The SEKnFind Newsletter July 2024

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New Fiction

Bear : a novel
by Julia Phillips

Trapped on a remote Washington island with their dreams out of reach, two sisters clash when a mysterious bear arrives swimming in the channel, forcing them to confront their conflicting desires for escape and connection

The god of the woods
by Liz Moore

In 1975, when a camp counselor discovers the 13-year-old daughter of the summer camp’s owners has disappeared just like her brother 14 years earlier, a panicked search begins as the secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow are revealed.

Broiler
by Eli Cranor

From the nationally bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of Don’t Know Tough and Ozark Dogs comes another edge-of-your-seat noir thriller that exposes the dark, bloody heart of life on the margins in the American South and the bleak underside of a bygone American Dream

The summer of keeping secrets
by Jill Lynn

While cleaning out the family home in Dillon, Colorado, Marin and her two adult children, free-spirited Slade and strait-laced Reed, when secrets are revealed from both the past and present, must decide if these revelations will tear them apart or piece them back together. Original.

Big in Sweden : a novel
by Sally Franson

Paulie Johansson auditions for a reality tv show where Swedish-American compete to win a reunion with their relatives and discovers through increasingly absurd challenges how to embrace her heritage, find love and a newfound sense of self.

Let the games begin
by Rufaro Faith Mazarura

Interning at the 2024 Summer Games in Athens, Olivia, when she meets Zeke, the heartthrob runner of Team Great Britain, finds things heating up as they become close, but when the competition gets fierce, she must decide if their relationship is strong enough to cross the finish line. Original.

Only One Survives
by Hannah Mary McKinnon

Drummer Vienna Taylor, when her band’s bus careens off an icy mountain road during a blizzard, stranding them in a nearby abandoned cabin, finds her dreams turning into a terrifying nightmare, as, one by one, her fellow band members meet a gruesome end?—?and her best friend vanishes in the night. Original.

The spellshop
by Sarah Beth Durst

When the Great Library of Alyssium goes up in flames, introverted librarian Kiela and her sentient spider plant flee to the faraway island of her childhood where she opens a spell shop to restore the island’s power, coming out of her shell to make a new life for herself.

All this and more : a novel
by Peng Shepherd

A divorced, middle-aged woman full of regrets is selected for a reality show that uses quantum technology to allow contestants to relive and revise their pasts but she discovers that changing everything doesn’t necessarily bring her happiness.

Shanghai : a novel
by Joseph Kanon

After escaping the Gestapo, Daniel Lohr arrives in Shanghai, where glamor and squalor exist side-by-side, and as he tries to navigate through his uncle’s world in the city’s fabled nightlife, he tries to stay one step ahead of murder and outrun his own past.

Wolf at the table : a novel
by Adam Rapp

A Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-finalist playwright presents a harrowing multigenerational saga about a family harboring a serial killer in their midst.

The heart in winter : a novel
by Kevin Barry

In 1891 Montana, Tom Rourke, a young poet and ballad-maker, and Polly Gillspie, the new bride of an extremely devout mine captain, falling madly in love, strike out west on a stolen horse, but with a posse of deranged gunmen in hot pursuit, the choices they make will haunt them forever.

New Audiobooks

The summer pact : a novel
by Emily Giffin

Ten years after they made a pact, promising to always be there for each other in their times of need, Hannah, when one of the happiest moments of her life is suddenly turned upside down, calls on her closest friends, and together, they embark on a shared journey of self-discovery, forgiveness and acceptance. Simultaneous.

Shelterwood
by Lisa Wingate

In 1990 Oklahoma, Valerie, a Law Enforcement Ranger reporting for duty at Horsethief Trail National Park, is immediately faced with the long-hidden burial site of three children, and working with the neighboring Choctaw Tribal Police, unearths old secrets and the tragic and deadly history of the land itself.

Familiaris
by David Wroblewski

It is spring 1919, and John Sawtelle’s imagination has gotten him into trouble, again. Now John and his newlywed wife, Mary, along with their two best friends and their three dogs, are setting off for Wisconsin’s northwoods, where they hope to make a fresh start, and, with a little luck, discover what it takes to live a life of meaning, purpose and adventure. But the place they are headed for is far stranger and more perilous than they realize, and it will take all their ingenuity, along with a few new friends, to realize their dreams.

New Nonfiction

Three Kings : Race, Class, and the Barrier-breaking Rivals Who Launched the Modern Olympic Age
by Todd Balf

The first globally broadcast swim match, the one-hundred-meter at the 1924 Olympics, saw three great swimmers shatter records and invite unprecedented scrutiny about race, class, and celebrity. This book traces the careers and rivalries of these men and the epochal times they lived in.

Right thing, right now : good values, good character, good deeds
by Ryan Holiday

Drawing on fascinating stories of historical figures such as Marcus Aurelius, Florence Nightingale, Ghandi and Frederick Douglass, one of the world’s bestselling living philosophers teaches readers the transformational power of living by a moral code—to do what’s right even when it isn’t easy.

Ruin their crops on the ground : the politics of food in the United States, from the Trail of Tears to school lunch
by Andrea Freeman

Based on 15 years of research to argue American food law and policy have historically been used to create and maintain racial and cultural inequality, the author, who pioneered the term“food oppression,” shows how these practices continue to this day, upending the notion that we freely and equally choose what we eat.

The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2025 : Billions of Dollars in Scholarships, Grants and Prizes
by Gen Tanabe

This #1 selling scholarship guide from winners of more than $100,000 in scholarships provides information on 1.5 million scholarships, grants and prizes along with guidance for students and parents to complete the application process, including eligibility requirements, sponsor website listings, award amounts, deadlines and more. Original.

The secret history of sharks : the rise of the ocean’s most fearsome predators
by John A. Long

A world-leading paleontologist on the cutting edge of shark research for decades showcases the global search to discover sharks’ secret history, from ancient megalodons to fearsome Great Whites, as he and dozens of other extraordinary scientists embark on digs to all seven continents where they find clues to sharks’ singular story. Illustrations.

The chair and the valley : a memoir of trauma, healing, and the outdoors
by Banning Lyon

In this no-holds-barred story about healing from trauma and starting over, the author recounts how he was forced to stay in a psychiatric hospital for 353 life-altering days, and after years of highs and lows, found hope in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park where he discovered a new purpose.

Dinner Tonight : Simple Meals Full of Mediterranean Flavor
by Meliz Berg

Inspired by her Turkish-Cypriot heritage, a self-taught cook and recipe developer follows up her best-selling cookbook with a second collection of quick and nourishing meals including One-Pot Orzo, Leftover Hummus Soup, Cheater’s Lahmacun Pide Pockets and Tavuk Kebab Curry. Illustrations.

Crochet monsters
by Megan Lapp

A mix and match guide to crocheting adorable monsters with interchangeab

Candidate Forum July 25 at Fort Scott High School

Join us for the 2024 Election Candidate Forum

Thursday, July 25th

Doors open 5:30pm for Meet & Greet w/Candidates

Forum beings at 6pm

(will also be on Facebook Live ~ Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce page)

Candidates in the races below have been invited to attend & participate in the forum.

U.S. House of Representatives 2nd District

Kansas Senate District 13

Bourbon County Commissioner Districts 1, 2, and 3

Bourbon County Attorney (unopposed)

Bourbon County Register of Deeds (unopposed)

Bourbon County Treasurer Bourbon County Clerk (unopposed)

Bourbon County Sheriff

Residents of the community are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates to the Chamber by 12pm on Monday, July 23rd.  Questions may be emailed to [email protected], mailed to 231 E. Wall St., or dropped off in person. The forum will also be broadcast live on the Facebook page Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. Candidates in these races are asked to RSVP to the Chamber by July 22nd to confirm attendance.

Thank you to our Chamber Champions for your support!

Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 

Obituary of Patsy Herman

Patsy Cordelia Herman, age 90, resident of Lake Ft. Scott, passed to her Lord, Thursday, July 18, 2024, in comfort at her son’s home in Ft. Scott following a complicated illness.

 

Patsy was born May 9, 1934, in Dyer County, TN, the oldest child of W. Doyle Beasley and Belva P. (Tucker) Beasley. She graduated from Cardwell High School, Cardwell, Mo. in 1952 and continued her education to become a dental assistant, upon receiving her certification, and began her career in that position in Butler, Mo.

 

Patsy married Glen R. Herman on May 5, 1956, in Butler, Mo, which continued for 54 years until Glen’s passing in 2010. This union produced 3 sons, all born in Butler, Mo.

 

Patsy was a committed follower of Jesus Christ and longtime bible teacher within the home, life, and as a member of the church of Christ. Within that context she was a faithful wife, dedicated mother, and a loving grandmother.

 

Patsy was a creative entrepreneur and wore many business hats through the years, sales in Tupperware, Amway, and established 2 businesses, The Echo (woman’s resale clothing, Pittsburg, Ks) and The Wicker Shop (wicker furniture and home décor, Hutchinson, KS). She was also active and an officer within Altrusa International, a women’s organization dedicated to community service. She also volunteered at the Fort Scott National Historic Site for many years and drew in many families and friends to also volunteer. You could find her every Monday at the bookstore in her “Sargeant Herman” uniform.

 

Patsy and Glen loved playing golf and the Colorado Rockies. They traveled for 22 years to Colorado from late May until the first real snowfall. They loved the mountain life and Arrowhead Ranch community. They hosted and invited any and all to come and spend time with them.

 

Survivors include 2 sons, Tim Herman and wife Lois, and Jim Herman, all of Ft. Scott, and daughter-in-law Paula Herman, Baton Rouge, La., sister Renee Gerteis (Ft. Scott), and brother Billy Beasley (Bakersfield, CA). She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, Jeremiah, Molly, Hannah, Paige, Annette, Lydia, Jon-Max, Christopher, Tori, and 17 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family.

 

Patsy was preceded in death by her husband Glen, a beloved son Linn Herman, Bonnie Troll (sister), brother in-laws (Jim Gerteis, Red Troll) and her parents.

 

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 AM Friday, July 26th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 PM Thursday evening at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to either Care to Share or Mt. Carmel Hospice 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 online at cheneywitt.com.

 

Global Technical Issue Impacts Agency Services

TOPEKA – The Kansas Office of Information Technology Services (OITS) confirmed that a software update from vendor partner CrowdStrike has impacted services for Executive Branch agencies.

This was not a cybersecurity attack and there is no threat to life safety services.

CrowdStrike, a vendor partner, deployed an update late Thursday evening and into the early morning hours of Friday, impacting servers and computers. CrowdStrike has provided fixes, and OITS is working closely with them and the Executive Branch agencies to remediate any issues. This is a global problem, impacting many beyond Kansas.

Services continue to be restored online. We cannot provide an estimated time for each service’s restoration.

More information will be provided as things develop.

Please direct any questions to Allie Denning, Director of Public Affairs, OITS. She can be reached at [email protected].

###

20 N. Main is Renovated and Ready For Tenants

A business space in Historic Downtown Fort Scott is available to rent.

In 2021, Sandra Davis and her husband Donald purchased the former J&W Sport Shop at 20 North Main and were there briefly before moving their businesses to the former Bartlesmeyer Jewelry Store at 1519 S. National in 2022.

20 N. Main is available for new tenants.

 

“Once we moved into 20 N. Main we realized that we were going to have to renovate quicker than anticipated,” she said. They moved their businesses to another location while renovating.

“We originally were renting 1519 S. National when we first moved in it, but we liked the building so much we purchased it and decided to make it our business location.”

1519 S. National.

The 20 N. Main location, in historic downtown Fort Scott, is now ready for new tenants, following renovations.

“The bottom floor is completely renovated and is ready for tenants,” she said. ” We intend to start on the upper floor soon by turning it into an apartment.  It will be an Airbnb or possibly a long-term rental.”

About the businesses

Sandra and Donald Davis.

The Davis’s have their two businesses under one roof.

“I’m Davis Accounting Inc. and his business is Donald D. Davis CPA PA.,”  she said. “We jointly own Professional Property Investors LLC which legally owns the buildings.”

Davis Accounting provides full-service bookkeeping and tax return preparation. She started in Arkansas in 2000 and moved to Fort Scott in 2004. Donald’s business formed in 1995.

“Between our two companies, we offer all aspects of bookkeeping; A/P, payroll, payroll taxation and reporting, Bank reconciliations and preparation of financial statements and tax returns,” she said.

Davis can be reached at 620.223.9777 or

[email protected]

 

 

 

 

Friendship by Patty LaRoche

Patty LaRoche. 2023.
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)

In a scene from a movie I recently watched, the lead actor said, “You can’t rebuild a friendship without acknowledging what destroyed it.”  Losing a friend hurts.   I know.  What once seemed to be indestructible suddenly is shattered.  (S)he said something that makes you question the foundation on which your friendship was built.  You thought rock.  Your friend decided sand.

Let’s face it.  A great friendship—not just a good one–requires much.  Time (the ability to pick up where you left off, no matter how many weeks/months have passed, with no hint of guilt). Focused attention.  Empathy.  Majoring on the majors.  Putting your own needs aside.  And forgiveness, giving the other person the benefit of the doubt.  I am blessed with friends from across the country as well as here locally.  I respect our differences and cherish our times together.  I call them my forever-friends, but I know the pain in having those relationships come to an end.

My best friend in grade school and I parted ways in junior high. We both entered public school after eight years in a Catholic school. We were besties.  Shared secrets, including boy-crushes.  Spent almost every Friday night roller-skating.  Tons of sleepovers.  Took turns leading each other around while one kept her eyes closed.  Nerdy?  You betcha.

But something changed in that junior high.  My friend got in with the popular crowd, and I did not.  I wanted to be in that group in the worst way, but my neediness, I’m sure, was a turn-off (that and a multitude of other issues).  With whom would I talk about the latest guy who had nothing to do with me?  Hold hands with as I skated backwards in an oval on those Friday nights?  Prevent me from walking into a tree when I pretended to be blind?

A couple of years ago, we had a chance to discuss what happened to our relationship.  Typical for most breakups, my gal-pal vividly remembered attempts to keep our friendship alive, none of which I shared.  I had a very different version of that ninth-grade year.  I imagine the truth lies somewhere in the middle of our two memories.

Sometimes, friendships dissolve painfully, and other times friendships are not meant to be. Proverbs 13:20 warns us of those times: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”  Other friendships need to end because God wants us to put our attention and energy somewhere else.  That, of course, does not mean that we become enemies or do not wish the best for the other person.

In the Bible, the story of David and Jonathan is one that regularly surfaces when friendship is discussed. Jonathan was the son of King Saul who, out of jealousy, sought to murder the newly-appointed king, David.  Jonathan’s loyalty to his friend was unwavering, warning David of his father’s intent to kill him and giving David his own robe, tunic, sword, bow, and belt, items which would help to save his life.

In 1 Samuel 18, we read just how solidified their friendship was: “…the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”  To be loved by a friend “as to his own soul” is a special gift, but how much greater it would be to have that kind of love to share as well as to receive!  Sometimes, all we need to do is determine to knit our soul to someone else.  Finding a forever-friend is worth the effort.

AD: Joshua Jones for Kansas House of Representative District 4

 

Josh Jones.

Joshua Jones: Candidate for Kansas House of Representatives District 4

Hello there! I’m Joshua Jones, a proud resident of Bourbon County, where my family’s legacy spans back to the 1850s. My wife Karen shares this deep connection, with her family settling in western Bourbon County around the same time. Together, we’ve celebrated 23 years of marriage and have been blessed with three wonderful children: Taylor and Madison, both 23, and David, who is 19. 

 

**My Promises to You:** 

 

  1. **Give Back My Salary** 

   My belief is simple: if the people I serve benefit, then I benefit. We are all in this together. I am giving back my salary because your tax dollars should work for you. 

 

  1. **Year-Round Accessibility and Transparency** 

   How often do you only hear from politicians during the election? During my time as Mayor/City Commissioner, I was the first to hold public forums to get citizens’ input. 

 

“The position I am running for encompasses all of Bourbon County and most of Linn County. Over the past few years, through my business, I have expanded my connections in Linn County.  

 

As your state representative, I plan to leverage these relationships, along with engaging with other citizens, to address Linn County concerns and work together to create beneficial legislation. 

 

In Bourbon County, I am the only candidate who resides here.

Issues such as the lack of an emergency room directly affect me and our community. While the announcement of Freeman Health System coming to town gives me hope, we must remember past promises, like the one involving Noble, which did not materialize. 

 

 Being the only Bourbon County candidate, it is crucial for me to ensure that Freeman’s arrival becomes a reality. Securing state-level support will be essential to ensure Bourbon County has adequate healthcare. 

 

Issues like Pike Reservoir where the proposed lake would encompass cemeteries where I have family buried. No matter if I am for or against a project I would commit to involving citizens in the process like I did when I was City Commissioner. 

 

Living in Bourbon County also provides me with a unique understanding of medium to smaller issues, such as trains blocking intersections for hours or the challenges faced by public schools competing in the same KSHSAA class as private schools, which I have personally experienced as an injustice.  

 

These are issues I can address at the state level, and my residency in Bourbon County gives me a unique perspective and dedication to tackling them. I am committed to working tirelessly for the betterment of both Bourbon and Linn Counties.” 

 

 

——————————————————————— 

 

This ad paid for by Joshua Jones Candidate/Treasurer

The Artificers Newsletter for August

The Artificers in August!

Check out the calendar below for all events happening this month!

We are accepting New Artists

for the 2025 year!

August Classes

Come into the studio from 10am-3pm August 24th,

and Glaze all of your pre-made pieces!

Don’t Forget us For your Parties!

Obituary of Elizabeth Schafer

Elizabeth Ruth Schafer, 82, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday morning, July 16, 2024, at KU Medical Center in Kansas City. She was born February 10, 1942, in Lebanon, Missouri, the daughter of Washington Davis Mann and Charlotte Lucille (Bethel) Mann. She married Robert Lee Schafer on November 27, 1964, in Butler, Missouri. He preceded her in death May 15, 2006.

 

Elizabeth graduated from Butler High School Class of 1960. She was Postmaster for many years, and later she and Robert were owners and operators of the Chenault Mansion Bed & Breakfast in Fort Scott. Elizabeth was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

 

Elizabeth is survived by her three children; Robyn Nameth and husband Scott, of Butler, Missouri, Matthew Schafer of Fort Scott, and Christina Kennedy and husband Darrett, also of Fort Scott; and three grandchildren, Claire Nameth, Marie Nameth, and Shai Kennedy.

In addition to her husband Robert, Elizabeth was also preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Jack Mann.

 

Following cremation, Pastor Sarah Gengler will conduct memorial services for Elizabeth at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 22, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church, Fort Scott, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. The visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. prior to services in the church parlor.

 

Interment will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Butler, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or to CASA, 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. Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.

 

Obituary of Shirley Sessions

Shirley Ann (Krull) Sessions, 83, of Elk City, Oklahoma, passed away on July 15th, 2024, at Legend at Rivendell Memory Care in Oklahoma City. Shirley was born on December 19th, 1940, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Charles and Veda (Towles) Krull.

 

Shirley spent her early childhood in Fort Scott, Kansas, where she loved spending time with her aunt and uncle, Robert and Shirley Towles, at their farm. She then moved to California with her mother, where she attended Grossmont High School. After graduating high school, she found her way to Elk City, Oklahoma where she raised her son, Dan Mannering, and later met her husband, Jack Sessions.

 

Shirley worked at Drilco for many years before retiring. She enjoyed fishing, bingo, crafting, gardening, getting her hair done every Thursday, her dog Mitzi, and spending time with her family and friends.

 

Shirley is survived by family members: Dan, Matthew, and Daniel Mannering; Kendra, Cooper, and Kennedy Cowan; Jackie and Theresa Sessions; and Greg and Charlotte Graham.

 

Funeral services for Shirley will take place at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Oklahoma City. Graveside services will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 19, 2024, at the Fairview Cemetery in Fulton, Kansas, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheneyfuneralhome.com.