Area News, Schools

Opportunity For Fourth-Graders To Experience History

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High school students do a history program in the quartermaster’s house at Fort Scott National Historic Site.

The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people, so that all may experience our heritage, according to an NPS statement.

To help area children experience our heritage, Fort Scott National Historic Site administration personnel applied for and received a grant to help classroom students get  to the Fort.
The grant will pay  school transportation costs for area fourth-grade students to come for a hands-on experience in history.
“Students come primarily in the spring,” Barry Geersten, education program coordinator at the Fort, said. “But they could come now.”
Area high school government and history students help with re-enacting the history experiences for the fourth-graders, he said.
Fort Scott High School Teacher Josh Regan’s Advanced Placement History Class, Tami Campbell’s government class, along with Nevada High School teacher Jared Brown’s Advanced American History Class will be the instructors for the field trips, according to Geersten.

The following is a press release from the Fort about the opportunity:

“FSNHS  has received a field trip grant for the 2018-2019 school year from the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service.

This $5,000 grant will reimburse the costs of transportation for fourth-grade class field trips to this national park.

This grant is part of the Foundation’s Open OutDoors for Kids program which creates pathways for kids to explore and connect with national park experiences, and is administered locally by the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site.

“We are excited to be able to assist school groups in coming to Fort Scott National Historic Site,” said Betty Boyko, Superintendent, FOSC. “We understand that not all schools can afford to visit even though we do not charge a fee. This grant will help reduce barriers to bringing students to have fun while learning and developing a lifelong connection to our nation’s history,” Boyko continued.

“We are pleased to be involved in helping more of the areas school children build deeper connections with Fort Scott NHS and our history,” said Reed Hartford, President of the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site, Inc.

During their time on site, the students will participate in either the “Life on the Frontier” program for grades K-4 or the “Sweep through History” program for grades 4-8.

In “Life on the Frontier,” local high school students train to be the instructors and mentors to the K-4th-grade students. They dress in period clothing and are stationed at various locations around the site focusing on various aspects of life at Fort Scott during the 1840’s.

“Sweep through History” will acquaint 4-8th-grade students with life at Fort Scott during the three most significant periods in the site’s history: Westward Expansion, Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War.

Educators, dressed in period clothing, are stationed at various locations around the site focusing on life at Fort Scott during one of these periods. Both programs have pre-visit and post-visit activities and all are aligned with Kansas and Missouri content standards.

“Trekking along trails, observing our natural ecosystems and engaging with our shared history are experiences that benefit all children,” said National Park Foundation President Will Shafroth. “Making it possible for America’s youth to explore our national parks is an investment in their future and the future of the national parks community.”

Teachers and school administrators can request additional information about transportation grants and curriculum-based field trip programs by visiting the education section of the park’s website (www.nps.gov/fosc) or contacting the education program coordinator, Barry Geertsen, at 620-223-0310 or e-mail us.

For the full list of grantees and their projects, click here.”

 

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Hard choices in the heartland: Farmers Need to Manage Stress

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Carla Nemecek is Southwind District Director and agent.

Submitted by; Carla Nemecek, Southwind Extension District Director

For Release: Week of October 22, 2018

Unpredictable weather, falling net farm income, spotty health care services and a host of other factors can make for incredible stress on farms and in rural communities. Many of the factors causing sleepless nights are beyond an individual’s control, yet there are often ways to manage the stress, according to North Dakota State University family science specialist Sean Brotherson.

“People will power through even if they don’t feel well,” said Brotherson, speaking at a recent K-State Research and Extension workshop in Manhattan. “There’s a cost to that. You can’t put your health or relationships on the back end for long without consequences.”

The most important asset of any agricultural operation is the health and wellness of the farm operator, said Brotherson, who also presented a workshop on the same topic in Dodge City.

Farming and ranching ranks in the top 10 of the most stressful occupations. That stress can lead to depression, anger, health concerns, failed marriages, loss of friendships or relationships with family members, alcohol or substance abuse or worse.

“When we talk about farm safety, we often talk about accident prevention but we tend to neglect talk about mental and emotional health,” Brotherson said, adding that’s a mistake.

Despite the overall U.S. economy booming, the farm economy has been in a slump the past several years: “This great economic condition is not translating into a good farm economy. Many farmers are very good at what they do, yet some still find themselves in situations that they can’t control,” Brotherson said.

Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is forecast to decrease $9.8 billion (13.0 percent) from 2017 to $65.7 billion in 2018, after increasing $13.9 billion (22.5 percent) in 2017, according to an August report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service.

Net cash farm income is forecast to decrease $12.4 billion (12.0 percent) to $91.5 billion. In inflation-adjusted 2018 dollars, net farm income is forecast to decline $11.4 billion (14.8 percent) from 2017 after increasing $13.0 billion (20.3 percent) in 2017.

If realized, inflation-adjusted net farm income would be just slightly above its level in 2016, which was its lowest level since 2002.

The situation is taking a toll, Brotherson said. Some feel extra pressure because their farm has been in the family for generations and they don’t want to be the one to lose it.

“Stress signals are like the warning lights blinking on your truck’s dashboard,” Brotherson said. “We often want to ignore them but at some point there is a price to pay – a heart attack, broken relationships, depression or worse. You maintain your car to keep it running properly. You have to maintain your health, too.”

Coping strategies include things that help you unwind, include exercise, getting enough sleep, hobbies, or reaching out to someone for support or help – a friend, a counselor, or a loved one.

K-State Research and Extension has teamed with NDSU’s Brotherson to share resources linked to farm stress management including a tip sheet. In addition, K-State programs such as the Farm Analyst program, Kansas Agricultural Mediation Service and Kansas Farm Management Association are available to work with rural enterprises.

Contact the Southwind Extension District at 620-365-2242 for more information. Your health matters too us.

 

 

Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent
[email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749

Area News

Thousands Sign Up for Bells of Peace Nationwide

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Bells of Peace

The free Bells of Peace App has attracted over 5000 people nationwide to join in the bell tolling on November 11, 2018 at 11:00 am local time.  People and organizations can use the app to select a bell, connect to a local sound system, and load photos and videos of their bell and commemoration events.

Did you sign up on the website?  You should also download and sign up on the app so that you can upload your photos and see what others are doing. It is also easy to share with your friends so that everyone can be part of this nationwide commemoration1

Did you sign up on the app? If you are an organization, you should also sign up on the website so that you can upload your logo and we can add it to the logo scroll.

Don’t worry – we will only send you one newsletter per email address!

The U.S. Navy will toll the bells on November 11!

Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer has ordered Navy and Marine Corps ships and installations to commemorate the Centennial of the Armistice with a bell toll.  Read the “ALLNAV” order at ww1cc.org/bells under PROCLAMATIONS.

U.S. Capitol – The Taft Carillon will toll the bells on November 11!

Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, has authorized the Architect of the Capitol to toll the U.S. Capitol’s Robert A. Taft Carillon at 11:00 a.m. on November 11. The carillon plays “The Star-Spangled Banner” every July 4 at 2 pm.  The last special event for which the Taft Carillon was tolled was the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. on September 24, 2016.

Independence Hall – The Centennial Bell will toll on November 11!

The National Park Service will toll the Centennial Bell in Independence Hall in Philadelphia on November 11 at 11:11 a.m. in conjunction with other commemoration activities.  The Centennial Bell was placed in Independence Hall in 1876 and rings hourly.

Washington Ringing Society – the Old Post Office Bell will toll on November 11!

The Washington Ringing Society, winner on October 20 of the second annual nationwide Trinity Shield Striking Competition, will toll the Old Post Office Bell in Washington, D.C. on November 11.  This bell is the closest to the National World War I Memorial we are building to honor WW1 veterans!  The Washington Ringing Society is also responsible for tolling the bells at the National Cathedral on November 11, with Retired Navy Admiral Mike Mullen in the role of ceremonial toll master.

Need Ceremony Ideas? Consult the National Cathedral Interfaith Service Program

The program for the National Cathedral’s November 11 interfaith service is now posted on our website at ww1cc.org/bells under CEREMONY IDEAS.  Here you can see Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Native American, Jewish and Christian prayers along with poetry and hymns especially selected to honor the service of our nation’s World War I veterans and commemorate the Armistice Centennial.  

Bourbon County, Elections, Kansas

Introducing the Candidates: Adam Lusker

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This is part of a series introducing the candidates in the November 6 election

State Representative, 2nd District (vote for one)

Adam J. Lusker Sr. 452 S. 210th St. Frontenac 66763 Democratic

Kenneth Collins 102 E. 1st Street Mulberry 66756 Republican

Adam Lusker

Name: Adam J. Lusker Sr.

Age: 46

Position running for: 2nd District Kansas State Representative

Residence: Frontenac, KS

Occupation: Mason

Community involvement:

Member of the following: American Legion Post 43, Frontenac Rotary, Frontenac Unified Methodist Church, Sacred Heart Church, Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge 187, Mirza Temple Shrine, Scottish Rite, Former Member of Frontenac Education Foundation and USD 249 School Board, 25-year business owner

Party affiliation: Democrat

What is the biggest issue, if elected, and how do you plan to address it?

  1. Maintaining a consistent revenue source, to ensure our budget is balanced and meets the needs of our community.

Give your views on the sales tax.

  1. Sales taxes are regressive taxes. Higher sales taxes affect people’s buying power in a negative way, especially our lower and fixed-income citizens. Therefore, food sales tax impacts these same folks adversely. Our sales tax also puts border counties like ours at a disadvantage economically in regard to retail sales, food, mercantile, equipment, etc, with our neighboring state. I think we should work to reduce food sales tax, as well as sales tax in general as other sources of revenue, are realized.

Give your views on legalizing marijuana.

  1. I do not believe Kansas is ready for legalizing marijuana. Several states are still continuing to deal with legal marijuana. We were a test site for a very costly tax plan; I think we should let other states be the petri dish on this experiment.

Give your views on health care for our state, including Medicaid.

  1. We should continue to find ways to reduce health care costs, increase access to medicine and promote wellness in our state. Regardless of anyone’s opinion of the Affordable Care Act, it is law and Kansas has to take advantage of all we can to keep our hospitals open. Kansas taxpayers have sent over $3 billion of our money to other states to expand Medicaid. The numbers show that expanding Medicaid would have a positive impact on our healthcare systems and our communities.

Give your views on abortion and Planned Parenthood.

  1. I have a pro-life voting record and will continue. I think we should continue to invest in adoption and education to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
Entertainment, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

K.C. Chiefs Tickets For Sale by Chamber

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Kansas City Chiefs Promo

FORT SCOTT – The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites Chamber members and the general public to take advantage of a Kansas City Chiefs ticket promotion to purchase game tickets at a discounted price.

The program has been offered for prior games but is now expanded to include the following remaining games: 12/9 vs. the Ravens at 12pm, 12/13 vs. the Chargers at 7:20pm, and 12/30 vs. the Raiders at 12pm. Tickets may be purchased online at www.chiefs.com/ticketfundraiser/ by entering promo code FORTSCOTTCC. All promo tickets are upper level at only $33.50 per ticket including the handling fee, which is a huge discount from normal pricing. Ten dollars of each ticket purchase supports the local Chamber.

Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce with any questions at 620-223-3566 or visit fortscott.com for more information.

***

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Oct. 23

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: October 23rd, 2018

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00-9:45-Jim Harris

10:00-10:30-Terry Sercer-Audit letter and 2018 budget balances

10:15-Budget Discussions

10:30-10:45-Bill Martin-Executive Session

10:45-Discussion about Fencing

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks

Executive Session-Privileged in the attorney-client relationship-30 min.

Executive Session-Personnel matters of non-elected personnel-30 min.

12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch

2:30-2:40-Future of Bourbon County Health Care Updates

Updates of Meetings

2:45-3:15-NRP

Justifications for Executive Session:

          Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

          Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

          Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

          Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

          Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

          Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system

Obituary

Obituary of Mabel Miller

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Mable L. Miller, 91, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Friday, October 19, 2018, at Via Christi in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Mabel Ladena Miller was born at home in the Hiattville area on June 29, 1927, to Roy and Bessie (Eisenbrandt) Ater. She graduated from Uniontown High School in 1945.

She was married to Elmer Miller Jr. on July 11, 1946. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, homemaker, and worked on the family farm.

Mabel was an active member of the Hiattville United Methodist Church and member of United Methodist Women. She also worked as a volunteer at Beacon for many years and the Hiattville Election Board.

Survivors include her sons: Robert “Bob” Miller and his wife Glenda, Roger Miller and his wife Lori; daughter Sandra Ellis and her husband Carl, all of the rural Hiattville area; two sisters Arla and husband Leo of Fort Scott, and Evelyn Shull of Kechi, KS; ten grandchildren, twenty-nine great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 64 years Elmer, parents Roy and Bessie Ater, sisters Thelma Buntain, Maxine Peel, Waneta Ater, and baby brother Ellwyn Ater.

Following cremation, a Memorial Service celebrating Mabel’s life will be announced at a later date. The family requests memorials be made to Hiattville United Methodist Church and Beacon of Fort Scott, and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Fort Scott

Cannon Receives Library Excellence Award

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Valetta Cannon with her recent awards from the Southeast Kansas Library System and the City of Fort Scott.

A local librarian recently received a recognition by the state library system and the City of Fort Scott.

Valetta Cannon, Fort Scott Public  Library’s Youth Librarian and Assistant Director received a trophy from the Southeast Kansas Library System, along with a $1,000 check from SKLS for the library.

“The award was first publicly announced at the Southeast Kansas Library System’s annual meeting at Iola High School on June 1,” Cannon said. “The trophy, certificate, and check were presented to me at the Fort Scott City Commission meeting on September 18.
“A traveling plaque will be moved from the other staff excellence award winner’s library to ours at the end of the year. This is the first year these awards have been offered by SEKLS.”
According to the SEKLS website,
“Decisions will be based upon the extent to which a nominee exceeds the norm and provides excellent service or support, with consideration to the size and type of library of the nominee.
The committee’s decisions are subject to the approval of the Director.
Library staff: Any employee of an SEKLS library other than the director
Considerations: Excellent library staff provide quality service, seek to promote and improve library service, collaborate well with the director and other staff members, and make an important contribution to the functioning of the library.”
The $1,000 donation to the library will be used for services and programming
“I have submitted several ideas for investing the money into improved young patron services and programming to our library board,” Cannon said. “All purchase ideas for the award money are currently pending approval or revision.”
A trophy, a City of Fort Scott Certificate of Recognition, and a $1,000 donation to the public library were awarded Cannon.

 

Bourbon County Local News