Fire Engulfs Farm Combine on Oct. 28: Community Steps In

Bill Keith, looks on as his combine is engulfed in fire on Oct. 28, during strong winds in the region. Submitted photo.

The unusually warm weather—almost 90 degrees—and the strong winds have created dangerous conditions for fires once they have started.

Stacy Racy stated on her Facebook page last night that her dad, Bill Keith , had a piece of farm equipment engulfed in fire.

Her dad was combining wheat on his farm near Hammond, about 12 miles north of Fort Scott on Monday evening, October 28.

“You can’t see right behind you on a combine,” Racy said. “The combine died and he stood on the platform on it and saw that it was on fire.”

“Tonight, my dad’s combine caught fire. Once again, Jerry Nafzger, my dad’s guardian angel here on earth, came to his rescue,” she said on her Facebook page. “My dad didn’t know the combine was on fire until it died in the field. Jerry had seen the fire and called the fire department as he headed to the field.”

“Two young men Kyler Tweedy and Clint Barker from the Muddy Waters Farms elevator (in Hammond) arrived and plowed around the north side of the combine since the wind was blowing fiercely,” she said. “They plowed around… to keep the fire from jumping.”

Racy thanked the Bourbon County Fire District #3 for aiding in putting out the fire. This rural fire department had just come from a grass fire in the area.

“Thank you to Bourbon County Fire District 3. This rural fire district covers the Devon, Uniontown, Hiattville, Fulton, Bronson, and Redfield areas in the county,” she said

“Most of these young men and women are volunteers and all worked together to get the fire under control quickly,” she said.

Racy noted that the fire crew had to wait on a train at Soldier Road in traveling to the site of the fire.

Racy posted the above photo on her Facebook page and said:

“I have several pictures ( she took of the combine fire) but this one spoke volumes as a 80-year-old man watches his combine go up in smoke,” she said. “We can replace the combine, it’s just materialistic, but once again Jesus protected him and sent people to help him. Jerry (Nafger)even came back later to pray with him!”

“Numerous neighbors came to check on him,” Racy said.” Living in this community is such a blessing.”

The combine is a total loss, she said.

This morning she received a text from a young farmer neighbor, Charles Johnson, who volunteered to come combine the rest of the wheat, she said.

“When people need help, people step up,” she said. “We have such good people as neighbors.”

This is the proclamation against all outside fires in Bourbon County, until lifted.

“Due to the extreme heat and little rain, fire-hazard conditions in Bourbon County are very high.  Because of the limitations of water usage by rural fire districts, there is concern for the capabilities of those fire districts to address any fire.  Once started, with the present weather conditions, a fire will be difficult to control by fire departments.  Water usage is of great concern to all fire departments, and the availability of enough water to contain a fire.

 

The dry conditions, above-normal temperatures and fire danger will continue unabated until sufficient rainfall occurs across the area.

 

It is hereby proclaimed, directed, and ordered by the Bourbon County Commissioners, in accordance with K.S.A. 48-932, that the following acts are prohibited within the boundaries of this County by all citizens and visitors:

 

  1. All outside burning, unless specifically approved in writing by the Fire Chief, with the exception of covered barbeque grills.

 

The knowing and willful violation of this order shall constitute a Class A misdemeanor and any person convicted of such violation shall be punished as provided by law. [K.S.A. 48-939]

 

This Proclamation shall be in full force and effect until lifted.

 

Passed in open session by the Board of County Commissioners of Bourbon County, Kansas, this 15th day of October 2024.”

 

Chamber Coffee Hosted by FSNHS On Oct. 31

Join us for Chamber Coffee!

Thursday, October 31st, 8am

Hosted by

Fort Scott National Historic Site

1 Old Fort Blvd.

In the Downtown Historic District!

Click here for their Facebook page.

Click here for their website.

_____________

We hope to see you there for Networking * Community News * Refreshments!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, October 31st at 8 am hosted by the Fort Scott National Historic Site, 1 Old Fort Blvd. The coffee will be held in the West Infantry Barracks Theatre. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.

The Fort Scott National Historic Site’s 43rd Annual Candlelight tour tickets go on sale Friday, November 1st. Tickets are $8.00 per person and non-refundable, children 5 and under are free. Tickets are shifting this season, come to the coffee to find out how. It is recommended tickets be purchased early to ensure choice of tour times, as the event frequently sells out.

The 43rd Annual Candlelight Tour will be held Friday and Saturday, December 6-7th. Tours on December 6th begin at 6:30pm, leaving every 15 minutes, until 9pm. Saturday, December 7th, the tours will start at 5pm with the final tour leaving at 9pm. Participants are advised to dress for the weather and conditions, as the entire tour will be outside.

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members shown below…
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701

620-223-3566

fortscott.com

Facebook  X  Instagram
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US

Fort Scott High School Performs Disney’s Frozen Jr.

 

Fort Scott High School performs Disney’s Frozen Jr. musical at 7 p.m. on Nov. 12, 14, and 16 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 16 at the FSHS Auditorium.

 

The music and lyrics for Frozen Jr. are by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez with a book by Jennifer Lee. It is based on the Disney film written by Jennifer Lee and directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee.

 

“A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen JR. expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood,” according to publisher Music Theatre International.

 

The production features Junior Junie Fisher as Elsa, Junior Chris Newman as Anna, sophomore Theodore Bowman as puppeteer for Olaf, senior Cooper George as Hans, senior Mykael Lewis as Kristoff, and junior Sypher Cannon as puppeteer for Sven. Eugene Ware students Olivia Ford and Nevaeh Fialkowski play Young Elsa and Young Anna and freshmen Gianna Gorman and Mary Racer portray Middle Elsa and Middle Anna.

 

Tickets are reserved seating in advance and available at fortscotthighschool.ludus.com. Seating is limited, but some tickets may be available at the door. Adults are $8 and children are $6. A $14 VIP Ticket experience includes the opportunity to meet the Frozen cast and take an exclusive photo, a Frozen gift bag, concession snack, and concession drink.

 

Frozen Jr. is directed by Theatre Director Angie Bin, Music Director Taylor Jones, Choreographer Abby Stepps, and Assistant Director Mesa Jones.

The 2024 Kansas Museums Association Conference will be held in Fort Scott

Gordon Parks Museum is located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College.

 

The Gordon Parks Museum is pleased to announce that Fort Scott, KS will be the host site for the 2024 Kansas Museums Association Conference, November 6 – 8, 2024. The Gordon Parks Museum will serve as the Member Host Organization and both The Fort Scott National Historic Site and The Lowell Milken Center will also serve as Additional Hosts.

 

Fort Scott’s local host planning committee put together a competitive bid proposal almost three years ago to host this annual event. This three-day annual conference will attract 125-150 museum professionals from around the state of Kansas. The conference will provide breakout sessions and workshops with a wide range of topics and the latest trends in museums and preservation.

 

The conference will use several venues in Fort Scott such as: The Gordon Parks Museum, Ellis Fine Arts Center, and The River Room Events Center. Conference attendees will also go on tours and site visits at some of the attractions in the community to include, the Fort Scott National Historic Site, Lowell Milken Center, 110 S. Main (Cohn’s Café), The Liberty Theater and many others along with other site visits in the surrounding area.

 

“We are very excited about this great opportunity to bring such large group of museum professionals from across the state to our town, to not only show what we have to offer, but for them to shop, dine, stay and support our museums and other attractions in our community.” said, Kirk Sharp, Executive Director, Gordon Parks Museum.

 

For 55 years, the KMA Annual Conference has served as a focal point for its member institutions that range from Stanton County Museum in Johnson, Kansas to the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka. Officially formed in spring 1969 when its first organizational meeting was held in Abilene. The Kansas Museums Association offers numerous networking and professional development gatherings and opportunities across the state each year. The KMA is headquartered in Wichita.

The SEK Library Newsletter October 2024

The SEKnFind Newsletter
October 2024

We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog.
This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold.
Need assistance? Your local librarian can show you how!
Happy Reading!

New Fiction

Society of lies : a novel
by Lauren Brown

When her sister Naomi, about to graduate from Princeton, is found dead on campus, Maya, believing it was no accident, discovers Naomi joined the same underground society she did years ago and now every clue is leading her back to the past?—?and to the secrets she’s kept all these years.

Blood like mine
by Stuart Neville

On the run from a grisly secret, a desperate mother and her teenage daughter hide out in the foothills of Colorado unaware that they have entered the orbit of a gruesome serial killer who drains victims of blood.

This Girl’s a Killer
by Emma C. Wells

Cordelia is a serial killer who kills unscrupulous men, and she never had a problem with it, until she starts to become not so sure about the new man her best friend, Diane, is dating.

Libby lost and found
by Stephanie Booth

Diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, author Libby Weeks, known as F.T. Goldhero to the fans of her fantasy series, realizes she needs help finishing her long anticipated final book, and turns to an unlikely source for support.

Mina’s matchbox
by Yåoko Ogawa

In 1972, 12-year-old Tomoko is sent to stay with her affluent aunt’s family in a coastal town in Japan where she, beguiled by her devoted aunt, her German great-aunt, her charming uncle and her cousin, Mina, who draws her into an intoxicating world of secrets and storytelling, soon discovers the truth behind their glittering façade.

Prime time romance : a novel
by Kate Robb

When she, after making a wish, wakes up in the ideal world of her favorite 2000s teenage soap, Brynn soon discovers Carson’s Cove is not as perfect as seen on TV and when there’s a plot twist, she must choose between sticking to the script, or let love change the story forever. Original.

I’ll be waiting : a novel
by Kelley Armstrong

Outliving the expectations of her Cystic Fibrosis diagnosis, Nicola Laughton marries Anton, but after his death in a car crash goes viral as a supernatural event, a group of spiritualists offering closure hold a séance that unleashes a terrifying force.

Bull moon rising
by Ruby Dixon

Aspeth Honori, a noble’s daughter, must join the Royal Artifactual Guild and marry a surly minotaur to retrieve lost magical artifacts and save her family, all while concealing her identity and navigating increasingly complex challenges.

This world is not yours
by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

“An action-packed, inventive novella about a toxic polycule consumed by jealousy and their attempts to survive on a hostile planet. After fleeing her controlling and murderous family with her fiancâee Vinh, Amara embarks on a colonization project, New Belaforme, along with her childhood friend, Jesse. The planet, beautiful and lethal, produces the Gray, a “self-cleaning” mechanism that New Belaforme’s scientists are certain only attacks invasive organisms, consuming them. Humans have been careful to do nothing to call attention to themselves until a rival colony wakes the Gray. As Amara, Vinh, and Jesse work to carve out a new life together, each is haunted by past betrayals that surface, expounded by the need to survive the rival colony and the planet itself. There’s more than one way to be eaten alive”

Sharpe’s command / : Richard Sharpe and the Bridge at Almaraz, May 1812
by Bernard Cornwell

Sent on an undercover mission to a small village in the Spanish countryside in the early 19th century, far behind enemy lines, the formidable Captain Sharpe and his group of men—with their cunning and courage to rely on—must stop two French armies from meeting on the Almaraz bridge.

The treasure hunters club : a mystery
by Tom Ryan

A murder mystery is set in a seaside town filled with pirate lore, family secrets, unforgiveable grudges, secret societies and, of course, a treasure lost to time.

The hanging party
by William W. Johnstone

In a new series from a pair of best-selling authors, a legendary gunslinger tries to outrun his past and start a new life. But after so many years, so many bullets—and so much bloodshed—he finds old habits die hard.

New Audiobooks

Billy the Kid : The War for Lincoln County
by Ryan C. Coleman

In 1870s New Mexico, the territory is at a crossroads. After escaping jail, William Bonney, a.k.a. Billy the Kid, is a seventeen-year-old orphan who’s been on the run for the better part of two years. Billy falls in with a gang of ruthless rustlers and murderers, but when Billy crosses one of the members, the gang sets out to kill him. Billy narrowly escapes, finding refuge under the tutelage of English immigrant and businessman John Tunstall. When Tunstall is murdered, the Kid becomes determined to seek revenge.

Tell Me Everything
by Elizabeth Strout

While defending a lonely, isolated man accused of killing his mother, town lawyer Bob Burgess falls into a deep and abiding friendship with acclaimed writer, Lucy Barton, and together they meet the iconic Olive Kitteridge and spend afternoons in Olive’s apartment, telling each other stories, which imbues their lives with meaning.

The House at Watch Hill
by Karen Marie Moning

Zo Grey is reeling from the death of her mother when she receives word of an inheritance. But to receive it, Zo must live in a mansion, alone, for three years. What she doesn’t yet know is that her own roots lie in this very house and that in order to awaken her dormant powers, she must face off against sinister forces she doesn’t quite comprehend.

New Nonfiction

Framed : astonishing true stories of wrongful convictions
by John Grisham

Exposes 10 harrowing tales of innocent Americans unjustly found guilty and convicted of crimes they didn’t commit, shedding light on the flaws within the legal system that led to their imprisonment and the relentless battles for exoneration that ensued.

The free mind : finding clarity in a digitally distracted world
by Kilung Rinpoche

“Our engagement with digital technology connects us to people but can also cause anxiety, distraction, imbalance, and suffering. This book offers a unique Buddhist approach to develop a clear understanding of our inner lives and the world of digital communication to lessen our suffering and deepen our happiness. Dza Kilung Rinpoche, a respected contemporary Tibetan Buddhist teacher, skillfully addresses these widespread issues in modern life geared toward his Western students and readers. He offers straightforward Buddhist strategies and tools to clear away the distractive clutter that prevents us from advancing in our careers and relationships. The book also explores deeper issues like the nature of wisdom, question of karma, and importance of lovingkindess and compassion. The practices and meditations in this book will appeal to anyone who enjoys mindfulness apps like Ten Happier, Insight Timer, and Headspace. By calming our minds, we can clearly see the sources of our inner and outer problems and begin to work on them for the benefit of ourselves, others, and the earth”

The bookshop : a history of the American bookstore
by Evan Friss

Drawing on oral histories, archival collections, municipal records, diaries, letters and interviews with leading booksellers, this ode to bookstores discusses its central place in American cultural life and offers a captivating look at this institution beloved by so many. Illustrations.

Sharks don’t sink : adventures of a rogue shark scientist
by Jasmin Graham

A marine biologist and co-founder of Minorities in Shark Sciences shares how she flourished outside of academia by remembering the important lesson she learned from sharks: keep moving forward, in this guidebook to respecting and protecting some of nature’s most misunderstood and vulnerable creatures—and grant the same grace to ourselves. Illustrations.

Heal your gut, save your brain : the five pillars of enhancing your gut and optimizing your cognitive health
by Partha Nandi

“The brain and the gut are neurologically and biochemically connected via millions of nerves and the trillions of microbes that populate the intestines. Known as the gut-brain axis, this communication network between the two systems is vast and complex. Although scientists have known about this axis for some time, the assumption was that the gut needed the brain in order to function. Only recently has science given the gut its due credit in this relationship. As a gastroenterologist with a personal and professional interest in understanding the role the gut plays in brain health and in employing targeted treatments that can prevent cognitive decline, Dr. Nandi is poised to deliver this information to consumers. Heal Your Gut, Save Your Brain explains the emerging science, including the pathophysiology between the gut and disorders, in lay terms. It also shows readers how simple changes to improve gut health-most of which are not currently part of a neurologist’s standard treatment protocol-can help them to achieve excellent brain health; preserve brain health to help prevent neurological disease; and dramatically improve recovery from devastating neurological disorders such as: stroke, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s Dr. Nandi’s accessible and simple program is based on five pillars, which include nutrition, movement, purpose, spirituality, and community, and offers an holistic approach to helping prevent and mitigate cognitive decline”

Food to die for : recipes & stories from America’s most legendary haunted places
by Amy Bruni

A paranormal investigator collects stories rooted in history and recipes from haunted hotels, ghost towns and includes scary-good eats like Villisca Ax Murder House Skillet Cornbread. Old Absinthe House Frappe and Grand Hotel Pecan Balls. Illustrations.

DIY thrift flip : sewing techniques for transforming old clothes into fun, wearable fashions
by April Yang

“DIY Thrift Flip teaches how to shop and sew sustainably by providing how-tos for finding, upcycling, and customizing secondhand clothing with basic sewing instructions”

Fundraiser for the New Ice Skating Rink is at Sharky’s on November 4

The plan for the new ice skating rink is to open during the Christmas on the Bricks Festival,  Friday, December 7th at the Gathering Pavilion on North National Avenue, according to Diane Striler, project coordinator.

“The high school carpentry class led by Jason Johnson, is starting to build the shed that will house the skates,” said Striler.

“Sharky’s Pub and Grub, 16 N. National will be hosting on Nov. 4th to help us raise funds for the rink,” she said. Ten percent of the net sales that day will be donated to help fund the ice skating rink.

“I have also included links for people who would like to help us with a donation. We are getting closer, but still need a little over $20,000.00.” The total goal of the rink that will last approximately 15 years is $50,000 which includes the skates, rink, sharpeners, and building that will house the skates and take the $5 fee for skating.

See the flyer below to scan and donate to the ice skating rink.

The rink is a new addition to the Christmas on The Bricks festival that began last year in Historic Downtown Fort Scott.

 

 

Shut The Gate by Carolyn Tucker

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

 

 

Growing up as a country girl, I learned that when I opened a gate and walked through, I needed to immediately close the gate. Most farm animals are basically just waiting patiently to make a jailbreak. You might think they’re just minding their own business, chewing their cud, scratching on the side of the barn, or grazing, but they’re actually scoping out the joint. Several years ago, one of us didn’t chain the gate properly and our horses escaped. They didn’t go far, but they went far enough. They moseyed down the lane, looked both ways and crossed the highway, then went calling on the neighbor horses. Gates are extremely important to the owners of sneaky, conniving farm animals. When given half a chance, they’ll bust out of jail every time.

 

In the New Testament, Jesus speaks candidly about two different gates. “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it” (Matthew 7:13-14 NLT). Everyone has been given the right to make their own choices, aka free will. Jesus knows mankind’s  tendency and He solemnly declared that few would choose the narrow gate that leads to an abundant life here and eternal life in heaven. When individuals choose the wide gate, they’re forfeiting Jesus’ gift of eternal life and taking Broadway Street to Hell.

 

In certain situations, I‘ve been known to say, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” This colloquialism means there’s multiple ways to accomplish a task or achieve the same end. (For cat lovers, this saying is referring to skinning a catfish.) For example, you  can skin a catfish either before or after you fillet it.

 

Some individuals say, “There’s more than one way to get to heaven.” Nope. Jesus told Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me“ (John 14:6 NLT). There are two gates to choose from when entering either the Highway to Heaven or the Highway to Hell. The battle between right (Good Gate) and wrong (Evil Gate) has been going on since the Garden of Eden.

 

While standing at the Narrow and Wide Gates deciding which one to enter, it would be good to sit down and count the cost of choosing poorly. Jesus paid the entry fee for everyone to enter the Narrow Gate. The difficult way of this gate is definitely the road less traveled, but it’s certainly worth it. Jesus spoke encouraging words to His disciples, and the same message is for Christ followers today: “And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in Me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in Me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33 TPT).

 

After wisely choosing the narrow gate, life continues to be full of daily choices. We can choose to walk in holiness or selfishness, wisdom or folly, integrity or deceitfulness, love or hatred. The Holy Spirit lives inside believers to help us make right decisions. So we must learn to listen to Him so we won‘t make foolish choices.

 

The Key: When you come to the end of your journey, you won’t be sorry you chose the narrow

Bourbon County Local News