Entertainment, Fort Scott National Historic Site

Fort Scott NHS’s 38th Annual Candlelight Tour Goes Virtual

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Fort Scott National Historic Site glows during a past annual candlelight tour event.

 

 

Fort Scott Kan. – Enjoy Fort Scott National Historic Site’s 38th Annual Candlelight Tour from the warmth and comfort of your own home. The virtual tour will air on the park’s web page (www.nps.gov/fosc) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FortScottNPS) at 7pm central time on Friday, December 4, 2020. There is no cost or fee for participating and Rangers will answer questions during and immediately following the program

 

This year’s virtual tour will share images of the traditional 1,000 candle lanterns around the parade ground and will feature six stops exploring 1840s health and safety, law and order, and equal treatment. Was there equality between officers, enlisted soldiers, and even, their horses?

 

1840’s soldiers at Fort Scott lived in isolation because of being distant from towns, other outposts, families, and friends. They also faced inequality because Officers were paid more and had nicer, more spacious, living quarters. If officers were sick, they could be treated in their quarters and if in trouble, they were subject to house arrest. Enlisted soldiers were paid a fraction of an officer’s salary, and they shared bunks in a room with 25 other soldiers. If they were sick, they were treated at the hospital in an open group setting and if in trouble they were sent to a cell in the guardhouse. Both also enjoyed the holidays differently.

 

Fort Scott was an active military post from 1842-1853, which was a time of rapid growth and change in the country. As Fort Scott was being built, the nation grew west. With this growth, Fort Scott changed, the mission of its soldiers changed, the environment changed, and the nation changed. However, the soldiers at Fort Scott continued to serve faithfully, despite the constant change.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site hopes you enjoy our virtual Candlelight Tour as much as our other virtual events this year (all available on www.nps.gov/fosc) and we hope to see you in person for all of our on-site events in 2021.

 

From November 1-March 31, Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, will be open for its winter hours of operation. The site exhibit areas and historic buildings are open daily from 8:30 am-4:30 pm. The park grounds are open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset. To find out more or volunteer at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

Bourbon County

Mobility Scooter and Wheelchair Lift To Give To A Veteran

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The Fort Scott American Legion was gifted a mobility scooter with a vehicle wheelchair lift with the requirement that they be given to an area Veteran.

I have had some interest in these two items, but it was concluded that due to its large size, the mobility scooter would not work well in an assisted living environment plus the inquiring parties did not have an interest in the lift.

While the mobility scooter and lift will be given to a Veteran, there are a few conditions prior to taking possession of the scooter and lift.

  • Proof of the Veteran’s service and identity are required.
  • Both the wheelchair and lift go together as a matched set.
  • It is the responsibility of the Veteran to pick up both the wheelchair and lift and have the lift installed on a vehicle.
  • The wheelchair and lift are “on loan” to the Veteran and must be returned to the Fort Scott American Legion in good working order when the Veteran no longer needs them.
  • If it is determined that the Veteran is not the primary user of the electric scooter and lift, they must be returned to the American Legion in good working order.

Photographs of the mobility scooter and wheelchair lift are attached.

If you know of a Veteran who needs a mobility scooter with vehicle lift, please ask them to contact American Legion Post 25 Commander Carl Jowers at 620-215-1688.

COVID-19, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Fort Scott Veteran’s Day 2020

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Several activities are planned for Veteran’s Day 2020 in Fort Scott.
On Nov. 10 there is a reception for veterans at the Boiler Room Brewhaus, National Ave. at Wall Street in downtown Fort Scott.
A Veteran’s Day Ceremony will be held on Nov. 11 at 11  A.M. at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds on South Horton Street
A lunch for vets will follow at VFW Post 1165 on National Avenue.
On Nov. 13, free trolley tours will be provided by Fort Scott Tourism, located at the Chamber of Commerce office on Wall Street.
For more information: 620.670.2750.
The Fort Scott Veteran’s Day Parade starts at 3 p.m. on November 14.
Line-up for parade entries will be at 6th Street and Main Street.
The parade route will go north on Main to Wall, then west to National Avenue, and south back to 6th Street.
This event is sponsored by Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
“As a Chamber member, they asked me to be the organizer/coordinator this year,” Diann Tucker said.
“The purpose of the parade is to show our honor and respect to our past and current military and to increase awareness of and the sacrifice for what has been done to maintain the freedom we enjoy each day.”
Virus avoiding steps because of the COVID 19 Pandemic
“We are asking that everyone maintain safe social distancing and wear masks when you cannot,” Tucker said.  ” We want to adhere to all CDC and local guidelines.  This will be an outdoor event and there should be no problem for family units to socially distance themselves from others.  Parade entries will easily be socially distanced from those attending the parade.”
Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Supporting Family Caregivers

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Barbara Stockebrand. K-State Extension Agent. Submitted photo.

If you are interested in statistics, here are some staggering figures to think about. There are over 44 million Americans who are unpaid caregivers to family, friends, and neighbors. Family caregivers provide an overwhelming 90% of long-term care in America. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, the value of the unpaid care these millions of caregivers provide is estimated to be worth $375 billion.

November is National Family Caregivers Month. This month is set aside to honor, recognize and support the unpaid caregiver. They do much to keep our families and communities strong while sharing their devotion to those for whom they are providing care.

Caregiving can often have a significant impact on the life of the caregiver in a number of different ways. It can make maintaining their own physical and mental health more difficult. Many are trying to balance work and some sort of social life at the same time they are providing care for a loved one.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, feelings of stress, worry, and isolation may have become familiar to all of us. Isolation has become a bigger issue for the family caregiver. They may curtail their outings and contact with others, due to current Covid concerns, and even more as we are entering the typical flu season.

Despite the current situation, caregiving-as-usual continues. Most family caregivers carry on with their commitment silently. Almost 1 in 10 report they have no one to talk to about private matters and 1 in 5 say they have no one to call for help.

The need for caregivers is expected to continue to grow as the US older adult population increases. Here are some tips for family caregivers:

–Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone!

–Take care of your own health so that you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one.

–Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you.

–Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors.

–Caregiving is hard work so take respite breaks often.

–Watch out for signs of depression and don’t delay getting professional help when you need it.

–Be open to new technologies that can help you care for your loved one.

–Organize medical information so it’s up to date and easy to find.

–Make sure legal documents are in order.

–Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is.

What can we do to support a day-to-day family caregiver? Communicate with them and learn what we can do to help. While we may want to visit and help within the home setting, understand that the caregiver may not be comfortable with that offer at this point in time. Forcing the matter may only lead to hard feelings and extra stress for the caregiver.

For more on support of caregivers, contact the Yates Center Southwind Extension District Office at 620-625-8620. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Fort Scott, Government

FS Special Meeting Nov. 9

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There will be a Special Meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9th, 2020. This meeting will be held to discuss the Interim City Manager position, and the City Manager search. It is anticipated the City Commission will adjourn into Executive Session.

This meeting will be held at 123 S. Main Street in the City Commission meeting room. This meeting will be broadcast on the City’s You tube channel. This meeting is open to the public.

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Nov. 10

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: November 10, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

 

MEETING WILL BE HELD IN COMMISSION ROOM. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY. MUST MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.

 

9:00 – 9:30 Eric Bailey, Road & Bridge

9:30 – 9:45 Greenbush, SPARK Funds

9:45 – 9:50 Sewer hookup fee for St. Martens and another resident connecting to the

sewer district.

10:00 – 10:15 Bill Martin, Covid Leave

10:15 Gregg Motley, Bedco.

10:30 – 10:45 Billiard Hammer/Atkins, County Insurance Quotes

10:50 – 10:55 Michael Hoyt, Advisory Boards and Petition Issues

11:00 – 11:20 Jody Hoener, Executive Session-Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

11:20 – 11:40 Jody Hoener, Executive Session-Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

11:45 – 11:50 Don George of KS Dept of Wilflife, Parks & Tourism, Status of Dam at Elm Creek Lake

12:00 – 12:05 Don Banwart, Lake Advisory Board, Transfer of Land Fire Dist #3 and #5

Justifications for Executive Session:

          Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

          Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

          Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

          Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

          Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

          Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information syst

Opinion

Dead or alive, you choose

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Carolyn Tucker. Submitted photo.

Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Tucker

 

While picking up branches that had broken off the trees after we had those two days of freezing rain, I noticed that nearly all of the branches were dead. Obviously, they hadn’t been receiving the necessary nutrients they needed to stay alive. Somehow, the branches disconnected from the trunk and had become weak and useless. Dead branches don’t have what it takes to survive storms. Obviously, they were just barely hanging on, so when the ice formed they fell to the ground. After gathering up the good-for-nothing sticks, I dumped them into the burn pile.

Jesus taught that believers are like branches and they can‘t remain productive if they separate from their life source. Jesus said to His disciples: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts away every branch of Mine that doesn’t produce fruit. But He trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit“ (John 15:1-3 CEV). A vine is the stem of a plant that carries nutrients and water from the roots to the branches. The vine/tree trunk is the center part between the roots and the branches. Jesus is the one-and-only source for true life and He supplies all our needs. By making Him the center of our life, we’ll be equipped to survive the storms that hit us.

Jesus further instructs His disciples: “Stay joined to Me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without Me. If you don’t stay joined to Me, you will be thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burned in a fire” (John 15:4-6 CEV).

Believers weren’t designed to be self-sufficient; we simply can’t make it on our own. Without Him, we’re like a big apple tree full of dead and dry branches instead of apples. However, we’re strong and productive as long as we remain in Christ. God needs all of His children to be out and about doing His work. The harvest is great and we need to be bringing in the sheaves (lost and hurting people).

I don’t like dry things, e.g., lips, creeks, pastures, or cornbread. As the Master Gardener, God doesn’t like dead and dry stuff either. If you’re not producing fruit, you’ll be cut off (ouch). If you are producing fruit, you’ll be trimmed so you can produce even more. Dead, dry, and empty go hand-in-hand with thinking you’re smart enough and saved enough to not need to stay joined to Jesus. He is the Way, so if you’re not hanging onto the Vine for dear life, you’re headed for the burn pile.

If you inspect your own fruit basket and find it empty, I want to encourage you with Ezekiel 37:1-14. The Spirit of the Lord set Ezekiel down in a valley of a bunch of very-dry bones. Then God asked him, “Can these bones live?“ He appropriately replied, “O Lord God, You know.“ God then commanded Ezekiel to prophesy and as he did, the bones came together and muscles, flesh, and skin covered them. Then breath came into their bodies and they came to life, stood up on their feet and became a great army. Even when a situation looks hopeless, always remember that with God all things are possible.

The Key: You don’t have to be a dead and dry stick-in-the-mud. Stay alive and connected to the tree trunk and get to baking those apple pies!

Bourbon County Local News