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Fort Scott

Diabetes Support Group at Mercy Hospital

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Submitted by Christina Rockhold, Mercy Hospital

Mercy Hospital Fort Scott will host a Diabetes Support Group on Monday, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m. in the McAuley Conference Room located on the main level near the lobby. The session topic is Managing and Reducing Risk of Long-term Complications of Diabetes.

Patty Ryan, R.N., will discuss risk reduction, symptoms to report and available treatments. The support group is open to the public. No registration is required. Light refreshments will be served. Family members are encouraged to attend as well.

To learn more about this topic or other important information regarding managing diabetes, join the Mercy Diabetes Support Group. The group meets the third Monday of every other month. The next meeting date is scheduled for November 20.

For more information, contact Patty Ryan, R.N., at 620-223-8412.

Bourbon County

Get a Soil Analysis before Applying Lawn Fertilizer

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Submitted by Krista Harding, KState Southwind Extension

September is here and that means it is prime time to fertilize your fescue lawns. Even if you faithfully fertilize in the spring, by September, fescue plants are literally starving to death.

Fescue is entering into its fall growth cycle as days shorten and temperatures moderate. Fall is the time that cool-season grasses naturally thicken up by tillering. Tillering is the term used to describe how the plant forms new shoots at the base of existing plants. Plants also build their root system for the following year in the fall. An application of fertilizer in September is put to immediate use by the plants.

However, before applying any fertilizer, I recommend that you have a soil test done. Lawn soils vary widely in pH, available phosphorus and potassium. It is very difficult to just “guess” about which nutrients are lacking and how much of each is needed. Soil testing can be done through the Extension office with a fee of $12 per sample. You will receive a detailed report that outlines your soil needs and how to fertilize accordingly. It is recommended to have a soil test every five years.

The procedure for soil testing is simple. Use a sharp shooter shovel and go straight down into the soil about four inches. Pull the soil clump up (grass and all) and knock the soil off into a bucket. Do this in about five to six locations in the lawn. In the bucket, mix the soil samples well and then randomly pull out about two cups of soil and place in a zip-lock bag and bring to one of our office locations in Erie, Iola or Fort Scott. For those living in or near Chanute, you can drop soil samples off at Breiner’s Feed Store for pick-up.

If you have not had a soil test, here is a general fescue lawn fertilizer recommendation. With a fall application, it is best to use a “quick-release” source of nitrogen. Apply 1 to 1 ½ pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. If the fertilizer analysis is 10-10-10, it is declaring that it contains 10 percent nitrogen, 10 percent phosphorus, and 10 percent potassium. So, to get the 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet using a 10-10-10 blend, you would need to apply 10 pounds of the fertilizer.

Another application of fertilizer in November should be applied to help the plants build up their food reserves for use when the grass greens up in the spring. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you can get the same results if you just waited and only fertilized in the spring. Spring-only fertilizing leads to fast growth, which means more mowing. This can also promote shallow root growth and possible summer die out.

Fall is the ideal time to renovate poor lawns. If you have an overabundance of weeds, crabgrass, etc., then you may want to consider reseeding. New lawns should also be planted in the fall.

If you would like more information on lawn fertilization, seeding or soil testing, please contact me at the Extension office.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

Obituary

Obituary: Douglas Lee Graham

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Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home
Douglas Lee Graham, age 75, a resident of rural Uniontown, Kan., passed away early Monday, August 28, 2017, at his home.  
He was born January 25, 1942, in Rocky Ford, Colo., the son of Forest Graham and Emma Jean “Jimmy” Sinding Graham.  Doug graduated from the Uniontown High School.  He married Mary Ruth Ramsey on May 27, 1962, at Uniontown, Kan.  Doug had worked for many years as a self-employed brick mason.  He enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as going to the casinos.  He also liked spending time with his grandchildren, playing bridge and feeding the wildlife around his home. 
 
Survivors include his three children, Melessa Moran and husband, Gary, of Topeka, Kan., Tracy Kipper and husband, Brian, Kansas City, Mo., and Troy Graham and wife, Laurie, of Pittsburg, Kan., and four grandchildren, Michael and Madeline Hale and Trevor and Lily Graham.  Also surviving is a brother, Danny Graham, of Uniontown and his cat, Bob.  His wife, Mary, preceded him in death on January 6, 2011.  He was also preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Richard Graham. 
 
Pastor Jeff Feagins will conduct graveside services at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, September 2, at the Uniontown Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the Cheney Witt Chapel on Saturday from 11 a.m. until service leaving for the cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the Doug Graham Memorial Fund 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: George Manous O’Neal

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Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home

George Manous O’Neal, age 92, a former resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Sunday, August 20, 2017, in Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

He was born March 8, 1925, in Cecil, Ark., the son of Jim O’Neal and Loretta Nichols O’Neal. He served with the United States Navy during World War II. George married Joy Ann Whitesell on October 31, 1959, in Nevada, Mo. George worked as Director of Public Utilities for the City of Fort Scott for 32 years. Following his retirement from the City, George was employed for 10 years by Key Industries. George was a member of the Community of Christ Church. He had also been a member of the Fort Scott Kiwanis Club and the Masonic Lodge. He had been made an Honorary Deputy of the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department.

Survivors include his wife Joy and his son, Larry O’Neal and wife, Teresa, all of Ohio. Also surviving are three grandchildren, April Kennard and husband, Kevin, Mandy Hobbs and husband, Josh, and Stacy Julian and husband, Justin, and eight great-grandchildren, Nate Elliot, Josh Lyons, Kaitlyn and Jackson Kennard, Jocelyn, Jaclyn, Jackson and Jamison Julian. He was preceded in death by his parents, two half-brothers, Wayne “Jake” Knowles and Jim O’Neal II and a granddaughter, Erin Lyons.

Funeral services will be conducted by Elders Robert and Kathy Clark at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday August 29, 2017, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Visitation will be held from 12:30 p.m. to service time at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Eldorado Springs City Cemetery, Eldorado, Mo. Memorial contributions may be given to Care to Share 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.

Bourbon County

KState Extension: Storage Methods to Reduce Hay Loss

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Submitted by Christopher Petty, KState Extension Office

According to University of Nebraska Extension Specialist Bruce Anderson, hay stored outside will be damaged by rain, snow, wind and ice this fall and winter. The average round bale loses about one fourth of its original nutrients during storage, but these losses can be reduced to less than 10 percent or so. Now, I’m sure you are better than average. Still, let’s look at ways to reduce spoilage by storing that extra valuable hay more carefully this year.

For instance, do you usually line up bales for easy access so the twine sides touch each other? Or do you stack your bales? If so, extra spoilage will occur where these bales touch because rain, snow and ice will gather in spots where bales touch instead of running off. Round bales butted end-to-end, cigar-like, usually have less spoilage.

Does snow drift around your bales? Bales placed in east-west rows often have drifts on the south side. Hay next to fencelines or trees can get extra snow. As snow melts it soaks into bales or makes the ground muddy. Plus, the north side never gets any sun, so it’s slow to dry. This year, line your bales up north-and-south for fewer drifts and faster drying as sunlight and prevailing winds hit both sides of the row.

Most important is the bottom of your bales. Always put bales on higher, well-drained ground so water drains away from them. Keep them out of terrace bottoms or other low spots. If necessary, use crushed rock, railroad ties or even pallets to elevate bales to keep the bottoms dry. This also will reduce problems getting to your hay or getting it moved due to snow drifts or mud. Just a little pre-planning can save lots of hay and frustrations.

For information on testing your hay for nutrient quality, contact Southwind Extension District Livestock Production and Forage Management Agent Christopher Petty at 620-223- 3720 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Fort Scott

Celebrate the Privilege and Power of Work at Historic Site Labor Day Weekend

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Submitted by Fort Scott National Historic Site

President Theodore Roosevelt said “It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.” Another author stated that the “privilege to work is a gift, the power to work is a blessing, and that the love of work is success.” While the soldiers at Fort Scott in the 1840s might not have necessarily loved their work, they did labor to build a fort that its architect considered “the Crack Post of the Frontier.”

From September 2 through 4, 2017, Fort Scott NHS will commemorate Labor Day weekend with artillery, horses, music, living history demonstrations and a variety of interpretive programs. The thunder of artillery will sound each day that weekend at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. A short program explaining how the gun is fired accompanies each artillery demonstration. Other programs offered throughout the weekend are guided tours at 1 p.m. and a flag retreat ceremony at 4 p.m. each day.

Programs offered just on Saturday include a musical program at 2 p.m. by 9 Mile March, a local group that performs folk music using instruments such as the banjo and mandolin. At noon, a park ranger examines the weapons of the soldiers at Fort Scott, which will be followed by a horseback demonstration at 12:30 p.m.

Additionally on Saturday, living history interpreters will be cooking in the mess hall and baking bread in the bakehouse. An interpretive program about the bakehouse will be offered at 10 a.m. At one living history station, a volunteer will be teaching people about women’s clothing worn during the time. Different pieces like a chemise, corset and dresses will be laid out, so that people can see them up close and can learn how they were used. You might even have the opportunity to try on a corset. This station will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day.

On Sunday, September 3, in the program “A Stain That Will Never Bleach Out in the Sun,” Park Rangers Robert Thomas and Gary Herrmann will square off against each other as they take on the roles of two protagonists involved in the Marais des Cygnes Massacre, each with an opposing viewpoint. Also on Sunday, Park Guide Roger Behrend looks at the medical practices of the 1840s in the program “To Bleed or Not to Bleed.”

On Monday, there will be a special Labor Day tour, “From the Crack Post of the Frontier.” This tour will focus on the labor force, building materials, architectural styles and construction techniques used in the building of Fort Scott. There will also be a demonstration of 1840s drumming and a program about the letters of Thomas and Charlotte Swords. Captain Swords was the architect of Fort Scott and oversaw its construction.

Fort Scott National Historic Site is one of 417 units of the National Park Service. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Following is the schedule of activities for the weekend.

Saturday, September 2nd

10:00 a.m. “Flour, Sweat, and Tears”: 1840s Bakehouse Program

11:00 a.m. Thunder Wagon: 1840s Artillery Demo

12:00 p.m. “Tools of War: The Weapons of the Soldiers at Fort Scott”

12:30 p.m. “Spurs and Saddles”-Mounted Demonstration

1:00 p.m. Guided Tour

2:00 p.m. “9 Mile March” Musical Performance by Don Parsons and Randy Glessner

3:00 p.m. Thunder Wagon: 1840s Artillery Demo

4:00 p.m. Flag Retreat

Sunday, September 3rd

11:00 a.m. Thunder Wagon: 1840s Artillery Demo

11:30 a.m. “Spurs and Saddles”-Mounted Demonstration

12:00 p.m. “To Bleed or Not to Bleed” – Frontier Medicine of the 1840s

1:00 p.m. Guided Tour

2:00 p.m. “A Stain That Will Never Bleach Out in the Sun” – Two Stories of the Marais des Cygnes Massacre: Hairgrove vs. Hamilton

3:00 p.m. Thunder Wagon: 1840s Artillery Demo

4:00 p.m. Flag Retreat

Monday, September 4th

11:00 a.m. Thunder Wagon: 1840s Artillery Demo

12:00 p.m. “The Tongue is More Useful than the Arrow” – Letters of Thomas and Charlotte Swords

1:00 p.m. “Crack Post of the Frontier” -Guided Tour-Construction History of Fort Scott

2:00 p.m. 1840s Drummer Boy: Military Drumming Demonstration

3:00 p.m. Thunder Wagon: 1840s Artillery Demo

4:00 p.m. Flag Retreat

Fort Scott

Free Bumps and Bruises Clinic for School Athletes

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Mercy Fort Scott Sports Medicine will offer free evaluations of student athlete injuries at the Saturday morning Bumps and Bruise Clinic. The clinic will begin on Saturday, September 2, at 7 a.m. and continue each Saturday morning through the fall sports season.

Athletes will be seen in Mercy Health for Life on a first come, first serve basis. Mercy’s Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner Greg King will conduct the clinic.

High school and middle school athletes injured during an accredited athletic event may have their injury assessed at the clinic. If the athlete is under 18 years old, a parent or legal guardian must accompany them for permission to treat.

Appointments are not necessary, however it is recommended to arrive early to allow adequate time for treatment. If necessary, diagnostic services are available on site and will be billed to the Athlete’s insurance.

For more information about the free Bumps and Bruises Clinic or to make an appointment for sports massage, call Mercy Health for Life at 620-223- 7073.

Bourbon County

Southwind 4-H Members Excel at Livestock Sweepstakes Contests

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Submitted by: Carla Nemecek, Southwind Extension District Director

4-H members from the Southwind Extension District excelled at the annual Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes event August 1-20 in Kansas State University’s Weber Hall.

Photo Credit: KState Extension. (From left to right): Carla Nemecek, Southwind District Director & Coach; Haydon Schaaf, Gavin Fry, Ryann Allison, Clay Brillhart, Brody Nemecek, Jillian Keller, Danielle Nading and John Emmerson.

Participants from the Southwind Extension District were John Emmerson, Danielle Nading, Ryann Allison, Jillian Keller, Clay Brillhart, Haydon Schaaf, Brody Nemecek, Kolby Seested and Gavin Fry representing 4-H Clubs from Allen and Bourbon Counties.

4-H members gained new knowledge and worked on livestock skills in order to be competitive in the Sweepstakes event which consisted of four contests. Southwind Extension District completed the weekend by being named the 2017 Reserve Champion Kansas State 4-H Sweepstakes Team. Top ten individual Sweepstakes winners for Southwind were John Emmerson, 7th; Haydon Schaaf, 5th; and Gavin Fry 4th.

The Livestock Quiz Bowl started with a qualifying exam. The eight teams with the highest average scores advanced to the quiz bowl competition. Southwind #1 (Seested, Fry, Schaaf, Nemecek) was seeded first after the test and was later named the Champion Quiz Bowl team after the head-to-head matches. Southwind #2 (Nading, Keller, Brillhart, Allison) also scored well on the quiz and advanced to the competition, but lost to the Sunflower District in the first round.

The Livestock Judging contest consisted of nine judging classes and four sets of reasons. Southwind #1 (Emmerson, Nading, Fry, Seested) was 4th in Sheep/Goats; 2nd in Swine; 5th in Cattle and 2nd in Reasons and named Reserve High Team Overall. Southwind #2 (Brillhart, Schaaf, Keller, Nemecek) was 1st in Sheep/Goats; 4th in Swine; 3rd in Reasons and named 3rd Team Overall. Individually, Clay Brillhart was 5th in Sheep/Goats; Gavin Fry was 8th in Reasons; Jillian Keller was 4th in Sheep/Goats; Brody Nemecek was 1st in Sheep/Goats, 3rd in Reasons, and 8th Overall; Danielle Nading was 10th in Swine and 18th Individual Overall; and John Emmerson was 2nd in Sheep/Goats, 1st in Swine, 3rd in Cattle, 4th in Reasons, and High Individual Overall. As the Reserve State Champion Livestock Judging Team, Southwind District will represent Kansas 4-H at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo. next January.

The Meats Judging contest was based on identification of 30 retail cuts, six placings classes and three sets of reasons. Haydon Schaaf was named 2nd in Retail ID and 5th Individual Overall; Gavin Fry was 7th Individual. Southwind #1 (Schaaf, Fry, Seested, Nemecek) was 2nd in Reasons, 2nd in Retail ID and 3rd Team Overall.

In the Livestock Skillathon, 4-H members rotated individually through stations that addressed six areas of animal science. Those included feedstuffs, breed identification, equipment identification, meat identification and a written test. There was also a team component where members worked together on judging a class of keep/cull meat goat does, reading a medicine label, and determining body condition scoring of breeding gilts. Individually John Emmerson was 9th Overall and Gavin Fry was 6th Overall. As a team, Southwind #2 (Emmerson, Fry, Seested, Nemecek) was 4th in Exam, 3rd in Practicum and 2nd Overall. Southwind #2 (Nading, Schaaf, Keller, Brillhart) was 4th Team Overall.

Having fun while learning was part of the weekend! In addition to the Call Hall ice cream social, team members caught up with old friends and made new ones.

Photo caption:  Nine 4-H members had the opportunity to represent the Southwind Extension District at the annual Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes at Kansas State University. Their skills and knowledge were challenged by participating in Livestock & Meats Judging, Livestock Quiz Bowl and Livestock Skillathon contests. Those attending were (from left to right): Carla Nemecek, Southwind District Director & Coach; Haydon Schaaf, Gavin Fry, Ryann Allison, Clay Brillhart, Brody Nemecek, Jillian Keller, Danielle Nading and John Emmerson.

 

Fort Scott

Community Foundation Continues to Accept Grant Applications

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Submitted by Patty LaRoche

The 2017/2018 grant applications for the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation are due by August 29.

2016 Grant Recipients

Nonprofits such as churches, governmental entities or organizations with a 501c3 status are encouraged to apply. Applications are available on the FSACF website or may be picked up in person at the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall.

Acceptance and declination letters will be mailed on Tuesday, October 24. Grants will be awarded at the Foundation’s Chamber Coffee held in the Landmark Bank lobby at Third and Main at 8 a.m. on Thursday, November 2.

Fort Scott

Fort Scott Cemetery Celebrates 5th Annual Wreath Ride

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Event benefits the local mission of Wreaths Across America to Remember, Honor, Teach

Submitted by Kevin Wagner

This Saturday, a local fundraising group for national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) will host a motorcycle ride in support of the organization’s mission. The 5th Annual Fort Scott Wreath Ride will raise money to sponsor fresh balsam wreaths that will be placed on veterans’ headstones at the cemetery this December.

The Annual Wreath Ride is the local WAA fundraising group’s biggest event of the year. Last year, the Wreath Ride consisted of 184 motorcycles, raising enough money to sponsor 3,600 wreaths – covering more than half of the 5,600 headstones at Fort Scott Cemetery.

“The Wreath Ride started as an effort to raise awareness for our mission, and has grown into one of the biggest events of the year in our community,” said Kevin Wagner, WAA local volunteer coordinator for Fort Scott Cemetery. “Every year, we are able to sponsor more wreaths than the last – our goal this year is to raise enough money to honor every veteran buried here.”

The Wreath Ride will take place on Saturday, August 26, at 11 a.m. and will begin at Buck Run Community Center in Fort Scott, Kan. Registration is open 9 – 10:30 a.m., kickstands up at 11 a.m. All proceeds from the event go toward wreath sponsorships – every $15 donated sponsors one wreath that will be placed at Fort Scott Cemetery on National Wreaths Across America Day – Saturday, December 16.

“Each donation is a meaningful gift from a Wreath Ride participant or supporter who knows what it means to serve and sacrifice for the freedoms we all enjoy,” said Karen Worcester, executive director of WAA. “We are so grateful to the community of Fort Scott for hosting this event and for continuing to spread our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach.”

The event is sponsored by dozens of locally-based businesses, including Joplin, Missouri-based truckload carrier, CFI. CFI donated money toward Wreath Ride apparel and will send employee representatives as well as the company’s military-branded trailer to the event.

“The Wreaths Across America mission speaks volumes to us as a company,” said Tim Staroba, president of CFI. “Many of our drivers are veterans themselves, and they appreciate the opportunity to be involved in the national effort to remember our nation’s heroes every holiday season, and year-round.”

For more information about the 5th Annual Wreath Ride, or to participate, please visit www.FortScottWreathRide.com.

National Wreaths Across America Day is a free event, open to all. For more information, to donate or to sign up to volunteer, please visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

Fort Scott

FSCC Announces Boards & Bites Event

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Submitted by Heather Browne, FSCC

Fort Scott Community College will host the Boards & Bites painting class from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, August 29, in the Student Union, located in Bailey Hall, 2108 South Horton, Fort Scott.

An instructor will show participants how to create fall-themed décor for their homes. The cost is $20 per person and includes a treat, refreshments and painting supplies. Space is limited for this event. To preregister, contact Kassie Fugate-Cate, FSCC Admissions Representative, at [email protected] or 620-223-2700, ext. 3530.

Fort Scott

Mercy Health Foundation to Receive Check from Modern Woodmen of America

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Submitted by Tina Rockhold, Mercy Hospital

The Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott will receive a $2,000 matching fund checks from the Modern Woodmen of America on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 10 a.m. in the Mercy Hospital main lobby.

Jolynne Mitchell and Scott Gander from Modern Woodmen will present the check to Mercy Health Foundation Board Members and Hit the Bricks event planners Jared Leek, Jessica Schenkel and Darcy Smith.

The $2,000 was pledged in May to the foundation by the Modern Woodmen of America as a corporate sponsorship for the Hit the Bricks Wine Stroll, Art Walk and Blane Howard Concert. In the sponsorship agreement, the Mercy Health Foundation needed to net a minimum of $2,000 in event proceeds to receive the matching $2,000.

Proceeds from the Hit the Bricks event totaled $11,883 prior to the $2,000 check to be presented by the Modern Wooden of America.

The Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which raises money and community awareness for Mercy Hospital. It is dependent on the support of individuals, corporations and foundations to help Mercy meet community health care needs. Mercy Health Foundation invests its philanthropic support in facilities and the advancement of technologies and programs to enhance Mercy’s ability to provide excellence in health care.

To make a donation, please visit https://secure3.4agoodcause.com/mercy-health-foundations/gift.aspx?id=1 or call the Mercy Health Foundation office at 620-223-8094.