Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Government

The Process of Cleaning Water

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Jason McReynolds releases water from a hydrant on 2nd Street Wednesday, which is part of the process of cleaning the water system. The flushing gets the chlorine into the system faster and farther, Scott Flater said.

The Marmaton River is the source of drinking water for almost all of Bourbon County, except for the most extreme western portion, which has a private reservoir.

Scott Flater is the superintendent of the City of Fort Scott Water Production Department, who is tasked with providing clean, safe water from the Marmaton River to all of Fort Scott and Consolidated Rural Water District # 2 residents.

“We make water for the city,” Flater said. “But our number one customer is Rural Water #2.”

Over two million gallons of water a day is processed and sent out to the city and the county, he said.

“Everything comes through this building,” Flater said. “We have a river intake on 5th and Short Streets.”

The rural water district then sells and distributes the water from Fort Scott to the small towns in Bourbon County.

The city’s water production employees are in the middle of a cleanout process.  It’s called burn out/flushing, and it’s an annual event.

“The water is safe during the rest of the year or during this burnout (cleaning out), it’s safe,” Flater said. “We are sending it out to our family and our community. It’s the highest quality.”

The cleaning out of the system is a maintenance practice for the distribution system, Flater said.

They started July 16, and if all goes as planned the water cleaning process should be completed by the end of next week, Flater said.

“The burnout won’t reach outside of Fort Scott until today (July 20),” Flater said.

Flater commended a small town in Bourbon County for being far-thinking in their water supply.

Flater said Uniontown, in the western part of the county, has been “pro-active to rebuild their water infrastructure” in the last few years. “They’ve done a great job.”

This computer screen is set up in the office of the water treatment plant at Ninth and Burke streets and shows the outline of the water cleaning process, so the plant operators can see what is going on in the plant.
Scott Flater shows the water samples that are tested: from left is water directly from the river, the middle is water that has been mixed with chemicals and the right is the water that has been fully processed and is ready to drink. This is so plant operators can do “right now” testing on the water, he said.
Brandon Russell, one of four plant operators, does comparative water testing in the water treatment plant Thursday.
The turquoise and blue pipe in the center of the photo is located in the lower level of the city’s water plant. The 24-inch pipe is where all the Marmaton River water is piped into the plant. It is then processed in a mixer with chemicals. The water is then transported to a settling basin. Following this step, chlorine is added to the water. It is then run through a filter and goes into a clear well from where the water proceeds to water towers then to the water distribution system.
Fort Scott, Police

Trees in Roadway, Power Lines Down as Result of Storm

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Workers clear away a tree from a yard at 12th St. and National Avenue Friday morning, following a storm Thursday evening.

Bourbon County wide the Fort Scott Police Department had approximately 25 calls for service that were storm related, according to Cpt. Shaun T. West, Fort Scott Police Department.

Most of the calls were for trees in the roadway, power lines down or alarms due to power issues, he said.

“We did have one non injury vehicle accident in the county which may have been weather related, but I don’t enough information on it as it was worked by Kansas Highway Patrol,” West said.

“There was one accident reported,” Sheriff Bill Martin said. ” That occurred on south 69 Highway at Birch Road. The Kansas Highway Patrol worked that.”

Martin noted there were power outages in the Uniontown area.

The majority of Bourbon County was never issued a severe thunderstorm warning,  William Wallis,  Bourbon County Emergency Management Director, said.

“This was due to the fact that we didn’t meet one or both of the required criteria that enables the National Weather service to issue a Severe Thunderstorm Warning,” Wallis said. ” When the National Weather Service issues a warning it is sent to CodeRed who then issues a warning to the exact location within our county, per the address that the individual signs up with. That is the reason why no one received a CodeRed especially in the Fort Scott area.”

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Mercy Hospital

Dr. Parris Reception July 28

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The public is invited to a retirement reception for David Parris, M.D., from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 28, in the Mercy Hospital cafeteria.

Dr. Parris earned this medical degree from University of Missouri – Columbia and completed his family medicine residency at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He specializes in family medicine and emergency medicine. Dr. Parris is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

In May, Dr. Parris was awarded the coveted 5-Star Award by ranking in PRC’s top 10 percent nationally for “excellent” responses in patient satisfaction surveys. He is also a fabulous vocalist and has performed in many musicals.

Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2018, 2017 and 2016 by IBM Watson Health, serves millions annually. Mercy includes more than 40 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, 800 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 44,000 co-workers and 2,100 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In addition, Mercy’s IT division, Mercy Technology Services, supply chain organization, ROi, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients in more than 20 states coast to coast.
supply chain organization, ROi, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients in more than 20 states coast to coast.
The public is invited to a retirement reception for David Parris, M.D., from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 28, in the Mercy Hospital cafeteria.

Dr. Parris earned this medical degree from University of Missouri – Columbia and completed his family medicine residency at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He specializes in family medicine and emergency medicine. Dr. Parris is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

In May, Dr. Parris was awarded the coveted 5-Star Award by ranking in PRC’s top 10 percent nationally for “excellent” responses in patient satisfaction surveys. He is also a fabulous vocalist and has performed in many musicals.

Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2018, 2017 and 2016 by IBM Watson Health, serves millions annually. Mercy includes more than 40 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, 800 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 44,000 co-workers and 2,100 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In addition, Mercy’s IT division, Mercy Technology Services, supply chain organization, ROi, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients in more than 20 states coast to coast.
supply chain organization, ROi, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients in more than 20 states coast to coast.

Bourbon County

FS Community Foundation Grant Adds To Therapeutic Garden at Presbyterian Village

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Grant enables therapeutic garden expansion

Fort Scott Area Community Foundation gives $1,000

 Fort Scott Presbyterian Village’s efforts to build a therapeutic garden on the campus got a boost from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation through the foundation’s grant program.

“The therapeutic garden at Presbyterian Village was started in 2017 with funds from Modern Woodman, Presbyterian Village funds and hundreds of volunteer hours,” said Ginger Nance, executive director at the Presbyterian Village. “This year with an additional $1,000 grant from the Fort Scott Community Foundation, we were able to add essential elements such as a concrete water fountain, some additional plants, bushes and constructed raised garden boxes which are being built to replace the ones that are deteriorated.”

The mission of the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation is to partner with and be a resource to organizations whose goal is to improve the quality of life in the Fort Scott, Kansas, area. FSACF strives to create connections between donors and a variety of many worthwhile causes.

“We can’t thank the foundation and other donors enough for their help with our project this year,” Nance said.

A therapeutic garden is an outdoor garden space that has been specifically designed to meet the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of the people using the garden as well as their caregivers, family members, visitors, and friends. Many studies suggest positive therapeutic benefits are gained when people are exposed to nature, even for just a few minutes each day. A natural outdoor garden setting promotes exercise and stimulates all the senses. Therapeutic gardens promote movement, positive reminiscences, decrease stress and stabilize sleep-wake cycles.

“The therapeutic garden is enjoyed by family members and tenants, by employees, volunteers and the community at large,” Nance said. “The garden has been utilized for the Mother’s Day banquet, patio music entertainment, outdoor dining, growing vegetables and most of all, for a peaceful relaxing retreat daily to everyone who has entered.”

Each year special features and plant life are added to the retreat space. Volunteers and tenants who love to garden have worked the soil and planted flowers and vegetables all spring and summer in order to improve the space and benefit from the sights and sounds of nature.

“We invite everyone out to enjoy the wonderful space,” states Nance. “The design is a work in progress as financial resources, weather and time allow.” “Next year, we hope to add more to the space and include improved patio dining possibilities by adding umbrellas, a possible pergola, and other shading options,” Nance said.

Thank you to all who have helped make this possible for our community! If you would like to get involved to contribute toward continued improvements to the therapeutic garden, please contact Nance at [email protected] or call 620-223-5550.

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Fort Scott Presbyterian Village has been offering independent and assisted living apartments for seniors from southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri since 1994. Learn more at FortScottPresbyterianVillage.org. It is a member of the nonprofit Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America network of 17 communities in Kansas and Missouri. Learn more about PMMA at PresbyterianManors.org.

Fort Scott, Government

City’s Organizational Meeting of Land Bank July 25

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There will be a meeting of the Fort Scott Land Bank held on Wednesday, July 25th, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. in the City Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street.

This meeting will be held to organize the Land Bank Board and any other items deemed necessary for the formation of this board.

There will be a majority of the City Commissioners present, but no City Commission business will be conducted.

Opinion

Communion On The Moon by Patty LaRoche

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July 20 commemorates the day in 1969 that astronaut Buzz Aldrin served communion on the moon. This year, Webster Presbyterian in Texas—where Aldrin served as an elder –will celebrate the historic event on Sunday, July 22, by presenting the chalice that Aldrin brought back to Earth with him. After all, it was that church’s minister who consecrated a communion wafer and a small vial of communion wine in preparation for Aldrin’s trip to the moon. The sacred lunar ceremony was kept secret by the U.S. government until years later when Aldrin shared his story.

Aldrin’s proposal originally had been rejected when he told NASA flight operations coordinator Deke Slayton of his idea to celebrate communion during the live broadcast from the moon. According to Aldrin’s memoir “Magnificent Desolation,” Slayton told him, “No, that’s not a good idea, Buzz. Go ahead and have communion but keep your comments more general.”

That was because just a few months previous, in what was the most watched television broadcast in the world, the Apollo 8 astronauts had read the first ten verses of Genesis while orbiting the moon. “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light’: and there was light…” 

Atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair sued, and even though the Supreme Court dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction, the legal battles she won taking prayer and Bible reading out of school created enough of a stir that NASA wanted to avoid any further problems. Aldrin would resort to Plan B.

Once he and Neil Armstrong exited the Lunar Module, Armstrong summed up the enormity of the occasion when he stepped onto the moon’s surface and spoke the often-quoted phrase, “This is one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Aldrin then radioed this message to NASA: “This is the LM (Lunar Module) pilot. I’d like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way.”
To comply with Mission Control, Aldrin then ended radio communication, and there, on the silent surface of the moon, 250,000 miles from home, he read a verse from the Gospel of John, and he took communion. According to journalist Matthew Cresswell inThe Guardian, this is Aldrin’s account of what happened:
“In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me.  In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. It was interesting to think that the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the first food eaten there, were communion elements. “Then I read the scripture:  ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit … Apart from me, you can do nothing.’”

They were Jesus’ words and coming from Someone who had created the moon, He should know.

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Thursday at the Fair: Chamber Coffee, More Champions, Swine Show, Corn Hole

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K-State Extension Agent Joy Miller speaks to the attendees of the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Thursday morning during their weekly coffee in the Open Class Myers Building. She summed up the fair for fair youth: hard work and determination.

Thursday at the Bourbon County Fair started with the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Weekly Coffee and the Open Class Swine Contest. The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office served lunch at the Chuck Wagon eatery at the fair and in the evening was the 4-H Fashion Revue at Fort Scott Community College. There was a corn hole contest fundraiser presented by the Uniontown FFA in the arena.

Friday at the fair includes the livestock judging contest, viewing of open class exhibits, the 4-H Barnyard Olympics, the Buyer’s Appreciation Supper and the Junior Livestock Sale.

Saturday is checking out exhibits and clean-up. There will be a Missouri State Tractor Pullers Contest at the grandstand in the evening.

The Youth Conservation Corp from the Fort Scott National Historic Site were first-time visitors to the Chamber Coffee. They announced Family Day this Saturday at the Fort. Cooking, gardening, and small arms demonstrations will be in the morning session. Crafts and games will be in the afternoon session. Check out what this group planned as part of their duties at the Fort: For Families: Art Show July 28; Scavenger Hunt August 4 at The Fort

From left: Reaghn Dowell, Kaden Primm, Jesseden Kiwan and Anthea Montojo, all of Fort Scott High School, comprise the YCC.

The following are the entries that won Grand Champion in the Open Class Department, housed in the Myers Building.

The Swine Contest was held in the arena.

A crowd filled the bleachers to watch swine and their owners in the FFA, 4-H and Open Class contests.
Blaine Pitts is the Duroc Swine Grand Champion.

More Grand Champions in the 4-H Building:

Results for the 4-H Clubs:

Uniontown FFA did a corn hole contest fundraiser:

Obituary

Obituary Of Lawrence “Shorty” Brown

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Lawrence E. “Shorty” Brown, 90, of Rural Fort Scott, passed away Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott.

He was born April 26, 1928, in Richards, Missouri, the son of Francis Marion and Stella G. (McDaniel) Brown. He married Flossie Ruth Nance July 30, 1950, in Pawnee Station, Kansas. She preceded him in death December 6, 1991.

Shorty served in the Korean War with the US Marine Corps from March of 1952 until August of 1953. He was a dairy farmer and rancher, and he was a member of the Hiattville United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Devon Masonic Lodge #92.

Shorty’s greatest joy was spending time with family, spoiling the grandchildren, and working on the ranch. He also enjoyed restoring antique steamer trunks as a hobby.

Survivors include his sons, Rocky J. Brown and wife Barbara, of Fort Scott, Kansas, and Macky M. Brown and his wife Heather, of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas; three grandchildren, Angela M. Bin, Timothy D. Brown and his wife Nicole, and Kaitlyn M. Brown; eight great-grandchildren, Levi N. Bin, Emmalee M. Bin, Austin C. Collins, Nicholas B. Ragan, Makenzie R. Brown, Abbigale A. Brown, Owen D. Brown, and Lillie M. Brown; and Coleene Lockwood, longtime special friend.

In addition to his wife Flossie, Shorty was also preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Melvin “Brownie” Brown, his wife Margaret “Teenie” Brown; a sister, Betty “Peggy” Clarkson, and her husband Richard “Blackie.”

Rev. Dallas Peterson will conduct funeral services at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, 2018, at the Konantz-Cheney

Funeral Home with burial following at Memory Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday evening, July 23, 2018, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Military Honors at the cemetery will be conducted by the Olson-Frary-Burkhart Post 1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Detail. Masonic services will also take place at the cemetery and be conducted by the Devon Masonic Lodge #92. Memorial contributions may be made to The Beacon, or the Hiattville United Methodist Church, and 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.

Uncategorized

Painting Class At Presbyterian Village July 24

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Personalized DIY Barn Wood Sign Painting Class Offered at Presbyterian Village

Presbyterian Village will be hosting a barn wood sign class at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24.

Instructor, Jennifer Cox, will demonstrate how to create charming barn wood style signs. Her painted wood signs that she will instruct are hand-crafted by you, using reclaimed weathered wood.  The varied combination of knots, cracks, imperfections and natural blemishes of the recycled wood gives your custom-painted sign it’s own unique character and texture.  The result is a treasured piece of personalized artwork that coordinates nicely with nearly every style of home decor.

Participants will take home their creations at the end of the class.

Make plans now to join us at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, in our community room at 2401 S. Horton in Fort Scott.

A donation per participant is requested to cover supplies.

Class size is limited, so please register by July 20 by contacting Becky Kellum at (620) 223-5550 or [email protected].

For more information about Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, contact Becky Kellum, marketing director, at 620-223-5550 or email [email protected]

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Fort Scott Presbyterian Village has served Bourbon County since 1994 with independent and assisted living. Learn more at FortScottPresbyterianVillage.org. Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with 18 locations in Missouri and Kansas. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.

Bourbon County Local News