The Bourbon County Democratic Party will hold its monthly meeting this Sunday, December 15, at 2:30 pm at the Brewhaus on the corner of Wall and National.
With two days left in Israel, Jeff, Andy, Kristen and I were determined to see as many Christian sites as we could. A friend of Jeff had told him about “Yani”, a tour guide, who could be hired to show us around. After several phone calls, most difficult to understand because of Yani’s dialect, we agreed to meet in Jerusalem. Yani said he would get in our car there, but Jeff explained how tiny our rental car was, so that wouldn’t work. No problem, said Yani. He had a friend who would drive us all around. We just needed to get to the parking lot by the Old Jaffa Gate. Simple enough…except our GPS did not recognize that location. Yani repeatedly phoned us. “Where are you, my friend? I am here and you are not.” Our connections were continually broken, and each time Yani called back, we all were more confused. After entering through gates we had no business entering, driving on sidewalks to get out of said areas, and having dozens of cars and busses honk at us for interfering in their traffic, we finally found the parking lot. Thank you, Jesus.
Sort of. We just didn’t know how to read the Hebrew signs telling us which ramps went where. We ended up at the pay booth where we had to exit. Round and round we go. This was not working out well. Ultimately, we linked up with a very high-energized Yani who did his best to show us what we wanted to see: where Jesus was buried; the Western (Wailing) Wall that at one time supported the Temple; King David’s tomb; the room of the Last Supper; and Bethlehem, where Jesus was born (which would require a 30-minute drive).
Yani was a little nuts. At the age of 13, he had been imprisoned for over a year when he and a group of friends threw rocks at Palestinians, and he had overcome a drug problem (probably explaining his missing and darkened teeth) through AA. Later that day, Yani would take us into his home to meet his mother, a woman he adored. This required me not only to navigate several steps but to climb two ladders on his roof (so we could get the “best view of Jerusalem”). It was important to our new friend that this be an experience we would remember.
Yani talked about last night’s drone strikes, admitting he was concerned. Still, we would press on…in the literal sense. In the tunneled walkways of Jerusalem, Yani had us enter through exits, push our way to the front of lines, and crowd in wherever we could. I was undone by this and told him I wanted to wait in line like everyone else, but somehow all the guards knew Yani and let him (and us) through. Even where people knelt and wept while touching Jesus’ burial stone (one of two possible sites), Yani wanted me to squeeze through the kneelers to do the same. For goodness sakes! Elderly people were sobbing and rubbing the stone with handkerchiefs while a priest walked around, shaking incense over the entire area, and I was to push them out of the way so I could do the same? Not gonna happen.
Our guide loved sharing the history of what we were seeing. At the tomb of King David and the Western Wall, men and women were divided into different areas. Jeff and Andy had to wear yamakas. Kristen, Andy’s wife, and I were led to a circular watering area which had tin pitchers spaced around the large bowl. Yani had told us to wash our hands there, so I picked up a pitcher, filled it with water, and poured it over my hands. Not correct. A kind, Jewish woman showed me it was a three-step process. Hold the pitcher in the left hand and pour some water in the right palm; hold the pitcher in the right hand and pour some water in the left palm; and repeat the first step. I thanked her and felt like a fool.
Our next stop would be Bethlehem where Jesus was born. It became obvious Yani had no other driver, as he asked where we were parked and jumped in the passenger seat. Not the only time we would be duped. Andy, Kristen and I squeezed in the back and held on for dear life. If I thought Yani loved to be first in line at historical sites, that was nothing compared to how close we came to being killed with his instructions to Jeff as to how he was to drive.
Lorene Lockwood, age 89, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, November 28, 2019, at the Medicalodge in Ft. Scott.
She was born February 6, 1930, in Salem, Arkansas, the daughter of William Foster and Ethel Martin Foster.
After graduating high school in Arkansas, Lorene moved to Kansas City.
She first married William Mills and they moved around the country until settling back in Johnson County in the 1960’s. Lorene had worked on The Plaza in Kansas City as a model and was also a ground hostess for Braniff International Airline.
She married James E. Lockwood in 1966. Together they bought a home in South Kansas City where they lived for forty years.
Together, they traveled the world and enjoyed Jim’s love of the sea and explored many ports of call on sailboats. From the Greek Isles to Tahiti, Virgin Gorda to the Yangtze, they did it all. They visited South America in 1967 and she even made it up to Machu Pichu along with Sugar Loaf in Brazil and Punta del Este in Uruguay. Throughout their marriage they loved to travel and there is hardly a country they did not visit together.
Along the way Lorene worked as a manager of a beauty salon and then found her niche as a realtor. She spent thirty years in the real estate business with several outstanding Johnson County companies
. Lorene was also very involved with charity organizations in the KC Metro – the Ballet Ball, the Philharmonic and especially the United Way where she served a term as chairperson. She was truly instrumental in helping Kansas City, Missouri be a City for the Arts.
Survivors include two sons, Jeffrey Mills and Ronald Mills.
Following cremation, private burial will take place in the Evergreen Cemetery in Ft. Scott. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Governor’s Council on Education presents policy recommendations to Governor Kelly
The sixth and final meeting of the year for the Governor’s Council on Education concluded this afternoon, with a set of recommendations focused on greater collaboration between businesses, workforce training programs and educators, along with enhanced access to a high-quality education for Kansans of all ages.
The bipartisan group of stakeholders in the education, child welfare, labor, advocacy and the business communities have been working to develop plans to improve Kansas education outcomes from early childhood through postsecondary attainment; enhance workforce development; and stimulate economic growth in Kansas.
“Quality education is vital to the success and well-being of Kansans, and essential to the economy in creating a highly trained workforce,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The policy recommendations are an important step toward development of a more effective relationship between educational institutions and businesses. I’m grateful for the work that has been done by this Council over the past months.”
During the meeting, the Early Childhood Team at the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) delivered its recommendations to the Council. Following evaluation and deliberation, the Council made its recommendations to the Governor:
Final meeting for the Governor’s Council on Medicaid Expansion concludes
The final meeting for the Governor’s Council on Medicaid Expansion concluded this afternoon. The group studied Medicaid expansion strategies from the 36 other states that have already expanded to determine the best version for Kansas. The Council is composed of a bipartisan group of legislators, policy experts, advocates and stakeholders.
Today the Council participated in discussion regarding potential guideposts or goals for responsible, sustainable expansion in Kansas for the Legislature to consider in the upcoming session. The Council’s guideposts will supplement the legislative work that is already underway.
“I appreciate the Council’s thorough study of other states’ Medicaid expansion practices and its commitment to engaging in a thoughtful, bipartisan discussion this fall,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Today’s discussion reflects my vision for a form of Medicaid expansion that works for Kansas.”
During today’s discussion, there was widespread agreement among Council members that Medicaid expansion is necessary for Kansas. Members also agreed that the months-long study of other states’ expansion practices – covering topics from coverage to efficiency – offered valuable insight as to the best model for Kansas as a final plan takes shape.
Official guideposts or goals will be outlined in the Council’s final report, which will be submitted to Governor Kelly in early January.
For more on Governor Kelly’s executive order establishing the Council, its membership and presentation materials:
https://governor.kansas.gov/council-on-medicaid-expansion/
Wilma Earlene (Koger) Leach, age 81, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at her home.
She was born September 25, 1938, in Neodesha, Kansas, the daughter of William Earl and Aileen Koger. Wilma attended Neodesha Schools and graduated from the Neodesha High School in 1956. She attended Junior Colleges part-time in Coffeyville, Ark City and Fort Scott.
She was married to Adin Leach on April 26, 1958, at the Holy Name Catholic Church in Coffeyville, Kansas.
Wilma worked at Mercy Hospital while living in Independence, Kansas and received training and education in pastoral care. After moving to Ft. Scott in 1990, Wilma began working at Mercy Hospital in pastoral care.
Wilma started Mother to Mother Ministry of Bourbon County, Kansas with a grant from Catherine’s Legacy in 1998. The mission was to serve single mothers or any person or family in need. Her service to those that she helped lasted almost twenty-two years until closing September 16, 2019 because of her health. Her ministry was made possible by the initial grant, some government programs, local individuals, organizations, and churches including many wonderful volunteers and benefactors.
Wilma is survived by her husband, Adin, of the home; daughters, Angie Plaisance and husband, Marc, of Peachtree City, Georgia, Amy Stephens and Mark Ferrell, of Independence, Kansas, Dee Dee O’Malley and husband, Mike, also of Independence, Alison Leach, of Ft. Scott, Kansas and Mimi Turner and husband, Josh, of Ottawa, Kansas. Also surviving are fifteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Her son Alan Leach, of Washington, DC passed away in January of 2015.
Father Yancey Burgess and Father John Marconi will celebrate Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, December 18th at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Ft. Scott.
A graveside service will be held at 2:30 P.M. Wednesday at the Calvary Cemetery in Independence, Kansas.
The rosary will be recited at 6:00 P.M. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Visitation will follow from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M.
Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Catholic School 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.
On December 11, 2019, the Good Lord called a faithful servant home to glory. Ruth Fidelia (Culler) Wells, age 88, a former resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, entered her heavenly home on Wednesday evening at the Medicalodge in Girard, Kansas. She was born January 23, 1931, at the family farm home in Vernon County, Missouri. She was happily married to Kenneth Earl Wells on April 16, 1950, a union that lasted for over fifty-six years. God gave them six children; Steven E. Wells, Kathryn E. (Kathy) Wells, Deloris E. (Lorie) Wells, Faith E. Varner, Warren E. Wells and Dwayne E. Wells. Her surviving grandchildren are Melissa J. Love, Clifton Varner, Daniel Varner, Michael Wells, Cassandra (LeeAnn) Wells, Rose Wells, Matthew Wells and Jamie Judy. There are also several surviving great-grandchildren. Ruth is now enjoying seeing her Savior’s face and sharing Heaven with her husband who passed away August 1, 2006; two of her children were also awaiting her there, Warren and Deloris (Lorie). Ruth’s parents, William B. Culler and Mary (Marie) Leer Culler and brothers, William (Bud) Culler and John Culler are all deceased. Ruth has two younger siblings, Donna Marie Culler and Dorothy Jane Hicks.
Ruth loved family. She cared for children of all ages during her life. She was a teacher at a country school at the age of seventeen, after only one years of college. She was a teen Sunday School teacher in a Baptist church in Wichita. Ruth worked in the nursery at the First Southern Baptist Church and she was the primary care giver in the church nursery at Grace Baptist Tabernacle for 13 years. During the last few years of her life, she started a small church called Cross Road in the former Catt School building, in rural Fort Scott.
She was well known for her homemade pies and cast-iron skillet fried chicken. Her children’s friends were always welcome at any time to sit down at the supper table and enjoy farm raised meals. Ruth spent her last months telling others about her Savior, Jesus Christ in the nursing homes in southeast Kansas. Residents in the Girard facility called her “Grandma” and some would ask her to pray for them. She will be missed here on earth but she is welcomed up there in Heaven by her Creator and family members as well as Christian friends.
Pastor Bradley Friesen will conduct a graveside service, at 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 17, 2019 in the Deerfield Cemetery in Deerfield, Missouri. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 10:00 – 10:45 AM, prior to leaving for the cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Bible Believers Baptist Church Mission 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.
“It was an incredibly rewarding experience and a great introduction to the National Park Service as a whole, she said. “It made me step out of my comfort zone as I had never worked with science collections before and lived in a national park. One of my favorite things about the park was that you could just be driving to work and you could come across the wildlife of the Everglades such as pythons, alligators, and the great egret. ”
| MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension will host six regional workshops in February 2020 to assist farmers’ market vendors and managers. Kansas farmers’ markets not only provide a fresh food source, but also stimulate the local economy. In 2019, 57 farmers’ markets were registered with KDA’s Central Registration of Farmers’ Markets.
“Farmers’ markets provide growers a wonderful opportunity to have real interaction with consumers, and a chance to tell their farm’s story,” said Londa Nwadike, consumer food safety specialist with K-State Research and Extension and the University of Missouri. “It’s also important for farmers to understand certain legal, safety and financial parameters before choosing to sell at a farmers’ market.”
Workshop topics will vary slightly by location. Main topics include:
KDA’s weights and measures program will also offer free scale certification at the workshops for attendees.
Dates and locations for the Farmers’ Market events are as follows: Saturday, Feb. 1 — Iola: Allen Community College Saturday, Feb. 8 — Wichita: Sedgwick County Extension Office Friday, Feb. 21 — Olathe: KSU Olathe Saturday, Feb. 22 — Hiawatha: Fisher Center Friday, Feb. 28 — Beloit: Beloit First Christian Church Saturday, Feb. 29 — Leoti: Wichita County Community Building
Registration for the February workshops is now open. The cost is $20 per participant to cover the cost of lunch. Lunch will only be guaranteed to those participants who register prior to the respective workshop date. Registration for the workshops can be found at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMworkshop or at local extension offices. Onsite registration for the workshops will open at 8:30 a.m. and the workshops will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude by 3:00 p.m. The Wichita workshop will begin onsite registration at 8:15 a.m. and the workshop begins at 8:45 a.m., concluding at 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact Robin Blume, KDA’s education and events coordinator, at 785-564-6756 or [email protected]. The workshops are funded by the Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops, the Kansas Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, and the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
KDA is committed to providing an environment that enhances and encourages economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy. The Kansas Ag Growth Strategy has identified training for small companies via workshops as a key growth outcome for the specialty crop sector. The farmers’ market workshops will provide education through partnerships to help make Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses more successful.
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Fort Scott Nazarene at 1728 Horton, Fort Scott, KS will have services Christmas Sunday Dec. 22, 9:00 and 10:45 am. There will be a Christmas Eve Service Dec. 24, 6:00 pm.
The church’s mission statement: All things to all people, to share the Hope of Jesus.
“We will be finishing out our Christmas Sermon Series “Do You Hear What I Hear?” God wants to cut into the noise in your life and tell you something this Christmas,” said Pastor Virgil Peck.
