- Bids & Dibs
- Country Cupboard
- Eastside Liquor
- Hole in the Wall
- Libation Station
- J&W Sports Shop
- Mayco Ace Hardware
- Sekan’s Occasions Shop
- Shoe Sensation
- Sunshine Boutique
- Walgreens
- Walmart
KState Extension Office to Offer Winter Programs
Submitted by Christopher Petty
Southwind Extension District farmers and ranchers have learning opportunities available this winter.

Southwind Extension District Agent for Livestock Production and Forage Management, Christopher Petty, will be offering several programs of interest to farmers and ranchers in and around Bourbon, Allen and Neosho Counties during the upcoming winter months.
On February 13, beginning at 6 p.m. the Southwind and Wildcat Extension Districts will host a Winter Ranch Management Series meeting at the community building in Helper, Kan. Topics may include heifer selection, fall burning pastures for weed control, and bud box animal handling systems. Cost to attend will be $10 payable at the door.
On March 3, beginning at 3 p.m., the new K-State Research and Extension Sheep Specialist, Dr. Allison Crane, will be at the 4-H building in Fort Scott to meet with area sheep producers. She will discuss what Kansas State University offers by way of services to sheep producers. This program will be free to the public.
On April 4, the Southwind District will host a fescue meeting. We will discuss fescue endophytes, fertilization and other management considerations. This will be an evening program with the location to be determined and will feature Southeast Area Agronomist Doug Shoup, among others.
Additional tentatively scheduled programs include a January program featuring Kansas State University Poultry Specialist, Dr. Scott Beyer. Dr. Beyer will explain what it would look like to be a contract poultry grower, should a large poultry processing facility move into Kansas.
The longstanding coffee series meetings may also continue this winter. Come enjoy a free coffee, tea or pop, and learn about current ideas and happenings in the cattle industry. This brief, informal gathering is tentatively scheduled to take place this winter at the café located in the Southeast Kansas Stockyard in Gas, Kan.
These programs are in various stages of planning. To keep up to date with the most current details of these programs including the dates, times, locations and fees, check out the livestock link on the Southwind District website located at http://www.southwind.k-state.edu.
Mother to Mother Ministry Open House Dec. 19 And 20

Mother to Mother Ministry, 728 Heylman, is hosting a public open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. December 19 and 20.
The open house is to showcase what Mother to Mother Ministry (MTMM) does in the community, Amanda Gilmore, assistant and community relations representative for the ministry, said.
“Stop in for some coffee, tea, and refreshments,” Gilmore said. “It’s a come and go meeting.”
Wilma Leach has been the director of the ministry since the 1990s and her comforting friendship has helped many mothers of children.
Gatherings of mothers of children and caregivers will begin January 9 and are scheduled for the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Topics of the meetings will be related to the family, said Gilmore.
Some of the services MTMM provides is parenting classes, friendship and support and “anything related to mothering and household management,” Gilmore said.
The ministry provides donated clothing for children.
All MTMM services are free.
New contact numbers for MTMM are 620-224-0809 and 620-215-0924.
The facility is located behind, and just north of Fort Scott Manor Nursing Home on Heylman.
MTMM is a United Way of Bourbon County agency and also has local supporters.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service At CCC
Patty LaRoche: The “Almost” Lifestyle
Several years ago, The Ad Council, the world’s leading producer of public service advertisements, produced a series of commercials for their “Don’t Almost Give” campaign. One such ad shows a homeless man curled up in a ball on a pile of rags. One ratty bed sheet shields him from the cold.

The narrator says, “This is Jack Thomas. Today someone almost brought Jack something to eat. Someone almost brought him to a shelter. And someone else almost brought him a warm blanket.” After a brief pause, the narrator continues: “And Jack Thomas? Well, he almost made it through the night.”
“A-l-m-o-s-t.”
Does your vocabulary contain a few “Almosts”? Mine certainly does.
I “Almost” chose a celery stick over potato salad at last night’s potluck.
I “Almost” called my hurting friend, but didn’t because she’d irritate me by gabbing on for hours.
I “Almost” didn’t fold my arms and mumble when the lady in the grocery store express lane insisted the clerk take her 40 items instead of the 20 allowed.
I “Almost” complimented my pipe-cleaner-look-alike friend on her weight loss.
I “Almost” helped my husband clean out the garage yesterday.
Almost. Almost. Almost.
Unfortunately, not all Almosts are inconsequential. Some of you know what I mean.
You “Almost” read to your child at bedtime.
You “Almost” went an evening without a drink.
You “Almost” kept your promise to pray fervently.
You “Almost” rejected the porn sight on the computer last night.
You “Almost” stopped before sending an ugly text.
You “Almost” made Jesus the Lord of your life.
Socrates and Aristotle developed a word to describe this type of behavior: Akrasia.
Akrasia is the state of acting against your better judgment. It is when you do one thing even though you know you should do something else. From Genesis to Revelation, we learn of characters that were guilty. Adam and Eve. Noah. Moses. Abraham. Saul. David. Rarely do we meet a Biblical character who isn’t an “Almost” type guy.
Perhaps during this Christmas season, we all should be intentional not to demonstrate Akrasiastic behavior and instead, turn our “almosts” into actions.
Next week I will post some ways we can do that very thing, to honor Christ as central to our life story, to bless others and, in return, receive the greatest blessing of all.
Fort Scott Library Third Family Holiday Party Dec. 18
Obituary: Charles William Tracy
Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home
Charles William Tracy, age 68, a resident of Haysville, Kan., passed away Monday, December 11, 2017, at the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan.

He was born June 29, 1949, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Herbert W. Tracy and Loleta May Workman Tracy. Charles had worked as a mechanic. He enjoyed racing and collecting model cars as well as going to auctions. He also enjoyed riding his trike.
Survivors include two daughters, Stacy Hess and husband, Woody, of Eldorado, Kan., and Tonjia Horsley, of Haysville and a brother, Alva Tracy and wife, Joyce, of Haysville. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, David Sims, Brandon Huffman, Jessica Horsley, Cody McFarlane, Jeremy McFarlane, Heather Tracy and Austin King; six great-grandchildren with one more on the way; seven nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Raymond Ivan Tracy; two uncles, Charles and Bill Workman, a great-nephew, Michael Tyler Tracy a great-great-niece, Katalina May Smallwood and his grandparents.
Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 16, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Large Cemetery south of Fort Scott. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
New “Tiny” Houses In Production

Business owner Mike Rogers is hoping his new venture is good for the community.
The venture is building four small rental houses at the corner of 6th and Lowman Streets.
The houses might not be considered tiny, but with each at 782 square feet, they are small.
People just starting out or people at the other end of the spectrum, ” Those looking for a more efficient lifestyle,” Rory Chaplin, the coordinator with 3RK, said.
“They are not big,” Rogers said. “They are the size of an apartment. They’ll have 36-inch doors, so they are wheelchair accessible. They have no steps.”
There will be 18 feet between houses, which allows for a small yard with a privacy fence. Each house will have two designated parking spaces.
Construction began about a month ago on the project. The summer of 2018 is the expected availability dates for the rentals.
Rogers new business, 3RK, is building and managing rental houses.
He also owns R2 Concrete, which is doing all the concrete work for the project. In addition, he is sub-contracting parts of the project to Geiger Plumbing, Jeff Allen Electric, and Casper Enterprises, Rogers said.
“We may have other businesses involved, as well,” Chaplin said.
The amount of rent to be charged per unit is undetermined at this time, he said.

Mistletoe on Mainstreet tonight!
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Obituary: Glen Allen Pearson, Sr.
Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home
Glen Allen Pearson, Sr., age 79, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., went to be with the Lord Saturday, December 9, 2017, at the Mercy Hospital.

He was born on October 18, 1938, in Wichita, Kan., the son of Martin and Manda Bell Pearson (Leopard). Glen served in the United States Navy from 1956 to 1962 aboard the U.S.S. 9 Owen in Norfolk, Va., working as a 2nd class boiler tech. After returning from the Navy, Glen married Frances McDaniel on September 9, 1962. He went to work for Derby gas station, Comstock’s Service Station, then Bruce’s Marble and Granite for several years before staring his own business. In 1965, Glen started Pearson Trash Service which he ran successfully until 1983 when his health forced him to retire. Glen enjoyed playing baseball with the kids at family dinners and get-togethers, he really enjoyed cutting wood, coon hunting and fishing. He enjoyed gardening and watching the deer come up. He loved playing Spades, Uno, Monopoly, Dominoes and joking with the kids, always making them laugh.
Survivors include his wife Frances, of the home, one daughter Agnes Pearson, and companion Eugene Thomas, of Fulton, Kan.; six sons, Marty Pearson and wife Tina, of Fulton, Kan., John Pearson, of Fort Scott, Glen A. Pearson Jr., of Fort Scott, Arthur Pearson and wife Rachell, of Redfield, Kan., Timothy Pearson and wife Shelly, of Dewey, Okla., Randy Pearson and wife Christina of Fort Scott, Kan.; 29 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandson, two brothers, Jerry Pearson, of Fulton, Mo., and Don Pearson and wife Ruth, of Toano, Va.; two sisters, Alberta Clark, of Wichita, Kan., and Anna May Daily, of Fort Scott; along with several great, great-great, and great-great-great nieces and nephews. Glen was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Nettie Collier, a brother John Pearson, a grandson William Pulliam and a great grandson Rushton Hicks.
Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, December 15, 2017, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U.S. National Cemetery under the direction of Cheney Witt Chapel. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Contributions are suggested to the Glen Pearson Memorial Fund or the V.F.W. in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, PO box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guest book at www.cheneywitt.com.
Obituary: Chester Wayne Holleman
Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home
Chester Wayne “Chet” Holleman, age 53, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott.

Chet was born in Brawley, Calif., March 1, 1964. Chester was the son of a distinguished Naval Vietnam Veteran, Wayne Holleman, whom along with Chet’s mother, Peggy, currently reside in Pinon Hills, Calif. Chester a Naval Veteran himself, enjoyed reminiscing about the places he lived with his parents, including Puerto Rico and Whidbey Island, Wash., as well as the places he visited while serving aboard the U.S.S. Spiegel Grove as a single man.
After completing his military services, Chester settled in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he met his wife-to-be, Barbara (Cockrell). They married on March 28, 1997, in Hot Springs, Ark., under a dogwood tree that the bride’s beloved late grandfather had planted years before. The couple, Fort Scott residents since 2006, loved the small town and as Chester had “never met a stranger,” his wife would be honored to welcome those who wish to pay their respects and join Barbara in honoring a true gentleman.
Barbara received friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guest book at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary: Virginia Marie Thomas
Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home
Virginia Marie “Ginger” Thomas, age 95, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Friday, December 8, 2017, at the Medicalodge of Fort Scott.

She is survived by her three children, Lloyd Howser and wife, Judy, of Fort Scott, Mary Ann Dykstra, of Bella Vista, Ark., and Jeannette M. Lovejoy and husband, Jerry, of Roseville, Calif.; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Following cremation, a private family burial will take place in the Lath Branch Cemetery. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kan.


