Monthly Archives: May 2024

Obituary

Obituary of Gene Davis

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Gene Valgene Davis, age 92, resident of Fort Scott, KS passed away Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Medicalodge of Fort Scott.  He was born March 28, 1932, in Arcadia, KS, the son of Charley and Chloe Totman Davis.  He married Patricia Ann Edgar on November 10, 1952, in Huntsville, AR.  She preceded him in death on December 15, 2012.  Gene worked for the Frisco Railroad, KG&E, Safeway, and finally KDOT, retiring in 1994.  He loved spending time with his family and treasured his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

 

Survivors include 3 daughters, Connie Peterson (Dallas), Lindsborg, KS, Linda DeMott (Gary), Fort Scott, KS, and Carol Graham (John), Parker, CO; a sister, Betty Christian, Wichita, KS; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.

His son Gary Davis passed away the day following on May 10, 2024

 

 

Rev. Dallas Peterson and Rev. Gary DeMott will conduct graveside services at 2:00 PM Friday, May 17th, at the Evergreen Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM Friday until leaving for the cemetery at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Headstone/Monument Cleaning Added to Services Provided by Influx Services

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Jake Province. Submitted photo.

Jake Provice started Influx Services a little over two and a half years ago.

“We serve Fort Scott, Joplin, and the surrounding areas,” he said.
“We provide professional exterior cleaning services, and specialize in house washing, window cleaning, and gutter cleaning. We use the ‘softwash’  process…which uses low-pressure and algicides to safely clean your home, without the risk of damage that comes with traditional pressure washing.”
“At Influx Services we are excited to publicly announce our professional headstone and monument cleaning services, available in Fort Scott, Joplin, and the surrounding areas,” he said. ” We use a specially designed, national cemetery-approved product and gentle cleaning methods to clean headstones and other stone monuments safely and effectively, without the risk of damage or deterioration that can come with other cleaning techniques.”
Before and after photos of headstone cleaning by InFlux Services. Submitted photo.
“The headstone cleaning is a new service,” he said. “I’ve been doing work at Evergreen Cemetery, but this would be the first time publicly announcing it. We use a specialized cleaning product and method that is historically used to clean national cemeteries and the white house.”
“Those interested in our headstone and monument cleaning services and/or our other exterior cleaning services such as house washing, window cleaning, and gutter cleaning, please give us a call or text at (620) 407-3008, or email us at influxservicescontact@gmail.com!”

He takes calls from 9 am to 9 pm seven days a week.

Entertainment, Exercise, Food, Fort Scott

Par Tee Girls At Woodland Hills May 15

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Sending on behalf of Chamber Member
Diane Striler – Par Tee Girls…

Come join us for good food, drinks, and community fellowship! Brickstreet BBQ will be serving food while the club house will be serving the drinks!

Wednesday, May 15th

5:30-9:00pm

Pulled Pork or Chicken Sandwiches: $7

Pulled Pork or Chicken Nachos: $11

Sides (Baked Beans, Coleslaw, Potato Salad): $3

Carry out available
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Bourbon County, Elections

Bourbon County Democrats Kick-Off Get Out The Vote

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What: Bourbon County Democrats’ GOTV (Get out the Vote) kickoff begins with an orientation by Kansas Democrats State Leadership team.
Where: Zimmerman Hall (in basement) of the First Presbyterian Church, 308 S. Crawford St., Fort Scott.
When: Sunday, May 19 th , 2024, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Please call or text 620 215 1505 for more information or to rsvp.
 This is for training for our county volunteers, anyone concerned about the upcoming election and willing to help get out the vote.
 Some of our county’s field plans will be discussed and the reasoning behind it.
 Discussion of issues and how to talk about them with others.
 This training isn’t just for people going door to door. It’s for people who will volunteer in any way they can or wish.
Please call or text 620 215 1505 for more information.

Opinion

Lydia Mae by Carolyn Tucker

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Keys to the Kingdom

Lydia Mae

 

I have three grandchildren and all of them are sisters. Lydia Mae is the eldest, born on May 2, 2014. Her first name is biblical and her middle name is after her maternal great grandmother, Bertha Mae. Mom was always called Bertha Mae by her family and friends, so whenever I accompanied her to the doctor in her later years, the nurse would call for “Bertha,“ which always sounded odd and wrong. In loving memory of Mom, I’ve always called my granddaughter “Lydia Mae” because it seemed right and kept a part of Mom alive through speaking her middle name. Mom passed away May 30, 2015. Interestingly, one life began and one life ended in the month of May, one year apart.

 

One morning, after spending the night, I entered Lydia Mae’s bedroom to visit with her before I headed for home. I sat beside her on the edge of the bed and she let me look through her journal. I began turning pages and found a four-page writing that grabbed my attention and heart. She had divided her thoughts into three profound headings. I was so deeply touched by her insight, I asked if I could borrow her journal and share it in one of my columns. She gave her permission; so here’s what she penned:

 

  1. Family Matters Most: My family and friends are what matter most. No matter who they are or what they believe in, they matter more than anything in the world. I’m not saying that you don’t need air, water, money, sleep, and food. They all mean a lot to survival, but what is living if you have no one to live with? If you had no family or friends you would be all alone with no one else around. Life would be harder because there would be no teamwork. One person would have to do everything by themselves. It takes years to build things when you alone are doing things. So now we know we all need each other!

 

  1. Treat each other the way you want to be treated: Treat each other the way you want to be treated is the Golden Rule. It means if you show meanness you will get meanness back. If you show kindness then you will get kindness back. So if you want to be treated kindly then you should treat others kindly.

 

  1. Show Love to Everyone: Show love to everyone just means that you should treat everyone the same, no matter what they look like, sound like, or believe in because everyone is human and deserves to be treated like one. Everyone is special because God created everyone different. Even twins are different, but that shouldn’t affect how people are treated. Now you know.

 

“Happy Mother’s Day” to all who have loved, nurtured, and inspired their children. I am currently reading through a Bible that my late husband gave to his mother for Easter 2018. (This gift was returned to me when she downsized and moved.) Her son wrote this on the inside cover: “To Mom, Happy Springtime!! He is risen as He said! Thank you for your kindness and patience. You have made the world a lovelier place. I love you, Jimmy.” No matter our age, we never outgrow our need for a mother. It’s nice that a  mother’s influence lasts a lifetime.

 

The Key: Mothers teach and love their children tenderly so life won’t be so hard.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

Mount Carmel Hospice awarded accreditation, now accepting patients

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FORT SCOTT –– A new hospice service dedicated to caring for terminally ill residents in Bourbon and Crawford County has achieved a significant milestone. Mount Carmel Hospice, a non-profit service operating within the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK), has officially obtained accreditation from CHAP, the Community Health Accreditation Partner, Inc., for meeting Hospice Standards.

The CHAP Accreditation demonstrates that Mount Carmel Hospice meets the industry’s highest nationally recognized standards. As patients near the end of life, hospice care focuses on the quality of life when quantity of life is limited. Hospice care helps patients live their final months with the greatest comfort and dignity and care is provided for the whole family, not just the person with the illness.

Mount Carmel Hospice was incorporated in 2023 by CHC/SEK after Bourbon County’s locally operating hospice service closed. Mount Carmel Hospice is currently accepting patient enrollments from Bourbon and Crawford counties. Expansion into additional areas is planned for the near future.

Mount Carmel Hospice takes its name to honor the legacy of Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita, who were early pioneers in healthcare and founders of Mount Carmel Hospital in Pittsburg in 1902.

To be hospice-eligible, a patient must receive a diagnosis of a terminal illness from a physician, with a life expectancy of 6 months or less if the illness follows its normal course. Hospice services are fully covered by Medicare and most other insurance plans. If the terminal condition improves, the patient can be discharged from hospice and returned to curative treatment. If need be, patients can return later to hospice care.

The care team at Mount Carmel Hospice includes compassionate experts to help manage symptoms, so patients can feel comfortable and spend their final days in ways that are important to them. Nurses are available around the clock, seven days a week. Social workers, chaplains, home health aides, volunteers, and bereavement counselors each contribute to wrapping an extra layer of compassion and support to the patients and their loved ones.

Volunteers are also an important part of the hospice team, bringing their special skills and talents with them that they can share. Volunteers offer the gift of time to devote to patients and families. Additional services include grief support groups, which are available to anyone in the community free of charge.

To contact Mount Carmel Hospice, please call 620-264-6550 or email Becky Davied, at [email protected]. For those interested in volunteering with Mount Carmel Hospice, please contact a hospice representative at 620-264-6550 or apply for a volunteer position on our website at chcsek.org/careers.

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About the Community Health Center of the Southeast Kansas

The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is a not-for-profit Federally Qualified Health Center based in Pittsburg, KS dedicated to providing quality health care to everyone regardless of income or insurance status. CHC/SEK serves more than 60,000 children and adults annually at clinic sites in Bourbon, Crawford, Cherokee, Labette, Linn, Montgomery, and Allen counties, and in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. For more information, visit www.chcsek.org.

Bourbon County, Government

Agenda for the Bo Co Commission Meeting on May 13

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Bourbon County Courthouse

210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800

Fax: 620-223-5832

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Kansas

1st District Commissioner

Jim Harris, Chairman

2nd District Commissioner

Clifton Beth

3rd District Commissioner

 

 

Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

May 13, 2024 5:30 p.m.

 

 

 

  1. Call Meeting to Order
  2. Flag Salute
  • Approval of Consent Agenda
    1. Approval of Minutes from 5/6/2024
  1. Public Comments
  2. Vance Eden-PILOT Funds
  3. Brian Allen-Extension of Disaster Resolution
  • Jennifer Hawkins, County Clerk
    1. Election Update
    2. Road Closure
  • Commission Comments
  1. Adjourn Meeting

 

 

 

Executive Session Justifications:

 

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 the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting

would jeopardize such security measures.

 

K-State Extension

Community Change

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Amanda Clasen- Community Vitality Agent    

May 2024

If you call a rural community home chances are good you have heard the statement, “Our community will never change.” Maybe you have said it yourself. All communities change over time. The big question is, how will it change? Will community members do nothing and just let change happen, or will they direct change, so the community moves into the future in a way that is preferred?

If the trend in the community is to just let things get old and fall apart, whether it be the pool, playground equipment, basketball courts, community centers, etc., then the community is changing, and probably not in the way most families would find appealing.

On the other hand, maybe a community directs the change. Residents decide to invest in the community, whether it is with new playground equipment, a new pool, a new summer recreation program or events that families can enjoy. These investments take resources – both time and money – but change the community in a way that residents find appealing and inspire pride. Changes don’t have to be physical; a new summer recreation program or family fun events that cost minimal amounts of money can happen using talents and skills of community members.

If you think your community hasn’t changed, or will never change, I challenge you to visit with some of its longer-term residents. Ask them what it was like there when they were growing up. I can guarantee that things have changed. Now, ask yourself, were those changes just things that happened, or did the community work to make them happen?

You certainly don’t have control over everything. You can’t control how much snow comes each winter or if it is going to rain. You can’t change the geography of the land around your community. You can change the way you share ideas about the future of your community with others.

 

You can change the way you welcome new people to your town. You can change the way you invite young people to see that they have a future in the community. You can take actions to improve the appearance of your community by keeping the community clean, planting flowers, putting appealing displays in story windows, and more. Maybe it’s working together as a community to make the reality of a new pool, or other amenity, a reality.

The sky is the limit. And it’s not easy. Think about what kind of future is your community building to be sure it is a place that keeps people there? And what are you doing to help?

 

For more information please contact Amanda Clasen, Community Vitality Agent, at [email protected] or at any Southwind Extension office.

 

Obituary

Obituary of Jack Carson

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Jack “Happy Jack” Dale Carson, age 73, a resident of Garland, Kansas, passed away on Thursday May 9th, 2024. He was born April 4, 1951 in Fort Scott, Kansas, the son of Kenneth and Effie (Beerbower) Carson. Jack married Donna Young on March 30th, 1976 and later divorced.

Jack served his country in the United States Army and Kansas Army National Guard for many years. He was a jack of all trades but specialized in roofing and construction. Jack was a born story teller and was a true child of the 60s. He loved playing the guitar and harmonica and making music. He never knew a stranger and loved to have a good time with his family and friends. Jack left a lasting mark on this world and will never be forgotten.

Survivors include his 4 daughters, Jackie Brown (Aaron), Jamie Beckman, Jessica Carson (Dustin), and Jeannie Carson (Tommy). 11 grandchildren, Bailley (Jake), Bryce, Brett, Samantha, Adryan (Josh), Amber, Jackson, Riley, Ruby, Reese, and Remy. 4 great grandchildren, Cooper, Iris, Addy, and Westley. As well as many cousins and life long friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Donna, and infant granddaughter, Reagan.

There was cremation. The family will receive friends from 9:30 to 11:00 A.M. Friday, May 17, 2024 at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

There will be a celebration for Jack on Saturday May 18 at the large shelter house at Elm Creek at 1:00.

Memorials are suggested to the Jack Carson Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St. P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS. 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

Agenda For The USD 234 Board Meeting on May 13

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Unified School District 234

424 South Main

Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697

www.usd234.org

620-223-0800   Fax 620-223-2760

 

DESTRY BROWN                                                                                                                                                        

Superintendent                                                                                                                                             

 

 

 

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING

May 13, 2024 – 5:30 P.M.

PUBLIC AGENDA

 

1.0       Call Meeting to Order                                  David Stewart, President

2.0       Flag Salute

3.0       Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)

4.0       Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)

            4.1       Board Minutes

  1. 04/08/24 Board Minutes

            4.2       Financials – Cash Flow Report

            4.3       Check Register

            4.4       Payroll – April 19, 2024 – $2,108,758.88

            4.5       Activity Funds Accounts

4.6       USD 234 Gifts

4.7       Resolution 23-17 – KMIP Signers

4.8       Resolution 23-18 – Account Signers

4.9       Tiger Club Fundraising

4.10     EW Book Fair Fundraising

4.11     Leadership Club Fundraising

4.12     EW Box Top Fundraising

4.13     FSHS Dance Team Fundraising

5.0       Recognitions (Information/Discussion Item)

6.0       Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)

            6.1       Superintendent’s Report

            6.2       Assistant Superintendent’s Report

            6.3       Special Education Director’s Report

            6.4       Finance Director’s Report

7.0       Old Business

            7.1       Five Year Professional Development Plan (Action)

            7.2       Approval for Crossland as CMAR for Preschool Building (Action)

7.3       District Cell Phone Policy (Discussion/Action)

 

           

           

 

8.0       New Business

8.1       FSHS Lunch Price Recommendation (Action)

8.2       10 Passenger Van Purchase (Action)

8.3       New Student Devices for Incoming 6th & 9th graders (Action)

8.4       Content Filter & Classroom Management Bid  (Action)

8.5       Middle School Science Text and Resources (Action)

 

9.0       Public Forum

10.0     Other Business – Personnel Matters            

 

11.0     Adjourn Meeting (Time)            David Stewart, President

Obituary

Obituary of Donna Schilling

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Donna Sue Schilling, age 78, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Ft. Scott. She was born May 3, 1946, in Nevada, Missouri, the daughter of William A. Carpenter, Sr. and Nellie Mae Lawrence Carpenter. Donna grew up in the Deerfield, Missouri area and graduated from the Nevada High School. She married the love of her life, Dale Schilling on March 4, 1966, at the First Church of God in Ft.Scott.

Throughout her life, Donna worked primarily in the insurance business. She was employed by the Western Insurance Company, American States Insurance Company, and later worked for Billiard-Hammer-Hartman Insurance Agency until she retired.

Donna loved life and spending time with her family. Many summers were spent watching her son, Travis, play softball and traveling to tournaments. Her home became the softball team’s gathering place, and she loved watching them play in the yard. Donna enjoyed shopping and was always on the lookout for a good bargain, a skill she taught to her granddaughters who lovingly renamed her Nana.

Donna and Dale made a point to attend every one of their granddaughters’ activities and enjoyed taking family trips to Branson.

As Donna’s health declined, quiet times at home were spent watching gameshows and being entertained by her great-grandson, Kalister. She was a long time member of Faith Church, watching online every Sunday.

Survivors include her husband, Dale, of the home; a son, Travis Schilling and daughter-in-law, Tina of Ft. Scott; two granddaughters, Taylor Qualls and Tabitha Schilling, a grandson-in-law, Levi Qualls and a great-grandson, Kalister Qualls. Also surviving are a brother, Bill Carpenter and wife Diana of Ft. Scott and a nephew, Doug Carpenter of Louisburg, Kansas.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents and a nephew, Scott Carpenter.

Pastor Matthew Hunt will conduct a graveside service at 11:00A.M. Wednesday, May 15* at the Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends prior to the service on Wednesday from 10:00 A.M. until leaving for the cemetery at 10:45 A.M. at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Faith Church Building 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.