Monthly Archives: June 2023
Kathi Hall: New Fort Scott Pool Manager, Pool Opens June 5
After a delay because of vandalism, the Fort Scott Aquatic Center will open Monday, June 5 at 1 p.m. to the public.
Kathi Hall is the new pool manager at the center, and is a 6th grade teacher at Fort Scott Middle School during the school year.
She was hired last month.
“It’s a perfect job for educators,” Hall said.
“We are excited that the facility can be open to the public,” she said. “We apologize for the delay. We were supposed to open on Memorial Day.”
The vandalism included graffiti, which didn’t delay the opening, and also included “multiple rocks that were thrown into the pool, damaging the concrete,” Hall said. “The concrete then had to be treated and cured, then so many days the water had to be treated with chemicals, before we could begin the water filling process.”
The pool hours are Monday through Saturday from 1 to 7 p.m., Sunday 1 to 6 p.m. On Monday through Friday there is a family swim from 5:30 to 6 p.m.
The pool phone number is 620.223.8142
As a special treat, on Monday at 1 p.m. Pearson Towing staff will be handing out popsicles to those entering, until gone, Hall said.
Pool parties are from 7:15 to 9:15 p.m. when scheduled. Cost is $150 per hour.
Pool rates are:
2 years and younger are free.
3-14 years: $2
15 to 62 years: $3
63+years: $2
A single season pool pass is $65, a family of four season pass is $200 and a $25 per person fee for over four family members. Members must reside in the same household.
“Children 10 years old and younger must be supervised by someone 14 years and older, at all times,” Hall said.
Assistant pool managers are Brayden Moore, Kayla Hall, Billie Jo Shoemaker, and Dakota Hall.
“We have a sufficient supply of lifeguards,” Hall said. “Thirty-plus lifeguards.”
ARCADIA, KANSAS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI BANQUET
Pictured with Louise is her daughter, Christine Bossung, and her son, David Hughes. Standing is Arcadia Alumni president, Pat Morris.
Submitted photo.
“HUGE SUCCESS”
Even though Arcadia High School closed its doors at the end of the “1965” school year, the annual alumni banquet is still being held on memorial week-end every year in Pittsburg, Kansas. The membership also includes the Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman Class of 1965. The banquet was held at the Lamplighter Inn on Saturday afternoon, May 27th and was catered by Chicken Mary’s and served by the Stansbury
brothers of Arcadia, Ks. Open Door Mission Church Youth.
Enclosed with the invitation to the banquet this year was the 2022 Financial Report prepared by Shirley Landon, Treasurer. The 2022
Minutes were enclosed also prepared by Virginia Smith, Secretary.
These were included in the mailing to provide more time for visiting.
Social hour was 1:00-3:00 p.m. followed by lunch and business meeting. President Pat Morris of Arcadia welcomed the 40 Alumni and 23 guests. The Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag was led by Merle Engle. The Lord’s Prayer in unison was led by Melvin Nichols.
At the opening of the business meeting, Pat introduced alumni officers Vice President, Tom Watt; Secretary, Virginia Smith; Treasurer, Shirley Landon; and Marilyn Flagg, Historian.
There were no objections or corrections to the 2022 Minutes or the 2022 Treasurer’s report. They stand approved as presented.
Merle Engle along with nominating Committee of Mary Lee Payne and Sherry Sisney nominated the following officers for the coming year as follows: Pat Morris, President; Tom Watt, Vice President; Shirley Landon, Treasurer; Virginia Smith, Secretary; and Marilyn Flagg as Historian. A motion was made by Betty Skidmore and seconded by
Lou Sheets and motion carried.
Special recognition was given to members of the 60th (1963);
70th (1953); and 80th (1943) this year.
Those attending from the 60th class were the following: Sharon
(Barnard) Foster and guest Richard Foster and Richard Page.
Attending from the 70th. were as follows: Bobby Charles Harris and
guest Bobby C. Harris, Jr..
Atending from the 80th. were as follows: Louise (Opitz) Hughes and
guests David Hughes and Christine Bossung.
Jan Steele was recognized as being the daughter of former Arcadia High School music teacher, Dick Steele.
All 18 guests were asked to stand and be recognized.
Virginia Smith, chairman of the Scholarship Committee, announced the winner of the 2023 A.F. Bowlus/Betty Kirksey Scholarships as Carson
Ruoff (Grandson of Alan and Joyce (Gable) Niebrugge). Other AHS Alumni Scholarship winners were Aaron Moe and Adam Moe (Grandsons of Fred Dixon). Carson Ruoff received $1,000. Aaron and Adam Moe received $500 each.
Pat Morris introduced Sharon Foster (Class of 1963), and Ronnie
Smith (Class of 1962) who served on the scholarship committee with
Virginia.
Any child, grandchild, or great grandchild of Arcadia High School Alumni may apply for a scholarship.
Marilyn Flagg led the memorial service for alumni deceased since the last meeting. Those remembered were: Jo (Fowler) Ferraro, Helen (Fowler) Knoll, Jessie (Eggen) Dunn, Irene (Buchanan) Williams, Louetta
(Swezey) Schwatken, Betty (Ritter) Skidmore, Leona Maxine (James) Garrett, Boyd (Buck) McMillin, John Richard Meacham, Shirley (Birdsell) Garrett, Shirley (Stroud) Weber, Ernestine (Swezey) Murray, Jo Ellen (Elliott) Swezey, Margaret (Turner) Jones, Sharon (Powell) Thornhill, Olive (Curnutt) Berting, Richard L. Dixon, Geneva (Jeannie) Ham, Jerry McClendon, Gary Mayfield, Anita (Miles) Callahan, Richard Totman, Maxine James (Teacher), Marie (Hoover) Marshall, Dr. Retha (Hoover) Dr. Kilpatrick Gries, Merle Mayfield, and Mary Lou (Davidson) Peace.
Louise (Opitz) Hughes, 96 years old (Class of 1943) was given an award for being the “Oldest” alumni. Esther (Engle) Cousins (Class of 1954) was awarded for traveling the “Most Distance”.
The school song was led by Bill Skidmore.
The Benediction was by Melvin Nichols.
The roll call which consisted of the following and the 1943, 1953, and 1963 classes listed above was done by Tom Watt.
1949 – Jerry Skidmore
1950 – Betty (Clarkson) Skidmore
1951 – David Fowler and guest Jeanie Watson
1954 – Esther (Engle) Cousins and guest Janice Crooks
Gary Peterson and guest Patty Peterson
1955 – Mary Lee (Eggen) Payne
1956 – Shirley (McKinstry) Landon
Bill Skidmore and guest Twonette Skidmore
1957 – Merle Engle
Francis M. Jones and guest Karen (Jones) Tripp
Lou Sheets and guest Linda Sue Sheets
Lilly (Turner) Sheffield
1958 – Laura (Coonrod) Felt and guest Ronnie Felt
Fred Dixon
Marilou (Garton) Bork and guest Jerry Bork
Sandra Sue Stelle
1959 – Michael Sheffield
Gary Skidmore and guest Jean Skidmore
Beverly (Swafford) Silvers and guest Vern Silvers
1960 – Jerry Coonrod and guest Jan Steele
Melvin Nichols
1962 – Marilyn (Coonrod) Flagg
Barbara (Dawson) Swearingen
Helen (Morris) Nichols
Ronnie Smith
1964 – Virginia (Harris) Smith
Ronny Kellogg and guest Barb Kellogg
Steve Morris
Pat (Smith) Morris
Peggy (O’Dell) Worsley
Sherry (Swafford) Page
1968 – Ronnie Page
Don Schaub
Larry Shead and guest Ralph Shead
Sherry Sisney
Tom Watt and guest Phyllis Watt
The servers were the
Stansbury Brothers (Camryn, Sammy, Wyatt, and Tido), of Arcadia, Kansas Open Door Mission Church Youth and Judy Stansbury.
FSHS Tiger Drama Camp Performs Treasure Island
This year’s annual Fort Scott High School Tiger Drama Camp performs Treasure Island on June 5 and 6 at 7 p.m. at the Fort Scott Middle School commons area.
Thirty five students in 1st through 9th grade spent two weeks at camp preparing for the production. The play is adapted by Kathryn Schultz Miller from the book by Robert Louis Stevenson.
The character of Jim is played by 6th grader Scout Eden. Other notable characters include Long John Silver who is played by 8th grader Theodore Bowman, Doctor Livesey – freshman Dimple Williams, and Squire Trelawney portrayed by freshman Adeline Hartmetz. Other campers make up a motley crew of pirates, storytellers, and Skeleton Island Natives.
The camp and show are directed entirely by FSHS Thespians. Seniors Regen Wells and Lexi Hill are the Directors.
“I absolutely love getting to share my love of theatre with the younger people of our community and I’m extremely happy to have an outlet in the community for directing and producing,” Wells said.
Other high school staff include: junior Kiara Thompson – Stage Manager, sophomores Emma Bin and Tuesday Glessner – Choreographers, junior Cooper George – Costume Designer, senior Natalie Woods – Sound Designer, senior Jericho Jones – Music Director, sophomores Charlie Chaplin and Chris Newman – Props and Set Designers and freshman Tobi Larrabee and junior Molly Hoyt – Arts Directors. Many other Thespians serve as acting coaches and leaders and Thespian Director Angie Bin serves as show producer.
During the two-week camp, students learn about most technical theatre areas such as lighting, sound, costuming, stagecraft, and make-up. They also help to create the artistic set decor.
Hill said, “This is my first time directing a show and I am so excited to see it performed. Working with the kids is amazing and everyone involved has put so much work into this hilarious show.”
Tickets for the show are $5 and available at the doors at Fort Scott Middle School. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.