The Fort Scott Planning Commission will meet on Monday, October 19th, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to consider a Conditional Use Permit for a telecommunications tower to be located north of the Water Treatment Plant located at 910 Burke Street.
This meeting is open to the public. This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
I overheard a conversation in our office the other day that included, “I just want normal, whatever that is anymore.” No one has escaped the insecurities that has taken place since Covid became a pandemic.
There are days I just feel ‘off’. I don’t feel bad physically, but I really can’t put a finger on it. Sometimes it’s a lack of focus, or I forget things easily, because a routine has changed. I read an article recently that seemed to hit the nail on the head for me. Maybe you can relate. I’ll share some thoughts from “Our Brains Struggle to Process This Much Stress” from Elemental by Tara Haelle.
When we find ourselves in an emergency, we experience an adrenaline rush that presents a fight or flight type of reaction. We can think more clearly and react more quickly – often reacting before we have a chance to think about it. The incident is usually over quickly and our hormones return to normal.
Unlike the boost of energy of an adrenaline rush, in the early weeks of the pandemic we were using ‘surge capacity’ to function. Surge capacity is a collection of adaptive systems—mental and physical—that humans draw on for short-term survival in acutely stressful situations, such as natural disasters. However, pandemics can stretch on indefinitely.
In the case of natural disasters, we can see the end results of the physical damage that has been done. With a pandemic the harm is ongoing and invisible. Many systems that we work with everyday are not working normally right now. We might think we should be used to this by now, yet, we’ve never experienced a pandemic before.
Our surge capacity may be running on empty. We have ups and downs and often feel depleted or burned out – all from dealing with chronic stress. Those who are problem solvers and are used to getting things done may feel a harder hit, because none of that is possible right now.
Understanding ambiguous loss – any loss that’s unclear and lacks a resolution – may be helpful. It’s not a death, but in the case of the pandemic, there has been a loss of a way of life.
How do we adjust to a ‘new normal’ when there is indefinite uncertainty? Here are some tips shared by Pauline Boss, PhD, a family therapist and professor emeritus of social sciences at the University of Minnesota.
–Accept that life is different now. This does not mean we are giving up. It means quit fighting reality so we can place our mental energy into things that are constructive.
–Expect less from yourself. With the losses we have experienced, take some time to reflect to find out what rhythms of life you need right now.
–Recognize the different aspects of grief. The familiar stages of grief apply to this pandemic –anger, denial, depression, and acceptance—all concepts in facing loss. Acceptance might mean choosing to have a good time in spite of the pandemic.
–Look for activities that fulfill you. Self-care has always been included as a good coping skill. Unfortunately, the pandemic may have taken away some of those activities, such as meeting with friends for coffee or your regular bunko night. One thing we have control over is our daily lives. ‘Do it Yourself ‘ projects like gardening, painting, and house projects, for example, could feed that fulfillment need.
–Focus on maintaining and strengthening important relationships. Social support systems and remaining connected to people are most important when facing adversity. This includes helping others even when we are feeling used up ourselves. It’s a win-win strategy in helping overcome our sense of helplessness and loss of control as we are doing something to help someone else.
–Begin slowly building your resilience account. Like a bank account, we may have overdrawn our resilience account over the past few months. We need to gradually build up our life practices to have something to fall back on when life gets out of sorts. Starting small with focuses on nutrition, sleep, exercise, meditation, self-compassion, gratitude, connection, and saying ‘no’ are basic needs and great areas to begin a foundation.
Do a little bit every day and you will start building momentum in re-building your surge capacity. Make sure to give yourself some slack when a link in your new routine chain breaks, and be ready to start again.
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Brent Cavin, manager of Fort Cinema, has come up with a collaboration to allow Fort Scott High School Tiger Football to be seen on the big screens.
“As new movies continue to be pushed back months we have switched our mindset and focus from being not only a movie theater, but into a gathering place for the community,” Cavin said.
Recently, they have made theater rentals available for private movie and video game parties on the big screens.
To view the previous story on theater rentals, click below:
Fort Cinema Gets Creative In Offerings
“This is the next step for our community to help keep their theater open,” Cavin said. “It was an idea that came to us as we realized some of the away football games have limited fan attendance. When we noticed that the upcoming football game is several hours away we decided this is the perfect opportunity to give back to the community.”
The number of fans is limited because of the COVID-19 pandemic precautions.
Cavin contacted FSHS and Fort Scott Broadcasting on Friday to pitch the idea, and both were enthusiastic about the concept.
“All three screens are capable of broadcasting the game via Fort Scott TV,” he said. “We are hoping that broadcasting conditions will be optimal Friday night from Wamego, and we are making sure our theater will be able to hopefully stream the game without any hiccups.”
Admission is free.
The staff is asking those who want to attend to come and get a ticket sometime this week between the hours of 6 p.m.and 8 p.m.
“This is solely to give us an estimate on crowd size,” Cavin said.
“There will be a free will donation bucket available for anyone who would like to donate money,” he said.
“Our concession stand will be open with food that all fans are familiar with when they attend games: popcorn, pretzels, nachos, candy, and pizza by the slice from Papa Don’s will be sold,” Cavin said.
The cinema is located just off South Main Street at 224 W. 18th Street.
Doors will open at 6:00 with kickoff scheduled for 7:00.
Come support the undefeated Tigers, while supporting the local cinema.
Bill Meyer for Kansas House of Representatives
District 4
If you want a Representative who stands for:
Maintaining full funding for our public schools;
Expanding Medicaid to cover 150,000 low-income Kansans while bringing $700 million per year into the Kansas economy;
Expanding broadband internet into our rural areas as the # 1 necessity for attracting new business and keeping the ones we have, enabling our farmers and ranchers to access current market conditions, providing opportunities for offsite virtual learning, and expanding telemedicine into medically underserved areas;
Respecting and listening to the opinions of others;
Vote for Bill Meyer on November 3
Keys to the Kingdom – by Carolyn Tucker
In the early years of our marriage, Jimmy and I were taking a motorcycle trip to see his grandmother in Anderson, Missouri. On the way, we had a flat on the back tire. There we were, stranded alongside the road (with no cell phone). We didn’t have to wait very long before the driver of a pickup stopped to help us. He and my husband loaded the bike into the truck bed and he drove us to a bike shop in Joplin. After we purchased the new tire, the man took us to a park where Jimmy put on the tire. We were soon “on the road again” because someone, who didn’t know us, took the time to care.
I don’t remember the stranger’s name, what he looked like, or what he did for a living. I believe in angels, but I don’t think this guy was one. He didn’t seem to be a priest or a religious person, but he did have a compassionate heart. It’s one thing to be “between a rock and a hard place” and call on family or friends; but it’s a whole other ballgame to have a stranger volunteer to help.
Jesus commands us to live a life of love. One day a teacher of religious law asked Him which commandment was the most important. “Jesus replied, ’The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31 NLT).
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, a lawyer, looking for a loophole, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered by telling a story about a traveling man that was attacked by robbers. They stole his clothes, beat him half to death, and left him to die alongside the road. Later, a priest came down the road but, when he saw the wounded man, he crossed to the other side. Next, a religious man walked up and, as soon as he saw the injured man, he avoided him too. Then a Samaritan traveling the road came upon him. He had compassion on him, applied first aid, lifted him onto his donkey, took him to an inn, and made him comfortable. The Samaritan paid the innkeeper and told him to take good care of him. In the words of Jesus, a neighbor is anyone you’re around.
Cain and Abel were brothers, which is up another level in regard to loving your neighbor. Usually, blood is thicker than water, but not in this sad case found in the Book of Genesis. Because Cain did not master his jealousy and temper, he murdered his own brother! Afterward, God asked Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” Cain responded, “I don’t know; am I my brother’s keeper/guardian?” (Wow, it’s really dumb to lie to God.)
The hit song, “Try a Little Kindness” was first recorded by Glen Campbell and released in October 1969. To drive home the parable in Luke 10:25-37, here are some of the poignant lyrics: “Don’t walk around the down and out, lend a helping hand instead of doubt. And the kindness that you show every day will help someone along their way.”
The Key: Who…me? Yes, you. You’ve got to show a little kindness and shine your light for everyone to see.
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: October 13, 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 SPARK
9:45 – 10:00 Justin Meeks/Shane Walker, Executive Session, Preliminary discussions relating
to the acquisition of real property
10:00 – 10:15 Susan Bancroft, Ambulance Bids
10:30 – 10:35 Bill Martin, CESF Grant
Galen Charles Bigelow, Sr., 77, of Fort Scott, passed away Thursday evening, October 8, 2020. He was born November 8, 1942, in Hiattville, Kansas, the son of Charles William and Luella Elizabeth (Wescoatt) Bigelow. He married Marita Lynne Barr June 7, 1960, in Fort Scott, Kansas, and she survives of the home.
Galen graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of 1960, and he served in the US Army National Guard from 1960 until September of 1992. He retired from Gene’s IGA/Heartland after seven years in 2005 where he was Manager over Fresh Produce and Dairy. Before that Galen worked at Dayco in Fort Scott. His earlier career included Frito Lay, Inc. District Manager for Western Kansas, Schwann’s Route Salesman for Mt. Vernon, Missouri area, and he owned and operated Bigelow’s Dairy Spot Restaurant in Moran, Kansas. Galen was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church and also attended First Baptist Church and Bethel Community Church.
In addition to his wife Marita, Galen is also survived by his children, Michelle McKay and husband Eric of Fort Scott, Teresa Fly and husband David, also of Fort Scott, Galen Bigelow, Jr. and wife Trena of Elsmore, Kansas, and Bill Bigelow and wife Michelle of Moran, Kansas; a sister, Juanita Eads and husband Roy of Fort Scott; eleven grandchildren, twenty-five great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Rev. Ben Heffernan will conduct graveside services at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at the Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Scott under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Robert E. Kibble, 90, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday evening, October 5, 2020, at Guest Home Estates. He was born May 4, 1930, in Uniontown, Kansas, the son of Donald Vance and Beulah (Ramsey) Kibble. He married Irene Natalie Hitchcock July 5, 1978, in Miami, Oklahoma. She preceded him in death January 24, 2017.
Bob served in the US Navy, and worked in Maintenance at the Farmers Co-Op.
Bob is survived by his son, Steve Kibble and wife Julie, of Fort Scott; two step-sons, Roy Daniel and Dale Daniel, Both of Bolivar, Missouri; two step-daughters Della Orender of Frontenac, Kansas, and Jan Daniel of Bolivar, Missouri; five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and his special friend Teresa Wunderly. In addition to his wife Irene, Bob was also preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Donaldeen Rye and Sue Thorpe, a son, Alan Kibble, and a grandson, Jason Bolinger.
Following cremation, graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, October 15, 2020, at the West Plains Cemetery in Fort Scott. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Chet and Linda Bower received news that they are a recipient of the Kansas SPARK Grant.
The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce is leading Kansas forward in recovery from the effects of COVID-19. They are responsible for statewide distribution of the U.S. Coronavirus Relief Fund.
The Bowers own five acres northwest of Fort Scott, of which one acre is in garden produce.
The Bower’s grant will be used for repairing or updating farm equipment, Linda said. “The equipment must be repaired or purchased by Dec. 31, according to the grant.”
“This will allow us to effectively increase produce to supply to local people,” she said.
The Bower’s have been vendors at the Fort Scott Farmer’s Market for many years.
In addition, they supply produce to Papa Don’s Restaurant, Fort Scott and Emory’s Restaurant in Missouri.
“Excess produce is donated to the Beacon,” Linda said. “Also local assisted living facilities. We hate to throw anything away.”
The Fort Scott Farmer’s Market ends the last Saturday in October.
“Right now there is squash, tomatoes, watermelon, cucumbers, potatoes, zucchini, pumpkins, baked goods, pies, chicken, eggs, honey, and crafts,” Linda said.
The market is located on Skutbitz Plaza, in front of the Fort Scott National Historic Site, at the end of North Main Street.
The vendors set up shop on Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.
