|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monthly Archives: January 2022
Obituary of Kennedy Leihsing
Kennedy Ladine Leihsing, age 15, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at the Via Christi Emergency Room in Ft. Scott.
She was born March 27, 2006, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Winona Jolene Bosley and Scott Ryan Perkins, who was her daddy figure.
Kennedy was currently a sophomore at Fort Scott High School.
She will be remembered for her loving and outgoing personality. She enjoyed drawing, singing, sewing and doing crafts. She also liked to read books to her younger siblings and write poems. Kennedy loved her family and especially enjoyed going on outings with her “Pee-Paw”.
Kennedy loved watching Mack Evans and learning about Jesus. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and her family finds comfort in knowing that she is with Him in heaven.
Survivors include her mother, Winona Bosley, Scott Perkins and grandparents, David Bosley and Avis Leihsing Bosley all of Ft. Scott and siblings, Lance, Luke, Clayton, Tanner, Chandler, Jordan, Drake, Dillon, Trinity and Kendall. Also surviving are aunt and uncles, Chad and Sara Bosley and Steve Bosley and great-uncle and great-aunt, Eric and Iris Byrd.
She was preceded in death by her great-grandparents, Junior and Darlene Leihsing and great-great-grandmother, May Jones.
Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct funeral services at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, February 2nd at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Kennedy Leihsing 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 Robert Adams
Robert Dean Adams (Bob) age 76 of Fulton Ks went to be with the Lord on Jan 27, 2022. He was born May 6, 1945, in Fort Scott, Kansas to Ward and Josephine Wutke Adams.
He graduated from Fulton High School the class of 1963.
He married Arlene Swickard on May 24, 1964 at the Fulton United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife of the home, Arlene and his children Laurie Daly (Max) and Daryl Adams (Misty) of Fulton, Kansas. Six grandchildren, Randall Daly (Morgan), Bryce Daly (Danyelle), Kelsey Adams (Mercedes Chaplin), Kayla, Nate, and Jacob Adams. Three great-granddaughters and one great-grandson on the way and two step-great-grandchildren. Also, surviving are brothers Bill Adams (Donna), Ed Adams (Carolyn), Jerry Adams (Judy), and many nieces and nephews.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Ward and Josephine, and one sister Shirley White.
Bob lived and grew up on a farm west of Fulton. His first job off the farm was at Midwest Auto in Fort Scott. He then went to work at Western Ins. in 1964 in the supply department and then became an examiner. He moved the family to Southern Illinois in 1973 to be a field rep for Western Ins. In 1977 he returned to his homestead in Fulton to the love of farming with his Dad. They grew milo, wheat, corn, and soybeans. He loved farming and continued until he had to quit and retire because of MS in 1992.
He and Arlene sold the farm and moved into the town of Fulton where they still live. He became an avid woodworker repurposing old furniture into new again. He could build anything. Going to the wood show with his brothers became a cherished annual event for several years. He also enjoyed the great fishing trip to Canada he got to take one year with his brother-in-law and nephews.
Bobby A, as he was lovingly referred to by longtime family friends will be greatly missed. He was a kind and giving soul. He was a loving husband, father, granddad, and brother.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, January 31, 2022, at the Fulton United Methodist Church.
Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. Sunday afternoon at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Fulton United Methodist Church 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.
Bourbon County Coalition Meets Feb. 2
The regularly scheduled Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition General Membership meeting will be Wednesday, February 2, in the Conference Room at the Scottview Apartments, 315 S. Scott.
General Membership Meeting Agenda
February 2, 2022
- Welcome:
- Member Introductions and Announcements:
- Program: Tanya Cliffman with Warming Hearts.
- Open Forum:
- Adjournment: Next General Membership meeting will be March 2, 2022, at 1:00 p.m.
A Coummunity Evening: Watch the Pinewood Derby
Fort Scott Cub Pack 114 is having its annual Pinewood Derby on Saturday, Feb. 12 from 6-9 p.m. at Memorial Hall, Third Street and National Avenue.
This year to beef up community attendance, Scoutmaster Seth Needham is hosting a Corporate Pinewood Derby.
“It will be a night of fun and racing,” Needham said. “The Pinewood Derby is an annual scout event where we design, build, and race pinewood derby cars,” Needham, said. “Pinewood Derby cars are small-scale cars made from wooden blocks, carved and cut for unique designs, and then raced down a special track. They are powered 100% by gravity, so the design is very important, and something the scouts work hard on.”
Needham decided to make this year’s race a community event because the scouts do work so hard on their cars.
“I wanted the community to have a chance to come and cheer them on,” he said. “The scouts give back a lot to the community through various projects, so it’s nice to have an event that can bring the community out to see them.”
“The corporate race is open to local businesses and organizations,” he said. “So far, I have about 10 different businesses signed up, and they are all really excited. Also, the sheriff’s office and the city of Fort Scott will have cars entered.”
Key Apparel is sponsoring the derby by providing prizes for the fastest cars, and best designs, he said.
The corporate derby has a cost of $25 that includes one derby car kit, registration for the race, and one meal ticket, he said. Extra meal tickets are $10. Companies can register more than one car, too.
1st and 2nd place will be awarded for both categories, and the prizes are $150 and $100 gift certificates to purchase items online from Key Apparel.
“The design contest will be judged by a panel of judges,” Needham said. “Currently, Lindsay Madison from the Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Kevin “Skitch” Allen, and Kelley Zellner, city manager, are our judges.”
Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. for race contestants and their guests.
Each company that registers gets one meal ticket, and extra meal tickets are available for $10.
“If people want to come and just watch the race, we will charge $5 entry,” he said “All proceeds will go directly to Cub Scout Pack 114.”
“I decided to do the derby as a fundraiser because so many people have fond memories of these races when they were scouts,” he said. “Anytime scouts are brought up in conversation, the first thing people want to talk about is their experience with the pinewood derby.”
The Corporate Pinewood Derby
“Area companies are invited to design and decorate a car, race, and have dinner with the scouts,” he said. “You can be as creative as you want with the design of your car, as long as it complies with the official scout pinewood derby rules.”
The cost to compete in the Corporate Derby is $25 per car, and each registration will include the following:
- 1 BSA approved Pinewood Derby Car Kit
- 1 dinner ticket
- Area to display your car and company literature before and after the race.
- Features on our Facebook page.
Agenda for the Event
Check-in will begin at 5 p.m. with the official scout races starting at 6 p.m., and company races will start immediately after.
Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Additional meal tickets can be purchased for $10 before the event, or $15 the night of the event.
Please make checks payable to BSA Pack 114.
Key Apparel has donated gift certificates with prizes from their business website, which is www.keyapparelstore.com
Prizes will be awarded for the following categories.
- Speed: 1st place $150, 2nd place $100
- Design: 1st place $150, 2nd place $100.
If your business would like to register, please contact Needham at (620) 215 6934, or send an email to [email protected].
“Upon registration and payment, you will receive your pinewood derby car kit and a copy of the rules,” he said. “Also, be sure to follow BSA Pack 114 on Facebook for tips and tricks that you can use to make your car faster.”
Needham provided the rules of the derby:
RULES FOR BUILDING YOUR PINEWOOD DERBY CAR
BSA’s Pinewood Derby Car Building Rules
All cars must pass the following inspection to qualify for the race:
- Width shall not exceed 2-3/4 inches.
- Length shall not exceed 7 inches.
- Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces.
- Axles, wheels, and bodies shall be from the materials provided in the kit.
- Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited.
- No lubricating oil may be used. Axles may be lubricated with powdered graphite or silicone.
- The car shall not ride on any kind of spring.
- The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices.
- No loose materials of any kind are allowed in the car.
- A double-elimination method is used to determine the winner.
This method uses a “winner’s bracket” system that begins with every car filling one spot. At the end of each heat, the winning car advances to the next level of the winner’s bracket while the other cars are entered in the loser’s bracket. Those cars then race against one another, with the winners of each heat advancing. The final car of each of the two brackets competes with the other for first place.
Each judge will give each car a score of 1-10, with 10 being the best. The car with the highest score wins.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Jan. 28
The Fort Scott Police Deparment Daily Reports Jan. 26- 27
No Matter What the Cost by Patty LaRoche
Last week, we left off with me threatening to do bodily harm to my husband. Admittedly, this was not a godly move, but the thought crossed my mind after he, not the first time, caused trouble for us at the Mexican border when he forgot to bring the original car title to allow us to enter that country. Now we would have to drive back to Kansas to locate the document.
We were an hour north when I had a thought: we could call our daughter-in-law, Jenn, have her open our safe, find the car title and over-night it to us at some…soon-to-be-named, San Antonio hotel. Hubby also had a thought. Perhaps the title was hidden in the briefcase located on the back seat floor, the briefcase he had already checked but failed to look in his secret hiding spot. I drove for a moment in silence, desperately trying to conjure up a lovely thought.
I mean, Philippians 4:8 sounds so easy…until you are asked to apply it. “Is that your way of asking me to exit so you can re-check your briefcase?” “Probably can’t hurt.” Ten minutes later, we were back on the road, luckless in finding the title in Dave’s little hideaway.
It was 10:15 A.M., a Saturday morning. Jenn had asked her dad to do the safe-duty at our house, but when we realized the post office closed in 15 minutes, we knew there was no way this would work. It was then that Adam called. “Sit tight,” he said, “I might have a plan.” “Does ‘sit tight’ mean to keep driving toward Kansas, but slower than the Nascar-rate I now am using, or does it mean ‘visit the Alamo and stay put’?” I asked.
Adam explained that he had several soldiers at his ranch, they were leaving the next day, and one was driving through San Antonio; perhaps he could bring the title with him. We could just find a hotel and hang out instead of making the long drive home, only to turn around and head back to the border. Which is where we are at this writing.
Yesterday evening, we stopped at a local pizza restaurant near our hotel. Its front door boasted a scribbled sign: “We are short-handed. Please be kind to our employees who took the time to show up.” This was right up my alley, since my 2022 goal was to follow the Philippians verse and “think lovely thoughts.” I ordered their $5.00 pepperoni special but asked if black olives could be added. “Also, may I have some parmesan packets?” “No problem,” said the sweet young gal behind the register.
“That will be $10.19.” “Black olives cost $5.00?” I asked. “No. It’s the extra cheese you ordered.” “Oh, I don’t want extra cheese, just the Parmesan packets.” “Oh dear, I am so, so sorry. My mistake. So sorry.” “It’s no big deal.” “Okay, you owe me $9.19.”
I handed her a $20. She gave me $1, plus change. “Um,” I began, “I gave you a $20.” “Oh dear, I am so, so sorry. My mistake. So sorry.” (This was becoming a pattern.) “It’s no big deal,” I repeated. “Well, yea, it sort of is. I closed the register. That’s a problem.” Think lovely thoughts. Think lovely thoughts. Think lovely thoughts.
We have choices every day to dwell on positives and not negatives. God wants us focused on what is going right in our lives, not on things about which we can complain. Nowadays, people feel hopeless, and any time we can spread a little joy, a little positivity, we can model for them how to do the same. No matter what the cost.
Input for American Rescue Plan Sought
SPARK Requests Input from Kansans for American Rescue Plan Investment Ideas
TOPEKA – The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee is inviting Kansans to share their investment ideas for the allocation of federal coronavirus relief funds allocated to Kansas through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of March 2021.
“This money offers the opportunity to make strategic investments that will have long-term positive impacts on our state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “It is vital to the recovery efforts that we have input from Kansans across the state – everyone should have a seat at the table.”
This provides a chance for Kansans to make their voice heard as we rebuild our economy and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. The SPARK Executive Committee oversees the development of recommendations for the distribution of ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Funds (SFRF), assisted by the four SPARK Advisory Panels: Health & Education, Economic Revitalization, Connectivity, and Efficiency & Modernization. The SPARK Executive Committee then presents recommendations to the State Finance Council to distribute the SFRF allocated to the State of Kansas.
The online submission form for proposing a SPARK investment idea is available here. Currently, SPARK is requesting proposals for program-level investments. The four Advisory Panels may consider these submissions as part of the process to determine investment priorities and make recommendations to the SPARK Executive Committee. Advisory Panels will begin meeting in the coming weeks.
“This is a historic opportunity for Kansans to have direct input in how these funds are utilized to benefit our state long term,” Senate President Masterson said. “I look forward to reviewing the investments ideas that our citizens submit and working with the Advisory Panels to identify the investments that will best position our state moving forward.”
In making decisions, SPARK will adhere to the following guiding principles:
- Prioritize sustainable programs & investments through one-time use of funds vs. substantial expansion of existing services
- Combine with / leverage local and agency funds to maximize use of discretionary funds
- Foster long-term systemic impact for Kansans
- Consider equitable opportunities and outcomes
- Enable flexibility within investment strategies
- Ensure results are measurable to enable tracking & transparency
“The SPARK Executive Committee heard many great investment ideas from the citizens of Kansas at our regional meetings across the state,” House Speaker Ron Ryckman said. “The investment ideas submitted through this form will allow SPARK to further engage with the citizens of Kansas while determining investment priorities.”
Interested parties are instructed to complete the submission form in its entirety. The submission period will close on February 16, 2022.
Once submitted, investment ideas will be available for review by Advisory Panel members. By submitting an investment idea, interested parties acknowledge that SPARK staff may follow up with them for additional details. Submission does not guarantee assignment to or further consideration by an Advisory Panel and that additional information will not be reviewed unless requested.
Interested parties are also encouraged to familiarize themselves on allowable uses of SFRF. An overview of the Treasury Department’s Final Rule summarizing eligibility provisions for using SFRF can be found here, while the entire Final Rule is available here. Please note that not all investment ideas will fit within the allowable uses of SFRF.
An FAQ document on the submission form is available here. If there are any questions on completing the submission form, please contact [email protected].
Agenda for the Bourbon County Commission Jan. 31
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Date: January 31, 2022
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Ashley Shelton
MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM.
MEETING STARTS AT 8:30AM.
Call to Order
• Flag Salute
• Approval of Minutes from previous meeting
• Eric Bailey – Permits
• Real Property Relief Application Review
• Approval of Township & Cemetery Board’s Annual Report
• Discussion Regarding Sick Leave
• County Counselor Comments
• Commissioner Comments
The three commissioners will be attending a public meeting at 9:45am at the Medical Building, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd, with Noble Health. Even though all 3 commissioners will be in attendance no county business will be conducted.
Justifications for Executive Session: KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy KSA 75-4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship KSA 75-4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency KSA 75-4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships KSA 75-4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property KSA 75-4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.
Obituary of Anne Emerson
Anne Weir Bickel Emerson, age 83, a resident of rural Fort Scott passed away on January 25, 2022.
She was born on August 25, 1938 to Katherine McCarthy and H. Rank Bickel, Jr. in Lebanon, PA where she lived with her older sister Elizabeth Kay until June, 1960. A graduate of Penn State University’s School of Journalism with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, she was a member of Pi Beta Phi national sorority, recipient of its Chapter Service Award and the winner of an interstate advertising competition.
In July, 1959, aboard the steamship SS Liberte’ on a return trip from Europe, she met her future husband Tim Emerson. They were married on March 30, 1963 in Philadelphia where they lived for a short time before moving to the New York City suburb, Rutherford, NJ.
Immediately following graduation in 1960, she joined the advertising staff of John Wanamaker department store, Philadelphia where she worked for one year, after which she became an assistant advertising director at Gimbel Brothers department store where she worked for two years until. moving to Rutherford, NJ, a New York City suburb.
In New York City, she created national advertising campaigns for JC Penney for three months before accepting a position of Assistant Creative Director of the fragrance and cosmetics firm Faberge’ Inc.
Her next employment was with the New Jersey advertising agency, Summit Advertising and sales promotion agency Adstaff, where she created advertising and national sales promotion campaigns for Fortune 500 companies.
While on the East Coast, she and her husband were actively involved in local, state and national campaign politics and local public education and church activities.
As much as the family appreciated Rutherford, New York City and all both communities had to offer, the birth of three sons prompted the Emersons to accept an opportunity to move to a friend’s 3,000 acre ranch in Devon, KS. It would be, they believed, a lifestyle closer to that in which they both were reared.
Following their arrival in Kansas on April 24, 1974, Emersons began farming and ranching while Anne continued her career in advertising, working with her first client, The Fort Scott Tribune — a relationship that continued until her work in government in 1995.
Her small advertising/public relations companies, under the names Creative Communication Services and Emerson Advertising, generated advertising and sales promotion campaigns for clients in the four-state region. Her work with local artist Bill Miller, received both state and national recognition and awards.
Emerson was deeply appreciative of the welcome reception her new hometown afforded her to become active in several aspects of community enhancement programs. Leadership positions included service as the first woman president (reflective of the changing times) of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, an elder and deacon of The First Presbyterian Church, chairman of the American Red Cross Drive, a founder and committee member of The Good Ol’ Days celebration, chairman of the Bourbon County Red Cross and founder and president of The Friends of Fort Scott, Limited.
She actively participated in various Kansas PRIDE community improvement programs, Magazine Club, FU Chapter of PEO, Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, Mercy Hospital Lay Advisory Board and joined two other women as the club’s first female members of the Fort Scott Rotary Club. Emerson was the founder of the Symbols of Sacrifice program honoring War on Terror heroes.
Her passion for government and politics began in 1950 as a teenager when she campaigned in Pennsylvania for the election of President Eisenhower. Active in Philadelphia and later New Jersey Republican campaigns. Emerson served as Bourbon County chairperson and worked as a volunteer in local, state and national political campaigns for Senators Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Sam Brownback and other local, state and federal government candidates.
This work led to serving as District Director for Rep. Sam Brownback in 1995,1996, then State Director of U.S. Sen. Brownback (managing offices in Pittsburg, Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka and Garden City) from Nov. 1996 through Jan. 3, 2011, receiving recognition from the U.S. Senate for more than 12 years of service to the Senate. She concluded her work in government by serving as a District Representative from the Pittsburg office for newly-elected Sen. Jerry Moran from Jan through June, 2011 after which she retired.
During her years in Pittsburg, she was active in the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce, Pittsburg Noon Rotary where she was a Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the board of directors of Southeast Kansas, Inc. She was designated by the Joplin Tri-State Journal as a Woman of Distinction in 2008 and later as a Woman of Influence.
Survivors include: her husband Timothy H. Emerson, Sr. of the home. Also surviving: three sons and their families: Timothy Hawley Emerson, Jr. his wife Darci Frasier Emerson and daughters Sophie Anne, Zoey Hawley and son Vaughn Frasier Emerson of Kansas City, MO; Andrew McCarthy Emerson, wife Kristen Thomas Emerson and daughters: Adaleigh Kennedy Emerson, Dallas, TX; Ella Katherine and Kate McCarthy Emerson of Loch Lloyd, MO and Michael Collins Emerson and wife Shana Beth Emerson, daughter Cali Beth Emerson and sons Nicholas Lee Emerson and Austin Ty Emerson, and great-grandson Lincoln Roy Emerson of rural Fort Scott.
Emerson often said, “The memories of all activities of the above family members — and our friends — will be what I will miss most yet I will have countless vivid recollections of non-stop activities at their always-welcoming homes or at our farm: checking cattle, horseback riding, swimming, watching ball games, meal and bread making, watching our furry felines trying to adjust to new family members!”
Additional survivors include Anne’s sister, and her family: Elizabeth Foster, her husband Gene Foster of Greenville, NC; Anne’s nephew Christopher Foster and his wife, Jun of Virginia Beach, VA and daughter Mimi, San Francisco, CA and Anne’s niece Susan Foster Nagle and her husband Scott of Portland, Oregon. Also surviving, decades-long, exceptional family friends and for many decades: Bill and Glenda (always our North Star) Lalman of Fort Scott.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, February 5th at the First Presbyterian Church in Ft. Scott.
Family visitation will immediately follow the service.
Memorials can be given to The First Presbyterian Church of Fort Scott or The First Baptist Church of Fort Scott, and left in care of the Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel, 201 South Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. It was also suggested by Anne that anyone wishing to honor her memory, do so by extending an act of encouragement to another with her motto being Faith, Family and Fort Scott. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
T-Mobile Opens Storefront in Fort Scott Jan. 28
This Friday a T-Mobile wireless network store opens in Fort Scott in the strip mall on South Main Street.
The store is located in the former Cash 2 Go storefront at 2400 S. Main and has 1,300 square feet for the sales floor.
The hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. They have seven employees.
January 28, 2022, is the soft opening date, with a grand opening in the future.
The store’s phone number is 620.644.0347.
Why Fort Scott?
“T-Mobile is the leader in 5g, bringing cellular service to the entire nation,” said Scott Hunsaker, manager of the Fort Scott store.
“T-Mobile wants to service communities that have been historically dis-served within the cellular community,” Hunsaker said. “Fort Scott was chosen because of its geographic location and the City of Fort Scott had been approved to receive a $50,000 Hometown Grant. This gave us a reason to invest here.”
To view the prior story on the Fort Scott Hometown Grant:
T-Mobile Awards Green Space Grant and Will Open New Retail Store in Fort Scott
T-Mobile History
T-Mobile US, Inc. is a wireless network whose headquarters are located in Bellevue, Washington, and Overland Park, Kansas.
“When we purchased Sprint, Overland Park became our second corporation headquarters on August 2, 2020,” Hunsaker said.
T-Mobile had a record high, 5.5 million customers, in 2021, according to the company’s website.