|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
…
All posts by Loretta George
Uniontown School Reopens Fitness Center
The USD 235 School District reopened Uniontown Fitness Center to the public. The fitness center is located on the southeast corner of the junior/senior high school, and has its’ own door with a key entry.
It re-opened to the public April 13.
The fitness center was closed to the public by the administration in November 2021, because of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
It also was closed from November 2021 through March 2022 for the junior high, high school, and Kids Club Wrestling season. They previously had used the fitness center as a practice room, Superintendent Bret Howard said. The room was the former library room.
The center is open before and after school.
“The fitness center is available to our physical education classes,” he said. “Our junior high and high school classes really don’t use it as they have the weight room. Our elementary PE classes used it on Friday’s before COVID. That hasn’t resumed post-Covid at this time.”
A keycard is sold to USD235 District residents for $10, a one time fee, unless the card is lost.
“For those of you who have a keycard, those should still work,” Howard said. “To obtain a key card to access the fitness center you will need to contact Mr. Vance Eden, Principal at West Bourbon Elementary School.”
For any additional questions, contact Eden at (620) 756-4335 or Howard at (620) 756-4302.
“You will be required to sign a sheet acknowledging you will agree to follow the rules and regulations for the Uniontown Fitness Center,” he said. “You will also need to pay a one-time fee of $10. Once you have done those two things, you will be given a keycard and may begin using the Uniontown Fitness Center.”
Hours of availability to the public: Monday – Friday from 5 to 7 AM and 5:30 to 9:30 PM. Saturday and Sunday from 6 AM to 7 PM.
The fitness center first opened in 2018 following the receiving of a grant.
To learn more about the history of the center:
Cookie Food Truck at Tractor Supply April 14
Crumble & Cream, a mobile food trailer that features Deep Dish Cookies, will be returning to Fort Scott today, April 14.
The food trailer rotates stops throughout Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas in 2022. They are headquartered in Wichita.
“We typically just schedule one day per city, in some of the larger cities we do extend for more than one day,” Rachel Marlow, owner of the food trailer said.
“We visited Fort Scott back in October and will be returning for one day Thursday,” Marlow said.
The food trailer will be at Tractor Supply, 2420 S. Main, on
April 14 from 11 am to 7 pm.
More details about about the Thursday set up can be found on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/crumblecream.
To view a prior story on the Crumble and Cream Food Truck:
Some of the new flavors to try:
Easter Surprise (fudge filled sugar cookie topped with buttercream frosting and Cadbury eggs
Sugar Cookie
French Toast
Carmel Apple Pie
Snickerdoodle Cinnamon Roll
Milk Chocolate Chip
Maple Glazed Snickerdoodle
Dirt n Worms
Red Velvet White Chocolate
Monster Cookie
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter
Downtown Clean Up Slated for April 22: Volunteers Needed
The Downtown Division of the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Good Neighbor Action Team, is hosting their second Downtown Clean-up which coincides with Earth Day, Friday, April 22, according to a press release.
The majority of the workers will be on task from 3 pm to 6 pm, but there will be different projects starting at different times throughout the day, an organizer said.
The board members of the Chamber and GNAT organizations have created a list of several areas of the downtown area that could benefit from some time and attention, according to the press release.
Volunteers will be striping, curbing and painting crosswalks, planting flowers at the north end of Main Street-with help from the Bourbon County Garden Club, washing storefront windows, creating temporary signage for vacant buildings, creating new murals, helping with alley clean-ups, trash pick up, and miscellaneous painting of tables.
“The Bourbon County Garden Club will be using their own tools, but the majority of tools (for projects) will be provided,”Rachel French, member of the Fort Scott Chamber’s Downtown Division, said.
“At this time we are not planning on closing any streets, but there will be certain areas of downtown that will be closed for parking,” French said. “These areas will include part of National Ave. and Scott Ave.”
“Several community members asked us to do another downtown clean-up to prepare the area for several major events happening this spring, including the Big Kansas Road Trip in early May, Good Ol’ Days the first weekend of June, and the all-school reunion at the end of June. The downtown division quickly started planning the next clean-up and asked the Good Neighbor Action team to partner with them on this project,” Chamber Downtown Division Chairwoman Bailey Lyons said.
The Chamber’s Downtown Division held its first Downtown Clean-up in August of 2021, with over 250 volunteers in attendance.
“We are excited for this next clean-up because the first one was so well received by the community and made such a large impact quickly,” Lyons remarked.
Volunteers are needed to participate in the downtown clean-up, and can register to help at https://www.jotform.com/form/220906422828052.
“We are currently expecting 100 volunteers, but we could still use more,” French said.
MyOneStop, a downtown business that sells apparel, will be providing the volunteers with a free t-shirt for preregistering before April 19, through the above link.
“We have created a commemorative shirt for the event to thank the volunteers,” commented French, who is also president of MyOneStop.
Members of the Downtown Division of the Chamber include:
Lyons, owner of Lyons Realty, Chairwoman; John Crain, owner of Crain Insurance Agency; Sandra Davis, President of Davis Accounting; French, President of MyOneStop; Lindsay Madison, President of Fort Scott Chamber; Angela Simon, Owner of Angie Dawn’s Boutique and Bids & Dibs; and Craig Campbell, Coordinator of the Good Neighbor Action Team.
Obituary of Richard Lee Dixon
Richard Lee Dixon, 79, of Frontenac, died on April 8, 2022 at his home.
Dixon was born in Fort Scott on January 9, 1943, the son of Richard and Velma Totman Dixon.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2022, at Bedene Funeral Home, 517 E. Washington, Arma, Ks. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. that day. Burial will be at Pittsburg Garden of Memories.
Getting More Kids On Bikes
A state league mountain bike race will be in Fort Scott on April 23.
Kansas NICA is coming to Gunn Park Trails!
The primary goal of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) is to get more kids on bikes, according to information from NICA. NICA provides opportunity for student athletes, 6th through the 12th grade, to compete in the growing sport of mountain biking, and develop the life-long skill of cycling.
Gunn Park will be closed April 23-24 to the Public
On April 24, Fort Scott’s wooded and hilly Gunn Park Trails will be one of the venues this year for the Kansas League of NICA. Setup will begin on Saturday, April 23, and Gunn Park will be closed for the weekend except to spectators, volunteers, and obviously participants.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking IS for flatlanders too.
Mountain biking is synonymous with off-road biking/trail-riding, as opposed to paved or gravel trails. As long as you have elevation, rocks and dirt, you can have a trail, according to information provided by Frank Halsey, who is the liaison between the race organizers and The City of Fort Scott.
Halsey is an avid mountain bike rider and hosts other local mountain bike races in Gunn Park during the year. He initiated the trails in the park and started the Gunn Park Trails organization several years ago.
He was contacted by Tina Kahn, Director for Kansas NICA, about eight weeks ago, for permission to host a mountain bike race on Gunn Park Trails. He approached the city commission about “this great opportunity to showcase our local trails as well as the awesome hospitality of Fort Scott,” Halsey said, and the city commission approved.
“To host this type of event is an honor for our team of volunteers and tremendous opportunity for Fort Scott”, said Halsey. “The whole thing is very, very organized, and follows a 200-page rules and regulations book produced by the NICA. It’s kids, so they are ultra-careful about doing things safely and professionally”.
“It is quite the production,” he said. “Their infield/staging area is awesome with vendor and sponsor tents set up, everything fenced off, creating a pro-sport atmosphere. It’s all about the experience for the athletes.”
New Fort Scott Team Next Year?
“The nearest team is currently from the Pleasanton-Louisburg area, but I hope we can field a team next year,” Halsey said. “There are currently about 140 (Kansas) student athletes, making up eleven different teams from across the state.”
To learn more about the Kansas league: https://www.kansasmtb.org/
NICA’s Kansas League is asking for 40-50 volunteers to help with the event and one can sign up here: https://signup.com/go/oFWBuyG
To learn more:
Marketing, Apparel and Printing Services Move Downtown
Rachel French is the president of My One Stop, which has had a office in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park since 2005.
The business offers marketing print and digital services, signage, labels, apparel and embroidery printing services and more.
“We are moving downtown to because we wanted to be a part of the revitalization of downtown,” French said. “We wanted to be more accessible to businesses in Fort Scott…We can help them in gaining business and traffic.”
“We were looking for the right space and found this place was available and were excited to make the move,” she said.
The storefront at 7 S. National, just north of E3 Ranch store, is currently being renovated to meet the needs of the business, she said.
In the meantime, French and her team of employees have moved into 5 S. National, sharing space with the Lillian Rose Foundation, until the renovation is completed.
Jennifer LaRoche, who owns the building and is doing the reno, told French the reno will most likely be completed in June.
“I wanted to be close to the construction,” French said.
Her My One Stop team is comprised of Ann Marie Buster-web and graphic designer, Rosemma Perry-sales representative, Tina Wilson-sales representative and Casie Yount-graphic design lead.
“We have hit the ground running,” French said. “Since we came, we saw the traffic downtown, and we are using our knowledge to help the downtown revitalization.”
The business just recently created a downtown loyalty program, to encourage businesses in that area.
“We want to bring pride into our downtown again,” she said. “And people to be excited and have a business here.”
Included in the loyalty program is a Downtown Fort Scott Loyalty Card.
Eleven businesses have come on board and the card will provide the purchasers $55 worth of discounts for just $10.
The cards can be purchased at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall; or the My One Stop office currently at 5 S. National.
Ten percent of the sale of each card will be donated to the Fort Scott Downtown Chamber Committee to be used for future projects to benefit the downtown area.
That committee is in charge of the Downtown Clean-up Day April 22. “We are donating all the t-shirts for the clean-up,” she said.
French is a member of that committee and also she partners with Fort Scott High School and Pittsburg State University in a paid internship program. She also does the mentor program at FSHS with the Chamber.
“We think it’s important for youth to see what businesses do on a daily basis and see what Fort Scott has available,” she said.
French is looking forward to the move into 7 S. National, she said.
“Then you’ll be able to have a custom-designed t-shirt before you leave,” she said. “We would love to do more t-shirts for organizations. and businesses.”
Watch Fun in the Mud April 23-24 at Bo Co Fairgrounds
Submitted photo.
A Fort Scott 4×4 Mud Run to benefit a local recreation center is coming to town on April 23-24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
Spectator’s cost is $5 person, or $10 for carload (6 and under free).
Participating Mud Run entries are $20.
All proceeds are being donated to the Fort Scott Recreation Center, according to the event organizer Michael Hayden.
“We really appreciate him doing this, the additional funds really help out,” Tom Robertson, director of Fort Scott Recreation Center, said. “This assistance will help with scholarships for kids and families that can’t afford to sign up for a program such as baseball, swim lessons or cooking class, anything with a fee attached.”
Bourbon County was chosen to have the event because leadership was welcoming, Hayden said.
“We wanted to have a mud run somewhere in the southeastern Kansas area to give our members a larger event to attend in a part of the state that is often overlooked for bigger cities,” said Hayden. “After contacting a few different counties, the leaders in Bourbon County and the City of Fort Scott seemed most open and welcoming to the idea.”
The event will be at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, located on South Horton in Fort Scott, just across from the community college.
“Mud Runs involve a mud pit dug to a specific depth and length in which a vehicle attempts to power through and reach the other side in the shortest time possible,” Hayden said. “Heavy equipment is standing by to pull out those that get stuck before reaching the end.”
There are typically several different classes of vehicles to keep competition fair, he said.
“We will have two different mud pit depths and three different classes, based on tire size,” Hayden said. “The vehicles need to be registered and street legal, with the exceptions of a few minor modifications. The intent is to allow the average person to be able to come out and have fun! We we have trophies and door prizes in all classes.”
The mud run is organized by the Kansas Ram Club.
“Our major sponsors are Ron’s Tire and Service in Fort Scott, Simon’s Dirt Work in Fort Scott and Buddy’s Home Furnishings in Pittsburg,” he said.
“Also, we have added an additional exhibition night for Friday night at 6 P.M. in which the Kansas Gambler 500 vehicles are going to be coming through the mud pit as part of their annual cruise,” Hayden said. “They plan to have somewhere around 100 eccentric vehicles and should be an exciting time!”
Easter Egg Hunt This Saturday April 9 at 11 a.m.
The Kiwanis Club Easter Egg Hunt has been going on for about 50 years, John Crain, president, said.
The tradition continues when the Kiwanians will be in Gunn Park this Saturday, April 9 distributing the eggs and getting the hunt areas set up before the hunters are released to search for their eggs.
The hunt starts at 11 a.m. sharp, on that day, and at11:05 a.m., “It’s all over,” chuckled Bob Eckles, who is the chairman of the annual hunt.
“We hope everybody brings their kids and enjoys the morning,” Crain said.
Each child needs to bring their own basket to collect the eggs, which will have coupons from area businesses or candy in them.
Preschool children should go to the area below #2 Shelter House, kindergarten through second grade children will meet south of the #2 Shelter House and third, fourth and fifth grade children will meet on the north side of the entrance road to the park, Crain said.
Parking is by #1, #2 and #3 Shelter houses.
The Easter Bunny will be there and photos can be taken with the bunny by parents, Eckles said.
Fort Scott High School Key Club and the Mud Turtle Softball Team helped stuff the eggs with coupons and candy, Eckles said.
Some Key Club students will help the morning of the hunt as well, he said.
The annual event is funded by donations from the community that includes cash from Diehl, Banwart and Bolton CPA, R & R Equipment, Heidrick’s Hardware, Big Sugar Lumber, Don’s Spirits, Iron Star Antiques and Such, Merle Humphrey Insurance and Photography, Max’s Way Station.
Coupons for the eggs are provided by the following businesses:
Fort Cinema, Marsha’s Deli, Leanna’s Flowers, Nu Grille, McDonald’s Restaurant, Dairy Queen, Papa Don’s Restaurant, Bids and Dibs Resale Shop, and HedgehogInk Bookstore.
Museum of Creativity Spring Happenings
The Bowman family purchased the building at 102 S. National Avenue in March 2020.
They have been slowly building it into The Museum of Creativity, which is a children’s play place, a gift shop, a snack bar, a party rental space and a place to display many exhibits.
They provide a family safe environment to have fun, learn new skills, discover talents and develop hobbies for all ages, according to Lorina Bowman.
“It is the perfect mix of interactive and display exhibits for all generations to enjoy,” according to Bowman. “We hope to grow our support and continue to provide workshops, clubs and events to enrich our community.”
They have a fund raiser planned for next month to provide funds to make the building handicapped accessible.
The museum has updated spring hours of
Friday 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 .am. to 4 p.m.
The following are some upcoming events offered:
The LEGO CLUB is every Thursday and costs $2/person.
13+ years of age meets from 4 pm-6 pm
7-12 years of age meets from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
The LADIES CRAFT NIGHT is also every Thursday from 6-8 p.m
On the 1st Thursday of the month, bring your own project to show off, work on or get help with, the cost is $2 per person.
On the 2nd Thursday of the month, there is a card making workshop, the cost is $5 per person.
On the 3rd Thursday of the month is needle craft night (knitting, crocheting, embroidery, etc) – $2/person
4th Thursday, there will be special workshops – $5/person
More information is on their Facebook page. (Click the “Events” tab and make sure to click “see more” to view them all.) Or message them on Facebook with any questions.
The museum is having Easter activities for children.
On April 9, the Easter activity from 10 am – 4 pm, with a cost of $3/person. There will be crafts, games and “fun”, she said.
Register for one of their Easter egg hunts held at 11 am – 1 pm – 3 pm for $5/dozen filled eggs.
On May 6-7, the museum will have an indoor yard sale/bake sale during the regular hours.
The museum is accepting donations of gently used items to add to the sale. Contact Angela Handly at 785-204-2881 or Lorina Bowman at209-204-9743 to arrange drop off or pick up.
“ALL proceeds from the yard sale and quilt auction will go toward getting our building handicapped accessible,” she said. “After a little research on pricing of the ramp and chair lift and the construction changes needed to install both, we have a goal of raising $15,000.”
“Any donation helps,” Bowman said. “Whether it is money, time, used items for the yard sale, or items for the auction, we appreciate your support so much! We want to continue improving our guest’s experience at the museum.”
On May 7, there will be a quilt auction at 1 p.m.
Quilts will be on display and open for silent bids during the museum’s open hours Friday and Saturday.
The silent auction will end at 2:30 p.m. when the live auction begins. “We will be on Facebook Live too, so you can bid that way as well,” Lorina said.
“We are accepting donations of prizes, finished quilts or finished quilt tops until April 30th but the sooner the better so we can post them to draw more attention to the event,” she said.
Learn About Human Trafficking On April 19 at FSCC
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a seminar on human trafficking at 6 p.m. on April 19 at Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton. The event is open to the public.
“Does human trafficking only occur in larger cities or small rural areas?
What demographics make up a human trafficking?
“These questions will be answered by attending the seminar,” Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin said in an interview.
The presentation will by the chairwoman of the Kansas Human Trafficking Advisory Board, Jennifer Montgomery. The board advises the Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office on the issues of human trafficking.
The following is from the attorney generals website:
“Human trafficking is the criminal activity of holding another person for the purposes of exploitation through forced labor and sex trafficking. Many experts view human trafficking as the second greatest criminal enterprise in the world, second only to the illegal sale of drugs. Even here in Kansas, men, women, and children are forced to work for long hours under deplorable conditions for little or no pay without the freedom to leave.
By utilizing a four pronged approach of Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Partnership, the Kansas Human Trafficking Advisory Board is exploring:
- Development of a public awareness campaign focusing on the hidden issue of human trafficking;
- Identification of victims of trafficking;
- Provision of comprehensive and culturally competent services to victims of human trafficking;
- Appropriately addressing the needs of domestic victims of human trafficking;
- Securing adequate resources and support needed to develop a task force to effectively investigate cases of human trafficking;
-
Development of a statewide structure for collaborative efforts across disciplines and jurisdictions to ensure prosecution of human traffickers.”
Seventeen New Teachers, 3 New Administrators in Bourbon County Schools Next Year
There will be many new faces in school districts in Bourbon County for the upcoming school year.
For St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School there are no resignations, according to Principal Josh Regan.
USD 234 has received 10 resignations thus far.
Connie Billionis, U234 Board Clerk sent the following:
From Fort Scott High School:
Math Teacher – William Hall
Math Teacher – Jeff Armstrong
Social Science Teacher – Tami Campbell and the district has hired Jonathon Barnes to fill the position.
English Teacher – Jennifer Hartman
From Fort Scott Middle School:
Science Teacher – Kelly Toll
Special Education Teacher – Shelly Sanborn
From Eugene Ware Elementary School:
5th Grade Teacher – Mary Mauer
Music Teacher – Mary Jo Harper
5th Grade Teacher – Kristin Duffy
3rd Grade Teacher – Carrie Southwell
“We have hired an elementary Instructional Coach, Suzan Durnell,” Billionis said . “This position was vacant this year.”
USD 235 2021–22 Resignations and New Hires for 2022–23
Three administrative positions will have new people in the Uniontown School District, U235, according to the school superintendent. In addition there will be five teachers for current vacancies and two more added because of COVID-19 funding.
Bret Howard resigned as Superintendent and will be replaced by Vance Eden, who is currently the elementary school principal.
Eden, West Bourbon Elementary Principal, resigned and will be replaced by Tema Gilion.
Jim Lambert, UJH/HS Principal, resigned and will be replaced by Dalaina Smith
Five teachers have resigned in this school district.
Neva Rowland, Uniontown High School Band and Choir teacher will be replaced by Morgan Egidy.
Johnathan Stark, Uniontown Junior High and UHS Physical Education Teacher will be replaced by Zach Mason. Mason will also be the new head high school football coach.
Andrew Ables, UHS Science, resigned and the district is taking applications.
Mike Durnell, UJH/UHS Math, resigned and the district is taking applications.
Linda Rogers resigned from first/second grade and the ESSER 2 Funded position will not be refilled.
There are two newly created teaching positions, funded by ESSER Funds.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted on March 27, 2020, and included Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds for K-12 schools, according to the Kansas Department of Education website: https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Special-Education-and-Title-Services/Federal-Disaster-and-Pandemic-Relief
These ESSER grants provide school districts with emergency relief funds to address the impact COVID-19 has had elementary and secondary schools.
A UJH/UHS Language Arts Teacher position is filled by Brianna (Hampton) Taylor. This is a new position using ESSER 3 Funding.
In 4th/5th Grade, Kaitlyn Bradbury is a new 4th/5th grade teacher, using ESSER 3 Funding.