Bourbon County, Entertainment, Exercise, Fort Scott

Special Olympics Benefit on Woodland Hills Golf Course July 29

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Woodland Hills Golf Course, 2414 S. Horton, Fort Scott.

The 6th Annual Bourbon County Special Olympics Golf Scramble is July 29.

Amy Bockerstette, a Special Olympian from Phoenix, AZ. Submitted photo.

“To date we have raised over $115,00 for Special Olympics Kansas,” Steve Anthony, tournament director said. “Because last year was such a huge hit for us we are bringing back former Major Leaguer Otis Nixon to our event.”

“Otis will be bringing with him Harlem Globetrotter Hollywood Brown, Golf Trick Shot Artist Rocky Shipe, and Olympic Medalist Arthur Culbreath,” he said.

They have a full field of sixty-two teams with 264 players coming from seven different states.

Tee times will start on Saturday July 29 at 7a.m. with the first wave of teams. The second wave will take off at approx 1:15 p.m.

“I want to thank Andrew Defebaugh and Chase Halsey for all of their help to make this tournament a success,” Anthony said. “The community is invited to come out starting at 7 a.m. to purchase raffle tickets for $1 each.”

Time Judy, Ben Cole, Steve Anthony and Nick Rule at the Special Olympics event three years ago. Submitted photo.

“We also have a golf cart we will be giving away that day to the lucky winner of one of our many raffle prizes we will have available,” Anthony said. “I can’t thank the community enough for always stepping up to raise funds for such a great cause.”

For more information please contact him at 620-215-2392.

Food, Government, Kansas

Special Hunting Access this Fall Through Free Draw

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KDWP to Offer Special Hunting Access this Fall Through Free Draw

PRATT – Exclusive access to land not normally open to hunting and above average success rates… Sound like an expensive hunting lease? Well, it’s not. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ Special Hunts program provides hundreds of such hunts each fall and winter, and what’s even better? There’s no charge – all you have to do is apply and be selected.

KDWP’s Special Hunts program offers hunting opportunities with limited access to public and private lands, including select refuge areas, for deer, upland game, waterfowl, doves, turkey and furbearers.

Applications must be made online here, https://programs.ksoutdoors.com/2023-Fall-Winter-Hunts, and a random drawing will determine who is selected.

This fall and winter, KDWP is offering more than 350 individual “Special Hunt” opportunities.

The application period opened July 8, 2023, with the application draw dates as follows:

  • First Draw Hunts (hunts occurring in September and October) – Aug. 7, 2023
  • Second Draw Hunts (hunts occurring in November and December) – Sept. 25, 2023
  • Third Draw Hunts (hunts occurring in January and February) – Dec. 11, 2023

Resident or nonresident hunters may apply, though some hunts are restricted to residents only. When applying online, hunters will select hunts by species, date and category, which include “Open,” “Youth,” or “Mentored” hunts. All applicants are eligible to apply for Open Hunts, regardless of age or hunting experience. Youth Hunts require parties to include at least one hunter age 18 or younger, accompanied by an adult age 21 or older (who may not hunt). And Mentored Hunts are open to both youth and novice hunters supervised by a mentor age 21 or older (who may also hunt).

E-mail notifications are sent to both “successful” and “unsuccessful” applicants within two business weeks of the drawing. Successful applicants will also be emailed their hunt permit, as well as area maps and other pertinent information. Hunters are responsible for purchasing necessary licenses and permits required by law.

For more information on KDWP’s Special Hunts Program, visit https://ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Special-Hunts-Information.

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Obituary

Obituary of James Hite

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James Marlyn Hite was born on February 18, 1947, in Moran, Kansas, to John M. Hite and Marianna Koch Hite.

He died peacefully at home on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the age of 76 with his family surrounding him.  He grew up in the Uniontown/Redfield area, attended grade school in Redfield and graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1965.  He attended Fort Scott Community College after graduation.

Jim and Doris were married on December 26, 1969, at First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown.  He later completed his degree in education after he and Doris moved to Wichita.

Jim is preceded in death by both his mother and his father.

He is survived by his wife, Doris Hite, of the home in Wichita, three sons, Christopher J. Hite of Wichita, Joshua D. Hite of Wichita, and Timothy M. Hite (Chantal) of Troy, Missouri, and one sister, Diana Hite Ford of Wichita.  He has ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  He loved his family dearly and took great pride in them.  He never missed a practice or a game when his sons were playing sports.  He even changed his work schedule so he could attend the games.

 

Jim was on staff at the Wichita Baptist Tabernacle and taught in the Baptist Tabernacle School shortly after he and Doris moved to Wichita.  He joined American Family Insurance as an insurance underwriter in 1986 and later changed to an insurance claims adjuster.  He retired from American Family in 2012.

 

Jim loved being in the yard, planting flowers and a garden.  It was his stress reliever.  He loved red canna bulbs and red geraniums.  And, of course, when he was in high school, he loved muscle cars, which he and his friends always drove.  In fact, on his first date with Doris, he got a ticket for loud pipes.  She never let him forget that.

 

Jim loved the Lord and was so ready to meet Him.  He was not afraid of death because he had assurance of his destination.

 

Services will be held for him at Newspring Church in Wichita, Kansas, at 10:30 Thursday morning, July 13, 2023, with burial in Uniontown Cemetery at 3:00 pm.

Donations in place of flowers may be made to divinenest.com, which is a non-profit organization that supports and trains foster and adoptive families.

It was an important organization to Jim because of the amazing work they do and the heart they have for kids going through traumatic events. His son, Tim, is the Associate Director.

Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Bourbon County, Government

Special Meeting Agenda for Bo Co Commission at 4 p.m. Today

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Bourbon County Courthouse

210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800

Fax: 620-223-5832

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Kansas

Nelson Blythe

1st District Commissioner

Jim Harris, Chairman

2nd District Commissioner

Clifton Beth

3rd District Commissioner

 

 

Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

July 10, 2023 4:00

 

  1. Call Meeting to Order
  2. Executive Session KSA 75-4319(b)(4)
  • Adjourn Meeting

 

 

 

Executive Session Justifications:

 

KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the

attorney-client relationship.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the

representative(s) of               the body or agency.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual     proprietorships

KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting

would jeopardize such security measures.

 

Fort Scott, Jobs, Schools

New Assistant Prinicpal at Winfield Scott: Chris Garzone

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Submitted photo.

Chris Garzone, 53, is the new Assistant Principal at Winfield Scott Elementary, Fort Scott, starting August 1.

Winfield Scott Elementary School, 316 W. 10th Street, Fort Scott.

From Prescott, Arizona, he attended Sterling College on a scholarship to play football and baseball and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education K-12.

Garzone chose a career in education because of the lasting impact teachers and coaches had in his life.
He is in his 28th year in education.
Those years include Gallup, New Mexico, at a small catholic school.
“I was the K-12 Physical Education teacher, taught 10th grade health, was the Athletic Director, and coached various sports.”
They  moved to Fort Scott, where his wife Laura taught at St. Mary’s and he was hired at Nevada R5 Schools, teaching elementary physical education K-2 for one year, then taught health classes at Heartland Behavioral Health School for five years. He coached softball, baseball, football and basketball while in Nevada.
In 2005, he completed the Educational Leadership Program from Pittsburg State University and was hired as an assistant principal at Pittsburg Community Middle School.
After one year, he transferred to Pittsburg High School and was an assistant principal for 17 years.
“The best part of being an administrator is the relationships that have occurred between students, staff, the families and the community,” he said. “We are all on a team focused on doing what’s right for each individual child. Observing teachers and students having success inside and outside the classroom is very rewarding for me. I am a servant leader who places others’ needs above my own.”
“I accepted the Assistant Principal position at Winfield Scott because professionally it will be a good challenge for me, switching from secondary to elementary,” he said.  “Fort Scott is an amazing community. My wife grew up here and this small town is a good place to live and be involved in.”

He is celebrating his 30th wedding anniversary with Laura Tuchscherer of Fort Scott this August, he said.

They have four children: Haley, a May 2023 Kansas University Graduate  pursuing a masters degree in Public Health, with the intent on attending medical school;  Austin, attending Pittsburg State University in the Automotive Certification Program; Molly,  at PSU pursuing Elementary Education; Tyler,  a junior at Fort Scott High School,who plans to play basketball for the Tigers.

“Our children have blessed our lives in so many ways,” he said.

Fort Scott, Jobs, Schools

U234 Job Fair Today

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USD 234 Job Fair!

Come join the Tiger Family!

USD 234 will be hosting a Job Fair on July 11th, 2023 from 11am-4pm and July 12th,2023 from 2pm-7pm.

This event will be held in the FSMS – Flex Space

(on the South Side of the Building)

1105 E. 12th St.

For more information contact the Board of Education at

620.223.0800 or visit their website at www.usd234.org
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Obituary

Obituary of Frankie Shrakes

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Frankie Shrakes, Jr., age 74, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Friday, July 7, 2023, at his home.  He was born September 5, 1948, in Ft. Scott, the son of Frank Shrakes and Velma “Dolly” McDaniel Shrakes.  He married Gail L. Guffey on June 6, 1966, at Ft. Scott.

Frankie worked for twenty-five years at Peerless Products in Ft. Scott.  He had a knack for working on engines, and following his retirement from Peerless, he operated his own small engine repair shop.

In his younger days, Frankie enjoyed playing softball and racing go-carts and stock cars.  He also enjoyed fishing and occasionally participated in area bass tournaments.

He attended Ft. Scott Church of the Nazarene.

 

Survivors include his daughters, Teresa Shrakes of Ft. Scott, Heidi Dixon (Rob) also of Ft. Scott and DiAnna Dakon (Ronald) of Smithville, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Ricky Ann Vargas (Ariel), Austin Shelden, Alek Shelden (Megan), Ashton Dixon. Jacob Mein, Nickolas Dakon, and Skylar Dakon; three great-grandchildren, Lola, Santiago and Laney Vargas.  Also surviving are four brothers, John “Duke” Zabrinas, Donald Shrakes, Ronnie Shrakes, and Larry Shrakes and three sisters, Carol Shrakes, Kathy Shrakes and Janet Shrakes and a special cousin J.R. Stewart (Wendy) of Ft. Scott.

Frankie was preceded in death by his wife, Gail, on October 7, 2022.

 

Rev. Virgil Peck will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, July 12th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Centerville Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Entertainment, Fort Scott

“Dangerous” Doug Harper Performs At Friday Night Free Concert

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“Dangerous” Doug Harper will take the stage at 7 p.m. for the Friday Night Concert at the Heritage Park Pavilion at 1st and Main streets.

Harper is a returning musician, bringing many songs he’s written himself. A native of Nevada, Mo., Harper has been singing and playing guitar for many years. His career began with playing in bands, and toured through 38 states with Nevada’s Marci Mitchell, before Harper went solo in 2012.

Harper writes “modern folk songs,” but also performs some traditional songs. He calls his genre “subferior” because he said it’s “kind of country, kind of rock and kind of folk, which means there’s less instruments.”
Currently he performs in many nursing homes and coffee shops and said he likes the close connection to his audience.

Harper self-produces a couple of albums a year. When he’s not working in the theatre department at Cottey College as a technical director, he also produces a podcast, “Lunch With Doug” and a magazine, “Local Ear,” which can be picked up in 12 states.

“We welcome Doug back to the stage,” concert organizer Ralph Carlson said. “It’s always a pleasure to have local musicians bring their original music.”

The concert is free and seating is limited, so bring a lawn chair. In the event of inclement weather or extreme heat, the concert will moved to Common Ground Coffee at 12 E. Wall St.

Sound support is provided by Dave’s Music Gear and Jim Butler. The concert series is sponsored by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.

Bourbon County, Government

The Bourbon County Commission Agenda for July 10

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Bourbon County Courthouse

210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800

Fax: 620-223-583

Bourbon County, Kansas

Nelson Blythe

1st District Commissioner

Jim Harris, Chairman

2nd District Commissioner

Clifton Beth

3rd District Commissioner

 

 

Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

July 10, 2023 4:30 p.m.

 

  1. Call Meeting to Order
  2. Flag Salute followed by Prayer
  • Budget Work Session from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
  1. Approval of Consent agenda
    1. Minutes from 6/26/2023, 6/28/2023, and 7/3/2023
    2. Approval of Payroll totaling $216,424.52
    3. Approval of Accounts Payable Totaling $392,442.81
  2. Department Updates
    1. Public Works
  3. James Malveaux-Ditching Issue
  • Jennifer Hawkins, County Clerk-Real Property Relief Application 11 N. Barbee
  • Clifton Beth-Healthcare
  1. Clifton Beth-Executive Session KSA 75-4319(b)(4)
  2. Justin Meeks-Executive Session KSA 75-4319(b)(2)
  3. Public Comments
  • Commission Comments
  • Meeting Adjourn

 

 

 

 

Executive Session Justifications:

 

KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the

attorney-client relationship.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the

representative(s) of               the body or agency.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual     proprietorships

KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting

would jeopardize such security measures.

 

Opinion

Nothing Secondhand by Carolyn Tucker

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Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

One of my favorite things to do is shop at thrift stores. This is tremendous fun for me because I never know what unique secondhand treasure I’ll find. My friend Misty gave
me a framed wall hanging with a quote from J.S. Bach that reads: “Music hath no end other than the glory of God and the recreation of the soul.” Very well said, and this lovely gift was purchased at a flea market.

Both my son-in-law Levi and I like the movie, “Secondhand Lions.” The plot is about a 14-year-old boy who is sent to live with his eccentric and reclusive great uncles on a ramshackle farm in Texas. The bachelor uncles order a lion for a wild game hunt on their
farm. But when the “king of the jungle” was delivered and unloaded, all they had for their money was an old worn-out retired circus lioness, so she was turned over to the boy as a
pet. He loved her, even though the secondhand lioness had seen better days.

Toward the end of the movie, the two aging uncles considered themselves just “a couple of has- beens“ right along with the lioness.

There’s nothing secondhand about God. “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning”

(Lamentations 3:22,23 NLT). While I sleep, His loving goodness is restocked and available when my feet hit the floor in the morning. Believers know their heavenly Father firsthand and understand that there‘s always new hope for a breakthrough every day.

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV).

Even when we’re in the valley we can be thankful to God.
Why? Because we aren’t without His spiritual blessings that are freely given to us

My pastor says, “There’s no free rides, just free gifts.” God invites us to receive His unfailing love, mercies, hope, faithfulness, peace, and joy. Even if we fail and miss the mark, the mercies and forgiveness of God never cease and that is proof of His trustworthiness.

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy…” (Psalm 33:18 NKJV). God sees, knows, and cares about all who revere and obey Him.

In Genesis Chapter 16, Hagar ran away to the wilderness because Sarai was treating her so harshly. But God found her and spoke to her. Hagar was the only person to give God the Hebrew name “El-roi” which means “the God who sees me.“

You may feel like nobody knows the trouble you’ve seen, but that’s not true. El-roi knows everything you’re going through and He is “at the ready” with new mercies every morning.

Whatever you need, God has it because He’s not short-handed in any way, shape, or form.

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened at all, that it cannot save nor His ear dull with deafness that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1 AMP).

God is not about to wear out, retire, give up on you, or throw His hands up and walk away. He is seated on His throne
with the King of the Universe beside Him.

“[Jesus] who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand — with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to Him” (1 Peter 3:22 NIV). God has always been, and always will be, faithful in His love and mercies.

The Key: Our firsthand experience with God proves that His mercies never wear out.

Bourbon County Local News