Kansas Conservation Series: Swarm Technology in Kansas
Moundridge, KS – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. is continuing his conservation series highlighting Kansans’ voluntary efforts to take better care of the environment. Stories will be released throughout the 2023 Farm Bill legislative process.
“While we hold hearings for the 2023 Farm Bill, I want to highlight how hard Kansans work every day to protect our environment and conserve precious resources that our Ag economy needs to thrive. Kansas farmers, ranchers, growers, and producers are finding unique and practical ways to preserve our land and protect our water and air. Their efforts are worthy of everyone’s praise,” said Senator Marshall.
Both precision agriculture and access to rural broadband are pivotal to the future of farming. This week we’re highlighting MKC and GreenField Robotics, who use swarm technology to weed between rows of crops. The field and the rows will first be mapped using a drone flying over the field. The individual robots are then tasked with traversing between the rows cutting weeds. At this site, the robots were connected to Starlink to perform their duties. The future of this type of tech is unlimited. It could range from plant crops to providing crops with the individual input needs of the plant itself. Technology like this will be able to reduce the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and manpower needed to farm, thereby reducing costs for the farmer while feeding the world.
Connie Billionis Retires From U234
Business Casual by Patty LaRoche
Ages ago, before computers/Google, Dave and I were invited to a party, and “business casual” was the expected attire. We disagreed on what that looked like. Hubby leaned more toward the “casual” side. You know, shorts suitable for a beach party and a tee-shirt with three dolphins in a mid-air leap on the front pocket. I leaned toward the “business” side: an ankle-length skirt with a really cool jacket atop a lovely V-necked, linen shirt. We looked like a blind date gone wrong.
“Dave, this isn’t a barbecue at someone’s pool. We are going to a party in a hotel.”
“Well, Patty, the Marriott is not the Taj Mahal. You look like you are heading to a wedding. Or maybe a funeral.”
We both changed clothes. This time, Dave apparently was going to a job interview for a Fortune 500 company. He could have doubled as a plastic groom on a wedding cake. He told me that I was confusing a rodeo with a classy affair. (Hubby had no idea how chic cowgirl boots could be.) Clearly, neither of us had any idea what “business casual” meant.
And neither did anyone at the party. Men’s attire ranged from suits and ties to—you guessed it—a shirt with dolphins adorning the breast pocket, while women’s clothing ran the gamut from a glittered, semi-formal dress to short-shorts and a lacy tank top. There were no two people on the same apparel page.
Blame the host and hostess for using words that remain undefined. Or blame all of us guests for failing to ask what, exactly, “business casual” meant. But that’s human nature, isn’t it? We don’t want to appear ignorant, so we fail to ask…which, of course, magnifies our ignorance.
How many times have I done that? Too many to count. Especially when it comes to asking God for advice. After all, I can do it myself…figure it out…solve the problem. Why bother Him with my piddly little issues? Why? Because He tells me to. In the New Testament, we read that Paul spent the years after his conversion to Christianity, relying on God for help.
We are to continually pray in all kinds of situations (Eph 6:18). From healing our diseases to being given opportunities to disciple someone, to finding a parking spot, to having the willpower to say no to that chocolate-glazed donut, God wants us to bring our needs and desires to Him. All of them.
Recently, I read about a little girl named Riley whose dad worked for the Christian organization Focus. Sometimes he would share his youngster’s creative prayers…like this one: “Dear God. I am amazed at something. You are truly God. Heaven is so big, which means it must be heavy—and yet it can hang so high up in the sky above the clouds. How do you do that? OK. I was just wondering. Amen.”
I have to think that God loved such a heart-felt prayer and the young girl’s desire to take all of her questions to Him. In Luke 18:17, we read that Jesus wants us to learn from children like Riley: Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
Our problem isn’t that we can’t get an answer; our problem is that we don’t ask.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports July 14
OFGS BROWN BAG TECH TALK
MARSHA’S DELI SANDWICHES AND COLD DRINKS PROVIDED, OR BRING YOUR OWN!
Everyone is invited to the Old Fort Genealogy Society office to discuss recent upgrades to our computers and learn about volunteer tech support now available for our researchers, visitors and volunteers.
DATE: [Thursday, July 27th, 2023] TIME: [12:00 PM-12:30 PM]
LOCATION: Old Fort Genealogical Society Office, 221 S. National Avenue, Fort Scott, KS. In the basement of Memorial Hall.
[WEST ENTRANCE OF MEMORIAL HALL, LOOK FOR BLACK AND WHITE SIGN ON DOOR FACING NATIONAL AVENUE]
[PLEASE NOTE: WEST ENTRANCE IS NOT HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE]
Questions, concerns? E-mail Sarah Klassen, OFGS Tech Admin, at [email protected]
Tickets Still Available for the Fort Scott Performances of Wahzhazhe
Fort Scott, KS — Time is running out to get your tickets for Wahzhazhe: An Osage Ballet being held at the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College. This memorable stage performance is being offered at 7:30 pm on Friday, July 21 and Saturday, July 22 with a matinee performance at 3:00 pm on Saturday.
The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site in partnership with the National Park Service is bringing Wahzhazhe to Fort Scott. “This is the story of the Osage people, told by the Osage Nation. It is our responsibility to provide a platform for these stories to be told.” stated park Program Manager, Carl Brenner. Ballet Director and Osage tribal member, Randy Tinker Smith developed the performance with the help of tribal elders and a primarily Indigenous team of professionals. Wahzhazhe has been performed at the Smithsonian’s Museum of the American Indian and for the Pope in Philadelphia, PA among other places throughout the region.
“This riveting stage performance has something for everyone. If you enjoy history, this is for you, if you are curious about Native American culture, this is for you, if you love the arts and dance, this is for you.” stated Kelley Collins, a member of the Friends ballet committee. “This is an especially effective way to introduce children to the arts and history. In additional to 12 professional dancers, there are dozens of children participating in the show. Questions and answers will be fielded by the dancers following each performance making this an tremendous educational opportunity for young and old alike.”
Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for children (age 15 and below). They can be purchased online from the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site’s Facebook page or at www.osageballet.com/events. Any remaining tickets will be sold in person starting an hour before the performance. Cash purchases at the door are available. Seating will begin one half hour before the show. For additional information e-mail [email protected].
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LMC Launches Professional Development Program
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Donation to U234 of Science Cabinets from Robert and Kim Coon
“Opportunity came for us to acquire these bio cabinets, Kimberly (his wife) called and spoke with Gina Shelton (USD234 Board Clerk and Finance Director) about donating them if the school district could use them. Gina was instrumental in the process. I believe they are going to be used in two different science classes.”
“These bio cabinets couldn’t have a better home than USD 234 science labs,” Coon said. “Kim and I have six proud Fort Scott Tigers.”
“They will be placed at the middle school and/or high school,” Brown said. “This will be determined after the principals return to contract for the 2023-24 school year.”
A Local Church’s Mission Continues Years After Closing
The First Christian Church of Fort Scott closed its doors in January 2016 after 145 years of supporting and ministering to families in the Bourbon County area. The church was located most of those years at the corner of 1st and Judson.
Founded in 1871 and once one of the largest congregations in the area, First Christian Church faced an aging, declining membership with waning attendance and finally the retirement of the minister.
The Board of Trustees decided the best action would be to preserve the resources that remained and discontinue worship services. The group recognized the money was provided from Bourbon County citizens and should remain in Bourbon County to provide good works for its citizens.
After selling the church building as well as the parsonage and liquidating assets, the Board of Trustees was determined to locate the best use of their church’s remaining $250,000.
Following serious investigation and much discussion, the Trustees voted to establish an endowed fund with the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF).
The earnings of this fund, managed by FSACF, are used annually through grants for worthy projects and efforts to organizations in the Bourbon County area. The principal amount of approximately $250,000 is left untouched and will continue to generate financial grants into perpetuity.
In 2022, grants through this Endowed Fund were made to a Riverfront Authority Labyrinth in honor of Allen Warren; Methodist Church Feeding Families Program; Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries; USD 234 Preschool Center Community Involvement; USD 234 Healthy Snacks Program and (along with other area Churches) the purchase of a used vehicle to support Afghan families who had moved to our community.
This First Christian Church Endowed Fund should generate $12,000 to $20,000 each year to be used to support worthwhile endeavors in Fort Scott and Bourbon County for many, many years to come.
If you would like to contribute to the First Christian Church of Fort Scott Charitable Endowment Fund or would like information about how an organization, individuals or families can establish their own endowed fund through the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, go to www.fsacf.com for more information.
KS Rail Service Improvement Projects Sought
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Kansas Housing Update
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