FSCC Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Inducts New Students
The Fort Scott Community College Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (Alpha Theta Omega Chapter) inducted 33 new students during a candle lighting ceremony on Friday, April 7, at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.
Students inducted this semester include: Mariah Aebersold, Heather Bahr, Adam Biby, Thomas Boatwright, Taylor Brecheisen, Mataya Cook, Rilie Creollo, Leslie Damian, Jordyn Danzer, Dustin Erikson, Madison Gray, Justin Grigsby, Sirr Green, Tyler Henninger, Heather Huesman, Genna Hull, Sarah Kelley, Keyshla Laureano Perez, Cristin Lowry, Allie Martin, Lindsey McNeil, Nathan Miller, Rachel Newquist, Nguyen Hannah Pham, Erica Pinneo, Emmah Reeves, Alexandria Rooks, Carla Salas, Mason Skiles, Lauren Sluder, Kyle Smith, Kirstie Williams and Barrett Young.
“We are pleased to welcome our new Phi Theta Kappa members this spring,” said Susie Arvidson, FSCC Director of Library Services and Phi Theta Kappa Advisor. “Over the past year, the members and officers have worked diligently to grow the organization and in turn were very successful. We look forward to the coming year as we strive for excellence and growth as individuals and as a group.”
Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society, recognizes the academic achievements of two-year college students. Students who have completed 12 credit hours and earned a 3.5 GPA or higher are invited to join Phi Theta Kappa. For more information, please call Susie Arvidson at 620-223-2700, ext. 3441.
Photo caption—Pictured from left to right: Nguyen Hannah Pham, Keyshla Laureano Perez, Heather Bahr, Genna Hull, Cristin Lowry, Lauren Sluder, Sarah Kelley, Jordyn Danzer, Rachel Newquist and Dustin Erikson.
FSCC Women’s Appreciation Luncheon slated for Apr. 26
Fort Scott Community College will host the annual Women’s Appreciation Luncheon 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.
The luncheon menu includes chicken salad croissant sandwiches, soup, salad, gourmet cookies and refreshments. In addition to lunch, the popular event will offer free gifts, door prizes, musical entertainment and product displays from local businesses. The event will showcase a variety of businesses including AdvoCare, All About That Xyng, Bids & Dibs, Black Dogs Farm, Custom Jewelry, FSCC Cosmetology (manicures), Gold Canyon, Hartman Spine and Joint, LipSense, Locust Hill Lamanchas, LuLaRoe, Mercy Hospital, Premier Designs Jewelry, Prüvit, Rodan + Fields, Taylor’s Lamps and Such, Thirty-One Gifts, Young Living Essential Oils, Younique and more.
Tickets are $6 per person. Attendees who purchase five tickets by April 25 will receive one ticket free. For more information or to reserve a seat, please call 620-223-2700.
This is the final week before the Kansas legislature adjourns for a three-week long break, during which the governor signs off on or vetoes the bills passed this session. We will return for veto session May 1.
Kansas House Fights for KPERS
On Thursday [April 7], the House and Senate passed Senate Sub for Sub HB 2052, a rescission bill that essentially fixed the budget for the current fiscal year. The current budget was in a deficit of $290 million. Fiscal year 2017 ends June 30.
The House stood its ground on this bill to ensure that the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS) was fully funded through the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017. The budget passed by the legislature and signed by the governor in 2016 had not made full payments to the retirement system.
As a result of the House position standing firm for working Kansans, an additional $86 million was appropriated to KPERS and payments will be made through the fourth quarter of FY 2017.
HB 2319: An act concerning abortion; relating to the woman’s-right-to-know act, relating to certain physician information to be disclosed.
HB 2391: An act concerning driving; relating to driving under the influence and other driving offenses; authorized restrictions of driving privileges, ignition interlock device; expungement of convictions and diversions.
SB 55: An act concerning public construction contracts; relating to performance and payment bonds; Kansas fairness in public construction.
SB 149: An act concerning the attorney general; relating to briefs in a criminal matter or post-conviction case in the supreme court or court of appeals; legal representation charges; legal services; creating the attorney general’s state agency representation fund.
HB 2360: An act concerning the administration of the state employee health benefits plan; creating the division of state employee health benefits plan in the department of administration.
H Sub for SB 70: An act concerning amusement rides; relating to the Kansas amusement ride act.
SB 184: An act establishing the Kansas intelligence fusion center act.
Sub HB 2230: An act concerning property taxation; relating to exemptions, property owned by a redevelopment authority and located in a redevelopment district within a former federal enclave.
HB 2279: An act concerning courts; relating to disposition of failure to comply with a traffic citation reinstatement fees; judicial branch nonjudicial salary adjustment fund.
I look forward to continuing to work for you and Kansas when we come back May 1. Until then, please take care. It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I both value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 50-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at (785) 296-7698 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. Additionally, you can e-mail me at [email protected]. You can also follow the legislative session online at www.kslegislature.org.
Linda June Harris Vann, age 69, a resident of Fort Scott, Kans., went into glory to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 1, 2017.
She was born March 24, 1948, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Ray Hugh Harris and Cleta Mae Graham Harris. Linda graduated from the Fort Scott High School in 1967. Immediately out of high school, Linda began a career with Mercy Hospital. She started as an aide and later worked as a ward clerk. She retired in March of 2010 after 43 years of service. She married Harry Glenn Vann on August 29, 1974, at Miami, Okla. Linda enjoyed sports, reading, bowling, fishing and traveling. She was also an avid Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs fan. She formerly attended the Mt. Olive Church of God in Christ and was currently a member of the Diamond Community Church.
Survivors include her three sons, Monty Vann, of Atlanta, Ga., and Gregory and Jonathan Vann, both of Fort Scott; four grandchildren, Elijah Wright, Ezekiel, Daniel and Violet Vann, all of Fort Scott. Also surviving are three brothers, Leon Harris of New Mexico, Eugene Harris of Los Angeles, Calif., and Roger Harris of New York, N.Y.; and four sisters including her twin, Glenda Harris of Fort Scott, Deborah Nelson of Fort Scott, Rotena Gray of Denver, Colo., and Hattie Wright of Olathe, Kans. Her husband, Glenn, preceded her in death on May 8, 2010. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, William Graham, Buford Harris, and Donald Drake, and a sister, Phyllis Mason.
Elder Roger Harris, assisted by Rev. Jimmy Tucker, will conduct funeral services at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Linda Vann Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Valeta Myrtle Kerr, age 89, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Friday, April 7, 2017, at the Medicalodge of Ft. Scott.
She was born October 5, 1927, in Garden City, Mo., the daughter of Samuel and Myrtle King. She first married Benjamin Hicks. He preceded her in death, and she then married Forrest Kerr. He also preceded her in death. Valeta had worked as a receptionist for Social and Rehabilitation Services in Arkansas. She enjoyed gardening and sewing. She was a member of the Community Christian Church.
Survivors include a sons, Larry Hicks and wife, Jessie, of Fort Scott, Brent Kerr and wife, Leona, of Van Buren, Ark., Tom Kerr and wife, Deborah, of Excelsior Springs, Mo., and Jim Kerr and wife, Emily, of St. Louis, Mo.; a sister, Leota Bradford of Shawnee Mission, Kans.; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by an infant son, David Hicks; two sisters and a brother.
Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 14, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday from 10 a.m. until service time at the chapel. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kans. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
The most expensive items in the produce section are berries. The cost of berries can be overcome by growing them yourself. Learn how at the second program of the “Grow It – Prepare It” series – Growing Berries, on Thursday, April 13, at 6 p.m. at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.
This program will give homeowners tips on growing strawberries and blackberries. Planting techniques, fertility, pruning and harvesting will all be covered. For more information on this program and to register, please contact the Southwind Extension District at 620-223- 3720.
If you have wanted to lose weight, or maintain your current weight, consider joining Weight Watchers.
On Wednesday, April 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott’s Concetta Room, Weight Watchers will host a public open house.
No pre-registration or fee is required for this come-and-go event. Participants can sample Weight Watchers food, view products, learn more about the program, hear success stories and register to win door prizes. If someone likes what they see at the open house, they might consider joining the group.
Weight Watchers holds weekly meetings on Wednesdays at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. Weight-ins are from 11:30 a.m. – noon, followed by a meeting from noon – 12:30 p.m. A Weight Watchers monthly pass is required to attend the ongoing meeting.
“Weight Watchers offers a holistic approach to weight loss,” said Jana Dalrymple, Weight Watchers leader. “Participants benefit from the support group-like setting and proven techniques that motivate and encourage healthy weight loss and long-term success.”
For more details about Weight Watchers at Mercy, call Mary Wynn, Mercy Infection Prevention and Employee Health nurse at 223-2200 ext 2198.
Infant Loss Remembrance Service
If you or your family has been impacted by pregnancy loss or the loss of an infant shortly after birth, Mercy wants to offer you a time for reflection and comfort.
You are invited to come find support and healing at an Infant Loss Remembrance Service on Saturday, April 22, at 2 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Cemetery located west of Fort Scott on Locust Road. Anyone in the community or surrounding area who has suffered this type of loss is welcome to attend.
Our time together will include a short service and time of prayer, plus a balloon release with opportunity for participants to write messages to those children being remembered.
In case of rain, the service will be moved to Mercy Hospital’s McAuley Conference Center.
For more information, contact Mercy Chaplain Tyler Whipkey at 620-223-8481.
HB 2273: an act concerning consumer protection; relating to the Kansas no-call act; restricting use of automatic dialing-announcing devices.
SB 36: an act concerning the state corporation commission; relating to motor carriers, definitions, registration.
HB 2047: an act concerning the office of inspector general.
HB 2306: an act concerning the Kansas sexually violent predator act; relating to examinations; transitional release; conditional release.
SB 112: an act concerning crimes, punishment and criminal procedure; relating to evidence; videotaping of certain felony, custodial interrogations; domestic battery; creating the crime of aggravated domestic battery; controlled substances; unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia; burglary; expungement; arrest records.
H Sub for SB 40: an act concerning human trafficking and related crimes; creating the crimes of unlawful use of communication facility, promoting travel for child exploitation, internet trading in child pornography and aggravated internet trading in child pornography; relating to training for commercial driver’s license applicants; sexual exploitation of a child; buying sexual relations; commercial sexual exploitation of a child; offender registration; expungement of juvenile adjudications; victim compensation.
Sub SB 74: an act concerning persons needing assistance with cognition; relating to motor vehicle, placards, identification cards; state-issued identification cards and driver’s licenses.
H Sub SB 101: an act concerning crime victims; relating to protection orders; protection from abuse act; protection from stalking act; sexual assault evidence collection examinations and parental notification; the crime victim’s compensation board and claims for compensation.
SB 124: an act concerning the care of children; relating to the Kansas family law code; child custody, residency and parenting time; evidence of domestic abuse; relating to the revised Kansas code for the care of children; rules of evidence; admissibility of certain test results.
HB 2319: an act concerning abortion; relating to the women’s-right-to-know act; relating to certain physician information to be disclosed.
Medicaid Expansion Bill
Two weeks ago, the Kansas House passed a Medicaid expansion bill that would help cover more than 150,000 Kansans without insurance and aid our numerous hospitals and clinics whose budgets have been slashed multiple times over the last few years.
This week, the bill hit the Senate floor with the Medicaid expansion amendment, and passed. The bill was sent to Governor Brownback, who vetoed the expansion bill on Thursday morning.
The veto brought the Medicaid expansion bill back to the House floor later Thursday morning, where a debate ensued over whether to override the veto. In the end, the bill was tabled until likely next week. This means the debate will continue and the vote will occur when it’s reintroduced on the floor.
The bill was pulled from the table Monday morning. The override fell short by three votes with an 81-44 tally. It appears working poor Kansans will go another year without health care coverage, leaving the burden on those of us with insurance or the medical facilities that treat them. Our federal income taxes will continue to be spent in other states while Kansas will see more hospitals close.
We will have another newsletter out at the end of the week to wrap up 1st adjournment. The legislature will be out of session from April 7, thru May 1.
It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I both value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 50-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at (785) 296-7698 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. Additionally, you can e-mail me at [email protected]. You can also follow the legislative session online at www.kslegislature.org.
Lewis Edson Farra, Jr., age 75, resident of Ft. Scott, Kans., went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, April 3, 2017, at Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott.
He was born on December 11, 1941, in Phoenixville, Pa., the son of Lewis Edson Farra, Sr. and Ferne Elizabeth Swisher Farra. He served our country in the United States Air Force. He married Pauline Shelton on December 19, 1964, in Bronson, Kans. Lewis worked as a diesel mechanic for a heavy equipment company. This later included traveling to do his work. He then worked as a tool salesman and later worked for Dayco in Fort Scott. In his younger days, he liked to hunt and fish. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening and raising fruit trees. He supported his children and all their athletic activities as they went through school. He was a great role model for his kids. Known as “Pappy” to his grandchildren, he read them stories with an occasional embellishment. When in Villanova, Pa., he attended the Old Gulf Mills Congregational Church. He was a member of the Ft. Scott Church of the Nazarene.
Survivors include his wife Pauline of the home; children L. Jeffrey Farra, Castle Rock, Colo., Cassie Jo Farra Vano and husband Michael, Hot Springs, Ark., and David R. Farra and wife Bernadette, DeSoto, Kans.; a brother, Norman K. Farra and wife Linda, Oxford, Pa.; a sister, Imogene M. Stremme and husband Bob, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.; a brother-in- law, John R. Shelton and wife Martha, Drexel, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Danielle, Jessica, Tyler, Emma, Anna, Nick and Zachary; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother-in-law, Charles L. Shelton; a sister-in-law, Linda L. Shelton; and a nephew, Brian Shelton.
Pastor Virgil Peck will conduct services at 10 a.m. Friday, April 7, at the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene. Burial will follow in the Moran Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the United States Air Force Honor Guard. Memorials are suggested to either Fort Scott or Uniontown FFA or Care to Share, and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Allen Laverne Sather, age 84, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Monday, April 3, 2017, at his home.
He was born September 2, 1932, in Shell Lake, Wis., the son of Ephraim and Inga Solie Sather. He married Donna Hefter on June 27, 1953, in Shell Lake. He purchased his first farm at the age of 18. He farmed until he began selling insurance. Everything he did in work was centered on helping people. Allen enjoyed bowling, golfing, fishing, camping and spending time with his family. He played board games and card games with his children and grandchildren. He also played guitar and enjoyed sing-a-longs with the kids. He had a gift of making people laugh. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife Donna of the home; children Sherrie Clark, Fort Scott, Ron Sather and wife Donna, Cottage Grove, Minn., Rick Sather and wife Jane, Shell Lake, Wis., Rhonda Ankrum and husband Floyd, Baldwin, Wis., Terri Bradley and husband Mark, Arlington, Texas, and Jim Sather and wife Chris, Fort Scott; a brother, John Sather and wife Mae, Willmar, Minn.; 16 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; two nieces and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
There was cremation. Vicar Michael Apfel will conduct memorial services at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Scott. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 Wednesday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Trinity Lutheran Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Carol Jean Bradley, age 74, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kans., went to home to her Lord, on Saturday, April 1, 2017.
She was born June 9, 1942, in Pawhuska, Okla., the daughter of James Otto Stephenson and Verbel Viola King Stephenson. She married Charles B. Bradley on June 9, 1960, at the Grace Baptist Tabernacle in Fort Scott. In earlier years, Jean had worked for Campbell’s Laundry and for the Western Insurance Company. She was a long-time member of the Grace Baptist Tabernacle.
Survivors include her husband, Charles, of the home; a son, David Eugene Bradley and wife, Jonna, of Springfield, Mo., and a daughter, Kay Payne, of Fort Scott; five grandchildren, Wesley Payne and wife, Courtney, of Pittsburg, Kans., Geoff Payne, of Ft. Myers, Florida, and Benjamin, Erica and Jessica Bradley, all of Springfield; and five great-grandchildren, Lexi, Aaron, Syvhara, Oliviette and Naomi. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Betty Russell and Nadiene Bennett and an infant brother, Lowell Louis Stephenson.
Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct funeral services at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at the Grace Baptist Tabernacle. Burial will follow in the Prescott Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 1 p.m. until service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Grace Baptist Tabernacle and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS.
Mercy is committed to supporting charitable organizations and activities consistent with our mission to improve the health and quality of life in the communities we serve. Just one way that Mercy does so is by donating money to sponsor a multitude of annual events or organization’s efforts to promote health and wellness.
In order to better serve the organizations which submit sponsorship/donation requests, Mercy has introduced a new online sponsorship application system.
To be considered for funding from Mercy between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018, all organizations seeking charitable support are asked to complete the online application at www.mercy.net/sponsorships.
The deadline to apply is June 1, 2017. Recipients will be notified by email after July 1, 2017.
To create your organization’s online proposal, you will first need to create an account by logging on to www.mercy.net/sponsorships. Note that the application will require a W-9, and Federal Tax ID number or a Social Security number to submit.
“The application review committee looks forward to receiving proposals and learning more about your organization’s plans to use funds to further our mission among the people you serve,” said Tina Rockhold, Community Relations Manager and Philanthropy Director. “We strongly encourage your organization’s members to think ahead for the next 14 months and submit applications for programs they foresee having funding needs through June of 2018.”
Orthopedic Care
Two Sisters of Mercy arrived in Fort Scott in 1886 with the intent to operate a school. Instead, Rev. Francis J. Watron had determined that the community was in desperate need of a hospital. So, Sister Theresa Dolan and Sister Mary Delores Drew began immediate oversight of a 10-bed hospital.
“Today is no different,” said Reta Baker, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott president. “We continue to shape services and programs by our community’s needs. Since opening our doors, Mercy has focused on offering the health care needs that fit the populations we serve.”
Mercy Clinic Fort Scott is pleased to announce that through collaboration with Ortho Four States, Mercy nurse practitioner Greg King will continue to provide clinic for orthopedic evaluations, joint injections, sports medicine treatment, fracture casting and care, as well as Mercy Hospital Emergency Department coverage.
Submitted by Mercy Hospital
In January, it was determined due to low volumes in orthopedics and outmigration for surgery cases, the orthopedic surgical service line was no longer sustainable under Mercy’s operation.
The arrangement allows Mercy patients access to skilled orthopedic care and the coordination for further care at another site, if necessary. King will also make referrals to specialists for orthopedic surgery at the location of the patient’s choice.
“For years, Mercy Fort Scott has coordinated with Mercy and non-Mercy providers to bring highly-skilled specialty care not often found at smaller, rural communities to the patients in our service area,” Baker explained. “Other specialties falling into this category include allergy, cardiac and thoracic surgery, cardiology, neurology, oncology, and urology.”
For more information or to make an appointment with Greg King, Mercy APRN, call Mercy Clinic Fort Scott at 620-223- 8064.
Vaccinations
On March 11, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 70 confirmed cases of mumps throughout multiple counties in the state. Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus and typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite, followed by swollen salivary glands. Vaccinations significantly reduce the chances of a person acquiring mumps and limit the spread of the disease.
“Vaccines are our number one resource in health promotion and disease prevention,” Kim Burns, Mercy APRN-FNP- c. “Keeping your children up to date with their immunizations keeps your child, and everyone around them, safer from preventable disease.”
It’s important that parents and guardians be well-informed about how and where to get children under the age of 19 years vaccinated to avoid costly, out-of- pocket expenses,” Burns added.
Mercy Clinics in Fort Scott, Arma and Pleasanton, as well as Mercy Convenient Care, are enrolled in the federally funded Vaccines for Children Program, known as VFC. VFC provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay.
For example, a child insured through KanCare (T19), underinsured (commercial insurance that does not cover immunizations), Native Americans and children with no insurance coverage (self pay) will qualify to receive their shots free of charge at a clinic that offers VFC benefits. All vaccinations for children, even those younger than school age, are eligible for VFC coverage.
Although all Mercy Clinics in Bourbon, Crawford and Linn Counties are registered with the VFC program, not all clinics are so it is recommended to ask non-Mercy providers if they offer VFC benefits prior to receiving vaccinations. The immunizations, if not covered by insurance or VFC, could cost between $130 and $140 per dose. Children’s immunization that are self-pay will be charged a minimal-cost injection fee, but not the full cost of the dose.
In addition to reducing the spread of mumps, all public schools require that students supply an immunization record and that all vaccinations are up to date.
Vaccinations are recommended for patients based on age and vaccination history. Please talk with your health care provider to learn more about which shots your child may need for the coming school year.
Bereavement and Grief Support Group
If you have experienced the loss of a loved one and need support, you may find comfort among Mercy’s Bereavement and Grief Support Group.
Mercy Hospice will offer an eight week bereavement and grief support group at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott on Wednesdays 2-3 p.m. beginning April 5, through May 24.
The support group is open to anyone who has experienced loss of a loved one, regardless of hospice care or affiliation. Each week, professionals will share topics to assist participants on their journey to dealing with the loss.
Although attendance is not mandatory at all sessions, it is highly recommended. Enrollment will close after April 19.
For more information and meeting location, please contact Melissa George, Mercy Hospice Chaplain, at 620-223-8533.
Submitted by Chris Petty, K-State Extension Office
Springtime rains bring lush grasses to farm fields and ranch lands. Unfortunately, as the temperatures begin to inch up, so do pasture weeds. Serecia Lespedeza, Blackberries and Broomsedge (commonly known as poverty grass) are three common Southeast Kansas weeds.
To learn how to control these three weeds, join K-State Research and Extension Southwind District on April 18, in the Neosho County Courthouse basement meeting room in Erie, Kan.
K-State Research and Extension Area Agronomist Dr. Doug Shoup will be on hand to explain recommended treatment and control methods.
A $10 registration fee, payable at the door, will cover meal and materials. Pre-registrations are required by April 18, for an accurate meal count. To be included, call the Extension Office in Erie, Kansas at (620)244-3826.
Gardening 101 Program Set for April 6
Submitted by Krista Harding, K-State Extension Office
The first program of the “Grow It – Prepare It” series – Gardening 101 will be held Thursday, April 6 at 6 p.m., at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds in Fort Scott. This is a basic gardening program designed to help first-time gardeners with topics such as soil preparation, garden layout, planting tips and more. By the end of the program, participants will know how to set up their own garden, what to plant and how to care for their garden throughout the growing season. For more information on this program and to register, please contact the Southwind Extension District at 620-223- 3720.
Speakers Bureau Offered
Submitted by: Carla Nemecek, Southwind Extension District, Director & Agent
K-State Research & Extension in the Southwind District is proud to present our 2017 Speakers Bureau as a service to the community. We offer presentations on a wide variety of topics and hope there is at least one that may suit your needs. Our speakers are District Extension Agents who have agreed to give presentations to elementary and secondary schools; parent-teacher, civic and professional organizations; and community groups. We are confident that you will find the presentations insightful and entertaining.
The topics that are offered for 2017 are:
Everything But the Oink will illustrate some of the more than 185 non-food products that come from pigs. Native American used every part of the buffalo and wasted nothing, and today we still use nearly every part of the food animal. Examples of these fine swine products include gelatin, footballs, china, cosmetics and fertilizers.
Growing Veggies in Containers is Easy addresses the basic steps to get a started on a container garden. The desire for homegrown vegetables is increasingly popular as people become more interested in where their food comes from. It is hard to beat vegetables picked from you own garden! But for people with limited space, mobility or time, traditional gardening can be difficult, and that’s where container gardening comes in. Vegetables can be grown in just about anything that will hold soil, and this presentation will show you how to container garden.
Let’s Play Leadership in the Classroom offers various team-building games encouraging adults and students to work together and gain all important leadership skills. After all, what better way to learn about leadership than through play! This program can be adjusted for a specific leadership request as a program on demand.
Information on GMOs and Organic Foods for Consumers provides an introductory overview of some of the benefits of genetically engineered foods (GMOs), organic and conventionally produced foods, as well as address consumer concerns with these products. Additionally you will learn information on some of the nutritional content and food safety differences and similarities between organic and conventional food products.
Gray for a Day explores the age-related sensory and functional challenges some adults might face with age. Participants will gear up, participate in various activities, and have some discussion about how to protect themselves from these physical declines in the future.
Board Leadership will provide an opportunity for board members to learn the basics of being a good board member. We all know informed and committed board members are the key to healthy, effective boards and committees in our Kansas communities. Whether you are a member of a church board, a township board, or belong to any service organization with elected officers, this topic is appropriate for you.
These presentations are flexible with location and presentation time—from a short 30 minute engagement to a longer format if needed. All presentations are offered free and by appointment only. We will do our best to accommodate your request, and presentations will be scheduled based on the availability of the individual presenters.
If your group or organization has an interest in these programs, please contact the Southwind Extension District, 620-365-2242 (Iola); 620-244-3826 (Erie); 620-223-3720 (Fort Scott). Additional information about the Southwind Extension District can be found on our website, www.southwind.ksu.edu.
