David Alan Shinn, age 76, a resident of Uniontown, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at his home in Uniontown. He was born January 10, 1947, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the son of James Orval Shinn and Thora May Nichols Shinn. Alan graduated from Iola High School and then Allen County Community College and Emporia State University. He later went on to receive a Master’s Degree from Pittsburg State University in 1971.
He married Rebecca Emert on May 29, 1969, at Iola, Kansas. Alan served as a math teacher for Uniontown USD #235 for fifty years. He loved teaching the fundamentals of math and his students often placed well in area math competitions. Aside from working in the classroom, Alan also served as the Uniontown High School Assistant Football coach and the girls’ Golf and Softball coach. He also drove a bus for twenty-five years.
In addition to teaching, Alan also served two years as the Uniontown City Clerk and also worked weekends in the office at the Ft. Scott Sale Barn for many years.
Alan was a longtime member of the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown where he had served as a Deacon. During the church’s remodeling project, Alan became familiar with the Volunteer Christian Builders Association and went on to help with other building projects. He loved being outdoors and enjoyed hunting both deer and turkey as well as fishing at Roaring River.
Survivors include his wife, Becky, of the home; his children, Kevin Shinn (Diana) of Uniontown, and Melissa Gage (Jason) of Louisburg, Kansas; six grandchildren, Emily Jefferis (Austin), Holly Richwine (Dylan), Lauren Shinn, and Brayden, Bryce and Brock Gage and a great-grandson, Kase Jefferis. Also surviving is a brother, Jack Shinn, of Pittsburg.
Alan was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Mark Shinn.
Rev. Marty Dewitt will conduct funeral services at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, June 17th at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown.
Burial will follow in the Turkey Creek Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Shinn Family Scholarship or the First Missionary Baptist 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.
Left to right: Martin Hudecek-Ashwill, Martin Ashwill II (rear), Adam Ashwill, Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill in this 2017 submitted photo.
The 42nd annual bicycle “Race Across America” will pass through Fort Scott this week, according to a press release.
The bicyclists will cross the length of the American continent, over 3000 miles from Pacific Ocean to Atlantic Ocean, stopping to sleep only when necessary. The average sleep time for a solo is 2-3 hours per day.
Along the route, they pass 54 time stations, spaced approximately 50 miles apart, where their crew must call RAAM headquarters to report the rider’s or team’s arrival time and any other important news.
The Fort Scott Time Station 30 is the 1,778.6 Mile mark.
“Our family runs the time station (Time Station 30) for Race Across America,” said Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill. “We’ve been doing it since 2015 and have entertained hundreds of cyclists and crews from all over the world.”
The family runs the time station from their house at 21 N. Caldwell, Fort Scott.
“We provide a place for the racers and crews to rest, get some food and water, use the bathroom, and we provide escort service to any stores they might want to go to and to Buck Run (Community Center)for showers,” Kristi said. We also fly their nation’s flag on Wall Street and cheer for them as they approach. It is a festive atmosphere and many racers and crew members have said this is the best time station on the route.”
The community provides for the visitors as well.
“Walgreens provides water, Fort Cinema provides popcorn, Taco Bell provides tacos, Dominos provides pizza, and the refrigerator is provided by Rent-A-Center, 4-States Sanitation provides trash bins,” she said. “In addition, Buck Run lets racers and crew members take showers there.”
“Martin also has a small repair shop here where he fixes their bicycles if they need him to,” she said. “He’s a bike mechanic and has an array of tools that the bike mechanic on the team may not have.”
Pictured is the kitchen of the Ashwill family. The family gets food donations from area businesses for the racers.
“Race Across America is an annual international 3000+ mile bicycle race that starts in Oceanside, California and ends in Annapolis, Maryland and runs right through Fort Scott,” she said. “The solos have to make it in 12 days while the teams have to make it in 9 days. There are various times for women and older riders and teams, but the finish times are all around the numbers given.”
This year their are 31 solos and 16 teams.
“One of the teams is a four-man team from Germany in the age category of 80-84,” she said. “They have nine days, 12 hours provided they leave with the solos.”
“The race starts on June 13 and we expect the first rider to arrive on June 18 or 19, depending on how things go in the desert.”
By June 22, all riders should be through the area.
“It gets so hot out there (in the desert) that sometimes the riders succumb to the heat and end up not finishing the race. The forecast for this year is that it’s supposed to be cooler and, if that’s the case, there won’t be as many DNF’s and this time station will be very busy. We are every year, but this will make it even more so.”
“DNF means Did Not Finish,” she said. “Nobody wants that, but it does happen often during this race.”
Martin Hudecek-Ashwill with Christoph Strasser from Austria.
The time station in Fort Scott will be staffed with enthusiastic volunteers and provide a festival-like atmosphere for spectators of all ages and the traveling group of racers and crews as they pass through the community, according to the press release from Ashwill.
The manned time station is located at 21 N. Caldwell and is an open house to all racers and crew, she said.
“Race officials are invited to take their sleep at the Time Station 30 house instead of spending money at a hotel or sleeping in their cars, which is the majority case,” Ashwill said. “In 2015 we opened our house for the event and the racers and crew loved it. It is the first time that the Race Across America actually had a house opened up to them.”
May-Brit Christiansen from Norway, Adam Ashwill, Johnny Stausholm, from Norway, Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill, Martin Hudecek-Ashwill holding the flag of Norway in this 2017 submitted photo. “Johnny was the rider and had to DNF in Arizona, but still drove to Fort Scott to see the time station and brought gifts for Adam,” Kristi said.
“This is the only time station that has been in RAAM movies, one of which was shown at the AMC Theater in Olathe,” Kristi said. “The movies have been on airlines and have been shown all over the world.”
The time station members with Stefan Schlegel and his crew from Germany in 2017. Schlegel had to quit the race at this time station for health reasons and threw a barbecue for the family and anyone who happened to walk by,
Free Photography Workshops Sponsored by
Kansas State University Art Department
Fort Scott, Kan. June. 14, 2023 – Shreepad Joglekar, Associate Professor of Photography at Kansas State University and Professional Photographer, Veretta Cobler will provide free workshops series on working with film and digital photography.
These in-depth workshops are designed to help any beginner, student, novice and the professional learn how to get the most out of their film or digital cameras, or even cell phones. More experience photographers will learn some techniques to help them improve and enhance their work.
Interested participants are encouraged to attend the whole series to benefit the most.
These workshops will also help to prepare photographers to be part of the Back to Fort Scott, Now project in taking photos with the reimaging of Gordon Parks photographs that he had taken in 1950 for a LIFE magazine assignment.
The workshops will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023, Friday, July 7, 2023 and Friday, August 11, 2023. The times for each of the workshops will be 10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m
The workshops are free to attend, but registration to attend each the workshops is required. Registration is available either online at http//www.gordonparkscenter.org/events, or by phone 620-223-2700 ext. 5850 or by email at [email protected]
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Dwight Lester Driver, age 52, a resident of Bronson, Kansas, passed away Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was born October 11, 1970, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the son of Dwight Adams Driver and Karen Marie Sampson Driver.
Dwight worked as a wood cutter and enjoyed doing carpentry work.
Survivors include his mother, Karen Sampson Farmer of Bronson, Kansas and two children, Dwight Justin “D.J.” Conway Driver and Brynn Marie Driver.
He was preceded in death by his father and step-father, Fred Farmer.
There was cremation and no public service is planned. Arrangements were under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture is requesting public comment on a proposal to limit the number of Callery pear trees (Pyrus calleryana) that are planted in Kansas each year. This includes trees with the names of Bradford, Cleveland Select, Chanticleer, and others.
Because of this tree’s inherent invasiveness and its proven tendency to spread to areas outside of the landscapes in which is planted, KDA is seeking ideas on how to restrict the further introduction of these trees into the state, including a possible quarantine that would restrict new planting or movement of the Callery pear into and within the state of Kansas.
Although KDA recommends the removal of all invasive species found to be growing on public and private lands, this proposal would not include any requirement for the removal of any Callery pear trees that had already been planted. Therefore, listing the species as a noxious weed would not be applicable in this case.
The plant protection and weed control program at KDA is committed to protecting the state’s native and cultivated plants from the introduction and outbreak of harmful plant pests, including insects, plant diseases, weeds, and other organisms.
Provide comment on the idea of restricting the movement of Callery pear trees into and within the state of Kansas at agriculture.ks.gov/PublicComment.
Licensed Tiger Team Member – Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Jannah Farrington as the Licensed Tiger Team Member of the Month.
Left U234 Superintendent Destry Brown and Jannah Farrington. Submitted photo.
Farrington is a Special Education teacher at Fort Scott Middle School. Mrs. Farrington organizes the Special Olympics held for students and coordinates going to Pitt State for participation. She is always positive and trying to find what is the best for kids. Mrs. Farrington has taught for USD 234 for 12 years.
Classified Tiger Team Member – Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Cheryl Marsh as the Classified Tiger Team Member of the Month.
Destry Brown and Cheryl Marsh. Submitted photo.
Marsh is a Kitchen Manager at Fort Scott High School. Cheryl is gracious and kind to everyone. She has a can-do attitude and does what is best for schools. Mrs. Marsh has been with USD 234 for 25 years.
Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Bill Michaud as the Volunteer of the Year. Mr. Michaud is the coordinator of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce mentoring program that matches local leaders with Fort Scott High School students.
Destry Brown and Bill Michaud. Submitted photo.
Board Members shared comments.
Superintendent Destry Brown provided an update to the board on services provided by the school nurses in the district, shared information regarding the Core Community program, discussed a June 27th special board meeting for the purposes of closing down the budget and other end of year items. He also noted two grants that had been applied for: Safe and Secure Grant and Mental Health Grant.
Assistant Superintendent Dalaina Smith updated the board on end of year data, highlighting celebrations, curricular and assessment team progress, Science Resources, the new assessment program, and Summer Enrichment.
Gina Shelton, Finance Director, updated the board on new employee orientation, USD 234 job fair to be held on July 11th & 12th at the FSMS Community space, and final categorical aid numbers for Special Education.
The board approved changing the regular July board meeting from July 10th to July 17th, still to be held at the Board of Education, 424 S. Main Street, at 5:30 p.m.
Superintendent Brown shared information with the board in regard to adoption of a policy related to out-of-district student enrollment.
The board approved the following items:
Workers Compensation Renewal 2023-24 – KASB Workers Comp
Trash Bid & Recommendation – 5-year bid to 4 State Sanitation
Audit Contract for the year ending June 30, 2023, with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPAs
Ratification of Negotiated Agreement for 2023-24, including changes to Supplemental Salary Schedule
Camren Lamb plays guitar to draw people in to his booth to view his artwork at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on June 3, 2023.
This is first in a series of young entrepreneurs in the community. The series aims to highlight youth who are venturing out in their own businesses.
Please submit names of other recommended young entrepreneurs to be featured to [email protected]
Camren Lamb, 9, heard about entrepreneurship in January 2022, at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Dare to Dream program, an adult entrepreneurship event.
Camren is the son of Melanie and Larry Lamb, rural Fort Scott.
Melanie attended the event and Camren came also.
“I asked if I could make a picture, so I sold my first art,” Camren said.
He sells artwork and plays a newly purchased guitar as part of his business.
Dacia Clark, with the Small Business Development Center, taught him and others in a April 2022 childrens workshop about developing a business plan, and other marketing basics, Rachel Carpenter with the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team said. The SBDC is housed in the HBCAT office at 104 N. National Avenue.
“Acton Children’s Business Fair provided the curriculum, and HBCAT helped coordinate the efforts,” Carpenter said.
In addition to selling his artwork, he plays music requests on his guitar for passersby.
“I played ukelele first, then guitar,” he said. The guitar was purchased from money he earned at the Children’s Business Fair in April 2022.
He doesn’t charge for for playing, he said.
“I use it to draw people (in to look at his artwork),” he said. “I take requests and tell them songs are free but I had a basket for artwork sales and people started putting money in for the music.”
He was selling at the Fort Scott Farmers Market for the first time on June 3. “This is my second time selling, the first time was at Buck Run Community Center at the Children’s Business Fair.”
Most recently he played guitar at the Shead Farm Festival, the Fort Scott Christian Heights Country Store and at the Friday Night Free Concert at the gazebo downtown.
He took ukelele lessons from Bob Solomonson and guitar lessons from Stephen Moses, he said.
Camren said this year his earnings will go to help the Show Me Christian Youth Home and he is also saving money for church camp.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee hosted by Varia Quality Resale Clothing, Thursday, June 15th at 8 a.m. at 114 E. 23rd St.
Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees may register to win a special drawing.
Varia is a resale clothing shop, established June 8, 2021. Varia has women’s, teens, and children’s clothing, including purses, shoes, jewelry, and miscellaneous. Varia wants to provide service to the community by offering affordable prices and used items of good quality. They accept name brand clothing in excellent condition. Varia pays 50% of set price for item, no consignment.
Chamber members and guests are invited to Chamber Coffee events each Thursday at 8 a.m. to network, make announcements, hear about happenings in the community as well as learn about the host business or organization.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.
We hope to see you there!
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members
shown below!
FORT SCOTT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
620-223-3566
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Recognizing the 79th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy Speaking at D-Day Anniversary Ceremony
It was an honor to represent the U.S. Senate and join Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, General Mark Milley and World War II veterans at the ceremony commemorating the 79th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France. Sharing the stage with American and allied military leaders and dignitaries, we paid our respects to the 9,386 American soldiers buried in Normandy and the 1,557 listed on the Wall of the Missing, and we reaffirmed the importance of continued friendship and partnership across the Atlantic Ocean.
The patch of earth at Normandy holds a place in the hearts of families across the United States. Generations of Americans have grown up with only stories and photographs of an uncle, a father, a grandfather or a brother who made the ultimate sacrifice. Each loss represented here by either a white marble cross or Star of David is a loss that a family has borne for nearly 80 years. They are still loved and remembered.
