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Osage County Senior Center: Come and enjoy fun and activities

September 21, 2023 Senior Center No comments

Hello from the Osage County Senior Center and Osage County Public Transportation – where things are happening!

The next Lunch Bunch will be to Four Corners on Sept. 22, leave at 10:30 a.m.

The ceramics class is up and going and it is $4 per class, with most supplies are furnished.

High Rollers is at 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons. Home Town Health Care is here to call quarter bingo every Tuesday at 10 a.m.; come and enjoy. The casino trip will be Sept. 25; call now and make your reservations.

Starting in September we are going to do shopping trips on the first and third Thursdays of the month, going to Topeka Walmart, Sam’s and Aldi’s. Riders will need to call the transportation department to make reservations. This will take place of using the transportation department on a daily basis for shopping trips and will allow us to better use the transportation for other trips and serve more clients. Herms Foot Care will be here at 9 a.m. Oct. 14; call them for an appointment.

Here at the senior center we are in need of donations of buttons and lace. If anyone has any they would like to donate we would love to have them. I am open to all suggestions for activities and or outings. Don’t forget that we rent out the center as a venue for events.

Come and enjoy the fun and activities with us at the Osage County Senior Center!

Thanks, Franny!
Franny Deters, Osage County Senior Center director

Filings in the Osage County Courthouse, Sept. 8 – Sept. 14, 2023

September 20, 2023 Wayne White

The following information was compiled Sept. 8 to Sept. 14, 2023, from records at the Osage County Courthouse, Lyndon, Kan.

MdCV hosts Marmaton Valley for 2023 homecoming Friday

September 20, 2023 Submitted No comments

Senior homecoming candidates, Olivia Lacey, Haylea Bethell, Corey Criss, and Deken Colyer. Lisa Reeser photo.

Marais des Cygnes Valley High School Homecoming will be Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. The Trojans face the Marmaton Valley Wildcats for this year’s homecoming game. Crowning ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m.; kick-off for the football game will be 7 p.m.

Freshman attendants are Landon Traver and Mady Rose; sophomore attendants are Kadence Masenthin and Hunter Masenthin; and junior attendants are Trey DeCavele and Izzy Steggs.

Senior homecoming queen candidates are Olivia Lacey and Haylea Bethell, and senior homecoming king candidates are Corey Criss and Deken Colyer.

Wilks celebrate 40th wedding anniversary

September 20, 2023 Submitted No comments

Ken and Sally (Kuykendall) Wilk, of Osage City, Kan., will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary with a card shower and family.

They were married on the family farm near Osage City, Sept. 24, 1983.

Their three children, Luke and Ellie (Wilk) Minnix, Scott City, Kan., Kurtis Wilk, Indianapolis, Ind., and Tracy Wilk, Omaha, Neb., along with their granddaughter, will join them in celebration.

Cards of congratulations can reach them at their home in Osage City, KS 66523.

Michael W. Parker, 69, Burlingame: July 12, 1954 – Sept. 17, 2023

September 20, 2023 Wayne White No comments

BURLINGAME, Kan. – Michael W. Parker, 69, of Burlingame, Kan., passed away Sept. 17, 2023. He was born July 12, 1954.

Graveside service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22, at Ramskill Chapel, Burlingame Cemetery, Burlingame. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, 503 S. Topeka Ave., Burlingame, KS 66413.

Kathleen ‘Kathy’ Ann Young, 71, Melvern: March 2, 1952 – Sept. 19, 2023

September 20, 2023 Wayne White No comments

MELVERN, Kan. – Kathleen “Kathy” Ann Young, 71, of Melvern, Kan., passed away after a five-year battle with pancreatic cancer on Sept. 19, 2023. Kathy was born March 2, 1952, in Topeka, Kan., to Vince Andre Young and Helen Mae Patterson.

Kathy owned and operated Kathy’s Kitchen, formerly Whistle Stop Cafe, in Melvern, for approximately 25 years.

Kathy graduated from Melvern High School in 1970 and the University of Hair Design Cosmetology School in 1971.

Osage County Jail Log, Sept. 10 – Sept. 16, 2023

September 18, 2023 Wayne White

The following individuals were booked into the Osage County Jail in connection with charges or warrants as listed by the arresting agency.

Apartments For Rent in Osage City: Dogwood Glen

September 18, 2023 Sponsor

Now Leasing! 2 and 3 bedroom ground level apartments at Dogwood Glen Apartments, located at 519 N. 12th St, Osage City. Rent is based off of household’s income. Central heating and cooling. Partial utilities paid. Maintenance provided. Laundry on site. Contact Heather today for an application at 785-528-3626. This establishment is an equal opportunity provider.

Sacred Heart Altar Society to host women’s retreat in Emporia

September 17, 2023 Submitted No comments

The Sacred Heart Altar Society, in Emporia, Kan., is sponsoring a women’s retreat. The society is inviting all women to attend the retreat 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in the Sacred Heart Parish Hall, 102 Exchange St., Emporia. The theme of the event is “Pig Wallows & Stardust.” A free will donation lunch will be provided. For reservations, RSVP to Paula Roper by Oct. 9 at 620-343-4088 or paularoper@att.net.

A Cowboy’s Faith: ‘Old’ farmer gives advice

September 17, 2023 Frank J. Buchman No comments

When a farmer’s wife previously provided advice, a number of readers men and women nodded in general agreement. It seems only fair to let the man of the farm share a lifetime of wisdom, give his two cents worth.

Again, unsolicited but received several times on the computer, here’s one “old” farmer’s tidbits for improved living:

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight, and bull-strong.
Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered – not yelled.
Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.
Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Every path has a few puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Bow-angler breaks 40-year state record for spotted gar

September 16, 2023 Submitted No comments

BIG HILL RESERVOIR, Kan. – A lucky bow-angler from Parsons, Kan., has officially broken a 40-year state record for spotted gar in Kansas. Michael Starr Jr. was fishing at Big Hill Reservoir, Labette County, in late July when he successfully reeled in a 34.5-inch spotted gar weighing 7.98 pounds.

Michael Starr Jr. shows his state record catch, a 34.5-inch, 7.98-pound spotted gar. KDWP photo.

The previous Kansas state record for spotted gar was held by bow-angler Charles Harbert, of Arma, when he caught a 33.5-inch, 7.75-lb spotted gar from the Chetopa Dam in 1983.

Spotted gar derive the name from trademark dark, round spots on the top and sides of its head. Most are less than 30 inches long, but like other gar species, it’s covered with a tough armor of thick, heavy scales. There are three native species of gar in Kansas. The spotted gar is the smallest and can be found in the southeastern part of the state.

How state records are set

Trophy catches such as these end up as a Kansas State Record if:

The fish is a species recognized on the current list of Kansas state record fish.
The fish is caught by a licensed angler using legal means.
The fish is identified by a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks district fisheries biologist or regional fisheries supervisor.
The fish is weighed on a certified scale prior to being frozen.
The fish is photographed, in color, and a state record application is filled out.
The mandatory 30-day waiting period has passed.

Help Wanted: Melvern Township seeks applicants for equipment operator

September 15, 2023 Sponsor

Melvern Township is taking applications for an equipment operator.

Recent experience and CDL preferred. 20-40 hours per week. Pay determined by experience.

Send resume to blakej10@hotmail.com or call Blake Jones at 620-341-2036.

Ms. Wheelchair Kansas named first runner-up at national competition

September 15, 2023 Submitted No comments

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – 2023 Ms. Wheelchair Kansas 2023, Daija Coleman, recently attended the Ms. Wheelchair America event, where she was named as first runner-up for the national title. Coleman joined 17 other women vying for the opportunity to represent women who are wheelchair mobile in the United States.

Ms. Wheelchair America 2024 first runner-up, Daija Coleman, of Atchison, Kan.

The annual event was held Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2023, hosted in Grand Rapids, Mich., at the Amway Grand Plaza. After an intense week of competition, networking, and empowerment, Coleman came away with the honor of being named first runner up in the pageant. She also gained memories, new leadership and advocacy tools, and a new sisterhood from across the nation.

Coleman, of Atchison, Kan., is the 19th woman to represent Kansas at the national competition since the creation of the Ms. Wheelchair Kansas organization in 2004. Coleman was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Kansas in March of 2023. Since receiving her title, she has worked to fulfill the Ms. Wheelchair Kansas mission, which is to educate, advocate, and empower all people on a state level. She has traveled and met Kansans of all ages, speaking to groups and participating in local events.

While at the national event, Coleman participated in two personal interview sessions, in which she was scored based on her accomplishments, self-perception, communication, and projection skills. She also gave a speech on her chosen platform, “Why Not Us? Why Not Now? Be an Advocate in Your Community,” and heard from speakers on a variety of topics related to leadership and advocacy.

Fall turkey season suspended in Kansas due to population declines

September 15, 2023 Submitted No comments

PRATT, Kan. – Beginning this fall, Kansas will have no fall turkey hunting season due to declining populations at state and regional levels. The decision was arrived at by members of the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission after hearing recommendations from staff over the course of four public meetings.

“We’ve documented consistent declines in turkey populations over the last 15 years largely due to reduced production levels,” said Kent Fricke, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks small game biologist. “These trends are not unique to Kansas. States across the Midwest and Southeast have experienced similar patterns in turkey populations.”

Though far fewer turkey hunters participate in the fall season than in the spring in Kansas, wildlife biologists said it remained an important component of overall harvest.

“The estimated statewide fall harvest of turkey was less than 500 birds in 2022,” said Fricke. “While this is a small proportion of the statewide population, fall harvest is an additive source of mortality for turkeys, especially when hens are harvested.”

Zion Lutheran Church celebrates its heritage with annual Germanfest

September 15, 2023 Submitted No comments

Zion Lutheran Church, Vassar, Kan., will celebrate its German heritage with a special event planned by members 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. The community event is open to the public.

Members of Zion Lutheran Church from left to right, Toni Wendling, Donna Silver and Larry Wendling dressed in authentic German attire for the church’s Germanfest celebration. Courtesy photo.

German bierocks, potato salad and strudel will be featured menu items during the event. Live polka music by “The Alpen Spielers” will be provided during the day with a beer garden touting authentic German beer. Hand-crafted items will be offered for sale by local vendors. Also, a children’s area with German themed activities will be available.

There is no admission charge at the celebration, which is held on the square block area to the west of Zion Lutheran Church in Vassar.

The church was formally organized almost 130 years ago in 1893 as “Die deutsche evangelishche lutherische Germeinde ungeaenderter Augsburgischer Knfession zu Vassar, Osage County, Kansas,” translated to English, “The German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of the unaltered Augsburg Confession.”

However, the beginnings of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church were in 1884. Several Lutheran families in the area of the not yet organized town of Vassar, which was platted in 1886, requested that the Lutheran minister Rev. F. Pennekamp from St. John’s Lutheran Church, in Topeka, Kan., come to preach God’s Word and baptize their children.

Osage City host citywide garage sales this weekend, Sept. 15-16

September 14, 2023 Wayne White No comments

Osage City citywide garage sales will be Sept. 15-16, 2023. The garage sales are hosted by the Osage City Chamber of Commerce, which distributes a map of the sales. Garage and yard sales offer a great opportunity to get rid of some of that stuff you never use and free up some space.

The area map provides a chart for the type of items at the garage sales and is available here. A paper copy of the map will be available at BP, Casey’s, City Hall, Osage City Public Library and White’s Foodliner starting Thursday, September 14. For more information, see Tricia Gundy at Peterson’s Assisted Living, 629 Holliday St., Osage City, or call 785-219-9727.

Osage County gets new bridge as part of federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

September 14, 2023 Wayne White No comments

An Osage County bridge will be among 35 bridges statewide to be rebuilt with revenue from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided Kansas a total of $42.3 million as part of two statewide bridge improvement programs.

The Osage County bridge is located two miles east and .2 miles north of Lyndon. The county’s local match amount will be $256,306 for the $1,175,000 project. The state will provide $1,112,500 maximum amount, and it is expected to cost $62,500 to remove the old bridge.

By reshaping the local bridge programs to take advantage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Kansas Department of Transportation more than doubled its annual funding as part of the existing Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE).

The project announcements took place in Dodge City to highlight the largest local bridge grant being awarded, which is expected to cost $9 million for the construction of a new northbound bridge on 14th Avenue over the Arkansas River. Dodge City is matching $2 million toward the cost of the new bridge.

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Off-System Bridge program is awarding $20.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025 funds to 20 projects across the state. The Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program is awarding $21.8 million in Fiscal Year 2024 KDOT funds to 15 projects, with 16 deficient bridges to be replaced and an additional 12 to be permanently removed from local systems.

The OSB and KLBIP are targeted for city and county bridges not on the state highway system and in need of replacement or repair. Funds for both programs are awarded through an application process and, in most cases, require a local contribution. KDOT uses selection criteria that include bridge condition, detour length, inability to carry legal loads, and past project history.

For this cycle of the local bridge programs, KDOT received a combined total of 176 applications requesting $162.4 million. A map showing bridges to be replaced is available here.

Information thanks to the Kansas Office of the Governor.

Osage County students named to SNHU president’s list

September 13, 2023 Submitted No comments

Southern New Hampshire University has announced two students from Osage County were named to the university’s Summer 2023 President’s List.

Tyler Smith, of Lyndon, Kan., and Sunie Thompson, of Osage City, Kan., were named to the list, which recognizes full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above.

SNHU is a private, nonprofit institution which offers undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs for traditional-aged students and working adults, online and on its campus in Manchester, N.H.

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