 200 families

By KRISTIN RULON
Community Reporter

Close to 200 families with a total of 507 children were represented at the Harvesters annual mass distribution event.
This past weekend, families formed arrived almost an hour before the event began in the Excelsior Springs School District’s parking lot.
Volunteers and various churches helped set up and hand out the various food items Harvesters brought.
Churches that provided volunteers, entertainment and refreshments were New Life Family Ministries, Rock Falls Baptist Church and the International Sports Evangelists.
The Good Samaritan Center’s Christmas in July month-long drive will wrap up at the end of the month.
So far the drive has raised $4,000 of the center’s $10,000 goal.
The center is looking for donations of hygienic items such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, tissues, diapers (all sizes), dish soap or monetary donations are also welcome.
Good Samaritan’s Executive Director Bob Gerdes mentioned that people can also donate at the upcoming Spirit of Giving luncheon at noon on Wednesday, July 28, at the Elms Resort and Spa.
Those wanting to donate can still do so by contacting the center at (816) 630-2718.

Local boy puts others before himself

By KRISTIN RULON
Community Reporter

Dawson Graham, 7, should be primarily focusing on playing his Wii and soaking up the summer sun before school starts.
Instead, he’s raising funds to donate to Red Cross’s Haiti relief efforts.
Granted, he’s still making time for his Wii but his enthusiam to help shows just how much other people mean to him.
To help raise funds, his family created a video of him singing “Down by the Bay” on YouTube to attract people to his cause.
“We tried to think of a way to reach a bunch of people,” said DaNonne, his mother on the YouTube video.
His idea to help those in need in Haiti came from an article he read in Sports Illustrated for Kids.
“I wanted to help kids in Haiti,” Dawson said, “I wanted to help give them medicine.”
Dawson plans on collecting funds for Haiti for the next few weeks and has already exceeded his goal.
And his charitable efforts continue as he is also growing out his hair to donate to Locks of Love, which is a a public, non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to children in the United States and Canada under the age of 21 suffering a from long-term medical hair loss caused by a diagnosis.
That idea came from his mother, who has donated hair to Locks of Love before. Dawson has been growing his hair out since September of last year.
Dawson’s video can be found on YouTube by searching for “Dawson Donation Singing-Take 2.” It can also be viewed from the Standard’s Facebook page. See the video.
For more information on how to make a Red Cross donation in Dawson’s name e-mail his mother at Danonne76@yahoo.com.
DaNonne said her son has always thought of others before himself.
“It’s really humbling,” she said. “I should have done something (to help Haiti earthquake victims) and instead my 7-year-old son is.”
Anyone who would like to donate to Dawson’s cause can do so at Excelsior Springs Trade Fair and Trade Fair Too for the next three weeks.
The trade fairs are located at 1218 and 1220 N. Jesse James Road.

ESCT’s ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ opens this weekend

Excelsior Springs Community Theatre’s presentation of “Meet Me in St. Louis” will open this weekend at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 1, at the Performing Arts Center.
“Meet Me in St. Louis” is a traveling production with performances in Excelsior Springs, Liberty and Richmond.
In Richmond, the play will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 6 and Saturday, Aug. 7 at Farris Theatre.
The production, directed by Tanya Duncan, will wrap-up in Liberty with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 13, and Saturday, Aug. 14, at the Performing Arts Theatre in Liberty.
General admission is $10; $8 for students and seniors.
To purchase tickets call (816) 824-6177.

Locally made quilts bring security to Haitian children

By KRISTIN RULON
Community Reporter

What started as a way for a local woman to do her part in relieving Haitian children has woven a ‘quilt’ of friendship between the people of Haiti and Excelsior Springs
Sherry Wollard came up with the idea to create quilts for children in Haiti when local Rita Robertson and her daughter Daina Kennedy were preparing for their 45-day trip to Gressier, Haiti.
Word has continued to spread as Robertson and Kennedy will return to Haiti this Saturday, July 31, for one week.
Robertson typically has being going to Haiti for the past four years in July through JoyHouse Christian Ministry, a non-denominational organization, assisting those in need.
But this year due to the devastating earthquake, Robertson and Kennedy went in February.
This trip, though it won’t be nearly as long, will have some limitations.
The two won’t be able to take as many supplies with them but will still able to take 25 or 30 quilts.
“I can only take what I can carry on my back,” Robertson said. “I’ve learned to pack very light.”
Robertson and Kennedy will be working on temporary housing and giving quilting classes.
“The women down there are already asking how to quilt,” Robertson added. “That’s a good sign that despite everything they are going through, they are wanting to decorate.”
Wollard has been giving quilting classes here in Excelsior for people to create quilts to send with Robertson.
“This has really taken off,” Robertson said.
Wollard’s idea has taken off so well that Pastor Benito, who Robertson and Kennedy work with to deliver supplies, items to the Haitians, wrote a letter to Wollard thanking her.
Robertson will be taking Wollard’s letter to Pastor Benito this upcoming trip.
“In a way this has created a quilt between the two (Haiti and those who have created the quilts), she added.
Those that would like to contribute are asked to make monetary donations to JoyHouse Ministeries, since now the Haitian government will no longer be allowing temporary housing at the first of the year, according to Robertson, by going to www.haitijoyhouse.org.
Robertson said they will be trying to figure out a way to “bolt” down the housing to make it permanent, which will have its costs.
Robertson’s daughter Kay will also be traveling to Haiti and will updating the blog on the team’s progress.
Follow the mission team’s blog.

Tigerettes receive National Championship bid

By DUSTIN CARROLL
Sports Writer

Sixteen of the 17 young ladies from the Tigerette dance team just returned from their NDA dance camp in Lake Ozark. The team worked very hard and that hard work paid off.

The girls got an excellent rating and a bronze plaque on their home routine and a superior rating on their team dance. Certificates were received for superior showmanship, most improved and they also received a bid to compete in the National Championship. There were numerous individual ribbons received as follows: three Excellent ribbons, 13 Superior ribbons, four Technique ribbons, five Spirit ribbons and five Showmanship ribbons.

Four girls also received All American Nominations including, Kirstyn Querry, Co Captain Erica Ainsworth, Co Captain AJ Powers and Amber Firebaugh. Two of the nominees, Ainsworth and Powers, were actually chosen to be on the All American Team. The All American ribbon is the most prestigious award because it combines all of the other ribbons into one, plus includes leadership qualities.

Erica Siegel, the team manager accompanied Coach Melissa Lewis and the team and according to Lewis her assistance was much appreciated. Lewis was very happy with the team’s performance and is looking forward to seeing them compete in Nationals and their future competitions.

“I am extremely proud of the girls and feel they accomplished so much while at camp,” said Lewis. “Not only did they do well on their performances, they had a wonderful chance to bond with the seven new members to the team. They are very talented, hard working and smart. They are a sweet group of girls to be around and I feel very fortunate to be their coach,” Lewis continued.

Support our local business community

At local retailers, the school supplies have appeared on shelves, and back-to-school clothes and other items have made it to the racks. In just a few weeks—the first weekend in August, in fact—Missouri will have its annual sales tax holiday for back-to-school purchases, helping families to stretch their shopping dollars a little further.

That extra little stretch is important in times like these, when unemployment remains near 10 percent, many salaries are frozen or dropping and plenty of people are just trying to make it through the lean times.

But as you seek to squeeze just a little more use out of your hard-earned pay, remember that others are struggling, too. Small businesses, and to a lesser extent larger ones as well, are facing the same lean times. Their future is made more uncertain when shoppers zip past their doors in favor of sales in other stores or even other communities.

Sometimes we have to go outside our city limits to shop, because not every type of merchandise is available here. But many things are available in Excelsior Springs, and usually at a competitive price, with less distance to drive. Plus, supporting local business means you’re supporting local jobs and boosting your own community’s tax base. That, in turn, makes it more likely that retailers will see Excelsior Springs as an attractive market.

Shop local when possible.

All in the name of science

By ERIC COPELAND
Managing Editor

More than 40 years ago, the American people and government used their scientific know-how and ingenuity to put men on the moon.

And that’s not all. The last 150 years or so have brought us amazing advances in medicine, computers, automotive technology, conveniences and countless other areas. The 20th century alone represented some of the most rapid developments in the history of the world.

But some goals still elude us. There are diseases that have yet to be conquered, for example, and I think I know why.

In case you missed it, Paul Dawson, a professor at Clemson University, had a piece in this month’s National Geographic that touched on one of the most pressing issues of our time.

His conclusion: The five-second rule is a bunch of hooey.

You know, the five-second rule…the claim that if you drop food on the ground, you have five full seconds before any dirt, germs or other nasty additions latch onto it.

You might believe that a Clemson researcher would have better ways to spend his time, especially considering that no one I’ve ever met truly believes in the five-second rule. It’s a joke, people—usually used when a food is dropped on a relatively clean surface and the food’s exterior is generally smooth and featureless. In other words, if one drops a grape on a freshly-wiped-down counter, one might reference the five-second rule before popping it into one’s mouth.

On the other hand, if one drops a slice of bread on a heavily-traveled public sidewalk, the rule is never mentioned—unless the raccoons talk about it when they find a whole slice of bread in the trash can that night.

It’s these kinds of “scientific pursuits” that make me wonder whether researchers have anything better to do with their time. The last time I knew, we were still trying to find cures for cancer, AIDS and any number of other ailments. There’s always energy research, or even space travel is still wide open—since four decades later, no manned spacecraft have gone any further than that moon flight back in 1969.

The research sounds oh-so-official, finding that bacteria can live on surfaces for weeks, and can be transferred to food as soon as the two surfaces come in contact with one another.

Other experts point out that the time is less important than the location. As I noted earlier, these differing opinions say that a clean surface and a food that has a relatively smooth exterior make contamination less likely.

But instead of taking comfort in the fact that others support my viewpoint, I’m disturbed at the ramifications of a “body of research” here. That means several scientists have undertaken this direction of study, taking literally the idea that people think that dropping a donut on the ground is safe as long as you snatch it up before five seconds. Because obviously, the germs each have tiny stopwatches, and they know not to move until the five-second mark has passed.

I know it shouldn’t bother me. Someone felt that it was worthwhile to pay these scientists to conduct these studies, and I’m not the kind of person who insists he knows how someone else’s money should be spent. On the other hand, I suspect some of these researchers were paid at least partly using public funds—and that’s my money, at some level.

But now that we’ve established this as a valid area of research, it opens up a whole new realm of science. Maybe they could test the theory that broken cookies are healthier because the calories have leaked out.

It’s not any crazier than the five-second rule, after all.