Monthly Archives: November 2022

Obituary

Obituary of Alvena Carol Russell

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Alvena Carol Russell, age 82, a resident of rural Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Sunday, November 20, 2022, at her home.  She was born October 10, 1940, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of John J. Bloom, Jr. and Freda Hamlett Bloom.

Carol graduated from the Ft. Scott High School and went on to attend Arlington Bible College in Arlington, Texas.

She married Robert L. Russell on April 22, 1962, at the Grace Baptist Tabernacle in Ft. Scott.  Together they raised their three daughters, Laurie, Barbie and Shelly.  While the girls were younger, Carol served as a Campfire leader.

Throughout her life, Carol worked in clerical and secretarial positions at various businesses including Wal-Mart, Ennis Business Forms, Great West Insurance Company and the First Baptist Church; however, her main priority was taking care of her family.

After her girls had grown, she owned and operated her own business, Brides and Things, located in downtown Ft. Scott.

Carol was a woman of faith and a longtime member of the Grace Baptist Tabernacle where she served as a Sunday school teacher.  Carol was an accomplished writer and used her writing abilities to share her faith.  She published several children’s books as well as inspirational articles.

She was often asked to speak at area church functions, primarily ladies’ events.

Carol will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

 

Carol will be dearly missed by her husband, Bob, of the home; her three daughters, Laurie Center (Bill) of Lolo, Montana, Barbie Johnson of Ft. Scott and Sharon Michelle “Shelly” Allen (Brett) of Fountain, Colorado; her seven grandchildren, Grant Center, Lindsey LaRocque (Brandon), Katie, Kellie and Keriann Johnson and Kylie and Zaine Allen; and her five great-grandchildren, Kelsie, Alexa, Carter, Hadley and Lydia.  Also surviving is a niece, Leita Kester.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Sharon Kester.

 

There was cremation.  A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, December 17th at the Grace Baptist Tabernacle.

Private burial will take place at the Centerville Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Grace Baptist Tabernacle 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

Obituary of Frontressa Foxx

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Fontressa Monique Foxx, age 39, a resident of Fort Scott, KS, died early Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at her home.  She was born September 22, 1983, in Fort Scott.  Fontressa graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of 2002.  She worked as a CNA at Guest Home Estates.  She enjoyed needlepoint, listening to music, and spending time with her beloved dog “Tiny.”

 

Survivors include her mother, Anita Foxx, of the home, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.  She was preceded in death by an infant sister, Lakin Sidell Foxx, her father, and her grandparents.

 

There was cremation.  No public services are scheduled at this time.  Memorials are suggested to the Fontressa Foxx Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Business, Fort Scott

New Phone Number For Renting River Room

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The River Room Event Center is located on the second floor of the building at the corner of Oak Street and National Avenue on Fort Scott’s north side.

On November 1, Luther’s BBQ Restaurant at 3 W. Oak, closed.

The building’s second story business, the River Room Event Center, has a new phone number and will honor any reservations that were made, according to Al Niece, owner of the building.

The River Room new phone number is 620.820.0536 and their email is [email protected]

“There were some reservations in place for some events (at the River Room), I am honoring them all,” Niece said. “The River Room is one of the largest event centers in the area.”

 

New Business Soon

Niece feels confident that the lower floor restaurant space will be leased soon, he said.

“We are weighing options for a business there,” Niece said. “We are talking with several groups.”

To view the prior story on the opening of Luther’s:

Luther’s BBQ Opens

 

KDOR Executed Tax Warrants and Seized Assets


On November 1, 2022, agents from the Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR) accompanied by the Fort Scott Police Dept. and the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Dept. executed tax warrants and seized the assets of Luther’s BBQ LLC for nonpayment of Liquor Enforcement Taxes and Sales Taxes: totaling $38,783.96, according to a press release from the KDOR.


The warrants were filed in Bourbon County.
The types of assets seized include all known bank accounts, on-site cash, business inventory, as well as personal property belonging to the owner. The business was sealed closed with a public notice posted on the outside.

“Luther’s BBQ LLC has paid all outstanding judgements and assets have been released to the business,” according to an email from KDOR on November 9.


KDOR’s policy and practice is to work with taxpayers in delinquent status to voluntarily enter into repayment agreements, according to the press release. It is only after these efforts and multiple failed collection attempts that the Department is forced to execute a tax warrant, utilizing such actions as bank levies, till taps, and ultimately asset seizure to ensure compliance with the law.


KDOR’s responsibility to recover delinquent taxes not only ensures fairness for individuals and business owners who do pay their taxes, but also ensures that money is lawfully collected to fund state and local programs on which Kansans depend, according to the press release. These programs include education, highways, public safety, and human services.


Customers, employees or others that may have items at the business may contact the agent assigned to
this case at 785-250-5084.

 

Fort Scott, Schools

Margaret Marino Awarded a Classroom Grant

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Submitted photo.

 

Manhattan, KS — Ms. Margaret Marino, K-2 Math and Reading Special Education Instructor, Winfield Scott Elementary School, USD 234, Fort Scott, was recently awarded a $500 Classroom Grant by the Kansas Association of American Educators (KANAAE), a non-union professional educators’ association serving Kansas educators.  Ms. Marino will be using the grant to purchase supplies to supplement the Orton Gillingham training she attended this past summer!

 

“KANAAE is thrilled to be able to provide funding to purchase needed materials and supplies for Margaret’s classroom,” said Garry Sigle, KANAAE executive director.  “As a professional association we are committed to helping educator’s purchase items through our scholarship and grant program they may not otherwise be able to obtain.  We know it’s the students who ultimately benefit.”

 

The winners of the KANAAE Teacher Scholarships and Classroom Grants are selected by a committee of their peers from across Kansas.  All educators are encouraged to apply.

 

KANAAE is an affordable, non-union professional education association that provides teacher scholarships and classroom grants exclusively for Kansas educators twice a year.  The grants can help pay for a variety of materials for the classroom and scholarships can be used to cover a wide variety of expenses including tuition, books, conferences, and workshops. The next application deadline is March 1, 2023.  For more information visit www.kanaae.org.

 

Obituary

Obituary of Dr. Richard Spencer

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Dr. Richard L. “Dick” Spencer, DDS, age 77, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at the Medicalodge in Ft. Scott.

He was born August 3, 1945, in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Virgil W. Spencer and Dorothy Lee Spencer.  He graduated from the Ft. Scott High School and from Pittsburg State University.  He then went on to complete dental school at the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

He married Karlene K. Murn on October 12, 1971.

Dr. Spencer owned and operated his own dental practice in Ft. Scott for several years.  He later worked in the dental office of Dr. Max Patterson.  Dick will be remembered as a devoted husband and a loving father as he faithfully cared for his wife, Karlene and their son, Jonathan.

 

He was the last of his family.  Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Karlene on July 2, 2019, and his son, Jonathan, on November 7, 2000.  He was also preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Dorothy Spencer and his in-laws, Bill, and Becky Murn.

 

Private burial will take place at the Evergreen Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County

Heartland REC awards $2,000 to Hammond Community Building

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Linda Minor-Hammond Community Center Board Member, Doug Graham-Heartland
 Communication Specialist -, and Alice Helton-Hammond Community Center Board Member.. Submitted photo.

Linda Minor wrote a grant that was awarded for the Hammond Community Center$2,000 from Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative for roof and HVAC repairs.

“I am a Hammond Community Center board member,” Minor said. “The building has been struggling financially with upkeep.”

The Hammond Community Center, 2275 Soldier Road, rural Fort Scott, is about 30 years old.

“Hammond Community Center is the only community center left in the Osage Township of Bourbon County,” she said. “The facility has been serving the Hammond area since the closing of the Hammond School.  The center is often used for birthday parties, reunions, and wedding receptions along with the monthly meetings of the Northeast Scott 4H Club.”

 
The Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative’s Concern for Community Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for capital improvement projects throughout the cooperative’s service area, according to a Heartland press release. Applications are accepted during a defined application period each year.

 

The Hammond project was one of 10 selected to receive a funding boost through Heartland’s Concern for Community grant program, according to a Heartland press release.

“I often say that we’re not in the business of selling electricity, we’re in the business of powering rural lifestyles,” said Mark Scheibe, Heartland CEO. “Part of that is supporting the communities our consumer-members live in and around. This grant program is a great way to do just that.”

The Concern for Community program provides grants of up to $5,000 for capital improvement projects throughout the Heartland service area, which covers parts of 12 counties in eastern Kansas. Capital improvement projects are those that involve investment in structures or equipment that will last for many years.

 

As a non-profit, member-owned cooperative, Heartland issues capital credits to members each year, but sometimes those capital credits go unclaimed. Because those monies were intended to be returned to the communities from which they came, Heartland’s Board of Directors decided to use those unclaimed funds for community grants and started the Concern for Community program in 2019.

This year, 10 applications out of 26 received were approved for funding by the Heartland board. Heartland distributed a total of $37,000 in Concern for Community grants this year.

Other Heartland REC projects selected for funding are as follows:

  • Cato Historical Preservation Association, Inc. was awarded $2,500 for painting at the Cato Christian Church between Fort Scott and Pittsburg.
  • Crawford County Fair Association was awarded $5,000 for new lights and wiring at the fairgrounds outside Girard.
  • Crawford County Fire District # 4 was awarded $5,000 to help purchase a virtual fire extinguisher training system to be shared with area fire departments and businesses.
  • Fairview Chapel outside Moran was awarded $2,500 for new bathrooms.
  • Hammond Community Center in rural Fort Scott was awarded $2,000 for roof and HVAC repairs.
  • Jayhawk USD 346 was awarded $2,500 for new curtains for the auditorium.
  • Linn County Fair Association was awarded $5,000 for new animal pens at the fairgrounds in Mound City.
  • Moran-Marmaton/Osage Fire Department was awarded $2,500 for new hoses and nozzles.
  • Mound City Historical Society, Inc. was awarded $5,000 for roof repairs on historical buildings.
  • Woodson County Fair Association was awarded $5,000 for renovations to the swine barn at the fairgrounds in Yates Center.

Applications were accepted in the month of September and selected by the Heartland Board of Directors in October. Heartland plans to reopen applications in summer 2023 for the next round of funding.

About Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. powers rural lifestyles throughout more than 11,000 locations in eastern Kansas. Heartland’s service area includes consumer-members in 12 counties, including Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Miami, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.

Heartland REC traces its roots back to three original rural electric cooperatives: Cooperative Electric Power & Light Company, Sugar Valley Electric Cooperative Association, and Sekan Electric Cooperative Association. Cooperative Electric Power & Light Company joined with Sugar Valley in 1975 to form United Electric Cooperative; United Electric Cooperative joined with Sekan Electric Cooperative Association in 1996 to form Heartland.

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Meets At Noon Today at the Empress Event Center

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Agenda 

Bourbon County Commission Room 

1st Floor, County Courthouse 

210 S. National Avenue 

Fort Scott, KS 66701 

 

 

Date: November 22, 2022 

1st District-Nelson Blythe                                                                  

2nd District-Jim Harris                                                                       

3rd District-Clifton Beth                                                                               

County Clerk-Ashley Shelton 

 

 

 

A work session with the county and city commissioners will be held at noon today at the Empress Event Center. Multiple topics will be discussed but no action will be taken. This meeting is open to the public.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County

Starlite FCE November 2022 minutes

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The Starlite FCE held there November meeting at the Yeager building on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.  President Glenda Miller called the meeting to order and Vice president Joyce Allen led the club in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Club Collect.  Eleven members were in attendance and reported that they had volunteered for sixty-six hours and had recycled 70 pounds.

 

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.  Doris Ericson presented the treasurer’s report.

 

Old business consisted of a report that treats had been delivered to the VFW, American Legion and the assisted living facilities in honor of Veterans Day.  Goodie bags were also delivered to the Tri-Valley clients.  Glenda Miller announced that Betty Johnson had been selected as the Southeast Kansas representative for the Heart of FCE award for 2022 at the Parsons Fall Training.  It was also reported that three members had helped out with the poppy distribution and that Deb Lust had assisted in placing the Flag out for Veterans Day.

 

New Business for the month was planning the Christmas party.  Doris Ericson moved that everyone bring money to be donated to Preferred Living, Deb Lust seconded the motion, motion carried.  It was decided that the Christmas Potluck Dinner would be held on December 16th at 11:00.  Before the dinner the members will be putting together gift bags for the Tri-Valley clients, which will consist of socks, gloves, hot chocolate mixes, popcorn, mugs filled with Chex mix and candy.  We will also be having a white elephant exchange at the dinner.  Other new business was assigning the lessons for the coming year and picking hostesses.

 

Before the meeting the members folded two hundred Christmas messages and stuff envelops to be delivered to the VA hospital.

 

Letha Johnson moved the meeting be adjourned, Joyce Allen seconded the motion, meeting adjourned.  After the meeting the members enjoyed refreshments of vegetable pizza, cinnamon roll twists, nuts, chocolate, V8 and water provided by Claudia Wheeler and Letha Johnson.

 

Prepared by

Terri Williams

 

Obituary

Obituary of Joyce Anthony

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Joyce Lea Anthony, age 85, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Monday, November 21, 2022, at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri.

She was born November 28, 1936, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Thomas E. Phillips and Lucy A. King.  From an early age, Joyce was raised by her mother and step-father, Sherman Love.  Joyce graduated from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1954.  She married Bill Anthony on May 24, 1963, at Ft. Scott.

When her daughter, Leota, was growing up, Joyce supported her musical endeavors.  She was also active with the Girl Scouts and helped with the PTA. Music was always an important part of Joyce’s life.  For many years she managed the Ernie Williamson’s Music Store located on North Main Street in Ft. Scott.  She also enjoyed listening to Leota’s music students work on their lessons.

Joyce loved to make blankets and quilts.  Many a child has been the recipient of one of Joyce’s baby blankets or hair bows.

She was a member of the Community of Christ Church.

 

Survivors include her daughter, Leota Lucy Anthony, of Ft. Scott and numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great-nieces.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, on January 11, 2004.  She was also preceded in death by a son, Billy Jay Anthony; her parents; a sister, Clara May Hawkins and two brothers, Robert Love and Johnny Love, Sr.

 

Robert and Cathy Clark will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, November 26th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Maple Grove Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Community of Christ 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.