Monthly Archives: April 2019

Fort Scott

Local Librarians Honored During National Library Week

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Fort Scott Public Library
April 7th through 13th is National Library Week.
Libraries are at the heart of their cities, towns, schools and campuses, providing resources and programs that build strong communities. Today’s libraries strengthen their communities and transform lives through education and lifelong learning by providing access to the programming and services to ensure the community’s needs are being met. Be sure to visit Fort Scott Public Library during National Library Week, or anytime you need us.
 
Established in 2003 and held annually during National Library Week, National Library Workers Day celebrates the contributions of all library workers, including librarians, support staff and others who make library service possible every day. National Library Workers Day is a time to recognize library professionals for their expertise and leadership skills in transforming lives and communities through education and lifelong learning. The day also reminds the public that Libraries = Strong Communities, and provide users with endless opportunities for engagement, enrichment and development. 
 
We encourage everyone to take a moment and thank our library workers for the services they provide and to remind all who depend on them that our city works, because our Fort Scott Public Library workers do!
 
In celebration of National Library Workers Day, the Board of Directors of the Fort Scott Public Library treated the staff to lunch on Tuesday, April 9, National Library Workers Day.
 
On Tuesday, April 2, Mayor Jeanie Parker issuedtwo proclamations.   One to commemorate National Library Workers Day on April 9 and the second to commemorate National Library Week, April 7 through April 13.
Submitted by Martha Scott.
Art, Bourbon County

Art Is Ageless Winners Announced

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Fort Scott Presbyterian Village announces

Art is Ageless® winners

Fort Scott, KS. — Fort Scott Presbyterian Village recently hosted a reception for the winning artists in the annual Art is Ageless® juried competition.

“We are honored to exhibit artwork by seniors,” said Becky Kellum, marketing director. “Art is Ageless is unique in featuring only the works of artists age 65 and older. Our artists prove that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.”

Winners in the Fort Scott Presbyterian Village Art is Ageless juried competition were:

Best of Show Amateur: Susan Porter, “Beauty n Everything”, Best of Show Professional: Paul Milks, Carpenters Bluff Bridge.”

People’s Choice: Glenda Stevicks , “Little Church on the mountain Side”, Also Kenneth Eastwood “ He is Risen”

Christmas amateur: Mary Beth Fornelli , “snowman Quilt”

Drawing amateur: Bobby Roberts, “Eagles are nesting”

Fiber Arts professional: Carolyn Munsell , “Bright Journey”

Mixed Media/Crafts amateur: Susan Porter, “Beauty in Everything”, Professional: John Bartelsmeyer,”Japanese Crest”

Needlework amateur: Charlotte Kite, “His name is Jesus”,

Painting amateur: Bob Eckles, “Fish Market”

Photography professional: Paul Milks, “Carpenters Bluff Bridge”

Quilting amateur: Earline Foster, “Horse on the run”

Sculpture/3-D amateur: Kenneth Eastwood, “He is Risen”, Professional: Tony Fornelli,” Nature”

Local competition winners will join winners from 16 other Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America communities to be judged at the masterpiece level. Winning entries at the masterpiece level may be selected for publication in PMMA’s annual Art is Ageless calendar and note cards.

Art is Ageless is a copyrighted program of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America. For the competition, works must have been completed in the past five years. Started in 1980, Art is Ageless is an extension of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s wellness programs, which focus on mental, physical, social and spiritual health.

Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s Art is Ageless program encourages Fort Scott Presbyterian Village residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year.

For more information about Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, 2401 S. Horton Fort Scott Ks, contact Becky Kellum at 620-223-5550, or [email protected].

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Entertainment, Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Prom is Coming: New Venue

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Fort Scott High School Homecoming 2019 candidates are front: Kelcie Bailey, Rebekah Sweyko, Shaylee Terry, Karli Wright;  back row: Johnathan Gauthier, Nicholas Krebs, Gage Lamb, and Alan Santana.

Fort Scott High School Prom 2019 is this Saturday, April 13 at the River Room,  3 West Oak Street where it intersects with North National Avenue.

The public may view the prom site indoors from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

“Great Gatsby is the theme,” Bert Lewis, FSHS teacher and sponsor said. “Cars and vehicles will drive north on Judson and drop off at the corner of Oak and Judson. Valet parking is available. Oak Street will be blocked off at 2 p.m. Saturday through 12 a.m. Sunday morning to accommodate the walk-in.”

“Parent parking will be allowed in the public lots behind the old Downtowner (Currently the Boiler Room Brewhaus),”  Lewis said. “Please refrain from parking behind or east of Sharky’s and Nu Grill to respect these businesses.”

“Parents will be able to set up chairs, or watch from sides of the street,” she said.

The promenade walk-in is from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The prom is from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee at Christian Heights School

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WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
Join us for Chamber Coffee

Hosted by:

Fort Scott Christian Heights High School

Location:

1101 S. Barbee
Thursday, April 11th, 2019
Visit Fort Scott Christian Heights’

Facebook page 

by clicking 

 

Chamber members and guests are encouraged to attend for networking, community announcements, and to learn about the hosting business or organization.
Members may pay $1 to make an announcement about an upcoming event, special/sale/discount, or news of any kind.
Upcoming Coffees:
April 18 – Presbyterian Village
April 25 – Peerless Products
May 2 – National Day of Prayer Breakfast (Pioneer Kiwanis and
Cheney Witt)
May 9 – Woodland Hills Golf Course (City of Fort Scott)
Government, Kansas

Legislative Update By State Senator Caryn Tyson

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Caryn Tyson

 

April 05, 2019

The 2019 regular session is over, first adjournment.  All that is left is veto session (scheduled 17 days in May this year) and sine die.  The Senate attempted to finish all of our work during session.  The House had other plans.

Tax:  I made every attempt to negotiate with the House on moving tax legislation forward before the close of session and we had agreements on a majority of items.  However, in less than two hours, the House Tax Conference Committee Chairman receded on agreements and by the next morning negotiations completely broke down.  The House Chairman decided to wait until veto session.  As a result we could lose some good policy that passed the Senate.  The policy includes allowing small businesses to expense certain purchases, freezing property taxes for low income seniors and for some disabled veterans, allowing certain counties to hold elections for a change in sales tax, providing a sales tax exemption on gold and bullion, extending the Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ) program for five more years, increasing the number of counties in ROZ, and other tax legislation that passed this year.  Hopefully, there is time and a desire to complete the work during veto session.  It isn’t about one person or legislator winning or losing – it’s about Kansas taxpayers.  You deserve a win!

The Governor’s veto of SB 22 was a setback for Kansas taxpayers.  SB 22 would have stopped tax increases as a result of 2017 Federal tax changes,.  It takes 2/3 majority, 27 votes in the Senate and 84 in the House, within 30 days of the veto to override a Governor’s veto.  It doesn’t appear the votes are there in either chamber.  Myself and other legislators aren’t giving up but the odds are slim.

Budget:  Negotiations between the House and Senate budget conference committee broke down Thursday evening and was postponed until veto session.  The legislature will need to pass a budget during veto session.  That is the only legislation required by law.

K-12 Funding:  Negotiations between the House and Senate were tense regarding school funding.  They did come to agreement on SB 16 Conference Committee Report (CCR).  To quote the House Majority Leader regarding SB 16 CCR, “…the never-ending cycle of school funding litigation.  The plan adds over $360 million to the K-12 budget on top of the $3.13 billion in new funding approved over the last [few] years.  It also includes an inflationary measure that will increase K-12 funding between $50 and $100 million each year…forever.  This isn’t about supporting school districts and providing a quality education to our children.  This is a state being held hostage by trial attorneys who continually sue for more.  These same trial attorneys have already come out publicly saying this increased spending is not enough and they expect the Kansas Supreme Court to strike it down and demand an even greater ransom.”  He goes on to say, “This funding plan is fiscally irresponsible… Kansans deserve better.”  The CCR passed the Senate on a vote of Yes 31 to No 8.  I voted No because Kansans and Kansas schools deserve better than a fiscal promise that Kansas taxpayers CANNOT afford.

Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) Health Plans:  HB 2209 CCR allows KFB to establish health care plans available to KFB members.  It is not insurance but will provide an alternative healthcare coverage.  The vote was Yes 28 to No 11.  I voted Yes.

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Caryn

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Agriculture Education is in Demand

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Carla Nemecek is Southwind District Director and agent.

Submitted by: Carla Nemecek, Southwind Extension District

Can you count the ways Agriculture touches your life?

When you wake up in the morning, you are lying on cotton sheets. You swing your feet onto the floor either made of wood, a rug made of wool or flooring made from linseed or soybean oil. The soap in the shower contains tallow (a by-product of the beef industry) and toothpaste has glycerin in it. The towel you dry off with and the jeans and t-shirt you put on are made from cotton. You have already used dozens of agricultural products, and you haven’t even started eating!

For these everyday reasons and more, agriculture education is too important a topic to be taught only to the small percentage of students considering careers in agriculture and pursuing vocational agricultural studies.

Throughout my Extension career, I have spent time in elementary classrooms teaching about agriculture in a variety of ways. When I ask the students “Does chocolate milk come from a brown cow or a white cow?” the answer is almost always the same – “A brown cow!”

Although this might give most of us a chuckle, the answer really tells us that agriculture education should be a high priority and it should start with our children.

Locally, 4-H and FFA members are educating our youth through various initiatives like Day at the Farm and Earth Day. They cooperate with other organizations such as Farm Bureau, Extension, Conservation District and Wildlife & Parks to demonstrate how agriculture and livestock are important to our everyday lives.

We are all fortunate to live in communities where folks still care about agriculture and a rural lifestyle.

With a growing population and a demand to feed 9 billion by the year 2050, the agriculture industry needs talented, driven and passionate youth willing to make a commitment to agriculture.

Many of these individuals will not have the production background I was privileged to experience while growing up. The next generation will have to gain knowledge and try to understand the depth of the industry through programs in 4-H, FFA and collegiate agriculture courses where hands-on learning is critical to developing the skills necessary to feed the world.

Make no mistake, there is a tremendous opportunity for careers in agriculture, including – banking, energy, food science, education, research and engineering and I hope you will continue to support those organizations who promote and support agricultural endeavors in our communities.

Southwind Extension District is proud to help educate our youth on the values and importance involved in the agriculture lifestyle. Through participation in 4-H activities like livestock judging, learning how to weld, or even how to grow plants in the garden – the youth in Woodson, Allen, Bourbon and Neosho Counties are preparing themselves on how to feed the next generation.

For more information on how you can become involved in the Southwind District, find us on the web at www.southwind.ksu.edu

 

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

…

Obituary

Obituary of Edward Byerley

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Edward Blair Byerley, 91, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2018, at Country Place Senior Living Center, Fort Scott, KS.
Ed was born in Mapleton, KS, on 20 April 1927. He was the only child of Blair D. “Sandy” Byerley and Myrtle P. Byerley (Brown).
Ed graduated from Fulton H.S., KS, in 1945 and joined the U.S. Navy shortly thereafter.

Ed married Eva M. Byerley (White) on April 27, 1947.

He worked his adult career for The Western Insurance Companies from September 1946 through 1986, supervising the computer room operations at the time of his retirement.

Ed and Eva moved from Fort Scott to Sun City West, AZ in the 1980’s, where he enjoyed golf, bowling, and the warm weather.

Ed is survived by his wife, Eva, three sons, six grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

There was cremation. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, April 12, 2019, at the U. S. National Cemetery.

Military honors will be provided by the United States Naval Honor Guard. Words of remembrance may submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Fort Scott, Schools

Door Prizes Sought In Support of Early Childhood Progam

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The Fort Scott Preschool Center / Fort Scott Early Childhood Program
is seeking door prizes for their Early Childhood
Family Night
Request:
We are reaching out to local businesses in Fort Scott, to acquire door prizes for our early childhood Family Night.
We would like to have a drawing for the participating families that attend.
If you are interested in providing an item or gift certificate, we would greatly appreciate it.
(This would encourage them to visit your place of business and promote shopping local.)
If you feel there may be other businesses interested, please have them contact us:
Fort Scott Preschool Center
409 South Judson
Fort Scott, KS 66701
620-223-8965
Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Jobs

Youth Summer Jobs At The Fort

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Summer Youth Employment Opportunity at Fort Scott National Historic Site

Youth Conservation Corps program

FORT SCOTT, Kan. – Fort Scott National Historic Site is looking for 6 energetic and outgoing teens to participate in our 2019 summer Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program running Tuesday through Saturday from June 18 through August 10. This eight-week long program is for young people between the ages of 15 and 18 years of age. Shifts start at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. with a one hour lunch. Salary is the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

For more information and to download your application, go to www.nps.gov/fosc/learn/kidsyouth/ycc.htm, or pick up an application from the Fort’s Visitor Center. Applications must be received by the park on/or before Friday, May 10, 2019, to be considered. You may hand deliver your completed application back to the Visitor Center or mail to:

Fort Scott National Historic Site
ATTN: YCC Coordinator
PO Box 918
Fort Scott, KS 66701

No previous experience is required, but a willingness and ability to work in a physically active outdoor program, get along well with others, and maintain a positive attitude are essential for success. YCC participants will learn teamwork and leadership while working in a variety of weather and conditions, participating in resource education, recreation, and NPS and other agency career orientation activities. Activities may include: ranger-led programs, Living History programs, being guest speakers, enrollee and staff presentations, assisting field rangers and/or scientists, and trips to other parks, businesses, and throughout the area. Enrollees will also spend time completing projects which may include: fence and bench building; repairing/rehabilitating historic structures; general maintenance work; painting/staining; and exotic plant control.

Business, Fort Scott

Fort Scott Family Dental: In Historic Downtown

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Fort Scott Family Dental, 2 N. Main.

Fort Scott Family Dental moved from a residential neighborhood to the corner of Wall and Main Streets in the historic downtown district earlier this year.

“We moved in officially January 30th, 2019,” said Dr. Timothy P. Crawford DMD. “My staff pulled together a crazy two-day move!”

” We needed more space and operatories to grow business so we chose to move downtown and restore an amazing historic building,” Crawford said.  “We are thrilled to be here.”
Dr. Timothy Crawford’s new dental office. Submitted photo.
The dentist office is located at 2 N. Main.
Fort Scott Family Dental, as viewed from the front door of the practice.
“We have five employees at the moment, and are looking at adding one more employee either PRN for on call when we have a call-in, or just as additional help because we have expanded our patient data base so much after we moved,” Crawford said.

The office hours are Monday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Closed Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Contact the office at 620-223-4448.
Fort Scott Family Dental is located at the corner of Wall and Main Street.

The following are services Dr. Crawford and his staff provide:

  • Composite Fillings
  • Extractions
  • Cosmetic Bonding
  • Tooth Whitening
  • Clear Correct
  • Crowns and Bridges
  • Laser Tissue Surgery
  • Root Canal Treatment
  • Partial and Complete Dentures
  • Tooth Replacement Implants and Implant Supported Dentures
  • Bone grafting
Fort Scott Family Dental
The old office, at 1115 S. Main, was sold to a family who is transforming it into living quarters, Crawford said.
Crawford owns the whole building at the corner of Wall and Main Streets.
Currently, there are five tenants on the third floor including the doctor Crawford himself, who stays in town two nights a week.