Category Archives: Area News

A Very Special Night to Remember

 

Tommy Bowen and Roy Hooper are all smiles at the Night To Remember. Submitted photo.

Rinehart Christian Church and Community Christian Church from Nevada recently hosted an event that gave special love and attention to the area’s special needs people.  It was a night where sweet memories were made.

The “Night to Remember” is an event very like Tim Tebow’s “Night to Shine” that has been going on for a number of years around the country.  This was the 2nd such event that Rinehart has offered, and this time around CCC jumped in to help.

It’s a prom-like event for the special needs people, and not only is there fun dancing and good clean music, there was Bingo played and lots of fun prizes given out, and there was a wonderful meal served.  About 130 special guests were in attendance, and they went away feeling loved and very special.

There were some special services offered too for the guests to enjoy.  Jeanette Hawkins (I heart art with Jeannette) was painting faces.  Kortney Post with Healing Kneads LLC, was giving chair massages.  And Kaylie Leftwich with Fire Esthetics was giving hand massages and scalp massages.

Also, the following businesses in Nevada gave donations to help the night to happen and be extra special:  Conners Auto Repair, DBA Coonrod Construction, Flip Side Salon, Cash’s Quality Electric,, Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers, Color Confident Boutique, Sonic, Mil-Nevada (Jason Hedges), 54 Veterinary Clinic, 54 Feed and Seed, Buzz’s BBQ and Steakhouse, and Community Outreach.  Thank you to all of these businesses for their very generous donations.

 

Extension Given to Wild Horse/Burro Program at Hutchinson Correctional Facility

Kansas Department of Corrections and Bureau of Land Management Announce Extension of Wild Horse and Burro Program at Hutchinson Correctional Facility

~Temporary extension ensures the program remains active through May 31, 2026~

HUTCHINSON, Kansas. – The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have reached an agreement to extend the Wild Horse and Burro Program at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF). This extension ensures the program remains active through May 31, 2026, while both agencies work toward a long-term contract to secure the program’s future.

The decision directly prevents the immediate closure of a program that has been in operation for over 25 years. By extending the partnership, both agencies are prioritizing the following:

  • Animal Welfare: Approximately 300 wild horses and burros will remain at HCF under the care of experienced handlers, avoiding immediate relocation to long-term holding facilities.
  • Workforce Retention: The extension saves the specialized roles of resident horse handlers, allowing these individuals to continue gaining vocational skills in animal husbandry and training.
  • Program Continuity: The additional time allows both the BLM and KDOC to negotiate sustainable funding and operational model to keep this rehabilitative program active indefinitely.

Since its inception in 2001, the Wild Horse and Burro program at HCF has been a cornerstone of the BLM’s adoption efforts, providing halter and saddle training to wild horses to make them suitable for private ownership. The program also serves a critical role in the rehabilitation of residents, offering emotional growth and professional skills that aid in successful reentry into society.

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CFSEK Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Submitted photo.

 

CFSEK Celebrates 25th Anniversary

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is celebrating its 25th anniversary throughout 2026. This release is the first part of CFSEK’s new story series honoring the 25-year history of the organization, while also looking ahead to the next 25 years of positive impact in Southeast Kansas.

Wednesday, February 28th, 2001, was a day of philanthropic beginnings in Southeast Kansas that would create a positive impact for decades to come, even if the 23 community leaders present didn’t fully realize it at the time. That afternoon at Crestwood Country Club, the Pittsburg Area Community Foundation was founded to serve the people of the Pittsburg area.

Growing quickly, in May of 2005, it was determined that the name should be changed to the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas because the organization was already serving communities outside of Pittsburg and Crawford County. What started as a goal of serving people in one community quickly grew into a dream of helping people throughout the entire Southeast Kansas region.

“It’s incredible to see how a simple goal set by a small group of community leaders blossomed into a regional powerhouse for good,” said CFSEK Executive Director Devin Gorman. “Over the last 25 years, CFSEK has become the bridge between passionate donors and the most pressing needs of our communities, proving that when Southeast Kansans pull together, we can do incredible things. ”

In the 25 years since CFSEK’s founding, more than $28 million has been reinvested directly back into Southeast Kansas to causes and projects that help make our corner of the state a great place to call home!

“The $28 million we’ve granted since 2001 represents more than just a number; it represents new programs and services, new community amenities, vital healthcare support, thousands of student scholarships, critical support for our local nonprofits, and so much more. Past leaders of this organization have succeeded in growing from a single office into a regional catalyst for change that touches every corner of Southeast Kansas,” said Gorman.

CFSEK has seen many changes over the past 25 years. The Foundation’s physical growth mirrors its community impact—moving from a single, borrowed office at the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce to its current home in the Commerce Bank building, and expanding from a lone part-time employee to a dedicated full-time staff of six. Through it all, the goal has stayed the same: benefiting the common good and the quality of life in Southeast Kansas.

“Our first quarter-century was about building a foundation of trust and generosity that would be a permanent resource for our region. The next 25 years will be about building on that legacy—ensuring that Southeast Kansas remains a vibrant, thriving place to call home for future generations,” said Gorman.

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas awarded over $2.8 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2025 and has facilitated over $28 million in total granting to Southeast Kansas since its inception in 2001. CFSEK serves the region by providing donors with various charitable interests and encouraging charitable giving, which addresses present and future needs in our area. The Columbus Area, Fort Scott Area, and Girard Area Community Foundations are affiliates of CFSEK. More information about CFSEK is available at SoutheastKansas.org.

2026 CHC/SEK Community Health Needs Assessment

Regional Health Challenges Highlighted in New CHC/SEK Study

PITTSBURG, Kan.—The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) has released the results of its 2026 Community Health Needs Assessment—a detailed look at the biggest health challenges facing people in Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma. The organization conducts this study every three years to determine what matters most when it comes to healthcare and how best to help.

To create the assessment, CHC/SEK staff talked directly with patients through surveys, interviews, and group discussions. Additionally, staff consulted a wide variety of public health data as well as needs assessments from other local health organizations. The organization’s board of directors, many of whom are patients themselves, helped guide the work.

“At CHC/SEK, listening is at the heart of what we do. Our neighbors know what they need when it comes to healthcare, and as a local organization, we’re committed to hearing them as we plan ahead,” said Jason Wesco, CHC/SEK President and Chief Strategy Officer.

Why Where You Live Matters for Your Health
CHC/SEK staff looked at how living conditions affect people’s ability to get care and stay healthy. Studies show that up to 70% of a person’s health is shaped by their environment outside the doctor’s office—where they are born, where they live, and where they work. Especially in rural areas, these everyday conditions create major obstacles to good health and contribute to higher disease rates.

What’s Getting in the Way
CHC/SEK identified several barriers to better health in the region:

  • Fewer people living in rural areas and changing demographics
  • Struggles with poverty and finances
  • Shortage of healthcare providers and difficulty accessing care
  • Challenges with housing and community infrastructure
  • Lack of affordable childcare
  • Social isolation and weak community connections
  • Gaps in education and unhealthy habits

Top Health Problems
The region sees higher-than-average rates of chronic disease, mental health issues, and preventable deaths. The most common health problems include heart disease, cancer, obesity and lack of physical activity, diabetes, mental health conditions, substance use, lung disease, pregnancy and infant health challenges, injuries and accidental deaths, and Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

What Comes Next
Based on what was learned, CHC/SEK has developed a strategic plan that includes specific programs, more efficient use of resources, and partnerships with other organizations—all aimed at tackling health challenges while making care easier to access and focusing on prevention.

“Our region faces serious challenges: a shrinking population, widespread poverty, fewer healthcare resources, and rising costs. Healthcare providers can’t just keep doing things the old way—we need new approaches to long-standing problems,” said Wesco. “Working together isn’t optional; it’s essential if we want healthier communities. We hope this report sparks conversations and leads to action as we build a healthier future for everyone.”

The full CHC/SEK Community Health Needs Assessment is available at chcsek.org/2026/02/2026-chna.

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About Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) serves as a healthcare hub for communities in Kansas and Oklahoma. CHC/SEK delivers quality, integrated care to nearly 90,000 patients each year with a goal of improving health, sustaining rural communities, and providing purpose-driven work to 950 staff members. Beyond healthcare, CHC/SEK finds innovative ways to improve lives by focusing on education, housing, and transportation. Regardless of income or insurance status, CHC/SEK ensures everyone receives the care they need. For more information, visit chcsek.org.

 

 

Nevada Hospital Offers Free, Take-home Colon Cancer Screening Kits

 

 NRMC to Make Free Colon Kits Available

 

 

 

Nevada Regional Medical Center is joining other healthcare organizations around the country to observe Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month during March.  Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, with about 2 million cases diagnosed each year. It is the second leading cause of cancer death despite the fact that effective screening techniques exist that can greatly reduce the number of deaths.

NRMC Internal Medicine physician, Dr. John Fox recently said, “The good news is that a simple colonoscopy allows a physician to quickly spot and remove polyps before they ever become cancerous.  It’s one of the few cancers that we can spot early and deal with before it becomes a problem.”

NRMC will have free, take home colon cancer screening kits available to the public starting Monday, March 2nd, throughout the month as supplies last.  The kits can be picked up any weekday between 8:00 and 4:30 at the Information Desk in the hospital’s main lobby.  Instructions on how to mail in the samples are provided with the kits.  For further information the public is asked to call 417-448-3710.

 

 

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About Nevada Regional Medical Center
Serving a six-county area since 1937, NRMC is a 71-bed acute, intensive and skilled care hospital providing comprehensive health care services.  Staff represent more than a dozen medical specialties including ear, nose & throat, family practice, general surgery, gynecology, internal medicine, orthopedics, pain management, pediatrics, psychiatry and wound care services. Additionally, consultation clinics are held regularly by specialists in cardiology, dermatology, neurology, podiatry, pulmonology and urology.

NRMC is centrally located between Kansas City and Joplin along the I-49 corridor.

 

 

 

Night to Remember Prom for Special Needs Individuals Is Feb. 27

 

Jack Roberts enjoys a meal at a prior prom for people with special needs. Submitted photos.

Two nearby Missouri congregations are planning a special prom event for people with special needs. Food, dancing, prizes, and games will help make the night one to remember.

“Maybe you’ve heard of Tim Tebow’s ‘Night to Shine'”, Pastor Kevin Moyers asked. ” Rinehart Christian Church and Community Christian Church in Nevada are teaming up to have a  ‘Night to Remember’ for special needs people in our area.

The event will be held at the Rinehart Christian Church, located northwest of Nevada, at 9443 S. 900 Road, Richards, MO on February 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. It is a casual dress event.

A prior prom event participant at the walk-in. Submitted photo.

“The churches are really excited to offer this special evening,”  according to Pastor Moyers, “We want to send a message that Jesus loves everybody.  Oftentimes, this is a group of people that is overlooked by the world, but to be sure they are not overlooked by Jesus.”

 “He loves everyone the same, and this will be a night that we emphasize that message.  We’ll have fun, and there will be great food provided and games and dancing, all in a Christian atmosphere.”

A participant at a prior prom event for special needs people. Submitted photos.

“The theme for the evening will be ‘Enchanted Forest.’  There will be a walk-in at 5 p.m. and the event itself will be from 6-8 p.m, including a meal that will be served,” Moyers said.

“Cooper Black, from the Nevada area, has volunteered to be the disc jockey for the night.  There will be a good amount of Christian music played, along with line-dancing music, and bingo will be an option too.  Prizes will be given out to people all through the evening, and prizes for bingo winners.”

“Several Nevada businesses are making this special evening possible, along with the two churches.  Food is being provided through the money donations, and also the prizes for the evening.  We will have a special acknowledgement and thank you to those businesses after the event.”

Participants at a prior prom event for special needs people. Submitted photo.

“Pictures will be taken by Alisha Walker.  A video will be put together of the event by Marli Walker.  Be sure to watch for all of this on the church’s  FACEBOOK pages after the event.”

“The churches have been planning this event for a few months, and have a team of volunteers that have taken a leadership role.” Moyers said.

  Josh Smith is the Pastor at the Community Christian Church in Nevada.

A prior prom event participant. Submitted photo.
Tri-Valley Developmental Services, Fort Scott, will have some participants in this event, special guests.

“People have been responding to the invitations given, and we’re expecting around 100 people to attend as special guests.  These folks are from Nevada, El Dorado Springs, and Fort Scott.”

“If the public would like to come for the walk-in at 5 p.m. they are welcome to come and cheer on the special guests as they arrive.”

A prior prom event participant. Submitted photo.

Mt. Carmel Foundation Grants Application Period Starts

CFSEK Launches Annual Mt. Carmel Foundation Legacy Grant Cycle

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is excited to announce the opening of the 2026 Mount Carmel Foundation Grant Cycle, with an application period from February 1-28, 2026.

On April 14, 1903, the Mount Carmel Hospital in Pittsburg opened its doors. For over 100 years, the hospital was a cornerstone of healthcare in the Southeast Kansas community. The Mount Carmel Foundation (MCF) was formed in 1983 to ensure everyone in Southeast Kansas had access to quality healthcare. That mission continues today through the Mount Carmel Foundation Legacy grants through CFSEK.

“The success of our inaugural cycle last year proved that the spirit of the Mount Carmel Foundation is still very much alive in Southeast Kansas,” said Devin Gorman, CFSEK Executive Director. “Being able to facilitate the largest grant cycle in CFSEK’s history was a proud moment for all of us. We are eager to keep that momentum going in 2026, partnering with nonprofit providers to strengthen healthcare throughout our region.”

The Mount Carmel Foundation Legacy Grant Cycle through CFSEK is open to nonprofit healthcare providers in Southeast Kansas that share the vision of the Mount Carmel Foundation: to provide high-quality, affordable healthcare for SEK residents.

Applications are available at SoutheastKansas.org/Grant-App, and more information about the granting fund is available at SoutheastKansas.org/MtCarmel.

Nevada Welcomes New Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

NRMC Welcomes Child Psychiatrist

Nevada Regional Medical Center (NRMC) is pleased to welcome Dr. Janell Tabora to our team of specialty physicians.  Dr. Tabora is a Board Certified Psychiatrist, specially trained in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Focusing on a holistic approach to treatment, Dr. Tabora enjoys listening to a patient’s life journey to select the right path toward mental health and wellness.  Some common conditions that Dr. Tabora can evaluate are the following:

  • ADHD
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Attachment disorders
  • Autism
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Depression
  • Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
  • Early Onset Schizophrenia
  • Eating disorders
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Oppositional defiant disorder
  • Panic disorder
  • Personality disorders
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

 

Dr. Tabora is accepting new patients, ages 5 to 25, via convenient telehealth visits.  When on-site, her office is located within the Primary Care Clinic.  Appointments can be made by calling 417-448-3600.

 

Nevada Hospital CEO Responds to Lawsuit From City of Joplin

Nevada Regional Medical Center (NRMC) is a longstanding regional provider of inpatient medical and
psychiatric services caring for patients from across the state. We treat patients regardless of their economic
and housing status. There currently is a significant shortage of facilities and professionals who care for
patients with mental and behavioral health conditions in the state and the nation. Some of these patients
come from Joplin. Our duty is to care for patients regardless of their circumstances. Once treatment is
completed at NRMC and there is a safe discharge plan, patients are discharged. NRMC respects the
freedom of all patients to go about their lives following their discharge from the hospital. NRMC cannot
hold patients without a Court Order.
The City of Joplin has voiced public concerns, singled out NRMC and has filed a lawsuit about patients
discharged from NRMC who traveled to Joplin. Unfortunately, other than a threatening letter and the
lawsuit, the City has made no attempt to talk about this issue, discover the actual facts of the discharges in
question, or to resolve what they believe is the problem. It is unclear why the City of Joplin is pursuing
legal action against another governmental entity in the State that also struggles to provide services to the
homeless. NRMC emphatically denies all claims of inappropriate discharges from the hospital. The two
patients who chose to travel to Joplin in 2025 following discharge is not a material contributor to the
number of homeless in Joplin. Further, cities receive state and federal funds to assist in providing many
forms of public services in their community. This financial assistance is not limited to or intended
exclusively for citizens that originate from the community.
NRMC still invites and welcomes an open and sincere conversation with the City of Joplin. I’m confident
that there is a peaceful and cost-effective solution to this problem.

Sincerely, Jason McCormick, CEO of NRMC

Heartland REC Expands Future Foundations Scholarship Program to 12 Awards

Taken from the Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative website.

GIRARD, Kan.  — Applications are now open for the 2026 Future Foundations Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships of $1,000 each to high school seniors who live in homes served by Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative and are preparing for careers in high-demand fields.

This year marks an expansion from eight scholarships to 12, with three scholarships available in each of Heartland’s four voting districts.

The program provides financial support to students in Heartland-served households who are pursuing careers in nursing, teaching, and the skilled trades at Kansas-based schools.

“We’re seeing a critical need for skilled workers across our communities,” said Doug Graham, Heartland REC Communication Specialist. “Whether it’s nurses, teachers, or tradespeople, these careers are essential to ensuring our rural communities can continue to thrive.”

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be a current high school senior with a minimum 2.0 GPA
  • Live in a household served by Heartland REC
  • Plan to enroll in a Kansas-based trade school, training program, or college for fall 2026
  • Be pursuing a career in nursing, teaching, or a skilled trade including linework, plumbing, HVAC, construction, IT, and others

Applicants must submit a completed application form, two letters of recommendation, and an official high school transcript by end of day Friday, March 13, 2026. Scholarship recipients will be selected through a random drawing and notified by April 1, 2026.

Complete eligibility requirements and the application form are available at heartland-rec.com. Questions can be directed to Doug Graham at (620) 724-5526 or [email protected].

About Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. powers rural lifestyles throughout more than 11,000 locations in eastern Kansas. Heartland’s service area includes members in 12 counties, including Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Miami, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties.

Heartland REC is a non-profit, member-owned cooperative that traces its roots back to three original rural electric cooperatives: Cooperative Electric Power & Light Company in Iola, Sugar Valley Electric Cooperative Association in Mound City, and Sekan Electric Cooperative Association in Girard. Cooperative Electric Power & Light Company joined with Sugar Valley in 1975 to form United Electric Cooperative; United Electric Cooperative joined with Sekan Electric Cooperative Association in 1996

New Book Titles in the SEK Library System

The SEKnFind Newsletter
December 2025

We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog.
This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold.
Need assistance? Your local librarian can show you how!
Happy Reading!

New Fiction

Best Offer Wins
by Marisa Kashino

A desperate buyer on the edge. In Marisa Kashino’s darkly humorous debut novel, Best Offer Wins, the white picket fence becomes the ultimate symbol of success–and obsession. How far would you go for the house of your dreams? Eighteen months and 11 lost bidding wars into house-hunting in the overheated Washington, DC suburbs, 37-year-old publicist Margo Miyake gets a tip about the perfect house, in the perfect neighborhood, slated to come up for sale in one month. Desperate to escape the cramped apartment she shares with her husband Ian — and in turn, get their marriage, plan to have a baby, and whole life back on track — Margo becomes obsessed with buying the house before it’s publicly listed and the masses descend (with unbeatable, all-cash offers in hand). A little stalking? Harmless. A bit of trespassing? Necessary. As Margo infiltrates the homeowners’ lives, her tactics grow increasingly unhinged–but just when she thinks she’s won them over, she hits a snag in her plan. Undeterred, Margo will prove again and again that there’s no boundary she won’t cross to seize the dream life she’s been chasing. The most unsettling part? You’ll root for her, even as you gasp in disbelief. Dark, biting, and laugh-out-loud funny, Best Offer Wins is a propulsive debut and a razor-sharp exploration of class, ambition, and the modern housing crisis.

Peter Pulaski Must Pay
by Jen Lancaster

Call to order the Friday Night Doom Crew. They’re an eclectic group of true-crime enthusiasts–a forensic psychologist, historian, and popular Instagram presence among them–dedicated to sleuthing out nefarious offenders and doing whatever it takes to set things right. But when dark secrets threaten one of their own, the Doom Crew grapples with how far they are willing to go to protect her Diana Pulaski is the crew’s meticulously organized beating heart whose physician husband, Peter, is secretly a swindler behind an illegal pill mill, not to mention a loathsome cheater involved in an online romance. When they discover the truth, the amateur vigilantes have a plan to make Peter pay. Unfortunately, the closer Diana’s friends are to hunting Peter down, the closer they get to discovering a secret Diana has been hiding–

The Wrong Sister
by Claire Douglas

In this sensational thriller from the number-one internationally bestselling author, two sisters discover that the secrets they keep from each other prove to be deadly.–Provided by publisher.

The Forget-Me-Not Library
by Heather Webber

Juliet Nightingale is lucky to be alive. Months after a freak accident involving lightning, she’s fully recovered but is left feeling that something is missing from her life. Something big. Impulsively, she decides to take a solo summer road trip, hoping that the journey will lead her down a path that will help her discover exactly what it is that she’s searching for. Newly single mom Tallulah Byrd Mayfield is hanging by a thread after her neat, tidy world was completely undone when her husband decided that their marriage was over. In the aftermath of the breakup, she and her two daughters move in with her eighty-year-old grandfather. Tallulah starts a new job at the Forget-Me-Not Library, where old, treasured memories can be found within the books-and where Lu must learn to adapt to the many changes thrown her way. When a road detour leads Juliet to Forget-Me-Not, Alabama, and straight into Tallulah’s life, the two women soon discover there’s magic in between the pages of where you’ve been and where you still need to go. And that happiness, even when lost, can always be found again–

Dead Ringer
by Chris Hauty

Set in present-day, a disgraced former Secret Service [officer] and a Jesuit professor join forces to delve into the mysteries surrounding the events of November 22, 1963. Fixated on deciphering the conspiracies behind the history-changing assassination, they are oblivious to the fact that the cabal is still active–and may face an end as bloody as the carnage in Dealey Plaza. Will they be able to uncover the truth in time? Or will they become two more footnotes in history?–

Second Chance Romance: A Harlot’s Bay Novel
by Olivia Dade

Karl and Molly were never together. There was a time, right after high school, where it seemed like they might finally cross the line from friends to lovers–but instead, a foolish misunderstanding meant they never spoke again. Molly went to LA and got married. Karl stayed in Harlot’s Bay and bought a bakery. The only connection the pair has shared over the years is painfully one-sided: now divorced, Molly narrates monster romance audiobooks, and Karl is an ever-diligent listener, clinging to his only piece of the one that got away. Still, Molly hasn’t totally left Harlot’s Bay behind. When she hears that Karl’s obituary has run in the local paper, unexpected grief prompts her to hop on the next flight to Maryland–where she finds Karl very much alive, the victim of nothing but an accidental obituary–

It Was Her House First
by Cherie Priest

Venita Rost, a former silent film star, has stayed put for the last century-fuming and raging, luring investors and ambitious DIYers to their doom in her haunted home on the cliff. But her nemesis also remains: a once-famous detective she blames for the death of her daughter. Inspector Bartholomew Sloan blames himself, too. He couldn’t save Priscilla any more than he could save his best friend from the noose. Or save himself from Venita’s wrath. Now all he can do is watch as Venita lures each new owner to their death, trapped in this house of horror he helped create and unable to do anything to stop it–

I, Medusa
by Ayana Gray

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER – From New York Times bestselling author Ayana Gray comes a captivating villain origin story (People Book of the Week), reimagining one of the most iconic monsters in Greek mythology as a provocative and powerful young heroine. Out of place next to her beautiful, immortal sisters and her parents–both gods, albeit minor ones–she dreams of leaving her family’s island for a life of adventure. So when she catches the eye of the goddess Athena, who invites her to train as an esteemed priestess in her temple, Meddy leaps at the chance to see the world beyond her home. In the colorful market streets of Athens and the clandestine chambers of the temple, Meddy flourishes in her role as Athena’s favored acolyte, getting her first tastes of purpose and power. But when she is noticed by another Olympian, Poseidon, the course of Meddy’s promising future is suddenly and irrevocably altered. When her locs are transformed into snakes as punishment for a crime she did not commit, Medusa must embrace a new identity–not as a victim, but as a vigilante–and with it, the chance to write her own story as mortal, martyr, and myth. Exploding with rage, heartbreak, and love, I, Medusa portrays a young woman caught in the crosscurrents between her heart’s deepest desires and the cruel, careless games the Olympian gods play.

Cold Eternity
by S. A. Barnes

Halley is on the run from an interplanetary political scandal that has put a huge target on her back. She heads for what seems like the perfect place to lay low: a gigantic space barge storing the cryogenically frozen bodies of Earth’s most fortunate citizens from more than a century ago… The cryo program, created by trillionaire tech genius Zale Winfeld, is long defunct, and the AI hologram hosts, ghoulishly created in the likeness of Winfeld’s three adult children, are glitchy. The ship feels like a crypt, and the isolation gets to Halley almost immediately. She starts to see figures crawling in the hallways, and there’s a constant scraping, slithering, and rattling echoing in the vents. It’s not long before Halley realizes she may have gotten herself trapped in an even more dangerous situation than the one she was running from…–Provided by publisher.

Pariah
by Dan Fesperman

A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF 2025 – An adrenaline-fueled thriller about a disgraced comedian-turned-politician who takes on the role of a lifetime: infiltrating a corrupt Eastern European country to spy on their brutal dictator.

Wild Instinct
by T. Jefferson Parker

The hunt for the truth is the deadliest game. Lew Gale, a former Marine sniper, now an Orange County California Sheriff’s detective, is assigned to track and shoot a mountain lion that has killed a man in Caspers Park, located in the rugged country east of Laguna Beach, California. The victim is Bennet Tarlow, a rich developer and man-about-town in upscale coastal Orange County. The investigation takes a chilling turn when Lew and his new partner, Daniela Mendez, discover that Bennet was dead long before the lion got to him. And while Bennet might have been the first to die, he certainly will not be the last–

The Pride of Texas
by Dusty Richards

Twin brothers Andrew and Jackson Franks have lived and worked under the iron fist of their father, Prior, for as long as they can remember. But when a petty household argument turns violent and Prior shoots and kills their mother before turning the gun upon himself, the boys are left with nothing but each other and the family’s hardscrabble South Texas ranch. Andrew’s a planner and a thinker, while Jackson’s a workhorse with a stubborn streak a couple miles wide. They’ve both got dreams of climbing out of the dust to become real Texas cattleman, but they’ll need a hell of a lot more than hope to make it happen. They’ll need luck, too, a whole damn heap of it… and it comes in a form they never imagined.

New Audiobooks

The Tin Men
by Nelson DeMille

At a top-secret Army training facility in the Mojave Desert, Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor plunge into a deadly web of military intrigue, AI technology, and robot soldiers as they unravel the shocking murder of a senior scientist in this gripping thriller from New York Times bestselling authors Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille.

Evil Bones
by Kathy Reichs

Kathy Reichs returns with a twisty, magnetic thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, who finds herself enmeshed in a series of grisly animal killings that escalate into something far more sinister.

The Tortoise’s Tale
by Kendra Coulter

Snatched from her ancestral lands, a giant tortoise finds herself in an exclusive estate in southern California where she becomes an astute observer of societal change. Her journey is one of discovery, as she learns to embrace the music of jazz and the warmth of human connection. Through each era, the tortoise remains a refreshingly honest, humble, and endearing narrator.

New Nonfiction

Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books
by Hwang Bo-Reum

From the author of the international bestseller Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop, a heartfelt invitation to reflect on your relationship with reading and celebrate the joys of books.

The Crone Zone: How to Get Older with Style, Nerve, and a Little Bit of Magic
by Nina Bargiel

A crone-inspired lifestyle guide centered on connecting with the wisdom of age, understanding one’s own desires, and learning to do as one pleases– Provided by publisher.

The Best True Crime Stories of the Year 2025
by Book Author

Bestselling author Douglas Preston selects the best true crime writing from the past year, aided by series editor Pete Crooks, to produce an eclectic collection of intriguing, mysterious, and exciting true tales.

The Tree of Life: Solving Science’s Greatest Puzzle
by Max Telford

Taking readers inside one of science’s most ambitious projects, a leading evolutionary biologist offers a definitive portrait of life’s family tree.

Gardenista: The Low-Impact Garden: A Guide to Creating Sustainable Outdoor Spaces
by Kendra Wilson

In Gardenista The Low Impact Garden, author Kendra Wilson covers everything you need to know to create a garden that’s good for the planet, and to create beautiful and well designed outdoor spaces. This comprehensive guide to eco conscious gardening features in depth garden tours of all sorts, from a wildflower prairie in the Midwest to an indoor outdoor garden in London, a forest garden in Vancouver to a permaculture garden in Australia. There are breakouts on specific garden types, like front yards and rooftop gardens, as well as practical advice on green approaches to key garden elements, lawns, soil, trees and shrubs, water, and even pools. With three hundred and fifty full color photographs, a round up of standout eco conscious garden tools, expert advice, resources, and more, Gardenista The Low Impact Garden is the ultimate handbook for creating sustainable outdoor spaces– Provided by publisher.

Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking
by Pyet DeSpain

Next Level Chef winner Pyet De Spain celebrates her Mexican and Native American heritage in this collection of mouthwatering recipes, a vibrant fusion that ties us to the land and to one another.Star chef Pyet DeSpain rose to prominence as the first winner of Gordon Ramsey’s Fox television show Next Level Chef. Now, in her debut cookbook, she shares the joy of cooking fueled by her burning passion for Native American and Mexican American cuisine. Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking is a tribute to her dual heritage–a gorgeously crafted celebration of the diversity of food and the stories, traditions, culture, and profound philosophies of Indigenous people that season each meal.Pyet shows you how to incorporate a delicious range of key ingredients–from venison, dandelion greens, to sunchokes, bison, and native berries–into more than sixty fusion dishes. Family and friends will be excited to gather around the table to enjoy sweet and savory food such as: Three Sisters SaladBison and Sweet Corn SoupFry BreadMexican Chocolate & Mezcal CakeCorn Silk and Honey TeaWojapi BBQ SauceIn addition to her inventive and palate pleasing recipes, Pyet invites home cooks to honor the seasons on our beautiful Earth and connect with essential foodways. This is more than just a cookbook, Pyet writes. It’s giving a voice to Indigenous people, while also highlighting the fusion of my two cultures with fire and purpose.

The Heart-Shaped Tin: Love, Loss, and Kitchen Objects
by Bee Wilson

Heart-wrenching and heartwarming in equal measure. No one is so good at capturing the everyday magic of kitchens, cooking, and life as Bee Wilson. –Letitia Clark, author of Bitter Honey

Scrap Quilts from Crumbs, Strips and Strings: Use Up Every Last Piece with 15 Scrap Quilt Patterns
by Emily Bailey

Every piece must go with this practical guide to quilt making by using even the tiniest pieces of scrap fabric from your stash. No piece is too small when you follow author Emily Bailey’s advice on how to turn all your fabric crumbs, strips and string scraps into beautiful patchwork quilts and quilted projects.Includes step-by-step instructions for how to turn fabric scraps into pieces of patch-worked fabric to use in quilted projects.Author Emily Bailey explains how to use modern cutting techniques like the AccuQuilt cutter to make scrap quilting quicker and easier.Includes 15 patterns for quilted projects including full-size bed quilts, through to smaller projects for quicker makes. This is the ultimate zero waste guide to patchwork and quilting, designed to get you raiding your stash and turning your scraps into beautiful finished makes.

Dog Only Knows: The Dog Portraits of Alison Friend
by Alison Friend

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER Dog Only Knows is the perfect gift for dog lovers, featuring over 125 irresistible portraits by acclaimed artist Alison Friend–each uniquely mischievous, funny, and full of personality. Meet Midge, who keeps her mind sharp with a Rubik’s Cube. Alan, who looks like a million dollars in his new harness. Lola, whose motto is People to see, bums to sniff. Chupa Chops–how did he unwrap that lollipop? The oh-so-earnest Clive, who does everything–biscuit eating, squirrel chasing, ball fetching–with a single-minded focus. Irrepressible Debbie, who loves cocktail night, and Little Louis, a chain-smoking existentialist who can’t stop chewing over the canine condition. Usually with an espresso. Welcome to Alison Friend’s world of dogs, a singular and very special place created by an artist with a unique gift for depicting that ineffable thing we call character–dog characters, actually–using oil paint, empathy, techniques of the Old Masters, and an imagination like no other. With their big expressive eyes and Mona Lisa smiles, charming habits and childlike pleasures, the subjects of these portraits seem all too human yet fantastically doglike. Perfectly capturing–as Little Louis would tell you–the canine condition, like you’ve never seen it before.

Brothers of the Gun: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and a Reckoning in Tombstone
by Mark Lee Gardner

Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday: legendary gunfighters and friends who gained immortality because of a thirty-second shootout near a livery stable called the O.K. Corral. Their friendship actually began three years before that iconic 1881 gunfight, in the rollicking cattle town of Dodge City. Wyatt, an assistant city marshal, was surrounded by armed, belligerent cowboys. Doc saw Wyatt’s predicament from a monte table in the Long Branch saloon and burst out the door with two leveled revolvers shouting, ‘Throw up your hands!’ The startled cowboys did, and Wyatt and Doc led them off to jail. Wyatt credited Doc with saving his life, and thus began their lasting–and curious–friendship. In this … dual biography, … the lives of these two men, one a sometime lawman and the other a sometime dentist, are chronicled in a swirling tableau of saloons, brothels, gambling dens, stage holdups, arrests, manhunts, and revenge killings–

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CHC/SEK Announces New Pharmacy Residency Program

PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) has expanded its graduate medical education offerings with the addition of a community-based pharmacy residency program.

CHC/SEK, with a long-standing commitment to clinical education, also offers a family medicine residency developed in partnership with the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Both residency programs were created to address the healthcare workforce shortage by cultivating a new generation of professionals committed to delivering quality, compassionate care to rural communities.

Located in Pittsburg, Kansas, the 52-week program enables residents to build upon the skills learned in pharmacy school and provides them with hands-on experience caring for underserved and rural populations. Each year, CHC/SEK will welcome two pharmacy residents, and the first class will arrive in June 2026. The residents will join the team at Apothecare, CHC/SEK’s in-house pharmacy.

“Residents will become an integral part of our healthcare team, learning not just by observation but by taking an active role in patient care,” said Amanda Treiber, PharmD, CHC/SEK Director of Pharmacy. “Supported by dedicated preceptors and a culture of continuous learning, residents will receive structured training that empowers them to grow as empathetic, skilled, and community-focused pharmacists.”

Residents will develop expertise in patient-centered care, education, leadership, administration, pharmacy practice, professional development, specialty pharmacy, and the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, which helps ensure patients have access to lower-cost medications.

“One of the standout features of this program is the opportunity it offers residents to explore many different aspects of community pharmacy practice,” said Megan Martin, PharmD, CHC/SEK Pharmacy Residency Program Director. “It’s our goal to help residents find fulfillment in their careers while equipping them with the skills and experiences they need to excel as pharmacists.”

The program features a personalized approach to professional development, giving residents the flexibility to explore and expand their expertise in their areas of interest. “We’ll tailor each resident’s experience by aligning their training with their personal career goals. For example, if a resident has an interest in specialty pharmacy, we’ll include additional time and mentorship with our specialty pharmacy team,” said Treiber.

Through this residency program, CHC/SEK strives to nurture a strong commitment to caring for all patients, regardless of their financial circumstances, and ensuring they have the medications they need. “This program provides the foundation for a career defined by leadership, compassion, purpose, and lifelong learning,” said Martin. “This is a wonderful opportunity for residents to grow their clinical skills while making a meaningful impact on countless patients’ lives.”

The CHC/SEK pharmacy residency program has an accreditation pre-candidate status with American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

CHC/SEK is currently accepting applications into the program. For more information, contact Megan Martin at 620-258-5731 or [email protected], or visit chcsek.org/pharmacy-residency.

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About Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) serves as a healthcare hub for communities in Kansas and Oklahoma. CHC/SEK delivers quality, integrated care to nearly 90,000 patients each year with a goal of improving health, sustaining rural communities, and providing purpose-driven work to 950 staff members. Beyond healthcare, CHC/SEK finds innovative ways to improve lives by focusing on education, housing, and transportation. Regardless of income or insurance status, CHC/SEK ensures everyone receives the care they need. For more information, visit chcsek.org.

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CHCSEK Announces New Pharmacy Residency Program 12-18-25.docx

Bourbon County Local News