The following is the link to the Fort Scott City Commission Agenda Packet for the meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21 in the commission room at city hall, 123 S. Main.
Monthly Archives: November 2017
Robotic Milking Comes To Foster Dairy
Braving the dropping temperatures, around 250 visitors took advantage of the Foster Dairy Farm Open House Saturday.
The Foster family was showcasing their transition from milking their cows in a 12-cow parlor to milking them robotically. Since September 2016 their cows have 24 hours a day, 7 days a week access to being voluntarily milked.
“An interesting fact is the Kansas Department of Agriculture gave me statistics adjusted for 2017 about our farm,” David Foster said.
“The Bourbon County dairy industry has a direct economic benefit effect to our county of $11.5 million and provides 25 jobs,” Foster said. “The dairy industry provides 1.2 percent of the gross revenues for the county. We are doing quite a bit from our little farm.”
Lynda and Gary Foster and their eldest son David and his wife, Addi Foster are the owners of the dairy farm located southwest of Fort Scott at 1037 Hwy. 39.
In addition to tours of the facility, a meal was provided tour attendees, along with door prizes. Sponsors helping with the tour were Producer’s Cooperative of Girard who cooked the burgers, brats and hot dogs that were served, DFA/Midwest Dairy, UMB Bank, Seneca Dairy Supply, Uniontown FFA, Fort Scott FFA and Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.
See more about the Foster Dairy on its Facebook page.
KState Extension: Cool-Season Grasses Invading Warm-Season Pastures
Submitted by Christopher Petty
According to University of Nebraska Extension Professor Bruce Anderson, native, warm-season grass pastures often get overtaken by cool-season grasses like cheatgrass, downy brome and fescue.
When fescue, bromes, and other cool-season plants invade warm-season grass pastures and rangeland, they shift good grazing away from summer.
Cool-season grasses take over summer pastures relatively easily because they develop rapidly during fall and spring when native grass provides little competition. Then they use moisture and nutrients during spring before warm-season plants have a chance to use them.
Heavy grazing now this fall after warm-season plants have gone dormant after a hard freeze as well as grazing very early next spring will weaken and reduce competition from these cool-season grasses. This limits further invasion and slowly improves summer production. A prescribed spring burn also can do wonders for a warm-season pasture if you have enough fuel to carry a fire and can conduct the burn safely and legally.
An even faster approach is to apply glyphosate herbicides like Roundup after a couple hard freezes in late fall. Hard freezes turn warm-season plants dormant but the weedy cool-season grasses remain green. Apply glyphosate when temperatures during the day are above 60 degrees and nighttime temperatures stay above 40 degrees for best results. This will kill or weaken the green and susceptible cool-season weedy grasses, but not affect dormant warm-season plants. By reducing competition, warm-season plants will grow more vigorously next year and provide better summer pasture.
Don’t settle for invaded native pasture. Transform them back to vigorous warm-season grasses for better summer grazing.
Obituary: Alberta Marie Fisher
Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home
Alberta Marie Fisher, age 76, a resident of Franklin, Kan., passed away Tuesday, November 14, 2015, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan.
She was born March 3, 1941, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Albert Combs and Ruth Ballinger Combs. Alberta graduated from the Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1959. She married Larry Wilson and he preceded her in death. She later married Darryl Fisher on September 14, 2006, at Eureka Springs, Ark. In earlier years, Alberta had worked for both the Western Insurance and Key Industries in Fort Scott. She later worked for many years in the Physical Department of Pittsburg State University. Alberta enjoyed music and in younger years, played the violin. She also enjoyed antiquing and sewing, but above all she cherished the moments with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a woman of faith and attended the Open Door Fellowship Church.
Survivors include her husband, Darryl, of the home; a son, Billie Budd, Jr., and wife, Vicki; two daughters, Cindy Schroeder and Terri Hoffman and husband, Bryan; a step-son, Larry Wilson, Jr., and wife, Carla and a step-daughter, Jean Culver and husband, Darryl; 17 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a brother, Al Combs and wife Kathy, and a sister, Sherry Hendrickson. In addition to her husband, Larry, she was preceded in death by two step-sons, Ronnie Wilson and Michael Fisher; a step-daughter, Janet Anderson and two sisters, Linda Carpenter and Beverly McReynolds.
Rev. Don Talent will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 18, at the Open Door Fellowship Church, 918 W. 20th St., in Pittsburg. Burial will follow in the Crocker Cemetery south of Pittsburg. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary: Wendy Sue Arnold
Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home
Wendy Sue Arnold, age 66, of Kansas City, passed away Friday, November 10, 2017, at the Medicalodge of Girard.
Memorial graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2017, at the Evergreen Cemetery, in Fort Scott, Kan., under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel. The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. after the graveside service at the Carriage House, 101 S Main St, Fort Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online quest book atcheneywitt.com.
Patty LaRoche: Interruptions
“I don’t mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited.” I saw that plaque in a diner and knew exactly what it meant. If I don’t share my thoughts immediately, they will be gone…immediately. Still, I force myself to refrain because it’s downright rude to interrupt. I mean, how many times have you been telling a story when someone one-ups you or changes the subject and takes over the conversation? Without ever asking you to finish yours? I-R-R-I-T-A-T-I-N-G!
A newly-purchased sign, hanging in my step-daughter’s kitchen, counters that quote. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did the middle of my sentence interrupt the beginning of yours?” Nikki purchased it, hoping a relative gets the point.
And no, I am not that relative.
I’m really not.
On the day of the eclipse, I was at my friend Marti’s house. She was watching her granddaughter, Isabel, and was explaining the solar phenomenon to her. As Marti and I talked, Isabel exploded with random thoughts. Each time, Marti gently told her granddaughter that the adults were visiting and she needed to wait her turn. Isabel tried to be patient, and then she did what every well-mannered child does when she can wait no longer—she raised her hand and waved it frantically. Her behavior was delightful.
Many adults could learn from her example.
Of course, we all know that all interrupting is not bad. Some news should not wait, like telling me my chicken enchiladas are on fire or the neighbor’s dog is chewing on my patio furniture. In reality, life is all about interruptions, isn’t it? Henry Nouwen, a Roman Catholic priest and theologian, wrote, “My whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I discovered my interruptions were my work.” I get it. Most of my articles are based on something happening I wasn’t expecting.
Our life’s narrative is constantly being rewritten because of interruptions. In the past year, several of my friends have found that to be true. Cancer. A hurricane. An unexpected pregnancy. Divorce. Bankruptcy. Addiction. Mental illness. Death.
The Bible is jam-packed with interruptions. A young girl’s life was interrupted to be told that she would bring the Messiah into the world. Jesus was constantly interrupted by evil spirits or arrogant religious teachers, moments that gave him an opportunity to remind his listeners of grace. Judas interrupted Jesus’ celebration of the Passover with his disciples and again with his prayer time in the Garden, all leading up to the incredible sadness after Jesus’ death being interrupted by the life-changing news that his grave was empty.
And for those whose lives are based on that resurrection, there remains one final interruption for which we must be prepared. We find it in Thessalonians 1:16-17: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
It’s an interruption we can’t afford to miss.
Obituary: Patricia E. Garrison
Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home
Patricia E. Garrison, age 75, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Saturday, November 11, 2017, at Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott.
She was born on August 22, 1942, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Keating Sheehy. She graduated from Hume High School. She was a dedicated homemaker who also worked through the years for Sears in Iola and Fort Scott and Security State Bank in Fort Scott. She was a volunteer for the hospital and the church. She was an awesome mother, step-mother, grandmother and aunt. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were her pride and joy. Patricia was an active member of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.
Survivors include her son Jeff Locke and wife Michelle, Satanta, Kan.; three step-sons, James Garrison, Phoenix, Ariz., Jon Garrison and wife Marianne, Fort Scott, and Jeff Garrison and wife Barbara, DeSoto, Kan.; a sister, Mary Kay Johnson and husband Charlie, Prescott, Kan.; a sister-in-law, Mary Beth Sheehy, Fort Scott; nine grandchildren, Megan Underwood, Matthew Locke, Morgan Locke, Mason Locke, Joseph Garrison, Christina Adams, Jacob Garrison, Joshua Garrison and Cole Oberg; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death her husband, Jim Garrison; three brothers, twin Patrick Sheehy, John Sheehy, and Bill Sheehy; a sister, Elizabeth Alt; and twin infant siblings Mary and Joseph Sheehy.
Father Robert Wachter will conduct services at 10 a.m. Thursday, November 16, at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the St. Michael’s Cemetery, Fulton, Kan. The Rosary will be prayed at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel. The family will receive friends following from 6 until 8. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Catholic School and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary: Calvin Lewis Pitts
Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home
Calvin Lewis Pitts, age 90, a resident of Fort Scott, died Saturday, November 11, 2017, at the Franklin House.
He was born November 15, 1926, in Pawnee, Kan., the son of Harry Pitts and Nola Elizabeth Inman. He married Grace Wiggans, March 7, 1953, they later divorced. He then married Mary Louise Whitlock, May 28, 1971. She preceded him in death on November 12, 2008. He loved fishing, hunting, gardening and scrapping junk. He was a past member of the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165. Calvin liked to ask people “How old do you think I am?” or “I’m older than I Look.”
Calvin is survived by his children; son, Ed Pitts and wife Luanne, daughter, Nola Smith and husband Richard, both of Redfield, and a step-son, Carl Hall, of Pittsburg; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; five brothers, Jim, John, Harold, Eldon and Kenneth “Pete” Pitts; five sisters, Helen Hood, Grace Buford, Josephine Michaels, Juanita Schroder, and Rowena Hines; and two stepbrothers Ed and Dave Lusk.
Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2017, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 V. F. W. The Family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7 p.m.Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the V.F.W. or Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Northeast Scott 4-H Club Minutes
Submitted by Brennan Popp
The meeting for the Northeast Scott 4-H Club was held November 8, 2017, with donations being collected for the Beacon. During this meeting the club decided to postpone the Hammond Soup Supper to the Spring and to participate in the Christmas parade December 5. They will meet at 3rd and Main Street at 5:15 p.m. and bring a bag of candy. They scheduled Christmas caroling at Medical Lodge on December 16, at noon followed by going to a movie. Caroling and movie will be in place of the December club meeting.
There were three presentations during the meeting. Joe Foulk showed how to make zombie brain cupcakes. Second, Dalayni Foulk demonstrated making homemade slime. Finally, Traxtin Foulk displayed how to make paper bombs with paper folding.
The next meeting for the Northeast Scott 4-H club scheduled for December 13, is being replaced by Christmas Caroling and a movie December 16, at noon.
Walking/Biking Benefits Presented Along With Plans For Sidewalks/Trails
Walking or biking instead of driving a vehicle is a quality of life issue, according to information from representatives of the PedNet Coalition, Columbia, Mo. and the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
The two cited benefits in a non-motorized transportation plan report presented to the Fort Scott City Commission and then the Uniontown City Council Tuesday evening.
Other benefits cited by Abby St. George, PedNet technical assistant officer, are improved health and health care costs, reduced transportation costs and boosting economic development.
St. George and Jody Hoener, Mercy Clinic Quality and Community Benefit Liaison, presented the report.
Half of the children who live within one-half mile, a 10-minute walk or less from school, are driven, according to Safe Routes to School
National Partnership, and presented in the report to the City of Fort Scott.
Here is an excerpt from the report:
“Many adult residents are also making trips in their automobiles that could be made by foot or bicycle. For example, of trips that are less than one mile, over two-thirds are taken by private automobile (League of American Bicyclists, 2010). The automobile is a wonderful device that allows us to travel to destinations our great-grandparents may have never thought possible, but its overuse, especially for short distances, is leading to severe health consequences.Obesity truly has become an epidemic in the United States,” according to the report.
Summarizing the Fort Scott Non-Motorized Transportation Plan improvement costs: sidewalk priority projects are estimated to be $1,731,842; U.S. Hwy 69 Trail Priority Project -$1,964,444; on-street priority projects -$330,300; with total costs estimated to be $4,026,586.
Uniontown’s Non-Motorized Transportation Plan is basically one sidewalk that leads from the two schools to the convenience store.
Costs for an ADA accessible sidewalk from the schools on the east side of Uniontown to Union Station convenience store on the west side of town are estimated to be just over $50,000.
Crosswalk improvements for the sidewalk are estimated to be $44,000, with a total cost of the recommendations-$97,420.
A grant through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas allowed The City of Fort Scott and The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team to develop a Fort Scott Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s goal is to, “engage key stakeholders in areas where our community members spend most of their time–where they eat, work and play. The focus on physical activity, healthy eating, and tobacco cessation directly affect outcomes of our identified community health needs, ”according to the report.
The governing bodies will now need to find funding avenues for the recommended non-motorized transportation projects, but PedNet provided them with four and one-half pages of federal, state, local, non-profit and private funding opportunities.
St. George noted that with the plans completed, it could add points to a grant application.
To see the breakdown and details of the recommendations:
Walmart Pick Up Sign
The white word “Pickup” stands out on the orange wall of Wal-Mart on South Main Street.
“This is to let people know we have pickup now,” Joyce Earp, a manager at Wal-Mart, said. “You can order online and come in and pick it up the same day, if it’s in the store.”
The pickup location is in the back of the store with a “Site to Store” sign, she said.
Some Wal-Mart stores have the ability for customers to order online and Wal-Mart will deliver, but the Fort Scott store doesn’t yet, Earp said.
Bourbon County Commission To Attend Jail Project Meeting
The agenda for the Bourbon County Commission November 17.
The commission meets on the 2nd floor of the county courthouse, 210 S. National Avenue.
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: November 17th, 2017
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
10:00-Commissioners will attend a jail project meeting.
Justifications for Executive Session:
· Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel
· Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
· Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
· Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
· Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property
· Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system