Monthly Archives: January 2018

Bourbon County

WIC Switching To Electronic Benefit Cards

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An electric benefit card, which looks like a credit card, is coming to WIC recipients.

WIC stands for Women, Infant, Children and is a government program to provide needed services to low-income families.

Starting Feb. 7, the program will switch from special checks to a benefit card, according to Linda Timme, the nutrition service coordinator at the Crawford County Health Department (CCHD).

Linda Timme is the Crawford County Health Department Nutrition Service Coordinator.

CCHD is the service provider for WIC in Bourbon County.

“Right now we have printed checks that have food items on them, provided through the WIC program,” Timme said.

The switch to a benefit card is to simplify for both clients and program administrators, Timme said.

“It will be good for our clients, easier to use at the store,” she said. “And it will be easier for us. We’ve been talking to our clients about this change.”

WIC provides food, healthcare referrals, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotions and support to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and additionally to infants and children to age five years old, who are found to be at risk nutritionally, according to the website: wic.fns.usda.gov

There is a state WIC website to see if one will qualify for the program: www.kansaswic.org.

The CCHD offers weekly clinics in Fort Scott. Three times clinic services are offered at Buck Run Community Center and one clinic is offered at Mercy Hospital.

The next clinic is at Mercy.

“At clinics, they are asked to bring proof of income and residency in the county,” Timme said. “They must show an ID, and also IDs for children.”

“First we decide if they are qualified, then health screenings are given,” she said. “We have risk factors to see if they qualify. Then we issue benefits. People go home with checks to purchase food on the list.”

Foods provided are specific, Timme said. Eggs, milk, cereal, juice, fresh vegetables and fruit and whole grains.

Clients must call for an appointment, Timme said.

The number is 620.231.5411.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are offered on the WIC program.

Opinion

Patty LaRoche

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 Last week we looked at 1 Kings 13: 1-22. A “man of God” had obeyed God, prophesied against idol worship, and was invited to an older prophet’s home for dinner. The man of God explained that God had commanded him not to eat or drink, but the second prophet told a little white lie: an angel had assured him the rules were changed and this was acceptable.

Then the bomb falls. During the meal, God spoke to the lying prophet, clarifying that this disobedience would lead to the man of God’s death far from home. (Read last week’s article to get all the details. Better yet, read the scriptural passage.) Pretty harsh, don’t you think? I mean, how was he to know this was a lie?

Well, if we read between the lines, there were clues. The old prophet lived in one of Israel’s centers of idolatry. Legitimate prophets didn’t do that. Too, he allowed his children to attend Jeroboam’s idol worship when he had to know this violated God’s decree. At least he should have scolded them for betraying the one, true God. Had he been in good standing with the Lord, he himself would have protested King Jeroboam’s sacrifice to the golden calf instead of waiting for another prophet to do the dirty work. But the man of God wasn’t blameless. All he had to do was ask God if this vision was true or not, but, instead, he believed the lie and joined the old prophet in Idolaterville for a meal and a drink.

Of course, easy for me to criticize. I’m not the one who was hungry, thirsty and tired. Pick up the story in verse 23. The lying prophet offered one of his donkeys to the man of God who went on his way where he was met and killed by a lion. People passing by traveled to the old prophet’s city and reported seeing the dead man with a lion and donkey standing nearby. When the old prophet heard of it, he said to his sons, “‘Saddle the donkey for me,’ and they did so. Then he went out and found the body lying on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. The lion had neither eaten the body nor mauled the donkey. So, the prophet picked up the body of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back to his own city to mourn for him and bury him. Then he laid the body in his own tomb, and they mourned over him and said, ‘Alas, my brother!’  “After burying him, he said to his sons, ‘When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones.

 For the message he declared by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel and against all the shrines on the high places in the towns of Samaria will certainly come true.’” (Which, of course, it did.) In this case, a little lyin’ led to a bigger lion, one that attacked the man of God who was barely out of Dodge. Just hours earlier, he was God’s miraculous hand to deal with false worship at the Altar of Bethel, but then he was seduced into appeasing his temporal pleasures.

I imagine many of us would have done likewise. We forget there is an enemy roaming this planet whose job is to seduce. And he does it well. We ignore our Holy Spirit warnings and believe whatever satisfies our desires, justifying it all as “harmless.” “Just one more drink.” “A quick peek can’t hurt.” “R-rated movies mean nothing.” “Only a few more dollars on our credit card.” “The church can live without my tithe.” “What’s the big deal about a little white lie?” When we get to Heaven, we might want to ask the man of God about that one.

 

 

 

Fort Scott

After-Prom Preparations

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Fort Scott High School Prom is April 21, 2018.

Students of area high schools are beginning to look for that special outfit to wear to the annual spring event.

Parents also are making preparations.

Parents of junior class students are currently working to make an after-prom party for the students.

The object of the party is student safety.

“If you are a parent or a business owner, or possibly a friend of Fort Scott,” Sabrina Terry, spokesperson for the group said. “Each of us has different roles that we are trying to play in keeping the kids safe as well as have fun on prom night!”
“As parents, we put together a fun-filled evening of events that the kids can participate in, in order to have fun and stay safe,” Terry said. “Our goal is to keep our kiddos doing fun and appropriate things prom night.”

Business owners and friends of Fort Scott have donated to help with the costs of putting together the after-prom event, she said.

“If you are willing to help out please just let me know,” Terry said.

“We still need a lot of prizes that will be given out throughout the night by drawing tickets. The tickets will be given to each of the kids throughout the night by playing different games and just entering the after-prom party.”

“Right now the after-prom party is up in the air as far as where it will be held,” Terry said.” The options are Buck Run (Community Center) or Fort Scott Middle School.”

“As far as what will the juniors and seniors participate in when they go to the prom party that is also up in the air depending upon what the committee decides,” Terry said. “However we do know that there will be obstacle courses that they will race through, dodgeball, nine square, etc.”

Prizes will be handed out throughout the evening.

“We have big prizes such as TVs,” she said. “However at this point, we are short on money so we do fundraisers to build up our funds so that we can go buy prizes to keep their interest. The goal is to keep them there so that they don’t create their own parties that have negative things or outcomes.”

Area News, Submitted

Westar, KCP&L: Kansans to Benefit from Federal Tax Cuts

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Kansas Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer

TOPEKA – On Tuesday, Lt. Governor Colyer urged Kansas utility companies to pass the savings they receive from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on to consumers, so that Kansans may feel the full benefit of the tax decrease. In response to Lt. Gov. Colyer’s calls for relief, KCP&L President Terry Basham and Westar President Mark Ruelle sent letters (attached) agreeing to pass 100 percent of the benefit from the tax cut on to their customers.

In December, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. In addition to reducing the burden for the majority of taxpayers, the legislation also lowers the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent.  Since utility companies benefit directly from this rate decrease, Colyer wrote to Kansas utility companies requesting they provide relief to Kansas utility consumers by sharing the savings.

“The cost of utilities affects every Kansan. Ensuring that the reduction in corporate federal tax rate is fully recognized in utility rates is an important benefit to Kansas and businesses in communities throughout Kansas,” said Colyer. “This action will make a significant difference to the bottom lines of budgets across our state—particularly to families and small businesses that are just trying to make ends meet.”

In his response to Lt. Governor Colyer, KCP&L President Terry Basham said, “We […] look forward to working with regulators and other stakeholders to get these benefits to our customers as soon as possible.”

Mark Ruelle, President of Westar, responded, “We share an interest in keeping electricity reliable and affordable for Kansans. Supporting the latter goal, we look forward to making sure our customers receive the full benefit of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.”

Lt. Governor Colyer remains committed to ensuring Kansas utility companies pass along the benefits of our nation’s new tax cuts to all Kansans.

Here are the responses from the utilities:

Bassham Colyer Response 1172018

Lt Gov Colyer_Westar_Jan 2018

 

Area News, Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Submitted

FSCC Meats Judging Team Takes 2nd Place

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Submitted.

From left to right President Alysia Johnston, Kaylyn Crystal, Hannah McGarth, Payton Strahm, Wil Green, Matt Robinson.

Fort Scott Community College’s Meats Judging team took 2nd place overall at the AMSA National Western Intercollegiate Meat Contest on January 14, 2018. The team traveled to Denver to take on other eager teams and didn’t leave there without a trophy!

The team was led by Alysia Johnston, FSCC President, who was said she was very excited to see the team in action.

Freshman, Kaylyn Crystal quotes, “Overall, we are very pleased with this outcome. We are a young team and this was our first contest at the college level. I have a good feeling about how our team will continue to grow, and the progress we will make.”

The individual rankings are found below.

FSCC congratulations the Meats Team.

Kaylyn Crystal

2nd High Individual Overall

2nd High Individual in Overall Beef

2nd High Individual in Beef Grading

3rd High Individual in Beef Judging

3rd High Individual in Questions

4th  High Individual in Pork Judging

Matt Robinson

3rd High Individual in Lamb Judging

4th High Individual in Beef Judging

5th High Individual in Lamb Judging

William Green

3rd High Individual in Overall Placing’s (3-way tie for 1st)

5th  Overall

Fort Scott

Want Enchiladas? YPL Fundraiser

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YPL members making enchiladas in 2017. From left: Chris Petty, Jamie Armstrong, Bailey Lyons and Melissa Wise.

The Young Professional League annual fundraiser benefit for the Beacon is underway.

The Beacon is a non-profit religious organization that has food, clothing, and household goods that it distributes to the community, among other services.

YPL chooses to have a yearly fundraiser to help the Beacon.

“Many people in our community are generous with donating supplies, such as clothing and food to the Beacon,” Jessica Schenkel, president of YPL said. “However, cash donations are needed to purchase the supplies they may not receive or for other reasons.”

Enchiladas are the fundraiser food the group makes.

“We are selling a ready-to-bake pan of homemade enchiladas,” Schenkel said. ” We are offering beef, chicken or cheese, or a combination. There are a dozen enchiladas per pan. They will come with instructions and can be chilled in the fridge if they are being baked soon, or they can be frozen for later. We prepare the meat the evening before the pick-up date, and ensemble all the orders the morning of pick-up.”

The cost is $20 per dozen.

“People can order from any YPL member in person or they can order online,” Schenkel said.” We are accepting orders right now and our deadline to order is January 25.”

Here is the link for online orders:    https://www.ypl-bbco.org/enchiladas

Or to order by phone 785.817.8877, leave a voicemail if no answer.

This year the food will be cooked, assembled and picked-up at Fort Scott High School.

Pick-up will be at the Fort Scott High School cafeteria on Saturday, February 3  between 2 and 5  p.m., according to the website set up for the fundraiser. Enchiladas that are not picked up by 5 p.m. will be given to the Beacon Food Pantry or re-sold. The payment will be considered a donation to YPL.

“YPL used to host a soup feed fundraiser and worked with the local churches, ” she said. “However, we have moved to a different facility and the churches have been graciously donating funds to cover the necessary expenses to make the enchiladas. This way, every bit of our profits are donated to the Beacon.”

“YPL is an organization made of professionals who are adaptive advocates of a better community through progressive partnerships and networking,”  Schenkel said. ” “Most of our members enjoy the social aspect of meeting other young professionals throughout the community and utilize our meetings as a way of networking.”

Schenkel is president for 2018.

Laura Agee is vice president and secretary;  Tiffiny Durham is treasurer; board members are Amanda Bourassa, Devin Tally, Chris Petty,  and Holly Baker.

YPL  recently held its strategic planning meeting for 2018.

“We will be rolling out a few exciting changes for this year,” she said. “Stay tuned!”

 

 

Obituary

Obituary Of David Richard McArthur

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David Richard McArthur, age 72, a resident of Fort Scott passed away Monday, January 15, 2018, at his home.
He was born February 16, 1945, in Pratt, Kansas, the son of Kenneth McArthur and Crystal Colby McArthur. David was in the Navy and served his county during Vietnam. He married Janice Vaughn in Manteca, California on February 16, 1985.
He was an avid stamp collector and loved to read, watch movies, and play video games. He enjoyed doing cross stitch, working with his hands, telling jokes and tease. David loved spending time with his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife Janice, of the home; son Matthew McArthur, and wife Holly, of Reno, Nevada; two step-daughters, Darlene Hallford, and husband Dennis, of Eldorado Springs, Missouri, and Melissa Smith, and husband Paul, of Nevada, Missouri; a sister Cindy Spink, and husband Russell, of Norman, Oklahoma; ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a step-daughter, Lisa Vaughn.
 
There was cremation. Pastor Ben Heffernan will conduct memorial services at 1:00 P.M. Thursday, January 18, 2018, at the Bethel Community Church. Burial will be held later at the U. S. National Cemetery. Memorial are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association and may be left in the care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary

Obituary Of Jake Underwood

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Jacob H. “Jake” Underwood, age 98, a former resident of Uniontown, KS, and more recently of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, January 15, 2018, at Medicalodge of Ft. Scott.  He was born on July 6, 1919, on the family farm in Uniontown to Jay and Hazel McKinnis Underwood.

Mr. Underwood graduated from Uniontown High School in 1936 and Fort Scott Community College two years later.

In July of 1941, he was called to serve in the military.  For three years he was stationed at Camp Polk in Louisiana with the 7th Armored Division.  Before leaving to fight the war in Europe, he married Doris Patterson on May 9, 1944.  They were married until her death in 2002.

He was shipped to Belgium in 1944 with the 106th Infantry and was captured in the Battle of the Bulge.  He was a prisoner of war in Bad Orb Prison Camp in Germany from December 1944 and was liberated in April of 1945.

After returning to civilian life, he began his career as the County Clerk and later became the business manager for the Fort Scott School District where he faithfully served for 35 years.

Mr. Underwood was an active community member both in Fort Scott and Uniontown.  At the time of his death, he belonged to the Uniontown United Methodist Church and Ruritan.  Jake was proud to be a lifelong Democrat.  He was truly an example of the “Greatest Generation” – proud veteran, devoted family man, and dedicated civic leader.

He is survived by two daughters: Susan Karleskint, Uniontown, and Mary Gregory and husband Brad, Bolivar, MO; sister-in-law’s Janice Patterson of Fort Scott, and Erma Patterson of Atlanta; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and a niece in Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Doris Underwood, daughter, Ruth Ann Burleson, brother, Gilbert Underwood; and brother-in-law’s, John and Byron Patterson.

Rev. Connie McKee will conduct funeral services at 10:30 AM Saturday, January 20, at Uniontown United Methodist Church.  Burial will follow in the Uniontown Cemetery.  Military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 V.F.W.  Memorial are suggested to the Uniontown United Methodist Church and may be left in the care of Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S Main, Fort Scott, KS.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.