Obituary

Obituary Of Alvin Metcalf

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Alvin Wayne Metcalf, age 71, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Wednesday, May 16, 2018. He was born September 8, 1946, in Ft. Scott, the son of Wayne and Ellen Schubert Metcalf.

He graduated from Fort Scott high school with the class of 1964. He married Linda Lee Cox on November 10, 1964, in Ft. Scott.

Alvin served in the U. S. Army in Vietnam as Specialist 4th Class. He worked most of his career as a firefighter, retiring as Captain of the South Johnson County Fire Department.

He enjoyed coon hunting and raising greyhounds. He traded guns, knives, and dogs. He also drove the team bus for many out of town high school games.

Alvin was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his wife Linda of the home; a daughter, Kristen Metcalf, Lawrence, KS; a son, Clint Metcalf and wife Taira, Lawrence, KS; five grandchildren, Joseph Berkey, Keenan and Halle Gregory, and Amelia and Landon Metcalf; three great grandchildren, Emerald, Etain, and Eislin Berkey; two brothers, Delbert Metcalf, Ft. Scott, and Mike Metcalf and wife Debbie, Nevada, MO; a sister, Shirley Moberg and husband Henry, Melrude, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two grandsons, Kyle and Ian; and his parents.

There was cremation. Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct memorial services at 12:30 PM Friday, May 25th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the U. S. Army Honor Guard. The family will receive friends from 11:30 AM Friday prior to the service. Memorial contributions are suggested to the KU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or Lees Paws and Claws and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County

Let The Fun Begin

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Riverfront Park Pavilion is open to the public.

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Weekly Coffee attendees joined in the ribbon cutting Thursday morning.

The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee attendees were part of the ribbon cutting celebration at Riverfront Park Thursday morning.

The ribbon cutting was to officially open the new pavilion for public use.

The park is slowly but surely being improved under the leadership of the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority Board.

Beginning in 2005, the board became official in 2007 when Governor Sebelius created the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority Board to oversee the revitalization of the park.

Since then several trails have been created in the park with help from the Kansas Wildlife and Parks along with the city and county.

The trails are well used because of all the shade provided by the established trees in the park, Jerry Witt, president of the board, said.

Now the covered pavilion has been built for public use.

The pavilion has electricity and is already scheduled for a wedding in September, Jerry Witt, president of the board said.

The next improvement to the park is a lookout structure to be built at the confluence of the Marmaton River and Mill Creek, which should be completed this year, Witt said.

The Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority Board Members from left: Allen Warren, Arnold Schofield, Danny Magee, Jerry Witt, Dean Mann and Betty Boyko. Not pictured are Penny Barnes, Bob Love and Jeff Sweetser.

Free meal and entertainment this evening (May 17)

Tonight the Riverfront Authority Board is hosting a free hot dog dinner to the public at 6 p.m.

“Price Chopper donated the hot dogs, buns and chips and everything to go along with that,” Allen Warren, a board member said.

At 6:30 p.m. local musicians Jason Richison and Kinley Rice, along with a country western band will perform at the pavilion.

Residents are asked to bring lawn chairs.

Parking will be at the  Twister Trailer  parking lot across the street from the park on North National Avenue, just past the red bridge.

Handicapped individuals may park in Riverfront Park.

For more information, click here:

Riverfront Park Pavillion Coming Spring 2018

 

Fort Scott, Submitted

Buy Local Food

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By Sherise Beckham, Mercy Fort Scott dietician

Awh! Spring is finally here and summer is just around the corner. With all the flowers blooming and gardens growing, who doesn’t love this time of year?

As a dietitian, I am always encouraging people to eat more fruits and vegetables; however, we rarely talk about the origin of them.

For example, who grows your produce? Where does your produce come from? What is the timeline from when it was picked, transported, displayed in the store and now in your hand? Answers to all these questions vary, and in some cases, we might rather not know the answer.

However, we live in an amazing community.

Our community is surrounded by many farmers and growers right here in Bourbon County. Many sell their fruits and vegetables every week between May and October at the local Farmer’s Market.

By purchasing there, you can find comfort in knowing who grew it, how they grew it and when it was picked and purchased by you.

Local produce can also benefit your health and your taste buds.
Local produce is loaded with more flavor.

Usually, produce sold in stores is harvested prior to peak freshness and shipped to your location. The ripening process happens during transportation and storage, rather than on the vine.

Local farmers allow their produce to ripen on the vine and then picked when ripe. Once picked, they are sold quickly to you and me, which allows us to enjoy the best tasting tomato ever!

Local produce is also higher in nutrients. By choosing local produce, you are giving your body more of those nutrients that fruits and vegetables are packed with. Again, this goes back to the shorter time from harvest to your plate, and that the produce was picked when ripe, not prior to. When your local farmer picks the produce when ripe, the produce has been given the opportunity to grow and develop to its full potential.

Choosing to purchase local produce also supports our local economy and helps keep our dollars local. Purchasing local supports your local farmers and they use those dollars to reinvest in our community.

Choosing local also allows you to ask the farmer about their common practices in growing and harvesting their crops. The more you know, the more you can buy with confidence!

Fresh produce in Kansas is limited to a seasonal basis because of the area’s growing season, but we have all summer to enjoy the produce harvested close to home.

Next time you are planning your meals or grocery shopping, consider purchasing from our local farmers: you won’t be disappointed!

Area News, Entertainment, Submitted

Memorial Day Activities At Fort Scott National Historic Site

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Living History and “Highlights in History” Featured for Memorial Day Weekend at Fort Scott National Historic Site

Fort Scott, Kansas: For the Memorial Day holiday this year, you and your family are invited to visit Fort Scott National Historic Site to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of a frontier military fort. Celebrate the weekend with living history programs, cooking demonstrations, and artillery firings.

On Saturday, volunteers and staff will present 1840s living history stations throughout the day at the Fort. Programs will focus on cooking, buying merchandise, and treating illnesses of the military garrison. Park Guides Dottie Messer and Paul Goodman will demonstrate what soldiers and people ate in the 19th century. Barry Linduff will do a presentation on the many goods available for soldiers and civilians in the Sutler store. Volunteers will present living history stations throughout the day throughout the Fort. At 2:00 p.m., come witness the power and sound of artillery. Kids of all ages are invited to join our soldiers in taking down the flag during flag retreat at 4:00 p.m.

Activities will continue on Sunday and Monday with more artillery demonstrations and programs focused on various historical events in which Fort Scott was involved. 1858: Bleeding Kansas Comes to “Fort Scott” will focus on the turbulent times Fort Scott citizens faced during the Bleeding Kansas era. In “Saws, Leaches, and Mercury”, the important role of Civil War medicine in the lives of soldiers will be highlighted.

On Monday at 2:45 p.m. will be a special Memorial Day program honoring Fort Scott’s fallen officers, followed by observance of the National Moment of Silence at 3:00 p.m. Throughout the day enjoy riveting period music of the 19th Century performed by the musical group “The Gum Springs Serenaders”.

The schedule of activities is listed below:

SATURDAY, MAY 26

10:00 a.m. – Cast Iron Skillets and Dutch Ovens: Cooking Demonstration and Talk

11:00 a.m. – Guided Tour

1:00 p.m. – “Crime and Punishment”- Guard Duty Talk

2:00 p.m. – “The Gun That Shoots Twice” – Artillery Demonstration

3:00 p.m. – “Plug, Port, and Peaches” – Post Sutler Talk

4:00 p.m. – Flag Retreat

SUNDAY, MAY 27

11:00 a.m. – Guided Tour

1:00 p.m. – “1858: Bleeding Kansas Comes to Fort Scott” – Guided Tour

2:00 p.m. – “The Gun That Shoots Twice” – Artillery Demonstration

3:00 p.m. – “Saws, Leeches, and Mercury” – 19th Century Medical Demonstration

MONDAY, MAY 28

11:00 a.m. – Guided Tour

1:00 p.m. – “The Gum Springs Serenaders” – Musical Program

2:30 p.m. – “The Gun That Shoots Twice” – Artillery Demonstration

2:45 p.m. – Honoring Fort Scott’s Fallen Officers

3:00 p.m. – National Moment of Remembrance

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

Area News, Submitted

Bike Across Kansas Ends Ride In Fort Scott

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BIKING ACROSS KANSAS WILL END THEIR 2018 RIDE IN DOWNTOWN FORT SCOTT

 The 44th year of the longest-running bicycling event in Kansas history – a 559-mile ride across the Sunflower State – begins Saturday, June 9th. Biking Across Kansas is an eight-day affair beginning at the Kansas-Colorado line with a route of approximately 850 cyclists and support staff.

The event will begin at the Kansas-Colorado line west of Johnson City and make overnight stops in Montezuma, Ashland, Pratt, Clearwater, Burden, Fredonia, and Arma.

On Saturday, June 16th, the cyclists will arrive in Fort Scott. The route riders will follow is west on Jayhawk Road to Richards Road, which turns into Margrave. West on East National Ave. to Main, riding on Main, North to Skubitz Plaza where a welcome celebration is being planned.

On that celebration morning, residents are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, signs, and noisemakers to North Main Street, between Wall and Skubitz Plaza. There, the Fort Scott community will welcome the expected 850 cyclists as they complete their route across the state of Kansas. Beginning at 8:00 am that morning, the first 150 people to arrive to cheer on the cyclists will be given a free cowbell to ring as riders pass by!

After the finish, riders participating in the Biking Across Kansas event will complete the day with a picnic on the parade grounds at Fort Scott National Historic Site.

For more information log on to bak.org, visitfortscott.com, or call the Fort Scott Convention and Visitors Bureau at 620.223.3566.

Area News, Submitted

Diabetes Support Group at Mercy Hospital

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Mercy Hospital Fort Scott will host a Diabetes Support Group on Monday, May 21 at 6 p.m. in McAuley Rooms C & D. The session topic is “Keeping Your Feet Healthy – information to care for and keep your feet healthy when you have diabetes.”

Patty Ryan, Mercy R.N. and diabetes educator, will lead the discussion and share details about options that may work for you.

The support group is open to the public. No registration is required and family members are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

To learn more about this topic or other important information regarding managing diabetes, join the Mercy Diabetes Support Group. The group meets the third Monday of every other month. Mark your calendar for meeting dates of 2018: July 16 and September 17.

For more information, contact Patty Ryan, R.N., at 620-223-8412.

Business, Submitted

Veteran Chuck Ringey Recognized By Mercy Hospice

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Mercy Hospice Recognizes Army Veteran Charles Warren Ringey

PARKER, Kan. (May 16, 2018) – At only 17, young Chuck joined the Army with two friends and headed off to Vietnam. “The Army helped me grow up,” Ringey said. “I came back more mature.”

US Army Sergeant E5 Charles Warren Ringey served one tour of active duty during the Vietnam War from April 1967 to April 1968. He was so young his parents had to give permission for him to enlist.

Ringey came from military roots. His father, uncles, and brother-in-laws all served our country. He completed boot camp at Fort Ord, California, and Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He also had special training through the tank core. He chose the tank core because “a tank had a bit more protection around it than a shirt.”

During the Vietnam War, Ringey drove an Armored Personnel Carrier that carried troops going into combat from Pleiku in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. His team included three soldiers – the Tank Commander, the Gunner, and the driver. In case the need arose, Ringey was cross trained to perform all three positions.

Ringey describes his tank as “solid aluminum…five inches of solid aluminum.” He could see out 360 degrees with a swivel chair and periscopes inside the tank. If he wanted some fresh air or a better view, he could open the hatch and stick his head out as long as he watched out for snipers.

Ringey earned the Purple Heart Medal when his tank ran over a land mine in the road.  “It just went kablooey,” he explained. The explosion left a 100-foot crater in the ground where the tank hit. Ringey needed 15 stitches in the back of the head, x-rays, and a sling for his shoulder. His two other team members survived with injuries and earned the Purple Heart Medal as well.

After his injury, Sergeant Ringey spent two days in camp then served on light guard duty for a week or two to recover.  “It was the middle of the war. They needed you.”

Ringey remembers his time on guard duty as dangerous. “We never knew when the adversary was coming.” He recalls one person was killed on guard duty while he was there. “You had to watch what you were doing,” he said. He also performed road security to check for land mines, kept his tank in working order with the help of the maintenance crew, and played cards in his down time.

Ringey describes where he was stationed in Vietnam as “beautiful country, beautiful things over there, jungles, mountains – and I got to see it all!” The climate was humid with lots of moisture and monsoons.  “It could rain for ten days straight, then you’d get ten days of heat.” He also remembers dust, three foot ruts in the road, and lots and lots of mud. All of this made driving his tank challenging at times.

Back in the states, Ringey served at Fort Carson, Colorado, for 18 months. In his role, he tracked troop movements in Vietnam using radar equipment. 

Ringey reflects on his Army experience as “more influential than harmful, enlightening, and meaningful.”

After Ringey was honorably discharged in 1968, he returned home to California.  He attended aircraft mechanic school on the GI Bill, and he spent the rest of his working life as an auto mechanic. Originally born in Paola, he returned to his Kansas roots a few years ago to care for his parents. He and his wife Donna are residents of Parker.

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Mercy Hospital Fort Scott is an acute care hospital with 46 licensed beds, offering comprehensive medical, surgical, OB/GYN, pediatric, homecare and hospice services. Inpatient care is provided with 24/7 physician coverage. In 2017, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott received The Leapfrog Group’s prestigious A rating. Mercy Clinic Fort Scott is located on hospital grounds as well as Mercy rural health clinics in Arma and Pleasanton.

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.

Government, Kansas, Submitted

Governor Colyer Signs Care Worker Background Check Bill

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Expands KDADS’ authority to conduct fingerprint-based background checks

TOPEKA – Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D., signed into law Thursday a bill authorizing the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services’ (KDADS) Health Occupations Credentialing program to conduct national fingerprint-based background checks on individuals seeking to work in adult care homes or home health agencies or to provide services through one of the state’s seven home- and community-based services Medicaid waivers.

“This bill is a common-sense measure that will help to protect vulnerable Kansans. I was pleased to sign this important legislation because it closes a loophole that could allow caretakers to victimize disabled or elderly Kansans. Expanding our fingerprint-based background checks makes all of those receiving care safer,” Governor Colyer said.

“This will allow us to carry out a more thorough check of individuals who work caring for the vulnerable in our state,” KDADS Secretary Tim Keck said. “Currently, there are approximately 8,000 individuals working in Kansas adult care homes who reside in a state that borders Kansas. The national background fingerprint check will ensure that records of crimes committed in other states are available for review before individuals can be hired, regardless of their state of residence.”

The bill signed by Governor Colyer amends three existing criminal record-check statutes to align all the offenses and timeframes that disqualify or prohibit an individual from working in any of those health care settings and sets a length of time after conviction of a disqualifying crime must pass before the individual is eligible to be employed in those settings. Alignment of the prohibited offenses and timeframes creates parity for all potential workers because all are held to the same standards.

KDADS’ background check portal, KanCheck, has been developed and built through a grant from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) at no cost to the State of Kansas. The system was designed to be utilized by multiple agencies and programs. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will be utilizing the KanCheck system to complete their criminal record checks for childcare providers.

In 2017, KDADS completed a total of 63,514 criminal record background checks and issued a total of 976 employment prohibitions, 147 for adult care home/home health agency applicants and 829 for home- and community-based services job applicants.

Government, Kansas, Submitted

Governor Signs Law Against Human Trafficking

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Governor Colyer Signs SB 281 Adding a Protection Against Human Trafficking to Kansas Law

Governor Jeff Colyer today signed SB 281 which amends the Protection from Stalking or Sexual Assault Act to include victims of human trafficking. The Act will now be called the Protection from Stalking, Sexual Assault, or Human Trafficking Act.

When a minor child is alleged to be a human trafficking victim, the bill allows the following individuals to seek relief on the minor’s behalf: a parent of the minor child, an adult residing with the minor child, the child’s court-appointed legal custodian or court-appointed legal guardian, a county or district attorney, or the Attorney General. Additionally, the bill allows the child’s court-appointed legal custodian or court-appointed legal guardian to seek relief on behalf of a minor child under the Protection from Abuse Act and the Protection from Stalking, Sexual Assault, or Human Trafficking Act.

“For some, life as a victim of human trafficking is a daily reality,” said Governor Jeff Colyer. “We have an obligation to the victims of this terrible evil to strengthen laws aimed at preventing trafficking and take meaningful steps to end this horrible practice once and for all. I applaud the legislature’s work on this bill, and hope it will be just one piece of a larger effort to help eliminate trafficking in the state of Kansas.”

Barry Feaker, Executive Director of Freedom Now USA said, “Laws that continue to strengthen our ability to protect victims of human trafficking are a win for all Kansas citizens. Freedom Now USA thanks  our legislators for their historical decision to be the first state in the nation to declare war on human trafficking, which is modern-day slavery. Continuing to prioritize the fight against human trafficking will significantly contribute to the eventual eradication of slavery from our state.”

The bill also allows a court to enter an order restraining the defendant from following, harassing, telephoning, contacting, recruiting, harboring, transporting, or committing or attempting to commit human trafficking upon the human trafficking victim or otherwise communicating with the human trafficking victim.

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Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Submitted

Weekly Chamber Coffee/Ribbon Cutting At Riverfront Park Pavilion Thursday

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Join us for the weekly Chamber Coffee!

Hosted By
Fort Scott Bourbon County
River Authority
 
at Riverfront Park
Belltown Walking Trail Pavilion
(on North National Ave. just north of the Marmaton River, 
across the street from Twister Trailer)
 
Thursday, May 17th, 8am
Click here for the River Authority website.
Click here for the River Authority Facebook page.
There will be a Ribbon Cutting for the new Pavilion immediately following the Chamber Coffee,
approx. 8:45am.
Chamber members and guests are encouraged to attend for networking, community announcements, and to learn about the hosting business or organization.
Members may pay $1 to make an announcement about an upcoming event, special/sale/discount, or news of any kind.
Upcoming Coffees:
May 24th – Fort Scott Regional Tourism Center/CVB
May 31st – Fort Scott Good Ol’ Days
June 7th – Keyhole Youth Center
 
The Riverfront Festival will also take place tomorrow evening!  Free hotdog supper,

and live music ~ bring a lawn chair!

Bourbon County Local News