Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.
This week’s Friday Night Concert will feature Michael and Lita Miller. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, June 16, at the Heritage Park Pavilion at 1st and Main streets.
The Millers began performing gospel music in a trio. Now the two of them sing together, bringing authentic old Southern, traditional songs with a little bluegrass gospel thrown in. They are both well-rounded musicians, playing various bluegrass style instruments.
“A lot of the music comes from down south,” Michael, pastor of the Bronson Baptist Church, said. “Everything we do has a purpose and a message.”
Michael will play finger-style acoustic guitar and Lita will play the bass.
“They are a joy to hear. Because they are a husband and wife team, they know where each other is going with the music. It’s just a great blend of voices and instruments,” Ralph Carlson, concert organizer, said. “They are one of the Friday Night Concert regulars and it’s good to have them back.”
Seating is limited so everyone is encouraged to bring lawn chairs. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall St.
The concert series is sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
Welcome: Twenty-one members representing sixteen agencies attended. Billie Jo shared that thirty-three family passes to the Aquatic Center had been approved allowing a total of 135 individuals to access the pool this summer. Lea Kay Karleskint and Travis Wilcoxsin have agreed to serve on the Coalition Board and will be beginning their terms in September.
Member Introductions and Announcements:
Cassidy Lutz, K-State Research: Southwind District has several classes being offered in the near future: Strengthening Families, Choose Health: Food, Fun, and Fitness, Sewing Steam. For more information contact Southwind Extension District, 620-365-2242.
Sandy Haggard, RSVP: Red Cross blood drive will be June 15 and 16 at Buck Run; contact Sandy to volunteer to help.
David Gillen, Beacon: Last month 329 families totaling 757 people received services from Beacon. This number included twenty-two new families. The first six months of 2023 have averaged twelve new families qualifying for Beacon assistance each month. David reminded members of all the services that Beacon offers; emergency help is also provided for individuals that do not qualify for services based on income.
Jeanne Camac – Congratulations to Jeanne on her retirement from USD 235 where she served as the high school counselor!
Amy Hagan, CHC: Provides home-based help for moms; the goal is to get families “on their feet.”
Megan Smith, CHC: Provides in-house family support; works with infants through age 44.
Lisa Robertson and Lindsey McNeil, COPE: They are out in the community to help people; they are housed at the HBCAT office. They are grant funded until December 31, 2023.
Rachel Carpenter, COPE: Reminded members of grant opportunities for restaurants and women beginning businesses. Rachel is working to address inequities in our community and continues to seek partners who will help bring the transportation program to our area.
Lea Kay Karleskint, K-State, Snap Education: She just needs space and she brings the kitchen and all the supplies for her classes. Her target audience is low resource persons. She will now be housed in the CHC building as the liaison between CHC and K-State Research Extension.
Tammy Alcantar, Crawford County Health Department: Continues to conduct and have success with the Baby and Me Tobacco Free and Teen Pregnancy programs. Tammy reminded members about the Bourbon County Baby Shower to be held at the Health Department, 524 Lowman Street, on June 22, 10 – 12. She also noted that Holly Fritter at the Health Department is the Safe Sleep person for Bourbon County.
Shawna Willey: In-Clinic Community Health Worker at CHC. Can help with applications for homelessness, health care, etc.
Maggie Young, CHC: Working to create a task force for youth through a tobacco cessation grant and will be working in the schools.
Christine Abbott, SEK Works: There is still money available; she continues to look for youth 16-24 for her programs. A very positive recent change has allowed the youth in her programs to be paid a competitive wage between $7.25 and $20.00 per hour. She can help with work experience, applications, resumes, etc. Several youth from Bourbon County are involved in these programs.
Michelle Stevenson, USD 234 PreSchool Program: She is funded by the Early Block Grant which has been approved for another year. Many children graduated from her program; therefore, she needs referrals! Contact Michelle at 620-223-8965, Extension 3005.
Patty Simpson, Fort Scott Housing Authority: She has a total of 190 units; however, at this time there are waiting lists for all size units – the longest waiting list she has had in seventeen years. The situation is probably due to higher rents elsewhere.
DeeDee LeFever, Greenbush Community Liaison: She helps match Greenbush services such as Parent as Teachers, Audiology, Infant-Toddler Networks, professional development, etc. to people who need them. For additional information: greenbush.org or 800-554-3412.
Kathy Romero, Angels Care Home Health: Since 2004 they have been providing in home behavioral health care help for such things as anxiety, depression, bipolar, etc. They also specialize in the Care Connections program for individuals who need care in their home before hospice.
Program: Dawn Cubbison presented a slide show explaining all the extra benefits provided through the Aetna Better Health of Kansas such as the Healthy Rewards Program, over-the-counter supply catalog, transportation services, respite care, Ted E Bear Kids Club, No Place Like Home Grant, mobile app, and many others. For more information: AetnaBetterHealth.com/Kansas.
Open Forum: Billie Jo reminded members that the Coalition does not meet in July.
Adjournment: The next General Membership meeting will be August 2. April Jackson, Thrive Allen County, will present the program on overdose prevention.
On a warm summer’s day, my brother Randy, his girlfriend Corda, and I headed to the Stockton Sac River for a fun swim. This was around 1965 BD (before the dam) and our transportation was an old pickup with a standard transmission. Randy knew how to drive a standard, but he wasn’t much of an expert on the treacherous and rocky uphill road. When we were halfway up the steep incline, he killed the engine. He proceeded to put one foot on the clutch and one on the brake, and desperately needed another one for the accelerator. We were in a bit of a pickle because he needed three feet and only had two. The last thing he wanted to do was roll harum-scarum backwards into a tree. Since Corda was sitting in the middle, he coaxed her into loaning her left foot for the gas pedal. All’s well that ends well. All I cared about was playing in the water.
Jesus knew that, in and of ourselves, we would not be enough without the Holy Spirit‘s help. His close disciples loved Him, needed Him, and depended on Him. Because of the depth of Jesus’ love for His followers, He left no stone unturned. “But now I am going to Him Who sent Me, yet none of you asked Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]” (John 16:5-7 AMP).
When Jesus said, “I will send Him to you,” that’s a promise believers can trust in and act upon. When you need more than what you’ve got, the Holy Spirit is there inside you to help you. There’s more to a believer’s life than what meets the eye. Usually, it’s the invisible things that we need the most. When you need more guts, strength, understanding, and self-control than you’ve got, merely ask for the Spirit‘s help.
Simply put, God’s Word is either true or it’s not. We’re either Christians or we’re doubting imposters. Personally, whatever the Bible says is my opinion. I choose to believe that Jesus was not a liar when He said, “It is to your advantage that I go away….” We now have hope and help by the power of the ever-present Holy Spirit. Again, Jesus says, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit…” (John 14:16,17 NLT). Since the Spirit lives in believers, we are never alone and have what we need when we need it. You might say that we’re to take advantage of our advantage.
When I was young, I said to Dad, “It would have been so wonderful to be with Jesus!” His response was, “It’s better now because Jesus couldn’t be everywhere with everyone at the same time, but the Holy Spirit can.” I’ve lived many years since that meaningful conversation and I can testify that when I’m not enough, the Holy Spirit comes to my aid and makes me enough. The following scripture has an asterisk, is underlined and highlighted in my late husband’s Bible: “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace” (Romans 8:6 NLT).
The Key: Partnering with the Holy Spirit is enough to make the uphill climb.
The following is the list of cities, schools and K-State Extension candidates who filed for by the June 1st deadline in Bourbon County, provided by Clerk Jennifer Hawkins.
“There will not be a primary election this year, so all qualified candidates will be on the ballot in November,” Hawkins said.
City of Fort Scott Commission
Matthew Wells
Edwin Woellhof
Dyllon Olson
Margaret P. Cummings
Tracy Dancer
Joshua Baseley
Barbara Ann Rawlins
Harold “Pete” Allen
Janice Allen
Redfield Council Member
Brandy Corriston
Leonard “L.D.” Morrison
Bronson Council Member
Michael Stewart
Uniontown Council Member
Danea Esslinger
Southwind Extension District
Trent Johnson
Deb Lust
Fort Scott USD 234 Board Member
Position #1-James Wood, Joe Wimmer, and Scott Center
Position #2-Mike Miles
Position #3-Robert Harrington, Aaron Judy, and Doug Hurd
Position At Large-Stewart Gulager and Payton Coyan
The library welcomes the community to a collaborative event celebrating fandoms and fans of all kinds on June 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the library.
SEEKING TALENT and VOLUNTEERS
If you are an author, artist, cosplayer, or a person with a talent, hobby, or skill you’d like to share via a workshop, sign up as a presenter using this form: Authors, Artists & Presenters
If you would be willing to lead a trivia session, judge the cosplay contest, donate food or prizes, or help out in any other way, sign up to help through this form: Volunteers or Donors
The schedule of events includes:
10 – 1Book Signings & Author Talks with Local Authors Maria Whitson, Maranda Collins, MaryBarbara McKay, and Ronda Hassig
10 – 1 Tabletop Gaming with Sarah Klassen
Presenter Jan Hedges, Hedgehog.INK!
Word Weavers Workshops
An introduction to the art of weaving words into a poem, story, song, etc.
Participants will be involved in writing activities. Writing materials will be provided.
Children 12 & under 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Teens & Adults 13 & above 12:00 – 12:45p.m.
12:30 – 1 Cosplay Contest for all ages with winners receiving prizes and small trophies.
Trivia, Digital Scavenger Hunt, Crafts, Toys, and Cosplay Meetups will take place throughout the event.
The Southwind Extension District is hosting the “Fit for the Style Revue” series in Fort Scott this summer. Youth from ages 7 to 18 are invited to attend this two-day STEAM Clothing workshop series (even if they are not enrolled in 4-H or the buymanship project). This series will be made up of two interactive lessons that work on accessorizing an outfit and modeling in front of a judge. Youth will be able to put together an outfit with accessories and learn how to present themselves in front of the judge. These sessions will be held in two separate locations on the following dates:
June 14th from 5 PM to 6:30 PM at Bids and Dibs
June 21st from 5 PM to 6:30 PM at Fort Scott Community College Bailey Hall
This series is free, but registration is required at https://bit.ly/Southwindstyle. Get your registration in soon!
For more information, contact Southwind Extension District Intern Gwenyth Fry at (620) 223-3720 or [email protected].
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Tara Soloman-Smith, Family and Wellness Agent, Sunflower District of Kansas State University’s Extension Office. Submitted photo.
Is work getting you down? Maybe every day is feeling like a Monday for you. There is value in working towards happiness at work. It is tied to better health, creativity, less turn over, and much more! The last few years have highlighted the connection between work and a person’s well-being, though research had already been happening on this subject.
In their work, the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkley defines happiness at work as feeling an overall sense of enjoyment at work; being able to gracefully handle setbacks; connecting amicably with colleagues, coworkers, clients, and customers; and knowing that your work matters to yourself, your organization, and beyond.
Let’s dig in a little to how we get there!
Purpose
We have a sense of purpose when we make valuable contributions to others (individuals and organizations) that we find personally meaningful. Our purpose is a reflection of our core values, and we feel more purposeful at work when our everyday behaviors and decisions align with them. Want to nurture purpose? Link your day-to-day tasks to something broader—to your values or making lives better.
Flex Your Social Muscles
Dr. Robert Waldinger of Harvard directs one of the longest-running studies on what makes people thrive. He shares that the people who had the warmest connections with other people weren’t just happier, they stayed healthier longer and lived longer.
There’s a catch, like exercise, you need to make a habit of it for the benefits. But, it can be small and not time intensive. Just reaching out to a colleague just to say ‘Hi’ or check in personally will bring happiness to both!
Lean into your curiosity about your co-workers to create a social bond. Practicing empathy also helps us understand each other and can lead to effective teamwork.
Engagement
Do your enjoy your work most of the time? Do you often get so deeply involved with your work you lose track of time? If your answer is ‘no’, there is room for increased engagement for you! This can be done with ownership of schedules and tasks and shifting from hectic, multi-tasking methods to allow for a deeper work flow. In one study, the most important predictor of a good work day was making progress. Even “small wins” can make us feel good and inspire us to get more done. Focus on and celebrate the progress you have made!
Finally, if you want to learn more, look up ‘job crafting’. It is a proactive approach to reshaping your work life with a sense of ownership and self-motivation, which makes you more engaged at work.
It’s not just up to employees. Happiness at work, like happiness in life, is a basic human need and in turn, is a big perk a workplace can offer. Research shows that happiness at work is essential to organizational success and is worth the effort to create it.
For more information, contact Tara Solomon-Smith, [email protected], or by calling 620-244-3826.
# # #
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director of K-State Research and Extension, Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts.
There will be budget planning work sessions on Monday, June 12, 2023, from 11:00-4:30 to allow department heads to submit their requested 2024 budgets to the Board of County Commissioners. No action will be taken during the work sessions.
The cover of Patty LaRoche’s new book: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection. Submitted graphic.
Twenty years in the making, Patty LaRoche has written a book entitled: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
LaRoche said for years, her friends have encouraged her to write her humorous stories about being rejected/humiliated.
Patty LaRoche. 2023
“As it turned out, everybody I met had their own anecdotes of not measuring up, and some even shared that they wished they could go back to their teen/early-adult years and not give other people the power to make them feel demeaned or unvalued.,” LaRoche said. ” If they could do that, their lives would have been more confident, more real.”
“As a high school teacher, I observed my students’ insecurities on a daily basis, but when a group of my senior girls asked me to lead them in a Bible study, I realized just how pervasive these problems were,” she said. “Could anyone escape the lies of the enemy (Satan) that they weren’t good enough? Between my own life, my friends’ lives and my students’ lives, I had plenty of stories to share.”
An excerpt from her book:
“When Dave pitched for the California Angels in the late ’70s, a young outfielder was traded to the team. His wife and newborn soon arrived. I’ll call her Carol. Carol’s entrance into the wives’ waiting room following the opening day game was legendary. She was stunningly beautiful and trendy, dressing much more chic (is ‘chicer’ a word?) than the rest of the wives. After meeting her, I introduced her to the other wives and arranged to sit with her the following evening. We hit it off.”
“Returning home from the ballpark a few days later, Dave told me that Carol’s family needed a place to live while their newly purchased house was being renovated. I welcomed the addition. After all, Carol was special. Not only was she a head-turner, she was multi-talented. From singing to playing the piano to dancing to being a competitive tennis player to loving Jesus, Carol was the full package.
“Her giftedness was recognized by everyone.
“Except Carol.
“The evening of the first day she moved in was proof. While I waited with my infant son to leave for the ballpark, Carol descended the stairs looking like a movie goddess. A goddess starring in a tragedy. In her opinion, her striking outfit had struck out. Handing me her sleeping baby in his carry-seat, she returned upstairs to start over. A fuss that was repeated . . .
three times.
“With each new ensemble, I bolstered my compliments, but they were incapable of undoing whatever negatives had been given permission to determine her value. This scene was acted out daily, and with each tearful entry, Carol’s mascara-dripping makeup needed to be reapplied. Needless to say, we didn’t make it to the ballpark for the singing of the National Anthem. Instead, we made a grand entrance, with Carol being the recipient of ogles and admiration. Fans saw her beauty. Other wives did too. Her attempt at perfectionism was her attempt to mask tremendous insecurities. And even though, in her mind, she was never enough, she pretended well and fooled a lot of people.
Which, as we all know, is exhausting.”
About Patty Laroche
“I grew up in Fort Scott but moved to Washington, D.C. to become a flight attendant (then, “stewardess”) in my early 20’s,” she said. ” It was then I met my husband and entered his world of professional baseball (where I soon learned that there were plenty of incidents of ‘not measuring up’ I would add to my repertoire).”
“Dave had two young daughters from a previous marriage, and together we had three sons,” she said. “After moving over 35 times in 50 years of marriage, we recently sold our part-time condominium in Mexico and will be moving yet again.”
“My pastimes include hanging with family and friends, writing, playing tennis/pickleball and laughing. Most of all, I love spending time with Jesus, and I give him all the credit for this book.”
LaRoche has written a weekly Christian column for the Fort Scott Tribune, the Fort Scott Biz and the Nevada Daily Mail for several years.
Where to purchase her new book:
Her website: Alittlefaithlift.com
Or one can pre-order through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Books a Million, after June 25.
The publisher is Carpenter’s Son Publishing, the publishing date is July 25, 2023.
The back cover of Patty LaRoche’s new book. Submitted graphic.
Heartland Virus Disease Identified in Crawford County Resident
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Crawford County Health Department have identified Heartland Virus Disease (Heartland), a rare tickborne illness, in a Crawford County resident. Health care providers diagnosed the resident in late May 2023 after further testing was coordinated through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is the first case of Heartland in Crawford County and only the third case identified in Kansas since the virus’s discovery in northwest Missouri in 2009. The previous two cases were identified in Miami County in 2015 and Anderson County in 2018. To date, there have been over 50 cases of Heartland diagnosed across areas of the Midwest and Southern United States.
“We’re entering the time of year when we start to receive a lot of complaints about ticks on animals and in the environment and questions regarding tick bites and tickborne diseases in people. People must take the risk of tickborne disease seriously and take personal protective measures for themselves and their pets to reduce their chance of acquiring a tickborne illness,” saidDr. Erin Petro, DVM, MPH,KDHE public health veterinarian. “While Heartland and other tickborne viruses like Bourbon virus are rare, they can lead to severe illness and even death.”
Heartland virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected Lone Star Tick, the most common tick in Kansas, which is most active from May through August. The symptoms of Heartland are vague and include fever, fatigue, muscle or joint pain, headache and occasionally a rash. Health care providers should consider Heartland in patients with compatible clinical illness and bloodwork findings when other common tickborne illness testing is negative.
This case serves as an important reminder to take precautions as you enjoy the outdoors this summer. Ticks are commonly found at the edge of trails, on tall grasses and in wooded, shaded areas. To reduce the risk of contracting a tickborne disease, take the following steps:
Wear long pants with socks tucked into pants and long sleeves when doing yardwork, hiking, camping or recreating in areas where ticks may be found.
After being outdoors in tick habitats, take a shower to help wash off unattached ticks and identify any attached ticks. Always perform a thorough tick check after being outdoors.
Reduce tick habitats in your yard by clearing brush, leaf litter and tall grasses around your home and at the edge of your lawn.
Apply an EPA-approved repellent, such as DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, when enjoying the outdoors.
If hunting or camping, consider treating gear and clothing with permethrin; always follow label directions for safe application of permethrin.
Additional information about Heartland Virus can be found on the CDC website.
