Category Archives: Area News

Viral Infections On The Rise In The Region

A Note from the Bourbon County  Health Officer:
Rebecca Johnson, SEKMCHD Director.
As respiratory illnesses such as colds, flu, COVID-19, and other viral infections are on the rise in our region, it is crucial for our community to take preventive measures to protect both individual and public health. The SEK Multi-County Health Department is urging everyone to be vigilant in practicing habits that can reduce the risk of infection and help control the spread of these viruses.Here are some key steps everyone can take:

  1. Practice Good Hand Hygiene: Regularly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of viruses.
  1. Wear a Mask: Masks are particularly important in crowded or enclosed spaces where social distancing may be difficult. They help reduce the transmission of respiratory droplets.
  1. Cover Coughs and Sneezes: Always use a tissue or your elbow to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. This simple action helps prevent the spread of germs to others.
  1. Stay Home if You Are Sick: If you are experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness, please stay home to avoid spreading the virus to others. Rest and recovery are essential for your health and the health of our community.
  1. Get Vaccinated: Staying up to date with your flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine (when available) is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and others from serious illness. You may also want to consider getting the RSV vaccine if you are pregnant or are 60 years or older.

We encourage everyone to follow these guidelines and stay informed about the latest public health recommendations. Together, we can make a significant impact in reducing the spread of respiratory viruses in our community.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. By working together, we can keep our community healthy and safe.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Johnson, BSN, RN

Administrator/SEK Local Health Officer

SEK Multi-County Health Department

 

 

 

Becky Johnson, BSN-RN
Administrator/SEK Local Health Officer
SEK Multi-County Health Department
Address 524 S Lowman St, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Website www.sekmchd.com/   Email [email protected]
Phone (620)223-4464   Fax (620) 223-1686

Several Bourbon County Entities Awarded CFSK Grants

CFSEK Awards $170,000 to SEK Nonprofits

 

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is excited to announce General Funds grants totaling $170,000 have been awarded to 65 nonprofit organizations across 23 counties in Southeast Kansas.

 

The areas of Basic Human Needs, Youth Activities, and Arts & Culture are the focus of the CFSEK General Funds competitive grant process. Proposals for projects in these focus areas were accepted during the month of June. Submissions were reviewed, and selections for funding were completed late last month.

 

“We are continually inspired by the commitment of our nonprofit partners in Southeast Kansas, and we take pride in supporting their impactful work,” said Devin Gorman, CFSEK Executive Director. “These organizations deliver a diverse range of programs, services, and activities that significantly enhance our community. We know these grants will truly benefit Southeast Kansas as a whole.”

 

Since 2004, competitive granting from funds directly managed by CFSEK have provided over $1.8 million to organizations throughout Southeast Kansas. Competitive granting differs from other granting provided by CFSEK, such as donor-advised grants, designated grants, field of interest grants, and others. Since its inception in 2001, CFSEK has provided over $22 million in total grant funding throughout Southeast Kansas.

 

The following organizations and projects were awarded funds from the 2024 General Funds grant process:

 

Arts & Culture – $5,200

  • Big Brutus, Inc. – Brutus Fest 2025
  • Family Resource Center, Inc. – Children’s Art Gala
  • Howard City Library – Culture Experience
  • Josiah Fletcher Foundation – Scholarships for Jazz Camp
  • Spring River Mental Health and Wellness – Pathfinders
  • USD 404 Riverton – Elementary Cafeteria

 

Basic Human Needs – $71,800

  • Care Cupboard Hygiene Pantry – This Is How We Roll
  • Catholic Charities, Inc. – Housing and Homeless Services
  • Catholic Diocese of Wichita – The Lord’s Diner-Pittsburg – Weekend Nutrition Matters
  • CLASS LTD – AED Access for Individuals with IDD
  • Coffey Health System – Commitment to Excellence, Baby Approved
  • Community Food Pantry Fund – Milk Money
  • Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas – Southeast Kansas Diaper Stock
  • Cornerstones of Care – Stopping the Spiral
  • Crosstimbers Food Pantry Association – Feeding the Need
  • DBLO Association – Beds for Children in Need
  • Dream Center of the 4 States – Help and Hope
  • Families and Children Together, Inc. – Starting with the Basics
  • First Baptist Church Riverton – Share with Love Food Pantry
  • First United Methodist Church Wesley House – Food for Families
  • Fort Scott Community College – Greyhound Pantry Upgrade
  • Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries – Family Empowerment and Stability
  • Happy Kids Daycare & Preschool, Inc. – Safety First
  • Homer Cole Community Center Inc – Ensuring Guest Safety and Keepin’ Up Appearances
  • Howard City Library – Drinking Water Availability
  • Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc. – Welcome Home
  • Humanity House Foundation – Feeding Allen County 2024
  • Integrated Behavioral Technologies, Inc. – Individual ABA Start-up Kits for Children in Autism Program
  • Labette County Emergency Assistance Center – Emergency Funds for Labette County Families
  • McCune Lions Club – Restroom Addition to Pavilion
  • Mosaic – Ensuring Safety, Security and Well Being
  • Sacred Heart Parish – Enhancing Client Access to Quality Frozen Meat
  • SEK-CAP – Safe Homes
  • Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging – TC Fund All Counties
  • Southwind Extension Education Foundation Inc – Kitchen Restore
  • The Beacon Inc. – Maintaining Food Assistance
  • The Salvation Army – Pittsburg Home Goods Pantry and Personal Hygiene Items

 

Youth Activities – $93,000

  • Altamont Public Library – Youth Activity Area
  • Caney Valley Agape Network, Inc. – Grandfamilies and Youth Support
  • Chanute Public Library – Literacy4Littles
  • Cherry Street Youth Center, Inc. – Garden Improvements
  • City of Galena – City Park Splashpad Shade
  • City of Girard – Diving into Summer with New Diving Boards
  • City of Mulberry – Mulberry Ball Park Improvements
  • Columbus Area Community Foundation – Youth Activities Granting
  • Columbus USD 493- Park Elementary – Sensory/Focus Room
  • Crawford County Fair Association – Show Arena and Livestock Barn Paint Upgrade
  • Curious Minds Discovery Zone, Inc. – Backyard Exhibit Landscaping
  • Eden Early Learning Academy – Sensory Play in Safe Spaces
  • Families and Children Together Inc. – Here Comes the Sun
  • First United Methodist Church Wesley House – The Cozy Kids, Coats for Kids Program
  • Fort Scott Area Community Foundation – Youth Activities Granting
  • Fostering Connections – Sleep in Safety Program
  • Friends of Crawford State Park via Kansas Wildscape Foundation – Outdoor Education at the Lake
  • Girard Area Community Foundation – Youth Activities Granting
  • Girard FFA Chapter – Sand Blasting
  • Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland – Tables for Girl Scout Outdoor Activities
  • Howard City Library – Reading Incentive Program
  • Learning Tree Institute at Greenbush – Aligning the Stars
  • Miners Hall Museum Foundation – MHM/Franklin Community Park Continued Improvements
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Parish/St. Mary’s Colgan Catholic Schools – Resurfacing the Track
  • Ozark Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America – Hooked On Scouting Recruitment Campaign
  • Southeast Kansas Baptist Association – A Threefold Cord-Faith, Friendship and Fun
  • Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center – It’s More Than A Snack
  • Special Olympics Kansas – Sports Equipment
  • Patrick Catholic School – Students Learning Through Technology
  • TFI Family Services – Helping SE Kansas Teens in Care Become Adults
  • The Foster Closet, Inc. – Family Enrichment Events
  • University of Kansas Medical Center Area Health Education Center – Journeys & Destinations – Girard, KS
  • Victory Life Church – Back2School Event 24

 

The CFSEK Board of Trustees and staff congratulate all the 2024 grant recipients!

 

For additional information related to CFSEK’s competitive granting opportunities, visit www.SoutheastKansas.org or call 620-231-8897.

 

The SEKnFind Newsletter July 2024

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

Bear : a novel
by Julia Phillips

Trapped on a remote Washington island with their dreams out of reach, two sisters clash when a mysterious bear arrives swimming in the channel, forcing them to confront their conflicting desires for escape and connection

The god of the woods
by Liz Moore

In 1975, when a camp counselor discovers the 13-year-old daughter of the summer camp’s owners has disappeared just like her brother 14 years earlier, a panicked search begins as the secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow are revealed.

Broiler
by Eli Cranor

From the nationally bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of Don’t Know Tough and Ozark Dogs comes another edge-of-your-seat noir thriller that exposes the dark, bloody heart of life on the margins in the American South and the bleak underside of a bygone American Dream

The summer of keeping secrets
by Jill Lynn

While cleaning out the family home in Dillon, Colorado, Marin and her two adult children, free-spirited Slade and strait-laced Reed, when secrets are revealed from both the past and present, must decide if these revelations will tear them apart or piece them back together. Original.

Big in Sweden : a novel
by Sally Franson

Paulie Johansson auditions for a reality tv show where Swedish-American compete to win a reunion with their relatives and discovers through increasingly absurd challenges how to embrace her heritage, find love and a newfound sense of self.

Let the games begin
by Rufaro Faith Mazarura

Interning at the 2024 Summer Games in Athens, Olivia, when she meets Zeke, the heartthrob runner of Team Great Britain, finds things heating up as they become close, but when the competition gets fierce, she must decide if their relationship is strong enough to cross the finish line. Original.

Only One Survives
by Hannah Mary McKinnon

Drummer Vienna Taylor, when her band’s bus careens off an icy mountain road during a blizzard, stranding them in a nearby abandoned cabin, finds her dreams turning into a terrifying nightmare, as, one by one, her fellow band members meet a gruesome end?—?and her best friend vanishes in the night. Original.

The spellshop
by Sarah Beth Durst

When the Great Library of Alyssium goes up in flames, introverted librarian Kiela and her sentient spider plant flee to the faraway island of her childhood where she opens a spell shop to restore the island’s power, coming out of her shell to make a new life for herself.

All this and more : a novel
by Peng Shepherd

A divorced, middle-aged woman full of regrets is selected for a reality show that uses quantum technology to allow contestants to relive and revise their pasts but she discovers that changing everything doesn’t necessarily bring her happiness.

Shanghai : a novel
by Joseph Kanon

After escaping the Gestapo, Daniel Lohr arrives in Shanghai, where glamor and squalor exist side-by-side, and as he tries to navigate through his uncle’s world in the city’s fabled nightlife, he tries to stay one step ahead of murder and outrun his own past.

Wolf at the table : a novel
by Adam Rapp

A Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-finalist playwright presents a harrowing multigenerational saga about a family harboring a serial killer in their midst.

The heart in winter : a novel
by Kevin Barry

In 1891 Montana, Tom Rourke, a young poet and ballad-maker, and Polly Gillspie, the new bride of an extremely devout mine captain, falling madly in love, strike out west on a stolen horse, but with a posse of deranged gunmen in hot pursuit, the choices they make will haunt them forever.

New Audiobooks

The summer pact : a novel
by Emily Giffin

Ten years after they made a pact, promising to always be there for each other in their times of need, Hannah, when one of the happiest moments of her life is suddenly turned upside down, calls on her closest friends, and together, they embark on a shared journey of self-discovery, forgiveness and acceptance. Simultaneous.

Shelterwood
by Lisa Wingate

In 1990 Oklahoma, Valerie, a Law Enforcement Ranger reporting for duty at Horsethief Trail National Park, is immediately faced with the long-hidden burial site of three children, and working with the neighboring Choctaw Tribal Police, unearths old secrets and the tragic and deadly history of the land itself.

Familiaris
by David Wroblewski

It is spring 1919, and John Sawtelle’s imagination has gotten him into trouble, again. Now John and his newlywed wife, Mary, along with their two best friends and their three dogs, are setting off for Wisconsin’s northwoods, where they hope to make a fresh start, and, with a little luck, discover what it takes to live a life of meaning, purpose and adventure. But the place they are headed for is far stranger and more perilous than they realize, and it will take all their ingenuity, along with a few new friends, to realize their dreams.

New Nonfiction

Three Kings : Race, Class, and the Barrier-breaking Rivals Who Launched the Modern Olympic Age
by Todd Balf

The first globally broadcast swim match, the one-hundred-meter at the 1924 Olympics, saw three great swimmers shatter records and invite unprecedented scrutiny about race, class, and celebrity. This book traces the careers and rivalries of these men and the epochal times they lived in.

Right thing, right now : good values, good character, good deeds
by Ryan Holiday

Drawing on fascinating stories of historical figures such as Marcus Aurelius, Florence Nightingale, Ghandi and Frederick Douglass, one of the world’s bestselling living philosophers teaches readers the transformational power of living by a moral code—to do what’s right even when it isn’t easy.

Ruin their crops on the ground : the politics of food in the United States, from the Trail of Tears to school lunch
by Andrea Freeman

Based on 15 years of research to argue American food law and policy have historically been used to create and maintain racial and cultural inequality, the author, who pioneered the term“food oppression,” shows how these practices continue to this day, upending the notion that we freely and equally choose what we eat.

The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2025 : Billions of Dollars in Scholarships, Grants and Prizes
by Gen Tanabe

This #1 selling scholarship guide from winners of more than $100,000 in scholarships provides information on 1.5 million scholarships, grants and prizes along with guidance for students and parents to complete the application process, including eligibility requirements, sponsor website listings, award amounts, deadlines and more. Original.

The secret history of sharks : the rise of the ocean’s most fearsome predators
by John A. Long

A world-leading paleontologist on the cutting edge of shark research for decades showcases the global search to discover sharks’ secret history, from ancient megalodons to fearsome Great Whites, as he and dozens of other extraordinary scientists embark on digs to all seven continents where they find clues to sharks’ singular story. Illustrations.

The chair and the valley : a memoir of trauma, healing, and the outdoors
by Banning Lyon

In this no-holds-barred story about healing from trauma and starting over, the author recounts how he was forced to stay in a psychiatric hospital for 353 life-altering days, and after years of highs and lows, found hope in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park where he discovered a new purpose.

Dinner Tonight : Simple Meals Full of Mediterranean Flavor
by Meliz Berg

Inspired by her Turkish-Cypriot heritage, a self-taught cook and recipe developer follows up her best-selling cookbook with a second collection of quick and nourishing meals including One-Pot Orzo, Leftover Hummus Soup, Cheater’s Lahmacun Pide Pockets and Tavuk Kebab Curry. Illustrations.

Crochet monsters
by Megan Lapp

A mix and match guide to crocheting adorable monsters with interchangeab

Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation Holds 24th Annual Truck Raffle Drawing

Tricia Campbell, Tri-Valley Special Projects Coordinator; Matthew Lazerus, Thomas Lazerus, winner of the 24th Annual Raffle Drawing; and Jeff Lassman, Steve Faulkner Ford. Submitted photo.

 

The Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation is proud to announce the winner of the 24th Annual Truck Raffle Drawing:  Thomas Lazerus.  Thomas’ ticket was drawn from 1,830 entries on Friday, June 21st at 1:30 pm by Jenna Roberts.  Thomas was notified immediately and was excited to hear that he had won.  Thomas and his son Matthew came to Chanute from California on Tuesday, July 2nd to collect his prize.  Thomas is now the proud owner of a 2024 Ford F150 Platinum Edition Truck, purchased from Steve Faulkner Ford in Chanute, KS.

 

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s raffle drawing.  This year’s raffle drawing raised over $14,000 which will go to provide quality and affordable housing as well as aid in the delivery of services for our neighbors with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).   Since 2001, the Foundation has built six houses as well as acquired eight houses and one duplex.  These fifteen houses are home to 66 individuals with I/DD that reside in the SE Kansas counties of Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.   The Friends of Tri-Valley is licensed through the State of Kansas for this raffle (RAF000005).

Veterans Claims Clinic to Provide Assistance in Overland Park

TOPEKA – The Kansas Office of Veterans Services, VA Health Care – Kansas City and Eastern Kansas, and the VA Veterans Benefits Administration are proud to sponsor a comprehensive Veterans Claims Clinic on July 25 – 26 at the American Legion Post 370, located at 7500 W 75th St, Overland Park, Kan. The hours on Thursday, July 25, will be from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Friday, July 26, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All services are free of charge.

The clinic aims to assist Veterans and their families in filing VA disability claims, applying for VA health care, and providing information and screenings related to the PACT Act. The event will also feature participation from Veteran-focused community organizations, offering a wide range of resources and support.

No appointment is necessary to attend the clinic. Veterans should bring copies of their separation documentation, medical records and marriage and dependent birth certificates.

“We will have trained and credentialed Veterans Service Representatives ready to assist with both enrolling in VA health care and the filing of claims to gain access to benefits and compensation they have earned,” said Bill Turner, director of the Kansas Office of Veterans Services. “We hope word will spread and all Veterans and their families will take advantage of this outstanding opportunity to connect with federal, state and local community resources dedicated to their service and well-being.”

While the event is Veteran focused, Kansas City employers are encouraged to visit and learn more about Veterans’ benefits and ways they can assist them in their employment.

This event is a collaborative effort to ensure that Veterans and their families have access to the benefits and health care they are eligible for. It is essential for Veterans to secure the benefits they have rightfully earned through their service to our country. All Veterans, families and caregivers are encouraged to attend.

###

TOPEKA – The Kansas Office of Veterans Services, VA Health Care – Kansas City and Eastern Kansas, and the VA Veterans Benefits Administration are proud to sponsor a comprehensive Veterans Claims Clinic on July 25 – 26 at the American Legion Post 370, located at 7500 W 75th St, Overland Park, Kan. The hours on Thursday, July 25, will be from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Friday, July 26, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All services are free of charge.

The clinic aims to assist Veterans and their families in filing VA disability claims, applying for VA health care, and providing information and screenings related to the PACT Act. The event will also feature participation from Veteran-focused community organizations, offering a wide range of resources and support.

No appointment is necessary to attend the clinic. Veterans should bring copies of their separation documentation, medical records and marriage and dependent birth certificates.

“We will have trained and credentialed Veterans Service Representatives ready to assist with both enrolling in VA health care and the filing of claims to gain access to benefits and compensation they have earned,” said Bill Turner, director of the Kansas Office of Veterans Services. “We hope word will spread and all Veterans and their families will take advantage of this outstanding opportunity to connect with federal, state and local community resources dedicated to their service and well-being.”

While the event is Veteran focused, Kansas City employers are encouraged to visit and learn more about Veterans’ benefits and ways they can assist them in their employment.

This event is a collaborative effort to ensure that Veterans and their families have access to the benefits and health care they are eligible for. It is essential for Veterans to secure the benefits they have rightfully earned through their service to our country. All Veterans, families and caregivers are encouraged to attend.

###

Southeast Kansas Library Newsletter June 2024

The SEKnFind Newsletter
June 2024

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

All the colors of the dark : a novel
by Chris Whitaker

After a string of disappearances in 1975 Missouri, a one-eyed boy heroically thwarts a kidnapping, igniting a chain of events that blur the lines between triumph and tragedy as the townspeople of Monta Clare confront hidden truths.

Hall of mirrors
by John Copenhaver

Suspicious after his lover and writing partner’s death in house fire is ruled a suicide in 1954 Washington, DC, Lionel joins forces with two friends and amateur sleuths to investigate and stop a serial killer.

The unwedding
by Allyson Braithwaite Condie

Recent divorcee Ellery Wainwright, while staying at the luxurious Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, finding the place beautiful, yet unsettling, especially when a mudslide traps her and the other guests with a murderer who has something horrific in store for them all.

The glassmaker
by Tracy Chevalier

From the height of Renaissance-era Italy to the present day, this spellbinding novel follows Orsola Rosso and her family of glassblowers as they live through creative triumph and heartbreaking loss, and how through every era, the Rosso women ensure their work, and their bonds, endure.

Lula Dean’s little library of banned books ; : a novel
by Kirsten Miller

When Lula Dean, trying to rid public libraries of“pornographic” books, starts her own lending library in front of her home, Lindsay, the daughter of Lula’s arch nemesis, sneaks in nightly, secretly filling it with banned books wrapped in“wholesome” dust jackets, changing the lives of those who borrow them in unexpected ways.

You should be so lucky : a novel
by Cat Sebastian

Ordered by the team’s owner to give a bunch of interviews to reporter Mark Bailey, baseball shortstop, Eddie O’Leary, during the 1960 season, slowly gives in to the attraction between them, and when it’s just them against the world, they must decide if that’s enough. Original.

Horror movie : a novel
by Paul Tremblay

The only surviving cast member of a notorious, disturbing 1993 art house horror movie joins the remake, but begins having trouble distinguishing between reality and film in the new novel by the author of The Pallbearers Club. 150,000 first printing.

How to become the Dark Lord and die trying
by Django Wexler

“Davi has done this all before. She’s tried to be the hero and take down the all-powerful Dark Lord. A hundred times she’s rallied humanity and made the final charge. But the time loop always gets her in the end. Sometimes she’s killed quickly. Sometimesit takes a while. But she’s been defeated every time. This time? She’s done being the hero and done being stuck in this endless time loop. If the Dark Lord always wins, then maybe that’s who she needs to be. It’s Davi’s turn to play on the winning side”

The stardust grail
by Yume Kitasei

Once the best art thief in the galaxy, anthropology student Maya Hoshimoto, when an old friend comes to her with a job she cannot refuse: find a powerful object that could save an alien species from extinction, sending her on a breakneck quest through the universe with her visions as a guide.

The wealth of shadows : a novel
by Graham Moore

In 1939, Ansel Luxford uproots his family and moves to Washington, D.C., to work on a clandestine project to undermine Nazi Germany, one involving economic warfare, and is plunged into a world of espionage, danger and deceit, especially when his wife takes a job with the FBI, bringing subterfuge to the home front.

A lonesome place for dying : a novel
by Nolan Chase

The town’s new chief of police, Ethan Brand, receiving threats on his first day on the job, is faced with the first homicide case Blaine, Washington, has seen in years and with no one to trust, must find the killers and bring them to justice before anyone else winds up dead.

Iron star
by Loren D. Estleman

A pioneering film star searching for a cinematic story that will launch his career, Buck Jones approaches a retired Pinkerton detective to set the record straight about the larger-than-life Deputy U.S. Marshal Iron St. John to tell the truth about this part-time hero in the American West.

New Audiobooks

Long Island
by Colm Toibin

In 1976 Lindenhurst, Long Island, Ellis Lacey, an Irishwoman in her 40s with no one to rely on in this still-new country, discovers her husband got a woman pregnant and the woman’s husband refuses to raise it, forcing Ellis to decide what she will do and not do in this unexpected situation.

The Rom-Commers
by Katherine Center

Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies, good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates it’s a break too big to pass up. Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone, much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script, it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme. But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself.

Red Sky Mourning
by Jack Carr

When three seemingly disconnected events are about to ignite a power grab unlike anything the world has seen, Navy SEAL sniper James Reece, to save America, must reconnect to a quantum computer called“Alice” who is positioned to act as either the county’s greatest savior or its worst enemy.

New Nonfiction

Swimming pretty : the untold story of women in water
by Vicki Valosik

Published to coincide with the 40th anniversary of synchronized swimming’s elevation to Olympic status, this breathtaking book, tracing a century of aquatic performance, from vaudeville and dime museums to the Olympic arena, honors the grit, glamor and sheer athleticism of an utterly unique sport that forever changed women’s relationships with water. Illustrations.

Raising a socially successful child : teaching kids the nonverbal language they need to communicate, connect, and thrive
by Stephen Nowicki

Reveals how to identify the nonverbal areas where a child might be struggling, and equips readers with a set of simple exercises for helping any child learn how to: follow the rhythm of conversations, respect others’ personal space and much more.

The art and science of connection : why social health is the missing key to living longer, healthier, and happier
by Kasley Killam

In this groundbreaking redefinition of health and wellbeing, an internationally recognized expert in social health argues that the definition of wellbeing is missing a major component: social connection, proving that relationships not only make us happy, but they are also critical to our overall health and longevity.

Crossing the desert : the power of embracing life’s difficult journeys
by Payam Zamani

“By blending the personal with the historical and the technical with the motivational, Crossing the Desert gives readers an intimate look at how the paths we choose, the values we embrace, and the systems we decide to participate in-or not-can make or break us, not only financially, but spiritually”

The great river : the making and unmaking of the Mississippi
by Boyce Upholt

In this landmark work of natural history, a journalist tells the epic story of the Mississippi River and the centuries of efforts to control it, which have damaged its once-vibrant ecosystems, carrying readers along the river’s last remaining backchannels and exploring how scientists hope to restore what has been lost. Illustrations.

Dog smart : life-changing lessons in canine intelligence
by Jennifer S. Holland

Based on evidence from trainers, owners, behaviorists and the animals themselves, this cutting-edge science narrative, filled with heartwarming and tail-wagging case studies, seeks to understand the world’s smartest dogs and how they got that way. Illustrations.

Big dip energy : 88 parties in a bowl for snacking, dinner, dessert, and beyond!
by Alyse Whitney

“Food editor, recipe developer, and TV host Alyse Whitney has been a Dip Queen for decades, making her the perfect diplomat for this first-of-its-kind cookbook. Big Dip Energy offers endless fun and easy ways to both entertain and enjoy solo with creative dips and dippers”

NRMC Community Events 

NRMC Community Events 

July, 2024

Thank you for sharing these events with our community!

 

Farmers Market

Enjoy fresh produce, baked goods, local honey and more!  Vendors set up in the grass lot just north of the Primary Care Clinic each Tuesday afternoon.

3:00 – 6:00 p.m. – Tuesdays

 

Birth and Beyond: Saturday Class

A class which covers childbirth, breastfeeding and infant care for women in their last trimester.

Includes a tour of the NRMC OB when available.  Meets in the NRMC Mezzanine Conference Room.  $15 registration fee.  Fee may be waived if cost is prohibitive.

8:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. • Saturday, July 13th – NRMC Mezzanine     REGISTER ONLINE HERE  You may also register by calling 417-448-3710

 

Community Blood Drive at NRMC

Join us for our community-wide blood drive in the Mezzanine Conference Room.  Blood collected through our hospital drives remains in our local area to assist patients in need.  To register for a specific appointment time, just visit nrmchealth.com and click on the donate blood button.  Walk-ins are also welcome!

12:00 – 6:00 p.m. – Thursday, July 25th – Hospital Mezzanine

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas Grant Applications Are Being Accepted Until June 30

This is a story about one of the Community  Foundation of Southeast Kansas grantees from last year’s General Funds Grant cycle.
This year’s General Funds application is open until June 30th.

CFSEK Grantee Story Series:

Cherry Street Youth Center, the “Hidden Gem” of Chanute

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is excited to continue our series of articles highlighting the great work done by some of our grantees in Southeast Kansas communities. Our next grantee to highlight is Cherry Street Youth Center in Chanute.

In a time when childcare at an affordable cost is, in a word, lacking, it might be strange to hear of an after-school program that cares for 125 children daily and is completely free. Cherry Street Youth Center in Chanute, Kansas, is a Christian outreach ministry where children are encouraged to learn about gardening, cooperation, and 3D printing while growing closer to God. Founded in 1995 out of a small house, Cherry Street has expanded operations to three locations in Chanute, where different ministries take place for children from kindergarten to middle school.

“Our goal as a Christian ministry is to help bring children closer to God,” said Jennifer Shields, executive director, “but we also want to help our kiddos be the best versions of themselves!”

Cherry Street is not a daycare, but rather a place for students to go after school and continue their education in a fun environment.

“We like to say that we are the ‘best kept secret’ in SEK,” Shields said. “We are so unique in what we do, and our goal is always to provide this free service to our community. We can’t do what we do without our community and their support! Grants and donations are how we make purchases for our classes and programming. We bought 3D printers so our kids could learn about programming and design! That would not be possible without donations and grants from the Community Foundation!”

Shields told the story of a little girl who came to the playground at Cherry Street one day to play with her friends during program hours. She was not a student of Cherry Street, due to policies and safety guidelines, only registered children can be on campus during program hours. Shields had to ask the girl to return home until 5:30, when the program ended.  Before sending the girl off, Shields asked her if she was interested in becoming a part of Cherry Street, and the little girl responded that her parents could not afford to send her there. “My heart broke, but I was so excited to tell her, ‘Sweetie, we are absolutely free! Let me send you home with some paperwork!’ She is now in 4th grade, and I see her almost daily,” Shields said.

Cherry Street serves not just as a place for fun but also as a place to encourage academic success for all children. Realizing many of the children attending the after-school program were not reading on grade level, Shields reached out to the elementary school principal to see how best to help. Cherry Street received site word lists for every grade level from the elementary school to practice with the children. “We are all about our community, both in Chanute and Southeast Kansas as a whole! We just want people to know what we do and the positive impact we are making.”

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is proud to have supported Cherry Street Youth Center as a 2023 General Funds Grant recipient for their 3D printer project. Through granting, CFSEK has also supported other projects at Cherry Street over the past five years. If you wish to donate to Cherry Street, you can visit https://cherrystreet.org/donate/.

The 2024 General Funds Grant applications are available until June 30th at midnight. Applications are available at SoutheastKansas.org/Grant-App.

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas awarded over $2 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2023 and has facilitated over $23 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. More information about CFSEK is available at SoutheastKansas.org.

 

 

2024 CFSEK General Funds Grant Applications Now Available!

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is pleased to announce that the CFSEK General Funds Grant Cycle is now open!

Every year in the summer, the Community Foundation’s Grant Review Committee funds programs focusing on Basic Human Needs, Youth Activities, and Arts & Culture. Since 2004, the funds directly managed by the Community Foundation have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to many Southeast Kansas nonprofit projects. General funds grant applications are typically available during June.

In 2023, the Community Foundation awarded $160,000 to 43 recipients in its General Funds grant cycle. These organizations represented 29 Southeast Kansas communities and 15 counties.

Learn more about the General Funds Grant history with CFSEK here.

 

Contact Kara Mishmash at SoutheastKansas.org/contact/Kara with any questions as you work on your proposal.

 

New K-State Extension Agent: Lonnie Mengarelli

K-State Extension Crops and Natural Resources Agent. Lonnie Mengarelli. Submitted photo.
 Lonnie Mengarelli, 35, is the new Kansas State University Southwind District Crops and Natural Resources Agent.
His office is in Fort Scott, but the district covers Allen, Bourbon, Neosho, and Woodson counties.
He replaced Chad Guthrie and began his duties on May 13, 2024.
Mengarelli is a 2008 Girard High School graduate, who earned a Bachelor of Science from K-State in 2013, majoring in Agricultural Technology Management with two minors: agronomy and animal science.
His background: from November 2021- May 2024 he was an agronomist for Producer Cooperative Association in Girard, making herbicide and fertilizer recommendations for producers.
From  June 2013 to November 2021  he worked for K-State at the Southeast Research and Extension Center in Parsons,  doing small plot row crop research,  in charge of crop variety trials (corn, soybean, grain sorghum, wheat, and oil seed sunflower), and the field lead for the crop production studies under Dr. Gretchen Sassenrath researching soil health and cover crop studies.
He grew up on farm northeast of Girard raising Angus influence cattle.
“I put up hay all summer long including alfalfa, fescue, sedan grass, and prairie hay,” he said. “My father was the fourth agent in Crawford County so I was heavily involved in county fair preparations and extension events.”
His duties for this position: “Being the first person-to-person contact for all row crop production, rangeland, and wildlife questions. I will help with weed identification and control, crop pest control, and consulting on management practices to help improve ag production. I will also be heavily involved in the Bourbon County Fair assisting with the 4-h shows and projects.”
He lives in Hepler, Kansas with his wife Hannah (high school sweethearts) and four kids: Heidi (10), Avery (8), Emery (8), and Heston (6).
‘We’ve been happily married 12 years and own our 160-acre Charolais-influenced cow/calf operation,” he said.
Outside of work, he has many hobbies.
“They include working on my antique trucks and tractors and going to support my kids in all their activities. When not at work I enjoy helping family on their farms from operating equipment to turning wrenches and working with livestock. I am the Fire Chief for the Hepler Rural Fire Department. Also, I am an active member of the Hepler Ruritan Club. I serve as beef project leader for the Bone Creek 4H club in Crawford County.  In the spring I volunteer to run field events such as shot put and discus at Girard High/Middle School track meets. “
Mengarelli’s office is in the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Avenue.
Mengarelli can be reached at
Office: 1-620-223-3720
Cell: 1-620-238-0532