Destry Brown: New USD 234 Superintendent

Destry Brown. Submitted photo.

Destry Brown, 59, is the new superintendent of schools for USD 234, Fort Scott.

He believes he is coming full circle in his life in returning to USD 234 after 38 years in education.

“The funny thing to me is that I began school as a kindergartner in Fulton, KS which was part of USD # 234,” Brown said.  “Now, I am back in the USD # 234 School District. I guess one could say that I have come full circle.”

“I graduated from Fort Scott High School, attended Fort Scott Community College for two years and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Pittsburg State University,” he said. “I also received a Master’s Degree in Building Administration along with additional coursework to complete the licensure requirements to be a superintendent.”

He began his teaching career teaching elementary school in Mound City, where he taught grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, and taught there for 11 years.

Brown was then the elementary principal for two years in Wilson, KS.

“From there, I was the principal at Alcott Elementary School in Chanute, for five years before moving to the assistant superintendent position for four years. My first superintendent position was in Frontenac,  where I remained for three years. Then, for the next nine years, I was the superintendent in Pittsburg. I then moved to Clinton, MO where I have been for the last four years.”

Brown begins officially in Fort Scott on July 1st.

“I will probably be in and out of the district throughout the month of June as I work toward a smooth transition,” he said.

USD 234 Board of Education Building, 424 S. Main

Background

“I grew up on a farm between Fort Scott and Fulton,” he said. “We moved to Fort Scott when I was in middle school.”

His wife, Joan, works for Community National Bank and they have three boys between the two of them.

“We also have six wonderful grandkids!,” he said.

Brown has many ties to Bourbon County.

“My parents are Donnie and Georgia Brown.” he said. “Dad farms in northern Bourbon County and Mom owns and operates Sunshine Boutique in downtown Fort Scott. My sister, Ginger Nance, is the Director at Presbyterian Village.”

In his spare time he attends events in the school district and community, he said.

“In Clinton, I am involved in the Optimist Club and serve as the Treasurer,” he said. “I am also a Rotary and Elks Club member. I serve on the Henry County Health Board. I am involved with Olde Glory Days, a week long 4th of July celebration, Main Street Clinton, and the Emergency Planning Commission. I serve as a Big Brother in Big Brothers and Big Sisters and I mentor a student through the Juvenile Justice program. I coordinated and help with community food distributions. Joan and I attend the Clinton Methodist Church. As you can see, we spend most of our spare time serving our community and especially the children/families in our community.”

” I also love to cook and I am an avid student of leadership,” Brown said.

Brown has been inspired by many.

“As a young teenager, our neighbor, Tom Davis was the Recreation Director in Fort Scott,” he said. “He asked me to coach a tee ball team one year and I found that I really enjoyed working with kids. I volunteered on the playground at Winfield Scott Elementary during my lunch hour in high school. I also had some amazing teachers who had a tremendous influence on my desire to be a teacher including: Welcome Van Sickle, Margaret Titus, Elaine Wimberly, Maxine Kinney, Alice Miller, Tom Davis, Bill Sailors, Lily Kober, Gary Wimmer, Warren Jones, Steve Wolf, Gary Key, Lucille James, Marcel Norman. I am sorry for this long list. But, these people along with many others like Dick Hedges and George Hudiberg encouraged and inspired me along the way. All of these people had a way of teaching and leading that broke average. They always pushed me to work hard and to love and serve people. They displayed a joy for teaching and leading and drew me into the field of education.”

The greatest challenge he faces coming to Fort Scott is to learn about the Fort Scott system and the people who work here,  and making up for lost time during the COVID 19 Pandemic, he said.

“Now that we are past the pandemic, the challenge will be to help our students to recover the loss of learning that has occurred,” Brown said. “More importantly, we will need to figure out ways to address the social and emotional issues that have presented themselves during the pandemic. Although we learned a lot about different ways to educate our kids and different ways to do business during this time, our challenge will be to blend the old with the new in ways that best meet the needs of every student.”

“I am so excited to be able to return to my hometown,” Brown said. “The things that people will be able to count on from me are: 1) I am about doing our very best for kids. 2) I will encourage and support our staff. 3) My door is always open to people to stop by with concerns, encouragement, or just to talk. 4) I will be honest and transparent about the workings of the district. 5) I will always support and positively represent the Red and the White. Go Tigers!!!!”

Fort Scott Gets KDOT Grant For Horton Street Improvements

Governor Laura Kelly Announces More Than $7 Million in Transportation Project Investments

~~Cost Share Program Tops $100M in Grants
for the First Time in its History~~
 

OLATHE – Governor Laura Kelly joined Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz today to announce that more than $7 million will be awarded to 11 transportation construction projects through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Cost Share Program for spring 2022. With these grants, more than $100 million has been given to Kansas communities since the Cost Share Program’s inception.

“My administration has invested more than $100 million in our roads, trails, and bridges since the start of the Cost Share program because quality infrastructure is the foundation of strong communities,” Governor Kelly said. “Congratulations to each of this year’s Cost Share awardees. Thank you for the work you’re doing to continue building a beautiful, vibrant, and safe Kansas.”

The Cost Share Program was founded in 2019 as part of the Kelly Administration’s 10-year, bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, or IKE. By leveraging both state and local dollars to fund community transportation projects, Cost Share improves safety, supports job retention and growth, relieves congestion, and increases access and mobility in rural and urban areas.

Governor Kelly lauded the Cedar Creek Trail in Olathe as a prime example of how Cost Share can benefit a community. Enhancements to the city’s trail system will give residents greater access to recreational amenities, connect to regional trails, and provide hiking and biking access to nearby health care facilities.

With today’s announcement, more than $103 million in state funding, matched by more than $74 million in local funding, has been invested in Cost Share projects since the program was founded by the Kelly Administration.

“We rely on local leaders to bring us their best ideas for projects that, with a little help, can make a significant difference in a community,” Secretary Lorenz said. “Communities come to the table with a solid project plan, the support of local business and community members, and matching funds in place. State dollars help get the projects to the finish line.”

View a map of Cost Share projects here.

Spring 2022 Cost Share recipients are:

Ellis County

Cathedral Avenue reconstruction

City of Erie

4th Street improvement, phase two

City of Fort Scott

Horton Street improvements

Johnson County

I-35 and 24th Street traffic signals

Lincoln County

60th Road pavement reclamation

City of Logan

Logan Street reconstruction

City of North Newton

Sidewalk improvements

City of Olathe

Cedar Creek Trail, phase two

Pottawatomie County

Havensville Road bridge over Mound Creek

Scott County

W. Road 270 improvements

City of Valley Center

Seneca Street reconstruction

More information about KDOT’s Cost Share Program is on KDOT’s website at https://www.ksdot.org/CostShare/CostShareProgram.asp.

 

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The FSHS Tiger Drama Camp: The Stinky Cheese Man On May 27-28

 
The Annual FSHS Tiger Drama Camp presents The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by John Glore at 7 p.m. on May 27 and at 2 p.m. on May 28 at the FSHS Auditorium. 
The play and camp are produced by the FSHS Thespian Troupe #7365 and their sponsor Angie Bin and features over 35 local youth ages 1st through 9th grades. Directors are recent graduate Christina King and junior Regen Wells. Music Directors are senior Karen Primeaux and junior Jericho Jones. All technical aspects of the play are designed and created by a team of sixteen high school Thespian members.
 
“Though the characters may be familiar, each of your favorite storybook fables is uproariously derailed in this adaptation of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith’s quintessential children’s book of fractured fairy tales. Everything from ‘Chicken Little’ to ‘The Gingerbread Man’ gets a complete makeover. Fun music and witty narration accompany the likes of ineloquent giants, sassy barnyard animals, colossal cow pies, and enough stinky cheese to go around,” according to Playscripts publishing.
 
Tickets are $5 for reserved seats and are available at fortscotthighschool.ludus.com and at the door. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.
 
# # #

Service Notice of Patricia Howard

Patricia Ann Howard, age 67, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, May 23, 2022, at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
Following cremation, Father Yancey Burgess will conduct Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 A.M. Friday, May 27th at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church where the Rosary will be recited at 6:30 P.M.  Memorials are suggested to Always and Furever Midwest Animal Sanctuary 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 Ida McReynolds

Ida Luella McReynolds, age 80, a longtime resident of Weir, Kansas, passed away Friday, May 20, 2022.  She was born September 9, 1941, in Radley, Kansas, the daughter of Alonzo Mayberry and Ida Irena McVey Mayberry.  Ida married Melvin Eugene McReynolds, on November 16, 1957, at Miami, Oklahoma.  He preceded her in death on January 26, 2008.  Ida had worked as a housekeeper at area nursing homes, hospitals and private homes.  She enjoyed spending time with her family.

 

Survivors include two sons, Chet McReynolds (Jill), of Beverly Hills, Florida and Herb McReynolds (Karen), of Weir, Kansas and a daughter, Jewel McReynolds of Overland Park, Kansas. and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Also surviving are three sisters, Lori Marconi and Rita Woods, both of Pittsburg, Kansas and Diana Lynn Meyers, of Carl Junction, Missouri and a brother, Wilburn “Bud” Mayberry, of Pittsburg, Kansas.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two sons, Melvin McReynolds and Jack McReynolds, a daughter, Linda McReynolds, a sister, Barbara Geier and a brother, James Mayberry.

 

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Friday, May 27th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Marmaton Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Memorials a suggested to a charity of the donors choice.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Downtown Store Changes Name

Rechelle, Joshua and Julie McClellan. Submitted photo.

Main Street Gallery & Gifts has a new name to rebrand because of additions to the store, located at 23 S. Main in downtown Fort Scott’s historic district.

Since April, it is now called Main Street Vintage and Co.

“We have been wanting to re-brand for sometime now, and we finally made a decision,” said Josh McClellan,one of the owners.

Submitted graphic.

The owners remain the same: Julie McClellan and her son, Josh, and daughter in-law Rechelle.

The family started their store in Oct. 2000.

Since Oct. 2019,Rechelle has been working full time and since then, “We have done a total transformation,” Josh said. “We now have more than 60 vendors.”

“We wanted to reflect our store with a new and improved name.” he said. “We needed something more upscale. We offer several boutique vendors and we have numerous furniture artists. We offer
more products also, from DIY chalk paint, to decoupage papers and stencils by Jami Ray Vintage, and transfers, stamps, and molds by Iron Orchid Designs.”

Decoupage papers are now available at the store. Submitted photos.

“We have people that have never been to the store and they come in and say ‘Wow, it’s beautiful here!’ We wanted to show
that in our name.”

“We changed our name at the end of April 2022 on all of our social media platforms,” Josh said. “Julie and I have been working on the name change with several vendors for sometime now,” Josh said. “We are proud of all of our accomplishments and wanted to show the public.”

The following are some offerings of the store:

 

 

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran Newsletter May 23


 

 

Reaching an Agreement on Historic Legislation for Veterans

For far too long, veterans exposed to toxic substances while serving our nation have been denied access to health care and benefits through the VA. This includes many of the 3.5 million post-9/11 veterans who have potentially encountered toxic exposures from burn pits – areas near military bases used to burn chemicals, rubber, medical waste, plastics, and other waste that would emit toxic smoke. As leaders of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Senator Jon Tester and I are committed to passing legislation to provide these veterans – and future generations of veterans – with the health care and benefits they deserve.

This past week, Sen. Tester and I reached a bipartisan agreement for the most comprehensive toxic exposure package the Senate has ever delivered to veterans in this country’s history. For months I worked with Sen. Tester, the VA and veteran service organizations to craft legislation to provide relief to all generations of veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service. Together, we will continue working until Congress delivers on its commitment to passing long-lasting solutions and comprehensive toxic exposure reforms for those who served our country.

Read more about the impact of the legislation in the Military Times.

 

Demanding Answers from FDA on the Baby Formula Shortage

As Kansas parents continue to struggle to find baby formula in stores, I joined several of my Senate colleagues in asking Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf about the agency’s plans to address the shortage. The shortage comes in the aftermath of Abbott Nutrition’s voluntary recall of formula possibly connected to infant death and sickness, prompting an FDA safety investigation that temporarily closed Abbott’s Michigan formula manufacturing plant. The FDA is only now allowing Abbott’s plant to restart production of formula. Both the voluntary recall and the FDA investigation exasperated the shortage. I am awaiting Commissioner Califf’s response on the FDA’s failure to mitigate the nationwide baby formula shortage and the steps available to limit the harmful impact on families and their newborns.

Read the full letter to the FDA here.

Continue reading U.S. Senator Jerry Moran Newsletter May 23

Sports Training Available

Momentum Indoor Training Summer Offerings:

Sports Performance Training – Training designed specifically for an individual to increase general and sport specialized sports performance.  It is crucial to improving an athlete’s ability to master the skills of their chosen sport, reduce the risk of injury, and gain a competitive edge.  Scheduled individually or in small groups each athlete has training designed specifically to teach proper movement patterns that will improve their speed, power, agility, and more.  Athletes from any and all sports benefit from Sports Performance Training.

 

Sports Performance Training is scheduled on an individual or small group basis Tuesdays to Fridays.

 

Pricing –

7 to 11 years old – $50 for 12 sessions (2 sessions per week for 6 weeks)

 

12 years old and older – $75 for 12 sessions (2 sessions per week for 6 weeks)

 

Monthly pricing is available after the first 12 sessions

 

 

Skills Room Access

 

Volleyball – Utilize the Sports Attack Volleyball Skillz Attack machine.  This machine can Serve, Pass, Set, and Hit.  It allows any player to train any and all the positions by themselves anytime they want or need to.  The Skillz Attack can also be used in small groups.  Volleyball will be set-up for scheduling on Wednesdays.

 

Softball/Baseball – Train like an elite athlete with the Hack Attack Softball and Baseball pitching machine.  Both machines can pitch multiple pitches and simulate a live pitcher by throwing balls around the strike zone instead of just straight pitches.  20 minutes against the machine will allow an athlete to see an average of 75 pitches.  The Softball/Baseball machines will be set-up for scheduling on Tuesdays and Thursday for individuals and groups of less than 5 players.

 

 

All training is by appointment and on a first come first serve basis and will be the following:

Tuesdays – Softball/Baseball

Wednesdays – Volleyball

Thursdays – Softball/Baseball

Sundays, Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays – Skills Room is closed to all scheduling

 

Skills Room Pricing

30 minutes – $25

1 hour – $40

A loyalty program will be in place for those who qualify

All previously purchased packages will continue to be honored

 

 

Emelia Whiteaker, MS, ATC, PES – Owner/Operator/Trainer

A native of Fort Scott, she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Athletic Training from Washburn University and a Master’s of Science in Health Promotion with an emphasis in Sports Performance and Injury Prevention from California University of Pennsylvania.  Emelia holds certifications from the Board of Certification in Athletic Training and the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Performance Enhancement Specialist.  Over a 15 year career she has trained athletes ranging in age from 6 years old to the professional levels and sports that include: Football, Distance Running, Softball/Baseball, Volleyball, Track and Field, Basketball, Soccer, Golf, Rodeo, Hockey and more.  Many of Emelia’s athletes have gone on to be individual and team state champions and compete as elite athletes.  It is her belief that every child that has the heart to be an athletes has the potential to be an athlete and it is her job to help them get there.

 

Momentum Indoor Training can be reached by Call or Text at (620) 224-8442, e-mail: [email protected] or message the Facebook page: @mitrainingfs.