Obituary

Obituary of Wesley Dean Woellhof

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Wesley Dean Woellhof, age 64, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, December 16, 2021, at his home following a battle with cancer. He was born August 3, 1957, in Emporia, Kansas, the son of Paul Lester Woellhof and Elinor M. Titus Woellhof.

Wes graduated from the Clay Center High School and later from Ft. Scott Community College with his Associates in Accounting.

In earlier years, Wes served as an undersheriff for the Cloud County Sheriff’s Department. He later received training as an EMT and helped organize the first ambulance service in Clay Center.

He married Mary Golden on June 15, 1978, at Ft. Scott.  Wes later worked as an accountant and office manager for several area business including Comstock Lumber, Darrell Winter Construction, Flanner’s Owl Roost and Woellhof Electric.

He enjoyed spending time outdoors, camping and hiking, and had a love for nature and all animals.  He especially enjoyed time spent with his children and grandchildren. He attended the Parkway Church of God (Holiness).

 

Survivors include his wife, Mary, of the home; three children, Cara Woellhof of Los Angeles, California, Rita Peck and husband, Brandon, of Ft. Scott and Edwin Woellhof and wife, Beckie, also of Ft. Scott and five grandchildren, Joshua, Abigail, Hannah and Lydia Woellhof and Rory Peck with another Peck granddaughter due in April.  Also surviving are a brother, Paul J. Woellhof and wife, Carol, of San Antonio, Texas and a sister, Charlotte Mattson and husband, Eddie, of Quincy, Washington and many beloved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

 

Rev. Bill Smith will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, December 21st at the Parkway Church of God (Holiness).

Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 P.M. Monday evening at the Parkway Church.

Memorials are suggested to Ft. Scott Christian Heights or Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Christmas In One Week: Jingle Bell Holiday Mart this Saturday

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Products of Desert Bloom’s booth. Submitted photo.
When Leanne Leatherman heard that the  Bourbon County Historical Preservation Association was not having its annual Stocking Stuffer Christmas event, she asked a fellow Bourbon County Fair Association member, Sue Reineke, about hosting a craft show and sale.
“She thought it would be a good idea, so the Jingle Bell Holiday Mart came to be,” Leatherman said. “This is our first year, but I hope it is the first of many. We may try to schedule it a little earlier in the month for next year.”
The two are also having conversations about having a swap meet or show once a month to allow local merchants a place to meet and sell their wares.
Leatherman and Reinecke are both vendors. Leatherman sells hand-crafted items, Reinecke sells goat milk soap and lotions from her farm.
Products of the vendor, Auntie Em’s. Submitted photo.
The sale will be Saturday, Dec. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds 4-H Building on South Horton Street.
“It is a heated facility, with plenty of parking,” she said.
The Bourbon County 4-H Building on South Horton, across from Fort Scott Community College. Submitted photo.
“We are full this year with vendors,” Leatherman said.
Some of Lori Craig’s products. Submitted photo.
The following are the vendors who will be selling their wares on Dec. 18:
Locust Hill Lamancha’s Goat milk products
Sue Reinecke’s goat milk skin products. Submitted photo.
Paula’s This and That: hand made quilts, Young Living products
Products from Paula’s This and That booth. Submitted photo.
Auntie Em’s Closet: key chains, car freshies, hand warmers
Quill Fire Farm: crochet, mouse repellent bags, homemade play dough
A rural Hiattville youth, Mayla Foster, will have her first show, featuring ‘sensory handmade playdough. Look for her at the Quill Fire Farm booth. Submitted photo.
Flying P Ranch: jewelry
Happy little  Candle Factory
Hunter’s Fashion: Paparazzi Jewelry
Desert Bloom Boutique:  apparel, candles, car freshies
Tessie Tucker: Color Street Nails
CBF Candles
Blue Dog Winery
Miki Kraft: lots of hand-sewn items
Bathhouse Trading: soaps, bath bombs, etc.
Maid in Marmaton: jams
AKA Crafts and Design: apparel
Some of AKA’s products. Submitted photo.Courtney Lanham: tumblers

Courtney Lanham: tumblers

Michelle Lisica: laser-cut ornaments and items
Elk Creek Outpost: soaps, air fresheners, bath bombs, etc.
Some of Elk Creek’s products. Submitted photo.

For more information contact Leatherman at 620.224.6423.

Opinion

God’s Bigness by Patty LaRoche

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Patty LaRoche

Nature Valley advertises its product in a recycling commercial. “Dad, you need to think bigger,” says a young gal as she encourages her father to visualize her granola wrapper glued to other wrappers, creating a hang glider the two of them can share.

I love the message, don’t you? If you’ve ever been around a “big thinker,” you know that they travel to the beat of a different drum. A very large, Big Bertha-type drum. (Google it; it’s eight-feet in diameter.)

Big thinkers dream big. They take risks. They are the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and the JB Straubel’s (Tesla’s mastermind) and the Walt Disney’s who refuse to let naysayers determine their perspective.

So, how cool is it that we serve a God who is bigger than even their biggest ideas?

Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. The verse explodes with possibilities. Break it down. God is… Able to do Able to do abundantly Able to do exceedingly abundantly Able to do exceedingly abundantly above all Able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask Able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.

In other words, the Heavens are the limit. So, how can I tap into that power, the power to do more than I can ask or think? Am I to pray for a winning lottery ticket or a new house from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition or the right key that fits the Ferrari giveaway?

I mean, surely if God can do even more than I imagine, those things would be nothing to Him, right? He operates without boundaries or limitations.

One author writes that He is an “impossibility specialist.” His credentials are proof. Abraham was rightfully promised descendants more numerous than the stars, even though his wife was barren. God’s bigness at work. Joseph, imprisoned although innocent, ended up second in power in Egypt. God’s bigness at work. The lame man at the temple gate asked for money. Instead, he was given the ability to run. God’s bigness at work. Jesus, facing his death, begged God to spare him the torture. Instead, He changed history with his death and resurrection, the high-water mark of divine power. God’s bigness at work.

But before we take verse 20 out of context, let’s look at the verses preceding it, like verses 16 and 17 where Paul writes the Ephesian church, praying “that out of his glorious riches he (God)may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Paul begins here with sort of an abstract desire, but that changes when he gives a human reality (Christ) as the bigness of what God designed.

Paul goes on to pray that Christians will have power “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Read it again. God’s “thinking big” desire for us has nothing to do with a new car or an executive position in a company. I’m not saying that can’t happen, but God’s priority deals with the bigness of our heart.

His desire is that we spend eternity with Him, and He has already done “immeasurably more than we ask or imagine” to make that a reality. In a few days, we will celebrate the birth of that gift.

Area News, Business

Some Evergy Customers Still Without Power

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Evergy line men replace a rotted pole in Uniontown last year.

Power restored to more than 90% of Evergy customers affected by windstorm

Neighboring line crews arrive as around the clock restoration continues

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dec. 16, 2021 – By Thursday evening, Evergy crews had restored power to more than 90 percent of customers impacted by extreme winds on Wednesday. Evergy crews were joined by more than 250 personnel from regional neighboring utilities to help restore power to Evergy customers in Kansas and Missouri.

 

Wednesday’s windstorm brought sustained high winds to the entirety of Evergy’s service area, with gusts up to 100 mph in some locations. Strong winds brought down power lines, broke poles and caused other damage to the power grid, interrupting service to 258,000 Evergy customers. Evergy crews made steady progress restoring power, and 62 percent of impacted customers were back on by Thursday morning. By about 8 p.m. Thursday, outage numbers had been reduced to about 20,000 customers. Evergy expects power to be restored to nearly all affected customers by Friday evening, but some outages will extend into the weekend.

 

Chuck Caisley talked about some challenges that made power restoration challenging in a Thursday afternoon news conference. Much of the initial damage assessment and restoration work was at night, and damage from the storm was spread across the Evergy service area. In many areas, the nature of the damage meant that each repair restores power to a small number of customers.

 

Crews from Ameren, Liberty Utilities and City of Springfield have joined Evergy crews and contractors to make repairs and restore power. Work continues in communities across Kansas and Missouri, as the damage from the storm was widespread. Crews will continue to work around the clock until power to all customers is restored.

 

As weather is cooler, customers are encouraged to assess personal safety of staying at home during extended power outages. Family members who are very young, elderly or have compromised health may need to seek alternative shelter. If you have family, friends or neighbors who are without power, please check on them.

 

Evergy crews may use road or sidewalk barricades and traffic cones to make work areas safe. Please do not bypass these safety measures, putting crews, yourself or others potentially in harm’s way.

COVID-19, Government, Health Care, Kansas

First confirmed case of Omicron variant detected by State Lab

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COVID-19 Courtesy photo.

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) today announced that the state Health and Environmental Laboratories has found the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in one Kansas resident.

The Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories are screening all current positive PCR COVID-19 samples received at the lab to look for a specific genetic characteristic that would indicate the Omicron variant. Any samples that screen positive will be sequenced for confirmation of the Omicron variant. Additionally, the lab sequences a random sample of PCR positive COVID-19 samples regardless of whether they pass this screening process. This multi-pronged approach led to the detection of the variant.

“Since the Omicron variant was classified as a Variant of Concern, KDHE’s Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories has been working to identify the variant in the state. Through genomic sequencing, they were able to confirm the first case of the Omicron variant in Kansas,” Janet Stanek, Acting Secretary, said. “The detection of the variant does not come as a surprise. This virus is highly infectious and transmittable. We must do our part to protect ourselves and those around us by using the tools available to us.”

The individual with the Omicron variant is a vaccinated adult in Franklin County. This individual has not received a booster dose. No additional details will be released to protect the privacy of the individual.

Health officials urge Kansans to use the following tools to protect against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.

  • Get vaccinated and boosted. Vaccines remain the best tool to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging. The three authorized COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalizations, and death. Scientists expect the vaccines to prevent serious illness, hospitalizations, and death in people infected with the Omicron variant. COVID-19 vaccines are now authorized for people ages 5 and over. The COVID-19 booster shots are authorized for all individuals ages 16 and over. To find a vaccine near you, visit Vaccines.gov.
  • Wear a mask. Masks offer protection against all variants. It is recommended that people wear a well-fitting mask in public indoor settings in Kansas, where COVID-19 transmission remains high, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Get tested. If you are sick or have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, it is recommended that you get tested for COVID-19. COVID-19 tests are available across Kansas. Go to KnowBeforeYouGoKS.com to find a free testing location near you.

    At-home tests are available for purchase at grocery stores and pharmacies. These can be used at home, work or anywhere and can provide rapid results. If a positive result is received through an at-home test, individuals should follow up with a health care provider about a confirmation test.

  • Social distance. When in public settings, stay at least 6 feet from other people, especially if you are at higher risk of getting sick.

Obituary

Obituary of Rachel Hall

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Rachel Marie Hall, age 52, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, December 16, 2021, at her home. She was born June 17, 1969, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Harvey Wayne Hall and Barbara Louise Taylor Hall. Rachel enjoyed listening to music and spending time with her family and friends. She was also a great fan of the Kansas City Chiefs. Rachel will be remembered for her fantastic fried chicken.

Survivors include her three children, Brandon Hall (Jodi Clayton), Jacklyn Colvin (Micah Davis) and Kenny Meek (Brandy Meek) all of Ft. Scott and nine grandchildren, Nevaeh Davis, Josephine Davis, Cora Davis, Katie Meek, Erica Grewing, Kylie Higgins, Elizabeth Higgins, Jason Johnson and Ashlin Williams and a great-grandson, Malachi Chamberlin. Also surviving are her mother, Barbara Underwood, of Ft. Scott; and three sisters, Tammy Underwood, of Garland, Kansas, Linda Wiggans and Cheryl Hawkins, both of Ft. Scott, numerous nieces and nephews and a special friend, Don Shorter.

Rev. Kevin Moyes will conduct funeral services at 1:00 P.M. Monday, December 20th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Following services, there will be cremation.

The family will receive friends on Monday from Noon until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Rachel Hall Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Business, Fort Scott

Rusty Spur Energy and Nutrition Opens at 9 E. Wall

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Submitted photo.
The Rusty Spur Energy & Nutrition opened at 9 E. Wall on Dec. 14.
The owners are Kelly Perry and Chris Ames who is also the  operator.
“We offer one-on-one health assessments for weight loss or muscle gain with our products,” Perry said. “Our products include vitamin-packed energy and calorie-burning teas that taste more like fruit drinks!  We also provide complete meal replacement shakes full of protein and vitamins and minerals in over 60 flavors!
 “We have had a team of other entrepreneurs; Haven, Ashtyn, and Greg, in Ft. Scott (at a different location) since August 2020 helping customers with healthy shakes and teas,” Kelly said. “Previous health coaches have moved from the area and we felt passionate about keeping such a niche business alive and well in Fort Scott!  We hated to see it close when the others moved.”
Their passion stems from losing weight using the drinks they sell.
Both women have followed a number of fad diets and even resorted to surgical weight loss methods such as gastric bypass.  Short term, they had a tremendous amount of success but eventually, the weight came back, Perry said.
Kelly Perry. Submitted photos.
During the 2020 pandemic, Perry had gained over 80 pounds of her surgical weight loss back when she walked into the Fort Scott nutrition shop desperate to lose the 80 pounds, she said.
 She started the meal replacement shakes and within five months from December 2020 to May 2021, Perry lost all 80 pound swith shakes alone, she said.
 Perry has maintained her weight loss and coached others to do the same, she said.
Chris Ames has had a very similar story.
Chris Ames. Submitted photo.
“After (weight-loss) surgery, her weight loss was not significant and she continued to be stagnant in weight loss,” Perry said. “She started on the protein meal replacement shakes and the rest is history.  She is now a size smaller than she was in high school.  She too is working to help others to be the best that they can be and fully embrace health and nutrition rather than think of it as yet another diet.”
“We’re passionate about helping people and we really like this job,” Perry said.
“Each of our energy drinks is all custom-made for exactly what you need as an individual,  no two drinks are alike,” she said.  “You won’t find one main price because all teas have customization to them.”
“We hope that by being downtown in such a beautiful area we will be able to reach more people and help them with their health goals,” Perry said.
They have products for children as well, she said.
“We also provide probiotics and added hydration for all ages, so if you have a child that is dehydrated or has bloating, cramping or even backed up in the bathroom, we have items that we can add to their drink to help their tummy,” she said.
The hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM and Saturday, 9 AM to 2 PM, Sunday after church from noon to 3 p.m.
The Rusty Spur, 9 E. Wall. The former dental office of Dr. Brown. Submitted photo.
The business can be contacted via Facebook Messenger, or Instagram  or email [email protected]

Bourbon County Local News