History, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Lowell Milken Center Celebrates New Park and 15th Anniversary

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RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY HONORS GRAND OPENING OF LOWELL MILKEN CENTER’S NEW PARK AS PART OF 15TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 

Event marks both official Grand Opening of a new LMC Park and commemoration of the 15th Anniversary of the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony announces the new LMC park’s grand opening. From left to right: Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Program Director Megan Felt, former Executive Director of the National Teachers Hall of Fame Dr. Carol Strictland, son of WWII Unsung Hero Andrew Higgins Skipper Higgins(cutting the ribbon), Unsung Hero of the Rwandan genocide Carl Wilkens, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Chief Executive Director Norm Conard, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Founder Lowell Milken, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lindsay Madison, and Lowell Milken Center Park Committee Chair Beth Nuss.

On September 12, the official Grand Opening—including VIP speeches, a surprise award presentation, and a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony—welcomed 200 guests to a new park and outdoor exhibit space in the heart of the historic downtown district of Fort Scott, KS. The event was a fitting accompaniment to the 15th Anniversary celebration of the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes (LMC).

The festivities began at 10 a.m. on September 12 with a special ceremony recognizing honored guests who traveled from across the country to attend. This included 24 teachers who had earned the distinction of being LMC Fellows, several living Unsung Heroes and their family members, longtime patrons of LMC and the many individuals who have played key roles in the support and development of the park. Special appreciation was given for the park’s major donor, the Lowell Milken Family Foundation, and for generous grants from the Sunderland Foundation and Timken Foundation. “As we enter this new era, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes continues to stand as a testament to the power of Unsung Heroes to change the world through project-based learning,” said LMC Chief Executive Officer Norm Conard.

In construction since June of last year, the LMC park is now a vibrant and much-anticipated expansion of LMC. The park features outdoor Unsung Hero exhibits with interactive story rails, a walking trail, an enhanced water feature, and beautiful landscaping with bench seating for guests to enjoy. The park provides a community space where visitors to the museum and Fort Scott residents alike can enjoy the tranquil scenery, learn about the Unsung Heroes profiled in the story rails, and gather for community programs and activities in partnership with other business in the downtown area.

 

Highlights of the Grand Opening event included reflections from LMC Founder Lowell Milken. “I believe that a center for Unsung Heroes could only have been borne out of a community that deeply values history, excellence and education,” he said. “Fifteen years later we can all take pride in knowing that educators, communities and students experience the powerful combination that can occur when history merged with project-based learning leads to the discovery of change-makers.”

 

Also speaking during the event were Chief Executive Officer Norm Conard and Program Director Megan Felt, who have been instrumental in LMC since its earliest beginnings. Remarks were also made by longtime supporters of LMC, such as Former Executive Director of the National Teachers’ Hall of Fame Carol Strickland, LMC Park Committee Chair Beth Nuss and Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Director Lindsay Madison. A surprise announcement capped off the special occasion when attendee Gracie Conrad, a high school student from Taylor, Nebraska, learned that she was the $6,000 Grand Prize recipient in the 2022 Discovery Award competition for her powerful documentary about Holocaust Unsung Hero Betty Goudsmit-Oudkerk. Conrad’s documentary explores the courage and tenacity required for Goudsmit-Oudkerk to leverage her position as a daycare nurse in the Netherlands to help save more than 600 children from the Nazis.

Gracie Conrad, a junior at Loup County High School in Taylor, Nebraska, is stunned to learn that she has received the $6,000 grand prize in the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes 2022 Discovery Award competition. Her spellbinding documentary portrays the life and legacy of Betty Goudsmit-Oudkerk, who, as a teenager, helped to save more than 600 children from the Holocaust. Next to Gracie is her proud mother, Maggie Conrad (with camera phone), and English teacher Megan Helberg (far left), who helped supervise the project.
Presentation of the Grand Prize Check: From left to right: Megan Felt, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung HeroesProgram Director; Megan Helberg, Lowell Milken CenterFellow and GracieConrad’steacherand project supervisor; Gracie Conrad, 2022 Discovery Award Grand Prize winner; Lowell Milken, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Founder; Norm Conard, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Chief Executive Officer.

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests were invited inside LMC’s Hall of Unsung Heroes museum to partake in its exhibits, enjoy light refreshments and view several presentations by educators who have participated in the LMC fellowship program. Guests also had the unique opportunity during these presentations to meet the living Unsung Heroes or their immediate families who were in attendance, such as Carl Wilkens, an Unsung Hero of the Rwandan genocide; family members of Unsung Hero Chester Nez, one of WWII’s “First Twenty-Nine” Navajo Code Talkers; the family of Unsung Hero Andrew Jackson Higgins, who invented the Higgins boats used in amphibious landings in WWII and was credited by President Eisenhower as the “man who won the war”; and the family of Unsung Hero Gene Shoemaker, a pioneer in astrogeology and the only person whose ashes are buried on the moon.

The 15th Anniversary celebration will culminate in a Community Open House hosted by LMC on Tuesday, September 13, between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., welcoming everyone to this exciting new addition to LMC and the greater Fort Scott community. LMC is located at 1 South Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701.

For more information visit the LMC online newsroom.

About LMC

Established in 2007, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes (LMC) discovers, develops and communicates the stories of unsung heroes who have made a profound and positive impact on history, yet are largely unrecognized by contemporary generations. LMC has reached over 3,000,000 students and 30,000 schools in all 50 states and countries around the world. Learn more about the LMC and the Discovery Award. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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Bourbon County, Business

Spyder: Informational Sessions Offered

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Come learn about Spyder!

 

Spyder will be hosting information sessions open to the general public to learn about Spyder and how we will help the Fort Scott/Bourbon County community. We invite you to see our offices and learn what we are all about.

These 45 min sessions are informational only with light refreshments served.  We have limited seats (12 per session) so interested people may reach out to [email protected] to reserve your seat.

Session dates & times: 

Thursday, Sept 29th 11am & 1pm

Friday, Sept 30th noon

Location: Spyder Headquarters – 102 W. 2nd St, Fort Scott (DMV building)

 

 

What we will discuss:

Who are we?

What do we do?

Why are we important to the community?

How can we assist the community to attract a hospital?

How will we impact the local economy?

 

 

 

 

www.spyderloop.com Nedra Barr

CEO at Spyder, Inc

(816) 820-8579 (voice / text)
[email protected]

https://calendly.com/nedrabarr
Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Southwind District Compete at Hutchinson

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 Jeremiah Jones, Grant Stockebrand, Jackson Han, Josiah Stokebrand, Judah Stokebrand, Abigail Meiwes, Austin Maycumber, and Derek Jones

Southwind Extension District 4-H members from Allen, Bourbon, Neosho, and Woodson County’s competed Sunday, September 11 at the Kansas State Fair Photography Judging Contest in Hutchinson.

The intermediate team included Jackson Han, Austin Maycumber, Derek Jones, and Jeremiah Jones placed 8th in the state.

The senior team included Abigail Meiwes, Grant Stockebrand, Josiah Stockebrand, and Judah Stockebrand placed 8th in the state.

They were accompanied by their coach Terri Kretzmeier.

 

 

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

U234 Board Minutes of Sept. 12

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Monday, September 12, 2022

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 12, 2022, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.

 

President Danny Brown opened the meeting.

 

The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:

 

  • Minutes from August 8, 2022, Board of Education meeting and minutes from August 1, 22, and 23, 2022, Board of Education special meetings
  • Financials – Cash Flow Report
  • Check Register
  • Payroll – August 20, 2022 – $1,361,769.35
  • Activity Fund accounts
  • First Day Enrollment Count
  • Appointment of Zach Reynolds as the school attorney for the 2022-23 school year
  • FSHS Orchestra Fundraiser Application

 

The board heard reports from FSKNEA regarding the bucket auction for scholarships, staff returning to school, and thanked Superintendent Brown for his visibility in the schools.

 

The Superintendent reviewed the KSDE Accountability Report for 2020-21 and the recent culture survey that was taken of staff.  Superintendent Brown updated the board on assessments and PLC professional development on behalf of the Assistant Superintendent.

 

The Business Manager reported on the special education audit, financial audit, and annual reporting.

 

 

 

The board approved the following items:

  • Contract with Greenbush for federal E-rate related to connectivity which allow the district to receive an 80% discount on services.
  • Place three (3) buses and a suburban for sale through auctiontime.com. In addition, scrap two buses that are no longer in service.
    • Vehicles for auction will be:
      • 2006 Blue Bird 27 passenger
      • 1998 AMTRAN 64 passenger
      • 2003 Blue Bird 40 passenger
      • 1990 Chevy Suburban
    • Contract with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton CPAs for the annual financial audit.
    • Curtain divider purchase to allow additional classroom space at Fort Scott Middle School.
    • Roof bids to Meridian Roofing Solutions. This will address roofs at Winfield Scott, Fort Scott High School, and Eugene Ware Elementary.  The total bid was for $1,341,401.
    • Direct Communication & Public Relations proposal to evaluate communication with students, families, and staff.
    • KDHE Kansas K-12 Stay Positive Test Negative Initiative Grant in the amount of $776,558. This is a non-matching grant that will allow for testing to continue for the schools and the purchase of Synexis machine to fight viruses, bacteria, mold, odors, and insects.
    • Personnel Report – following

 

The board went into an executive session for personnel matters and the superintendent evaluation process.

 

President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.

 

 

 

PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT

RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:

  • Dennis Dennigan – Resignation – FSHS special education teacher, effective September 1, 2022
  • Makyah Goldsby – Resignation – FSMS paraprofessional, effective September 13, 2022
  • Ashley Wolf – Resignation – Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective August 23, 2022

EMPLOYMENT/REASSIGNMENTS – FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR

  • Shelly Sanborn – FSHS paraprofessional to FSHS special education teacher
  • Elizabeth Underwood – Winfield Scott paraprofessional
  • Jessica Smith – FSHS paraprofessional
  • Laeci Hall – FSHS paraprofessional
  • Amaiya Terry – FSHS paraprofessional
  • Nissa Dinneen – FSMS paraprofessional
  • Tosha Guffin – Winfield Scott paraprofessional
  • Alicia Craig – Winfield Scott paraprofessional
  • Nina Merriman – Van driver
  • Lewis Dunkeson – FSMS Summer Conditioning
  • Brendon Blackburn – FSMS Summer Conditioning Assistant
  • Katie Chipman – FSMS Gym Supervisor
  • Sarah Dunivan – FSHS Musical Music Director
  • Abby Stepps – FSHS Play Assistant
  • Christina King – FSHS Play Assistant
  • Chad Ruddick – FSHS Fall Esports
  • Matt Glades – FSHS Spring Esports
  • Amy Harper – FSHS National Honor Society
  • Becky Howard – FSMS Gym Supervisor
  • Brian Hutchison – FSMS Assistant Football Coach
  • Guiding Coalition for 2022-23
    • Winfield Scott – Cristin Stark, Robin Webb, Hayden Travis, Emily Giffin, Anna Swank, Bre Eden
    • Eugene Ware – Regina Cruse, Joyce Flanner, Brenda Hill, Marci Mix, Sherry Lindsay, Kelsey DeMott
    • Middle School – Lisa Chaplin, Jayci Cosens, Whitney Beth, Brent Cavin, Tammy Stanley, Jannah Farrington
    • High School- Polly Mayberry, Amy Harper, Mark Spore, Sara Jackman, Nikki Regan, lared Martin, Justin Robinson, Ryan Miller, Morgan Sage
  • Mentors for 2022-23
    • Angie Bin, Tracey Bogina, Danielle Cavin, Tammy Claypool, Kelly Cox, Lindsey Davis, Kelsey DeMott, Autumn Durossette, Jannah Farrington, Carson Felt, Joyce Flanner, Ali Gorman, Lindsay Gulager, Brenda Hill, Curtis Horton, Sara Jackman, Sabrina Keating, Michelle Laubenstein, Amber Malone, Polly Mayberry, Josh Messer, Linda Minor, Nikki Regan, Abby Stepps, Rhiannon Tuck, Robin Webb
Business, Fort Scott

Integrity Home Care and Hospice Earns Patient Satisfaction Award

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Integrity Home Care & Hospice has earned the 2021 SHPBestTM “Premier Performer” Patient Satisfaction Award 

 

Ft. Scott, Kansas, 9/12/2022 – Integrity Home Care has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) as a “Premier Performer” for achieving an overall patient satisfaction score that ranked in the top 5% of all eligible SHP clients for the 2021 calendar year.

 

The annual SHPBest™ award program was created to acknowledge home health agencies that consistently provide high quality service to their patients. The 2021 award recipients were determined by reviewing and ranking the overall satisfaction score for more than 2,500 home health providers. With the largest HHCAHPS benchmark in the nation, SHP is in a unique position to identify and recognize organizations that have made patient satisfaction a priority and have been rewarded for their efforts with high marks on the HHCAHPS survey.

“SHP is proud to present the SHPBest awards to our top-performing customers. We commend these organizations for their continuous focus on delivering the highest quality of care to their patients,” said Rob Paulsson, President of SHP.

Integrity’s Fort Scott home health team is thrilled to receive this award and expects to see more in the future. “Our team is proud to receive this recognition.  Our primary goal is ensuring our patients’ ability to remain comfortable in their home environment while receiving restorative care and skilled services. I feel like these consistently high patient satisfaction scores validate that we’re meeting our goal while providing quality care.  We will continue to partner with our patients on their journey towards wellness and improved independence,” said Integrity’s Fort Scot Home Health Administrator, Becky Davied.

Read more about the SHPBest awards program, including methodology and award recipient lists at https://www.shpdata.com/home-health/shpbest-hhcahps.

 

About Integrity Home Care + Hospice

Integrity Home Care & Hospice is passionately dedicated to improving the healthcare system, because everyone has had a personal experience with the struggle that comes with a change in health. They are here to help and support you and your family as you seek to improve or simply maintain your health and independence at home.

 

Integrity’s mission is to identify and meet your home care needs and the needs of its employees with unmatched skill, compassion, and integrity.

 

About Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP)

Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) is a leader in data analytics and benchmarking that drive daily clinical and operational decisions. Our solutions bring real-time data to post-acute providers, hospitals, and ACOs to better coordinate quality care and improve patient outcomes. Since 1996, SHP has helped more than 7,000 organizations nationwide raise the bar for healthcare performance.

 

 

Government, Kansas

Internet, Phone Discounts Available for Families

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Broadband, phone discounts are available for students and families

TOPEKA – The start of a new school year is an expensive time for families. If you are struggling to pay for phone and internet services while navigating back to school costs, help is available to stay connected.

During Lifeline Awareness Week, the Kansas Corporation Commission encourages Kansans in need of assistance to apply for Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP). Both programs help low-income individuals and families stay connected so they can access healthcare, attend classes, keep up with homework, find jobs and call for help in an emergency.

Anyone who qualifies for Lifeline is automatically eligible to participate in both programs. Due to higher income maximums, ACP also has the potential to help many families with internet costs that may not qualify for other types of assistance. For example, the maximum income for a family of four on the ACP program is $55,500 per year. The maximum annual income for a family of four on the Lifeline program is $37,463.

Lifeline provides federal and state discounts up to $17.02 per month on phone service (wireless or residential) and broadband. The Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP) provides a service discount of up to $30 per month for broadband service and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer or tablet purchased through a participating provider. Both programs offer additional discounts for subscribers living on tribal lands.

Eligibility is based on income (at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for Lifeline or at or below 200% for ACP) or participation in certain assistance programs such as:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Federal Public Housing Assistance (FHPA)
  • Veterans Pension & Survivors Pension Benefit
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
  • Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
  • Head Start Tribal Programs (income based)
  • The Food Distribution Program on Tribal Lands.

Regardless of Lifeline eligibility, Kansans may still qualify for ACP if they meet any of the following criteria:

  • Are approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including the USDA Community Eligibility Provision.
  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year.
  • Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020.
  • Meet the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income program.

More information on income eligibility, participating providers, and the enrollment process is available on the KCC website.

Fort Scott, Government

Updated FS City Commission Special Meeting Anouncement

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The City Commission will meet for a special meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14th, 2022 at City Hall in the City Commission meeting room at 123 South Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.  The City Commission will meet for the 2023 Budget Hearing.  An executive session will follow the public hearing.

 

This meeting will be broadcast on the City’s You tube channel.  This meeting is open to the public.

 

Obituary

Obituary of William Bolden

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William “Bill” Loren Del Bolden, age 73, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Friday, September 9, 2022, at his home.  He was born August 29, 1949, in Ft. Scott, the son of Loren Theodore Bolden and Dolores Sherwood Roy Bolden.

Bill was drafted by the Army on June 11, 1969.  He served in Vietnam for one year.

He worked for Extrusions in Ft. Scott early in his career. He then worked for Dayco, Carlisle, and Timken Manufacturing for over 30 years until retirement.

Bill then followed his love for fishing by opening Hilltop Bait Shop.  While operating the bait shop, Bill would read book after book.  He was also an avid gardener.  He enjoyed cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs as well as arrow hunting, especially with the grandkids.  He loved spending time with his family and friends.  He was always the loudest voice in the stands at the kids’ sporting events.

 

Survivors include his wife Casey of the home; 3 sons, Anthony Michael Bolden, Ft. Scott; Justin Bolden and wife Kayla, Denver, CO; and Tyson Bolden, Ft. Scott and 10 grandchildren, Bailey, Tyson, Ryan, Neveah, Tyffani, Michael, Emily, Gage, Gunnar, and Sophie; a sister, Laura Deen, Uniontown, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews

He was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Paul Tyler, Daniel Bolden, and Larry Bolden; 3 sisters, Donna Fisher, Dorothy Radford, and Bonnie Heaton; and his parents.

 

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, September 16th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Thursday at the funeral home.

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

Exercise, Fort Scott

Golf Disc Tourney: Sept. 17 in Gunn Park, Register by Sept. 16

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A disc golf frisbee. Submitted photo.

A disc golf tournament is scheduled at Gunn Park on Sept. 17.

For those not familiar with the sport, disc golf is played much like golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc or Frisbee® to aim at a basket on a pole, according the website https://www.pdga.com/introduction. The sport was formalized in the 1970s and the object of the game is to complete each hole with, fewest throws.

Local disc golfer Danny Craig is organizing the Gunn Park tourney, which is a Professional Disc Golf Association event.

Danny Craig is the local organizer of the Professional Disc Golf Association Tournament at Gunn Park on Fort Scott’s west side. Submitted photo.

“This is a professional tournament, the professionals will be playing for money,” he said. “Last year there were 75 players that showed up, from states that surround Kansas. I’m not sure of the economic impact, but they buy gas and meals (in Fort Scott) and maybe even stay in the hotels.”

“Disc golf was started in Fort Scott in 1999,” he said. “The Fort Scott Kiwanis provided nine baskets.” It now has 18 holes.

Craig enjoys the game because it is good exercise, he said. “And watching others play. I started playing when I moved next door to a disc golf course and fell in love with the game.”

Disc golf participants watch the game in a prior tournament in Gunn Park. Submitted photo.

“There is something about throwing that perfect shot,” he said. “It doesn’t happen every time, but when it does, it’s magic.”

The cost for this tournament for professional disc golfers is $63, in the amateur division, $58; the intermediate and entertainment division, $53 and the junior division, which is 18 years old and younger, $53.

“There is a payout for the winners in the professional division, it’s $600 added cash above the entry fee,” Craig said. “Amateurs get prizes. Entry fees goes towards the players packets.”

A trailer with disc golf supplies will allow amateur winners to choose their prize. Submitted photo.

There will be a trailer with disc golf supplies, he said. “The amateurs can choose from this.”

Rain or shine the event will happen, he said. “Lightening delays the event one hour, if is continues, the event discontinues.”

The first round starts at 9 a.m., the other at 1 p.m.

“Hole number one is by the small rock shelter house, near the lower pond,” Craig said. “It tees off here.”

Gunn Park is a very picturesque course, with gently rolling hills and trees.

“It is one of Kansas’s hidden treasures,” Craig said.

To sign up for playing in the upcoming tournament: https://www.pdga.com/tour/event/60967

“I want to thank our sponsors Hammer Insurance, 5 Corners Gas Station and the City of Fort Scott,” Craig said.

Disc golf players walk to another hole in Gunn Park at a prior tournament. Submitted photo.

About The Game

“A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, which is the hole,” according to the website. “The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is an elevated metal basket. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive throw from the spot where the previous throw landed. The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the putt lands in the basket and the hole is completed.”

Bourbon County Local News