Native American Olympic Medal Winner Billy Mills: April 12 at LMC.

Billy Mills. Submitted photo.

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Announces

Wednesday, April 12th Special Event

 

In honor of the Great Onondaga Chief Hiawatha, unsung Native American hero, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes invites all to attend a reception for and discussion with the Olympic Gold Medal Winner of the 10,000meter at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics – Billy Mills. Three students will be awarded $100 for writing and performing a poem about “The Leader We Need.” They will each have the opportunity to perform their poem for the audience, after which we will discuss “The Leader We Need.”  This event will take place on Wednesday, April 12th at 2:00pm at the Lowell Milken Center at 1 South Main St.

The Lowell Milken Center is located at the corner of First and Wall Streets.

 

Billy Mills’ visit is sponsored by a grant from Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area, the Lowell Milken Center, and the Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site, Inc. This event is in preparation for the “Wahzhazhe: an Osage Ballet” which will have performances on July 21st and 22nd at the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center at the Fort Scott Community College.

 

 

About Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area: The FFNHA tells the stories and builds awareness of our region’s past, present and future: the Kansas-Missouri border war, the Civil War, the settlement of the western frontier and rural America, and our enduring struggle for freedom.

 

About the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes: The Lowell Milken Center is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) that works with students and educators within a range of diverse academic disciplines, to develop projects focused on unsung Heroes.

 

About the Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site, Inc.: The Friends of the Fort provides volunteers and financial support for the Fort Scott National Historic Site special events including the annual immersive Winter Candlelight tour, the annual Naturalization Ceremony, and other educational programming. The Friends advocate for the NHS and solicit and administer contributions/grants to help support the goals and missions of the NHS.

 

 

 

 

Letter to the Editor: Pete Allen

Peter Earles, Earles Engineering, left, and Kevin “Skitch”Allen, right in this photo from 2021. Earles has a contract with the City of Fort Scott for engineering and inspection services. He is also  Pittsburg’s City Engineer. Submitted photo and caption by Pete Allen.
Two years ago Earles was chosen by the commission that night to lead us through the infrastructure mess left by previous administrations.
Engineers are employed for their expertise and work ethic and dedication to their clients.
Earles has stepped up to the plate and given us all we could have asked for.
We now have storm sewer work going on, funds being used for their intended use, proper inspection of projects, grants for streets (and as city attorney recently remarked “we even have a brick crew”) and our sanitary sewer plant ready for re-build. With Earles, we have the answer to the ADM issue with billings that have increased tenfold.
The piece of the puzzle, previously missing, is now in place with Earles Engineering. Are they expensive? The answer is NO! I would estimate for every dollar spent with them; we have benefited fourfold or more.

Thanks Peter and Jason and the rest of the Earles organization. Keep up the good work!

Fig Cookies and TV by Carolyn Tucker

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

My earliest memory of my father occurred in the den of our California home. I was three or four years old and was simply hanging out with my Daddy whom I loved and adored. After supper and before bedtime, he would relax after a hard day’s work at Market Basket. His usual week-night routine was watching TV while eating snacks. One evening I noticed him enjoying a fig cookie, so I asked if I could have one. I’d never eaten one before so I thought I’d give it a shot. I figured if Daddy ate them, then I should too.

 

Fig trees were abundant in the Holy Land. The smaller immature figs (which can also be eaten) begin to form as soon as the leaf buds appear. The fruit of the fig tree pops out about the same time as the leaves. Therefore, when the leaves are in full bloom it means the tree has also produced mature figs which usually hide under the leaves. I suppose eating an immature fig could be comparable to eating a green tomato. I prefer red ripe ones but, if I was hungry, an immature fried green tomato would keep me from starving.

 

“The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so He went over to see if He could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat your fruit again!’ And the disciples heard Him say it” (Mark 11:12-14 NLT.)

 

Some Bible scholars believe that this one particular tree was an exception to the normal season because it was already, at the time of Passover, full of leaves. This fig tree had a form of fruit production, but upon deeper inspection, Jesus found it to be barren and not living up to expectations. Fig trees were not for looks or to provide shade, they were designed to bear fruit. Without any figs, this tree was disappointing and not up to snuff.

 

Some have thought Jesus was being harsh when He cursed the tree. But considering that Jesus’ earthly ministry was only for three years, He didn’t have time to beat around the bush. He took advantage of this opportunity to actually teach by example. Jesus cursed the tree as a serious sign of God’s displeasure with sham and hypocrisy. The withering of the tree in 24 hours (Mark 11:20) was a vivid warning against having the leaves of false profession, but not bearing the fruit of God’s grace. Professing to be God’s personal ambassador, but denying it with an ungodly attitude and lifestyle, is serious business.

 

People are supposed to see how God is when they look at His followers. “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ’Come back to God!’” (2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT.) I don’t want to be a disappointing  exception to the lifestyle of a true Christ follower. I don’t want to look right on the outside and be wrong on the inside. I don’t want to pose as an imposter. God sees right through hypocrisy and, given enough time, so does everyone else. However, God also sees who we can become when we genuinely repent and surrender. My pastor recently shared that, “A moment of surrender is shown in a lifetime of obedience.”

 

The Key: With God’s help, we can be the real deal and influence others for Christ.

AD: Armstrong Pressure Washing: Professional Cleaning

Armstrong Pressure Washing LLC offers exterior residential and commercial pressure washing and soft washing in Fort Scott and the surrounding area. Owner, Jeff Armstrong, started the business in 2020.

Photos submitted by Armstrong Pressure Washing of before and after their cleaning service work was completed.

Services include house washing, roof washing, concrete
surface cleaning, fence and deck washing, and other surfaces such as stone, brick, and metal.

“Exterior washing is much more than throwing pressure on something,” Armstrong, said. “There is a science behind professionally cleaning different surfaces”.

Armstrong Pressure Washing uses not only professional equipment and cleaning solutions but also professional techniques to safely wash.

“A big part of the business is studying to learn how to improve your craft and to be able to educate clients about the process, so they are confident their property will be taken care of,” he said.

Contact Armstrong to set up an appointment at:

Phone: 620-224-3036
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @armstrongpressurewash
Web:  www.armstrongpressurewash.com

April is National Safe Digging Month,

April is National Safe Digging Month, and Kansas Gas Service wants residents to know the easiest way to stay safe while excavating is by contacting 8-1-1 before starting any digging project.

 

This year, we’ll give out 50 trees to those who take the Safe Digging Pledge at BeADigHeroKansas.com.

 

The tree giveaway will kick off on April 1, 2023, and close on April 16, 2023.

Winners will be announced on Arbor Day – April 28.

Ascension Via Christi nurse an Extraordinary Healer Award nominee

Kristen Mitchell, RN, who serves at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg,   is among the nominees for CURE magazine’s 2023 Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing.

Each year, CURE gives readers the opportunity to honor an oncology nurse by submitting essays describing their compassion, expertise and helpfulness. Nominations are collected from colleagues, patients, friends and family of nurses throughout the country.

Mitchell’s nomination was submitted by her coworker and fellow Oncology nurse Marcus Yoakam, RN.

“Kristen is the epitome of what every oncology nurse should strive to be,” Yoakam wrote. “I have met and interacted with a countless number of nurses, but Kristen stands out a head above the rest.

“She is always there to help and actively goes out of her way to help everyone. In addition to being incredibly helpful, her clinical skills are second to none. It’s a great comfort to know that we have such a reliable and competent colleague like Kristen.”

Mitchell, who has been with the hospital since 2008, spends her days caring for patients in the Cancer Center. She starts by getting everything ready for that day’s chemotherapy, immunotherapy, blood transfusion, IVIG and iron treatments. She says her favorite part of the job is making her patients smile and being able to spoil them while in her care by being a listening ear, bringing a warm blanket, providing nutrition, or bringing a warm cup of coffee.

“I do this type of work because I honestly believe it was my calling, especially when it comes to oncology,” says Mitchell. “I’m truly honored to have been nominated for this award.”

The winner will be announced on Apr. 6 in San Antonio during the Oncology Nursing Society’s annual Congress. For more information on the award, visit event.curetoday.com.

To learn more about cancer services at Ascension Via Christi, visit ascension.org/pittsburgKS.

 

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About Ascension Via Christi

 

In Kansas, Ascension Via Christi operates seven hospitals and 75 other sites of care and employs nearly 6,400 associates. Across the state, Ascension Via Christi provided nearly $89 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2021. Serving Kansas for more than 135 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the leading non-profit and Catholic health system in the U.S., operating more than 2,600 sites of care – including 145 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states and the District of Columbia

Obituary of AJ Soverns Jr.

Allen Dale “AJ” Soverns, Jr., age 40, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Thursday, March 30, 2023, at his home.  He was born April 8, 1982, in Kansas City, KS, the son of Allen Sr. and Colleen Vaughan Soverns.  He married Angie Hall on July 11, 2020, in Fort Scott.

AJ enjoyed working outside in the yard, mowing and gardening.  He liked music, playing video games, watching movies, dogs, and cats.

 

Survivors include his wife Angie of the home; his mother, Colleen Pellett; a son Kiel Hall; daughters Rayne Soverns, Zoie Joles, and Rylee Joles; a sister Amy Majors (Trevor); nieces Alyson Howser (Brock), Bryttny Hall, Alexia Hall and Maize Hall; nephews Luke Majors, and Bentley Hall, and several others; as well as many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father.

 

There was cremation.  The family will announce services at a later date.

Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel.  In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the AJ Soverns Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

 

Obituary of Larry Parnell Jr.

 

Larry “Chipper” Dean Parnell, Jr., 51, resident of Fort Scott, passed away Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Ascension Via Christi in Pittsburg. He was born June 16, 1971, in Santa Clara, California, the son of Larry Dean Parnell, Sr. and Judith Ann (Abildgaard) Parnell.

 

Chipper was a client of Tri Valley Developmental Services. He loved all things Star Wars.

 

Chipper is survived by his mother, Judy Parnell, of Fort Scott; two sisters, Carrie Thomas, and Mykie Parnell, both of Fort Scott; one brother, Robbie Parnell, also of Fort Scott; a nephew, Nathan Thomas; three nieces, Hope Sheriff (Andrew) Faith Holtz (Shane Harper), and Grace Thomas (Kailie Morgan); two great-nieces, Isabel Sheriff, and Katerina Harper; and three great-nephews, Mason Sheriff, Hunter Sheriff, and Conner Harper.

He was preceded in death by his father, Larry Parnell, Sr.

 

Rev. Christopher Eshelman will conduct graveside services for Chipper at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at Evergreen Cemetery, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

The visitation will be 6:00-7:00 p.m. Monday evening, April 3, 2023, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Tri Valley Developmental Services, and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.