Fort Scott, KS – Staffers are moving most of the Gordon Parks Museum’s artifact collections into the meeting
room and lobby area of the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center to accommodate public viewing
during the annual celebration Oct. 6–8 at Fort Scott Community College.
Continued supply–chain issues delaying the repair of the museum’s air–conditioning unit are the cause for the
change, said museum director Kirk Sharp.
“The date when repairs can be completed is still unknown at this time,” said Sharp. “We want to thank
everyone for their support and patience.”
Museum visits and tours can be scheduled for a later date by calling (620) 223–2700, ext. 5850, or by sending
an email to [email protected]
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Chamber Coffee hosted by SEK VETERINARY CENTER
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee hosted by SEK Veterinary Center, Thursday, September 22nd at 8 a.m. at 1251 240th St. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees may register to win a special drawing.
Dr. Russ Baxley and his team provide comprehensive care of pets and livestock. They have up-to-date digital imaging, digital ultrasound, in-house blood work as well as access to the Zoetis Reference Laboratory for specialized blood work with next day results. For livestock they have a hydraulic tilt chute with safe and efficient alleys and pens. They also have equine stocks. Dr. Baxley is from Southeast Kansas and has extensive experience in many areas of veterinary medicine including Small and Large animal medicine and surgery, emergency medicine, and Working K9s/service dogs.
Chamber members and guests are invited to Chamber Coffee events each Thursday at 8 a.m. to network, make announcements, hear about happenings in the community as well as learn about the host business or organization.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.
Starlite FCA September Minutes
The September meeting of the Starlite FCE was held at the Yeager building on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. President Glenda Miller called the meeting to order and Deb Lust lead the members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the club collect. Eight members and one quest were in attendance and reported that they had volunteered for twenty-six hours and had recycled seventy-five pounds since their last meeting.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Deb Lust presented the treasurer’s report in Doris’s absence. Karen Peery gave the Council report. She announced that Fall Follies will be November 1st at the Moran Senior Center and will start at 3:30p.m. The program this year will be on Aprons followed by a soup supper. November 3rd will be the area meeting in Parson.
September birthdays in attendance were Letha Johnson and Helen Carson.
It was announced that the Goodie bags had been delivered to the emergence response personnel and that Doris Ericson and Karen Peery are going to attend the State FCE convention. Doris will be recognized as the State winner of the Heart of FCE award.
Before the meeting members signed cards to be presented to the area veterans along with snacks in November. Deb Lust announced that there will be a poppy distribution this year but the weekend has not been determined at this time.
New business consisted of passing out the membership form for the next year and filling them out. The address list was passed around and updated. Glenda Miller requested that members bring extra Christmas cards next months. We will be sending them to the VA hospital in December.
Deb Lust moved that the meeting be adjourned, Helen Carson seconded the motion, meeting adjourned. After the meeting Helen Carson presented the lesson on “Destination Oregon.” Helen shared pictures and information on her travels there as well.
Refreshment of Salmon patties, Blackberry pie, Tillamook cheese ball and crackers were provided the Helen Carson and Doris Ericson and enjoyed by all.
Prepared by
Terri Williams
Senior Food Bank, Commodities Distribution Moved to Saturday, Sept. 24
The Bourbon County Senior Citizens are try to get the word out about the Commodities and Sr. Food Bank Distribution. We have had to change the distribution date from Friday, Sept. 23 to Sat. Sept 24. The time of the distribution will be from 9:oo To Noon at Bourbon County Senior Citizens building is at 26 N. Main.
If you have any questions you can contact Jackie Sellers at (620)364-6524.
Submitted by
Jackie Sellers
FSHS Organization to Sponsor Job Fair
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working to ensure America has a skilled workforce. The Fort Scott High School Chapter of SkillsUSA is hosting a job fair on Wednesday, April 25, 2023 from 8 a.m. to noon in the high school auxiliary gym.
The purpose is to acquaint students with career opportunities available in the region. Michelle Laubenstein is the advisor for the group and can be reached at [email protected] or call 620.223.0600.
The FSHS SkillsUSA club is one of 23 Fort Scott High School student organizations, here is a list of the rest.
Storytime at Local Bookstore: Oct. 1
Obituary of Elda Roark
Elda May Beerbower Roark, age 76, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Sunday, September 18, 2022, at the Guest Home Estates in Ft. Scott.
She was born May 25, 1946, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Jesse Clyde Newman and Juanita May Workman Newman. Elda first married Cecil Allen Beerbower on October 21, 1961, at Ft. Scott. He preceded her in death on November 14, 1986. She later married Tommy C. Roark, Sr. on May 26, 1990. He also preceded her in death on June 3, 2010.
Elda’s life was one of service to others. She had worked at all Ft. Scott nursing homes either as an aide or in the dietary department. Elda had a keen eye for finding garage sales or thrift stores and was always ready to find a bargain or a hidden treasure. Elda also enjoyed Ft. Scott’s annual Good Ol’ Days celebrations.
Survivors include her five children, Cecil Beerbower of Manhattan, Kansas, Jesse Beerbower, of Ft. Scott, Liz Beerbower also of Ft. Scott, Jeff Beerbower (Anna) of Redfield, Kansas and Nathan Beerbower (Ginger) of Ft. Scott. Also surviving are several grandchildren and a brother, Jerald Newman of Ft. Scott.
In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Loretta Lynn Beerbower; two grandsons, Blake Beerbower and Timothy Paul Bybee, a great-grandson, Austin Cole Lukenbill, and two sisters, Georgia Endicott and Mary Catherine Newman.
Rev. Marty DeWitt will conduct services at 2:00 P.M. Friday, September 23rd at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Elda Roark Memorial Fund 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.
Ann Stark Retires After 43 Years at Atkins Insurance
After 43 years at a downtown Fort Scott business, Ann Stark has retired.
“My last day was May 27,” Stark said. “The co-workers had a retirement party for me on August 19.”
Stark has worked at Atkins Insurance Agency since 1979.
“I was hired by Ron Dodson in February 1979,” she said. “My first position was clerical, customer service.”
“I liked the small office and meeting clients one-on-one,” Stark said.
She then earned a license in property, casualty, life and health insurance in 1980.
After Ron Dodson died she and Patty West purchased the business from his widow.
“We kept the same phone number and same customer service,” she said. “It was working, why change it?”
Through the years she took classes to improve her service to the customers.
“The laws and policies change and you are required to take continuing education classes every two years,” she said.
And this year marked her 43rd year with the business.
Stark says she does miss the interaction with her clients, since her retirement.
“You know their kids and grand kids,” she said. “I also miss working with Patty West and Chrystal Cowan, they are mother and daughter.”
But Stark said she is enjoying spending more time outside and being able to go see her grand kids more frequently, with her husband, who is also retired.
Obituary of Floyd Minor
Floyd Earl Minor, age 58, of Fort Scott, Kansas passed away Friday, September 16, 2022, surrounded by family at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. Floyd was born in Fort Scott on October 9, 1963, to Robert Marion Minor and Marilyn Sue (Brooker) Minor. Floyd married Carole Goltra on February 26, 1988, at the Fort Scott Brethren Church.
He graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1982. Floyd started a career in law enforcement working for the Fort Scott Police Department, Bourbon County Sheriff Department, and was a DARE officer. He spent many hours in classrooms educating kids about drug abuse. While working for the sheriff’s department Floyd also started preaching part time, and eventually started full time ministry. He became an ordained pastor through Ashland Theological Seminary located in Ashland, Ohio. At one point he also served on the Board of Directors for Ashland University, in Ashland, Ohio. Floyd preached the Word of God for over 25 years as a pastor. It was always his mission to help as many people as he could to hear the message of salvation, have a personal relationship with the Lord, and ensure their entry into the gates of heaven someday.
Floyd had a love for guns, history, and the ability to questionably know and be able to use every word in the dictionary. One of Floyd’s greatest gifts was making everyone feel welcome, he never knew a stranger, and according to him, he also never lost a game of Trivial Pursuit. Floyd loved his family with an unwavering love. He enjoyed time together, holidays together, and at family meals he especially loved passing on and teaching his kids and grandkids his culinary skills. Family was his greatest joy.
Survivors include his wife Carole, two daughters Brittani Rodrigues (Christopher) of South Carolina, Angela Grado (Chris) of Fort Scott, one son Brian Lee (Darcy) of Uniontown, KS, and his brother Robert Minor (Linda) of Fulton. Also surviving are the grandchildren he was so proud of and loved so much; Kaitlyn Grado, Madison Hudiburg (Josh), Jenna Grado, Rylan Lee, Adalynn Lee, Anistyn Rodrigues, Asher Rodrigues, Camryn Rodrigues, Colin Rodrigues, Cay Cay Rodrigues, and Kristian Rodrigues. Great grandchildren Kingston Grado, Hendrix Grado, Ramsey and Slater Hudiburg, and Rory Christian, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved sister Amy.
Funeral services will be held Friday, September 23, 2022, at 10:30am at the Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel with Rev. Dr. G Emery Hurd officiating.
Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 22, 2022, from 5-7pm at Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Floyd Minor Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Local Ministry Receives Grant to Support Small Churches
“In the United States around 4,000 churches close each year and 2.7 million Christians become inactive,” said local Methodist pastor, Reverend Dr. Carl Ellis.
Ellis is executive director for the Academy for Small Membership Church Ministries, and lives in rural Hiattville, southwest of Fort Scott.
The academy received a $30,000 grant this year from the Guy and Ruby Casebourn Murphy Charitable Trust to continue training of lay pastors and develop innovative programs which support small membership churches.
This trust has supported the Academy’s ministries for over 20 years, beginning in 1999 when Ellis met Ruby Murphy and trustee Thomas Henderson, and the trust began supporting local church ministries.
The Academy has trained over 400 lay persons from 15 different states to serve small membership churches in leadership roles and has held continuing education classes to teach pastoral care skills such as how to plan and lead a funeral for the first time and how to help people dealing with grief. The Academy has also led workshops on church growth in Kansas, Missouri, and Texas.
The Guy and Ruby Casebourn Murphy Charitable Trust has announced The Academy will receive a gift of $75,000 in 2024, he said.
“The Academy plans to invest this gift to perpetuate Guy and Ruby’s values and belief in helping others,” Ellis said. “The grant will help expand ministries and strengthen small membership churches to help their communities.”
The Academy began in 1999 when Ellis taught the first lay pastor’s class with 22 students. It was incorporated in 2015.
The current board of directors has 12 members from Kansas, Nebraska, and Ohio. The board met in June 2022 to refine the mission and vision and start strategic planning for future benefits for the small membership church including scholarships for lay people to participate, and training on all aspects of pastoral care.
The Board is working with the help of consultant Rev. George Cooper from Florida and is developing a 5-10 year plan for helping small membership churches grow and thrive.
Ellis understands the need for strong community-based churches to reach the under-served rural and urban areas in the United States and throughout the world.
“Small membership churches are able, with God’s love, to help bridge the divide between those of differing opinions, give support to those dealing with mental illness, and help those dealing with poverty, as they live out Christ’s call to discipleship,” Ellis said.
Ellis “sees the work as a call from God,” he said.
The small membership church is where he was welcomed into the family of God and experienced God’s love, forgiveness, and grace, he said.
“Without small membership churches many people would feel lost,” says Ellis, “because small membership churches are a place where children of all ages discover they are part of God’s loving community.”
The Academy for Small Membership Church Ministries will be hosting focus groups for small membership churches this fall asking three questions: What are the strengths of small membership churches; What are the challenges small membership churches face; and What programs can The Academy offer to help the small membership church meet future needs and challenges.
For more information, visit https://www.tasmcm.org/ or contact Rev. Dr. Carl K. Ellis at [email protected]
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Sept. 20
Friday Night Free Concert: St. Martin’s Academy
Students of Saint Martin’s Academy, 1950 Indian Road, will be the featured entertainment at this week’s Friday Night Concert. The school currently has a healthy and growing enrollment of boys. The music department is under the direction of Dave Agee and Daniel Kerr. The lads will perform vocal solos, duets, and ensemble numbers plus instrumental accompaniment.
“This lively group of young men will warm your heart with their endearing performances of folk, country, and gospel songs,“ concert-series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “In addition to their musical talent, these students have proven to be an asset to the community with their willingness to help out in various areas. We are pleased to welcome Saint Martin’s Academy back to perform in our downtown pavilion. Bring a friend and join us for an enjoyable evening of music.”
The one-hour concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows are free and open to the public. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Dave Oas and Jim Butler provide the sound each week.
In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.