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Library presentation to celebrate women educators of Osage County

In honor of Women’s History Month, local historian Wendi Bevitt will bring to light stories of four women who had a passion for education, and impacted the youth of Osage City, Osage County, and beyond. Bevitt’s presentation will be 6 p.m. Thursday, March 30, 2023, at the Osage City Public Library

Bevitt uncovers history on the Great Plains daily through her business Buried Past Consulting. She lived in Osage County for 20 years and is passionate about the history of her adopted county.

March is celebrated as Women’s History Month to commemorate and encourage the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.

For more information, contact Jeanette Stromgren at 785-528-3727, or stop by the library at 515 Main St., Osage City, Kan.

Limited time only – Kansas Tobacco Quitline offers 8 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy

TOPEKA, Kan. – For the first time in the 20-year history of the Kansas Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, is offering all phone coaching enrollees eight weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy while supplies last.

Participants who are 18 years and older that want to quit smoking, vaping or chewing tobacco, and enroll in the phone coaching program, can choose a lozenge, gum, or patch that will be mailed directly to their home if they enroll by midnight on Sunday, April 30.

“We want all tobacco users to know that although quitting is hard, they can do it,” said Matthew Schrock, cessation coordinator. “Individuals who smoke often try to quit several times before succeeding, but proven treatments and services are available that can improve your chances to quit for good. We encourage all Kansans to try to quit, and if they want free help, take advantage of this opportunity.”

The Kansas Tobacco Quitline is a free, 24/7 resource available to Kansas residents to help them quit smoking. The Quitline provides help such as counseling, a personalized Quit Plan, and quitting support by phone and through online services. A survey of Quitline users highlighted that 90 percent of participants were satisfied with the Quitline coaches and counselors. The Quitline can be reached by calling 800-QUIT-NOW or 800-784-8669.

Willing Workers tour Osage City meat processing plant

Willing Workers 4-H Club visits Custom Meats, Osage City, front from left, Clara Thielen and Ruby Stucky, middle, Leila Wilcoxson, Jaiton Bosse, Mason Newman, Reese Newman, Hadley Bosse, Kassie Thielen, and Paige Thielen, back, Bo, Emilee Burkett, Avery Thielen, Claire Newman, Lena Stucky, Kaiden Bosse, Kevin Whitmer, and Gene Roberts. Courtesy photo.

By Avery Thielen, Club Reporter

On March 1, 2023, the Willing Workers 4-H Club went to Custom Meats, in Osage City, to learn how livestock are processed. The 4-Hers were given a tour of the Custom Meats facility by Gene Roberts, Emilee Burkett and employee Bo. Gene did a great job of entertaining the group while educating them on the steps of processing animals. Many of the 4-H members show livestock at the county fair. This tour helped them understand what happens to their animals after they sell them. Even members who do not show livestock found the tour to be informative. It is important that people understand where their meat comes from. Thank you Custom Meats for the tour.

Frontier Extension: Learn more about raising backyard poultry

Frontier Extension District will host an educational meeting about raising poultry, “Backyard Poultry 101,” at 7 p.m. March 30, 2023, at Garnett Community Building, Anderson County Fairgrounds, Garnett, Kan.

Dr. Scott Beyer, Kansas State Extension Poultry Nutrition and Management Specialist, will highlight many aspects of owning and raising poultry. He will discuss having a bio-security plan to protect birds from the highly pathogenic avian flu. Other topics will include poultry housing and management, selecting the best breeds for production, getting the most eggs from your flock, molting a flock, and vaccinations and health care.

With the demand for poultry products on the rise, it is a real treat to be able to grow your own broilers or eat fresh eggs. Fresh eggs are tastier than those purchased  from the grocery store and they are also great when used for baking.

For more information about the Backyard Poultry 101 meeting, contact Rod Schaub, Frontier Extension agent, at 785-828-4438 or email rschaub@ksu.edu.

Community Christian School schedules kindergarten round up for April

Community Christian School, of Overbrook, Kan., will hold its kindergarten round up Friday, April 21, 2023, in two sessions at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. that day.

The round up is for students who will be five years old by Dec. 31, 2023. Community Christian School meets at Grace Community Church, 310 E. Eighth St., Overbrook.

To register for the kindergarten round up or for more information about the school, visit CCSkansas.org.

Community Christian School is a new Christian school featuring small class sizes and a biblical curriculum.

Zion Lutheran youth serve up the spice for Lenten service

March 1, 2023, the Zion Youth Group served a freewill donation enchilada meal to congregation members before the Zion Lutheran Church’s Wednesday night Lenten service. The Vassar church’s youth group has begun fundraising to attend the National Youth Convention, in New Orleans, in the summer of 2025. Youth group members serving are, from left, Chase Silver, Reed Silver, Kiefer Haney, Allie Reeser, and Dylan Haney. Not pictured were Caleb Anschutz, Jensen Sturdy, and Bella Reeser. Photo thanks to Lisa Reeser.


St. David’s Society to present annual concert Sunday

The 135th St. David’s Concert will be 2:30 p.m. March 5, 2023, at Emporia Presbyterian Church West Campus, 1702 W. 15th Ave., Emporia, Kan. Being one of the oldest continuous celebrations in Kansas, the free Welsh concert is sponsored by the St. David’s Society of Kansas.

Always the heart of the concert, the St. David’s Chorus will open with the traditional song “We’ll Keep a Welcome”. Several other numbers will include song choruses sung in Welsh.

Eluned Jones will return to direct the St. David’s Choir and concert. Being originally from Wales, “The Land of Song,” her musical talent comes naturally. Jones will present one of the special solo numbers.

The concert includes a variety of artists sharing their talents on flute, harp, trumpet, and violin interspersed with vocal solos and a reading.

Opening remarks will be given by the St. David’s President Susan Evans Atchison. Rev. Gary Gooszen and Rev. Phyllis Stutzman will give the invocation and benediction. The concert will close with the singing of “God Be With You”.

Organist and pianist Travis Carmichael will set the tone with a medley of Welsh music for the prelude.

St. David’s Society officers for 2023-24 are president, Linda Orear, vice president, Mi’Chielle Cooper, secretary, Deb Childears, and treasurer, Rhonda Gordon.

Following the concert, a reception featuring bara brith and tea will be served in the Fellowship Hall. An elevator is available in the vestibule.

Judge Wine swears in McWilliams as new Osage County Clerk

Osage County Chief Judge Taylor Wine, left, swore in Julie McWilliams, center, as the new Osage County Clerk, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. McWilliams was nominated to the position by the Osage County Republican Central Committee, represented at the swearing in by Dana Webber, OCRCC chairman. McWilliams will fill the unexpired term of longtime Osage County Clerk Rhonda Beets, whose resignation was effective Feb. 20. Courtesy photo.


Historical society plans workshop to gather Melvern Lake stories

Melvern Lake control tower. File photo.

The Osage County Historical Society will host a story gatherers workshop 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday,  March 4, 2023, at Melvern Community Center, 102 NE Main St., Melvern, Kan. The workshop is free to the public.

The workshop is being offered as a part of the “Melvern Lake: Citizens’ Stories” project. The goal of the project is to document and share the Melvern Lake experience from the perspective of Osage County residents.

Osage County Historical Society’s programing director, Lynsay Flory, will lead the workshop, and county archivist Ann Rogers will be available to scan and return any Melvern Lake related images or documents that participants would like to have digitized.

Participants will learn techniques on gathering historical stories from friends and family, receive instruction on using the Storycorp App, and leave equipped with sample questions and knowledge on how to conduct at-home interviews.

This workshop is sponsored in part by OCHS and Humanities Kansas. For more information, contact the historical society at 785-828-3477 or email osagecohistory@gmail.com.

Melvern Jr. Highline attends 4-H Day with K-State Women’s Basketball

By Bella Reeser, Club Reporter

On Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, Melvern Jr. Highline 4-H Club members attended 4-H Day with K-State Women’s Basketball, at Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, Kan. With their admission fee, club members and their families enjoyed the KSU vs. Oklahoma women’s basketball game, free T-shirts, and a $10 food ticket. Club members in attendance were Bella Reeser, Braelyn McNally, Harper Melton, Landon Roy, and Gradey McNally.


Overbrook Overlook: Happy New Year, happy new water system

The city of Overbrook will be starting the year with a new water system for the entire city.

In an announcement by Overbrook Mayor Jon Brady to citizens, he said, “2022 brought many challenges for you and the city and we appreciate your understanding during the construction phase of the project. The warranty period will begin for the project after we complete the USDA Rural development project requirements. Many of you have contacted the city with concerns about the project. We have logged these concerns and the contractor has addressed some of them and will be addressing the remaining concerns. We expect grass seeding and lawn repair to begin in the spring. If you have concerns and have not contacted the city please let me know as soon as possible to help us ensure we get them addressed.”  For more information about the water project, see https://overbrookks.com/water-distribution-project.

Overbrook Police Department has taken several reports of mail theft and is reminding citizens to keep a close eye on package deliveries. Also as a reminder, the police department offers jump starting and car lockout services to citizens. Call 785-665-7230 for either of these services.

Willing Workers enjoy fantastic foods

Willing Workers 4-H Club members enjoy pancakes after learning how to make them, left, Clare Newman, Kassie Thielen, Avery Thielen, Jack Ferrer, Ruby Stucky, Mason Newman, right, Leila Wilcoxson, Charlotte Ferrer, Paige Thielen, Clara Thielen, Lena Stucky, and Reese Wilcoxson. Courtesy photo.


By Avery Thielen
Club Reporter

The Willing Workers 4-H Club is always keen to learn about new types of food. Every month the club gets together for a meeting hosted by Pam Whitmer. Unlike monthly meetings held for all members, she teaches members in the cooking project how to cook certain foods and baked goods.

The last cooking meeting was Jan. 29, 2023, at the Osage City Lutheran Church, where the members learned how to make pancakes from scratch. The 4-Hers always have a fun time learning new forms of cooking.


KDHE issues stream advisory for Marais des Cygnes River near Osawatomie

Residents and animals should not enter the water at this time

TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a stream advisory for the Marais des Cygnes River near Osawatomie, Kan. The stream advisory is a result of an ongoing inflow and infiltration issue near the city of Osawatomie’s wastewater treatment plant.

The advisory has been issued because potential elevated bacteria and contaminants may be present in the Marais des Cygnes River near the city. Anyone who lives or has activities near this stream is advised to not enter the water or allow children or pets to enter.

KDHE will rescind the advisory once flows recede and subsequent bacteria testing indicates secondary contact, such as wading, has been deemed safe.

For more information, contact Andrew Burkhart, City of Osawatomie, at 785-760-7237.

Information thanks to KDHE.

Marais des Cygnes Valley High School crowns 2023 Queen of Courts

Marais des Cygnes Valley High School 2023 Queen of Courts royalty, front from left, Ryder Naber and Izel Traver, middle, Gracen Stahl, Kyla Vogeler, Queen Madison Cormode, Olivia Lacey, and Evie Stephens, back, Katie Parker, Jayden McClintic, Isaac Hockett, King Joey Del Percio, Mason Rose, Dallen Flatin, and Max Davis. Photo by Lisa Reeser.

Marais des Cygnes Valley High School crowned seniors Madison Cormode and Joey Del Percio as 2023 MdCV High School Queen of Courts queen and king during last Friday’s basketball game. 2022 King Max Davis and Queen Katie Parker, and kindergarten attendants Izel Traver and Ryder Naber, assisted with the crowning ceremony during halftime of the boys game against Cair Paravel.

Parishioners transform dance hall into soup luncheonette

St. Patrick’s of Scranton is hosting a soup luncheon Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, which is the day after its seventh annual public Daddy Daughter Dance.

For the daddy daughter dance, St Patrick’s volunteers transform the inside of the Carbondale ELM building, 228 Main St., Carbondale, into a beautiful atmosphere with themed decorations and special lighting. This year, the parish decided to share the special decorations by hosting a soup luncheon the following day in the same location. The party-themed community hall will have decorated dining tables, soft lighting, a photo booth, and many genres of music for dancing.

The soup luncheon will be 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19. Offered for lunch will be diners’ choice of chicken noodle, ham and beans, or vegetarian potato soup, along with cornbread, crackers, cookies, and a drink; all for a freewill donation to the St Patrick’s Scranton Building Fund.

For more information about the luncheon, call 785-640-7262.

Reesers celebrate 50th wedding anniversary

James and Judy (Fitzhugh) Reeser, Lyndon, Kan., were united in marriage Jan. 27, 1973, in Little Rock, Ark.

Jim and Judy Reeser

Jim is the son of the late Jack and Genevieve Reeser. He grew up in the Olivet and Melvern communities and graduated from Melvern High School in 1967. He attended Emporia State University and then joined the United States Air Force, which took him worldwide and brought him to Little Rock, where he met his future wife. They were wed and moved back to Lyndon to be near his parents.

After 38 years of working at the Goodyear Tire plant, in 2007, Jim retired. Jim now spends his time fiddling with his antique gas engines, hunting and fishing with his son Tim, and spending time with his grandkids.

Judy is the daughter of the late Walter and Ellie Mae Fitzhugh. She grew up in Lonoke, Ark., and graduated from Lonoke High School in 1966.

Judy was a homemaker for several years until deciding to return to school and become an LPN. In 2011, after 17 years of working as an LPN, she joined Jim in retirement. Judy now spends her time working in her flowerbeds and garden and helping care for her grandkids.

After 50 amazing years of marriage, they reside in Lyndon. Their daughter Kristie, her spouse, Katie Schmidt, and their children, Bethanie and Dawson; son, Tim and his wife, Lisa, and their daughters, Allison and Isabella, wish them all the happiness on their anniversary and many more.

Anniversary wishes can be sent to Jim and Judy Reeser, 603 E. Eighth St. Lyndon, KS 66451.

KHS virtual program features Osage County’s famous paleontologist Barnum Brown

T. Rex portrayed at the Journey Museum and Learning Center, Rapid City, S.D. File photo.

In the dust of the Gilded Age Bone Wars, two men emerged with a mission to fill the empty halls of the American Museum of Natural History. Kansas-born paleontologist Barnum Brown was one of these men. Brown helped bring dinosaurs into popular culture through a life of fossil hunting, and, when he unearthed the first T. Rex fossil, he forever changed the world of paleontology.

The Kansas Historical Society’s Virtual Museum After Hours program for this month, which will be online 6:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, has a unique connection to Osage County, centering on the contributions of paleontologist Brown. Brown first became interested in fossils as a child growing up outside of Carbondale, Kan.

In the program “In The Monster’s Bones: How the Discovery of T. Rex Changed Our Culture,” David K. Randall reveals how a monster of a bygone era ignited a new understanding of our planet and our place within it.

KHS is offering two ways to view the program, through You Tube or Zoom.

Young Lyndon auctioneer wins auctioneers association newcomer scholarship

An up and coming auctioneer from Lyndon was named as the recipient of the Kansas Auctioneers Association’s New Auctioneer Scholarship. Cole Pitts, Lyndon, Kan., was presented the award at the association’s annual winter convention, held Jan. 20-22, 2023, at Salina, Kan. Pitts also competed in the association’s rookie contest, in which he took second place.

Pitts received a $175 scholarship toward auctioneer school. He is a junior at Osage City High School, and started in the auction business with Wischropp Auctions and continues to work with them.

Elvan Schrock, of Haven, Kan., was named as champion of the rookie competition. The association also held its first ringman championship competition during this year’s convention, with JB Robison Jr., Owasso, Okla., winning the championship.

The Kansas Auctioneers Association is a trade association whose members abide by its constitution and strict code of ethics. The association is dedicated to the promotion, advancement, protection of the auction profession.

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