A Site of Delight by Patty LaRoche
After giving up EVERYTHING except the clothes on their backs, three Afghanistan families—a total of 19 people– have been relocated to Fort Scott in the past month, and I am so proud of the efforts and generosity lavished on them by our community.
This Thanksgiving, our son and daughter-in-law, Adam and Jenn, invited those families to join us for a day of celebration.
Two other local families extended an invitation as well, knowing that they were adding 19 to their dinner plans!
Love at its finest.
The Afghanis brought delicious culinary dishes to our gathering and spent the day giving thanks for the many blessings they have received since entering our country and our town.
The Dept. of Defense coordinator—who had worked in Afghanistan with these families for 20 years—and his wife and young daughter showed up to celebrate this holiday.
He, more than anyone, knew of the sacrifices these three fathers had made to protect our soldiers from the enemy.
Jenn might not be in the military, but she has been a soldier and a saint in resettling these three families.
From purchasing houses to handling doctor appointments to enrolling eight of the kids in school to scheduling haircuts and eyeglass fittings to giving them rides as they shop for food and school clothes and window treatments, she has been tireless in welcoming these heroes.
Just trying to follow her schedule prompted me to send an email to 40 friends from all parts of the country, asking for prayer. The response was overwhelming.
Clearly, God was working, and as only God can do, in gigantean ways.
Others stepped up to help! A table and chairs purchased from Iron Star. A set of exquisite dishes (which I gladly would have exchanged for mine). Beds and bedding and couches and pictures and a new microwave and a car full of toys. An offer from a former teacher to help with the language barrier. Gift cards and checks and food delivered to their door. Neighbors bringing over boxes of kitchenware, rugs, utensils and meals.
Overwhelming! Today, after hearing that the Afghanistan’s wanted to celebrate Christmas, there were more blessings when one local couple and one Stillwell, Kansas, family delivered Christmas trees and containers of decorations to the families.
My husband and I were there to see the immeasurable joy shared as the young children wedged every single adornment they unpacked into the pine needles. Not exactly a site of beauty. But certainly a site of delight. (Children’s giggles do that, you know.)
What I couldn’t help but notice, however, was that inside their front doors hung the American flag.
Sometimes our blessing as Americans is to share our blessings.
I don’t think there’s a better way to celebrate what author Meg Bucher called the “holiday associated with Pilgrims and Native Americans which symbolizes intercultural peace, American’s opportunity for newcomers, and the sanctity of home and family.”
I’m pretty sure the Afghanistan families would agree.
Obituary of Elijah Miles
Elijah Dean Miles, infant son of James Miles and Leeann Stone, was stillborn Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at the Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada, Missouri. In addition to his parents, he is survived by four sisters, Audrey, Briley, Calley and Daphnie; grandparents, Jolene Matkin (Ken), Debra Stone and Cindy Lawrencce and great-grandmothers, Elizabeth Hill and Jeroldene Ellifrits. Also surviving are numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Pastor Jeff Feagins will conduct a memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, December 6th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Elijah Miles 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 cheneywittcom.
FS City Christmas Dinner Dec. 6
There may be a majority of City Commissioners present at the City of Fort Scott Christmas Dinner on Monday, December 6th, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. at Buck Run Community Center at 735 Scott Avenue, Fort Scott, Kansas. Even though a majority may be present, no City business will be conducted.
FS City Commission Meets At 5 p.m. Dec. 7
The City Commission will meet at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 7th, 2021 due to the downtown Christmas parade. The Commission may recess when the parade begins at 6:00 p.m. and then return to the open meeting after the parade, depending on the length of the meeting.
What’s Happening if Fort Scott Weekly Newsletter
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New Chamber Employee: Suzette Torres
Suzette Torres, 46, will be the new communication and events coordinator for the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.
Her hometown is Honolulu, Hawaii.
She has lived in Fort Scott since July and applied for the job because she wants to get involved in the community, she said.
“I love creating events, decorating,” she said. “I am a creative person and this job is all the things I love wrapped up into one.”
“I love Fort Scott, and my boyfriend, Berry Jones, is involved in this community,” she said. They worked together on the community mural that faces Heritage Park, at First and Main Street.
Torres attended the University of Hawaii a few years, then did administrative work in the design and also the hardware industry, she said.
“Most recently, I did admin for Hilton Grand Vacations,” she said.
She has four children, two in college in California and two who will start attending Eugene Ware Elementary and Fort Scott High School upon their soon arrival to Fort Scott.
Torres’s Chamber job will include all the email blasts, creating flyers, maintaining social media posts, and walk-in traffic to the Chamber office at 231 E. Wall.
She also will help Chamber Executive Director Lindsay Madison with the planning and coordinating of the many Chamber events.
To contact the Chamber: 620.223.3566.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Dec. 2
SEK Health Department: All Vaccines Available
The Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department has all 3 COVID-19 vaccines available at their offices.
To get vaccinated, call for an appointment.
“Things are seeming to pick up with children getting vaccinated, but there are still more adults getting vaccinated than children,” Rebecca Johnson, administrator, said. “I’m glad for the increase in children’s vaccinations but wish we’d see more getting the shot. This will decrease quarantines and time missed from school and work, that is something encouraging for parents!”
“There’s quite a bit of information for parents online about safety of the vaccine for children. I recommend reviewing information from the CDC.”
“With any variant, there is always fear of the unknown, but we are monitoring this new variant (Omicron) and staying up to date with what information KDHE has to provide, the CDC, the other Health Departments in the state as well as information we get from our bordering states. I would recommend our residents stay vigilant in their mitigation against COVID-19, stay home if they’re aware they have been exposed to the virus and stay home if sick! ”
The department is located at 524 S. Lowman, Ft. Scott, KS 66701
Phone (620)223-4464, Fax (620)223-1686
From the Kansas Department of Health and Environment:
“No confirmed cases have been identified in Kansas or the United States to date. This variant is new, and it is still unknown how transmissible or contagious this variant is. It is unclear how quickly it will spread, but it has been found in 17 countries already and we should assume that it is only a matter of time before it will be found in the United States. KDHE will continue to sequence positive COVID-19 samples to look for the Omicron variant.
With over 64% of the eligible population fully vaccinated, Kansas is more prepared for Omicron than previous variants. Experts continue to believe that the COVID-19 vaccine will continue to protect those who are vaccinated against severe disease and death. The COVID-19 vaccine is available for all individuals aged five years and over. The vaccine booster dose is available for all adults aged 18 and over. Boosters increase the strength of your antibody response, so even if the virus mutates, a boost makes it more likely that your antibodies can prevent you from getting sick or seriously ill, even with the new variant. If you are six months past your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two months past your J&J vaccine, get boosted now.
As we continue to learn more about the Omicron variant, taking steps to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus remains the same. Kansans should receive the COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot, wear a mask in public indoor settings, wash their hands frequently, physically distance from others as much as possible, stay home if they feel sick, and get tested if they have been exposed to COVID-19 disease or have symptoms.”
Obituary of Angelina Tamez
Angelina Marie Tamez, age 16, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Monday, November 29, 2021.
She was born July 8, 2005, in San Antonio, TX, the daughter of CJ Robison and Joe Tamez, Jr. Angelina was greatly loved and cherished.
She was such a positive person for her many friends and family. She was full of dedication, motivation, and determination. If she said she was going to do something, you could count on her doing it with her best effort. She loved being active. She was a perfectionist and always tried to do her absolute best at everything she did.
Angelina was the kindest, sweetest soul and touched everyone’s heart wherever she went. On the other hand, she was quite the prankster. When she loved, she loved hard. Angelina will be missed by many.
Survivors include her mother CJ Robison (Charles); her father Jo Tamez, Jr. (Amanda); siblings Alayna Tamez, Nichol Vasquez, Elena Robison, Xavier Tamez, Jonathon Tamez, Josh Vincent, and AJ Vincent; grandmothers, Cindy Divorne and Juanita Campbell; grandfather, Joe Tamez; the love of her life Cody Geiger; and many friends.
She was preceded in death by a brother, (Junior) Shawn Arwin Vincent; and grandfathers Shahn Divorne and John Campbell.
Matthew Wells will conduct services at 10:30 AM Saturday, December 4th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Clarksburg Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Friday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Angelina Tamez Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
COVID-19 vaccine, boosters available at CHC/SEK
There’s still time to get vaccinated before holiday travel
With the holiday travel and gathering season upon us, coupled with the winter season of colds, flu and other respiratory infections, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) would like to remind the public that having the added protection of a COVID-19 booster is vitally important.
COVID-19 vaccine boosters are now available at most CHC/SEK locations and are recommended for all adults 18 years and older if it has been 6 months since their last Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or 2 months since the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.
The recent emergence of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19 and its variants.
The CDC is urging the 47 million adults who are not yet vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to vaccinate the children and teens in their families as well because strong immunity will likely prevent serious illness.
There is never any out-of-pocket expense for any COVID-19 vaccine recipient at CHC/SEK. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, reduce the spread of the virus and help prevent new variants from emerging.
To speed the process and to prevent vaccine waste, (open vials have a short shelf life) the clinic encourages those wishing vaccinations to schedule an appointment through the CHC/SEK website, www.chcsek.org. After submitting the request, a vaccine scheduler will call to confirm an appointment. Additionally, CHC/SEK will continue to offer vaccines at Walk-In Care visits and Primary Care visits.
Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board Meets Dec. 9
The Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. at the City Hall Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting is open to the public.
The meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.