Union Station owners Dane and Ronni Clayton will be expanding their offerings as a result of SPARK funding.
SPARK stands for Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas and is a task force charged with leading Kansas forward in recovery from the effects of COVID-19. Committees on the SPARK task force, along with the Kansas Office of Recovery are responsible for the statewide distribution of the U.S Coronavirus Relief Fund, according to https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/
The convenience store, located at 684 Maple Road, Uniontown, KS, at the corner of Hwy 3 and Maple Road, will be offering grocery items and locally produced meats in the near future.
The Claytons are creating climate-controlled storage outside of the main building, to free up space for additional coolers and shelving inside the convenience store, Ronni Clayton said. ” The increased product space will be used for discounted grocery items as well as locally produced meats.”
“We had already purchased the little building, now we need to set it up to be climate controlled (insulate, heat/cool, etc.),” Clayton said. “Thank goodness Dane is an HVAC-R tech!”
This convenience store in western Bourbon County will provide access to affordable grocery items, something not usually seen at a convenience store.
“It isn’t always possible or feasible for members of our community to pay the higher costs of traditional convenience store items, nor is it always easy to get to ‘town’ to get said basic items,” Clayton said. “Our goal is to provide easier access to and more affordable grocery items.”
Clayton said she understands the SPARK Grant money has to be spent by the end of the year and so they are starting immediately with the first step of getting outside, climate-controlled storage for the store.
The store has been selling milk, eggs, etc. already.
“We always disliked the high prices of common grocery items, but struggled to find a solution,” Clayton said. “A fellow small business owner, Kelly Perry of Perry’s Pork Rinds, introduced us to a local business that acquires discount grocery items and a plan was formed. (Kelly) is a great resource. SPARK funding has made it possible.”
COUNTY CLERK’S NOTICE OF CANDIDATES TO BE VOTED ON
AT THE GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 2020
State of Kansas County of Bourbon
In compliance with K.S.A. 25-105, and the General Election Laws of the State of Kansas, I submit herewith the list of National, State and District Candidates certified to me by the Secretary of State, and the list of those filed as candidates in Bourbon County in the forthcoming General Election to be held, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
And, I hereby give further notice that the election will be held in the voting places listed below in Bourbon County, Kansas, and that the polls will be opened and closed at the regular time specified by law for the conduct of elections. All precincts in the county will open at 7:00 am and will close at 7:00 pm.
Sales Tax Question on the ballot:
To vote in favor of any question
submitted upon the ballot, darken
the oval to the left of the word
“YES”;
to vote against it, darken
the oval to the left of the word
“NO”.
Shall the following be adopted?
Shall Bourbon County, Kansas,
levy (renew) a one percent
countywide retailers’ sales tax to
take effect on July 1, 2021, and
expire on June 30, 2031, with the
allocated shares pursuant to
K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-192 to be
used as follows: (1) to Bourbon
County, for the purpose of
maintenance and construction of
hard surface roads, and (2) to
each city located in Bourbon
County, for the purpose of
providing funding for public
services?
Residents living in the City of Fort Scott vote at the following locations:
1st Ward Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott
2nd Ward Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott
3rd Ward Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott
4th Ward Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott
5th Ward Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott
6th Ward Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott
7th Ward Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott
Residents living out in the county vote at the following locations:
Drywood Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott
Franklin Mapleton Community Building – 565 Eldora, Mapleton, KS
Freedom Fulton Community Building – 408 West Osage, Fulton, KS
East Marion Uniontown City Hall – 206 Sherman Street, Uniontown, KS
West Marion Bronson Community Building – 504 Clay Street, Bronson, KS
Marmaton Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS
Millcreek Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS
Osage Fulton Community Building – 408 West Osage, Fulton, KS
Pawnee Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS
North Scott Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott
South Scott Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott
Timberhill Mapleton Community Building – 565 Eldora, Mapleton, KS
Walnut Uniontown City Hall – 206 Sherman Street, Uniontown, KS
| NATIONAL AND STATE OFFICES | |||||
| For President and Vice-President of the United States | |||||
| Joseph R. Biden / Kamala D. Harris | 1209 Barley Mill Road
Wilmington, DE 19807 |
Democratic | |||
| Donald J. Trump / Michael R. Pence 1100 S. Ocean Blvd.
Palm Beach, FL 33480 |
Republican | ||||
| Jo Jorgensen / Jeremy “Spike” Cohen | Greenville, SC | Libertarian | |||
| For United States Senate | |||||
| Barbara Bollier | 6910 Overhill Road
Mission Hills, KS 66208 |
Democratic | |||
| Roger Marshall | PO Box 1588
Great Bend, KS 67530 |
Republican | |||
| Jason Buckley | 8828 Marty Ln
Overland Park, KS 66212 |
Libertarian | |||
| For US House of Representatives – District 2 | |||||
| Michelle De La Isla | 3250 SW Briarwood Dr
Topeka, KS 66611 |
Democratic | |||
| Jake LaTurner | 2329 SW Ashworth Pl
Topeka, KS 66614 |
Republican | |||
| Robert Garrard | 2287 N 300 Rd
Edgerton, KS 66021 |
Libertarian | |||
| Kansas Senate, District 12 | |||||
| Mike Bruner | 1002 Pecan St.
Humboldt, KS 66748 |
Democratic | |||
| Caryn Tyson | PO Box 191
Parker, KS 66072 |
Republican | |||
| Kansas Senate, District 13 | |||||
| Nancy J. Ingle | 511 E. 21st
Pittsburg, KS 66762 |
Democratic | |||
| Richard Hilderbrand | 240 Cleveland Ave
Baxter Springs, KS 66713 |
Republican | |||
| Kansas House of Representatives, District 2 | |||||
| Lynn D. Grant | 202 S. Appleton
Frontenac, KS 66763 |
Democratic | |||
| Kenneth Collins | 102 E First Street
Mulberry, KS 66756 |
Republican | |||
| Kansas House of Representatives, District 4 | |||||
| Bill Meyer | 14 Golfview Drive
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Democratic | |||
| Trevor Jacobs | 1927 Locust Road
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
| For County Commissioner – District 2 | |||||
| Jim Harris | 2302 Jayhawk Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
| For County Commissioner – District 3 | |||||
| Clifton Beth | 2236 215th,
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
| Phillip G. Hoyt | 2422 242nd Terrace
Fulton, KS 66738 |
Democratic | |||
| For County Clerk | |||||
| Kendell Dawn Mason | 2 S Eddy
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
| For County Treasurer | |||||
| Patty Love | 901 Shepherd St
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
| For Register of Deeds | |||||
| Lora Holdridge | 1814 Richards Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
| For County Attorney | |||||
| Jacqie Spradling | PO Box 576
Spring Hill, KS 66083 |
Republican | |||
| For County Sheriff | |||||
| Mike Feagins | 1964 Justice Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Democratic | |||
| Bill Martin | 502 Meadow Ln
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
| TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE | |||||
| Drywood | Richard Cullison, Jr. | 506 260th
Garland, KS 66741 |
Republican | ||
| Franklin | Tony Bradbury | 631 Soldier Rd.
Bronson, KS 66716 |
Republican | ||
| Freedom | Janice Seested | 2330 215th St.
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | ||
| Marion | Steve Geiger | 1121 Hwy 3
Uniontown, KS 66779 |
Republican | ||
| Marmaton | David Duffey | 1201 Locust Rd
Redfield, KS 66769 |
Republican | ||
| Millcreek | Yvonne Beck | 1821 159th Street
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | ||
| Osage | Brian Wade | 2618 Soldier Rd.
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Democratic | ||
| Pawnee | Karen A. Endicott-Coyan | 1635 Fern Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | ||
| Scott | Jim Sackett | 2019 Maple Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | ||
| Timberhill | Dan Laughlin | 2275 105th St.
Mapleton, KS 66754 |
Republican | ||
| Walnut | No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed | ||||
| TOWNSHIP TREASURER | |||||
| Drywood | No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed | ||||
| Franklin | No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed | ||||
| Freedom | Karen A. Paddock | 608 W Cedar St.
Fulton, KS 66738 |
Republican | ||
| Marion | Rex Wilson | 905 Clay St.
Bronson, KS 66716 |
Republican | ||
| Marmaton | Wilma K. Graham | 102 W 4th
Redfield, KS 66769 |
Democratic | ||
| Millcreek | Betty L. Graham | 1458 Tomahawk Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Democratic | ||
| Osage | Kathleen Valentine | 2638 Tomahawk Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | ||
| Pawnee | Sharon Middleton | 1374 Eagle Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Democratic | ||
| Scott | Harold Rogers | 2189 Ironwood Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | ||
| Timberhill | David Scharenberg | 1045 Yale Rd
Mapleton, KS 66754 |
Republican | ||
| Walnut | No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed | ||||
| STATE OF KANSAS OFFICIAL JUDICIAL BALLOT | |||||
| Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judges, District Court Judges and District Magistrate Judge | |||||
| Question #1, | Shall the following Supreme Court Justice be retained in office? | ||||
| Eric S. Rosen | 1928 S.W. Indian Woods Ln.
Topeka, KS 66611 |
Position 4 | |||
| Question #2, | Shall the following Court of Appeals Judges be retained in office? | ||||
| Sarah E. Warner | Kansas Judicial Center
301 SW 10th Ave Topeka, KS 66612 |
Position 4 | |||
| David E. Bruns | Olathe | Position 6 | |||
| G. Gordon Atcheson | 301 SW 10th Ave
Topeka, KS 66612 |
Position 8 | |||
| Karen M. Arnold-Burger | 301 SW 10th Ave
Topeka, KS 66612 |
Position 9 | |||
| Kathryn Gardner | 301 SW 10th Ave
Topeka, KS 66612 |
Position 14 | |||
| Question #3, | Shall the following Judges of the District Court be retained in office? | ||||
| Terri L Johnson | PO Box 311
Pleasanton, KS 66075 |
District 6, Division 2 | |||
| Mark A. Ward | 829 190th St
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
District 6, Division 3
|
|||
| Steven C. Montgomery | 22404 S. Roosevelt St.
Spring Hill, KS 66083 |
District 6, Division 4 | |||
| Question #4, | Shall the following Judge of the District Magistrate be retained in office? | ||||
| Valorie R. Leblanc | 210 S. National
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
District 6 | |||
| Shall the following be adopted?
Shall Bourbon County, Kansas, levy (renew) a one percent countywide retailers’ sales tax to take effect on July 1, 2021, and expire on June 30, 2031, with the allocated shares pursuant to K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-192 to be used as follows: (1) to Bourbon county, for the purpose of maintenance and construction of hard surface roads, and (2) to each city located in Bourbon county, for the purpose of providing funding for public services? |
|||||
Kendell Mason, County Clerk &
(SEAL) Bourbon County Election Officer
School started for St. Mary’s Catholic School on August 27.
But with the COVID 19 Pandemic, this year is not school as usual.
“We have moved our 3rd/4th grade combination classroom into our gym space, to ensure that there is at least six feet between all students,” Josh Regan, St. Mary’s Principal, said. “From the very beginning, one of our top priorities has been to make sure that there is adequate social distancing in every classroom.”
Regan knows the school is fortunate to be small enough to be able to social distance, and that not all schools have this ability, he said.
Regan is thankful for the cooperation of staff and the community in setting the school up for the start of school.
“I want to commend our 3rd/4th grade classroom teacher, Amber Russell, for her hard work in creating a classroom space in just a couple of weeks,” Regan said. “She really went above and beyond in making that space not only conducive to learning but also inviting and comfortable for kids.”
“We also want to thank Matt Ida and Brian McGowan at Extrusions Inc. for their generous help in constructing temporary walls for that classroom,” Regan said.
The administration and staff want to maximize time the students can be without a facemask, one of the ways they are following government guidelines to stop the spread of the disease, he said.
” We want to maximize the time that kids can be kids, without the restriction of a facemask that we feel strips away part of our God-given human connection with others since we cannot see concealed faces,” Regan said. “Communication is damaged and relationships are much more difficult to build when we cannot tell whether a child is frustrated, sad, happy, or somewhere in between based on their expression!!”
“So much communication is nonverbal, especially in how a teacher reads the emotions of students and how kids interact with each other,” he said. ” Our kids wear masks as mandated, but we have worked hard to maximize time outside where they can remove masks safely and laugh, talk, and enjoy the time with their friends! ”
Students bring beach towels to school each week to spread out on the school’s lawn to eat lunch.
” About a month before school we also started asking school families, parishioners, and community members to allow us to borrow any picnic tables that we could get our hands on,” he said. “A couple of our families even anonymously bought and donated outdoor tables.”
“Our teachers frequently take classes outside and use the tables to distance kids with masks off,” Regan said.
In addition, the school has all its’ physical education classes outside.
“It has worked out great for us, mostly because God has blessed us with beautiful weather so far this year,” Regan said.
A new audio file will be available for Fort Scottians to download to a computer or mobile device about the demise of Mercy Hospital in 2018.
It will be a series, which can be subscribed to, entitled “Where It Hurts.” The first season is “No Mercy.”
The author of the series is Sarah Jane Tribble, a Kaiser Health News Senior Correspondent.
Tribble returned several times to Fort Scott following Mercy’s closure, to interview residents.
She spent more than a year recording the lives of people and how they changed.
“Their stories are full of grit and hope. Along the way, Tribble finds that the notion that every community needs a hospital deserves questioning,” according to the press release.
“The reporting for this project began just weeks before the hospital closed in December 2018 and ended with a final trip in December 2019,” Tribble said. “Throughout, I was reminded of the resilience and strength of people in southeastern Kansas.”
Each episode spends time with people in town, Tribble said in an email interview. “In one, I take the listener to a (Fort Scott) Chamber Coffee, in another, we travel to the cancer treatment center. I truly believe every person in this podcast is worth meeting and spending time with.”
Tribble asked “uncomfortable questions of (Fort Scott) town leaders and the Catholic nuns who once ran Mercy to find out why the hospital, like so many others in rural America, fell upon hard times and ultimately shut down,” according to the release.
Tribble in the first segment on Sept. 29, interviews Pat and Ralph Wheeler, Dave Martin, Roxine Poznich, Krista Postai, and Reta Baker.
Mercy’s Importance To Fort Scott
The loss to the community was not just health care but Mercy Hospital was one of its largest employers and had some of its best-paying jobs according to a Kaiser Family Foundation press release, New Podcast “No Mercy” Features Fort Scott.
“Mercy Hospital served as a mainstay of the town for 132 years and was a constant presence until faltering finances forced its doors to close in December 2018,” according to the press release. “The town felt abandoned.”
To subscribe to the podcast, click below: http://whereithurts.show
The new podcast is a collaboration between Kaiser Health News and St. Louis Public Radio.
When KHN Editor-in-Chief Elisabeth Rosenthal read Tribble’s stories of Fort Scott, she knew it should be a podcast, according to the press release .
St. Louis Public Radio General Manager Tim Eby said in the press release “The powerful stories from ‘Where It Hurts’ will help listeners, no matter where they are, understand the health care challenges facing our nation. These are stories that bring context and humanity and need to be heard by audiences.”
Series Begins On September 29 With Weekly Episodes
The series employing a narrative storytelling approach, debuts Sept. 29, with episodes to be released weekly through Nov. 10.
They will be available on major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and NPR One.
About the author, Sarah Jane Tribble
Tribble was born and grew up in Parsons, Kansas. Her parents still live on the 10-acre farm she was raised on.
“My love of journalism began when I joined the high school newspaper staff,” she said. ” I went away to college, took a job at the Wichita Eagle, and then followed a journalism career path that took me from coast-to-coast.”
She first heard of Fort Scott Mercy Hospital closing from her mom in one of their frequent conversations, Tribble said.
Doing the background for the story, Tribble was alarmed by the health statistics.
“As someone who grew up in the region, I was initially surprised and alarmed to learn of some of the poor health statistics in the area,” Tribble said in the email interview. “The data shows there are higher rates of diabetes and obesity as well as higher rates of smoking and childhood poverty than other areas of the state. It all adds up to people dying younger.”
A new grocery store in downtown Fort Scott is on the horizon.
This project is a result of the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) program.
The SPARK Taskforce is charged with leading Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, according to the website https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/
The Kansas SPARK Committee approved the final pieces of the Bourbon County Spark Plan on Sept. 25.
This Kress Building repurposing addresses access to food, which was one of the issues identified for the SPARK program.
” BAJA Investments, LLC submitted an application which will result in the rehabilitation of the Kress Building located at 17 S Main Street in downtown Fort Scott, into a grocery store,” Bill Michaud, the developer of the project and owner of BAJA Investments, LLC, said.
Featured at the future store will be locally produced co-op food and salad bar/deli, he said.
Additionally, a new resource center to support the needs of the community through COVID-19 pandemic recovery will be located in the rehabilitated Kress Building.
“Prior to the grocery store opening, a collaboration of local community resource agencies will open the BWERC (pronounced B-WORK) which is an acronym for the Bourbon County Workforce and Entrepreneurship Resouce Center,” said Michaud. “This is an exciting collaboration between Kansas Works, (a division of Network Kansas that supports Workforce Development), the SBDC at Pitt State (Small Business Development Center), Fort Scott Community College, and the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce including the E-Community program — all that together with being coordinated and supported by Bourbon County Economic Development.”
Any inquiries regarding the B-WERC facility services may be directed to Bourbon County Economic Development Director, Jody Hoener at 620.215.5725 or by email at [email protected]
Food Co-op, Deli Meat/Cheese and Salad Bar
“The idea of a downtown grocery store certainly wasn’t an original idea,” Michaud said. “I think there has been discussion of this since the Dollar General moved out of downtown many years ago. I think it’s one of those things that people didn’t realize how convenient it was to have until it was gone.”
“The many issues that have arisen out of the COVID pandemic pushed this need to the forefront and access to healthy food was a stated point of emphasis under the SPARK program,” he said.
“One feature we are planning is the food co-op for locally grown produce and other food products,” he said. “We are going to provide a local outlet for as many ‘produced in Bourbon County’ products as possible.”
“We hope to become a resource to connect local producers with the market of consumers and restaurants who are looking for fresh, locally grown products,” Michaud said.
“Secondly we are offering to partner with CHC/SEK so that they may expand the food delivery service that they offer to the homebound, elderly and other underserved populations in Crawford County, into Fort Scott,” he said. “The new store will provide storage for donated food items for delivery and supplement the needs of the clientele by making additional food items available.”
The pandemic has caused some nationwide unemployment, which leads to increased food insecurities, some driven by lack of transportation, Michaud noted.
“So adding to the food supply downtown and in northwest Fort Scott will help address that need for residents of that part of town,” he said. “In recent years, the increased downtown housing development has further increased the need for a downtown grocery store.”
“That increase in residential housing, the lack of food supply to residents west of 69 highway and the great opportunity for partnerships to support local produce and other small businesses make this an investment in our community and in our downtown … a project I thought was worth pursuing,” Michaud said.
Josh Jones believes Fort Scott is full of wonderful people and he enjoys giving back to his community, he said.
This Saturday, Sept. 26 Jones is sponsoring a movie night at shelter house #5 in Gunn Park.
“This is just a simple way for me to give back to the community and our children,” Jones said. “I want to encourage citizens that have ideas to reach out to local governments or even myself to put those ideas into action. We don’t always need large projects to make a difference and sometimes even the smallest idea or act can change someone’s thoughts about Bourbon County. Fort Scott’s greatest asset is the pride our community has and we have an opportunity to make Fort Scott stand out because of that pride.”
The movie will be outside at shelter house #5, near the camping area of Gunn Park.
There is a $10 camping fee, on a first-come first-served basis, if a family is interested in camping at the park. One can make payment at the kiosk at the entrance to the camping spaces, according to a spokesman for the City of Fort Scott.
There has been some recent activity at the former Price Chopper Supermarket on South Main.
Equipment in the store has been taken out.
“We have been working on taking all of the equipment out to remodel a store in Overland Park,” said Barry Queen, the owner.
The store closing was devastating to the Fort Scott community and Queen.
“It closed in January of 2019 after just being open a little over a year because business was really soft, compared to projections.”
“I hate it, I’ve had a lakehouse at lake Ft. Scott for 20 years and love the community,” he said.
“It is owned by Associated Wholesale Grocers,” Queen said. “I am on a 20-year lease and still paying rent/taxes/insurance/utilities/etc…(I would) love it if you can help us sell it and get me out of the rent.”
The commercial building, located at 2322 S. Main, is for sale or lease, with the owners willing to split into smaller parcels, according to information provided by Jody Hoener, Bourbon County’s Economic Director. If the purchaser is retail, there is a TIF/CID in place that will transfer to the new owner. If not a retailer, the purchase price can be negotiated without incentive.
The 39, 425 square foot building is on 4.5 acres. There is carve out pad site availability.
The building was fully renovated in 2017.
Click below for the announcement of the closing in January 2019:
FORT SCOTT PRICE CHOPPER TO CLOSE DOORS
Click below for photos of the store opening in Dec. 2017:
As an editor who receives weekly submissions from K-State Southwind Extension, I noticed I wasn’t receiving submissions from a few of the agents.
It turns out that one agent resigned, one retired and in addition, Kansas State University Research and Extension is in a hiring freeze.
Here is the Southwind Extension District Director Carla Nemecek’s response:
“No doubt we are living in a season of change, and the fresh autumn weather is likely the very best of times for many. The virus that has taken over our world and everyday lifestyles is hard enough to cope with, but add heated local and national political battles, school safety and mask debates to the dynamics and the chaos can be overwhelming.
“The Southwind Extension District is also going through a season of reorganization, but I am optimistic for a bright future because of these changes. Christopher Petty, Livestock Production & Forage Management Agent for the Southwind District resigned in May.
“Then in September, Kathy McEwan, Foods & Nutrition Agent and who was also the SNAP Education Coordinator for the Southwind District retired.
“Without a full-time Agent to manage the SNAP program, the federal SNAP grant was regretfully ceased for FY21. The bad news is that K-State Research & Extension is in a hiring freeze for an indefinite time, and although replacing our agents will certainly happen, it just won’t be soon. Let’s choose to focus on the good news because the Southwind Extension District has a diverse and talented pool of staff who will see to it that all of your questions are answered.
“Southwind Agents Barbara Stockebrand and Joy Miller continue to provide a broad base of expertise to help solve complicated problems by teaching essential living skills including finances, aging well, caring for your home, food preparation skills, strengthening family relationships and raising your children.
“We are coming into the open enrollment season for Medicare, and Joy can help you navigate Medicare and Market Place Insurance, too.
“Krista Harding is actively engaged in educating adults and youth in the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants, and trees through her Horticulture role in the Southwind District. Whether you have a question about lawns, vegetables, flowers, or landscape maintenance, Extension information is created for use by everyone, including homeowners, lawn services and nurseries.
“Our 4-H program is going strong with Jennifer Terrell, 4-H/Youth Agent leading our team of professional 4-H staff as we transition into the new 4-H year. MaKayla Stroud and Cassidy Lutz serve as our 4-H program assistants and their activity on the Southwind District 4-H Facebook page is energizing and a fun way to engage youth and families in 4-H project learning.
“If you want your kids to be involved in something that will teach them skills for a lifetime, then you should consider joining 4-H!
“Dale Lanham and James Coover are actively managing our Extension Agriculture programming and answering questions about pastures, weed control, pesticide management, cropping systems and livestock production.
Dale is our resource for livestock-related concerns and James is knowledgeable in issues related to agronomy. Farm management is vital to the success of our rural communities, so don’t overlook their availability for your ag-related questions.
“In addition to my role as the Southwind District Director, I have educational programming responsibilities related to Community Vitality. I am available to facilitate strategic planning for community groups or businesses, foster skills in board leadership for all organizations, assist with community needs assessments through First Impressions, and I will be offering a Grant Writing Workshop in Yates Center on November 5th.
“Even though we are down a couple of Agents, it is my opinion there is a new level of energy and excitement across our staff and offices. We have high expectations for the future by expanding opportunities for all our programs and look forward to providing trusted, research-based information in Allen, Bourbon, Neosho and Woodson Counties for years to come.
“If you haven’t already, you can find more information about the Southwind District on our website, www.southwind.ksu.edu or our Facebook page: Southwind Extension District. “
Care to Share/The Sharing Bucket is a local helping agency that provides financial and emotional support to cancer patients, survivors, and their families and caregivers.
Care To Share/The Sharing Bucket is having its 14th annual festival on October 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2480 Limestone Road.
To get there, go on K-54 Hwy. east to 240th Street South to Limestone Road, and then east.
Handicap parking is available.
There is family fun for everyone, according to Lavetta Simmons, who with help of family, friends, and the board of directors, hosts the event each year.
The purchase of a $10 wristband allows pony rides, a maze, an obstacle course, horse, tractor, and wagon rides, train rides, gunny sack races, turtle races, hedge-ball slingshot, face painting/tattoos, a petting zoo, and garden bombs.
Food, sold separately, includes funnel cakes, cotton candy, popcorn, muffins, apple cider, homemade pies, chili, chili dogs/polish, Frito chili pies, nachos, chips, soda, and water.
Craft booths include Tupperware, crocheted animals, Color Street, pumpkin patch, Paparazzi jewelry, “Pic Me Ups”, canvas paintings and more.
For more information call-Lavetta Simmons 620-224-8070
The directors of Care to Share/Sharing Bucket are Dona Bauer, Donna Beerbower, Mathew Boban, Kathy Clark, Teresa Davenport, Denny Heidrick, Carol Hill, Nancy Hofer, Randy Holt, Richard Long, Jerry Witt, and Simmons, who is the secretary/treasurer of the directors.
