Lyon County Commissioners had an introduction to a new ministry service aimed at assisting female recovering addicts Thursday morning.
Empower House Ministries, established in September of last year, is a faith-based organization dedicated to helping break the cycle of addiction for female addicts. The ministry was formed by Executive Director Pastor Melissa Landis.
Landis says the topic of addiction is a very personal issue to her.
According to Board of Directors President and owner of Therapy Services LLC, Gayle Taylor Ford the organization will provide a number of services including housing and critical life skill training for the women in their care.
At this time, the organization is searching for a building to rent with an estimated operating budget of $50,000. The current plan is to have the women utilizing the housing pay rent once they are able to find steady work to help offset operational costs in the future.
Ford and Landis will join KVOE’s Talk of Emporia at 11:06 am Wednesday morning to discuss the organization’s work in more depth.
In other business, Flint Hills Community Health Center CEO Renee Hively presented the health center’s quarterly report. According to Hively, the health center has slowed down its traditional slate of services as staff has continued to shift focus on COVID-19 response over the past 11 months.
Hively says after having to adjust rapidly with the onset of the pandemic last year, she believes FHCHC staff are starting to become “comfortable” with the new normal.
Hively says she is somewhat concerned that once the pandemic begins to draw to a close there may be a slight challenge in transitioning back into a pre-COVID routine, but she is confident they will be able to make the transition nonetheless.
Separately, Hively and Public Health Officer Dr. Ladun Oyenuga presented the weekly COVID-19 report to commissioners. Hively reiterated that second round vaccinations scheduled for Friday have had to be rescheduled for next Thursday due to inclimate weather impacting vaccine delivery this past week.
Hively stated that she cannot guarantee more disruptions will not occur in the coming weeks, however, she says if they do occur again public health is ready to respond. She went on to thank residents for their understanding of the sudden schedule adjustment and asked them to remain patient as they continue work to reschedule all appointments that were set for Friday’s clinic.
The Lyon County Commission will next convene for its weekly action session at 9 am inside the Lyon County Courthouse next Thursday.
