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Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Family Caregivers Support Program Jan. 14-Feb 18

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Barbara Stockebrand. K-State Extension Agent. Submitted photo.

Program to be Offered to Support Family Caregivers

A couple of months ago I wrote an article on supporting family caregivers. You might remember that I mentioned family caregivers, often referred to as informal caregivers, provide 90% of the long-term care offered in America. The value of the unpaid care they provide runs into the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Caregivers frequently experience the need to ‘do it all’. ‘Doing it all,’ from the caregiver’s perspective, may not include caring for themselves so they can thrive, and not just survive during their caregiving experience.

The Southwind Extension District is joining the Wildcat Extension District and also Sedgwick County Extension in offering Powerful Tools for Caregivers. This educational program is designed to support family caregivers in taking better care of themselves while caring for a relative or a friend. The program can benefit participants who are helping a parent, spouse, child, friend or someone who lives at home, in a nursing home, or across the country.

The 6-session course will be offered virtually on Thursdays, January 14 – February 18, 2021, from 1:30-3:00 p.m. A $5.00 registration fee covers the postage for sending out the Caregiver Helpbook. The helpbook includes topics on: Hiring in-home help, helping memory impaired elders, making legal, financial, and care decisions, understanding depression, and making decisions about driving.

Caregiver tools provided as part of the sessions include: Helping the caregiver reduce stress; communicating effectively; encouraging ways for the caregiver to take care of themselves; reducing caregiver guilt, anger and depression; helping the caregiver to relax; making tough decisions; setting goals and problem solving.

Register online by going to https://bit.ly/tools4care or call the Yates Center Southwind office at 620-625-8620. Class size will be limited. Registering early will allow staff to help participants be able to participate virtually and to receive the Caregiver Helpbook prior to sessions beginning.

The program is being offered at a reduced cost thanks to partial funding by the K-State Research and Extension Adult Development and Aging Program Focus Team and the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Opinion

Better Late Than Never by Pastor James Collins

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“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

Over the years, I have been blessed to receive many letters from readers. Many of those letters asked questions. One reader wrote, “Dear Pastor James, you are without a doubt the biggest pinhead on the planet. Who told you that you were a writer?” Signed, “Phillis Stein.”

Another reader wrote, “James Collins, you are a narrow-minded bigot. Where do you get off by saying Jesus is the only way?” Signed, “Barry Cuwder.”

Another letter read, “We’ve been trying to reach you about your car’s extended warranty. Why don’t you reply?” Signed, “Otto Matik.”

One of my favorite letters said, “Dr. Collins, I’m sorry that I called you an idiot in my previous letter. I really thought you already knew. I could explain to you how stupid you are, but I can’t understand it for you. What university would be so moronic as to give you a doctorate?” Signed, “Rory Motion.”

This past week, I received a letter from Ladonna (not her real name). She wrote, “Dear Pastor Collins, I write today because I am confused. Many years ago, I made accusations against another person that were just false. It created a crisis that I am ashamed of today. Should I try to make it right after all these years or should I just leave well enough alone… I don’t want to make things worse or dig up old wounds. What should I do?”

This question is one that I have been asked often. Many Christians struggle with this issue. However, the Bible is clear that if you as a believer have wronged another believer then you need to attempt to make things right. God has given us a ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19).

A few years ago, a woman named Dee felt something was missing in her life. So, she started coming to my church. Eventually, she gave her life to Christ. It was my privilege to baptize her. Whenever someone gets saved, it is a miracle of God. But Dee’s salvation was truly a miracle considering she was eighty-three-years-old. Most of the time, when someone reaches that age, life has hardened them to the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

One day Dee told me about her daughter, Joy. Dee had basically abandoned Joy when she was a child. They had not spoken to each other for almost fifty years. I encouraged Dee to call her daughter and apologize. Dee said the same thing to me that Ladonna said in her letter, “I don’t want to make things worse or dig up old wounds.” I said, “Jesus Christ can heal wounds even old ones,” as I handed her the phone. She called her daughter and apologized. She shared how Jesus Christ had changed her life. As they spoke, Joy put her faith in Jesus as Savior. She became reconciled with Jesus and with her mother. Now both Dee and Joy have peace with each other and peace with God.

The point is: When you confess and seek forgiveness from someone you have wronged, God provides opportunities for healing (James 5:16). By not seeking reconciliation, you feel sick with unforgiveness, anger, and shame. God through His Son and Spirit can heal you when you seek His help.

Why don’t you lean on God’s strength and reach out to that person and show them the love of Christ today?

Better late than never.

James Collins is pastor of Fort Scott’s First Southern Baptist Church. You can write to him at PO Box 227, Fort Scott, KS 66701 or by email at [email protected].

Government, Kansas

Larned Correctional Mental Health Faciltiy Visitations Cancelled

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Weekend Visitation and Programs Cancelled at Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility

 

Due to increased flu activity within the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility, all weekend visitation and religious programs will be cancelled at both the Central and West units for the dates of Jan. 4-5.

 

The health and safety of our inmates, staff and visitors is a top priority and we appreciate the community’s cooperation during this time. For questions regarding visitation, please call (620) 625-7658.

 

 

Kansas

KanCare Expansion

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The Alliance for a Healthy Kansas invites you to attend a luncheon on the business case for KanCare expansion with our keynote speaker Secretary of Commerce David Toland.
KanCare expansion would have a significant effect on the Kansas business community. This would help workers stay healthy and productive, generate over 13,000 new jobs, and spend millions of dollars on healthcare spending and other related services in our local communities.
Please join us on January 16th at 12 p.m. at Historic Fire Station No. 2
(719 SW Van Buren, Topeka, KS, 66603)
to learn more about this important issue. Attendees can RSVP on
Please extend the invitation to your members and encourage them to attend. Support from the business community is essential to make the case for KanCare expansion. I’ve included a few graphics you can share, if that helps.

Obituary

Obituary of Diane Fryda

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Diane Lee Fryda, age 57, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, December 31, 2019, at the Via Christi Hospital Emergency Room in Ft. Scott.

She was born April 25, 1962, in Duluth, Minnesota, the daughter of Clifford Fryda and Rosemary Ruzinsky Fryda. The family lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Floodwood, Minnesota; Watertown, South Dakota and Lincoln, Nebraska before Diane found her way to Kansas and became part of the Tri-Valley family. While with Tri-Valley, Diane worked in janitorial services at Niece. She later worked for eleven years at Pizza Hut. She loved her job at Pizza Hut and could sometimes be seen waving in the lunch crowd. In addition, she occasionally worked at the receptionist desk at Tri-Valley. Diane enjoyed reading and doing word searches as well as looking up current events and science facts on her tablet. She also enjoyed cooking and researching health-friendly recipes.

Survivors include her mother, Rosemary Fryda; three sisters, Nadine (Ron), Debbie and Candice and five brothers, Daniel (Elaine), David, Dean (Lisa), Kim (Sarah) and Paul (Corisa) and numerous nieces and nephews and friends.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 11th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Tri-Valley Developmental Center and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary

Obituary For Geraldine Frances Rainey

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Geraldine Frances Raney

Geraldine Frances Raney, age 98, a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2019, at her home in Colorado Springs.

She was born August 30, 1921, at the family home near Devon, Kansas, the daughter of Bettus F. Young and Thelma H. Simmons Young. Geraldine graduated from the Fulton High School with the Class of 1939.

She married Cecil Raney on May 31, 1941, at Little Rock, Arkansas.

Cecil and Geraldine made their home in California
for many years. While in California, Geraldine worked twenty-one years in the business office of California State Polytech University at Pomona, California.

Following the death of her husband, Geraldine moved to Colorado Springs to be near her daughter. Geraldine loved to travel and made regular trips to Kansas to visit relatives and attend school reunions.

Survivor include her daughter, Cynthia Norcross and husband, Michael, of Colorado Springs, Colorado and a grandson, Mason Lee Pedotto.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Hazel Lois Young.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct graveside services at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, January 4th at the Glendale Cemetery south of Fulton.

Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery at 12:45 P.M.

Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott.

Opinion

Toss out your worries and your leftovers by Pastor Jimmy Tucker

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The Bottom Line by Jimmy Tucker

We have a friend who jokingly said, “We think we have to refrigerate leftovers before we can throw ‘em away.“ That’s a fairly-truthful statement for some homes — but not ours. We’re pretty good at eating leftovers down to the last bite. Once in awhile the neighbor dog gets a snack, but not very often. If he had to live on what we threw out, he’d starve.

As we start off the New Year, I highly recommend you toss out something else; and that’s your worries. Some people will even admit, “Oh, that’s just what I do — I worry.“ That’s like saying, “Oh, that’s just what I do — I hurt myself.” When you worry about tomorrow, it steals your peace and joy for today and God‘s blessings for tomorrow. How many times have you worried about something that never happened? Worry doesn’t help you, so why fall into the devil’s trap and be miserable when you can choose to trust God and be blessed?

Let’s review some scriptures to help you realize how important it is to live according to God’s Word. “I tell you not to worry about everyday life…Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? …Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things… These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:25,27,30-34 NLT).

It’s a sobering fact that Christians who worry are not trusting God in that situation. A believer that worries has “little faith.” Ouch! Believers should have big faith. Instead of worry, “seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously.” Righteous living is to submit to Jesus as King and to live according to His ethics.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7 NLT).

We need to remember what God has done for us in the past and thank Him for His goodness. If God is your Father, you can be assured that He will take a father’s place and perform a father’s part.

“I cast the whole of my care [all my anxieties, all my worries, all my concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for me affectionately and cares about me watchfully (1 Peter 5:7 AMP). The definition of cast is: throw (something) forcefully in a specified direction. The Bottom Line: Cast your cares and your moldy leftovers.

Pastor Jimmy Tucker

(620) 223-1483

Diamond Community Church

2591 Jayhawk Road

10:45 a.m. Worship

Government, Kansas

State continues seeing growth in total tax receipts

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Topeka – The Kansas Department of Revenue is seeing consistent growth in total tax receipts as it goes into the second half of Fiscal Year 2020. The state saw $756.6 million in total tax collections for December; 5.4% or $38.6 million above the estimate. These collections are 10.1% or $69.7 million more than December FY19.

 

Individual income tax collections are $316.1 million; 3.3% or $10.1 million more than estimated. The largest growth compared to the estimate came from corporate income taxes at $90.7 million; 31.5% or $21.7 million more than estimated.

 

Corporate income tax collections are 30.3% or $21.1 million more than the same month last fiscal year.

 

Retail sales tax collections were $200.9 million; 0.5% or $944,000 more than estimated. Compensating use tax collections were 2.1% or $794,100 more than estimated at $38.8 million; $821,400 more than the same month in fiscal year 2019.

Fort Scott, Government

Christmas Tree Pickup Jan. 3, 10, 17 and 24

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The City of Fort Scott Public Works Department will be picking up discarded Christmas trees at no charge for City residents again this year. The pickup dates will occur on Friday, January 3rd, 2020, Friday, January 10th, 2020, Friday, January 17th, 2020, and Friday, January 24th, 2020.

The Public Works Department asks that you place the tree at the curbside off the street and call City Hall at 223-0550 with your address and name to schedule the pickup.

The discarded trees will be used to enhance fish and wildlife habitat in the City-owned water structure properties.