Cowboys and cowgirls will compete at the national high school rodeo finals in Lincoln, Nebraska on July 18.
Miranda Arndt, Kelsey Laird, and Jaci Traul are the local cowgirls competing.
“These kids all compete in the Missouri High School Rodeo Association,” said Kasey Laird, Kelsey’s mother. “There might be more, as there are several families from southeast Kansas that attend MHSRA. These kids have worked hard for the chance to go to the national finals and compete against other states for the number one spot.”
Miranda Arndt. Submitted photo.
Miranda Arndt, 18, is a 2021 Fort Scott High School graduate, the daughter of Trina and Jason Arndt.
“I am going to compete in goat tying at nationals,” Miranda said. “I went last year in goat tying also.”
“I’m looking forward to being more prepared and hopefully winning a national title,” she said.
Arndt will be attending Northeast Oklahoma A & M this fall.
Kelsey Laird. Submitted photo.
Kelsey Laird, 15, is the daughter of Kasey and John Laird and is a sophomore at Fort Scott High School.
“Kelsey competes in barrel racing, poles, and goat tying, however, she is competing at national finals as a rodeo queen,” Kasey said. “She will compete against the other states in horsemanship, modeling, written testing, and personal interviews. This will determine the national high school rodeo queen.”
Jaci Traul. Submitted photo.
Jaci Traul, Fort Scott, is the daughter of John and Nicki Traul, and granddaughter of Frank and Debbie Madison.
She is a 2021 graduate of Manhattan Virtual Academy.
“Jaci has qualified for nationals seven times., three times in junior high and four in high school,” her mother, Nicki said. “She was the Missouri High School Rodeo State Champion Breakaway Roper this year. She also qualified for nationals in the poles and was the Reserve Champion All-around Cowgirl.”
She will attend Northeast Oklahoma A&M in Miami, OK on a rodeo scholarship.
Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.
The performance for this week’s Friday Night Concert will be presented by the Church of Christ (15th and Crawford). The music will feature an evening of a cappella hymns and gospel songs.
“The singers represent multiple ages and they really shine with a passion for blending harmonies with their musical styling of the gospel,” concert series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “Come out and join us for a great opportunity to see friends and enjoy some beautiful music. We are happy to welcome this church group to the park pavilion.“
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, are free and open to the public. We are pleased to have Dave Oas, Parsons, Kansas, serve as sound technician each week. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.
Lela Ann Gier, age 88, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, July 12, 2021, at Medicalodge of Ft. Scott. She was born March 19, 1933, the daughter of Oscar Jacob Gier and Lizzie Bell Goff Gier. Lela enjoyed reading, needlework, quilting, and flowers.
Survivors include four nephews, Gary Gier, Roger Gier, Kenneth Gier, and Dennis Meech; four nieces, Linda Murdock, Trudy Stultz, Cindy Bright and Kathleen Gier; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Gier, and Merle Gier; 2 sisters, Opal Gier, and Estella Meech; a nephew, Jim Meech; a niece Charla Cambers; and her parents.
Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct graveside services at 10:00 AM Friday, July 16th, in the Hepler Cemetery.
Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Alexander M. Specht, 53, is the new Fort Scott High School Assistant Principal.
He has taught biology, advanced biology, environmental science, applied physics, anatomy, and physiology for 20 years at the high school level at Hoisington, Osawatomie, and Great Bend and 7th-grade science at McPherson Middle School.
He has also been a head high school girls basketball coach, middle school boys basketball coach, high school and middle school track coach, and boys and girls high school golf coach.
Specht has been a two-time Teacher of the Year, a Walmart Teacher of the Year, and a Kansas Master Teacher of the Year.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Emporia State University in 1991, a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership, from ESU, in 2006.
The best part of teaching science for him is engaging students in inquiry-based learning, he said.
“I would set the students up for the biological concept of the day, give them a general procedure to follow, and then watch as they discovered the science lesson for the day,” he said. “To see the expression on their faces and interacting with them as they discovered something new, cool, smelly or amazing is always an awesome way for a student to get hooked on science and the learning process!”
“The greatest challenges I see in education today is at the daily instruction level,” he said. “Classroom teachers are dealing with the personal problems of the students. These personal issues include family, home, school, friends, and athletic concerns that cause a great deal of stress on the student. I believe we need to build relationships with our students and to work with their families to let them all know how committed this district is to partnering with them to help their students be successful. When students struggle with ‘outside’ problems, it is definitely a challenge for them to focus ‘inside’ the classroom.
Family and Interests
Born in Faribault, MN, Specht moved to Smith Center, KS then moved to Sharon, KS where he graduated from high school.
“A fun fact: I went to high school with country music singer Martina McBride. I asked her out on a date once but she said no,” he said. “Dang!”
Amy, his wife of three years, is a manager in the Farmers Alliance Insurance Company. His oldest son, Tyler, graduated from Kansas State University and moved to Dallas to begin work in the financial investments industry. His son, Jacob, is a sophomore at Fort Hays State University, majoring in biology. He also has a stepson, named Tyler.
Specht loves being outdoors, he said.
“I have a fishing boat and a kayak and love to fish!” he said. “I mountain bike, work out a little and like to target shoot and do some hunting with…Amy.”
“As a biologist, I also love flowers and landscaping,” he said. ‘It’s a fun and creative way for me to spend time.”
A college chemistry teacher encouraged him to teach.
“I always enjoyed science classes and in college, I had a chemistry teacher who was impressed by the way I led our chemistry class through a review session for an upcoming test,” he said. ” He told me that I presented ideas and helped the other students so well that I should become a teacher. That was never a thought for me until that moment.”
His father inspired him.
“He was a good dad and raised me with high expectations, understanding of accountability, and a strong work ethic,” he said.
He was consistently teaching him or encouraging him, he said.
“My dad was my elementary principal as I grew up and my first basketball coach,” he said. “He was a special education teacher and a superintendent…being in a school was a part of my life.”
Also following his father’s example, Specht served in the U.S. Navy.
The Bourbon County Democrats will hold a social meeting on Sunday, July 18th from 2-4 p.m. at Fort Scott Community College in the Administration Building’s Heritage Room.
Submitted by Carol MacArthur, Chair, Bourbon Co. Democrats
The Fort Scott City Commission will meet on Tuesday, July 13th, 2021 at 5:15 p.m. in the City Hall Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas to hold a special meeting to discuss the move of City Hall to the Courthouse and the H.R. Shared Services.
The Work Session to discuss the 2022 budget will begin at 6:00 p.m. This meeting is open to the public, but no action will be taken.
The work session will also be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
“This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long.“ Blessed Assurance is one of Fanny Crosby’s 8,000 songs she penned during her 95 years as a blind hymnist. While reading Psalm 71 recently, I realized that this chapter is the epitome of my story. God’s Word is alive and powerful; sharper than any two-edged sword and my heart was pierced with His loving truth.
Although there are 24 verses to this Psalm, the following seven are the ones that specifically spoke to me that Sunday morning: “(3) Be to me a great protecting Rock, where I am always welcome, safe from all attacks. (5) O Lord, You alone are my hope; I’ve trusted You from childhood. (6) Yes, You have been with me from birth and have helped me constantly — no wonder I am always praising You! (15) I cannot count the times when You have faithfully rescued me from danger. I will tell everyone how good You are, and of Your constant, daily care. (16) I walk in the strength of the Lord God. (17) O God, You have helped me from my earliest childhood — and I have constantly testified to others of the wonderful things You do. (22) I will praise You with music, telling of Your faithfulness to all Your promises“ (Psalm 71 TLB).
As I worshipped God a few hours later in church, we sang “Goodness of God.” My heart was overflowing with the anointed lyrics because it was a perfect parallel to Psalm 71. I experienced a “God moment” with my loving heavenly Father. This revelation was my personal confirmation from Him concerning something I had been leaning toward, but now I knew I had my definite answer.
“Goodness of God” was written by Jenn and Brian Johnson, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, and Ben Fielding. I have lived this song — this is my story: “I love you Lord, oh Your mercy never fails me. All my days I’ve been held in Your hands. From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head, oh I will sing of the goodness of God. ‘Cause all my life You have been faithful. And all my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able oh I will sing of the goodness of God. I love Your voice, You have led me through the fire. And in the darkest night You are close like no other. I’ve known You as a Father, I’ve known You as a Friend. And I have lived in the goodness of God.”
What do God’s promises in His Word say to you? Perhaps your past is one you’d rather forget. If so, then that’s exactly what you’re supposed to do — forgive, forget, and move on. Lay those hurtful experiences and memories down at the foot of the cross and leave them there. Never ever carry that heavy baggage again. Today is a new day chocked full of God’s loving mercy, kindness, and faithfulness. Reach out and take what God offers and freely run on the path of blessings He has for you. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT).
Accept what God offers through Christ Jesus and let His mighty power work in you. Then you, too, will have your own story and song.
The Key: Sing about the goodness of God at the top of your lungs until your last breath.
