All posts by Submitted Story

Kansas

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education Summit

Leave a comment

Dr. Diane DeBacker to join gathering of State and Federal STEM Education Leaders at the White House

 

TOPEKA – Dr. Diane DeBacker, Executive Director of Business and Education Innovation at the Kansas Department of Commerce, will attend the first-of-its-kind State-Federal Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education Summit hosted by The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on June 25-26, 2018, in Washington, D.C.

“Education in Kansas, from pre-K through careers, is undergoing significant changes,” said Dr. DeBacker. “The White House STEM Summit will allow the Kansas team to discuss and strategize how we can best incorporate STEM education into the changes.”

According to the OSTP, the State-Federal STEM Education Summit will convene a diverse group of State STEM leaders, including officials from governors’ offices, K-20 educators, workforce and industry representatives, State policy experts, and non-government organization executives. These attendees will participate in the development of a new Federal 5-Year STEM Education Strategic Plan in compliance with America COMPETES Act of 2010.

“This event is the first time an administration has asked for this level of State input when developing a Federal STEM education strategy,” said Jeff Weld, senior policy advisor and assistant director for STEM education at OSTP. “Top-down approaches to STEM education can often yield wonderful ideas, but it’s at the State and community level where the momentum happens. State leaders know best what kinds of programs will work in their communities, and where they need the power of the Federal government to help drive success in this field. STEM education is critical to preparing our students for the jobs of the future. We must do everything we can to ensure that Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, communities, educators, and private industry partners are united for the long-term success of our Nation.”

Alongside OSTP in planning and carrying out this Summit are the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Smithsonian Institution. STEM leaders from all 50 states, as well as U.S. territories and tribes, will attend the Summit to illuminate and advance State-Federal STEM alignment.

In 1976, Congress established OSTP to provide the President and others within the Executive Office of the President with advice on the scientific, engineering, and technological aspects of the economy, national security, homeland security, health, foreign relations, the environment, and the technological recovery and use of resources, among other topics.  OSTP also leads interagency science and technology policy coordination efforts, assists the Office of Management and Budget with an annual review and analysis of Federal research and development in budgets, and serves as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans, and programs of the Federal Government.

Dr. DeBacker, a former State of Kansas Education Commissioner, was appointed to her position in 2017 by Governor Sam Brownback and continues to serve under the leadership of Governor Jeff Colyer, MD.  The purpose of the Executive Director of Business and Education Innovation role is to help bridge the gap between the workforce needs of Kansas industry and the way students are educated in the state.  Dr. DeBacker also serves as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Education Council, a group of 30+ educators, business leaders, and students.

Having worked in the education field since graduating from Emporia State University in 1982 with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education, Dr. DeBacker obtained her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Washburn University in 1987 and Doctorate of Educational Administration and Leadership from Kansas State University in 2002. During her 35 years of experience in the education field, Dr. DeBacker has served in a variety of roles across the education spectrum including as an adjunct professor, principal, associate superintendent, elected local board of education member, education advisor to the Abu Dhabi Education Council in the United Arab Emirates, in addition to her service for four years as the Commissioner of Education for the State of Kansas.

Fort Scott, Government, Submitted

Fort Scott City Commission Minutes June 5

Leave a comment

CITY OF FORT SCOTT

CITY COMMISSION MEETING

Minutes of June 5, 2018, Regular Meeting #11

The regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held June 5th, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Room, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas.

ROLL CALL:

Commissioners Adamson, Bartelsmeyer, Nichols, and Parker were present with Mayor Mitchell presiding.

INVOCATION: Pastor Norman Tillotson, First Baptist Church, said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City and all government and City officials.

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Janet Braun, Denton Wescoat, Rachel Pruitt, Dicie Nicklaus, William W. Polk, Bill Peterson, CLP-Peterson, Dan Doherty, Janice Allen, Abby Humble, Sarah Steele, Michael Mix, Pat Lyons, Joel Riggs, Steve James, Mark Gilmore, Karina Kantilal, Rhonda Dunn, Travis Shelton, Norman Tillotson, Paul Ballou, Clayton Miller, and Jason Silvers, representing the Fort Scott Tribune.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND APPROPRIATIONS/CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of May 15th, 2018.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1216-A totaling $653,024.45.

  1. Resolution No. 28-2018 – Notice of Hearing With Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure and Accessory Structure located at 608 S. Broadway – Public Hearing Date – 7/17/2018 at 6:15 p.m.

  1. Resolution No. 29-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 1914 E. Wall Street – Public Hearing Date – 7/17/2018 at 6:15 p.m.

  1. Certificate of Appropriateness – Sign at 23 S. Main

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED CONSENT AGENDA.

APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE:

Pickleball Court – Michael Mix, Public Utilities Director, shared photos of the pickleball court located at 9th and Burke with the City Commission. New lighting has recently been installed and the courts are being used a lot. He introduced Janice Allen and Mark Gilmore, both of who are active pickleball court players.

Mark Gilmore thanked the City of Fort Scott for their commitment in developing this pickleball court. They had a tournament a couple of weeks ago which brought out a lot of people. He has played over 50 people already.

Janice Allen said that she loves the courts and loves to play. She knows of people from Nevada and Joplin that come to Fort Scott to play. She plays every morning and evening. She also thanked the City for the nice courts to play on.

Dave Bruner – Red Cross Smoke Detector Update and Presentation of Check to Dicie Nicklaus, Disaster Program Manager for American Red Cross – Dave Bruner, Deputy Fire Marshal, informed the Commission that the Fire Department partnered up with American Red Cross about a month ago to install fire alarms in people’s homes for the Sound the Alarm Campaign. On May 6th, 2018, there were 314 alarms installed in 130 homes on that day. He thanked Dicie Nicklaus with the American Red Cross for their assistance with this program. He presented a check for $500.00 to Dicie for the Sound the Alarm Campaign. He thanked all the team of volunteers from the City, Buck Run and various businesses and organizations who assisted where needed.

Dicie Nicklaus, American Red Cross, thanked the Fort Scott Fire Department and the City of Fort Scott for the fantastic numbers from Fort Scott. She thanked the City for the donation to American Red Cross also. She announced that this campaign will continue in Fort Scott and expand to businesses and groups.

Fort Scott High School – Amber Toth’s class – Ms. Toth’s class consisting of Abby Humble and Karina Kantilal presented their Fort Scott project to the City Commission. It consisted of a project to make canoe and kayak rentals available on the Marmaton River. It would be completed in three phases: Gunn Park to Bridal Veil Park, Bridal Veil to Riverfront, and Riverfront to Mill Creek. Their estimated costs were $38,260.

City Commissioners thanked the students for their hard work on this project.

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute

limit per citizen) – None

  1. PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Mitchell moved to open the Public Hearing at 6:27 p.m. Adamson seconded. Motion carried.

OPENED PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:27 P.M.

6:15 p.m. Resolution 23-2018 directing the repair or removal of an unsafe and dangerous structure located at 504 S. Judson Street – Rhonda Dunn, Codes Director, informed the Commission that this structure is owned by a brother and sister. The sister lives in Springfield and the brother is currently incarcerated in Larned. She stated that the sister’s daughter came to town to go through the house and remove any personal belongings but this is a hoarder house and in terrible condition. The roof is in bad shape also. She asked for approval to remove this structure in 30 days if repairs are not made.

Nichols moved to approve Resolution No. 23-2018 authorizing this structure to be repaired or removed in 30 days. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 23-2018 DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 504 S. JUDSON STREET. STRUCTURE MUST BE BROUGHT UP TO 2012 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE BY JULY 13TH, 2018 OR DEMOLITION PROCEEDINGS WILL BEGIN.

Discussion of 523 S. Main demolition – Rhonda Dunn gave an update on 523 S. Main and asked that this structure is removed from the dangerous and unsafe status and from the demolition list. The owners, Lloyd McKenney Trust, have boarded up the windows and cleaned up around the structure and it looks much better already.

Commission discussed setting a time frame to insure the structure repairs are kept up.

Parker moved to revisit this structure at 523 S. Main in 120 days to insure that repairs are being made. Mitchell seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO REVISIT THE STRUCTURE AT 523 S. MAIN IN 120 DAYS TO INSURE THE REPAIRS ARE KEPT UP.

Discussion of 1523 E. Wall demolition – Rhonda Dunn gave an update on 1523 E. Wall and informed the Commission that repairs have been made to this structure by the Brumback family. There is more work to do but she asked that it be removed from the dangerous and unsafe status at this time but set a time frame to revisit it.

Bartelsmeyer moved to revisit this structure at 1523 E. Wall in 60 days to insure that repairs are being made. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO REVISIT THE STRUCTURE AT 1523 E. WALL STREET IN 60 DAYS TO INSURE THE REPAIRS ARE KEPT UP.

Discussion of 309 S. Lowman demolition – Rhonda Dunn informed the Commission that the property owner of 309 S. Lowman had a contract with Kevin Allen – Skitch’s to demolish this property. She visited with Kevin Allen and he said he would have this demolished by the end of June. She asked the Commission to rescind the demolition bids for 309 S. Lowman.

Bartelsmeyer moved to rescind the bids for 309 S. Lowman. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO RESCIND BIDS FOR 309 S. LOWMAN STREET.

Discussion of 13 N. Holbrook demolition – Rhonda Dunn informed the Commission that the property owner has demolished this property but has not cleaned up the debris. She asked for 30-45 more days for him to clean up this property.

Discussion of 310 N. Cleveland demolition – Rhonda Dunn informed the Commission that the property owner has made no improvements to this structure. He has had no water since 2014 and no electricity since 2016. She has tried to meet with them but they will not answer the door. She spoke to the Fort Scott Housing Authority about possible openings they would have where this couple could move into and they do have openings. They were present earlier at the meeting and she spoke to them. She will meet with them on Friday to discuss other housing possibilities. If this is not successful, this structure may have to go through the court system to remove them from the structure.

Bartelsmeyer moved to close the Public Hearing at 6:40 p.m. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:40 P.M.

CONSIDERATION:

  1. Approval of Ordinance No. 3534 authorizing the City to issue Taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds, Series 2018 (Price Chopper Project) for the purpose of the acquisition, construction, renovation and equipping of a commercial facility; and authorizing certain other documents and actions in connection therewith – $5,900,000 – Sarah Steele, Gilmore & Bell, P.C., appeared before the Commission to request approval of the Ordinance approving the sales tax exemption. She said that Joel Riggs and Steve James were both present also.

Joe Riggs thanked that City Commission for all their support since the store opened four months ago.

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve Ordinance 3534 authorizing Taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds for the Price Chopper project. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED ORDINANCE NO. 3534 AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS TO ISSUE ITS TAXABLE INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2018 (PRICE CHOPPER PROJECT) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION AND EQUIPPING OF A COMMERCIAL FACILITY; AND AUTHORIZING CERTAIN OTHER DOCUMENTS AND ACTIONS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. – $6,250,000

City Attorney also recommended authorizing the Mayor to sign any pertinent documentation in regards to this bond issue.

Mitchell moved to authorize the Mayor to sign any other pertinent documentation in regards to the bond issue. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED FOR THE MAYOR TO SIGN ANY OTHER PERTINENT DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS BOND ISSUE.

COMMISSION/STAFF:

  1. Director Updates: Rhonda Dunn – Rhonda updated the Commission on this last weekend’s Good Ol’ Days event. She felt like the event went smoothly. The committee takes the month of July off and then starts again in August to plan the following year’s event. She did feel the crowd was down this year. They will work to reboot this for 2019 to attract more people. She thanked all the City crews and Police and Fire Departments for the great job they do.

Stout Building – Rhonda informed the Commission that she will be moving forward with the demolition of this building. The adjacent property owner would like to see a parking lot for their residents. She is currently working with the property owner on this.

Ordinance Change – Rhonda said that she will be working with the Planning Commission in the near future to change the ordinance for the Central Business District and living on the first floor of a building.

Weeds – Rhonda said that her department has mailed out over 200 weeds letters since May 1st. They are also working on inoperable vehicles.

Land Bank – Rhonda said that she would like to see the Land Bank ordinance on the June 19th Commission meeting agenda.

B. City Commission:

Adamson – Nothing to report.

Bartelsmeyer – Nothing to report.

Nichols – Nothing to report.

Parker – Nothing to report.

Mitchell – Nothing to report.

C. City Attorney: Nothing to report.

  1. Director of Finance: Nothing to report.

  1. City Manager:

  1. Good Ol’ Days Committee – City Manager thanked this committee for their hard work in pulling off this event every year. They will work with Velocity next year also.

ADJOURNMENT:

Parker moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:54 p.m. Bartelsmeyer seconded. All voted aye.

ADJOURNED MEETING AT 6:54 P.M.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is to be held on June 19th, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.

RECORDED BY:

____________________

DIANE K. CLAY

CITY CLERK

Fort Scott, Government, Submitted

Agenda For Fort Scott City Commission June 19

Leave a comment

Agenda for the the Fort Scott City Commission, 6 p.m. June 19 at City Hall, 123 S. Main.

I. ROLL CALL:

ADAMSON BARTELSMEYER NICHOLS PARKER MITCHELL

II. FLAG SALUTE

III. INVOCATION: Pastor Steve Cole, First United Methodist Church

IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:

V. CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of June 5th, 2018.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1217-A totaling $309,518.34.

  1. Fireworks Waiver – July 4th, 2018

  1. Parade Permit – Burke Street Parade – July 4th, 2018

  1. Cereal Malt Beverage Application – Lady Elks Lodge #579 – June 23rd, 2018 – Briggs Car Show

VII. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE:

Jana Walker – Closure of Burke Street

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute limit per citizen)

C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS:

6:15 p.m. Resolution 30-2018 directing the repair or removal of an unsafe and dangerous structure and accessory structure located at 211 N. Lincoln Street

6:15 p.m. Resolution 26-2018 directing the repair or removal of an unsafe and dangerous structure located at 1306 E. Wall Street

VIII. CONSIDERATION:

  1. Consideration of placing stone at Heritage Park in front of rose garden in memory of Dola Cress

  1. Consideration of appointment – Fort Scott Housing Authority Board

  1. Consideration of OCR Agreement

  1. Consideration of approval of AWOS upgrade grant from K.D.O.T. for Airport

  1. Consideration of approval of PAPI & REIL grant from K.D.O.T. for Airport

  1. Consideration of Change Order #1 – Regional Tourism Center – $1,315.00

  1. Consideration of Land Bank Ordinance No. 3535 adoption

  1. Consideration of changing FSA (Flexible Spending Account) vendor

IX. COMMENTS:

  1. Director Updates: Jon Garrison
  1. Commission:
  1. City Attorney:
  1. Director of Finance:
  1. City Manager:

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

I MOVE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE

SESSION FOR ________________________________ IN ORDER TO

(see below justification)

DISCUSS ______________________________________. THE

EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE ___________ MINUTES AND THE OPEN

MEETING TO RESUME AT ________________.

Justifications for Executive Sessions:

  • Personnel matters of non-elected personnel

  • Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

  • Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative or representatives of the body or agency

  • Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

  • Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

X. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL

Business, Kansas, Submitted

Training Costs For Employers, Apprentices and Institutions

Leave a comment

Kansas awarded $1.2 million additional grant funding for Statewide Apprenticeship Program

 

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Commerce been awarded $1.2 million in additional grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship to help grow the statewide Registered Apprenticeship Program. This new funding follows an initial $1 million in grant funding the agency earlier received. The funds are being used to offset training costs for employers, apprentices and training institutions.

The Registered Apprenticeship Program is built upon an employer-driven model that combines on-the-job learning with the related technical instruction that increases an apprentice’s skill level and wages. It is a proven model for businesses to recruit, train and retain highly skilled workers.

“Since the reinvigoration of the program two years ago, we have observed a marked increase in advanced manufacturing, medical, electrical, plumbing and other high demand occupations in need of trained employees,” says Gary Westerman, State Manager of the Registered Apprenticeship Program. “The Registered Apprenticeship Team has taken several steps in identifying needs of Kansas employers and determining which fields are in the greatest needs of a workforce trained through the Registered Apprenticeship Program.”

There are presently 1,743 registered apprentices in Kansas, receiving both on-the-job training and paid employment with 393 apprentices achieving “Journeyperson “status within the past 18 months from ­­­246 employers. Through this program, apprentices receive on-the-job training from an experienced mentor for at least a full year, providing a living wage while training for a career position. They also earn credentials which can be carried forward throughout their careers. At the same time, employers benefit by meeting their growing need for a trained workforce, experience lower turnover costs, and higher productivity and reduce their costs of recruiting personnel.

“Registered Apprenticeship can improve a company’s workforce situation dramatically, including staff retention, skill knowledge, and safety, along with reducing training costs and increasing a company’s ability to develop their own talent pipeline,” said Westerman.

Currently, the Kansas Department of Commerce staff, the Registered Apprenticeship Team, and Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) partners are working with local high schools and military installations across Kansas to demonstrate that receiving technical training and certification is a valid option to a traditional four-year college path — especially in meeting today’s workforce needs.

For more information on the Registered Apprenticeship Program, visit ksapprenticeship.org.

Bourbon County, K-State Extension, Submitted

Bonding Thru Board Games

Leave a comment
Joy Miller, K-State Research and Extension Southwind District, Family and Consumer Science, 620-223-3720 or [email protected]

 

Board games can help connect family and friends in ways that video games can’

Playing board games gets everyone in the same room and helps family members across generations connect, compete, and have a great time together. Board games are easy, inexpensive, and have benefits well beyond the activity itself. Games are an entertaining and painless way to help kids build essential learning skills on the sly or by accidental learning, which means there’s no anxiety or resistance.

The book “Family Treasures: Creating Strong Families” by John DeFrain, covers six qualities that strong, successful families around the world exhibit: enjoyable time together; appreciation and affection for each other; positive communication; spiritual well-being (values, beliefs, life skills); successful management of stress and crisis; and commitment to each other.

If we don’t carve out time as a family, none of those traits will be achieved. Those traits are built in a scaffolding manner – one brings the other. Board games foster that face-to-face time interaction needed to connect deeply with each other and to develop the other traits of strong families.

Social and emotional health – Research shows the link between social and emotional skills and school success is so strong that it is a greater predictor of children’s academic performance than their family background and cognitive abilities. Learning is a social process. Children cannot learn if they struggle with following directions, getting along with their peers and controlling their emotions in any setting.

Every face-to-face game provides a ‘social experiment’ where players learn self-regulation and social skills to play successfully with others, a lot goes on under the surface, even when playing the simplest of games. Children identify and regulate their emotions and behavior, learn to calm down when upset without hurting others, and learn how to win – or lose – with grace and good manners. 

Playing games fosters persistence, a willingness to try new things, conversation, cooperative play and thinking of appropriate solutions to conflict. Games also help children learn to interpret others’ behavior and emotions, and can reinforce children’s feeling good about themselves and others.

Basic math concepts – Even some of the simplest board games give children a sense of numbers. For example, the numeral 4 represents four objects, which is greater than 3 and less than 5. Some games introduce geometry concepts with shapes and patterns, how to classify items

Bourbon County, K-State Extension, Submitted

Sericea Lespedeza Weed Control in Rangeland and Pasture

Leave a comment
Christopher Petty, M.S. Extension Agent Livestock Production and Forage Management K-State Research and Extension Southwind Extension District 210 S. National Fort Scott, KS 66701 (620) 223-3720 Work (620)224-6031 Cell [email protected]

According to Walt Fick, a K-State Research and Extension Range Specialist, Sericea lespedeza has been a statewide noxious weed in Kansas since July 1, 2000. Despite control efforts, this introduced, invasive species continues to persist on rangeland, pasture, and CRP acres in the state. Sericea lespedeza has a tremendous seed bank that helps reestablish stands following control efforts. Sericea lespedeza currently infests nearly 500,000 acres in Kansas.

There are no known biological controls that can be effectively used on sericea lespedeza. However, grazing with sheep and goats can suppress sericea lespedeza stands and produce a saleable product. Cattle supplemented with corn steep liquor (CSL) have been shown to consume more sericea lespedeza than animals not supplemented with CSL. Frequent mowing will reduce sericea lespedeza, but is also damaging to plants that might be growing/competing with sericea. A single mowing in mid- to late-July will eventually reduce stands of sericea lespedeza to some extent but has not eliminated sericea, even after several years of mowing. A late-summer mowing will eliminate most seed production. Application of appropriate herbicides about 4-6 weeks after mowing will help reduce sericea lespedeza stands, but will also damage other forbs. Prescribed burning in April seems to stimulate seed germination. Burning in August and early September nearly eliminates seed production.

Herbicides applied at the correct time and under favorable environmental conditions can significantly reduce sericea lespedeza, but retreatment has proven to be required. Early summer is a good time to consider spraying sericea lespedeza. Plants are in a vegetative growth stage and previous research has indicated good to excellent control at this time.

Remedy Ultra (triclopyr) and PastureGard HL (triclopyr + fluroxypyr) can provide effective control when applied during June and into early July when the sericea plants are in a vegetative growth stage.

Products containing metsulfuron, such as Escort XP, Cimarron Plus, and Chaparral, are generally more effective in the late summer when sericea lespedeza is actively blooming.. Use a non-ionic surfactant with all of these products. These products containing metsulfuron may stunt tall fescue.

For spot applications, mix 0.5 fl oz PastureGard HL per gallon of water, use a 1 percent solution of Remedy Ultra in water or 1 gram Escort XP per gallon of water.

Herbicide treatments will need to be repeated at least every 2 to 4 years to keep this invasive species in check. Initial treatments should reduce dense stands to the point where spot treatment can be used in future years. Left untreated, sericea lespedeza will quickly dominate a site, greatly reducing forage production and species diversity.

If you are unfamiliar with sericea lespedeza, learn how to identify the species and get started with a control program. Be persistent with control efforts to keep this invasive species at manageable populations. Contact Southwind Extension District Agent Christopher Petty at 620-223-3720 or by e-mail at [email protected] for more information.

Obituary

Obituary for Fredrick F. Hutchison

Leave a comment

Fredrick F. Hutchison

Fredrick F. Hutchison, age 82, a resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Thursday, June 14, 2018, at Mercy Hospital.

He was born June 13, 1936, in Sheldon, MO, the son of Fred and Leota Withrow Hutchison. He graduated from Ft. Scott High School with the class of 1954. He then attended Ft. Scott Junior College before entering the Navy in 1955. Fred served our country proudly for 30 years in the Navy before retiring. He then worked for the Navy as a civilian for another 10 years. He returned to Ft. Scott for the last 20 years, to the hometown he loved. He was an outdoorsmen and professional bass fisherman.

Survivors include two daughters, Marilyn Machelle Greene, Austin, TX, and Mindi Yvonne Elam and husband Dale, Tuscaloosa, AL; two brothers, Donald “Butch” Hutchison and wife Karen, Ft. Scott, and Denny Hutchison, Cody, WY; a sister, Kay Arnold, Ft. Scott; 9 grandchildren, Alexandria Floyd, Colleen Redding, Katlin Greene, Charlotte J. Hutchison, Travis Hines, Ashley Arner, Raschelle Boeve, Madison Johnson, and Dalton Estes; 8 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Frances Hutchison; son Fredrick Andrew Hutchison; and daughter Tracy C. Craig.

Hospice Chaplain Jeff Owen will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Monday, June 18th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 V.F.W. Memorials are suggested to the V.F.W. Post #1165, and may be left in the care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Opinion

Amanda’s Wedding by Patty LaRoche

Leave a comment

At weddings, my dress purse contains three things: lipstick, a nail file and Kleenex—lots and lots of Kleenex. This past weekend, I was in good company. By the time the celebration was over, there weren’t many dry eyes left.

This past Friday, I witnessed a sacred marriage union in which Tyler and my granddaughter, Amanda, committed themselves to God first, and each other, second. From the time they met fifteen months ago until this past Friday, they determined to keep their relationship pure. Their first kiss came at their engagement, and their next, after their wedding vows. Was it hard? According to them, crazy hard!

I pray you readers have had an opportunity to witness such a marriage. Perhaps it was your own. If so, you surely appreciated a sense of reverence and knew that you were a spectator to something extraordinary. Honoring God above all else has a way of causing that to happen.

Tyler and Amanda have many common interests. She works in the children’s ministry at church, and he is headed to seminary in North Carolina in the fall. They both ride dirt bikes, golf, line-dance and two-step, adore children and pray together daily.

At the rehearsal, the pastor brought everyone together to instruct us that this wedding would be God-centered and those in attendance would be encouraged to follow in the bride’s and groom’s footsteps and ask Jesus into their hearts. This would be no foo-foo message.

On the wedding day, the four sets of grandparents met at the church 30 minutes before the ceremony started; we were greeted by a scene that silenced our small-talk-ramblings: With heads bowed, the groom and his eight groomsmen huddled in prayer. During the ceremony, the pastor held true to his rehearsal instructions. The entire service was about God being foundational to a great marriage.

The rehearsal was no different. Toasts from the bridesmaids and groomsmen all confirmed what every guest knew: This couple had remained pure and couldn’t wait to spend their lives together honoring Jesus. Even their fun, crazy friends—most of them, actually–recognized something special in this couple. Three of Amanda’s maids-of-honor had known her since pre-school days. Together they had played softball and volleyball, ridden motorcycles, wakeboarded and taken years of dance lessons. Her friends had celebrated when—and yes, I will brag here just a little– she was voted Prom Queen her senior year, the most coveted honor at her high school, but most importantly, that she had grown in her love of the Lord and her desire to honor Him.

The groomsmen had similar stories about Tyler, and following their toasts, his mother spoke. Ever since her youngest son was born, she shared, not a day had gone by that she had not prayed for God to bring a strong Christian woman into his life. She fought tears while sharing that Amanda far surpassed anything she could have chosen.

By then, I had used (or shared) the entire box of Kleenex I had stuffed into my purse. I was not the only one grateful for table napkins.

Like I said, honoring God above all else has a way of causing that to happen.

Next time, I will bring a satchel.