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Eclectica Opens At National And Wall
Becky Cowlishaw loves to buy and sell items, and she like auctions.
“Years ago I managed the Kress Tea Room and Pie Pantry from 2007-2008 and then the Village Shops,” she said.
“I’ve collected for a long time.”
On Oct. 1, Cowlishaw opened her shop she calls Eclectica by Rebecca Kaye at 2 S. National Avenue.
In this shop can be found antiques, home decor, jewelry, collectibles and some $1 items, she said.
Johnny Walker, John Cowlishaw, Josh Jones, Linda Wilson, Matt Lybarger, Vonda Ngigi, and John Walters also bring items to sell on consignment in her store.
“I don’t operate by booth space and I’m not looking for more consigners,” she said.
Cowlishaw believes her specialty is staging merchandise or decorative design.
“I really like making the colors come together, using odds and ends and making it work,” she said.
Cowlishaw has another passion.
In addition to Eclectica, Cowlishaw purchased the old First Christian Church, at 101 S. Judson, and renamed it Bethesda Christian House of Mercy.
She is the senior pastor at the church, while her son Jerrod Cowlishaw is the associate pastor.
“I live at Bethesda and soon will open a women’s ministry,” she said.
Cowlishaw can be reached by phone at 620-215-3158.
Pictured are some current items in Electica.
Fall Extravaganza Photos
Shoppers descended on Fort Scott Middle School November 20 for the VIP Fall Extravaganza annual fundraising event which benefits students.
“Our 9th annual Fall Extravaganza went very well,” said Stephanie George, VIP president. ” We made $1,400 (in vendor booth rental). Overall, vendors seemed pleased with the turnout. I saw lots of customers with shopping bags and baked goods, so hopefully they were able to get a lot of their holiday gifts and treats taken care of at our event.”
Free Dance Lessons
Free 1800s dance lessons will be taught on Saturday, December 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Grand Hall on the grounds of Fort Scott National Historic Site.
“The city of Fort Scott is hosting a number of holiday events this day as well as the Candlelight Tour on Friday and Saturday evening at Fort Scott National Historic Site so come spend the day in Fort Scott,” said Dee Young, organizer of the dance lessons, and volunteer at the fort.
“Come join us for some fun and exercise while we learn some new dances and practice some old ones. For the beginner as well as anyone who just loves dancing 1800s period dances. Street clothes are fine. No partner is needed. If you care not to dance just come and enjoy watching. See you on December 2!”
The lessons are taught by volunteers at the fort.
Robotic Milking Comes To Foster Dairy
Braving the dropping temperatures, around 250 visitors took advantage of the Foster Dairy Farm Open House Saturday.
The Foster family was showcasing their transition from milking their cows in a 12-cow parlor to milking them robotically. Since September 2016 their cows have 24 hours a day, 7 days a week access to being voluntarily milked.
“An interesting fact is the Kansas Department of Agriculture gave me statistics adjusted for 2017 about our farm,” David Foster said.
“The Bourbon County dairy industry has a direct economic benefit effect to our county of $11.5 million and provides 25 jobs,” Foster said. “The dairy industry provides 1.2 percent of the gross revenues for the county. We are doing quite a bit from our little farm.”
Lynda and Gary Foster and their eldest son David and his wife, Addi Foster are the owners of the dairy farm located southwest of Fort Scott at 1037 Hwy. 39.
In addition to tours of the facility, a meal was provided tour attendees, along with door prizes. Sponsors helping with the tour were Producer’s Cooperative of Girard who cooked the burgers, brats and hot dogs that were served, DFA/Midwest Dairy, UMB Bank, Seneca Dairy Supply, Uniontown FFA, Fort Scott FFA and Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.
See more about the Foster Dairy on its Facebook page.
KState Extension: Cool-Season Grasses Invading Warm-Season Pastures
Submitted by Christopher Petty
According to University of Nebraska Extension Professor Bruce Anderson, native, warm-season grass pastures often get overtaken by cool-season grasses like cheatgrass, downy brome and fescue.
When fescue, bromes, and other cool-season plants invade warm-season grass pastures and rangeland, they shift good grazing away from summer.
Cool-season grasses take over summer pastures relatively easily because they develop rapidly during fall and spring when native grass provides little competition. Then they use moisture and nutrients during spring before warm-season plants have a chance to use them.
Heavy grazing now this fall after warm-season plants have gone dormant after a hard freeze as well as grazing very early next spring will weaken and reduce competition from these cool-season grasses. This limits further invasion and slowly improves summer production. A prescribed spring burn also can do wonders for a warm-season pasture if you have enough fuel to carry a fire and can conduct the burn safely and legally.
An even faster approach is to apply glyphosate herbicides like Roundup after a couple hard freezes in late fall. Hard freezes turn warm-season plants dormant but the weedy cool-season grasses remain green. Apply glyphosate when temperatures during the day are above 60 degrees and nighttime temperatures stay above 40 degrees for best results. This will kill or weaken the green and susceptible cool-season weedy grasses, but not affect dormant warm-season plants. By reducing competition, warm-season plants will grow more vigorously next year and provide better summer pasture.
Don’t settle for invaded native pasture. Transform them back to vigorous warm-season grasses for better summer grazing.
Patty LaRoche: Interruptions
“I don’t mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited.” I saw that plaque in a diner and knew exactly what it meant. If I don’t share my thoughts immediately, they will be gone…immediately. Still, I force myself to refrain because it’s downright rude to interrupt. I mean, how many times have you been telling a story when someone one-ups you or changes the subject and takes over the conversation? Without ever asking you to finish yours? I-R-R-I-T-A-T-I-N-G!
A newly-purchased sign, hanging in my step-daughter’s kitchen, counters that quote. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did the middle of my sentence interrupt the beginning of yours?” Nikki purchased it, hoping a relative gets the point.
And no, I am not that relative.
I’m really not.
On the day of the eclipse, I was at my friend Marti’s house. She was watching her granddaughter, Isabel, and was explaining the solar phenomenon to her. As Marti and I talked, Isabel exploded with random thoughts. Each time, Marti gently told her granddaughter that the adults were visiting and she needed to wait her turn. Isabel tried to be patient, and then she did what every well-mannered child does when she can wait no longer—she raised her hand and waved it frantically. Her behavior was delightful.
Many adults could learn from her example.
Of course, we all know that all interrupting is not bad. Some news should not wait, like telling me my chicken enchiladas are on fire or the neighbor’s dog is chewing on my patio furniture. In reality, life is all about interruptions, isn’t it? Henry Nouwen, a Roman Catholic priest and theologian, wrote, “My whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I discovered my interruptions were my work.” I get it. Most of my articles are based on something happening I wasn’t expecting.
Our life’s narrative is constantly being rewritten because of interruptions. In the past year, several of my friends have found that to be true. Cancer. A hurricane. An unexpected pregnancy. Divorce. Bankruptcy. Addiction. Mental illness. Death.
The Bible is jam-packed with interruptions. A young girl’s life was interrupted to be told that she would bring the Messiah into the world. Jesus was constantly interrupted by evil spirits or arrogant religious teachers, moments that gave him an opportunity to remind his listeners of grace. Judas interrupted Jesus’ celebration of the Passover with his disciples and again with his prayer time in the Garden, all leading up to the incredible sadness after Jesus’ death being interrupted by the life-changing news that his grave was empty.
And for those whose lives are based on that resurrection, there remains one final interruption for which we must be prepared. We find it in Thessalonians 1:16-17: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
It’s an interruption we can’t afford to miss.
Northeast Scott 4-H Club Minutes
Submitted by Brennan Popp
The meeting for the Northeast Scott 4-H Club was held November 8, 2017, with donations being collected for the Beacon. During this meeting the club decided to postpone the Hammond Soup Supper to the Spring and to participate in the Christmas parade December 5. They will meet at 3rd and Main Street at 5:15 p.m. and bring a bag of candy. They scheduled Christmas caroling at Medical Lodge on December 16, at noon followed by going to a movie. Caroling and movie will be in place of the December club meeting.
There were three presentations during the meeting. Joe Foulk showed how to make zombie brain cupcakes. Second, Dalayni Foulk demonstrated making homemade slime. Finally, Traxtin Foulk displayed how to make paper bombs with paper folding.
The next meeting for the Northeast Scott 4-H club scheduled for December 13, is being replaced by Christmas Caroling and a movie December 16, at noon.
Walking/Biking Benefits Presented Along With Plans For Sidewalks/Trails
Walking or biking instead of driving a vehicle is a quality of life issue, according to information from representatives of the PedNet Coalition, Columbia, Mo. and the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
The two cited benefits in a non-motorized transportation plan report presented to the Fort Scott City Commission and then the Uniontown City Council Tuesday evening.
Other benefits cited by Abby St. George, PedNet technical assistant officer, are improved health and health care costs, reduced transportation costs and boosting economic development.
St. George and Jody Hoener, Mercy Clinic Quality and Community Benefit Liaison, presented the report.
Half of the children who live within one-half mile, a 10-minute walk or less from school, are driven, according to Safe Routes to School
National Partnership, and presented in the report to the City of Fort Scott.
Here is an excerpt from the report:
“Many adult residents are also making trips in their automobiles that could be made by foot or bicycle. For example, of trips that are less than one mile, over two-thirds are taken by private automobile (League of American Bicyclists, 2010). The automobile is a wonderful device that allows us to travel to destinations our great-grandparents may have never thought possible, but its overuse, especially for short distances, is leading to severe health consequences.Obesity truly has become an epidemic in the United States,” according to the report.
Summarizing the Fort Scott Non-Motorized Transportation Plan improvement costs: sidewalk priority projects are estimated to be $1,731,842; U.S. Hwy 69 Trail Priority Project -$1,964,444; on-street priority projects -$330,300; with total costs estimated to be $4,026,586.
Uniontown’s Non-Motorized Transportation Plan is basically one sidewalk that leads from the two schools to the convenience store.
Costs for an ADA accessible sidewalk from the schools on the east side of Uniontown to Union Station convenience store on the west side of town are estimated to be just over $50,000.
Crosswalk improvements for the sidewalk are estimated to be $44,000, with a total cost of the recommendations-$97,420.
A grant through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas allowed The City of Fort Scott and The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team to develop a Fort Scott Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s goal is to, “engage key stakeholders in areas where our community members spend most of their time–where they eat, work and play. The focus on physical activity, healthy eating, and tobacco cessation directly affect outcomes of our identified community health needs, ”according to the report.
The governing bodies will now need to find funding avenues for the recommended non-motorized transportation projects, but PedNet provided them with four and one-half pages of federal, state, local, non-profit and private funding opportunities.
St. George noted that with the plans completed, it could add points to a grant application.
To see the breakdown and details of the recommendations:
Sugarfoot and Peaches Fire
The Fort Scott Fire Department received a call November 10 at 2:49 p.m. of a fire at Sugarfoot and Peaches BBQ, 1601 E. Wall.
A total of four fire trucks and 10 people worked to contain the fire, Dave Bruner, Fort Scott Fire Marshall said.
Helping also were Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Scott Police Department, and Mercy Hospital Emergency Medical Services.
“The owner and one other person spotted the fire and called it in,” Bruner said.
John Embry is the owner of Sugarfoot and Peaches.
There were no injuries.
The building experienced extensive smoke damage throughout.
“The cause is undetermined,” Bruner said.
Calls to the business were met with a “Not In Service” message.
2017 Official Election Results
Final results of the 2017 General Election were made with 1,501 out of 11,667 voters making the calls.
Fort Scott City Commission: Robert Nichols, 650; JoLynne Mitchell, 565; Cheryl Adamson, 451. The top three candidates in votes were declared the winners.
Mayor of Bronson: Alan Stewart, 58; Lee Roy Whitcomb, 20.
Mayor of Fulton: No filings; Misty Adams was declared the winner with 11 write-in votes.
Mayor of Mapleton: No filings; Ronald Burton Jr. was declared the winner with 3 votes out of 7 write-in votes.
Mayor of Redfield: Clarence Ed Guss, 20. There were 13 write-in votes.
Mayor of Uniontown: Larry Jurgensen was declared the winner with 19 write-in votes out of 26.
City Council of Bronson: Clearsia Botts, 65; Geraldine Reeder, 61; Michael Stewart, 51; write-in winner is Joshua Marlow, 46; Charlotte Stewart, 43. The top five candidates in votes were declared the winners.
City Council of Fulton: All were write-in candidates: Robert Durbin, 11; Larry Paddock, 11; Stuart Cook, 11; Michael Clooney, 8 and Phillip Gratton, 4.
City of Redfield Council: Kirby Martin, 31; Mike Beerbower, 30; Richard Smith, 25; Clarence Ed Guss, 20; Wilma Graham, 17.
City Council of Mapleton: Both were write-in winners: Homer Wisdom, 3; Mike Blevins, 2.
City of Uniontown Council: Jess Ervin, 12; Amber Kelly, 11.
USD 234 Position 4: David Stewart received 723 over Geoff Southwell with 431.
USD 235 Position 4: Brian Stewart, 243.
USD 234 Position 5: Gary Billionis, 947.
USD 235 Position 5: Mike Mason, 242.
USD 234 Position 6: Jamie Armstrong, 981.
USD 235 Position 6: Tyler Martin, 256.
Southwind Extension District: Terry Williams received 1,170 over Ethan Holly, 783.
Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees: The top three candidates were declared the winners: John Bartelsmeyer, 1,170; Tina Rockhold, 923; Liz Meyer, 689.
FSCC Celebrates And Looks At Changes
Celebrates champs
The Fort Scott Community College Meats Judging Team will be celebrated at 4 p.m. Thursday, November 16 at the Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus.
The team is the 2017A-Division National Champion Meats Judging Team.
“We are incredibly proud of our students and our coach, Jenilee Martin,” FSCC President Alysia Johnston said. “They represent us well. In the last four years, they have won it three times.”
“This was a good bunch,” Coach Jenilee Martin said. “They went through a lot of adversity and came out with a good year.”
Changes: Martin To Resign
Martin, the three-time national championship coach of the team will be resigning December 20, according to Kassie Fugate-Cate, director of strategic communication at FSCC.
She will take a position with the Kansas State Extension Office in Hill City, after working at FSCC for four years, Martin told FortScott.Biz.
“I’ve worked with a lot of great people here,” Martin said. “I came back to FSCC because they cared about their students and the opportunities they give the students.”
“Students, faculty, and staff have taught me a lot of lessons,” she said. “It’s been a fun go.”
“We are saddened that she is going, but we know she’ll be successful wherever she goes,” President Johnston said.
Martin was also a one-half time admissions representative in addition to her coaching duties.
Johnston said the position to replace Martin will change when advertised, from a recruiter to an advisor position.
Changes: FSCC Hires New Administration Employees
Fort Scott Community College recently hired Kassie Fugate-Cate as the newly created position of Director of Strategic Communication. Previously she was an admissions representative at FSCC. In addition, she will remain as Student Activities Coordinator. She started November 6 in her new position. Cate is a resident of Pittsburg.
“We combined positions to use our resources as efficiently as we can,” President Johnston said. “Kassie is getting her masters in public relations.”
Amanda Downing is a new admissions representative, taking the prior position filled by Fugate-Cate. She started November 13.
Also new to the administration at FSCC is Jordan Underwood who is the financial aid assistant that started this semester. Underwood hales from Crestline.
