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NEVADA T H E

M A G A Z I N E

Featuring Vernon County’s People and Towns

BIRTHRIGHT THROUGH the

Kitchen Door

4-H

Hall of Fame Vol. #2 ISSUE 5

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2014

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$3.99

Parks and Your Health Did you know living close to a park, woods or other green space could improve your mental and physical health? Evidence indicates close proximity to green spaces is associated with less depression, anxiety, and other health problems. The relationship seems strongest for children and people with low incomes. People who live closest to green spaces also seem to benefit the most. There are several reasons why. Most of us use green spaces for walking, jogging, or just for relaxing, all of which are good for our health. Those who live near green areas tend to be more physically active, slimmer, less stressed, have fewer mental health problems, and function better socially.

Fortunately for the citizens in this community, one of Nevada’s ten parks is in close proximity.

Each boasts its own trait but they all share the ability to improve mental and physical health.

The Nevada Parks and Recreation Department is committed to enhancing our green spaces and recently began transformation of the Twin Lakes Sports Complex by planting a variety of trees to offer shade and beautification. A portion of the funding for this project was made available through the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance Program.

Do something good for your health and get out and enjoy your local parks!

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Shrimplin’s guitar, drum playing spanned locales and eras.

By Gloria Tucker

You have to know the guitar in order to play it.” Marion Shrimplin, 83, firmly declares this philosophy. He spent more than 60 years getting to know the instrument as he performed all around Kansas and Missouri.

“I was born and bred in Moundville,” Shrimplin said. “My dad was a comical guy and he sang a song called ‘The Preacher and the Bear.’ The very first time I performed was at the annual Moundville picnic talent show. I sang ‘The Preacher and the Bear’ unaccompanied and won first place.”

He said his love of music led him to order a blond Kay guitar at the age of 19. “When I got it in 1951, my dad said, ‘I hope you learn to play it,’“ he recalled. “I told him I would, and he told me he had a depot agent in Milo that could help me learn.” Loyd Ford taught him chords and a little theory, and the rest is history.

“All the little schools around here had pie suppers,” he said. “They wanted someone to entertain, so we’d go and play a little show for them.

The first dance I played for with an organized band was the Chat and Chew. I don’t think the band had a name but Bud Claflin played guitar, Trudy Claflin played piano, Dean Whitworth played steel guitar and John Dahl played fiddle. We went to work at 8 p.m. and finished at 1:30 a.m.”

The Chat and Chew, a sale barn, restaurant and dance hall in Nevada, saw a lot of Shrimplin as did Nevada’s 54 Supper Club where he became house drummer.

“The band said we don’t need another guitar, we need a drummer,” he said. “I borrowed drums from a kid I worked with at the supermarket and started playing. The guys would tell me what they wanted to play, and I would figure it out.”

After performing at the club for two or three years, he met Jim Davis. Davis, a former saxophone player for the Louie Kinman band, hired Shrimplin to perform with bands in need of a drummer, including Gordon Elliott.

“I played with Gordon Elliott’s band for years,” he said. “We played all the way from El Dorado, to Iola, Kan. One night, at the last tune and last dance, Elliot picked up his trombone to play and went uhn! It wouldn’t budge,” he said and laughed. “This drunk lady had fell into horn, knocked it off the stage and smashed it together, so the show really had to end.”

In the 1960s, Shrimplin formed his own band, the Blue Blazes, to play rock and roll.

“I worked for Henry Kraft Mercantile as a salesman and went calling on the bus depot in town,” he said. “I saw this guitar sitting in the corner

and asked who it belonged to. Riley Dawson said, ‘It’s mine.’ I said, ‘OK, buddy, pick it up and play your hot stuff.’ He finger picked ‘Girl from Ipanema,’ which just knocked me off the seat. Riley Dawson, Jerry Leonard, Gene Williams and I made the band.”

Dawson’s mother owned the nightclub Happy Hollow in Nevada, and the band played and practiced many a night there over the next five years.

After the band broke up, Shrimplin visited the jail while working for Kraft and noticed an electric piano.

“Larry Tool said he played a little piano, and I asked if he wanted to be in a band,” he said. “He asked if I had a band, and I said, ‘Not yet, but I’m going to get one,’ Larry Tool on piano, Bob Schibrel on trumpet and Bob Prewitt on drums with me on guitar became the Forefathers.”

Shrimplin traveled the area playing pop music with the Forefathers for another five years. Afterwards taking jobs as they came, he played classic rock, pop and country music in Nevada and Fort Scott for the next 30 years.

Two years ago, the Missouri House of Representatives awarded Shrimplin a proclamation expressing their esteem for his distinction as a musician in Vernon County and applauding his achievements in and contributions to the area.

The proclamation honored him for becoming a musical fixture at the Vernon County senior center for decades and Buck Run Community Center in Fort Scott.

“Well, when I got old, and I hate old people, I started playing at nursing homes and senior centers,” he said with a smile. “I was playing with a band called the Crazy Eight at a nursing home, and I saw some hubbub. I could tell this one gal was bouncing around to the music. When we finished, I asked what happened, and they said she wanted to dance. It was the first time she’d been out of that wheelchair for about two or three years. There’s joy in that.”

He credited his long years of performing to that joy and the kind of joy in the audience’s reaction.

“I still get butterflies in my tummy when it’s time to go on,” he added.

“You have to know the guitar in order to play it.”

NEVADA the MAGAZINE

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M A G A Z I N E

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Nevada The Magazine is printed six times a year. All contents copyright 2014 by Rust MOKS, LLC. All rights reserved.

Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents, without prior written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

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FEATURES TRAVELING MUSICIAN Marion Shrimplin .............................................. 3

THROUGH THE KITCHEN DOOR with Katherine Young........................................ 6

ME, MY SHELF & I Book Chat............................................................ 8

RUSSIAN TRIP Betty & Bob Garton......................................... 10

4-H EXPERIENCE

6

Neal & Connie Gerster................................... 13

NEVADA SCENE Facetime in Nevada ....................................... 12

BIRTHRIGHT Fliling a need.................................................... 14

THE COVER

NEVADA Featuring Vernon County’s People and Towns

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BIRTHRIGHT THROUGH the

Kitchen Door

4-H

Hall of Fame Vol. #2 ISSUE 5

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2014

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$3.99

“Tour of Nevada II,” a bicycle racing criterium, which is a short course race typically one mile in length, returned to Nevada in July. The event drew racers from across the region.

Cover photo by Floyd Jernigan

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NEVADA the MAGAZINE

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Through the

KITCHEN DOOR . . .

...and into the kitchen of

Katherine Young Story and photos by Martha Meinsen Scott

Katherine Young mixes food with organizational memberships Katherine Young’s love of cooking goes back to when she was 12 and lived with her mother.

She would often cook dinner. She always liked to eat and so she thought she needed to learn to cook!

In addition to loving to eat and cook, she said she likes to entertain. Katherine admitted to finding that part of cooking more enjoyable.

“Presentation is one of the most important parts of entertaining,” Katherine said. “A pretty plate, a pretty table, make for a more enjoyable meal.”

She laughs when she admits that she does collect cookbooks. Her first mother-in-law gave her the “Good Housekeeping Cookbook of 1942” (1956 edition) and she still refers to this book. She learned a lot from “The Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook” because their pictures made instructions so much more clear, she said.

Of course, some of her most treasured cookbooks are the ones from The Thalias Tasting Tour.

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Katherine is a native Nevadan and her daughter Terri lives in Deerfield, owns the Magic Mirror Hair Designs, and also raises turkeys for Butterball.

If you hear gobbling from Deerfield way, it may be Terri’s 13,800 turkeys that she’s raising. Her other daughter, Kathy, is deaf, but she hasn’t let that stop her. She’s worked at Garmin in Kansas City for 15 years.

Stephanie and Zachary, Katherine’s grandchildren, are the apple of her eye and she has four greats to boot — two boys and two girls. She said she feels fortunate to have both Terri and her friends here.

Katherine laughed and said, “I’m not organized but I am an organizational lady.”

Her charter memberships are in the Nevada Garden Club, the Four Season Master Gardeners, the Eta Theta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, the Thalias MFWC, the Nevada Readers Book Club and the Show-Me Lunch Bunch.

She also has memberships in Chapter KK of P.E.O., Delta Kappa Gamma Honorary Teachers Chapter, and the Valley Hi Plus Two Lunch Group, all of which keep her busy as well.

Her love of entertaining comes to the forefront whenever the Thalias host their tasting tour. “We’re starting to plan for 2015,” Katherine said. “I have been the chairperson on several of the homes throughout the years,” she added.

“The tickets are limited and sell out quickly.”

Katherine said she is proud that the money raised through the tasting tour goes back into various projects in the local community. “And all of the food is made by the Thalias. It is a fun and worthwhile project.”

One of the most fun events Katherine planned this year was the lunch for the Show Me Lunch Bunch, she said. She arranged with her grandson (who has a stretch limo) to take the girls to Hume, Mo., to the restaurant “sisters.”

She giggled as she recalled about passers-by wondering who might be in that limo, thinking what famous person might be passing through Hume, Mo. And it’s really only a group of Nevada women having lunch.

Eating out, whether by herself or with a group, is always fun for Katherine, she said. However, since a lot of women won’t eat out alone, she arranged with the Nevada Country Club for a First Friday for Singles where there is always someone to have a drink with or dinner or both.

Katherine said she also enjoys going to the city and will go to a nice restaurant by herself for a meal. Her favorites include the Bristol, the American (where a former student’s son is the pastry chef), and EBT. She usually orders fish or seafood out, for she rarely cooks it for herself at home.

Katherine said she loves dishes and a favorite set is Franciscan Dessert Rose which her mother gave her, plus she has her wedding china, a set of Christmas dishes, another set of dishes with two leaves (“which is perfect for autumn entertaining,” she said) which came from King’s Jewelry Store in Nevada, Mo., and Royal Doulton’s real old Blue Willow, which her mother also started for her.

Pretty food needs to be put on pretty dishes, she said. The table setting is as important as the food. In addition to luncheons, she enjoys having friends over for cocktails.

A meal at Katherine’s always includes a menu and a perfectly set table. The deviled crab recipe that she’s sharing she got years and years ago. When her daughter got married, it was served at the bridesmaid lunch by hostess Lois Crow. Katherine uses it a lot for “girls” luncheons. She especially loves serving it from the scallop shells, she said, “although you don’t have to do that.”

Katherine didn’t just share the deviled crab recipe, but made a whole luncheon worthy of special friends getting together for KATHERINE’S DEVILED CR AB food and chat.

1/4 cup butter (1/2 sti ck) 1/2 t. horseradish She called it “A Last Rose 2 T. flour (she uses Wo 2 minced hard cooked egg ndra) 1 t. salt (or less) s of Summer” luncheon (for 1 T. snipped parsley 1/2 c. fresh bread crumbs 1 c. milRk o s e it was served on her Dessert 2 t. lemon juice 2 T. melted butter 1 can (6 ounces) crab me china).

1 t. prepared mustard at, drained

Preheat the oven to 45 0. In double boiler, melt 1/4 c. butter, stir in flou mustard, horseradish , salt. Slowly stir in mil r, then parsley, lemon juic k. Cook stirring, until e, meat and eggs. thickened. Carefully ad d crab Fill six scallop shells (or ind Bake, uncovered, 10 min ividual baking dishes). Sprinkle with crumbs combined with 2 T. butt utes. er.

NEVADA the MAGAZINE

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THE CONFIDENCE CODE: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance –What Women Should Know

by Katty Kay & Claire Shipman

By Jodi L. Polk, Director Nevada Public Library

We all think we know a confident person when we see one. It’s the guy who speaks up at the office meeting, or maybe it’s your friend who always seems so sure of her opinions.

When I started reading this book, I assumed this was confidence.

It’s an attitude, a mindset, it is poise. And there was something about it that felt pretty foreign to me, after all, I am a “timid librarian.”

On the other hand, I am also a business woman. I carry out the duties of an executive; I lead board meetings, balance a budget, and interact with sales representatives every day. But what I discovered while reading this “must-read-book-for-business-women,” was that my assessment of what this foreign quality is, was simply off track.

In “The Confidence Code,” Kay and Shipman train an eye on an unspoken problem among women at all levels of achievement — nagging self-doubt. The pair embark on an engrossing trek through interviews with an array of successful women and seek the counsel of behavioral experts.

Throughout their exploration of the anatomy of a winning attitude, the authors never quite put their fingers on what, exactly, women need to do to unlock the code, or whether it’s even worth unlocking.

While Kay and Shipman’s encouraging words are helpful in breaking negative thought patterns, I felt more assured by the many examples of successful women who have struggled to do just that.

“Confidence isn’t about throwing your weight around or talking over people or always being the first to jump in. Confidence isn’t an attitude at all. You know that old expression about something being all in your head? Well, when it comes to confidence the opposite is true.”

Having confidence is taking action. We all want to do or at least try certain things, but we may fear they are just beyond our reach, and worry about failing.

Those nerves are normal – we all have them. The difference between a confident person and an unconfident person is simply that the confident person acts on their ambitions and desires, and they don’t let that fear of failure hold them back.

The notion of confidence as action is an encouraging cycle. The more we act, the more our confidence grows. We try something, and the next time round we feel a little bit easier about trying it again.

Even if we fail we have learned something valuable -- that taking the risk of trying didn’t destroy us. That is useful, confidencebuilding knowledge.

The authors wrap up their research, and conclude that confidence is life’s enabler – it is the quality that turns thoughts into action.

I recommend this book to all women. It is one of those business books that will not only help your career, but could inspire your life. www.confidencecode.com

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|9

RUSSIAN TRIP Dispels Notions, Reveals History & People

By Neoma Foreman

Bob and Betty Garton stand by the St. Basil Cathedral in Red Square

“Russia is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.”

Said Winston Churchill, in a 1939 radio interview, when questioned about what role Russia might play in World War II.

The quote by Churchill might well sum up why Betty and Bob Garton chose to go to Russia on July 19, 2014.

Betty said, “When I was a child we were taught in school to fear the Russians. My world history teacher spoke daily about the threat Russia played to our civilization. She predicted the take-over of Cuba by communism. And she was right about that. However, I became absorbed with anything Russian. I wanted to know what was true and what wasn’t.”

About four or five years ago, Bob and Betty went on a Viking River Cruise to France. They were on Liberty Square during what the hoopla on television said was a riot. “It was nothing,” Betty said. “So I knew Viking wouldn’t take us anywhere that wasn’t safe. When I saw they were offering a trip to Russia, we decided to go.

People worried for our safety, but the Ukraine and Crimea were far from the area we were going.”

In preparation for the trip, they read several books on Russian history, one being 700 pages.

Another one was a novel, “Madonna’s of Leningrad,” but it showed life in Russia.

They flew out of Kansas City in July and eventually landed in St. Petersburg where they boarded their cruise ship. They sailed the rivers Neva and Volga, staying on the boat all the time so there was no worry about luggage removal or moving to a new room. They stopped at places along the river and six big buses took them on trips throughout Russia. They had a Russian tour guide on each of the buses, and others gave lectures while they sailed. Four days were spent in St. Petersburg.

“I had to get out in the middle of St. Petersburg Square to believe I was really there. It was 10 | NEVADA the MAGAZINE

a feeling that is hard to explain. Bob and I never felt unsafe. The best part of the trip was interacting with the Russian people and learning what they thought about their way of life. They also told us what they thought about people from the USA.” They wound up in Moscow for about four days.

“A friend and I spent a day in the city and didn’t have any problems at all. The subway is clean, well lighted, and has either icons or statues in each. Our country could take a lesson from the cleanliness there. One of their shopping malls was built underground. The Gum Department Store had some high-priced contents so there are some rich people in Russia. In fact, one source said there are more billionaires living in Moscow than in any other city in the world.”

Moscow has a population of 10.5 million and is the largest city in Europe. Its population is expected to rise to 16 million by 2020. ������������������������������������������ Betty explained, “On Dec. 25, 1991 the Soviet Union ceased to exist and communism ended. Boris Yeltsin took over. No one had prepared for communism to end and a supply and demand market to begin. There was rationing, inflation, shortages and life was very difficult. There were lots of suicides.

“People had savings in banks, but the banks closed. The people never got back all they saved.

1998 was the worst year. I never heard any of that on television. The government gave the people the places where they lived and 10,000 rubles equaled to $300 today. The majority of the Russian people had never had to think for themselves. They did not know how to manage money.

Scammers called oligarchs came in and offered to help the people invest their money.

They took the money, made billions and left.

The people now owned their apartments (over 80% live in apartments) but they had no money for maintenance or food.

“We asked the Russian guide how the people survived in the 1990s.” He answered, “Some didn’t.”

“Yelstin was hated. They said he was drunk all the time. He resigned, and Vladimir Putin came in.

“Life is getting better for the Russians, but if you asked some of the people today—the elderly and military — would like to go back to communism. The young people like their freedom, and the middle age people are about 50/50.”

They visited the home of a Russian lady and shared that she was very proud of her home. The house was built about 60 years ago and rooms had been added which resulted in the floors not being the same height. The entire back yard was a garden for flowers and vegetables.

The woman had a flat screen television and a second TV, Betty recalled. She and her family worked for a company that had cows and butchered meat and made cheese to package and sell.

“She said this company had Angus cattle.

The lady served snacks of cucumbers sliced the long way, pickles, and home-made brown bread.

The dessert was called pie, but it was cake with fruit in it. She also served home-made vodka.”

Betty said she made sure she didn’t take much because it is considered rude if you don’t eat or drink all you have, but the swallow she took about set her on fire!

“One of the things that surprised me was going to Russia and seeing and hearing so much

The inside palace of Catherine the Great prompted one guide to say they were not resentful of all the gold used on the palaces, but “it was pride in their country.”

about religion. Russian Orthodox is the major religion. Stalin destroyed 50 percent of the churches but there are still many beautiful ones. I love the onion domes. The churches have icons — paintings of religious people on wood, decorated with gold or copper that is painted gold.

“Frescoes are paintings (murals) on wet cement. Many are 400 years old. There are no pews or seats as people stand for the services, which can last three hours or more.

“Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour holds 5,000 people and is the tallest Eastern Orthodox Christian church in the world. Five churches inside the Kremlin were built in the 1500s and used by the Tsars for coronation and baptisms.

“The Kremlin was not at all what I had pictured. There was no military to be seen. There were beautiful gardens at Putin’s office building.”

After actually setting foot on Russian soil and interacting with the people, what did Betty and Bob learn?

One Russian whose parents live in Crimea said he worries about them and calls them every day. He said the Crimeans were Russians.

They want to be Russians and Russia wants them. Other countries need to leave them alone, he told Betty. He said the Ukraine was a different story, but didn’t elaborate except the American people should believe only 50 percent of what their government tells them.

“The Russian news on some channels is censored, but Russian people have television and can watch whatever channel they wish, have Internet access and can read anything or talk to anyone they want.”

Betty summed it up. “I love the United States. I want to believe that the Russians no longer wish to bury us as Mikhail Gorbachev said. I pray for peace, and I pray the United States will not be misled.”

It could be that by visits such as this, Betty and Bob have opened a venue for friendship between the Americans and Russians. It’s hard to bury a friend.

Frescoes are murals painted on wet cement. Icons are religious portraits painted on wood, decorated with tin or copper, and gilded with gold.

The Hermitage has more art exhibits than any other museum in the world.

“The architecture is so beautiful you forget to look at the art.” The art museum hauled out nine train loads of art work during World War II and hid them in caves so they wouldn’t be ruined.

There are two churches here. One is the 22-domed Transfiguration Church and the other is the 9-domed Intercession Church. They are on the Island of Kizhi in Lake Onega. The churches date back to at least the 15th century. Both churches are said to have been crafted without the use of a single nail. Legend goes that the unknown builder destroyed his axe upon completion of the Transfiguration Church, with the words: “There was not — and will not be — another one to match it.”

Entering a Russian home has to go through the back door as there was no front one.

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THE

Nevada SCENE

The Aquatic Center was a hub of activity during the National Night Out activities in Nevanda.

Vernon County Youth Fair Queen Cydnee Piper visits with Kim Robertson, marketing director for Medicalodges of Nevada, during the Chamber’s monthly luncheon, held Friday at the fairgrounds.

The City of Nevada hosted a reception for Chief W. Graham Burnley to mark his 40 years in law enforcement. Pictured are City Clerk Bev Baker, Chief Burnley, Will Tollerton and Whitney Mowry at right.

Nevada Regional Medical Center hosted a meet and greet to introduce its new chief executive officer, Kevin Leeper, and his wife, Marla, in the hospital mezzanine. Pictured are from left, Kevin Leeper, Heather Brockmeyer, and Steve Russ.

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The Nevada community came out in force to welcome new Cottey College students and their families. Bill Koons with ABK Hearing Centers talks with new Cottey student Amy Jernigan while Marvin Davison with Davison Shoes and Verco Sporting Goods in the next booth answers a question.

Reflecting on the 4-H experience:

Neal & Connie Gerster

By Floyd Jernigan

How long have you been in 4-H and how did you get started with your involvement?

“I joined 4-H when I was 5 as a junior member. Instead of Clover Kids, they were junior members back then. I joined Schell City 4-H, the same one I’m in today. Our meetings were held in an old schoolhouse. Since I’ve been in our 4-H, we have held meetings in four different schoolhouses and the community building. Connie joined when she married me.”

Why is 4-H important?

“4-H is a great club for kids to learn many skills for their life.”

List three of your most memorable 4-H moments

“The Youth Fair every year would be one. I was on the dairy judging team that went to Columbia. As leader, being the swine chairman for the Youth Fair.”

As a couple, what unique experiences have you shared and what do you enjoy most about your involvement?

“Our grandkids and their projects... The fact that we take the pigs to the state fair and show them. That’s what we call our vacation.”

Work experience

“Mostly at the Youth Fair... I’m a leader in the club; we do community service projects.”

Education

Hometown

“Schell City, that’s where I went to school. My wife went to Walker.”

Family members

Daughter Yalonda Conner, son Jason Gerster, daughter Lamai Hill, grandkids Karliegh Conner, Makinsey Conner, Logan Conner, Kiley Gerster, Makena Gerster, Acara Hill and Pielin Hill

Interests, hobbies

4-H, grandkids and sports

Professional work background

“Vernon County Commissioner, I serve on a lot of boards, Fair Haven park board, Harwood park board, Extension Council member, West Central board member, Transportation Advisory Committee member, chairman of the board at the Schell City Christian Church.”

Notable achievements, awards, and recognition

“We were the Vernon County Farm Family at the state fair several years ago. Both of us have won the Leader of the Year at the 4-H leaders’ recognition two or three times. We received honorary chapter member status for NEVC, and were inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame this year.”

Church affiliation

Members of Schell City Christian Church

High school education

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BIRTHRIGHT Filling a Need for Women

Volunteers Ginger McMasters, Ruth Ann Painter & Rachel Middendorf

• A young mother of a 2-week-old finds herself without formula and feeds the infant water out of desperation.

• A mother with several children runs out of diapers and is filled with grief.

• A woman is laid off because of her pregnancy, and has nowhere to turn.

By Gloria Tucker

For such as these, Rachel Middendorf led the effort to start Birthright on the corner of Cedar and Hunter last year.

Free and confidential, Birthright offers pregnancy testing, counseling, children’s clothing, maternity clothing, emergency diapers and layette baskets.

“We helped the mother of the 2-week-old get some formula, and I just thought, ‘What would they have done if we weren’t here?’” she said. “I’m so glad we were here just to bridge the gap, just for that moment.”

Middendorf moved to Nevada from Kansas City three years ago and said she could see the need for the service in the community.

“I had no idea I would be doing this,” she said. “I have no background in psychology or counseling. There is just a massive need in the community, but there was no resource like this in this town. Wherever there are people, we need this. It’s been true; we’ve have had 275 girls since our opening.”

Ruth Ann Painter, president of the Birthright board of directors, said she first learned of Middendorf’s desire to bring the service to Nevada at a woman’s Bible study.

“We go back to that beginning desire to help,” Painter said. “When things were coming together last year, I joined the board. I was a special education teacher for seven years in the middle school, and now I am the process coordinator for special services for the district. I’m in the school system, and I have contact with kids from preschool up. There are a lot of girls in crisis pregnancies that need support, that maybe get some support at home, but not all they need.”

Middendorf said the agency is really a listening service. “We listen actively,” she said. “We spend our whole day just asking questions and trying to get the girls to think their problems through. “We try to listen to what their needs are — what they say and don’t say — and hook them up with the right resource so they can flourish.”

The mother who came in search of diapers, left with much more than that.

“We had the most wonderful conversation,” she said. “She got to share a bit of her heart with me about previously losing a child. She was still so heartbroken, though it was four children ago.

“She cried and I cried, and she just left in better spirit than when she came. I think that’s part of the reason why we are here too. It’s so massively big what we do and so massively small.”

She said the main purpose of Birthright is to make the choice of birth versus abortion a viable option for new mothers. “A lot of times, the reason why people would want to end a pregnancy is they feel alone,” she said.

“We try to take that out of the equation, so they can make a balanced decision instead of an emotional decision.

“Being pregnant and being a new mom is possibly one of the most challenging times in anyone’s life, and when they have to face it alone, it’s like a death sentence.

“Even though we are a crisis pregnancy center, I would say 90 percent of our work is helping new moms not feel so desperate and alone.”

Painter and Middendorf said plans for the future include an ultrasound machine and a sonographer as a service, starting more programs to involve mothers in the community and expanding to a wider area than Nevada.

“Right now we’ve been primarily Nevada, so we’re looking to hopefully spread the support to a larger area,” Painter said. “Vernon County and Cedar County don’t have anything like this.”

And what happened to the expectant mother who lost her job? “We were able to provide the support she needed,” Middendorf said. “She had her baby, and she still regularly comes in here just to talk and show her baby off.

“It’s been a year now, and it’s so neat she’s formed a relationship with so many of the volunteers. That helps me know we are really making the community stronger. It’s been quite a journey, a beautiful one.”

To volunteer or make donations contact Painter at 417-684-2043 or Middendorf at 417-321-9346.

14 | NEVADA the MAGAZINE

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| 15

Save a Life Saturday Mammogram Screening* We understand that you juggle a busy schedule. Between family, work, home and activities it’s hard to find time for yourself. But we don’t want that to prevent you from caring for yourself.

So, we’re extended our hours to make getting your annual mammogram easy and convenient.

Saturday, October 18 from 7 a.m. – noon Mercy Hospital Fort Scott Take advantage of free heel scan bone density screens, education materials, refreshments and give-a-ways.

Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Call 620-223-7015 to schedule an appointment or walk-ins may register at Mercy Hospital Main Registration Desk.

Walk-in mammograms are available the entire month of October Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. *Insurance accepted. Diagnostic mammograms not included. No prescription necessary if your physician is Mercy integrated.

If experiencing any breast discomfort or problems, clinical follow-up with your physician is recommended prior to the mammogram screening. Please refrain from wearing deodorant or powder the day of your mammogram.

Your life is our life’s work. mercy.net

Mercy Hospital 401 Woodland Hills Blvd. | Fort Scott, KS 66701 620-223-7015 | Mercy.net/fortscottks