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Bingo on April 28 at Memorial Hall
American Legion Post 25 will be having Bingo games on Thursday April 28 at 7 pm at Memorial Hall, Third Street and National Avenue. The public is invited.
Submitted by Jessica Allison, Commander
American Legion Post #25
Women’s Business Expo and Luncheon April 27
Fort Scott Community College is excited to bring back our annual Women’s Luncheon and Vendor Expo. This event will take place April 27th on Administrative Professionals Appreciation Day from 11am to 2pm in the Ellis Fine Arts Center.
Local vendors will be set up throughout the lobby and meeting rooms of Ellis ready for you to shop! We will also be serving a light lunch of two different wraps, salad, and mixed fresh fruit. We will also have tea, water, lemonade, and coffee.
Cost is only $7 per person for lunch. Reserve your ticket or vendor space by emailing Kassie Cate at [email protected] or call 620.223.2700 ext. 5248. Tickets will be available at the door as well.
We hope you can ‘squeeze’ some time in for us and enjoy this very springy event 
Obituary of Harold Page
Harold Eugene Page, age 56, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.
He was born July 15, 1965, in Ft. Scott, the son of James Russell Page and Edna Mae Taylor Page.
Harold primarily worked doing highway construction. One could say he was a “jack of all trades.” He could fix almost anything and used this ability to help anyone in need. He enjoyed fishing, especially with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his three children, Brent Kober (Laura) of Olathe, Kansas, Shane Kober, Uniontown, Kansas and Taylor Hall (Greg) of Mound City, Kansas and twelve grandchildren, Greyson, Jade, Shaiden, Kamden, Faith, Jackson, Joseph, Landon, Halle, Brynlee, Lathan, and Presliegh. Also surviving is his mother, Edna Sowder; three brothers, Russell, Jerry and Jimmie Page and three sisters, Margaret Metcalf, Linda Armstrong and Susan Dauben, all of Ft. Scott.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lacey Page, two sisters, Cindy Doherty and Connie Page, his father, James Russell Page and his step-father, Jerry Sowder.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, April 23rd at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Following services, there will be cremation.
The family will receive friends on Saturday from 9:00 A.M. until service time at the chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Harold Page 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.
Obituary of Mary “Sug” Beckford
Mary Irene “Sug” Beckford, 90, formerly of Fulton, Kansas passed away Thursday morning, December 23, 2021, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas. She was born February 13, 1931, in Devon, Kansas, the daughter of George Franklin and Mary Elizabeth (Townsend) Snyder. She married Charles L. Beckford on August 27, 1950, in Fulton, Kansas, and he preceded her in death on October 19, 2008.
Sug graduated from Fulton High School. She helped plan many alumni reunions. She worked for The Western Insurance as a supervisor in the Key Punch department for 21 and a half years. She retired when The Western closed in 1988.
She was a member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church, West Liberty UMW, and Olive Chapter 13 OES. She was Past Matron and Past District Aide OES, Past Worthy High Priestess Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, and was a Reach to Recovery volunteer for 15 years. She served as Sunday School Treasurer for 25 years, was Past UMW President, member and secretary for the Osaga Historical Society, and a member of the Fulton Community Center Board. Sug also served as Mother Advisor of Fort Scott Assembly 39 Rainbow Girls. Mary never missed an opportunity to serve in any capacity.
Sug’s favorite pastimes were reading, fishing, and gardening. She was a KU Basketball fan and loved angel food cake. She was known for her banana bread and homemade strawberry ice cream. Her grandkids thought she made the best vegetable soup and chili ever. She loved all of her family, but had a special relationship with her great-granddaughters Willow, Maddie, and Evie, and was looking forward to meeting her great-grandson, Donovan.
Survivors include her children, Randy L. Beckford and wife Carmen, of Fulton, and Vickie S. Lord and husband Gerald, of Lawrence, Kansas; a brother, Alva Snyder, of Independence, Kansas; sister-in-law Joyce Sipe, Fort Scott; seven grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and numerous great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband Charles, she was also preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, John E. Snyder, and George J. Snyder, two granddaughters, and one grandson.
Memorial services for Sug will take place 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the West Liberty United Methodist Church, and she will be interred with her husband Charles in the Mapleton Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be given to West Liberty United Methodist Church the day of the service or mailed to: West Liberty Treasurer c/o Kathy Valentine, 2638 Tomahawk Road Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Coming Soon For Patty LaRoche: Book Publication
Patty LaRoche is a former Fort Scott High School teacher and a regular contributor to FortScott.Biz and other media outlets.
For the past decade, she has been writing and re-writing a Christian book: A Little Faith Lift…Erasing the Lines of the Enemy.
The book is directed toward those who doubt their worth and encourages them to take risks and was initiated while working with teens as a school teacher.
The school of life has also prompted LaRoche to write.
Married to major league baseball pitcher Dave LaRoche in 1973, Patty spent most of her adult life in the world of professional baseball where wives are subject to much of the same public scrutiny and comparison as their husbands, she said.
“My 30+ moves in 48 years of marriage have given me van loads of humorous illustrations for this ‘Rejection-Collection,'” she said.
“Using humor and candor, no doubt from teaching high school for 20 years, I share not only my spiritual journey,” she said. “One mapped by faithfulness—yet detoured by faithlessness, while also retelling many individual stories of those who have, and have not, refused to let their circumstances or others’ opinions have any power to destroy who they are in Christ.”
The humor in her book has a serious message and is written for all age groups, she noted.
“A Little Faith Lift is for everyone who doubts their worth, to help them move past the pain caused by others that has left them insecure or bitter, to teach them to accept the potential (that) humor has over rejection,” LaRoche noted. “My objective is to convince them to take risks and refuse to give anyone or anything the power to make them less than God desires, to know that He’s the C.E.O. of the ‘Beauty from Ashes’ business.”
“My intended audience is adult women, the majority of people I meet, who have memories of betrayal by teachers, coaches, family members, friends or bullies who used them as their personal punching bag,” LaRoche said. “They have a hard time understanding that hurt people hurt people, thanks to a spiritual enemy who passes out stogies any time he can manipulate their self-worth.”
“These individuals measure themselves against others who have the looks, talents, or personality traits they think they lack,” she said. “Walking into a room full of strangers produces enough sweat to frizz their hair, and if asked to spearhead the church social, they hyperventilate.”
“I taught public speaking to high schoolers for 20 years, but when a group of senior girls asked if I would lead them in a Bible study, the message became clear: if my students could recognize from Whom their value came—challenging in a public-school setting—and not from what others thought of them, their lives forever would be changed. An organizing principle of A Little Faith Lift focuses on the teens in that study,” she stated.
“Nearly one in three teens meet criteria for an anxiety disorder by age 18, and 70% of them describe anxiety as a major problem for people their age, a number exacerbated by Covid,” LaRoche said. “My counselor friends tell me that, because of the pandemic, they are overwhelmed by young adults who feel hopeless. But it’s not only our youth who are affected. Too many people go to the grave never feeling like they were valued or used the talents God gave them, all because they never bought into the truth of how precious they are to their Creator.”
When will the book be ready?
“Probably when my social media numbers impress a publisher,” she said. “Right now, I have a very respected agent who will be pitching it to different Christian publishers.”
To support LaRoche in this new venture of book publication go to her Instagram posts patty_laroche, which is called PATTY’s PITCH
PATTY’s PITCH will appear on Instagram on Mondays and Fridays.
Chamber Coffee at Bo Co Conservation District on April 21
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Obituary of Ivan “Pokey” Harding Jr.
Ivan LeRoy “Pokey” Harding, Jr., age 77, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, April 18, 2022, at his home. He was born May 7, 1944, in Parsons, KS, the son of Ivan LeRoy and Orlean Sampsel Harding.
Pokey attended Walnut public schools and graduated from Joint Rural High School Stark, KS with the class of 1962. He graduated from Pittsburg State University Auto Technology School.
Pokey served in the U. S. Navy and later the Reserves.
He married Shirley Simon on April 2, 1976.
Pokey worked for Quality Chevrolet in Wichita briefly before moving to Ft. Scott. He then worked for Ft. Scott Motors, Shepherd Team Auto Plaza and finally 5-Corners Automotive.
He enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Blue Lodge, American Legion, and Mercy Hospital Auxiliary.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Shirley of the home; a son, John Ivan Harding and wife Helen, Topeka, KS; a daughter, Jeri Keller and husband Jeff, Wichita, KS; two stepsons, Randy Houdashelt, Ft. Scott, and Jimmy Houdashelt, Parsons, KS; a sister, Carolyn Sinn, Ft. Scott; an uncle, Joe Harding and wife Phyllis, Stark, KS; two grandchildren, Ashley and Austin; two step grandchildren, Derek and Dillon; two step great-grandchildren, Aiden and Macie; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct memorial services at 11:30 AM Monday, April 25th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
The family will receive friends Monday from 10:30 AM until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
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.
KS Governor Signs 2022-23 Budget
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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports April 20
Friends of the Fort Honor Volunteers
Front row: Lincoln Lyman, Shay Lynn Clements, Frankie Ruggero, Zander Wells, Kelley Collins, Chairman; Back Row: Maggie Brenner, Carl Brenner, Nova Clarke, Lucretia Olsen, Reed Hartford, Pat Hartford, Marlene Braker, Tom Braker, Martha Scott. Submitted photo.
The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site honored the volunteers who helped plant the flags for their “Fly the Flag” Program during the years 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 with a Picnic In the Park Tuesday night.
Those attending received a certificate and a flag pin during the short program held after the dinner.
The Friends of Fort Scott annually take subscriptions to fly a full size flag during the five “flag holidays” – Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Veterans Day. Volunteers set these flags in front of residential and businesses in the city limits of Fort Scott for these five holidays.
Pictured are those who attended the picnic and received a certificate and flag pin:
Draft Minutes of the Uniontown City Council from April 12
The Regular Council Meeting on April 12, 2022 at Uniontown City Hall, was called to order at 7:02 PM by Mayor Jurgensen. Council members present were Jess Ervin, Danea Esslinger, and Josh Hartman. Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting were Susan Eldridge, Uniontown Alumni Association, Raymond “Skeet” George, Uniontown Ruritan, City Superintendent Bobby Rich, City Codes Enforcement Officer Doug Coyan, and City Clerk Sally Johnson.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS
CITIZENS REQUEST
Susan Eldridge, Uniontown Alumni Association asked for permission to hold the all school reunion in the city park the evening of Saturday, September 3, 2022. They will provide insurance certificate. They request that the ban on alcoholic beverages in the park be lifted for that evening and want to know if there are any other limitations.
Motion by Ervin, Second by Hartman, Approved 3-0 to allow Uniontown Alumni Association to host all school reunion in the city park on September 3, 2022, allow alcohol consumption from 5PM to Midnight, and no glass containers allowed
Raymond “Skeet” George, Ruritan – asked the council to recess to view the location for the proposed public restrooms.
Motion by Ervin, Second by Hartman, Approved 3-0 to recess for 10 minutes to view 112 Second St
Meeting resumed at 7:19. Mr George asked for action to designate the location for the project.
Motion by Hartman, Second by Esslinger, Approved 3-0 to allow preliminary planning for construction of an ADA public restroom at northeast corner of 112 Second St
Discussion followed regarding funding for the public restroom, pickleball court, and outdoor equipment. This project qualifies for the placemaking pathway we pledged. Contact REDI for best time to submit an application for 2022 funding. ARPA funds could also be used for this.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Treasurer Bolinger was absent. March written Treasurer’s Report and 1st Quarter Report were presented. Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds was $338,643.12, Receipts $52,765.73, Transfers Out $3,026.00, Expenditures $23,883.18, Checking Account Closing Balance $364,499.67. Bank Statement Balance $364,938.99, including Checking Account Interest of $29.90, Outstanding Deposits $0, Outstanding Checks $439.32, Reconciled Balance $364,499.67. Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $30,063.99, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $18,566.16, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $28,346.12, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $441,475.94. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $85.61, and Utility CDs $74.84 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $160.45. Also included the status of the Projects Checking Account for the month of March 2022, Beginning Balance $0, Receipts $0, Expenditures $0, Ending Balance $0. March Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,402.00; from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond & Interest $1,624.00, Total Transfers of $3,026.00. Net Income for the month of March $25,856.55, Year-to-Date Net Income $40,756.17. Budget vs Actual Water Fund YTD Revenue $27,812.18 (26.4%), Expenditures $25,333.54 (19.5%); Sewer Fund YTD Revenue $8,633.12 (24.2%), Expenditures $11,942.48 (29.1%); Gas Fund YTD Revenue $54,144.38 (38.8%), Expenditures $28,296.04 (11.5%); General Fund YTD Revenue $49,170.41 (38.3%), Expenditures $29,562.90 (17.9%); and Special Highway YTD Revenue $1,814.86 (26.5%), Expenditures $397.28 (3.7%). The April 2022 estimated payables in the amount of $29,474.19 were presented.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Ervin, Second by Hartman, Approved 3-0, to approve Consent Agenda:
- Minutes of March 8, 2022 Regular Council Meeting
- Treasurer’s Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Superintendent Rich reported that the storage building at 112 Second St has been removed, two gas main valves have been replaced, and the speed bumps/signs have been installed.
Codes Enforcement Officer Coyan reported that 104 Fulton has been cleaned up by new owner. An issue of trash in a trailer and debris in the back yard at 202 Fourth St was addressed and trailer has been removed. 103 Fifth is being cleaned up by new owner. He has contacted our attorney twice in the last two months to get something resolved with the Smith Estate with no response back. 301 Second St #1 has a lot of clutter and debris. Clerk Johnson will contact the attorney to try to speed things up. It was suggested to schedule a worksession to continue discussion on shipping/storage containers, accessory/storage buildings, fences regulations and citywide solid waste. It will be scheduled at next meeting. Councilmember Ervin asked him to go by 301 Second St and address the collection of clutter/debris.
Clerk Johnson presented the financial audit contract with minimal increase in cost but less than anticipated in the budget.
Motion by Ervin, Second by Esslinger, Approved 3-0 to accept the financial audit engagement letter with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton
Loren Korte was here with the insurance renewal and went over changes with Clerk Johnson. Overall increase in premiums is 6.74% but less than anticipated in the budget. He will present to council if needed. Council concurred it was not needed.
Rabies clinic was April 9 with a good turnout. Thirteen dogs and seven cats were registered at the clinic. Clerk Johnson presented a list of animals registered last year that are not yet registered this year, a list of new residents that need a reminder that dogs and cats are required to be registered, and a list of those that have registered but not provided proper rabies documentation. She will go over this list with Animal Control Officer Binford to get citations issued.
Kansas Municipal Utilities conference in April 27-29 in Wichita which also includes the KMGA Board of Directors meeting and an afternoon of sessions on gas.
Motion by Ervin, Second by Hartman, Approved 3-0 to allow Bobby Rich and/or Sally Johnson to attend the KMU conference in Wichita, April 27-29, if they choose
KMGA will be hosting regional meetings this year. The one for our area will be in Humboldt on July 14. Will put on the agenda again in June. Clerk Johnson also presented a market update from KMGA.
Midwest Assistance Program would like to assist communities in the application process for USDA community facility project grants and/or loans. Clerk Johnson will contact them for more information about what is available and what would be the city’s obligation.
COUNCIL REPORT
Councilman Ervin – nothing
Councilwoman Esslinger – nothing
Councilman Hartman – nothing
Councilwoman Kelly – absent
Councilman Stewart – absent
Mayor Jurgensen – thanked councilmembers and employees that attended the county commission meeting last month. Asked if fish food has been received. Clerk Johnson has ordered but it has not been shipped yet, she will follow-up. He had a request to change elected officials pay to monthly whether attend regular meeting or not which led to a discussion on protocol for elected officials censure or removal. Clerk Johnson will have the attorney draft an ordinance addressing elected officials pay and protocols.
OLD BUSINESS
Wholesale water supply – table until next month.
Pond Improvement Project – Invitations to bid should be sent/published next month and the liner needs to be ordered due to shipping times.
City Utility Low-Interest Loan update – this does not need to be discussed monthly, put on the agenda quarterly for updates.
American Rescue Plan Act update – The annual report has been submitted. There was some discussion about using the funds for the public restrooms, pickleball court, and outdoor exercise equipment. We will add discussion of the funds to the worksession we schedule next month.
Street Repair – Mayor Jurgensen was thanked for asking county commissioners for a commitment to help us on our streets this year at the March 22 commission meeting. Table further discussion until next month.
NEW BUSINESS
Motion by Ervin, Second by Stewart, Approved 5-0 to enter into executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel matters exception, KSA 4319(b)(1), in order to discuss non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at 9:00PM
Meeting resumed at 9:00PM. No action was taken
Moved by Ervin, Second by Esslinger Approved 3-0, to adjourn at 9:00PM