Tag Archives: featured

Yoga Classes Offered On Tuesday Evenings

Denise Duncan saw a need for a Yoga class in Fort Scott and is filling that need.
“Since the Shiney Yoga Studio shut down, I saw a great need,” she said. “There is one with private classes but I wanted a place where everyone could come do yoga.”

Duncan has secured a Yoga instructor, Rachel Henderson of Iola.

“I met this couple from Iola and she was teaching (Yoga)  and I asked if she would teach a class in Fort Scott,” Duncan said.

Duncan is the owner of the Beaux Art Center and is using a part of the building for the Yoga class.

“We meet at our loft apartment upstairs, 102 S. National Ave,” she said.

Beaux Art Cente, 102 S. National Avenue.

The classes are held on Tuesdays at 6 p.m.

The cost is $10 per class.

“It is for young/old, chubby/skinny, beginner/pro,” Duncan said. “You can go at your own pace.”
Participants should wear loose clothing or yoga pants,  and bring their own Yoga/exerecise mat, she said.

 

Adventure in Missions: Tiffiny Durham

Submitted photo. Tiffiny Durham

Over the past 12 years, Tiffiny Durham has worked many different jobs, in many different locations throughout the United States.

These jobs range from a retreat hostess for Outlaw Ranch in South Dakota, a convenience store clerk in Nebraska, a construction worker in Nebraska, a pine beetle tree marker in the Blackhills of South Dakota among others.

“One might call me a wanderer, as I move from place to place,” Durham said. “It is in these places though, that God has used me to provide a smile for someone having a rough day, or to be that ray of sunshine in a darkening and desperate world.”

Because of her current job, she often works on Sundays, so attending church is difficult.

But Durham has been involved in Family Life Assembly of God in Pittsburg, who have a small group Bible study in Fort Scott on Thursday evenings.

She serves on Wednesday evenings at that church, teaching Bible lessons to the children, she said.

 

Recently Durham feels God has provided her an opportunity for Christian mission work.

“Within this past year, my heart has begun to really change and I am being pulled in a completely different direction: ministry,” she said.

An important scripture verse for her is Proverbs 3: 5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings. In all your ways acknowledge and he will make your path straight.”

“That scripture is my life verse,” she said. “God gave it to me in college as I got to know Him and have a personal relationship with Him.”

“God has placed me in places where I have been the only believer (in Jesus),” Durham said. “Wherever he puts me, he gave me that verse to let me know I can trust Him, no matter what situation I’m in.”

Trusting in God, she believes God has given her the next adventure; The World Race through Adventures in Missions.

To learn more about Adventures in Missions, click below:

https://www.adventures.org

“Starting in June of 2019, God will be using my gifts to provide hope and a ray of sunshine in some of the darkest, poorest parts of the world,” she said. “This program is unique because it is not only a mission trip but a chance to allow God to work through me and help me to grow deeper in my walk with God.”

She will travel with a team to Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Morocco, Ethiopia, Djibouti, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia. 

“We will work in churches and ministries within local communities to preach the Gospel, plant God’s word, minister to women and children trapped in the cycle of prostitution and human trafficking, working in orphanages, and provide help where needed,” she said.

Durham is fundraising for this mission trip and she asks for prayer support.

To learn how to support her click below:

WR fundraising tri fold final

Durham is having a family game night at the First Presbyterian Church on March 22 from 6 to 8 p.m.

“It will be a fun family evening,” she said. “Bring and stay with your kids. You have 15 minutes to try a family game, then a buzzer will ring and you move to the next game.”

There will be a silent auction which will be the fundraiser for Durham.

Shawn Michael Keating Arrested Following Feb. 9 Shooting

Shawn Michael Keating, Feburary 2019.

On Feb. 25, 2019, Shawn Michael Keating, date of birth Sept. 6, 1980, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for two counts of attempted murder in the first degree, two counts of aggravated assault, one count aggravated burglary, one count of criminal discharge of a weapon into an occupied dwelling.

The warrant for Keating’s arrest was the result of an investigation by the Fort Scott Police Department following an incident on Feb. 9, 2019, in the 1100 block of East Oak Street in Fort Scott.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

State Farm Insurance Moves

Kale Nelson and staff of the State Farm Insurance Agency. From left Chalia Swank, licensed representative; Nelson,  agent, and Rebecca Ballou, receptionist. Not pictured is Sharon Campbell who works part-time as a customer service representative.

State Farm Insurance Agent Kale Nelson has moved to a more easily accessed location.

“It’s one of the best locations in Fort Scott, being at the intersection of 69 Hwy. and South National Avenue,” Nelson said.

“There is a tremendous amount of traffic, he said.

The new address is 1805 S. National, in a building that is still in the process of being totally renovated.

Today, the parking lot of the property was being graveled for customers, and they are still in the process of settling in the building, Nelson said.

Demolition of the interior of the building started last summer and Nelson and his staff moved on February 19, he said.

“I’m thrilled with the way it turned out,” Nelson said. “There is a little more work to do.”

Besides purchasing his own business property, investing in the community was a goal Nelson had in the renovation.

“It was important to make an investment in a historical building,” Nelson said.

“We’ve had a lot of people share stories about the property (and its many transformations),” he said.

Nelson has been a State Farm Agent since 2005.

Working with people drives him, he said.

“I really enjoy helping people put their protection plans in place….life, some health, home, auto, business, bank… a large range of offerings. Help them overcome what deficiencies they have with the best value for their dollar,” he said.

Hours of operation for the business is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday and evenings by appointment.

“The Saturday morning hours are for people who can’t get in during the week,” Nelson said

Attorney Justin Meeks will also have an office on the property when his section of the building is completed.

 

 

The new State Farm Insurance office is located at 1805 S. National, this photo was taken a few weeks ago. The building is located at the intersection of 69 Hwy. and South National Avenue.

How To Learn a Foreign Language: Host An International Student

Clara Ylander, from  Sweden,  left, stayed with Jim and Janice Fewins; Rachele Tarpinelli,right,  from Italy, stayed with Jay and Sara Jackman last year and attended Uniontown High School.

Learning  a foreign language,enjoying the  advancement of educational and cultural opportunities, supporing volunteerism,  enriching someone’s life while enriching your own, these are all the benefits of hosting an international student, according to Janice Rake, coordinator for Greenheart Exchange Program.

 

Greenheart Exchange Program students seeking host families for the next school year are  beginning to apply now, Rake said.

 

“The students are happy to live in any type of family scenario: family with or without children, empty nesters, retired couple, single person…..it does not matter,” said  Rake. “They are just excited to come to America and have the opportunity. Most want to come for the entire school year but some come for only one semester.”

 

Host families complete an application process which includes a home visit, references and background checks.

 

“My goal is always to find a good family/student match so it is a positive experience for all involved,” she said.

 

“The host family provides a bed and place to study, three meals a day and needed transportation as the students are not allowed to drive,” Rake said.

 

The students bring spending money for personal spending, shopping and entertainment. Greenheart Exchange secures the VISA, arranges the arrival and departures flights, provides health insurance and monitors throughout the year. The student agrees to follow the guidelines of the program. Greenheart requires each student to fulfill some volunteer or community service work and expects high academic and personal standards.

 

Rake checks in and monitors the students progress throughout the school year, she said.

 

Included  below are several of the students that have applied so far.

 

Olga, 16, from Poland, is  an “A” student,  who will come the first semester, enjoys reading, scouting, volunteering with a children’s group, drama, art, sports, nature,  and travel.  She has a fear of dogs until she gets to know them.  She loves philosophy.  Olga attends church sometimes.
Hannes, 16,  from Germany,  is an “A” student.  He loves camping and motocross. His favorite classes are math, physics and PE.  He likes sports but also enjoys baking. He works in a local grocery.  Hannes attends church sometimes.
Alexandra, 16,  from Germany, loves music, sings in choir, plays piano, likes archery, Taikwondo, biking and reading.  She has a “B” average.  She has a mild allergy to fur but  this does not restrict her.  She has a cat.  She is a bit shy but sweet, friendly and open-minded.  She attends church sometimes.
Oliver, 15, from the  Czech Republic,  is a “B” student. He plays piano and enjoys running, movies and music.  He attends church sometimes.
Rebecca, 16, from Switzerland, is a “B+” student. She volunteers with a children’s group, plays guitar, enjoys swimming, reading and cooking.  Her favorite subjects are Latin, French, geography and math.
Nicolas, 15, from  Spain,  is a”B+” student.  He enjoys writing, movies,video games, cooking,  He loves dogs but is allergic to cats.  He wants to study journalism and be a writer.  His religion is Catholic and would attend church sometimes.
If interested in hosting or want more information, please contact Janice Rake, Greenheart Coordinator, [email protected] or call 620-473-0646.  Information  can be found at the website greenheartexchange.org.
Janice Rake is a former teacher and retired postmaster who returned to education when she retired and moved to Redfield.
She was a substitute teacher at Uniontown where she hosted a high school exchange student, Carol, from Brazil.
“I fell in love with Carol and the Greenheart student exchange program,” Rake said.
Since then she has hosted and placed 18 students at various area high schools.
“Every one has been a joy,” she said.
They have come from Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Albania, Vietnam, Thailand, and Hong Kong.
“The students have varied interests: sports, camping, scouts, art, photography, theater, writing, literature, robotics, music, cooking, travel, history, volunteerism, animal lovers,” she said. “They are mature, independent and enthusiastic about experiencing American school and culture and love sharing their culture. They offer diversity and expose our local students to a world outside their own.”
Rafaela Lima, from Brazil, stayed with Janice Rake last year and graduated from Lawrence High School.

Scott Teenor: The Fixer

Scott Teenor, Briggs Automall Fort Scott’s new general manager.

Scott Teenor is the new general manager at Briggs Automall of Fort Scott, since February 1. Briggs is located at 1819 S. Main, on Hwy 69.

“I’m the guy who fixes things,” Teenor said.

Teenor has worked for Russ Briggs for 24 years he said.

“I’ve managed every one of his stores in Manhatten, Topeka and Lawrence,” Teenor said.

Briggs purchased Shepherd Auto about three years ago.

“Russ Briggs desire is to satisfy the customer,” Teenor said. “He is involved in so many different ways.”

Teenor has two simple rules, he said.

“Be on time and treat people the way you want to be treated.”

Teenor wants to refute a recent rumor he heard that is circulating.

“There seems to be a rumor we are closing,” he said. “We are not closing.”

“One thing that we have been doing is ‘right-sizing’ inventory and staff, for what the current market bears,” he said.

Currently, Briggs has 250 vehicles on the lot: Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Buick and Chevrolet.

“But we have access to inventory in all the other locations,” Teenor said. “So 2,000 additional new and used vehicles.”

Teenor can be reached at 620-223-0900 or his cell 785-344-3599.

He lives in Lawrence and commutes every day, he said.

 

 

 

Visage Organic Spa: Good For Your Face

Nancy Johnson is a licensed esthetician offering services and products to pamper, at her business Visage Organics Skincare Spa.

Nancy Johnson moved to Fort Scott in September and saw an opportunity for a business, she said.

She graduated from the Euro Institute in 2007 and is a licensed esthetician.

Her business, Visage Organics Skincare Spa, offers facials, waxing, lash/brow tinting, and sugaring facials at her place of business, 117 E. National.

Visage is located inside 117 E. National.

She can be reached at 620-224-6455.

Call for an appointment Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Johnson sells Niko Organic, Organic Express, and Blinc products in her business.

She also offers ear candling, a service which pulls all the sediments out of ears, she said.

Johnson hosted the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee on Feb. 14.

Also offered at Healing Hands Therapeutic Massage and Salon are haircuts, shampoo/sets, perms, colors and highlights, waxing, nails and massage services.

Healing Hands Therapeutic Massage and Salon booth renters are from left: Stacy Racy- owner, Sherri Northcutt, Kimberly Skaggs, and Nancy Johnson. Not pictured is Brooke Bolin.

Stacy Racy is the massage therapist, Kimberly Skaggs, Brooke Bolin and Sherri Northcutt are cosmetologists. They can be reached at 620-223-3117.

Trimbur Updates Iron Star

Owner/operator Barbara Trimbur is slowly catching up and restocking after the recent renovation of her shop, she said.

New flooring and a new ceiling exposing the original tin tiles of the building await those who enter the Iron Star Antiques and Such, 3 N. Main.

New ceiling and flooring have been added to the Iron Star, 3 N. Main.

A recent renovation makes the shop appear more spacious.

“It looks huge now,” said ownerBarbara Trimbur. “We took out the acoustical ceiling, a dropped ceiling with fluorescent lights. (And)The flooring was coming apart.”

“I’ ve taken out two partitions, I’m using doors now for walls,” she said.”  “It’s opened it up more.”

Ron Query was the contractor for the update.

The High Country look: cowboy with a modern flair.

Trimbur waited until the update was finished, last Friday, and is in the process of filling it back up again.

The Iron Star Antiques and Such was closed for the update Jan. 29-30.

“I’ve just been to market in Dallas,” she said. “Mostly spring stuff and ordered Christmas things for the following Christmas.”

Most of the furnishings in the shop are repurposed, or renovated, she said.

A renovated dining room set Trimbur recently purchased to sell.

She purchased the business 14 years ago from Yvonne Beck, and eight years ago purchased the building with the two storefronts from Steve McGinnis.

Unique handbags for sale.

Trimbur has five merchandise consignees, with three of them: Yvonne, Karen and Kathy, working with her in the store.

“The three of them work to offset their rent and commission,” she said.

Trimbur said she sells a large amount of iron shelving, brackets and pulls.
One of her favorite tasks is to decorate themed tables. Pictured is Trimbur telling about the Valentine-themed tablescape she has finished.
An up-close view of the table setting with a Valentine theme.

The store is open seven days a week, barring heavy snow or icy weather events. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Sheriff’s Office: Inmate Arrest Photos On Facebook Page

BCSO Major Bobby Reed in his office at the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center.

Personnel at the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office have been making available the Daily Intake Roster, including photos of those arrested at the jail.

This public service has been available on the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page since moving into the new jail facility in June 2018. They had provided the service a short time before moving to the jail, in fact.

But it was too time-consuming,  said Major Bobby Reed.

“It took one and one-half days of time, so we discontinued,” Reed said.

With the help of the Labette County Sheriff’s Office, BCSO built a system that allows quicker delivery of the information to the public.

In recent days, they have been catching up posting the information from the arrests of October until January.

The Daily Intake Roster includes a photo of the inmate, their name and age, their offenses and bond amount and type.

“We did October, November, December and January (arrests) online in about 45 minutes,” Reed said.

“We’ve had a lot of requests from the community of ‘when is it going to be back up?’,” he said.

“It gets the word out,” Reed said. “The public can like our (Facebook) page and when someone comes in, they can see it.”

“We are only doing them by months, we just ran January 2019, so the next one will come out at the end of February.

On February 1, there were 72 inmates in the BCSO, with 15 Linn County inmates included in that total, Reed said.

Dances With Our Stars Benefits The Community

The 9th Annual Dancing With Our Stars is at 7 p.m. on Feb. 9 at the Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

Proceeds from the annual Dancing With Our Stars will this year benefit Bourbon County 4-H, Communities in Schools, Lee’s Paws and Claws, the Fort Scott High School Pantry and Closet, Friends of the Fort, Fort Scott High School Thespians and Care to Share.

The theme this year is Totally 80s.

Proceeds from the ticket sales fund the charities. VIP Tickets are $15, regular tickets are $10. Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce office,  231 E. Wall.

The entertainment is dancing, of course. and members of the audience vote during intermission on teams comprised of Southwind Extension District members, Fort Scott High School students, Fort Scott Police Department members, Smallville Crossfit members, and volunteers from Fort Scott National Historic Site.

There will be other performers who are not a part of the competition: Abby Albright and Jackson Muckala and Kenna Miles.

Gary Palmer and Hunter Adamson will be the emcees of the event.

The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club.

Members of the DWOS Committee are Betty Boyko, Janet Braun, Kathy Dancer, Rhonda Dunn, Lynnette Emmerson, Lindsay Madison, Shirley Palmer and Melissa Wise.

Kirk Sharp: New Gordon Parks Museum Director

Kirk Sharp was recently selected to be the new Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director. He is pictured just outside the museum against a wall depicting some life moments of Gordon Parks. The museum is located in the Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College.

Kirk Sharp started his duties as the new Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director on Jan. 7.

But Sharp is no stranger to the museum. He has been serving behind the scenes since 2004.

“I always had an interest and encouraged the activities and helped with activities and special events when I could,” Sharp said. He also served on the Gordon Parks Museum Foundation Board for four years.

Sharp is a 1985 graduate of Fort Scott High School, and has worked at FSCC before.

“I worked here in FSCC admissions from 2007 to 2010,” Sharp said. “Then Mercy Hospital where I managed Health For Life, occupational and sports medicine until the hospital closed (In 2018).”

“I feel blessed for this exciting opportunity to be with the Gordon Parks Museum and also being back with FSCC,” Sharp said.

“Kirk was the best choice,” said Kassie Feugate-Cate, FSCC’s Director of Strategic Communication. “He is a great asset to the program. We are grateful  and look forward to seeing what he can do with the museum, moving forward.”

The mission of the Gordon Parks Museum is to honor the life and work of Gordon Parks, internationally-known photographer, filmmaker, writer, and musician; and to use his remarkable life story to teach about artistic creativity, cultural awareness, and the role of diversity in our lives.

Gordon Parks Museum on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

“I want to continue the mission of the Gordon Parks Museum towards cultural diversity, through special events and programs, not just here in the community, but nationwide,” Sharp said. “Trying to look to the future by becoming more interactive, maybe kiosks or tablets for our digital generation.”

February is designated Black History Month and there will be several learning experiences offered at the museum.

On Feb. 15, there will be a presentation of “Slave to Soldier” during a “Lunch and Learn” at the museum, from 11 a.m. to noon. The public is invited to bring a lunch and hear the history lesson.

This is a Buffalo Soldier history presentation, featuring the Alexander/Madison Chapter-Greater Kansas City/Leavenworth Area, 9th and 10th Cavalry Association. These many generations of negro soldiers served their county from 1866 to 1944 in the military.

“We are also going to show a Kevin Willmott film, “The Jayhawkers” in the month of February. Kansas University Professor Willmott is a past recipient of  a Gordon Parks Award and this year is in the running for an Oscar for his film “BlacKkKlansMan.”

History of the museum:

“After Gordon Parks attended the first ever Gordon Parks Celebration in 2004, he gifted the Gordon Parks Center with 30 of his photographs. This spectacular group includes many of his iconic works such as American Gothic, Tuskegee Airmen, Flavio, Ali Sweating, Ingrid Bergman on Stromboli and many others,” according  to the Visit Fort Scott website: https://visitfortscott.com/see-and-do/gordon-parks-museum/

Kirk Sharp stands in front of a giant photo of Gordon Parks in the museum.

 

“In 2006, after his death, his personal effects and other memorabilia, per Gordon’s wishes, were given to the Museum. This valuable collection included many of his awards and medals, personal photos, paintings and drawings of Gordon, plaques, certificates, diplomas and honorary doctorates, selected books and articles, clothing, record player, tennis racquet, magazine articles, his collection of Life magazines and much more,” according to the  Vist Fort Scott website.

The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information see The Gordon Parks Museum Facebook page.

Sharp is married to Sis Sharp and has two children, Jolee, 26 and Trey, 24.

Fort Scott Emergency Room Gap In Service: Area ER’s Will Be Utilized

Mercy Hospital Fort Scott signed an agreement with Ascension Via Christi to provide equipment and furnishings for emergency room services.

Mercy Hospital’s President Reta Baker signed an agreement with Ascension Via Christi on Jan. 27 to provide emergency room services at the hospital that ends for Mercy today, Jan. 31.

“It is an agreement that Mercy will provide lease space and provide the necessary equipment and furnishings to provide the services of an emergency room,” Baker said.

The Mercy Emergency Room waiting area, January 2019.

One issue: there is a gap between the Mercy closing date and when Via Christi will get regulatory approval to provide emergency room services.

“Before Via Christi can operate ER services in this setting and building, they have to have a license from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment,” Baker said. “It takes time. It has steps…I think all the parties engaged will work as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

She is estimating a few weeks, but it could be more, she said.

Baker said the ambulance service will take patients to area emergency rooms in the meantime.

“If they call 911, they will take the patient to the closest appropriate ER,” Baker said. “Or if a person wants to take themselves, they could choose which ER they can go to. Pittsburg, Girard, Nevada, Iola, Olathe, Overland Park…all the ER’s are aware of the need.”

The Mercy ambulance service continues under Mercy operation until April 1, then Bourbon County will become the owners, she said.

Reta Baker. Courtesy photo.

Baker also addressed the following questions:

What about the hospital pharmacy?

“The pharmacy will continue to operate under Mercy until April 1, then operate under the Community Health Center.”

Mammography?

“Mammography is under CHC.”

Radiology?

“Radiology will be available under Via Christi.”

The administration wing of the hospital will be a Mercy hub work-site, Baker said. “There will be 15 employees working out of the building. (They will have)An assortment of responsibilities to support the business functions of Mercy Regional .”

The patient room wing of the hospital has been partitioned off to prevent the public from entering the area, she said.

Even though it is a sad time, it is an exciting one, she said.

“It’s an exciting new opportunity,” Baker said. “And a new model of care for the community.