Click below for the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office daily reports.
Monthly Archives: September 2018
Fort Scott Debate and Speech Students Place First At PHS
Congratulations to Fort Scott Talking Tigers for taking 1st place in Sweeps at Pittsburg High School this weekend.
In the open division, Dalton Womeldorff and Madi Toth placed 1st with a 5-0 record, Zoe Self and Elizabeth Ngatia placed 2nd with a 5-0 record and Chloe Studyvin and Rebecca Sweyko placed 3rd with a 5-0 record.
In the JV division, Shekhar and Neil Gugnani placed 5th with a 2-3 record and Ash Nave and Jade Russell placed 6th with a 2-3 record.
Novices did not place as individual teams, but they all did an outstanding job at contributing to the team sweeps!
Submitted by Angella Curran, FSHS debate/speech teacher
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports Sept. 20-23
Click below for the Fort Scott Police Department daily reports:
Orange Poppyseed Muffins by Martha Meinsen Scott
From Linderhof’s Kitchen . . .
Martha Meinsen Scott
Orange Poppyseed Muffins
Morning muffins are often on the breakfast table at Linderhof. I have one good basic muffin recipe called “Sweet Muffins”. You can add fruit or nuts or flavorings to make different muffins. And this recipe is almost as easy as a boxed mix. Plus the ingredients for the basic muffins are usual in your larder. This is a version that we like with orange zest, extract and poppyseeds added.
ORANGE POPPYSEED MUFFINS
1 egg
1 c. milk
¼ c. vegetable oil or melted butter
1 ½ c. flour
½ c. sugar
2 t. Baking powder
½ t. Salt
Zest of 1 orange
1 t. Orange extract
2 T. poppyseeds
Glaze (optional):
Juice of 1 orange
Enough powdered sugar to make a glaze
Heat oven to 400. Grease bottoms only of 12 regular-size muffin cups with shortening or line with paper baking cups. In a large bowl, beat egg slightly. Beat in milk and oil until well blended. Add orange zest and orange extract.
Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in another bowl. Add to milk, egg mixture. Mix until flour is moistened (batter will be lumpy). Add poppyseeds and mix again. Spoon into muffin cups.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. If baked in greased pan, let stand 5 minutes in the pan, then remove from pan to wire rack. If baked in paper baking cups, remove immediately from pan to wire rack.
Spoon glaze over the muffins about 5 minutes after removing from oven.
Muffins are best served warm.
Jody Hoener Hired as Bourbon County Economic Development Director
Economic growth is a priority for Bourbon County Commission
and they are aggressively seeking to address the high mill levy, low county valuation, and population decline by a renewed focus on Economic Development.
Bourbon County Commissioners have officially taken action to address the dismal population and per capita valuation forecast with the creation of an Economic Development Director position, and the hiring of Jody Hoener for that position.
The most recent Kansas Association of Research Report shows Bourbon County’s valuation per capita ranking at a low 102 out of 105 Kansas counties. According to data from Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development Business and Research, Bourbon County is expected to see a 16% decline in population by 2044. County officials realize that should statistics continue to trend in this direction, countywide services will need to be cut, a tight labor market will dissolve, current businesses will be challenged to remain viable, and prospects of new business will be dim.
There is hope for Bourbon County’s community services, quality of life, and economic vitality.
Under the leadership of a new economic development director, the county will address county valuation and population decline. The strategy will build upon the county’s strengths and implementation of strategic planning, programs and policies that have proven to encourage economic growth, workforce development, and improve quality of life.
By increasing the county population and creating new valuation, the mill levy and taxes can be lowered without cutting services.
Justin Meeks, County Counselor states, “The research and discussions the commission has had over the past three years have led to this opportunity to possibly grow Bourbon County population and attract new residential and commercial construction within our County.”
Hoener, the new hire as the Economic Development Director, brings to the position established relationships and connections as well as experience working with state and federal regulations, grant programs such as the Community Development Block Grant, and tax incentives such as the Neighborhood Revitalization Program.
She is a community leader with a substantial background in evidence-based policy, systems, and environmental work to encourage economic growth, quality of life, and improved health outcomes.
“We are here to work tirelessly on our community’s quality of life, economic growth, and culture of health. A healthy community is a community where we have access to recreation, healthcare, education, sustainable food systems, livable wages; the housing that meets our specific needs and is a place where we feel safe.”
Lynne O’Harah shared his enthusiasm, “We welcome Jody to the Bourbon County family and look forward to the opportunities to lower taxes while seeing economic growth.”
Hoener’s salary is $35,000 a year.
Justin Meeks added, “We cannot keep relying on an increase in Mills to keep our quality of life. That’s why we are very excited to have Jody be part of this chance to see what we can do to make plans for not just tomorrow but the future of Bourbon County.”
Under Jody’s direct leadership, Bourbon County was selected as one of the first eight Pathways communities in 2016 and awarded a $500,000 grant.
Building relationships with many community stakeholders through the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant, the Bourbon County initiative has gained regional and statewide recognition as a leader in population health and community development.
New Employee Profile: Uniontown Post Office
Remick Paulsen, 22, is the new U.S. Postal Service Clerk at Uniontown.
This is an employee profile to let the community better know her.
Experience: First job in the postal service
Education: Graduated from Paola High School in 2014, Fort Scott Community College in 2016 and earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural business from Kansas State University in 2018.
Why did you choose this as your career?
“I enjoy working with people. I feel like you get the small town feel working in a post office, and it’s a career.
Paulsen also works in the Fort Scott Post Office as needed.
The Uniontown Post Office is located at 106 2nd Street.
Hours of the office are 7 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday, 7 to 9 a.m. The phone number is 620-756-4377.
The Uniontown mail delivery includes Uniontown, Mapleton, and Redfield, she said.
Karen Saker, the longtime Uniontown Postmistress, retired at the end of August 2018.
Updated Obituary of Lindsey Lewis
LINDSEY LOUISE LEWIS
Lindsey Lewis, age 31 of Fort Scott Kansas who resided in Dallas, Texas passed away on Monday, September 17th, 2018 of an unexpected aortic dissection.
She was born on June 21st, 1987. in Springfield, Missouri the daughter of Jerry and Kitty Mullane Lewis.
Lindsey was a 2005 graduate of Fort Scott High School before attending Washington University in Saint Louis and then finishing her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History at the University of Kansas.
She went on to graduate law school in the top 10% of her class earning her Juris Doctor at the same institution in Lawrence.
At the time of her death, she was an associate attorney at Downs and Stanford PC in Dallas.
She was a member of MENSA, Phi Kappa Phi and Delta Epsilon Iota (academic honorary societies), and Dallas Young Lawyers.
Lindsey enjoyed international travel, sour candy, her cat Chubby, pool lounging with a cocktail, Blue Apron and spending time with family and friends.
Lindsey is survived by her mother, Kitty Lewis, her three sisters Tiffany Lewis, her husband Shaya Ansari and their two children; Maureen Lewis Stukenberg, her husband Matthew Stukenberg and their four children; and Aimee Lewis. She is also survived by her significant other Yogie Phongsavath.
She was preceded in death by her father, Jerry M. Lewis.
A visitation is planned for 9am-11am Sunday morning, September 23, 2018, followed by a Celebration of Life and Sharing Memories from 11am-12pm at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Naturalization Ceremony Change of Venue For Sept. 21
Change of Venue for Special Naturalization Ceremony in Fort Scott, Kansas
The special naturalization ceremony planned at the Fort Scott National Historic Site is being moved to Memorial Hall (1 E 3rd St) in historic downtown Fort Scott Kansas.
The United States District Court for the District of Kansas will hold a special naturalization ceremony in Fort Scott, Kansas on Friday, September 21, 2018, at 10:30 a.m.
The Honorable Teresa J. James, United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Kansas, will preside over the ceremony.
The ceremony features musical performances from the Fort Scott High School orchestra and choir, and an address from Robert L. Farmer, Attorney at Law.
The Pittsburg State University Army ROTC will present the colors.
Approximately 100 applicants will be naturalized at the ceremony, which is open to the public.
Gracie by Patty LaRoche
Gracie loved putting on her sunbonnet, grabbing her decorated basket and picking strawberries in her backyard. When her parents, John and Erin, learned that their precious two-year-old, Downs syndrome daughter had leukemia, their time spent in the Houston hospital almost equaled that of caring for their other two young children. Little did they know, that was as good as it would get. Still, the parents’ faith did not waiver, as Dave and I witnessed when we became a part of their weekly Bible study. On one of Erin’s middle-of-the-night runs to the emergency room with Gracie, an inattentive nurse left the mother-daughter pair alone for hours in the examination room. By the time Erin was allowed to take her child to the oncology floor, Gracie’s heart stopped. Doctors worked for twenty minutes to revive her, but Gracie was left with a severe brain injury.
Many encouraged John and Erin to file a lawsuit. After much prayer, they chose instead to ask the hospital for free access to bless the families of the other oncology children on that ward. The hospital agreed. His Grace Foundation was formed, and money raised went to providing support, gifts, meals, and parking for the parents. That program continues today.
Fast forward fifteen years. Now living in Georgetown, Texas, Erin visited Brookwood, a community of disabled adults in Brookshire, Texas, and was determined to create such a place in her area. In 2011, Brooktown in Georgetown (BIG) opened and began to provide meaningful work, a sense of belonging, dignity, and respect for adults with functional disabilities.
Gracie was enrolled in the public school. Wheelchair-bound, on a feeding tube and unable to talk, she became the delight of the other 3,000+ students in her school. As a senior, she was voted Homecoming Queen, an event carried by major news stations. (See insert.)
Last week, when Gracie’s color changed and her perpetual smile disappeared, Erin took her to the E.R. where a cat scan showed no problems. Gracie was sent home, but that night, when her breathing slowed, John and Erin drove their daughter back to the hospital. This time, the news was not good. Gracie had sepsis. Emergency surgery came too late.
Family members were called. Gracie’s sister was two hours from returning to her missionary job in Africa. Others were within driving distance. They praised God when they all made it to the hospital in time, and after singing hymns around Gracie’s bed, Gracie died.
Her aunt, Mollie, penned these words to God in her blog this morning: “I am convinced she (Gracie) had the benefit of enjoying a preview of heaven at three when she had no heartbeat for 20 minutes. I think she saw glorious things she simply could not un-see. Although Gracie returned to us without language we could clearly understand, she never needed words to worship You. After her experience with You “outside” her body, Gracie’s exquisite response to even the mention of Your name was unbridled bliss…I want to be more like Gracie. I want to be fully dependent on You experiencing the unbridled bliss of Your presence. In my utter weakness, please be my boundless strength.”
I pray God does the same for all who mourn the loss of this precious young woman.
I
Obituary of Lindsey Lewis
Lindsey Louise Lewis, age 31 of Fort Scott Kansas who resided in Dallas, Texas passed away on Monday, September 17th, 2018 of an unexpected aortic dissection.
She was born to the late Jerry Lewis and Kitty Mullane Lewis on June 21st, 1987.
Lindsey was a 2005 graduate of Fort Scott High School before attending Washington University in Saint Louis and then finishing her bachelors degree in Political Science and History at the University of Kansas. She went on to graduate law school in the top 10% of her class earning her Juris Doctor at the same institution in Lawrence. At the time of her death she was an associate attorney at Downs and Stanford PC in Dallas.
She was a member of MENSA, Phi Kappa Phi and Delta Epsilon Iota (academic honorary societies), and Dallas Young Lawyers.
Lindsey enjoyed international travel, sour candy, her cat Chubby, pool lounging with a cocktail, Blue Apron and spending time with family and friends.
Lindsey is survived by her mother, Kitty Lewis and her three sisters Tiffany Lewis, her husband Shaya Ansari and their two children; Maureen Lewis Stukenberg, her husband Matthew Stukenberg and their four children; and Aimee Lewis. She is also survived by her significant other Yogie Phongsavath.
A visitation is planned for 9am-11am Sunday morning, September 23, 2018, followed by a Celebration of Life and Sharing Memories from 11am-12pm at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
New Employee Profile: Fort Scott Community Development Director
Robert Uhler became the City of Fort Scott Community Development Director Sept. 10.
This is an employee profile to allow the community to know him better.
Age: 49
Family: Married to Laurie Uhler, two grown children, one granddaughter.
What will be your duties in this position?
“Community Development is all about creating a positive quality of life in our community. Everything from infrastructure to parks, sidewalks, trails, to the historic downtown structures/district. I will also be participating in the zoning process and procedures. Housing is one of the very important issues that we need to deal with as a community.”
Experience:
“Over 20 years in the construction building industry, spending the last eight years as the executive vice-president of a non-profit serving independently owned building material suppliers.”
Education:
Baker University, US Chamber Foundation – Institute of Organizational Management, Certified Association Executive, Univ. Texas – Arlington, Specialist in Safety and Health.
Community involvement:
Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Board Member, Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene Treasurer, Project 17 – (17 SE KS Counties) Board Member, US Chamber Foundation Northeast Regent Member.
Hobbies: Golfing, outdoor sports, music – playing drums.
“I just love this community and anything that I can do to help our community grow, and prosper, I’m excited about doing.”
Walk To End Alzheimer’s Disease
Mercy Home Health and Hospice Team Participates in
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
FORT SCOTT, Kan. (Sept. 20, 2018) – Members from the Mercy Home Health and Hospice team participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s held on Saturday, September 15, at Gorilla Village, Pittsburg State University. With the help of many other Mercy co-workers, the team raised a total of $1,618.25 by participating in Casual for Cause jeans days. The team also held a garage sale in June to raise the rest of the money donated to the Alzheimer’s Association.
The goal for this year’s event was $35,000. To date money raised is at $27,586.79. If you would like to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association, it’s not too late. Contact Cassie Wilson at 913-831-3888 or [email protected].
Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2018, 2017 and 2016 by IBM Watson Health, serves millions annually. Mercy includes more than 40 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, 800 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 44,000 co-workers and 2,100 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In addition, Mercy’s IT division, Mercy Technology Services, supply chain organization, ROi, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients in more than 20 states coast to coast.
supply chain organization, ROi, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients in more than 20 states coast to coast.W