DEADLINE FOR 2020 FLAG SUBSCRIPTIONS NEARS

 

The deadline to sign up for the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site’s Fly the Flag Project is quickly approaching. Applications for new subscriptions must be mailed by March 2nd. Subscribers renewing for 2020 must submit a renewal application and payment by March 31st.

The project provides homeowners and businesses, within the city limits of Fort Scott, the opportunity to fly the Stars and Stripes, hassle-free, on five different flag holidays. For $35 annually, the Friends will install a 3’x5′ flag on a 12-foot staff at your home or business on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Veteran’s Day.

Application forms can be obtained at the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce or can be requested by phone or text by calling Kelley Collins at 417-684-2484. Renewals notices have been mailed/emailed to all 2019 subscribers. Questions can be directed to Kelley or Martha Scott at 620-224-9924.

All proceeds support programs at Fort Scott National Historic Site. These include Symbols of Sacrifice, a Citizenship Ceremony, Candlelight Tour, Youth Engagement, and many others.

Show your patriotism and help our local National Park by lining the streets of Fort Scott with our nation’s symbol!

The Fly the Flag Project is a yearly project sponsored by the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site. Once signed up, you will receive the option to renew annually.

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A Friend To The End by Pastor James Collins

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.Proverbs 18:24

“Chappy,” Mike said. “Do you ever wonder what comes after this?”

“After what?” I asked. “The Army?”

“No. Have you ever thought about what happens after you die?”

“Yes.”

“Are you afraid of death?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because Jesus is so real to me. He saved my soul. I know that when I die, I will go to heaven to be with Him.”

Mike looked up at the stars and I did too. I don’t remember ever seeing as many stars as there were in the sky that night over Baghdad. After a minute or so of silence, he said, “Goodnight Chaplain, I’ll see you in the morning.” He turned and went inside the tent. I sat there for a while and prayed for him. Then I went inside, found my cot, and went to sleep.

The preceding conversation took place ten years ago. Operation Iraqi Freedom was winding down and changing to Operation New Dawn. Soon, all U.S. Military Forces would leave the country. Soon, we would all be home. However, Al Qaeda was still active in our area. Iraq was still a dangerous place. So, when Mike asked me about death, I assumed he was worried about the war. How could I have known that there was a war going on inside his soul?

Sometimes we have wounds that are not visible. Mike was wounded inside. He was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He was carrying a tremendous amount of pain that came from multiple combat tours.

When we arrived home, I was transferred. Mike and I kept in touch through social media. He would often share pictures of his family, especially his kids.

Last Friday, on Valentine’s Day, Mike took his own life.

By the time you read these words, Mike will be buried. He will be just another statistic. He will be just one of the twenty U.S. Military Veterans who die by suicide in America each day. But to me, he was more than a statistic. He was my friend. I will live the rest of my life with the heartache of not being there when he needed a friend to lean on.

If you know someone who is suffering from depression or PTSD, give them a call. Better yet, go visit them. Who knows? You just might be a friend who can make a difference.

As I have been grieving for Mike, I have sought counsel from another Friend. I have turned to Jesus for comfort. Jesus is a Friend who will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). He is a Friend Who loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17). He is a Friend Who laid down His life for His friends (John 15:13). I don’t know how a person can make it in this world of heartache without my Friend, Jesus.

The point is: Jesus is One Friend you can’t afford to be without. When you turn from your sin, ask Him for forgiveness, and submit to Him, Jesus becomes your Savior, Lord, and Friend. Once you come to Christ, He will be your Friend to the end…and beyond.

Is He your Friend?

James Collins is a retired U.S. Army Chaplain and current pastor of Fort Scott’s First Southern Baptist Church. If you are a Veteran in crisis, call 1-800-273-8255, or call Pastor James at (620) 223-2986.

Senior Night Sweep for Eagles Varsity Basketball Teams

Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

by Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter

The Uniontown Eagles faced the Southern Coffey County Titans in our last home game of the season. This game was also Senior Night, serving to honor our seniors (and their families) who participate in basketball, wrestling, and band. Both Varsity teams won, but the girls’ JV lost to the Titans by one point.

The Varsity girls beat the Titans 37 to 29. Karleigh Schoenberger and Danielle Howard once more lead with points, scoring 15 and 13, respectively. Schoenberger also had 3 rebounds, an assist, and 3 steals, while Howard had 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. Gwenyth Fry scored 4 points and had 3 rebounds, and Sivanah McAnulty and Alie Fuhrman each scored 2 points. Sammie Hampton had 6 rebounds.

The Varsity boys also won against SCC, with a score of 61 to 28. Luke George and Hunter Schaaf scored 16 and 14 points, respectively; George also had 2 assists and 4 steals, while Schaaf had 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Jake Harvey had 9 points and 5 steals. Luke Perry and Cade Goodridge each scored 5 points, and the rest of the board is pretty even on scoring. Fan-favorite Kord Bowen sunk a 3-pointer in the last minute of the game, thanks in part to the great sportsmanship showed by the Titans. Coach Hays commented, “I’m really happy for our seniors tonight. They all played really well and capped off with a 3 pointer from Kord Bowen. These seniors are really good leaders for our team and, more importantly, great people. I’m excited for their future when they leave Uniontown High School.”

Eagles Basketball Teams Soar Above the Jets

Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

by Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter

The Uniontown Eagles played the Altoona-Midway Jets once again, this time in a regular-season game instead of a tournament. Both Varsity teams, as well as the boys’ JV team, won their games. There was no girls’ JV.

The Varsity girls won their game against Altoona with a score of 54 to 24. Karleigh Schoenberger lead in points and rebounds, scoring 18 points and rebounding 7 times. Danielle Howard had 17 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Sivanah McAnulty had 6 rebounds, Breleigh Harris had 4 steals, and Sammie Hampton had 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. Many of our JV players got to play up for this game, including freshman Skyler Coulter, who had 2 points and 3 rebounds, and foreign exchange student Irina Otero. “Tonight, our team was able to experience one of the biggest reasons why we play the game,” stated Coach Miller. “Irina Otero stepped onto the varsity basketball court for the first time in her life tonight. Irina, an exchange student from Vilanova de Arousa, Spain, contributed to the Lady Eagles’ win with 4 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal. The win was great, but watching Irina meet her personal goals was even better.” I asked Irina what it was like playing for the varsity team. She replied, “We played as a team, even when we weren’t playing the best. We supported each other. Even when we missed, we cheered for each other. We had fun and enjoyed the game, which we don’t always do. We felt like a family.”

The boys’ Varsity team beat Altoona 64 to 32. Jake Harvey scored 18 points and had 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Hunter Schaaf had 12 points and 2 assists, and Clay Sutterby had 11 points and 7 rebounds. Luke George scored 9 points and rebounded 4 times. Drew Perry had 2 assists. “I thought we played one of our best games of the season tonight,” said Coach Hays. “I loved the energy and the unselfish basketball. Our shots weren’t falling from the perimeter, but we did a good job of attacking their zone and getting some good shots.”

Bourbon County Takes Ownership of Former Mercy Hospital Building

The Bourbon County Government has taken possession of the former Mercy Hospital.

Officials Introduce Innovative Healthcare Model

Mercy donates building and 1 million dollars toward a sustainable approach to rural healthcare.

Bourbon County and City of Fort Scott officials are committed to improving the quality of life for each member of the community, increasing access to affordable quality healthcare, and remaining vigilant stewards of taxpayer dollars. For years Fort Scott, KS was renowned for its healthcare. Mercy Hospital was an integral part of our health system from primary care to community benefit to leadership involvement.

 

What remains today are the caring professionals, ambitious leaders, beautiful hospital campus, and the ingrained culture of ensuring community health needs are addressed appropriately.

 

Bourbon County Commission will be partnering with our community healthcare partners, The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and Ascension Via Christi, and higher education partner, Fort Scott Community College, in transforming our approach to rural healthcare. Bourbon County will be taking ownership of the previous Mercy Hospital Building.

 

With Ascension Via Christi and CHC/SEK occupying a portion of the facility, the county is working with other health service agencies to supplement the community’s health care needs by housing them in the remainder of the move-in ready space.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd., operates the clinic at the former Mercy Hospital building.

For the common good of the community, the building will be repurposed into a collaborative effort that will be here for decades to come.

Ascension Via Christi President, Randy Cason, states, “This is exciting news for Fort Scott and the surrounding communities. Ascension Via Christi is eager to continue working with our community partners here to help to find solutions for the healthcare needs of this more rural area.”

 

Ascension Via Christi operates the emergency department at the former Mercy Hospital building.

Mercy Health Southwest Missouri/Kansas Communities has submitted a draft donation agreement to donate the building and one million dollars to Bourbon County for use of building maintenance and operations. This donation allows healthcare entities to lease space in the healthcare mall at market-rate. A standardized market-rate lease has led to discussions with healthcare organizations to expand services not otherwise offered.

 

Administration from Bourbon County and The City of Fort Scott will work together, develop a regulatory board and long-term lease agreements moving forward.

 

“This project is much more than just saving a building,” Jody Hoener, Economic Development Director, “Preserving this asset allows our community to no longer be victims of circumstance, but to assume responsibility for our community’s healthcare destiny. It creates a sustainable healthcare model under one roof.” There is little doubt in the concept’s success with the right amount of support and will be used as a model shaping rural healthcare policy across the nation.

Contact information:

Jody Hoener, Bourbon County Economic Development Director

[email protected]

New Tri-Valley CEO: Bill Fiscus

Bill Fiscus. Submitted photo.

Bill Fiscus is the new Chief Executive Officer of Tri-Valley Developmental Services, since January 29, 2020.

 

He replaces long-term CEO, Tim Cunningham.

 

Fiscus has been employed by Tri-Valley for 34 years and has been involved in every department under the service’s umbrella, he said.

 

 

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Emporia State University.

 

 

“Tri-Valley was a good fit from the start for me,” Fiscus said.  “Once hired, I knew this was the place I wanted to be.  Working at Tri-Valley is very rewarding.  If you are having a bad day, just go spend some time with the individuals we provide services to and you will be reminded why you are here.”

 

 

“Tri-Valley empowers people with disabilities to realize their potential as full citizens in the community, through supporting them in working and living in the place they call home,” he said. “We help them belong.”

 

 

His office is in Tri-Valley’s Administration Offices, 521 W. 35 CH Parkway in Chanute.

 

 

Tri-Valley has 172 employees and serves 233 clients.

 

 

Fiscus is a member of Chanute Chamber of Commerce, SEKRS Board Member, is active in Communities in Schools,  and volunteers for numerous community functions, he said.

 

Tri-Valley Developmental Services, Fort Scott, is located in the city’s industrial park, south of the city, just off of 69 Hwy.

 

Fiscus was asked if there was anything new on the horizon for TVDS.

“Tri-Valley just merged with New Beginnings Enterprises out of Neodesha,” Fiscus said. ” We now serve Allen, Bourbon, Neosho, Woodson, Wilson, Elk, Greenwood and Chautauqua Counties.”

 

To learn more about  Tri-Valley, visit its website:  www.tvds.org

Goldfish In Cat by Patty LaRoche

Patty LaRoche

Mr. Green peered over his fence and noticed that the neighbor’s little boy was in his backyard filling in a hole. Curious about what the youngster was up to, Mr. Green asked, “What are you doing, Jimmy?”

Tearfully, little Jimmy replied, “My goldfish died, and I’ve just buried him.”

That’s an awfully large hole for a goldfish, isn’t it?” Mr. Green said.

Patting down the last bit of earth, little Joey replied, “That’s because he’s in your cat!”

I know how Jimmy feels. When I was eight years old, the week before Easter I walked downtown to the Kress store, and after spending my entire allowance, returned home with five pink baby chicks. Placing them in the large box I had prepared for them with straw, a soft blanket, water and food pellets, I doted on them for hours while I sat on the ground beside their new home, lifting one at a time to cuddle it.

When the phone rang, I ran inside to answer it. Returning to my quintuplets about ten minutes later, I was horrified to find bloody feathers strewn across the yard. Nearby sat a demon-cat with a pink feather dangling from its snarling mouth. In hysterics, I chased that evil feline until it scampered up a tree where, had I gotten my hands on him, it would have been the beneficiary of the same demise as Jimmy’s catch.

My heart was broken, and even though I might have been a tad bit at fault for leaving my babies unprotected, I accepted none of the blame and instead decided to enact revenge on that homicidal cat. I would stalk him just like he did my chicks. By sundown he had won. My mother refused to let me sleep under that tree with the intent of torturing that murderer, and by morning he had skedaddled, never to return.

I was not able to exact revenge. Bummer!

Martin Luther King knew all about the futility of payback. Perhaps that is why he quoted Mahatma Gandhi when he repeated, “The old law about an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind.” When Jesus said we are to love our enemies, he knew that revenge might be sweet, but its after-taste isn’t. Researchers have found there is additional stress and fear in those who perpetrate a “take justice into my own hands” action, probably because most acts of revenge go beyond the original transgression. One has to look no further than gang wars to see this carried out.

As Christians, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to “turn the other cheek.” In our flesh that might not be impossible, but by relying on God-living-in-us, that type of forgiveness means we no longer feel the need for revenge which is, incidentally, the only way to demonstrate we represent a holiness that sets us apart. In other words, we are not to act in a vengeful way if we are to be Christlike.

I’m just not so sure Jesus included demon cats in that category.

Planning For Economic and Fiscal Health Workshop: Public Invited Feb. 26 and 27

The City of Fort Scott is hosting a Planning for Economic and Fiscal Health Workshop on Wednesday, February 26th, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

There will also be a public presentation held on Tuesday, February 25th, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Both of these events are in conjunction with Smart Growth America and will be held at The River Room, 3 West Oak Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.

There may be a majority of City Commissioners present, but NO City business will be conducted. The public is welcome to attend this event.

New Fire Trucks For Serving Fort Scott

The new Fort Scott Fire Department fire truck, a 2019 Pierce Saber, sits in No.1 Station at 1604 S. National, ready for service.

A new truck and equipment has arrived and one more truck is on the way to add to the Fort Scott Fire Department’s arsenal for fire protection in the community.

 

The FSFD received a new 2019 Pierce Saber fire truck in December 2019.

 

“It will be our main attack truck,” FSFD Captain Jacob May said. “It came to us in December, we put it into service the first of the year, after training.”

 

At about the same time as receiving the truck, the department received air packs through a grant. Air packs are worn each time a firefighter enters a structure fire, to facilitate breathing, May said.

 

 

“The air packs were replaced with the award of an Assistance to Firefighters Grant,” FSFD Chief Dave Bruner said.

 

 

Fort Scott Fire Chief Dave Bruner. Submitted photo.

 

 

With the new truck they have a thermal imaging camera that aides searching inside structures that are on fire, which could help locate people, May said.

 

 

“I would also like to add that we were also fortunate to be able to replace our extrication tools with a donation by the Mercy Health Foundation,” Chief Bruner said.

 

 

“We have been training on (the new truck) a bunch,” May said. “It takes a lot of training to catch up on new stuff.”

 

“We are very fortunate,” May said. “We’ve been working with antiquated equipment for a long time.”

 

The truck is a 1000 gallon pumper, that can hold six firefighters.

 

The department has three pumper trucks, a ladder truck and a rescue truck, May said. Also housed is an ambulance if needed.

 

“The ambulance is staffed by our department as a third out unit for Bourbon County EMS,” Bruner said.

 

The fire department has two stations in Fort Scott,  No. 1 at 1604  National Avenue and No. 2  at 23 S. Franklin on the city’s east side.

 

The firefighters serve 24 hours on duty, then are off 48 hours.

 

“We run city-wide full coverage,” May said. “Our rescue truck will run county-wide. We do occasionally  assist the county fire departments as requested.”

 

“Including myself and Deputy Chief Michael Miles we have 14 fulltime staff and three reserve staff,” Bruner said.

New Aerial Platform Truck Coming

 

At the Feb. 18 Fort Scott City Commission meeting, a new aerial platform truck was approved for the fire department as well, Bruner said.

 

The city applied for a Community Development Block Grant and was notified in late January that they had been approved for the grant.

 

The City of Fort Scott recently accepted a $665,303 grant award to help purchase the new fire truck, Rachel Pruitt, Fort Scott’s Economic Development Director, said in a press release.

State and local officials hold the representative check for the Community Development Block Grant. Submitted photo.

 

“The grant awarded is for a 100’ aerial platform truck,” Bruner said. “This apparatus will replace our existing 1993 75’ aerial truck. By replacing this apparatus, it will not only maintain our ISO status but it also allows our department to continue to provide service to the community as well as safe and reliable equipment for our firefighters to be able to perform their duties.”

 

 

 

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