Monthly Archives: October 2024

Gordon Parks Museum

2024 Gordon Parks Celebration Poetry Contest Winners Named

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2024 Gordon Parks Celebration Poetry Contest Winners Named

 

FORT SCOTT — Winners of the Gordon Parks Museum Poetry Contest sponsored by Helen Townsend and Trabar Associates, have been chosen. The theme was “What Fills Your Hungry Heart?”. Fifteen entries were received and the winner of First Place was Taylor Bailey, Fort Scott, KS, with the poem titled, “Turn Off the Camera”. Second Place was Logan Pinedo, Leavenworth, KS with the poem, “Homecooked”. Third Place was Karen Cayce, Wichita, KS with the poem, “Unforeseen”.  Allie Allison, Pittsburg, KS, received Honorable Mention with the poem titled, “The Symphony of Love”.

 

First, Second, and Third place winners received cash prizes of $200, $75, and $50 respectively.

The contest was open to any emerging poet. The theme was inspired by a quote from Gordon Parks, “I’ve lived a lot, worked a lot, and smiled a lot. And I will cling to all of those blessings until my hungry heart is hopelessly exhausted.”  Poets were invited to capture the essence of the theme.

 

Judges for the photo contest was Kansas Poet Laureate, Traci Brimhall, Poet and Author, Annette Hope-Billings and Poet, Cash Hollistah. The poetry exhibit will be on display on the Gordon Parks Museum facebook page facebook.com/fsccgpmuseum/ and the museum’s website gordonparkscenter.org.

 

Turn Off the Camera

You look into the all-knowing eyes of your camera

and plaintively read your well-rehearsed script.

Addressing strangers and ghosts that profess their love for you

and believe every fable that falls from your lips.

Every second of your life is laid bare online

you never learned to keep a little back for yourself.

Every want, every need that you’ve been told to have

are as easy to read as a book on the shelf.

Your words are happy and your smile is bright

but you hold yourself like you’re made from glass.

Your fans may be blind to how you really are

but I feel your distress in each breath.

You live in a mansion with all your bought friends.

You make other men jealous with your money and frills.

Your focus is shifting to the barely audible growls

of a painful hunger that food never fulfills.

You must learn when to put the camera away

find out who still speaks when the script is unwritten.

Discern between faceless strangers behind a screen

and true friends that stay when change comes unbidden.

Take stock of what’s real and burn away what isn’t.

Learning to live again, for yourself, it’s an art

but that’s what will fill your hungry heart.

 

Homecooked

 

What feeds my hungry heart
is feeding others
Giving my love to someone over and over
filling them up on this carefully crafted love
that rivals grandma’s home cooking
Something new yet familiar
a twist on an old recipe
Love seasoned to taste

What feeds my hungry heart
is opening them up
feeling that hot wave of air hit me
as I place my love casserole inside
Carefully timed to golden brown perfection
then seeing their face light up with the first mouthful

What feeds my hungry heart
is hope that I’ll get a taste
of that warm gooey center called love
served to me on ‘the good plate’
prepared special by experienced hands
stirring, mixing, and layering the ingredients
of a love just for me

 

Unforseen.

 

Sometimes it’s hard to believe there’s a God, to have faith in an unseen power. To know there’s a force you can call on for help in your darkest, most desperate hour. I know it’s not easy, I’ve been there myself, though our problems are not just the same. I know how it feels when no one is there when God is no more than a name. But I’ll tell you a secret, I pray anyway to something I can’t hear or see. I pray to the darkness, I pray to the night, or to what may be holy in me. And sometimes not always there comes a deep change. I feel peaceful, set free, and made whole. Is it God? Is it me? Has some power of the universe helped me to heal my own soul? I don’t have the answers. I can’t say for sure that what I believe in is true. But if God were a fact we wouldn’t need Faith. So I say believe and I do.

 

 

 

 

Gordon Parks Museum

Winners of the Gordon Parks Museum photo contest

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The Gordon Parks Museum

 

Fort Scott Community College, Fort Scott, KS

                                   

 

 

 

For Immediate Release: October 11, 2024

Contact: Kirk Sharp at 620-223-2700, ext. 5850

Email: [email protected]

 

2024 Gordon Parks Celebration

Photo Contest Winners Named

 

FORT SCOTT — Winners of the Gordon Parks Museum photo contest, sponsored by Merl Humphrey Photography and Don Thompson Images, have been chosen. The theme was “What Fills Your Hungry Heart?”. Eighty entries were received and the winner of First Place was Johnna Walker, Franklin, KS, with the photo titled “Possibility.” Second Place was Robert D. Little, Stillwater, OK, with the photo “Pedalling Washtub Bass Player NOLA.” Third Place was Amirra Mitchell, Wichita, KS, with the photo, “I see It, I like it, I captured it”.

There were five Honorable Mentions named: “Girl” by Yasser Alaa Mobarak,

(Alexandria, Egypt), “Two Rapping Ravens” by Mark Dolf, (Tulsa, OK), “An artist point of view” by Evangeline Garcia, (Wichita, KS), “Longing For Adventure” by Isaac Gorges, (Wichita, KS) and “Reading is FUNdamental” by Knew’Era Haynes, (Wichita KS). First, Second, and Third place winners received cash prizes of $200, $75, and $50 respectively.

The contest was open to any non-professional photographer and was inspired by a quote from Gordon Parks, “I’ve lived a lot, worked a lot, and smiled a lot. And I will cling to all of those blessings until my hungry heart is hopelessly exhausted.” Photographers were invited to capture the essence of the theme.

 

Judges for the photo contest was professional photographer, Veretta Cobler and established make-up artist and hair stylist, Donna Fumoso based in New York City. The photo exhibit will be on display on the Gordon Parks Museum facebook page facebook.com/fsccgpmuseum/ and the museum’s website gordonparkscenter.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fort Scott, Government

FS City Commission Minutes of Oct. `

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CITY OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION MEETING

 

 

Minutes of October 1, 2024                                                              Regular Meeting

 

A regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held October 1, 2024, at 6:00PM in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. Meeting available on City of Fort Scott YouTube Channel. Time stamps according to recording.

 

Meeting called to order at 6:00PM. Commissioners Tim VanHoecke, Dyllon Olson, Matthew Wells, and Kathryn Salsbury were present with Mayor Tracy Dancer.

 

Audience in Attendance – Brad Matkin/City Manager, Bob Farmer/City Attorney, Jason Dickman/City Engineer-Earles Engineering, Caleb Bell/FSPD Lieutenant, Leroy Kruger/Codes Enforcement, Scott Flater/Water Utilities Director, Carey Spoon/Executive Director of Southeast Kansas Regional Planning & Development Consultant, Michael Hoyt.

 

  1. Dancer led the Pledge of Allegiance and M. Wells said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City, our Government and City officials.

 

Approval of Agenda – (Time stamp 2:29)

MOTION:  T. VanHoecke moved to approve the agenda as presented.  D. Olson seconded the motion. All voted yes.

 

MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.

 

Approval of Consent Agenda – (Time stamp 3:02)

– Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1369-A – Expense Approval Report – Payment Dates of September 11, 2024 – September 24, 2024 – $449,830.43

-Approval of Minutes for September 3, 2024, September 9, 2024, September 17, 2024, and September 24, 2024.

-Request to Pay – Heck & Wicker, Inc. – Project No. 24-414 – Horton St. & 6th St. Improvements – Application for Payment No. 3 – $60,439.46

 

MOTION:  T. VanHoecke moved to approve the Consent Agenda.  K. Salsbury seconded the motion. All voted yes.

 

MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.

 

Public Comments

 

Michael Hoyt – (Time stamp 3:34) – a reminder to the citizens that October 14th will be the last day for voter registration and to request a mail-in ballot for the November 5th election, early voting begins October 21st. He also distributed postcards as a reminder and to explain the item on the ballot regarding the move from (3) to (5) County Commissioner Districts.

 

Appearances

 

Scott Flater/Water Utilities Director – (Time stamp 4:53) addressed the Commission with an update on Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), and the status of the Wastewater Treatment Plant lagoons. Graphs kept from January 2022 until August 2024 were distributed. They illustrated: loads from ADM, charges to ADM, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) average, chemical oxygen demand (COD) average, total suspended solids, pH on load, total phosphorus, total Kjeldahl nitrogen average, and reuse water sold to ADM. The conditions of the lagoons at the WWTP are healthy. ADM continues to work on their pre-treatment. AMS still has (5) trailers on location and continue to dump the advanced microbes into the lagoon, and once a week agitate the sludge by boat. Measurements of the sludge level are not routinely provided to S. Flater. He stated that in the future, Lagoon #1 will need to be dewatered to remove the inorganic sludge (such as rocks, sand, etc.) which comes mainly from the storm and sanitary sewer systems.

 

  1. Olson would like to see an MOU drawn up with AMS putting terms on paper regarding reimbursement.

 

ACTION: D. Olson will send contact information to S. Flater regarding the previous mechanical dredge of one of the lagoons.

 

  1. Matkin stated that they will be discussing the contract prior to the expiration date of the current contract in December 2024.

 

ACTION: S. Flater will get sludge level numbers from AMS.

 

ACTION: B. Matkin and S. Flater will talk to ADM regarding their previous offer to help the City with the mechanical dredging at their meeting on October 10, 2024.

 

  1. Flater explained that the long-term plan will be created when ADM solves their lagoon issues as they will not want to pay for AMS any longer once that happens.

 

Discussion was had regarding the level limits that are set for the lagoons and the long-term impact of the discontinuation of AMS. ADM has a long-term plan to pipeline the water to Fort Scott instead of hauling, therefore they are working on improving their lagoons and pre-treatment process.

 

Unfinished Business

Status of Building at 118 E. Wall – Requested documents from owner due per September 24, 2024, Special City Commission meeting – (Time stamp 29:58)

  1. Matkin received documents from Jose Montanez by email (on September 30, 2024) and the Commissioners were given printed copies at the table. He was told that they will be starting this week and have a lift at the site. They need to obtain a permit from the Codes Department prior to beginning the work which requires documents that are still missing: certificate of liability for the building, structural engineering report and scope of work. The documents provided are not what was requested by the Commission.

 

ACTION:  B. Matkin will ask Jose Montanez for a copy of the liability insurance for the building at 118 E. Wall St.

 

  1. Matkin left the meeting at (Time stamp 45:01) and returned at (Time stamp 47:37).

 

Missing pages of the email were printed and distributed to the Commissioners by B. Matkin.

 

Discussion was had regarding the missing documents that needed to be submitted before the permit to begin work could be issued by the Codes Department.

 

MOTION:  M. Wells moved to extend the timeline to the October 15th deadline, still requesting the (2) pieces of documentation – the timeline for the work and the structural engineer’s report (from RetroPros for the work being performed) – laying out his scope of work as indicated from the permanent repair recommendations.

 

Further discussion was had regarding the engineering report that was provided (to date) and the current contractor (RetroPro). It was determined that the report provided was from Thomas Rewert, however he is the engineer that was fired by the building owner.  M. Wells stated that what has been provided is a scope of work by a contractor who has still not provided any structural engineer report and the work listed on the scope, according to that structural engineer report, cannot be performed. He stated that the work being performed must be certified by a structural engineer or it is not guaranteed to be structurally safe, and the buildings will not be reopened.

 

  1. Kruger commented on the lift and scaffolding options.

 

  1. VanHoecke left the meeting at (Time stamp 57:05).

 

  1. Dancer clarified that in the previous meeting the building owner told the Commission that they had fired this gentleman (T. Rewert) and they were going to hire a different contractor now that they had the recommendations to do the work that the structural engineer (T. Rewert) recommended. The building owner stated they were going with Option 2. He stated that the scope of work from RetroPros does not describe Option 2 from the structural engineering report provided.

 

  1. VanHoecke returned to the meeting at (Time stamp 58:43).

 

Further discussion was had regarding the intentions of the Commission in the matter and the options if the deadline is not met.

 

  1. Salsbury seconded the motion. All voted yes.

 

MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.

 

Consideration of Approval of Certificate of Substantial Completion – Project No. 22-031B – Fort Scott Pavilion – Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Tabled from September 17, 2024 – (Time stamp 1:03:24) – J. Dickman explained the work that had been completed according to the request of the Commission at the September 17, 2024 meeting.

 

  1. Matkin left the meeting at 1:04:36.

 

MOTION:  M. Wells moved to approve the Certificate of Substantial Completion for Project No. 22-031B.  K. Salsbury seconded the motion.  All voted yes.

 

MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.

 

Request to Pay – Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Project No. 22-031B – Fort Scott Pavilion – Payment Application No. 5 – $8,075.00 – Tabled from September 17, 2024.

 

Request to Pay – Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Project No. 22-031B – Fort Scott Pavilion – Payment Application No. 6 FINAL (Retainage) – $10,397.85 – Tabled from September 17, 2024.

 

MOTION:  M. Wells moved to pay Payment Application No. 5 and Payment Application No. 6 (Final Retainage) for Project No. 22-031B. T. VanHoecke seconded the motion.  All voted yes.

 

MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.

 

New Business /Public Hearing:

 

MOTION:  T. VanHoecke moved to open the public hearing at 7:06PM (Time stamp 1:06:08). M. Wells seconded the motion.  All voted yes.

 

MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.

 

Consideration of Submission of Application on behalf of the City of Fort Scott to the Kansas Department of Commerce for a CDBG Grant under the Community Centers & Parks Category for improvements at Memorial Hall – C. Spoon/Executive Director of Southeast Kansas Regional Planning & Development

  1. Spoon read the following statement: This project proposes replacing existing windows with new aluminum windows, replace existing steel lintels, restore the damaged brick and cast stone masonry, and mend the masonry and mortar joints. The roof at the northeast corner of the building will also be restored. The estimated total project cost is $751,484.75 with a grant request of $569,000.

 

There were no public comments.

 

MOTION:  T. VanHoecke moved to close the public hearing at 7:08PM (Time stamp 1:08:17).  D. Olson seconded the motion. All voted yes.

 

MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.

 

  1. Matkin returned to the meeting (Time stamp 1:09:20).

 

MOTION: T. VanHoecke moved to go forward with the CDBG grant application regarding Commerce for Small Cities Community Development Block Grant funds under the Community Centers & Parks Category for Memorial Hall.  M. Wells seconded the motion.  All voted yes.’

 

MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.

 

New Business/Action Items:

Consideration to Approve Renewal of the Downtown Historic District and Riverfront Park Common Consumption Area Permit (existing Ordinance No. 3756) – annual permit expires November 21, 2024 – (Time stamp 1:10:21) – City Clerk explained that the annual permit needs to be renewed at this time. If the Commission wishes to make any changes to the Ordinance, including the boundaries, it must be done and passed before the application can be submitted to the state.

 

Discussion was had regarding options to change the existing boundaries.

 

ACTION:  B. Matkin will talk to Jill Jaworski/Superintendent of Fort Scott National Historic Site regarding the inclusion of the Pavilion and Skubitz Plaza in the Common Consumption Area.

 

MOTION:  T. VanHoecke moved to table this item until the October 15, 2024, meeting.  M. Wells seconded the motion.  All voted yes.

 

MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.

 

Reports and Comments

           

City Manager (Time stamp 1:19:16)

– Received COI from the building owner of 118 E. Wall by email.

– Cape Seal Update

– Weekend Events: Gordon Parks event, Pioneer Harvest Fiesta and Parade, Alumni Rodeo and comedy show

– VanFossen Update

– Horton & 6th St. Project Update

 

City Engineer (Time stamp 1:20:49)

– Horton & 6th St. Project Update

 

  1. Farmer left the meeting (Time stamp 1:21:08)

 

  1. VanHoecke (Time stamp 1:22:07)

–  Many exciting things in Fort Scott

–  Request to pray for NC, SC, GA and FL, please help where you can

 

  1. Farmer returned to the meeting (Time stamp 1:22:47).

 

  1. Wells (Time stamp 1:23:02)

–  Special thank you to Care to Share people for their past event

–  Request to pray for the hurricane victims

 

  1. Salsbury (Time stamp 1:24:20)

–  Spent some extra time in town this week, beautiful both visually and in spirit

and noted the progress we are making

 

  1. Olson (Time stamp 1:24:39)

–  Care to Share Fort Fest was a great event

–  Contractors’ licensing program needs to move forward. Will be putting an Ordinance together and bring before the Commission.

 

  1. Dancer (Time stamp 1:26:27)

–  Thank you to the organizations hosting events that make our town great

–  Moving school zone speed limit signs North of 8th St. and South of 12th St.

–  Follow up of annexation report requested of City Attorney

–  Lake property storage encroachments

–  Lake shore easement encroachments

–  IT Infrastructure for the City – IT Equipment Purchase Moratorium suggested pending the acceptable report of equipment currently in use and a diagram of our current IT infrastructure.

 

Discussion was had about IT concerns and the moratorium.

 

ACTION:  IT Department to provide answers to the questions T. Dancer has submitted prior to the invitation to appear at the next meeting, October 15, 2024, for an update.

 

City Attorney (Time stamp 1:39:28)

– Teresa Davenport and Cory Bryars did an exceptional job with the Care to Share event

 

Executive Session

 

MOTION:  M. Wells moved for the City Commission recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of a legal matter pursuant to the attorney-client privilege exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(2). The meeting will resume in the Commission Room at 8:00PM after recessing in the City Manager’s office. In the meeting will be the (5) City Commissioners, the City Manager and the City Attorney. T. VanHoecke seconded the motion. All voted yes.

 

MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.

 

MOTION:  M. Wells moved to come out of Executive Session.  T. VanHoecke seconded the motion. M. Wells, T. VanHoecke, D. Olson and T. Dancer voted yes. K. Salsbury was not at the table to vote.

 

MOTION PASSED BY 4-0 VOTE.

 

MOTION:  moved for the City Commission recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of a legal matter pursuant to the attorney-client privilege exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(2). The meeting will resume in the Commission Room at 8:11PM.  In the meeting will be the (5) City Commissioners, the City Manager and the City Attorney. D. Olson seconded the motion. M. Wells, T. VanHoecke, D. Olson and T. Dancer voted yes. K. Salsbury was not at the table to vote.

 

MOTION PASSED BY 4-0 VOTE.

 

MOTION:  M. Wells moved to come out of Executive Session.  T. VanHoecke seconded the motion. All voted yes.

 

MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.

 

  1. VanHoecke moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:11PM. D. Olson seconded the motion. All voted yes.

 

MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:11PM (Time stamp 2:11:14).

 

WORK SESSION, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARINGS – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024, BEGINNING AT 5:00PM AT CITY HALL

 

 

 

 

_______________________________________________________________________

Submitted by:

Lisa A. Lewis, City Clerk

Fort Scott, Government

Agenda for the FS City Commission for Oct. 15

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NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR REGULAR

MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION

City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

October 15, 2024 – 6:00 P.M.

 

  1.     Call to Order
  2.     Roll Call

Tim VanHoecke,   Matthew Wells,   Dyllon Olson,   Kathryn Salsbury,  Tracy Dancer

III.       Pledge of Allegiance

  1. Invocation
  2. Approval of Agenda
  3. Consent Agenda
  4. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1370-A – Expense Approval Report – Payment Dates of September 25, 2024 – October 8, 2024 – $ 734,821.86
  5. Approval of Minutes for October 1, 2024.
  6. September Financials

 

VII.    Public Comment – Sign up required before the beginning of the meeting on register at the entrance of the Commission Room. Public Comments are for any topic not on the agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at the Commission’s discretion.

VIII.     Appearances – Must be scheduled with the City Clerk at least (1) week prior to the meeting             

              you wish to address the Commission. You will be scheduled on the agenda to speak on your topic.

 

  1. Kathy Dancer – Alley Repairs in Downtown Fort Scott

 

  1. Unfinished Business
  2. Status of Building at 118 E. Wall – Requested documents from owner due per October 1, 2024, extension approved until October 15, 2024.
  3. Consideration to Approve Renewal of the Downtown Historic District and Riverfront Park Common Consumption Area Permit (existing Ordinance No. 3756) – annual permit expires November 21, 2024 – Tabled from October 1, 2024.

 

  1. New Business

 

Public Hearing:

  1. Consideration to Approve Ordinance No. 3771 – Floodplain Management Ordinance – Pursuant to 44 CFR Sect. 60.3(d) – Regulatory Floodway Identified, K.S.A. 12-766 and K.A.R. 5-44-1 through 5-44-7 – Wyatt, N. Nation, B. Allen

 

  1. Consideration to Approve Resolution No. 28-2024 – Directing the Repair or Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 1721 E. Wall
  2. Consideration to Approve Resolution No. 29-2024 – Directing the Repair or Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 323 W. Wall
  3. Consideration to Approve Resolution No. 30-2024 – Directing the Repair or Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 1619 E. Pine
  4. Consideration to Approve Resolution No. 31-2024 – Directing the Repair or Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 1105 E. Scott
  5. Consideration to Approve Resolution No. 32-2024 – Directing the Repair or Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 402 S. Lowman
  6. Consideration to Approve Resolution No. 33-2024 – Directing the Repair or Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 418 S. Couch

 

Action Items:

  1. Consideration to Approve Resolution No. 27-2024 – Operation Greenlight for Veterans – that in observance of Operation Green Light, the City of Fort Scott, Kansas encourages its citizens in patriotic tradition to recognize the importance of honoring all those who made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom by displaying green lights in a window of their place of business or residence from November 4th through the 11th, 2024 – Submitted by Michael Hoyt
  2. Consideration to Approve Healthcare MOU
  3. Consideration to Approve Federal-Aid Fund Exchange Master Agreement
  4. Consideration to Appoint Ann Rawlins to the Fort Scott Planning Commission – Recommended by the Planning Commission on October 2, 2024, to fill the vacant seat of the (7) member Commission.
  5. Consideration of MOU Between City of Fort Scott and Old Fort Genealogical Society (OFGS) for Usage of the Eastern Side, Lower Level of Memorial Hall
  6. Consideration of a Change Order on Project No. 6 U-2455-01 Horton St. & 6th Project – Replace/Repair Inlet and Manholes – J. Dickman
  7. Reports and Comments
  8. City Manager Comments
  9. Engineering Comments
  10.  Commissioners Comments
  11. City Attorney Comments

 

XII.      Adjourn

Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Annual Downtown Trick or Treat Parade Is Oct. 26

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The Fort Scott Chamber announces the Annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat Parade!!!

SPONSORS NEEDED!

The past couple of years the attendance has been growing for the Downtown Trick-or-Treat parade with 600+ kids in attendance! At the end of the parade, we serve a slice of Papa Don’s pizza and a drink to each child who is in costume. We have been very thankful for the gracious donations from you all in the past!

If your business is interested in making a donation, please contact us! Click here to email us or call the

Chamber at 620-223-3566.

We will accept monetary donations or other items such as pop, juices, or bottled water.

Saturday, October 26, 2024 @ 11:00 AM

10-11am: Halloween photo backdrop for pictures with your own camera.

Face painting will be offered by the Fort Scott High School Pride and Thespian Clubs!

11am: Parade will start at La Hacienda, down the west side of Main Street to 2nd, then back down the east side of Main Street to Skubitz Plaza.

Following parade: A slice of pizza and a drink will be served to the kids in costume provided through the generous donation of local businesses!

__________

***Businesses along Main Street will be handing out candy during the parade, and businesses not on Main Street as well as any community organizations are welcome to set up a table along Main to pass out candy, coupons, promo items, etc.***

Please email the Chamber if your business or organization will be passing out candy so we

can plan accordingly.
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A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 
Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Youth

Fort Scott Halloween Parade

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For Immediate Release
October 10, 2024
Submitted By: Lindsay Madison
Phone: (620) 223-3566
Email: [email protected]
HALLOWEEN PARADE
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces this year’s Halloween Parade will
be held Saturday, October 26th at 11:00 a.m. in Downtown Fort Scott.
Prior to the parade, starting at 10:00 a.m., there will be special activities including
pictures with a spooktacular backdrop at the City Scales building on North Main and face
painting by Fort Scott High School Thespians.
The parade trick-or-treats merchants along Main Street, starting at La Hacienda, south to
2nd Street, crossing the street then heading north back to Skubitz Plaza. Any businesses
or organizations in the community not located along Main Street are also welcome to set
up a table on the sidewalk providing treats, coupons, or other handouts for kids. Children
are encouraged to bring a sack or bag to collect treats along the parade route.
Following the parade, a free slice of pizza sponsored by Papa Don’s and a drink will be
served to kids in costumes.
The Chamber is currently seeking sponsors and donations for the event. Contact the
Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.

Obituary

Obituary of Allison “Lissa” Gorman

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Allison Marie “Lissa” Gorman, 71, resident of Fort Scott, passed away early Tuesday morning, October 8, 2024. She was born on August 17, 1953, in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of Leroy Pitt and Martha (Wolf) Pitt. She married Kevin Gorman on May 28, 1977, in Topeka, and he survives of the home.

 

Lissa graduated from Topeka High School, and went on to receive her BA from Kansas State University. She taught school, teaching English at Fort Scott Community College, but she also was the office manager for Kevin’s veterinary clinic, Gorman Animal Hospital. Lissa was also a musician, playing piano for Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church and also for Trinity Lutheran Church. She was on the Fort Scott Public Library Board, and was an active member of P.E.O.

 

In addition to her husband Kevin, Lissa is also survived by her children, Philip Gorman & Jackie, of Parsons, Kansas, and Wendy Gorman, of Mission, Kansas; a sister, Susan Zane of Topeka, Kansas; grandchildren, Will Gorman, and Drew Gorman; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Lissa was preceded in death by her parents.

 

Following cremation, Pastor Michael Apfel will officiate memorial services at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at the Trinity Lutheran Church, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at 9:00 a.m. prior to services. Private interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education (PCE) and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS, 66701.  Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.

 

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott

Military Vehicle Preservation Group Convoy Visits Fort Scott On Oct. 13-14

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Military Vehicle Preservation Association logo from it website.

 

The community will see a unique group of vehicles in Fort Scott on October 13 and 14.

The 2024 Military Vehicle Preservation Association Convoy is coming through on its way to Louisiana from Minnesota.

The group was started in the 1970s by “a crazy group of people who started collecting vehicles,” said Charles Toney, convoy planner with responsibility of Fort Scott to New Orleans for the group. They are now in 100 countries around the world.

“The Military Vehicle Preservation Association is an international group of thousands of folks who purchase, rebuild and maintain ground-based military vehicles or transportation equipment,” he said. “MVPA.org. I believe 1974 was when it started.”

“The purpose is to preserve history and educate the public. I drive and maintain three vehicles because I enjoy the challenges and am a retired educator.”

City of Fort Scott Public Relations and Tourism Director, Jackson Tough said “We truly enjoy hosting groups like the Military Vehicle Preservation Association Convoy! Everyone wins when groups like this come through Fort Scott. We offer them a variety of accommodations, restaurants, and attractions and they offer our community an opportunity to see some very interesting military vehicles that we don’t often get to see.”

“There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes prep,” Jackson said.  “We’ve been working on coordinating this for about a year and I’m glad the convoy is almost here. I hope folks join us at the National Historic Site and the VFW to experience these incredible vehicles and the patriots that pilot them.”

Where One Can View The Vehicles

The convoy of approximately 27 military vehicles will be on display at the Fort Scott National Historic Site (199 Old Fort Blvd.) from noon -2 PM while they tour the fort and historic downtown district on Sunday, October 13, according to a press release from Fort Scott’s Tourism Department.

The drivers and passengers will stay overnight in Fort Scott and be hosted for breakfast by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW Post #1165, on Monday, October 14.  The post is located at 1745 S. National. The convoy vehicles will be on display again Monday morning at the VFW from 7:30 -10 A.M.

Afterward, they will travel through the Fort Scott National Cemetery as they depart for the next leg of the journey to Pittsburg, Kansas and points south, according to the press release.

The convoy will retrace the historic 1918 Jefferson Highway route from the Minnesota-Canadian border to New Orleans, Louisiana, traversing 2,500 miles. The group will travel through Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana.

Vehicles, the oldest of which is from the 1940s, include Humvees, Jeeps and a Half, MRAP, Willys, MRZR, Tac-Ops, RSOV, and others.

 

Taken from the Facebook page of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association.

The Route

The Jefferson Highway was built in the 1910s as part of the national auto trail system, an informal network of marked routes that existed in the United States and Canada. Named for President Thomas Jefferson and inspired by the east–west Lincoln Highway, the Jefferson Highway was nicknamed the “Palm to Pine Highway” for the varying types of trees found at either end.

 

For more information and to follow the convoy: www.facebook.com/MVPAConvoy.

Opinion

A Legal Fight Against Evil by Patty LaRoche

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Patty LaRoche. 2023.
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)

Criticizing our country for its moral decline is easy.  Tragically, there are worse.  Lauryn is the daughter of a Christian writer who recently asked that we add her to our prayer list.  I ask the same for you, my readers.  Lauryn traveled to Uganda with her law school to do plea bargains in a Ugandan prison. Her law school and university affiliated with that school have made it one of their ministries to free those wrongly incarcerated.

While in Uganda for ten days, Lauryn was able to identify two victims of human trafficking, plead down their cases to the judge and send them home the very next day to their families.  One girl was 18 years old, and the other had three children at home.  That happened a few months ago.

Recently, Lauryn returned to East Africa to help in the fight against child sacrifice.  As hard as it is to believe, that demonic practice was not even illegal until last year.  The law team learned that witchdoctors and witches (both genders can claim to be either) make money off of this practice.  A businessman or politician will pay these witches for a “blessing” for the business or election and will be told that that requires the sacrifice of one child.  Or the arm or leg of a child.  Many times, the child will die from the trauma.

Lauryn asked her mother to reach out to her prayer groups for prayer.  She knows that she is not just fighting against the people who participate in this heinous act but also the forces of darkness. We fellow authors were asked to pray alongside this mother, using Ephesians 6 as our guide:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.                                                                                                            

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.             

Lauryn visited some of the survivors of this horrible ritual and was able to hug and hold these children “who now live with a permanent disability” but are safe thanks to local ministries that are working to rescue these children.  Unfortunately, there are many children there who have no place to go, no parents to protect them, no home in which to shelter, and with 50% of the Uganda population under the age of 15, there is no shortage of children to sacrifice.

Lauryn’s mother asked for specific prayers, that the government will step up and not be bribed to look the other way and that the Lord will supernaturally intervene to save these children.  I would add that we also pray for the team of brave lawyers who have placed their lives on the line to stop this horrendous evil.