The Bourbon County Health Department (524 S. Lowman, Fort Scott) will be the location where WIC (Women, Infants, Children) Program will be held at in Bourbon County from here on out. It is every Wednesday, starting October 5th. If anyone has questions, we’d be happy to help and our number is 223-4464.
We do have flu shots available now as well as the new COVID-19 Bivalent Booster shots.
Submitted by Becky Johnson
Administrator/SEK Local Health Officer
SEK Multi-County Health Department
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Date: September 27, 2022
1st District–Nelson Blythe Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District–Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District–Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk–Ashley Shelton
MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM BEGINNING at 9:00AM.
Call to Order
• Flag Salute
• Approval of Minutes from previous meeting
• Eric Bailey – Road & Bridge Report
• Eric Bailey – Executive Session KSA 75–4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual
nonelected personnel to protect their privacy
• Delwin Mumbower – Burn Ban Update
• Bill Martin – Fuel Request – Road & Bridge
• Clifton Beth – Benefits Committee
• Ashley Shelton – SEK Area Agency on Aging – Board Opening
o Gas Price Lock In
• Jim Harris – Executive Session KSA 75–4319(b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the
public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney–client relationship
• Justin Meeks – County Counselor Comment
• Susan Bancroft – Chief Financial Officer Comment
o Budget Documents
o Years of Service Recognition– Donald Gene Bailey
• Shane Walker – Chief Information Officer Comment
• Tiana McElroy – County Attorney Position
• Public Comment
• Commission Comment
Justifications for Executive Session:
KSA 75–4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy
KSA 75–4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney–client relationship
KSA 75–4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer–employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
KSA 75–4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships
KSA 75–4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property
KSA 75–4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.
Mark your calendars for Pioneer Harvest Fiesta. The 66th Anniversary Show will soon be here! The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta is one of the oldest tractor and gas engine show in the area.
Plans are made for this to be a great event this year. The downtown parade on September 29 will be the kickoff for the show. Friday, September 30 will begin the 3 day show with lots of exhibits and vendors on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. Come and see how things were done in the “olden days”. Purchasing a $5 show button will give you entry to all 3 days plus a bean feed on Friday evening.
In addition to the flea market and tractor and gas engine exhibits, you can watch the sawmill operation, oat threshing, hay baling tractor pull and more. Ralph Carlson’s entertainment tent will present talented musicians for you to enjoy. The Sunday morning Church service will be in the entertainment tent also. All are welcome. Be sure and stop by the Information tent. There will be 2022 T-Shirts and caps and other items for you to purchase.
In addition to the Friday evening bean feed, biscuits and gravy will be available in the mornings, also old fashion sorghum cookies. Pulled pork sandwiches, chicken noodle dinners, sloppy joes, hot dogs. nachos and more will be served by food vendors.
Don’t forget the quilt show in the Myers Building. Quilts can be entered Thursday, September 29, 10am – Noon. The quilt show will be open Friday and Saturday, 9am – 4pm. Sunday will be open noon to 3pm. Contact Jackie Warren for more information, 620-224-8161.
There is an additional event on the fairgrounds the evening of October 1 in the arena. There will be a Mutton Bustin’ event with bull riding afterwards. Sign up for the Mutton Bustin’ is 6:30pm.
If anyone would like to volunteer to help with any of the exhibits or perhaps help at the quilt show, we would be happy to have you. Please contact a member or call one of the numbers listed.
Thank you goes out to all our corporate sponsors. Without these sponsors there would not be a Pioneer Harvest Fiesta. If you have not received a flyer in the mail or picked one up at a local business, contact a member and we will make one available for you. Craig Shikles, 417-425-4552, is our president with Larry Richard, 620-724-6501, as vice-president.
By Clara Wicoff
Southwind Extension District
Did you know one in six Americans gets foodborne illness every year? September is Food Safety Education Month, which makes it the perfect time to review four simple steps that can help prevent food poisoning: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill.
Clean: Wash your hands and kitchen surfaces often. Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing food, as well as after handling uncooked meat, poultry, seafood, flour, or eggs.
Separate: For a clean plate, don’t cross-contaminate. Separate raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs from other foods in your shopping cart, in your refrigerator, and during meal preparation. Do not wash raw meat, poultry, or eggs, as this can actually spread germs.
Cook: Use a food thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of cooked foods is high enough to kill the bacteria which cause foodborne illnesses. Whole cuts of beef and pork should be cooked to 145°F and then allowed to rest for three minutes before carving or eating. Ground meats should be cooked to 160°F. All poultry (including ground poultry) and leftovers should be cooked to 165°F.
Chill: All perishable food and leftovers should be refrigerated or frozen within two hours (or within one hour if the food is exposed to temperatures greater than 90°F).
To learn more about these four simple steps, visit fightbac.org.
If you are interested in learning more about food safety, consider signing up for our food preservation workshop in Humboldt on October 27th! An RSVP is required for this hands-on program where you will learn about pressure canning, waterbath canning, and dehydrating herbs with food safety specialist Karen Blakeslee. Please call 620-365-2242 to register and get more details.
If you have a passion for food safety, you may also want to consider our Master Food Volunteer program! You will meet others who share a passion for food; participate in classes, by either leading or assisting, to teach others about food; learn up-to-date practices on food safety and nutrition; and take your knowledge of food to the next level. To join, you must complete a 40-hour training course. This course will be offered online from January 17th to February 25th with three days of hands-on training. Interested applicants must apply by December 1st to be considered.
For more information, please contact Clara Wicoff, Nutrition, Food and Health Extension Agent, at [email protected] or 620-365-2242.
Sisters Emelia Whiteaker and Addi Foster have started a specialty food store from an office at the South Main strip mall, and are calling it Mmm Flavor Shop.
“After a major health diagnosis in the family, I started doing my continuing education credits as a Certified Athletic Trainer on nutrition,” Whiteaker said. “Unfortunately, a lot of the herbs, spices and grains were not available in the quality needed to get the nutritional value.”
Whiteaker reached out to friends who are Registered Dieticians and Certified Nutritionists to see where they get their spices and dried herbs.
“This led me to a small family-owned wholesaler in Arizona,” she said. “Our wholesaler freeze dries as much of their herbs that they can, and they order straight from the farms insuring a higher nutritional content. Everything just kept going from there.”
“In April, we launched our products at the Home Show in Fort Scott,” Whiteaker said. “Throughout the rest of the spring and summer we have been doing vendor shows and markets.”
The business office is in the area on the backside of Tractor Supply Store, that Whiteaker has her athletic training business in.
“We have a converted office space inside Momentum Indoor Training that we use as our prep room, she said. “Our ultimate goal is to have Mmm Flavor Shop support an exercise pool for those individuals who have chronic health diagnoses that benefit from aquatic exercise which is not covered by most insurance.”
They just finished work on their website.
“We launched our website this month www.mmmflavorfs.com or we will take text orders through direct message on Facebook or text messages at (620) 224-8442,” she said. “If we don’t have it in stock we can usually order it and get it within a week.”
The products of the business include spices, dried herbs, house made spice blends, non-wheat flours, ancient grains, rices, dried beans and lentils, instant oatmeal, ready-to-make-packets, dried fruits, and nuts.
“We mix most of our spice blends, insuring there are no additives or preservatives.” Whiteaker said.
” We also have superfood powders such as spirulina, spinach, acai berry, and more,” she said. “In October we will be adding herbal teas, Turkish teas, and homemade candies.”
The September meeting of the Starlite FCE was held at the Yeager building on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. President Glenda Miller called the meeting to order and Deb Lust lead the members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the club collect. Eight members and one quest were in attendance and reported that they had volunteered for twenty-six hours and had recycled seventy-five pounds since their last meeting.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Deb Lust presented the treasurer’s report in Doris’s absence. Karen Peery gave the Council report. She announced that Fall Follies will be November 1st at the Moran Senior Center and will start at 3:30p.m. The program this year will be on Aprons followed by a soup supper. November 3rd will be the area meeting in Parson.
September birthdays in attendance were Letha Johnson and Helen Carson.
It was announced that the Goodie bags had been delivered to the emergence response personnel and that Doris Ericson and Karen Peery are going to attend the State FCE convention. Doris will be recognized as the State winner of the Heart of FCE award.
Before the meeting members signed cards to be presented to the area veterans along with snacks in November. Deb Lust announced that there will be a poppy distribution this year but the weekend has not been determined at this time.
New business consisted of passing out the membership form for the next year and filling them out. The address list was passed around and updated. Glenda Miller requested that members bring extra Christmas cards next months. We will be sending them to the VA hospital in December.
Deb Lust moved that the meeting be adjourned, Helen Carson seconded the motion, meeting adjourned. After the meeting Helen Carson presented the lesson on “Destination Oregon.” Helen shared pictures and information on her travels there as well.
Refreshment of Salmon patties, Blackberry pie, Tillamook cheese ball and crackers were provided the Helen Carson and Doris Ericson and enjoyed by all.
Prepared by
Terri Williams
“In the United States around 4,000 churches close each year and 2.7 million Christians become inactive,” said local Methodist pastor, Reverend Dr. Carl Ellis.
Ellis is executive director for the Academy for Small Membership Church Ministries, and lives in rural Hiattville, southwest of Fort Scott.
The academy received a $30,000 grant this year from the Guy and Ruby Casebourn Murphy Charitable Trust to continue training of lay pastors and develop innovative programs which support small membership churches.
This trust has supported the Academy’s ministries for over 20 years, beginning in 1999 when Ellis met Ruby Murphy and trustee Thomas Henderson, and the trust began supporting local church ministries.
The Academy has trained over 400 lay persons from 15 different states to serve small membership churches in leadership roles and has held continuing education classes to teach pastoral care skills such as how to plan and lead a funeral for the first time and how to help people dealing with grief. The Academy has also led workshops on church growth in Kansas, Missouri, and Texas.
The Guy and Ruby Casebourn Murphy Charitable Trust has announced The Academy will receive a gift of $75,000 in 2024, he said.
“The Academy plans to invest this gift to perpetuate Guy and Ruby’s values and belief in helping others,” Ellis said. “The grant will help expand ministries and strengthen small membership churches to help their communities.”
The Academy began in 1999 when Ellis taught the first lay pastor’s class with 22 students. It was incorporated in 2015.
The current board of directors has 12 members from Kansas, Nebraska, and Ohio. The board met in June 2022 to refine the mission and vision and start strategic planning for future benefits for the small membership church including scholarships for lay people to participate, and training on all aspects of pastoral care.
The Board is working with the help of consultant Rev. George Cooper from Florida and is developing a 5-10 year plan for helping small membership churches grow and thrive.
Ellis understands the need for strong community-based churches to reach the under-served rural and urban areas in the United States and throughout the world.
“Small membership churches are able, with God’s love, to help bridge the divide between those of differing opinions, give support to those dealing with mental illness, and help those dealing with poverty, as they live out Christ’s call to discipleship,” Ellis said.
Ellis “sees the work as a call from God,” he said.
The small membership church is where he was welcomed into the family of God and experienced God’s love, forgiveness, and grace, he said.
“Without small membership churches many people would feel lost,” says Ellis, “because small membership churches are a place where children of all ages discover they are part of God’s loving community.”
The Academy for Small Membership Church Ministries will be hosting focus groups for small membership churches this fall asking three questions: What are the strengths of small membership churches; What are the challenges small membership churches face; and What programs can The Academy offer to help the small membership church meet future needs and challenges.
For more information, visit https://www.tasmcm.org/ or contact Rev. Dr. Carl K. Ellis at [email protected]
Uniontown 4-H Club
September Report
by Marley Sutton
Weeks of preparation and hard work paid off for several Uniontown 4-H Club members on August 21st in Manhattan, Kansas. The Southwind 4-H Intermediate Meat Evaluation team was named the state winner at the awards ceremony held on the campus of Kansas State University. Although they competed underneath the umbrella of the Southwind 4-H district, all of the team members hailed from the Uniontown 4-H Club!
Leading the way was Hailey Shadden and Kendyl Bloesser as they tied for the High Individual honors at the contest. Shadden was named the High Individual after utilizing tie breakers. Also ranking in the top ten individually were Makinlee Bloesser (5th) and Marley Sutton (7th).
Uniontown 4-H also had several members participate in the Kansas State Fair this past week. Austin Maycumber competed in photography judging and his team ended up ranking 8th in the state. Marley and McKinley Sutton exhibited hogs at the event with their biggest success coming in the market hog show where McKinley’s barrow was named the Reserve Champion Berkshire Market Hog. Seth Shadden received a purple ribbon on his Small Engine Display and Hailey Shadden received a blue on her Forestry Notebook and a red ribbon on her food project. Kendyl and MaKinlee Bloesser both participated in foods and received red ribbons on their entries. Makiah Woods received a purple ribbon on her garment entry.
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Date: September 20, 2022
1st District–Nelson Blythe Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District–Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District–Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk–Ashley Shelton
MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM BEGINNING at 9:00AM.
Call to Order
• Flag Salute
• Approval of Minutes from previous meeting
• Eric Bailey – Road & Bridge Report
• Susan Bancroft – Road Closure
• Bill Martin – Vehicles
• Justin Meeks – County Counselor Comment
• Susan Bancroft – Chief Financial Officer Comment
• Shane Walker – Chief Information Officer Comment
• Public Comment
• Commission Comment
Justifications for Executive Session:
KSA 75–4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy
KSA 75–4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney–client relationship
KSA 75–4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer–employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
KSA 75–4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships
KSA 75–4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property
KSA 75–4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.
The change from summer to fall – I always look forward to it. However, the drought conditions this fall doesn’t have me very excited. I typically enjoy decorating with some mums and pumpkins, but I’m dragging my feet on it this year because I dread the thought of keeping the mums watered. We need rain so bad! But, fall does bring the time to do some tidying up around the home, storing summer bulbs, and yes – making plans for a better growing season next year.
Don’t forget to dig your summer flowering bulbs and store those that will not survive Kansas winters. Bulbs such as gladiolus, caladium, dahlia, tuberous begonia, calla lily, and canna lily need to be dug and stored so they can be planted next year.
All of these plants should be dug after frost has browned the foliage. They should be allowed to dry for about a week in a shady, well-ventilated site such as a garage or tool shed. Any excess soil should be removed. The bulbs should be packed away in peat moss or perlite. When packing, make sure the bulbs don’t touch each other. That way if one decays, the rot won’t spread onto neighboring bulbs. Dusting the bulbs with fungicide before storing will help prevent them from rotting.
Caladium should be stored between 50 and 60 degrees F. The rest of the bulbs mentioned should be stored near 40 degrees. Finding a good storage spot may be tricky. A basement wall away from a furnace is often a good location.
As for spring flowering bulbs (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, allium) fall is the time to establish into the landscape. Planting this fall may be a bit tricky with the extremely dry soil. If we can catch some decent rainfall, consider planting right after that.
It is also time to fertilize spring-flowering bulbs. With an established bulb bed that has been fertilized in the past, there is probably plenty of phosphorus and potassium present in the soil to grow the plants next spring. If you’re not sure, take a soil test. A complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 9-9-6 at the rate of 2.5 pounds per 100 square feet should be used if the soil needs phosphorus and potassium. This would also equal 1 rounded teaspoon per square foot.
While you’re out and about in your yard this fall fertilizing bulbs, you may want to take the time to clean up the iris beds as well. Iris are known for a couple of very common problems: a fungus known as iris leaf spot and an insect named iris borer.
Though both cause problems in the spring, now is the time to start control measurers. Both the fungus and eggs of the borer overwinter on old, dead leaves. Removing iris leaves and other landscape debris from the iris bed this fall will significantly reduce problems next spring.
On a side not away from flowers, thinking ahead to October – it is a good time to plant garlic if you want large cloves next summer. The soil should be fertilized before planting with three pounds of a 10-10-10 fertilizer, per 100 square feet, and mixed into the soil. Cloves should be planted point up and spaced three inches apart and one to two inches deep. The larger the clove planted, the larger the bulb for harvesting next summer. Once planted, water in well and mulch with straw to conserve soil warmth and encourage good establishment. The garlic will be ready for harvest next summer when most of the foliage has browned.
Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Horticulture agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
