Bourbon County, Schools, Sports

UHS BASKETBALL GAME 9 RESULTS vs PRAIRIE VIEW 1/22/2021

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Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

The end of the First Annual Kenny Holt Memorial Tournament saw success for both of the Uniontown teams. The Lady Eagles won their tournament, and the boys ended up second overall.

The girls’ Varsity team beat the Prairie View Buffalo 65-25. Danielle Howard scored 26 points and had 7 assists and 13 steals. Karleigh Schoenberger scored 19 points and had 3 steals. Sammie Hampton and Gwenyth Fry each had 5 boards.

“It was a good night for Lady Eagles Basketball,” Coach Miller said. “After a long week of competition, the girls played their best game of the tournament. Winning the Inaugural Kenny Holt Memorial Tournament will be a memory that these girls will cherish for years to come.

“A nice addition to the win was getting to celebrate Karleigh Schoenberger’s induction to the 1000-point club. She is only the 3rd Lady Eagle player to achieve such a milestone. Karleigh has joined the ranks of Trisha Eldridge Newton (1250 pts) and Shalina Harper (1325 pts). She has worked hard to reach this goal and it has been our pleasure to watch her do it. With several games to be played to finish up her senior season, we hope to see her continue to climb the leaderboard. Thank you KB for your hard work!”

The boys’ team also beat the Buffalo, with a score of 53-48. Jake Harvey once again led with 24 points, and also had 2 assists and 3 steals. Dawson Dreisbach had 8 boards, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Drew Perry had 5 assists and 3 steals, and Clay Sutterby had 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Luke Perry scored 11 points.

“I thought our defensive energy against Prairie View was really good. Prairie View was a big, strong, and athletic team, and I challenged our guys to out-scrap them. I thought for the most part, we did that. We are looking forward to jumping back into league play next week,” said Coach Hays.

-Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter

Government, Kansas

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

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Caryn Tyson
Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson
January 22, 2021
Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1602 titled Value Them Both (VTB) was supposed to be debated on the Senate Floor but it didn’t happen. It needs 27 votes to pass but senators were gone or refused to vote Yes or No. The House passed their resolution, House
Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 5003, with the same language on Friday. The Senate will debate it next week and if it passes there will be no need for the Senate resolution.
It is an important issue and should be debated. A few years ago, the legislature passed a bill banning dismemberment abortion in Kansas. A supermajority, 2/3 the legislature, supported the bill. The Governor signed it into law. However, the Kansas Supreme Court
nullified the law by issuing an extreme ruling that the Kansas Constitution allows dismemberment abortion. Where in the Kansas Constitution does it say that? The rogue Kansas Supreme Court is legislating from the bench again. The proposed constitutional
amendment, SCR 1602 and HCR 5003, would at least stop the Court from legislating on abortion. That duty is the responsibility of the legislature.
A constitutional amendment requires a resolution to pass in both chambers with a supermajority. Then the amendment would be on a ballot for all Kansas voters to cast a Yes or No vote. It is a high bar and should be to change our Constitution. The constitutional
amendment would reset the law as if the Court ruling hadn’t occurred. It is not a ban on abortion as such, but it would allow the people, through their elected legislature, to regulate
abortion.
COVID-19 testing parameters were quietly changed by Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) earlier this month and by the World Health Organization (WHO) last
week. The change in Kansas decreases the cycle threshold for testing. This is important because, according the medical experts, the higher threshold results in more false positives.
The WHO parameter change requires a person to have symptoms along with a positive test before anyone is diagnosed with COVID-19. These changes will lower the number of COVID-
19 cases. You can bet the news and others are going to say how the cases dropped because of vaccines or government mandates. How will we know what caused the decreased number
of cases when the definition of positive test changed?
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
Government, Kansas

State Tourism To Relocate To Kansas Dept. of Commerce

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Governor Laura Kelly Proposes Agency Reorganization to Spur Economic Growth

~Governor Kelly to realign Tourism Division under the Department of Commerce~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced her intent to submit an Executive Reorganization Order (ERO) to the Kansas Legislature relocating the State’s Tourism Division to the Kansas Department of Commerce.

The move comes as the result of input from businesses, destination marketing organizations and other key industry partners, including the Travel Industry Association of Kansas (TIAK), The Kansas Restaurant & Hospitality Association (KRHA), and the Kansas Economic Development Alliance (KEDA), to consolidate Kansas’ tourism efforts primarily as an economic development tool.

“Consolidating our Tourism focus within the Department of Commerce sends a clear message to our industry partners and prospective companies that this administration will use every tool at our disposal to spur new economic development,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This realignment will benefit our business community, our tourism industry, and Kansas’s economic recovery as a whole.”

“This is a move the tourism industry has supported and it is the right time for this change,” TIAK President Jim Zaleski, Labette County CVB said. “Kansas Tourism and the Department of Commerce have a shared goal of bringing revenue into the state. A coordinated marketing effort will help establish and promote a consistent, strong state brand and a single “front door” to Kansas.”

“The Kanas Restaurant & Hospitality Association agrees the Kansas hospitality community will be best served by having our Travel and Tourism efforts within the Kansas Department of Commerce,” Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association President Adam Mills said. “At a time when hospitality needs every reform possible this reorganization will reposition us as we grow out of the recent strains of the pandemic.”

“The KEDA Board supports the ERO to move tourism promotion back to the Kansas Department of Commerce and believes that, utilizing the expertise and outreach of the state’s lead economic development agency, the move will increase awareness of tourism opportunities among visitors to our state,” President of the Kansas Economic Development Alliance, Steve Jack said. “Our organization serves 76 Kansas communities and counties, and we see the positive impact of the Department of Commerce’s efforts every day across the state. We are confident that Commerce will bring a similar spark to our state’s tourism.”

The Tourism Division will be housed within Business Development at the Kansas Department of Commerce. The Department already features several tools aimed at increasing tourism, including the Kansas Athletic Commission and the STAR Bond program.

“This move will create a more robust, centralized effort to attract Tourism to the state of Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “I appreciate the work that the Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has put into this vital program, and I’m excited to see our team pursue new possibilities to increase tourism to Kansas.”

As a result of the ERO, the KDWPT will be designated as the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP).

“It’s exciting to see Tourism being positioned as a key part of our state’s economic development strategy,” KDWPT Secretary Brad Loveless said. “I fully support this decision and look forward to continued collaboration with the talented Tourism Division staff to promote our state’s wonderful natural resources.”

Governor Kelly will submit the ERO to the Kansas Legislature on Jan.25. The ERO becomes effective on July 1, following its transmittal to the Legislature, unless within 60 calendar days of transmittal, either the Senate or House adopts a resolution disapproving it.

Obituary

Obituary of Anthony W. Milton

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Anthony Ward “Tony” Milton, age 58, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Saturday, January 23, 2021, at his home.

He was born May 16, 1962, in St. Louis, MO, the son of Ward and Temple Milton. He married Pamela Ada on December 23, 1994, in Venita, OK.

Tony worked as a welder for Kline Tools in Ft. Scott, a security guard at Price Chopper in Gardner, KS, and for USD 234 in various capacities including driving the special needs bus. He greatly enjoyed the children he transported.

Tony also served as a volunteer sheriff’s deputy.

He liked playing video games, watching broadcast news, and listening to the radio.

Tony was a huge Chiefs fan.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church where he served as head usher and formerly as deacon.

Survivors include his wife Pam of the home; 5 children, Maneka, Arthon, Ackland, Aztreia, and Mishken Milton; and several brothers and sisters.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Andre Milton.

Rev. Ken Ansell will conduct funeral services at 2:00 PM Friday afternoon at the First Baptist Church.

Burial will follow in the West Plains Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until service time at the church.

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

Obituary

Obituary of Donald W. Marsh

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Donald William Marsh, age 84, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, finished the race and went to join his wife, Barbara, on her birthday, January 23, 2021.

He was born February 3, 1936, in Fulton, Kansas, the son of Orin P. Marsh and Leona Fay Ballou Marsh.  He married Barbara J. Baysinger on February 24, 1961, in Miami, Oklahoma.

In earlier years, Donnie had worked as a heavy equipment operator for Charlie Large for sixteen years.  He later worked as a mechanic for Montgomery Ward and then for Baxter Tire.

He retired in 2001.  Following retirement, Donnie continued to do mechanic work out of his home.

Donnie was a devoted husband, dad and grandpa.  He loved spending quality time with his family especially his grandchildren.  He enjoyed fishing and hunting as well as racing.  In the early 1960’s, Donnie and some others started the Family Tradition Racing Team which competed in races throughout the area.  He was also an avid fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals as well as the KU Jayhawks.

 

Survivors include his five children, Mike Simmons (Marsha), of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Jerry Simmons (Lavetta), of Ft. Scott, Kansas, Donnie Marsh (Sandy), of Deerfield, Missouri, Ronnie Marsh (Mary), of Ft. Scott and Tammy Miller (Doug), also of Ft. Scott; thirteen grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.  Also surviving is a brother, Buckie Ballou, of Kansas City and a racing buddy, Larry Ballou.

Donnie’s wife, Barbara, preceded him in death on December 22, 2020.  He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Joyce Farmer, a sister, Barbara Moll and racing buddy, Bob Turner and a good friend, Ronnie Button.

 

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, January 29th at the Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 5 to 7 P.M. at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to 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.

Business, Fort Scott

New Esthetics Business Opened

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Esthetician Hallie Grillot holds a gift certificate for her facial services. Submitted photos.

 

Esthetician Hallie Grillot, 20,  opened a new business in September 2020.

 

An esthetician is a worker skilled in giving beauty treatments, according to the Free Dictionary.

 

Her business, Pure Skin Esthetics, is located inside Healing Hands Therapeutic Massage and Salon, at 117 E. National Avenue.

 

“I always had a passion for beauty and wellness so i wanted a career which incorporated that,” Grillot said. “I knew in my heart esthetics would be a great fit for me! It’s a very emotionally rewarding profession. Making people look good also makes them feel good; which in turn, makes me feel good. I love what I do, and it shows through my work. I am lucky to have found a career that I love so much.

 

Grillot graduated from Fort Scott High School in 2019, then attended Bellus Academy, Manhattan,  for esthetics. Her parents are Dale and Vonnie Rickerson.

 

 In addition, she is a full-time student at Fort Scott Community College, working towards obtaining a business degree.

 

“I perform cosmetic skin treatments, facials ranging from $30- $75- such as hydro, aromatherapy, anti-aging, acne treatment, chemical peels. I also offer body treatments, and waxing.”

For Valentine’s Day, Grillot is offering a “love your skin special.”

“It’s 20% off discount code through the whole month of February – Use the code “LOVE” when book your appointment online!

Go to the  website

Additionally,  there is a “book now” big button on the business  Facebook page.

Contact info: 1(620)-215-5790

 

Pure Skin Esthetics, 117 E. National. Submitted photos.
Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Board Leadership Series Planned for February 

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Carla Nemecek is Southwind District Director and agent.

 

K-State Research and Extension is conducting a series of virtual Board Leadership workshops across the Southwind District February 16, 18, 23 & 25.

Designed to provide basic training for members of community-based boards, the series will be hosted by local Extension professionals from the Southwind and Wildcat Extension Districts, and participants are invited to join from any remote location of their choice.

Informed and committed board members are the key to healthy, effective boards and committees in our Kansas communities.  K-State Research and Extension’s Board Leadership Series will provide an opportunity for board members to learn the basics of being a good board member.  Whether you are a member of a church board, a township board, a United Way agency board, or a rural water board, this training is appropriate for you.

The series will kick-off on February 16 with Organizing/Leading Effective Meetings.  During this session, participants will learn about their roles and responsibilities as a board member, basics of parliamentary procedure, and strategies to make meetings more productive and effective.

On February 18, the topic will be Generations & Behavioral Management. This session will explore how personalities and generational differences affect the decision-making process.

 

The February 23 session will cover Understanding Fellow Board Members and Conflict Management. Participants will learn how to manage conflict in a way that is productive, not destructive, to the board.

 

Strategic Planning will be the final topic on February 25.  Participants will learn about establishing a common mission and vision for the board, and how to plan priorities for the future.

 

All sessions will be conducted from Noon to 1:00 pm. Workshop participants will meet virtually and upon registration will receive a link to participate in the live, web-based discussion.

 

Pre-registration for the event is required by February 12, 2021. The cost of $20 covers for all four sessions for one board member.  Each registration buys a seat, which can be rotated by participants.  Registration also includes a copy of the meeting materials that will be mailed prior to the workshop. Registration is available at www.bit.ly/BoardLeadership2021 or by going to www.southwind.k-state.edu. If you have questions or would prefer to register by phone, please contact Carla Nemecek at the Southwind Extension District, 620-365-2242.

 

Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent
[email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

CHC/SEK provides tools to give newborns and moms a good start  

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CHC/SEK Family Resource Specialists, from left, Lauren Stiles, Colette Lee, Julie Laverack, Leah Anderson, Keele Allen stand next to a Baby Box, also known as a Finn Box, while holding a grant certificate from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas. The grant allowed for the purchase of 80 Baby Boxes for teenage mothers in Crawford, Cherokee, Bourbon, and Labette counties.

A new maternity program funded by the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Giving Circle draws from a Finnish tradition designed to give all children, regardless of background an equal start in life.

It’s a starter box of clothes, sheets and toys with a mattress in the bottom so the box becomes a baby’s first bed.
The boxes are being filled for distribution by CHC/SEK pregnancy case managers to the area’s most vulnerable population – mothers from Crawford, Bourbon, Cherokee and Labette Counties under the age of 19 who often lack stable housing and resources to care for a newborn. In 2019, 158 teenagers gave birth in these four Southeast Kansas counties – most of them patients of CHC/SEK or Labette Health. CHC/SEK  has partnered with the hospital  to provide an in-house family resource specialist  who will provide educational, vocational and parenting support throughout pregnancy and parenting.
The Finland baby box dates back to the 1930’s as a national initiative to give expectant mothers the tools they need to raise a healthy baby. Some credit the concept with helping Finland achieve one of the world’s lowest infant mortality rates by pairing education with medical support through a box full of newborn necessities that doubles as the child’s first safe sleep space up to the age of six months.
“Babies used to sleep in the same bed as their parents and it was recommended that they stop,” according to University of Helsinki Professor Panu Pulmain. “Including the box as a bed meant people started to let their babies sleep separately from them.”
Since then, the concept has been incorporated into Sleep Awareness programs in the U.S. to reduce bedsharing, the leading cause of infant mortality in the first eight days of life. The boxes include a waterproof sleeping mattress, sheets, diapers, wipes, clothing, thermometer, a parenting book and other baby basics, including a HALO SleepSack. This program is the first of its kind in Kansas and is part of a maternal/child health initiative which pairs CHC/SEK case managers with young women during their prenatal care and for a year following delivery.
“The health care system is a hard enough place to navigate, and having an advocate to help you get through and a bridge to help you connect all of the resources together are proven to make families healthier,” said Patient Education and Support Manager Julie Laverack.

The Baby Box is one component of a larger program designed to provide a safe sleeping option in less than an ideal environment, discourage bed sharing, and encourage breast feeding. It is one step toward CHC/SEK’s larger goal of reducing the impact of generational poverty and lower the rate of neglect and abuse in the southeast Kansas region.

About Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing affordable, high quality medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services to everyone, regardless of income or insurance status. For more information, visit www.chcsek.org.
Opinion

Half-Baked Biscuits and Christians by Carolyn Tucker

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Carolyn Tucker. Submitted photo.

Keys to the Kingdom

 

 

While preparing breakfast the other morning, I placed the biscuits on the baking sheet. Then I started making the gravy while waiting for the oven temperature to preheat to 375. After several minutes, I glanced at the temp light and noticed the oven wasn’t even turned on. When stuff like that happens, it’s really annoying. A raw or half-baked biscuit isn’t fit to eat. I intended to turn on the oven, but I got sidetracked. When I discovered my error, I quickly fixed it ‘cause you can’t eat gravy without a biscuit!

Anything that’s halfway finished or halfheartedly performed is either a huge disappointment or just flat worthless. For example, what cowboy wants to eat bloody jerky? What person in his right mind would eat half-baked chicken? I thought about the way some Christians live with a halfhearted commitment to God. If I was annoyed over the biscuits, just think how annoyed God is when His children are half-baked.

Christ delivers a severe warning to all believers in the last book of the New Testament: “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:15,16 NLT). The term “hot” represents those who genuinely love and obey God with all their heart and are on fire for His Kingdom. The term “cold” indicates unbelievers who admit they’re lost. “Lukewarm” represents Christians who have no real commitment, obedience, or power, and are satisfied with their half-baked lifestyle.

In the Old Testament, we find that Caleb wholly followed the Lord. While some who believed in God were content to simply follow, Caleb went full throttle after God. “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it” (Numbers 14:24 NKJV). Those who wholeheartedly obey God and seek His presence will always enjoy His blessing upon their lives.

In 1 Samuel Chapter 15, the Prophet Samuel gave King Saul a message from the Lord. He was to completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation (all the men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys), including King Agag. Long story short, King Saul spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the animals and anything else that appealed to him. Sadly, King Saul did not wholly follow the Lord, and God rejected him because halfhearted (partial) obedience is not obedience at all.

When you search your heart and find you’re between hot and cold, you can quickly fix it by repenting. You shouldn’t be satisfied to live as a lukewarm Christian. Jesus’ words are very clear: “You must love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, and ALL your mind“ (Matthew 22:37 NLT). The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to help those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

The Key: Get rid of your lukewarm half-baked biscuits and wholeheartedly serve the Lord.

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda for Jan. 26

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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: January 26, 2021

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jim Harris 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.

Call to Order

 

  • Flag Salute
  • Approval of Minutes from previous meeting
  • Eric Bailey, Road & Bridge Report (gravel for Evergreen Cemetery)
  • Eric Bailey, Executive Session, KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual non elected personnel to protect their privacy
  • Jim Harris, Executive Session, KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy
  • Resolution 07-21 Bond Refinance
  • Jim Harris, Discussion regarding dates/times of commission meetings
  • Will Wallis, Magnitude of New Strain of Corona Virus
  • County Counselor
  • Public Comments
  • Commission Comments

Justifications for Executive Session:

          KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy

          KSA 75-4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

          KSA 75-4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

          KSA 75-4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships

          KSA 75-4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property

          KSA 75-4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.

Bourbon County Local News