The following is the list of cities, schools and K-State Extension candidates who filed for by the June 1st deadline in Bourbon County, provided by Clerk Jennifer Hawkins.
“There will not be a primary election this year, so all qualified candidates will be on the ballot in November,” Hawkins said.
City of Fort Scott Commission
Matthew Wells
Edwin Woellhof
Dyllon Olson
Margaret P. Cummings
Tracy Dancer
Joshua Baseley
Barbara Ann Rawlins
Harold “Pete” Allen
Janice Allen
Redfield Council Member
Brandy Corriston
Leonard “L.D.” Morrison
Bronson Council Member
Michael Stewart
Uniontown Council Member
Danea Esslinger
Southwind Extension District
Trent Johnson
Deb Lust
Fort Scott USD 234 Board Member
Position #1-James Wood, Joe Wimmer, and Scott Center
Position #2-Mike Miles
Position #3-Robert Harrington, Aaron Judy, and Doug Hurd
Position At Large-Stewart Gulager and Payton Coyan
The library welcomes the community to a collaborative event celebrating fandoms and fans of all kinds on June 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the library.
SEEKING TALENT and VOLUNTEERS
If you are an author, artist, cosplayer, or a person with a talent, hobby, or skill you’d like to share via a workshop, sign up as a presenter using this form: Authors, Artists & Presenters
If you would be willing to lead a trivia session, judge the cosplay contest, donate food or prizes, or help out in any other way, sign up to help through this form: Volunteers or Donors
The schedule of events includes:
10 – 1Book Signings & Author Talks with Local Authors Maria Whitson, Maranda Collins, MaryBarbara McKay, and Ronda Hassig
10 – 1 Tabletop Gaming with Sarah Klassen
Presenter Jan Hedges, Hedgehog.INK!
Word Weavers Workshops
An introduction to the art of weaving words into a poem, story, song, etc.
Participants will be involved in writing activities. Writing materials will be provided.
Children 12 & under 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Teens & Adults 13 & above 12:00 – 12:45p.m.
12:30 – 1 Cosplay Contest for all ages with winners receiving prizes and small trophies.
Trivia, Digital Scavenger Hunt, Crafts, Toys, and Cosplay Meetups will take place throughout the event.
The Southwind Extension District is hosting the “Fit for the Style Revue” series in Fort Scott this summer. Youth from ages 7 to 18 are invited to attend this two-day STEAM Clothing workshop series (even if they are not enrolled in 4-H or the buymanship project). This series will be made up of two interactive lessons that work on accessorizing an outfit and modeling in front of a judge. Youth will be able to put together an outfit with accessories and learn how to present themselves in front of the judge. These sessions will be held in two separate locations on the following dates:
June 14th from 5 PM to 6:30 PM at Bids and Dibs
June 21st from 5 PM to 6:30 PM at Fort Scott Community College Bailey Hall
This series is free, but registration is required at https://bit.ly/Southwindstyle. Get your registration in soon!
For more information, contact Southwind Extension District Intern Gwenyth Fry at (620) 223-3720 or [email protected].
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Tara Soloman-Smith, Family and Wellness Agent, Sunflower District of Kansas State University’s Extension Office. Submitted photo.
Is work getting you down? Maybe every day is feeling like a Monday for you. There is value in working towards happiness at work. It is tied to better health, creativity, less turn over, and much more! The last few years have highlighted the connection between work and a person’s well-being, though research had already been happening on this subject.
In their work, the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkley defines happiness at work as feeling an overall sense of enjoyment at work; being able to gracefully handle setbacks; connecting amicably with colleagues, coworkers, clients, and customers; and knowing that your work matters to yourself, your organization, and beyond.
Let’s dig in a little to how we get there!
Purpose
We have a sense of purpose when we make valuable contributions to others (individuals and organizations) that we find personally meaningful. Our purpose is a reflection of our core values, and we feel more purposeful at work when our everyday behaviors and decisions align with them. Want to nurture purpose? Link your day-to-day tasks to something broader—to your values or making lives better.
Flex Your Social Muscles
Dr. Robert Waldinger of Harvard directs one of the longest-running studies on what makes people thrive. He shares that the people who had the warmest connections with other people weren’t just happier, they stayed healthier longer and lived longer.
There’s a catch, like exercise, you need to make a habit of it for the benefits. But, it can be small and not time intensive. Just reaching out to a colleague just to say ‘Hi’ or check in personally will bring happiness to both!
Lean into your curiosity about your co-workers to create a social bond. Practicing empathy also helps us understand each other and can lead to effective teamwork.
Engagement
Do your enjoy your work most of the time? Do you often get so deeply involved with your work you lose track of time? If your answer is ‘no’, there is room for increased engagement for you! This can be done with ownership of schedules and tasks and shifting from hectic, multi-tasking methods to allow for a deeper work flow. In one study, the most important predictor of a good work day was making progress. Even “small wins” can make us feel good and inspire us to get more done. Focus on and celebrate the progress you have made!
Finally, if you want to learn more, look up ‘job crafting’. It is a proactive approach to reshaping your work life with a sense of ownership and self-motivation, which makes you more engaged at work.
It’s not just up to employees. Happiness at work, like happiness in life, is a basic human need and in turn, is a big perk a workplace can offer. Research shows that happiness at work is essential to organizational success and is worth the effort to create it.
For more information, contact Tara Solomon-Smith, [email protected], or by calling 620-244-3826.
# # #
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director of K-State Research and Extension, Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts.
There will be budget planning work sessions on Monday, June 12, 2023, from 11:00-4:30 to allow department heads to submit their requested 2024 budgets to the Board of County Commissioners. No action will be taken during the work sessions.
The cover of Patty LaRoche’s new book: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection. Submitted graphic.
Twenty years in the making, Patty LaRoche has written a book entitled: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
LaRoche said for years, her friends have encouraged her to write her humorous stories about being rejected/humiliated.
Patty LaRoche. 2023
“As it turned out, everybody I met had their own anecdotes of not measuring up, and some even shared that they wished they could go back to their teen/early-adult years and not give other people the power to make them feel demeaned or unvalued.,” LaRoche said. ” If they could do that, their lives would have been more confident, more real.”
“As a high school teacher, I observed my students’ insecurities on a daily basis, but when a group of my senior girls asked me to lead them in a Bible study, I realized just how pervasive these problems were,” she said. “Could anyone escape the lies of the enemy (Satan) that they weren’t good enough? Between my own life, my friends’ lives and my students’ lives, I had plenty of stories to share.”
An excerpt from her book:
“When Dave pitched for the California Angels in the late ’70s, a young outfielder was traded to the team. His wife and newborn soon arrived. I’ll call her Carol. Carol’s entrance into the wives’ waiting room following the opening day game was legendary. She was stunningly beautiful and trendy, dressing much more chic (is ‘chicer’ a word?) than the rest of the wives. After meeting her, I introduced her to the other wives and arranged to sit with her the following evening. We hit it off.”
“Returning home from the ballpark a few days later, Dave told me that Carol’s family needed a place to live while their newly purchased house was being renovated. I welcomed the addition. After all, Carol was special. Not only was she a head-turner, she was multi-talented. From singing to playing the piano to dancing to being a competitive tennis player to loving Jesus, Carol was the full package.
“Her giftedness was recognized by everyone.
“Except Carol.
“The evening of the first day she moved in was proof. While I waited with my infant son to leave for the ballpark, Carol descended the stairs looking like a movie goddess. A goddess starring in a tragedy. In her opinion, her striking outfit had struck out. Handing me her sleeping baby in his carry-seat, she returned upstairs to start over. A fuss that was repeated . . .
three times.
“With each new ensemble, I bolstered my compliments, but they were incapable of undoing whatever negatives had been given permission to determine her value. This scene was acted out daily, and with each tearful entry, Carol’s mascara-dripping makeup needed to be reapplied. Needless to say, we didn’t make it to the ballpark for the singing of the National Anthem. Instead, we made a grand entrance, with Carol being the recipient of ogles and admiration. Fans saw her beauty. Other wives did too. Her attempt at perfectionism was her attempt to mask tremendous insecurities. And even though, in her mind, she was never enough, she pretended well and fooled a lot of people.
Which, as we all know, is exhausting.”
About Patty Laroche
“I grew up in Fort Scott but moved to Washington, D.C. to become a flight attendant (then, “stewardess”) in my early 20’s,” she said. ” It was then I met my husband and entered his world of professional baseball (where I soon learned that there were plenty of incidents of ‘not measuring up’ I would add to my repertoire).”
“Dave had two young daughters from a previous marriage, and together we had three sons,” she said. “After moving over 35 times in 50 years of marriage, we recently sold our part-time condominium in Mexico and will be moving yet again.”
“My pastimes include hanging with family and friends, writing, playing tennis/pickleball and laughing. Most of all, I love spending time with Jesus, and I give him all the credit for this book.”
LaRoche has written a weekly Christian column for the Fort Scott Tribune, the Fort Scott Biz and the Nevada Daily Mail for several years.
Where to purchase her new book:
Her website: Alittlefaithlift.com
Or one can pre-order through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Books a Million, after June 25.
The publisher is Carpenter’s Son Publishing, the publishing date is July 25, 2023.
The back cover of Patty LaRoche’s new book. Submitted graphic.
Heartland Virus Disease Identified in Crawford County Resident
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Crawford County Health Department have identified Heartland Virus Disease (Heartland), a rare tickborne illness, in a Crawford County resident. Health care providers diagnosed the resident in late May 2023 after further testing was coordinated through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is the first case of Heartland in Crawford County and only the third case identified in Kansas since the virus’s discovery in northwest Missouri in 2009. The previous two cases were identified in Miami County in 2015 and Anderson County in 2018. To date, there have been over 50 cases of Heartland diagnosed across areas of the Midwest and Southern United States.
“We’re entering the time of year when we start to receive a lot of complaints about ticks on animals and in the environment and questions regarding tick bites and tickborne diseases in people. People must take the risk of tickborne disease seriously and take personal protective measures for themselves and their pets to reduce their chance of acquiring a tickborne illness,” saidDr. Erin Petro, DVM, MPH,KDHE public health veterinarian. “While Heartland and other tickborne viruses like Bourbon virus are rare, they can lead to severe illness and even death.”
Heartland virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected Lone Star Tick, the most common tick in Kansas, which is most active from May through August. The symptoms of Heartland are vague and include fever, fatigue, muscle or joint pain, headache and occasionally a rash. Health care providers should consider Heartland in patients with compatible clinical illness and bloodwork findings when other common tickborne illness testing is negative.
This case serves as an important reminder to take precautions as you enjoy the outdoors this summer. Ticks are commonly found at the edge of trails, on tall grasses and in wooded, shaded areas. To reduce the risk of contracting a tickborne disease, take the following steps:
Wear long pants with socks tucked into pants and long sleeves when doing yardwork, hiking, camping or recreating in areas where ticks may be found.
After being outdoors in tick habitats, take a shower to help wash off unattached ticks and identify any attached ticks. Always perform a thorough tick check after being outdoors.
Reduce tick habitats in your yard by clearing brush, leaf litter and tall grasses around your home and at the edge of your lawn.
Apply an EPA-approved repellent, such as DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, when enjoying the outdoors.
If hunting or camping, consider treating gear and clothing with permethrin; always follow label directions for safe application of permethrin.
Additional information about Heartland Virus can be found on the CDC website.
“I only did it because you did it.”
“No. You did it first, Patty. You told Joyce what to do.”
“Dave, there is no way. I’ve said nothing this whole time, but you
did. You can’t help yourself. You have to talk. Have. To. Talk.”
“Oh my gosh. You’re the one who said ‘Take your time.’”
“Oh my gosh yourself. Like ‘take your time’ is the same as
saying, ‘Remember, helping your teammate is better than sending
your opponent home.’”
“It doesn’t matter. You talked. You said you didn’t. But you did.
You started it. Some might call that cheating. So if you’re going
to talk, so am I.”
Mind you, this was not an argument on a playground. This was a
“discussion” between Dave and me when we were playing a board game with two other couples, girls against the guys, the same girls who now would join in to defend me and the same guys
who would jump in to defend Dave.
I would like to say that this discourse is rare. It isn’t. Actually, it’s fairly predictable when we play games…because Dave just has to make “suggestions” to his teammates, even though table-talk is clearly against the rules.
Thomas Paine once said, “To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.”
One Vietnam veteran friend recounts a dinner in which his 20-year-old, radical son argued with a 40-year-old, conservative man about a political issue. The discussion became heated at which time the younger man went to the restroom.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” asked the conservative to my friend. “Because I never argue with a nineteen-year-old who is foolish enough to think that he knows what life is all about.”
If you never argue with your spouse (and yes, I know a saintly Christian woman who makes that claim), this article is not for you.
She obeys Philippians 2:14: Do everything without
complaining and arguing. I admire that, and if Dave would play fair, I wouldn’t argue either.
My friend Julie recently left her husband of twenty-seven years because she held everything inside until finally exploding. She remained silent when her spouse flirted with other women, lied about his whereabouts and dominated every conversation. When she finallyconfronted him about all the ways he had sabotaged their marriage, he was shocked. Ignoring the problem for so long had not made it disappear. Instead, it magnified it.
I could give lessons on not holding in my frustrations.
2 Timothy 2:23 instructs us to have nothing to do with ignorant controversies that breed quarrels. Interestingly, the Bible is not short of arguments. Moses argued with God when God
called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and again when God was about to destroy the Israelites for their disobedience. Abraham argued with God to save his relatives’ lives when God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Peter and Paul argued over Jewish law.
Granted, it’s not a regular occurrence like it is when Dave and I play games, but it is comforting to know that God’s finest disagreed.
Last month, Dave and I celebrated our 50 th wedding anniversary. We’ve done something right. Makes me think that a few healthy arguments might not be such a bad idea.
