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November is National Adoption Month
Adopted Teen Shares Her Story at Adoption Celebration
TOPEKA – Kimberly Allen-Thompson spent most of her life in foster care, aging out of the system. But, that wasn’t the end of Kimberly’s story because at age 18, she was adopted by her forever family, the Thompson’s.
The Thompson’s had adopted Kimberly’s younger siblings, and while she was already legally an adult, she chose to become adopted and have a family to turn to, no matter what.
Kimberly and the Thompson’s were present at the 42nd Annual Governor’s Conference in Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, Adoption Month Reception on Nov. 8, to share their story about adoption and kick-off National Adoption Month with Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and Kansas Children Service League (KCSL) staff.
Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D., signed a proclamation on Monday, Oct. 22, designating November as Adoption Month. Throughout the month, DCF, and its contractors and community partners are taking part in a series of events to call attention to the need for more adoptive and foster families. Currently, there are approximately 500 children available for adoption in Kansas. Of those 500 youth available, 125 are 15 years or older. In FY 2018, 766 children were adopted from foster care.
Helping youth achieve timely permanency has been a focus for DCF Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel. Recently, DCF met internally and with contractors to identify and remove policies that were serving as a barrier to timely permanency. DCF also reviewed all cases where a youth was awaiting adoption and created working plans to safely finalize as many adoptions as possible in 30, 60 and 90 days. As a result of the many initiatives to streamline the adoption process, DCF anticipates finalizing approximately 1,500 adoptions in FY 19, double the number of adoptions from the previous fiscal year.
“When I arrived at the agency, remedying the adoption process was one of my top initiatives because timely permanency is vitally important for the child and the family. In my 25 plus years in child welfare, I have seen thousands of adoptions finalized, and each story and each family is unique,” said Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel. “But at the end of the day, each adoption finalized means a youth found their forever family.”
DCF’s contracted service providers and several courts around the state will celebrate National Adoption Day on Nov. 17, when many adoptions across the state will be finalized. As the final step of the adoption process, these events are often emotional culminations of months of effort. Media are invited to the following adoption finalizations:
- Saturday, Nov. 17: Shawnee County Courthouse, Topeka, 8:30 a.m. – Approximately 35 children’s adoptions will be finalized, KVC Kansas
- Saturday, Nov. 17: Johnson County Courthouse, Olathe, 9 a.m. – Approximately 19 children’s adoptions will be finalized, KVC Kansas
DCF also encouraged faith organizations to educate their members about adoption on Adoption Sunday, Nov.12.
To learn more about children who are currently available for adoption, visit www.adoptkskids.org or call 877-457-5430. On the website, you can view photos and read profiles of each child available for adoption.
Left (left to right): Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel listens as Kimberly Allen-Thompson shares her adoption story and talks about her journey through the foster care system.
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Free Friday Night Concert at Common Grounds
This Friday night, Nov. 1 “Take A Note” will be the featured, according to Ralph Carlson, the coordinator of the free, weekly concerts.
The concert will be held at The Common Grounds Coffee Shop Friday at 7 p.m. Come early as seating is limited.
“The group, led by Dr. Buck features a seven-member band from Iola, Kansas,” Carlson said. “The group does Gospel, classic country and traditional music. They have been a favorite with the Friday night crowd.”
Chili Cook-Off Nov. 13 at Mercy
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Flags Subscription Project Underway
FRIENDS OF FSNHS KICK-OFF NEW FLAG PROJECT
The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site Inc. kicked off a new fundraising project by posting U.S. flags at 57 locations around the city this past Veteran’s Day.
The U.S. Flag project is a subscription service where the Friends of FSNHS will place a flag at your residence or business on five holidays throughout the year for a fee of $35.
The holidays include: Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and Veteran’s Day.
It is not too late to get your flag for the 2019 season. Applications can be obtained at the Fort Scott Area Chamber Office or by e-mailing [email protected].
Gift subscriptions are also available and include a gift card perfect for holidays or birthdays. Please allow a week for processing and delivery of gift cards.
All proceeds are used to support and promote programs at the Fort Scott National Historic Site.
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports Nov. 9-12
Click below for the daily reports.
Pittsburg Youth Chorale Performs Nov. 26
Pittsburg Youth Chorale perform the pre-parade prelude
Pittsburg Youth Chorale will perform a pre-Christmas parade prelude at Signet Coffee Roasters, 109 N. Broadway, on Monday, November 26 beginning at 6 PM.
This vocal ensemble, directed by Fort Scott Music Teacher MJ Harper, is comprised of area singers in 4th-6th grade that meet once a month at Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium & Convention Center.
The purpose of this vocal ensemble is to further grow vocal abilities, musical knowledge, and choral repertoire.
Warm your heart and your body with some holiday cheer before the parade begins!
Submitted by Mary Jo Harper
Formation of Safe Families Organization Nov. 13
There will be an informational meeting, to form a new helping organization starting in Bourbon County, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13 at the Senior Citizens Center site, 26 N. Main.
Allen Schellack, Compassionate Care Pastor with the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene and director of the Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries Outreach Center, is coordinating the event.
The outreach center is located above the Senior Citizens Center at 26 N. Main.
Schellack can be reached at 620-223-2212.
“Tina Westbay, SE Kansas Coordinator for Safe Families will be leading the meeting and answering questions,” Schellack said. “This is the grassroots meeting for Bourbon County and we hope to recruit families, churches, and the general public.”
“Our goal is to provide ‘a circle of support for families’,” Schellack said. ” Safe Families is working with CarePortal and is launching in five southeast Kansas counties, Topeka and Kansas City metro area.”
“This started in Chicago approximately 15 years ago and is in 30 states of the US, the UK, and Canada, and has proven beneficial in providing families with children with support services before they get to a point where legal interaction is needed,” he said.
Training will be provided at a later time depending on interest, he said.
USD 234 Dismisses Early Because of Winter Storm
USD 234 will dismiss early today.
All schools will follow the early release schedule.
There will be no after-school child care and no afternoon preschool.
All evening activities will be canceled.
Winfield Scott Elementary School will dismiss at 1:06 pm.
Eugene Ware Elementary School will dismiss at 1:01 pm.
Fort Scott Middle School will dismiss at 1:11 pm.
Fort Scott High School will dismiss at 1:11
pm.
Linderhof’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
There are so many chocolate chip cookies out there including the one on the Nestle’s Toll House Semi-Sweet Morsels package. And they are a classic cookie.
But the one that we use at Linderhof has a “secret ingredient” and makes, in my opinion, the best chocolate chip cookie in the world! You can add nuts if you’d like (I’d do about a cup) and sprinkle with sea salt if you’d like, but we prefer them with just the chocolate chips.
LINDERHOF’S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
1 c. butter, at room temperature
¾ c. brown sugar
¼ c. sugar
3.4 oz. package vanilla instant pudding
2 large eggs
1 t. Vanilla
2 ¼ c. flour
1 small package semi sweet chocolate chips
1 t. Soda
½ t. Salt
Preheat oven to 350.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Beat together the butter and sugars until creamy. Add in pudding mix, eggs and vanilla. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips (and nuts if you use them).
Drop cookie dough by rounded tablespoons onto a prepared baking sheet. (and if you’d like to top with sea salt — sprinkle it on before you put them in the oven.) Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until slightly golden and set. Remove cookies from oven and let cool on baking sheet for two minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.
WBE Students In Stacking Competition
West Bourbon students and staff, 262 total, participated in the 2018 Stack Up Event on Thursday, November 8.
The event is held each year to try and break the Guinness World Record of MOST PEOPLE SPORT STACKING AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS ON ONE DAY.
The number to beat this year is 622, 809 as of Sunday evening.
513, 706 stackers have been verified from around the world.
It usually takes about a week to get all information verified. WBE students enjoyed a variety of stacking activities during their PE time….BattleStack, building cup towers and stacking at the timing mats to name a few.
A good time was had by ALL.
Submitted by Jackie Hall
Obituary for Serena Athena Melvin
November 5, 2018 – November 5, 2018
Her loving parents are Ryan Melvin, Sr. and Katrina Yakel, El Dorado Springs, MO.
When tomorrow starts without me,
And I’m not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things
We didn’t get to say,
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you’ll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name
And took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready
In heaven far above, and that I’d have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.
But when I walked through heaven’s gates
I felt so much at home,
When GOD looked down and smiled at me
From his great golden throne,
He said, “This is eternity
And all I’ve promised you.”
Today your life on earth is past,
But here it starts anew,
I promise no tomorrow
But today will always last,
And since each day’s the same
There’s no longing for the past,
So when tomorrow starts without me
Don’t think we’re far apart,
For every time you think of me
I’m right here in your heart.
There was cremation.