PRATT – There’s no better deal than “free” and this Friday, there’s no better place to snag that deal than at a Kansas state park. This Black Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, entrance fees will be waived at all Kansas state parks as part of the nationwide #OptOutside initiative.
Those who visit any of Kansas’ 28 state parks on Nov. 26 will also have a chance to win a free night’s stay in a Kansas state park cabin of their choice. To enter, visitors must simply take a “selfie” within any Kansas state park and share it on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the tags #OptOutside and #MyKsStatePark.
#OptOutside – the brainchild of outdoor retail giant REI – began after REI executives closed all 150-plus stores for a day in 2015 and paid more than 13,000 employees to instead spend the day outside. It’s since become an annual event for REI, state parks across America and the millions of people who opt to spend the day outside and enjoy nature.
“We couldn’t be more excited to once again offer free entrance to Kansas’ state parks on Black Friday,” said Linda Lanterman, director of Kansas State Parks. “Being outside in nature does wonders for our physical and mental health, so I hope everyone opts to go outside this year and enjoy a Kansas state park as part of their holiday experience.”
To find a Kansas state park nearest you, and to make camping reservations year-round, visit www.ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks.
This newsletter about new books is distributed to people who are registered adult users at a southeast Kansas library participating in the SEKnFind catalog. We hope you find it useful, but if you don’t wish to receive this anymore, you can click on the “Manage Subscriptions or Unsubscribe” link at the bottom.
All the books included in this newsletter are new additions in one or more SEKnFind libraries–and since the catalog is shared, that means they are available to you whether they are in your local library or not! Just place a hold on the item(s) you want. If you don’t know how, your librarian can show you.
New Fiction
The neighbor’s secret
by L. Alison HellerWhen late-night acts of vandalism target the women of the Cottonwood Book Club in increasingly violent and personal ways, they are forced to decide just how far they will go to keep their secrets and protect their children—even if it means someone has to die. 75,000 first printing.
Sleigh bells ring
by RaeAnne ThayneWhen Tate Sheridan unexpectedly returns home to Angel’s View Ranch, caretaker Annie McCade is shocked when he lets her to stay in exchange for posing as his long-lost love to keep his busybody matchmaking grandmother off his back—a ruse that leads to something more. 10,000 first printing.
When two feathers fell from the sky
by Margaret Verble”Louise Erdrich meets Karen Russell in this deliciously strange and daringly original novel from Pulitzer Prize finalist Margaret Verble: set in 1926 Nashville, it follows a death-defying young Cherokee horse-diver who, with her companions from the Glendale Park Zoo, must get to the bottom of a mystery that spans centuries”
56 days
by Catherine Ryan Howard”No one even knew they were together. Now one of them is dead. 56 DAYS AGO. Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin and start dating the same week COVID-19 reaches Irish shores. 35 DAYS AGO. When lockdown threatens to keep them apart, Oliver suggests they move in together. Ciara sees a unique opportunity for a relationship to flourish without the scrutiny of family and friends. Oliver sees a chance to hide who-and what-he really is. TODAY. Detectives arrive at Oliver’s apartment to discover a decomposing body inside. Can they determine what really happened, or has lockdown created an opportunity for someone to commit the perfect crime?”
Riverbend Gap
by Denise HunterMoving to a small North Carolina town to be near her new boyfriend, Katelyn Loveland, after a chance encounter, finds herself falling in love with local sheriff’s deputy Cooper Robinson—her boyfriend’s brother—and stands to lose everything. Original.
A flicker of light
by Katie PownerWidower Mitch Jensen is at a loss with how to handle his mother’s odd, forgetful behaviors and his daughter’s sudden return, but when his mother reveals a long-held secret about her past, their lives will never be the same. Original.
These bones
by Kayla Chenault”In a neighborhood known as the Bramble Patch, the Lyons family endures despite poverty, racism, and the ghoulish appetites of an underworld kingpin called the Barghest. As the years pass and the neighborhood falls into decay, along with the town that surrounds it, what’s left of the Bramble Patch will learn the saying is true: These bones are gonna rise again”
Trashlands
by Alison StinePlucking plastic, which is now currency, from rivers and fields to sell or trade, artist Coral is forced to dance at Trashlands to recoup her savings in an attempt to rescue her son from the recycling factories, in this love story to survival in an unloved place. 50,000 first printing.
The body scout : a novel
by Lincoln Michel”Kobo has some problems. His cybernetics are a decade out of date, he’s got a pair of twin sister loan sharks knocking on his door, and his work scouting for a baseball league run by pharmaceutical companies is about to go belly-up. Things couldn’t get much worse. Then his childhood best friend–Monsanto Mets slugger J.J. Zunz–is murdered at home plate. Determined to find the killer, Kobo plunges into the dark corners and glittering cloud condos of a world ravaged by climate change and repeat pandemics,and where genetic editing and advanced drugs mean you can have any body you want–as long as you can afford it. But even among the philosophical Neanderthals, zootech weapons, and genetically modified CEOs, there’s a curveball he never could have called”
Hyde
by Craig RussellThe chief detective of Edinburgh in Victorian Scotland is shocked and appalled when he finds himself at the scene of a grisly murder, with no idea how he got there in this reimagining of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Down range : a novel
by Taylor MooreAn elite, undercover DEA officer helps out a formerly-peaceful ranching community in Texas who are under assault by a group of criminals controlled by a rich, entitled businessmen with ties to law enforcement and local businesses. 100,000 first printing.
Winter wolves
by Matthew P. Mayo””One man’s quest to lose himself in the West.” Roamer’s long-planned winter snowshoe trek to the high, lonesome peaks of the Bitterroots takes a hard turn when the big loner of a woodsman finds his mentor, cantankerous mountain man Maple Jack, savaged, terrorized, and raving about the Alooknok, blood-eyed demons who absconded with his cold-weather mate, Winter Woman, a no-nonsense healer and midwife. It’s up to Roamer to rescue her. He takes to the trail in the wake of a blizzard, battling winter-starved timber wolves and the unforgiving elements. Tracking him, the addled Maple Jack falls prey to a trio of greasy wolfers. Then the very demons Roamer seeks find him-and force him deep into the belly of the beast, a foreboding, grim place in the raw mountains where sunlight never shines. A brutal battle among friends, enemies, and Alooknok will seal their fates and haunt the few survivors . . . forever”
New Nonfiction
Around the world in 80 books
by David Damrosch”A transporting and illuminating voyage around the globe, through classic and modern literary works that are in conversation with one another and with the world around them”
The age of AI : and our human future
by Henry KissingerThree leading thinkers put their heads together to explore Artificial Intelligence and how it will change our relationships with knowledge, politics and the societies in which we live. 100,000 first printing.
The book of hope : a survival guide for trying times
by Jane GoodallTold through stories from an extraordinary career and fascinating research, this urgent book, written by the world’s most famous living naturalist and an internationally best-selling author, explores one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human nature—hope. 300,000 first printing.
Frequently asked questions about the universe
by Jorge ChamYou’ve got questions: about space, time, gravity, and your odds of meeting your older self inside a wormhole, and all the answers you need are right here. Illustrations.
Immune : A Journey into the Mysterious System That Keeps You Alive
by Philipp DettmerThe creator of a popular educational YouTube channel presents and illustrated journey through the human body’s immune system, with each chapter focusing on an element including defenses like antibodies and inflammation as well as threats like bacteria, allergies and cancer. Illustrations.
Gastro obscura : a food adventurer’s guide
by Cecily WongThe team behind Atlas Obscura, a friendly tour-guide to the world’s most amazing places, presents incredible ingredients, food adventures and edible wonders from around the world, including Chilean beer made from fog and 2,000-year-old egg ovens. 250,000 first printing. Illustrations.
Pottery for beginners : projects for beautiful ceramic bowls, mugs, vases and more
by Kara Leigh Ford”If you ever daydream about delving into pottery but aren’t sure where to begin, this is your book. Professional potter Kara Leigh Ford will be your personal pottery guide, helping you to overcome any doubts about your abilities. All you need are curiosity and a few simple tools to mold stunning stoneware with confidence. Inspiring projects and primers on equipment, technique, clay types and setting up a workspace make pottery approachable for complete newcomers, as well as budding potters who want to hone their skills. Plus, gorgeous photos from Kara’s studio offer visual guidance every step of the way”
Code name Badass : the true story of Virginia Hall
by Heather DemetriosThis rebellious and revolutionary biography of the most dangerous of all Allied spies follows Virginia Hall as she plays a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Hitler’s henchman, becoming the Gestapo’s most wanted spy. 30,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations.
Bucket list USA
by Fodor’s TravelA trave guide packed with 500 carefully curated “must” lists to see and do in the United States, including Grand Canyon camping, cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, walking through sunflowers in Kansas and partying at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Original. Illustrations. Maps.
Even more reading suggestions
NextReads Sneak Peek
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Each issue contains around 9 to 10 reading suggestions. If we don’t have a copy, make a purchase suggestion or ask your library about in
Fort Scott–The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College will celebrate the anniversary of Gordon Parks’ birthday on Tuesday, November 30th with the showing of films by or about Parks throughout the day along with cupcakes for visitors.
The event is free of charge and the public is invited to attend.
The schedule of showings throughout the day will include:
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – “The Learning Tree,” (Filmed in Fort Scott) 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – “Half Past Autumn” 2:30 p.m. –4:30 p.m. – “Solomon Northup’s Odyssey”
Parks, born in Fort Scott on November 30, 1912, would have been 109 this year. He died in March, 2006 at the age of 93. For more information contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620-223-2700, ext.5850 or by email at [email protected].
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The City of Fort Scott Administrative offices will be closed on Thursday, November 25th and Friday, November 26th, 2021 in observance of the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. The regular offices will reopen on Monday, November 29th, 2021.
The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Thursday, November 25th, and Saturday, November 27th, 2021 for the Thanksgiving Day holiday. It will be open again on Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health is a national nonprofit membership organizationthat represents the 50 state Offices of Rural Health aroundthe nation and promotes a healthy rural America throughstateandcommunityleadership.
“Jody Hoener is a prime example of how one person canmakeamassiveimpactonthelivesofthousandsofpeople,” according to the NOSORH award presentation. “Though she may not be a household name to the roughly7,500 residents of Fort Scott, her dedication, passion,strategic planning and grant writing skills, and deepcommitment to addressing the community’s healthdisparities are evident every place you turn in BourbonCounty,Kansas.”
ThisDayisanopportunityto‘celebratethepowerofrural’byhonoring the selfless, community-minded spirit that prevailsinruralAmerica.Learnmore:https:/www.powerofrural.org
The HealthyBourbonCountyAction TeamNewsletter
Table o fContents
CEO’sMessageP.2
GrantProgramP.3
BronsonBikewayPlanP.4
KANSASWORKS
HighlightP.5
HBCAT.ORG
JodyHoener
AMessagefromtheCEO
AtTheHealthyBourbonCountyActionTeam,wearecelebratingandgivingthanks.Wehaveseenaconsiderablenumberoflargewinsin2021andweareeternallythankfulforthe BCBS Pathways to Healthy Kansas Grant that helped our organization get off theground in 2016.We have built lasting relationships as they continue to support us andourworktobuildhealthier,thrivingcommunities.
We remain steadfast to our mission and purpose to support our local food systems,advocateforincreasedaccesstorecreationandphysicalactivity,workwithallsectorsofBourbonCountyoncreatinghealthierenvironmentsandmakingthehealthychoicethedefault.
Our community has been awarded almost $1 million from the BCBS Pathways toHealthy Kansas Grant since 2016.This solid foundation has given us the capacity togrow our organization and address challenges head on with strength anddetermination.Thisyearwehavecelebratedbuildingourprogramtoaddresspovertyat the Center for Economic Growth with the $78,175 award from USDA Rural BusinessDevelopment and then a $560,140 award from the Patterson Family Foundation toexpand.
Thisfundingiscriticaltoourworkinaddressingthesocialdeterminantsofhealth.Thehealth of a community – and its people – is dependent on a number of social, political,economic, and environmental conditions. We believe in investing in our people.Todaywe recognize the gifts of our collaborations and grateful for our partners at PittsburgState Small Business Development Center, Southeast KANSASWORKS, and The FortScott Area Chamber of Commerce.These relationships have shown to be mutuallybeneficial while making measurable impacts on the lives of individuals and thecommunityasawhole.
WEARETHANKFUL
HBCAT’S
GrantProgram
TheHealthyBourbonCountyActionTeam(HBCAT)wasrecentlyawardedthePattersonFamilyFoundationGrant.ThroughthisgrantHBCATcreatedthreegrantprograms:Startupbusinesses,Restaurantsandfoodretail,andFarmers/Ranchers.Ahealthyworkforceisaprerequisiteforeconomicsuccessinanyindustry and in all cities. Through thesegrant programs, the HBCAT is supportinglocal entrepreneurs and building up moreresilientfoodsystems.
All applicants must enroll with PSU SmallBusinessDevelopmentCenter(SBDC)atTheAction Team’s Center forEconomic Growth.TheservicesthatSBDCprovidesare,butnotlimited to, developing business plans,financialcashflowprojections,registeringfor LLC, applying for EIN, Marketing, andsettingupKSSalesTaxPayableAccount.
DaciaClark,theAssistantDirector,isinFortScott’s HBCAT office Mondays and Fridays oravailablebyappointmentviaZoom.
GrantapplicationscanbepickedupatHBCAT’sofficelocatedat104NNationalFortScott, KS or at The Chamberof Commerce.
Any questions regarding the Grant Programcan be directed to Rachel Carpenter at 620-215-2562 orthroughemailat[email protected].
A special thanks to Fort ScottCommunityCollege’sCheerleadersforhanding out Community Health NeedsSurvey flyers at Walmart! TheCommunityHealthNeeds
Surveygathersdata,solicitscommunity member perspectives, andcollects information about thecommunity’s resources. Moreinformation will be gathered throughfocus groups. It will measure health andwellness beliefs/perceptions aboutneeds and resources, the communityenvironments,anddemographics.Itwillensure programs, policies, and systemschanges are designed, planned, andcarried out in a coordinated mannerthat benefits the entire county. Thankyou for taking the time to fill out thesurvey and sharing yourvoice on theneedsofthecommunity.
CityofBronsonOpts-IntoTri-CountyBikewayPlan
PrairiePathwayshasmademajorprogresswith theapprovalofsignplacementfrombothCityofUniontown and City of Bronson Councilmembers.
Prairie Pathways began as ABC Trails in 2018when leaders of Thrive Allen County, TheHealthy Bourbon County Action Team, and LiveWellCrawfordCountyinitiatedconversationstobuildatri-countybikewaytrail system. Funding was soon obtained from theSunflower Foundation to turn the idea into astrategicplanningdocument.
GrantfundsfromHBCAT’sBCBSPathwaystoHealthyKansasGrantwasawardedforbrandingand implementation of the transportation plan.ABC Trails was re-branded to PrairiePathways.ThriveAllenCountyobtainedadditionalfundingthroughaCDRRgranttopurchasesigns. HBCAT worked with Bourbon County’s Public Works Department to purchase signpostswithBCBSPathwaysgrantfundsandinstallthesigns.
TheHealthyBourbonCountyActionTeamwasawardeda$4,000grantonbehalfofUninontown’s Saddle Club from The Fort Scott Area Cmmunity Foundation. Thegrant funds are going to be used to add 8 new RV electrical receptacles that therodeo contestants will be able to utilize. This affordable housing option will allowany visitors to stay in Uniontown year round and increases access to outdoorrecreation!
On Saturday, November 20, The Talking Tigers took a small contingency of six teams to compete at the Louisburg Wildcat Invitational.
In the open division, Joy Self and Lillian Collins placed sixth, Berkley Wood and Thade Yates placed fourth, while Anna Hall and Reagan Wells finished in first-place.
The Talking Tigers’ combined scores were enough for a first-place team finish in sweepstakes.
“Thanks for your hard work,” said teacher/coach Angella Curran. “Tigers. It certainly paid off this weekend.”
In 1969, my Dad and I began watching the weekly TV variety show “Hee Haw” which featured comedy skits and country music guest stars. I was impressed with the musicians and singers as they performed their hit songs, and we laughed aloud at the outrageous silliness portrayed by the regular cast. Every week Grandpa Jones was asked, “Hey Grandpa, what’s for supper?” He would stop washing the fake window and reply something like, “Fresh cornbread slathered in butter, smoked ham and pinto beans, polk salad and turnip greens.” Then in unison everyone would shout, “Yum, Yum!” Eating together has always been a warm and fuzzy way to share food and love, whether you live in the hills and hollers or in the big city.
As we look forward to the cherished day of Thanksgiving, let’s think about feasting on something other than food. “So let us feast upon Him (Christ, God’s Lamb) and grow strong in the Christian life, leaving entirely behind us the cancerous old life with all its hatreds and wickedness. Let us feast instead upon the pure bread of honor and sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:8 TLB).
Our bodies were made to love, serve, and worship the Lord, which is why substitutions do not satisfy. We should desire to worship the Lord with our bodies. Worship is a believer’s grateful response to the holiness of God. When mentioned in the Bible, worship is authentically individualized and it is not listless or motionless. Every time there is true worship, some part of the body is involved as indicated in the following scriptures:
Bowed head: “So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped” (Exodus 4:31 NKJV). Bowed body: “Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before Him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust” (Psalm 22:29 NLT).
Kneeling: “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth” (Ephesians 3:14,15 NLT). Uplifted hands: “Daily I will worship you passionately and with all my heart. My arms will wave to You like banners of praise” (Psalm 63:4 TPT).
Falling prostrate: “And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle…and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering…on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces” (Leviticus 9:23,24 NKJV).
Singing and speaking: The mouth reverently and joyfully responds in worship also. “Remember what Christ taught and let His words enrich your lives and make you wise; teach them to each other and sing them out in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing to the Lord with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, and come with Him into the presence of God the Father to give Him your thanks” (Colossians 3:16,17 TLB).
The Key: Celebrate Thanksgiving, feast upon the Bread of Life and worship Him with all your might.
Gregg Motley. President of the Regional Economic Development, Inc. Submitted photo.
In last week’s column, I discussed some of the causes of our “help wanted” crisis in America, particularly in rural areas. What can we do about this in Bourbon County? Here are some thoughts:
Quality Housing. This has to be the number one reason why some people are reluctant to move to Bourbon County. Not many homes of adequate quality are available to purchase or rent that a working family can afford. The cost to build a 1,800 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2 bath house on a city lot far exceeds the appraised value once it is completed; this cost-to-value gap inhibits the construction of new homes. We need creative public/private/charitable solutions to bridge this cost versus value gap. This should be the focus of our community leaders.
Health Care. We need a hospital. A community without a hospital is a non-starter for many who might consider moving here. Let’s all pray that Noble Health Corporation says “yes” to reopening our hospital.
Taxes. As reported earlier, our property tax rates are prohibitive compared to our neighbors. We have to begin incrementally lowering the mill levy to solve this problem. We can’t do it in one fiscal year, but we have to start on the long-term solutions.
Schools. We have to work together to bring our school ratings up and do all we can to support all the schools in our county, both public and private. Support needs to come from everyone, whether or not one has a school-aged child.
Infrastructure. We have to repair our roads, bridges, sewers, wastewater systems, storm sewers, etc., to improve our quality of life and protect property values; this includes revitalizing all the downtowns we have in the county. Beauty and functionality are important to our everyday lives and turn off new people when they are not up to par.
Strategic Plan. We need our leaders countywide, both public and private, to create a civic vision for the entire county that we can all embrace. It should include a list of priorities that we want to achieve together and include every economic sector and geography of our county. We need a common community vision that will inspire hope and encourage investment.
No science supports this list, and you might legitimately see it differently. We are trying to attract a variety of working families, and their priorities might all be slightly different. It is time to come together and search for solutions as a county. Let’s pool our time, talent, and treasure; roll up our sleeves, and get to work.
