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Pruning by Patty LaRoche
Hurricane season is nearing, and we who live in Florida are being prepped with expert advice. The latest came from our trash removal service via the neighborhood newsletter. Apparently keeping our yard vegetation trimmed is key. We need to “thin out foliage so that wind can flow freely through branches, decreasing the chance of uprooting trees or plants.” That small step will prevent damage to cars, houses and people. Two years ago, according to the article, because of Hurricane Irma’s vegetative debris left on the ground, it took three months and cost more than $30 million to collect and dispose of all the waste.
Fortunately, Dave and I are renting in an area where the yard work is handled by professionals. That probably saves our neighborhood because my dear husband loves to prune (i.e., shred). He, a snip sniper, believes that plants and bushes need to end up basically at ground level so they can “start over.” Butchering more shrubs than I can count, Gardener Dave claims that his method will help the plant grow, bear better fruit and improve its appearance…which, given 30 or 40 years, is a possibility. Don’t get me wrong. I know that pruning is necessary, but it should be purposeful, not random from a Paul Bunyan wannabe who lights up at the thought of tinkering with an axe.
In the June update of “The Spruce,” the author calls pruning “tough love…(which) keeps (plants) healthy and encourages fresh, new growth and renewal.” Lopping off those sprigs or limbs keeps them from sapping the energy of the healthy part of the plant (you know, the part Dave has mutilated). If not pruned, the dead spreads and kills the entire plant.
Jesus knew all about pruning and used that analogy when instructing his disciples (and us) on what is necessary to thrive. I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:1-2).
Pretty simple. If we are fruit-bearers (bringing glory to God by discipling others), He, as the grand gardener, prunes to increase fruitfulness so the storms of life won’t leave irreparable damage in our lives. Pruning might mean we lose wilted relationships, superfluous possessions, unimportant status, lifeless habits, etc., but if that temporary loss causes us to rely more on God and less on what we think we need, we will bear more spiritual fruit.
One way God prunes is through His word, the Bible, where we learn of behaviors that sap our energy and keep us from maturing in our Christian walk. Removing the undesirable sin- branches frees us to grow. Hebrews 4:12 explains the importance of allowing the Bible to dictate how we live: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The questions remain: What in your life needs to be pruned? Perhaps there is something that creates a drain on you, and even though “good,” it is not “best.” Aleasha Morris of “Leadership Vision” wrote of the benefit of spiritual pruning: “Finding and removing what chokes our life can help us to breathe deeper, spread wider, and grow higher than we ever thought possible.”
Sounds like a plan to me. I just pray it doesn’t take 30-40 years to get there.
Happenings At St. Martin’s Academy
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K-State Beef Stocker field day set for Sept. 19
Event highlights latest information to help producers make key decisions, say organizers
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Health management of high-risk calves, humane euthanasia practices, beef cattle market outlook and a panel discussion on beef parasite control are among the topics planned for the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 19.
“We are excited to host the 20th annual edition of the KSU Beef Stocker Field Day,” said Dale Blasi, a professor of animal sciences and beef cattle extension specialist. “Like all the other events in the past, we bring the latest information on marketing, nutrition, health and technology for attendees to apply to their operation.”
Hosted at the K-State Beef Stocker Unit (4330 Marlatt Ave. in Manhattan), the event starts with registration and coffee at 9:30 a.m. and the program at 10:15 a.m. Niman Ranch will provide a prime ribeye lunch, and the day ends with an evening social featuring prairie oysters and Call Hall ice cream.
Attendees will have a chance to win door prizes, including a fishing trip, ATV sprayers and more. Attendees can also tour the new student housing at the Beef Stocker Unit.
Topics for this year’s agenda include
- Beef Cattle Market Outlook
- Changing Industry Structure is Forging a Closer Relationship Between Grow Yards and Feeders
- Internal Parasite Management
- Quality Stocker Production Considerations
- Humane Euthanasia Practices
- BeefBasis: Better Information for Better Marketing Decisions
- Health Management of High-Risk Calves
- Panel Discussion: Beef Parasite Control
This year’s event is sponsored by Bayer Animal Health. The pre-registration fee is $25 if paid by Sept. 10. More information and online registration is available at KSUBeef.org. After Sept. 10, attendees must pay $35 on site.
For more information, contact Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267 or [email protected].
Public Comments For Prisoner Review Board
Prisoner Review Board changes Topeka location for public comments in September
The Kansas Prisoner Review Board (PRB) will hold the Topeka public comment session on September 20, at 8:30 a.m., in the Florentine Room of the Jayhawk Tower, 700 SW Jackson St.
Previously, the session was scheduled to be held at the Topeka Municipal Court House, which will be closed September 20.
Members of the public who would like to comment on any of the offenders eligible for parole in November 2019 may attend.
To view the list of offenders, visit the Kansas Department of Corrections’ website at: https://www.doc.ks.gov/prb/public-comment-sessions/listed.
The two other public comment sessions held in September will be:
- September 16: Kansas City City Hall, One McDowell Plaza, 701 N. 7thSt., from 10 a.m. to noon; and
- September 18: Derby Police and Courts, first floor, 229 N. Baltimore, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Obituary of Larry Joe Beck
Larry Joe Beck, age 65, a resident of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at his home.
He was born April 11, 1954, in Ft. Scott, Kansas. He graduated from the Ft. Scott High School and Fort Scott Community College.
He went on to receive his BS Degree in Nursing from Pittsburg State University. Larry Joe married Mary E.Evans on September 19, 1975, at Devon, Kansas. He worked as a nurse at Mercy Hospital in Ft. Scott.
He later served with the United States Air Force during Operation Desert Storm where he served as a clinical nurse. Following his military service, he worked as a surgical nurse for Doctor’s Hospital in Springfield, Missouri and Cox Hospital in Monet, Missouri.
Larry Joe enjoyed reading, welding and playing golf. He also was a licensed pilot. He was a past member of the Devon United Masonic Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Mary, of the home in Mt. Vernon; his daughter, Samantha Beck-Paciorek (Andrew), of Baxter Springs, Kansas and his son, Jordan Beck (Angela) of Willard, Missouri and six grandchildren, Gaige, Danielle, Jaden, Maycie, Jackson and Adalyn. Also surviving is his mother, Yvonne Beck; a sister, Susie Arvidson (Chris) of Ft. Scott and three half-brothers, Charles Jajdelski, of San Diego, California, Ron Jajdelski, of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Bob Jajdelski of Arizona.
He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Beck; a granddaughter, Charlotte and a half-brother, Mike Jajdelski.
Graveside services with military honors will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, August 26th at the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery at 10:45 A.M.
Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Death Notice for Johnnie Harrison
Johnnie L. Harrison, age 60, resident of Arcadia, KS, died Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at Via Christi Village in Pittsburg, KS. There was cremation. Services will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.
Want To Play Some Co-Ed Slow Pitch?
Shawn and Savannah Pritchett are seeking teams for an inaugural slow pitch ball tournament next Saturday as part of the Old Settler’s Picnic festivities in Uniontown.
The game is scheduled for 9 a.m. on August 31 at the Don Dennis Ball Park at West Bourbon Elementary School.
The cost per team is $100, with a deadline of 6 p.m. tomorrow, August 23.
Contact Savannah at 620-224-6025.
Kansas HPV Vaccine Rates Improve Significantly
TOPEKA – Today, the National Immunization Survey regarding Teens released its annual report for 2018 which shows Kansas is improving in vaccine rates for HPV and MenACWY and remaining consistent with Tdap. This report is available in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The survey, which is conducted among teens ages 13 to 17, monitors the vaccines received by adolescents, specifically HPV, MenACWY and Tdap.*
“In 2014, Kansas had the lowest coverage in the nation for the HPV vaccine with only 34.4 percent of respondents reporting one or more doses received,” said KDHE Secretary Lee Norman, MD. “I’m very pleased to report that Kansas is now at 62.3 percent coverage in 2018, up significantly from 52.4 percent in 2017.”
Activities that have contributed to the increase in HPV Vaccination coverage, include:
- Education for vaccine providers throughout the state during Vaccines For Children program site visits
- Education provided at Kansas Immunization Conferences
- Development of HPV Toolkit by the Immunize Kansas Coalition funded by the KDHE
- Multiple partner organizations conducting efforts to increase awareness and importance of the HPV vaccine
- Focus on the importance of provider recommendation to patients to receive the vaccine
Kansas has seen an average increase in HPV coverage of 6.3 percentage points annually since 2014 while the national average increase has been 4.4.
“One of the most significant factors to successful vaccination against HPV cancer appears to be a recommendation from a medical provider,” Secretary Norman said.
The survey demonstrates that, in Kansas for 2018, of those who received the recommendation from a medical provider, 69.5 percent received the vaccination while only 35.8 percent received the vaccination without a provider recommendation.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) routinely recommends HPV vaccination at age 11 or 12. In addition, ACIP has recently updated their recommendation to include some adults up to age 45 based on the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine against some HPV cancers.[1]
The MenACWY vaccine coverage increased from 72.1 percent in 2017 to 75.3 percent in 2018. This school year, MenACWY has just become a required vaccination for school entry.
*Vaccine Description:
- Tdap – protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Recommended for ages 11-13. Healthy People 2020 target is 80 percent coverage. Kansas 2018 rate is 89.4 percent.
- MenACWY – protects against certain strains of meningococcal disease. Recommended for ages 11-13 with a booster dose at age 16. Healthy People 2020 target is 80 percent. Kansas 2018 rate is 75.3 percent.
- HPV – protects against HPV related cancers. Two dose series recommended for ages 11-13. Doses administered six months apart. If first dose is not given before 15th birthday, a three-dose series is needed. Healthy People 2020 target is 80 percent. The Kansas 2018 rate is 62.3 for one or more doses, 40.7 percent.
Fort Scott Special Events Aug. 23-25
Economic Development Strategy Update
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