Fort Scott Community College will conduct its annual Adult Basic Education/General Equivalency Diploma graduation at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 15 in the auditorium of the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the FSCC campus, 2108 S. Horton St. The ceremony is for students who have completed the GED program this past year.
“The event attracts many graduates, their families, and friends,” said Adult Basic Education faculty member Aubrey Duft. “It represents a great milestone in the students’ lives, which affects the community for years to come.”
A reception will immediately follow the graduation.
Photo of McDonald’s Restaurant, 2224 S. Main, Fort Scott, following the renovation in December 2018 of the business site.
After 46 years with McDonald’s Restaurant, 19 of those here in Fort Scott, owner Mark McCoy is retiring.
As of May 1, Glen Nichols, Pittsburg, is the new owner.
“He is a great gentleman,” McCoy said of Nichols. “He owns restaurants in Pittsburg, Chanute, Parsons, Independence, Coffeyville, Baxter Springs and Columbus.”
Facebook photo.
“I am an active person, retiring is not in my vocabulary,” McCoy said. “Mo (his wife) and I will continue to be active in the community.”
Because of his job at McDonald’s, McCoy moved here from Kansas City 19 years ago, he said.
“We have enjoyed living here and will continue to do so,” McCoy said.
The quick-service industry has changed over the decades, he said.
“When I started with McDonald’s 46 years ago, we didn’t have a breakfast menu,” he said. “The restaurant I started with didn’t have indoor seating….the majority of people employed there was 20ish and under.”
More recently McDonald’s has opened self-serve kiosks, mobile order and pay and Uber Eats, a delivery service, he said.
“We don’t have an Uber Eats in Fort Scott, we don’t have an Uber service,” McCoy said.
Currently, at Fort Scott McDonald’s Restaurant there are 55 employees, he said.
Many are older employees.
“The majority of the quick-serve industry are older, more mature folks (employees),” McCoy said. “That has evolved over the years in the U.S.”
McCoy plans to travel and visit family in California.
“I have two brothers and a daughter in California,” he said. “We hope to be able to travel.”
Karen Cook has had nearly a 30 year career in elementary education, during which time she was nominated as Teacher of the Year. Prior to teaching, Cook worked for Western Insurance as a Computer Programmer and Program Analyst.
Mrs. Cook is an alumna of Fort Scott High School and was the co-Salutatorian her graduating year. She earned her associate of arts in general studies from Fort Scott Community College in 1973 and was the co-Valedictorian that same year. After graduating from FSCC, Cook married and started a family with her husband, Garry Cook. They have two children, Trisha Whitehead and Christopher Cook. After eleven years, Cook chose to return to school in pursuit of a teaching degree. In May 1986, Karen Cook completed her goal by graduating Summa Cum Laude from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education.
Mrs. Cook is heavily involved in community service by being a Mother Advisor for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, serving on the KNEA Scholarship Committee, membership in the Order of Eastern Star, with which she has held numerous offices including Worthy Matron, and participation in St. John’s United Methodist Church as the Sunday School Superintendent and Lay Leader
Ellen Fairchild (right)
2019 Outstanding Young Alumna
Ellen Fairchild is currently the Director of Nursing for Assisted Living at Fort Scott Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America. A native of Fort Scott, Fairchild has previously worked as a wound care nurse, a medical/surgical nurse, and a pediatric nurse at Via Christi and Mercy Hospitals. She has earned many awards and accolades for her energetic and compassionate approach to nursing.
Mrs. Fairchild earned her associate of science in nursing (RN) degree in 2015. During her time at FSCC, she participated in many campus activities or organizations such as choir, orchestra, Student Nurse Organization as Recording Secretary, and Phi Theta Kappa as Chapter Vice-President and Delegate to International Convention then the following year Chapter President. Her initiative on campus earned her the Phi Theta Kappa Professionalism Scholarship in 2014 and the Student Nurse Organization Professionalism Award in 2013 and 2015.
Mrs. Fairchild and her husband, Lane, reside in Fort Scott with their three children, Levi, Aiden, and Lizzy.
Ty Covey (center)
2019 Outstanding Sophomore
Ty Covey is this year’s Outstanding Sophomore and is very deserving of that honor. As a Uniontown native, Ty has been making an impact academically and in other people’s lives. Ty has had many honors over the years including numerous honors while in high school and even more at his time at Fort Scott Community College (FSCC). During his time as a Greyhound, Ty has been an Ellis Foundation Scholar, R.E. French Family Educational Foundation Scholar, FSCC Endowment Scholar, Kansas All-Academic Team, Phi Theta Kappa Semi-Finalist Scholar, 2nd High Point Individual at Cowley Co. “Snow Bowl” competition. and has maintained a 4.0 GPA for four semesters!
Ty has been very active on and off campus during his time at FSCC. He has been a very active member in Phi Theta Kappa, Greyhound Student Council, FSCC Quiz Bowl (Captain), and FSCC Band and Choir. Ty has also been work-study and on the Board for the Gordon Parks Museum, Ellis Foundation Mentor, volunteered at the National Cemetery, and active in his faith through the Frist Missionary Baptist Churhc in Uniontown.
After graduating from FSCC, Ty plans to transfer to Pittsburg State University where he has already received five scholarships including Transfer Scholar Leadership Program, Viola M. Hutcherson Scholarship, Academic Achievement Award, Alumni Legacy License Plate Scholarship, and Phi Theta Kappa Recognition Award.
“I have been a positive role model at FSCC. I’ve been engaged in the classroom, around campus, and in the community. As a soon to be FSCC Alumni, I will do my best to continue to represent the Greyhounds”.-Ty Covey
In the attached photo from L-R isMarvin Taylor, Executive Committee.Marri Krupco, 2nd District CommanderJake Campbell. Sergeant at ArmsMarilyn Gilmore, AdjutantJames Collins. ChaplainMyra Jowers. Service Officer/Judge Advocate.Earl Adams. Vice Commander.Carl Jowers. Commander.Roger “Skipper” Brown. Executive CommitteeDarrell Spencer. Finance Officer.Ken Lyon. Historian.
At the American Legion Post 25 General Membership meeting on Monday, May 6, 2019, three new members were read in:
Laverl Turley, USAF Veteran.
Vincent “Scott” Dorsey, USMC Veteran
Leslie Montee, USAF Veteran.
There were 27 members and guests in attendance at our General Membership meeting. This is a record attendance in my two years at Post 25.
The winner of the Marlin M1 was Chris Jones of WardKraft. The winning ticket was pulled by Chaplain James Collins.
May 9. Thursday. 6 pm. Post 25 Color Guard meets at Memorial Hall. Any Post 25 Legionnaires or SAL member can join the Post 25 Color Guard.
May 9. Thursday. 7 pm. Baseball meeting of all interested students, parents and Legion members. Five more players are needed to form the Fort Scott Post 25 American Legion Baseball team. Players must be between 15 and 19 and live in Fort Scott.
The installation of your Post 25 2019-20 Officers on May 7 was conducted by 2nd District Commander Marri Krupco.
The female Legionnaires receiving a license plate frame are (L-R)Myra Jowers. USAF, Deb Lust. Army, Marilyn Gilmore. USAF, Leslie Montee. USAF, Amanda Collins. Army, Jennifer Johnson. Army, Marri Krupco. Navy.
Post Commander Carl Jowers gave each female Legionnaire a customized license plate frame that showed their branch of service and the words “Women are Veterans Too.” Commander Jowers believes that in today’s Legion, no Post can be successful if they do not recruit and retain female Veterans as members.
A close-up of the army vets frame.
There are three other female Legionnaires who could not attend last’s night’s meeting. They are Patsy Ferrell, Navy, Jessica Allison, Army and Faye Brown, Army. They will each receive a female Veterans license frame at a time and location convenient for them
“Come out for a great time with us on Wednesday evening, May 15th,” Ginger Nance, Executive Director of Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, said. “See the sale bill attached for many great items at the auction. More is being added daily so there will be some great surprises on auction day! Get your dinner tickets early, we always sell out on auction day!”
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village is located at 2401 S. Horton,
Fort Scott, KS 66701, and can be reached at (620) 223-5550.
Jack William Hixon, age 93, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg, KS.
He was born on January 31, 1926, in Redfield, KS, the son of Henry Lee and Clara Bernice Briggs Hixon. He married Edith Judy on January 15, 1949, in Ft. Scott.
Jack worked for Ray Shepherd Motors for over 40 years. When not working, he enjoyed fishing. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was a member of Grace Baptist Tabernacle.
Survivors include his wife Edith of over 70 years; a son, Fred Hixon and wife Susan; a daughter, Rebecca Zimmerman and husband Doyle, all of Ft. Scott; two granddaughters, Jennifer Clark and husband Jim, Girard, KS, and Jill Hensley and husband David, Ft. Scott; five great-grandchildren, Jack, Jill and J.D. Clark, and Cali and Carter Hensley; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Vern Hixon; two sisters, Ruth Brown and Lena Smith; and his parents.
Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Friday, May 10th, at the Grace Baptist Tabernacle.
Burial will follow in the Mt. Orum Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Grace Baptist Tabernacle and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Maxine Engle, age 89, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, May 6, 2019, at the Medicalodge of Ft. Scott.
She was born April 8, 1930, in Leon, Kansas, the daughter of John David Wagner and Violet Genell Hartman Wagner.
Maxine first married Earl Dean Priest. Following Earl’s death in 1956, Maxine married James W. McKinney; he too preceded her in death in 1971. She later married David Engle. He died in 1994.
Throughout her lifetime, Maxine worked at a variety of jobs. She worked as a waitress and as a sales clerk. She also worked for a time with the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department and as a truck driver. She enjoyed crocheting, making jewelry, doing crafts and tending to her many houseplants. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Survivors include her four children; Linda Chambers and husband, Gerald, of Ft. Scott; Judy Hall, of, Mineola, Iowa; Earl Dee Priest, of Gas, Kansas and Mark McKinney and wife, Jane, of Ft. Shaw, Montana; fifteen grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren with a great-great-granddaughter on the way. Also surviving is a brother, J. V. Wagner, of Moran.
In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by a son, Tony Priest; a son-in-law, Dennis Hall; three brothers, John Wagner, Jr., Melvin Wagner and Wilbert Wagner and a sister, Florine Stewart.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 11th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2109 Jayhawk Rd. in Ft. Scott.
Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Blue Mound.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the church.
Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Bruce Edwin Hemphill, age 68, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Saturday, May 4, 2019, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
He was born October 11, 1950, in Lamar, Missouri, the son of Emmett David Hemphill and Beulah Marie Slates Hemphill.
Bruce married Jamie Marie Lowry on October 3, 1985, at Ft. Scott. Bruce served with the United States Air Force for eleven and a half years where he served as a boom operator on mid-air refueling missions.
Following his time with the military, Bruce worked in maintenance for various manufacturing businesses. He then served as a service technician for Peddinghaus Corp. for nineteen years. While with Peddinghaus, he traveled throughout the United States and Canada and even made a service trip to England. He later worked in maintenance for Sugar Creek Packing and Russell Stover. Because of his time with the Air Force, Bruce had a love of airplanes and enjoyed attending air shows.
He also enjoyed stock car racing and was an avid NASCAR fan. He loved fishing with his children and grandchildren and watching programs on the History and Discovery channels.
Survivors include his wife, Jamie, of the home; his six children, Mary Reynolds and husband Brian, of Maple Falls, Washington; Christopher Lowry and wife Renee, of Long Island City, New York;Michael Waring and wife Alicia, of Nevada, Missouri; Cynthia “Squirrel” Hemphill-Witham and husband Adam, of Ft. Scott; Sean Hemphill, of Ft. Scott and Nicholas Hemphill, also of Ft. Scott; nine grandchildren, Jeff Reynolds and wife Malia, Thomas Reynolds and wife Monica, Alexys and Rachael Lowry, Ryan, Kale, and Idessea Waring and Koda Miller and Crysta Witham; four great-grandchildren, Beckett and Sawyer Reynolds and Jaxon and Ashlynn Reynolds; as well as several adopted grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his mother, Beulah Hemphill of Lamar, Missouri; his sister, Barbara Lee, also of Lamar and Clifford Hemphill, of North Carolina.
He was proceeded in death by his father, Emmett D. Hemphill, former Police Chief of Lamar, Mo.
Private burial with military honors will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Memorials are suggested to the Bruce Hemphill 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.
