Letter to the Editor: Randy Nichols

Electing Kansas Supreme Court Justices.

 

In her May 13 legislative update Senator Tyson supported changing the current nomination process for selecting Supreme Court justices.  She supports electing our Supreme Court justices.  The issue will appear on the August 2026 ballot.  She alleges the current system came about because Kansas voters were thought “not smart,” that the nominating process is unfairly dominated by lawyers, that it lacks transparency, that it promotes “judicial activism” and that it has failed based on overturn rates of  Kansas cases heard by the U.S. Supreme court.  Please read her update and let’s unpack what she said.

The current nominating process came about in 1958 after then-governor Hall conspired with his lieutenant governor and a retiring supreme court justice to get himself appointed to the supreme court. (His action was labeled The Triple Play.)  Subsequently, informed and intelligent Kansas voters supported the constitutional amendment defining the current judicial nominating process and have continued to support it since 1958.

The judicial nominating committee is composed of nine people.  Two people from each of the four congressional districts.  One is a lawyer elected by lawyers in their district. The second person is a non-lawyer appointed by the governor. The chairperson is a lawyer elected by a vote of all eligible lawyers across the state.  The committee vets and selects three candidates.  From these three the governor choses the Supreme Court justice.  The process is transparent. All committee meetings are open to the public and press and responsible to the Kansas open records act.  While no process is perfect this system gives equal representation to all areas of the state, it balances political influence and it avoids voting domination by large population centers.

It’s important to note that a Supreme Court justice stands for a vote of retention after their first year and every six years thereafter.  We as voters therefore decide to retain or not based on an actual record not on campaign promises and special interest group influence as happens with elected politicians.

Senator Tyson states the nominating committee process has failed because of the number of Kansas cases overturned at the U.S. Supreme Court level.  She states that it is “alleged” Kansas has the highest overturn rate per capita of any state.  How do you even interpret this?  The study is statistically skewed both by population bias and the fact the upper court does not hear all Kansas cases but picks and choses the ones it wants.  A better study done by Washington University found that since 1966 the Kansas overturn rate was 66%.  The national average was 77%.

Senator Tyson next implies elected judges would be less likely to engage in judicial activism.  So ask yourself if a judge who made campaign promises and was supported by a large dollar special interest group, often with out of state ties, (think the recent Wisconsin supreme court election) would be more or less likely to engage in judicial activism?   Senator Tyson goes further implying our appointed judges will be judicially active by conflating them with German judges from the 1930s.  Those judges were antisemite, Nazi sympathizers appointed by Adolf Hitler.  Is that really the comparison she wants to make?

To further illustrate her concern that cases heard by appointed judges are overturned at the U.S. Supreme Court level and that appointed judges are judicially active the Senator sites the court case of Kansas vs Gonzales.  The case involves an undocumented immigrant using falsified federal and state forms. Obviously a hot button example.  Please read the case yourself.  It does not represent judicial activism protecting an undocumented immigrant.  Rather it is a case defining if a federal law, the Immigration Reform and Control Act, supersedes Kansas law.  It was overturned by a 5-4 decision.  What the case actually represents is the system working the way it was designed.

Electing Supreme Court justices will introduce partisan politics, special interest group and outside the state dark money influence into the selection process.  Preserving our system of checks and balances is critical.  Electing justices is a bad idea.

Randy Nichols

 

Anthony Mansfield Escaped From Johnson County Work Release Facility

 

Minimum-Custody Resident Anthony Mansfield Escaped From Johnson County Work Release Facility After Not Returning To the Facility

~KDOC resident Anthony Mansfield placed on escape status~

NEW CENTURY, Kansas. – Kansas Department of Corrections resident Anthony Mansfield has been placed on escape status at approximately 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, after not returning to the Johnson County Department of Corrections (JCDOC) Adult Residential Center (ARC) or reporting to his job yesterday.

Mansfield, a 36-year old white male, is considered dangerous. He was reported missing when the resident could not be located at the minimum-security unit. This walkaway does not impact the security or operations of the medium-maximum secure compound.

Mansfield is 5-feet, 8-inches tall, and weighs 185 pounds with an average build. He has brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with black designs, long black sleeve undershirt, brown boots, brown baseball hat and stonewashed jeans .

Mansfield was convicted in Johnson County for eight-months of incarceration for criminal damage to property convictions. He is serving that sentence at the JCDOC-ARC from which he walked away. Under an agreement between the KDOC and JCDOC, residents who have release plans that are appropriate to Johnson County are housed at the ARC.

Anyone with information on Mansfield can call EAI at 816-266-2102, JCDOC at 913-715-6539, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.

Kansans can also contact EAI via email at [email protected].

The walk-away is being investigated.  New information will be released as it becomes available. 

Photo

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Obituary of Patricia Eastwood

 

Patricia Ann Eastwood, age 83, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at her home in Ft. Scott.  She was born July 26, 1941, in Iola, Kansas, the daughter of William Charles Hoggatt and Virginia Ann Thompson Hoggatt.  Pat attended schools at Iola, Hoisington and Ft. Scott.

She was united in marriage to James L. Eastwood on February 10, 1957, at Ft. Scott.  Pat was a devoted wife and mother.  After raising her family, Pat chose to continue her education.  She graduated from Ft. Scott Community College in 1988 and went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State University in 1990.  In 1992, she became a licensed adult care home administrator.

Over the years, Pat worked at Key Industries, Western Insurance Company and Great West.  She later served as administrator of Ft. Scott Manor.  During Pat’s tenure, the nursing home received three deficiency-free surveys; this was due to the dedication of the staff.

Pat was an active member of the Community Christian Church.

She enjoyed reading and camping at the lake. Pat liked to sew and used her talent to make comforters for the “Bags of Love” project which helped children in need.

 

Survivors include a son, Jim Eastwood (Paula) and two daughters, Susan Carnes (Mike) and Shelly Brennon (Kenny) all of Ft. Scott; nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.  Also surviving are a sister, Judy Button Hobbs of Ft. Scott and a brother, Vernis Hoggatt of Springfield, Oregon.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, on August 14, 2018.  She was also preceded in death by a great-grandson, Weston, a brother, Bill and a half-sister, Verlyne.

 

Rev. Paul Martin will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, May 31st at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Clarksburg Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Care to Share 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.

Local Students Graduate From Freeman Health System Nursing School

Some of the nearly 30 nurses who will be joining Freeman Health System once they pass their NCLEX exams. Submitted phot

 

Mission Accomplished

Dozens of New Graduate Nurses Recognized During Special Ceremony  

 

Joplin, MO. – Nearly 30 nurses were warmly welcomed into the Freeman fold Tuesday night during a graduation ceremony that’s unique to this area.

Resembling athletic signing day celebrations often seen at high schools and universities nationwide, these graduate nurses – who have completed their two years of schooling but have yet to take their National Council Licensure Examinations (NCLEX) to become registered nurses – inked their signatures on dotted lines while loved ones looked on and future Freeman co-workers cheered and applauded their accomplishments.

“I am very appreciative of those around me and how hard they’ve worked to become nurses,” said Camrie Davis, a graduate nurse who will work for Freeman orthopaedics. “Anybody who you went to school with, they all become a sort of fellowship to you.”

Nurses serve as linchpins to any functional hospital or healthcare system, said Freeman Health System President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Fry, speaking to the assembled graduate nurses and their families at the Ron Richard Athletic Center on the Missouri Southern State University campus.

“A patient spends five percent of their time with physician and about 95 percent of their time with a nurse or nurse tech,” Fry said, “So, it is truly vital to us that we bring nurses into our system who are consistent with our mission, vision, values. I think we’re confident today that everyone joining the team fits that bill.”

The graduate nurses recognized during the ceremony included: Shelby Blythe, Karen Gonzalez, Aiddenn Vanatta, Jadyn Fox, Victorea Stephenson, Jaylen Evans, Adeline Vanderpool, Karleigh Schoenberger, Paige McIntire, Amber Opel, Alexia Ingold, Esmeralda Martinez, Jacob Pearce, Danielle Russell, Mickayley McCluney, Heather Autry, Blair Wilson, Taylor Young, Madison Burkhart, Amanda Weaver, Rylie Tyer, Dylan Byrd, Camrie Davis, Molly Kesler, Mackenzie Droessler, Megan Blair, Brittney Clark, and Anistyn Honey.

To learn more about Freeman Health System’s nursing programs, visit freemanhealth.com.

 

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About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2024, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers and their experiences. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System one of the Best Hospitals for 2022. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.

 

 

2025 ARTEFFECT AWARDS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON JUNE 2!

2025 ARTEFFECT AWARDS WILL BE
ANNOUNCED ON JUNE 2!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FINALISTS!
ARTEFFECT celebrates the 2025 Competition Finalists! Congratulations to the 115 incredible students and their dedicated teachers whose powerful work brings Unsung Heroes to life through art! There are 64 different Unsung Heroes represented, including all 7 Spotlight Unsung Heroes. Finalists projects come from 16 middle school and 99 high school students from 24 states across the U.S. as well as 5 other countries around the world: Australia, Canada, Lithuania, South Korea, and United Arab Emirates. Explore the artworks and impact statement excerpts.

Stay tuned! 2025 ARTEFFECT Competition winners will be announced on the website on June 2!

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The SEKnFind Newsletter May 2025

We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog.
This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold.
Need assistance? Your local librarian can show you how!
Happy Reading!

New Fiction

A town with half the lights on : a novel
by Page Getz

“For readers of J. Ryan Stradal and The Music of Bees (with a dash of FX’s The Bear) comes a quirky and refreshing epistolary novel about family of culture-shocked Brooklynites transplanted to Goodnight, Kansas and their fight for their unexpected lifeline: the legendary May Day Diner. Welcome to Goodnight, Kansas. Population: Many Kansans, three New Yorkers, and one chance to save the place they love most.”

The retirement plan : a novel
by Sue Hincenbergs

Three best friends turn to murder to collect on their husbands’ life insurance policies, but the husbands have a plan of their own.

The other people : a novel
by C. B. Everett

Ten strangers awaken in a locked, eerie house with no memory of their arrival, tasked with solving a young woman’s disappearance while evading a relentless killer and uncovering the truth about their connection to the deadly game.

Run for the hills : a novel
by Kevin Wilson

Madeline Hill and her mom have lived alone on their farm in Coalfield, Tennessee, since her dad left; one day Reuben Hill pulls up in a PT Cruiser and announces she’s his half-sister, and he wants Mad to join him for a crazy road trip to find their father and half siblings.

The float test : a novel
by Lynn Steger Strong

“The Kenner siblings are at odds. Jenn is a harried mom struggling under the weight of family obligations. Fred is a novelist who can’t write, maybe because she’s lost faith in storytelling itself. Jude is a recovering corporate lawyer with her own story to tell, and a grudge against her former favorite sister, Fred. George, the baby, is estranged from his wife and harboring both a secret about his former employer and an ill-advised crush on one of his sisters’ friends. Gathered after a major loss, each sibling needs the others more than ever–if only they could trust each other”

Summer in the city
by Alex Aster

When 27-year-old screenwriter Elle returns to New York City and runs into polar opposite Parker Warren, a hookup from two years ago, she realizes he’s her twisted muse, so when he needs a fake relationship during his company’s acquisition, they agree to spend the summer together

The lamb : a novel
by Lucy Rose

In their secluded forest cottage, Margot and her mother welcome“strays,” lost travelers whom Mama feeds and ultimately consumes, but when a striking stranger named Eden arrives during a snowstorm, Margot must confront her family’s dark practices and assert her own desires.

Lightfall
by Ed Crocker

Discovering a conspiracy surrounding the death of the ruler’s son in vampire city First Light, palace maid Sam blackmails her way into a better class and better blood, joining with rebel maids, a sorcerer lacking in magic but skilled in deduction, a werewolf assassin and a countess who knows the city’s secrets.

Grave empire
by Richard Swan

As a mysterious plague spreads and war looms, Ambassador Renata Rainer must seek answers from practitioners of the arcane arts to prevent an ancient prophecy, the Great Silence, from bringing the Empire to ruin. Original. 20,000 first printing.

Fever beach : a novel
by Carl Hiaasen

A dim-witted Proud Boys reject becomes entangled in a bizarre web of corruption and intrigue involving a hitchhiker, a con artist, an eccentric millionaire and a power-hungry politician in the new novel by the best-selling author of Bad Monkey.

The silversmith’s puzzle
by Nev March

Captain Jim Agnihotri and Lady Diana Framji return to India as they investigate a murder amidst colonial Bombay’s complex hierarchy.

The country under heaven : a novel
by Frederic S. Durbin

“Set in the 1880s, the story follows Ovid Vesper, a former Union soldier who has been having enigmatic visions after surviving one of the Civil War’s most gruesome battles, the Battle of Antietam. As he travels across the country following those visions,he finds himself in stranger and increasingly more dangerous encounters with other worlds hidden in the spaces of his own mind, not to mention the dangers of the Wild West. Ovid brings his steady calm and compassion as he helps the people of a broken country, rapidly changing but, like himself, still reeling and wounded from the war. He assists with matters of all sorts, from odd jobs around the house, to guiding children back to their own universe, to hunting down unnatural creatures that stalk the night–all the while seeking his own personal resolution and peace from his visions. Ovid’s epic journey across the American West with a surprising cast of characters blends elements of the classic Western with historical fantasy in a way like no other”

New Audiobooks

My friends : a novel
by Fredrik Backman

“Most people don’t even notice them-three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an artist herself, knows otherwise and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.”

Shield of Sparrows
by Devney Perry

Long ago, the gods unleashed monsters upon the five kingdoms of Calandra to remind us that humans are insignificant. I didn’t need a deity to remind me I was powerless. Being a princess had never been more than a performance. Until the day a prince walked into my father’s throne room and ruined my life. The day I married a stranger, signed a magical treaty in blood, and set off across the continent to the most treacherous kingdom in all the realm.

Hidden Nature
by Nora Roberts

“Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world. After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance. She may be down, but she’s not out. So, when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds them, spread across three states. And the abductions keep happening. Luckily, the new man in her life shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case and she’s willing to risk her life again if that’s what it takes to stop the horror.”

New Nonfiction

Reading for Our Lives : The Urgency of Early Literacy and the Action Plan to Help Your Child
by Maya Payne Smart

“Today’s children face intense pressure to meet rising academic standards and prepare for future careers, but most fall dangerously short. Early struggles with language and literacy often snowball into lasting disadvantages. Millions of U.S. kids don’t learn to read well in elementary school, driving low adult literacy rates and threatening the nation’s economic productivity, public health, and social equity. In Reading for Our Lives, journalist Maya Payne Smart shows that the literacy crisis starts at home. Reading for Our Lives delivers a clear call to action and a path forward for families, schools, and communities to beat the literacy crisis together.”

Mysteries of the national parks : 35 stories of baffling disappearances, unexplained phenomena, and more
by Mike Bezemek

“For outdoor adventurers, national parks lovers, and fans of fascinating true stories, MYSTERIES OF THE NATIONAL PARKS is a collection of 40 fascinating tales from America’s national parks, including disappearances, mysterious happenings, and supernatural presences”

No more tears : the dark story of Johnson & Johnson
by Gardiner Harris

In this blistering exposé, an award-winning investigative journalist uncovers reams of evidence showing decades of Johnson & Johnson’s deceitful and dangerous corporate practices that have threatened the lives of millions.

The Apothecary’s Garden : The Science and Mythology of Medicinal Plants
by Emma Wayland

“A curious history of plants that heal, ‘The apothecary’s garden’ explores the science and mythology of over 60 species–from soothing hops, chamomile and valerian to immunity-boosting turmeric, meadowsweet and turkey tail mushroom. Featuring botanical illustrations from the archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and weird and wonderful remedies and images from medical archives, this is a fascinating exploration of nature’s pharmacy”

How to break up with your phone
by Catherine Price

A practical hands-on plan for readers looking to create a healthy relationship with their cellphone provides information on identifying goals and priorities and being more mindful with phone use

Baking across America : a vintage recipe road trip
by B. Dylan Hollis

“From the deserts of the Southwest to the shining Atlantic Coast, the USA is as sweet as it gets. In this tour de food, B. Dylan Hollis takes you on a delicious road trip to taste everything from the coffee-crazed creations of the Pacific Northwest to the larger-than-life sheet cakes of Texas. You’ll be hitting the pavement in vintage style as you journey with Dylan through the culture capitals of America to savor the very best bakes the nation has to offer. His retro recipes span the decades from the 1900s to the 2000s and feature famous (and forgotten) desserts from every state. With his signature wry humor, Dylan explores the US and uncovers the history of nostalgic local favorites, including Boston Cream Pie on the cobbled streets of Beantown, Beignets in the sultry heat of jazzy New Orleans, and Date Cream scooped up poolside in Palm Springs”

Meditative drawing : learn to draw mandalas and other patterns that foster calm and creativity
by Lizzie Snow

“Meditative Drawing shows step by step how to create mesmerizing mandalas and other nature-inspired designs while reducing stress and increasing creativity”

The book of alchemy : a creative practice for an inspired life
by Suleika Jaouad

Explores the transformative power of journaling, blending the author’s insights with essays and prompts from 100 writers, artists, and thinkers, offering guidance to navigate life’s challenges, embrace creativity, and uncover deeper self-awareness through themes of beginnings, love, loss, and renewal. Illustrations.

The art spy : the extraordinary untold tale of WWII resistance hero Rose Valland
by Michelle Young

A saga set in Paris during World War II uncovers how an unlikely heroine infiltrated the Nazi leadership to save the world’s most treasured masterpieces.

Snafu : the definitive guide to history’s greatest screwups
by Ed Helms

“History contains a plethora of insane screwups-otherwise known as SNAFUs. Coined during World War I, SNAFU is an acronym that stands for Situation Normal: All F*cked Up. In other words, “things are pretty screwed up, but aren’t they always?” Spanning from the 1950’s to the 2000’s, Ed Helms steps in as unofficial history teacher for a deep dive into each decade’s craziest SNAFUs. From planting nukes on the moon to training felines as CIA spies to weaponizing the weather, this book will unpack the incredibly ironic decision-making and hilariously terrifying aftermath of America’s biggest mishaps. Filled with sharp humor and lively illustrations, SNAFU is a wild ride through time that not only entertains but offers fresh insights that just might prevent history from repeating itself again and again”

Even more reading suggestions

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Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation Hosts Annual Spring Fundraiser, Boardwalk BBQ

 

A crowd of 158 attended the 2025 Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation annual spring fundraiser on a new night, Friday, April 4th.  For a second year, the event was held at the SEK Impact Center with doors opening at 5:30 pm.  Décor was provided by Lisa Wolverton of Hitch and Hoedown Rentals.  Approximately $13,568 was raised during the evening from stretch, silent, and live auctions.  For the first time, Robbie Bell provided entertainment throughout the evening.  Her performance was enjoyed by all.  Those in attendance received gift certificates to Wellness Journey, a new spa located in Chanute, KS. 

 

Attendees were treated to a delicious meal of bacon-wrapped chicken, coleslaw, baked beans, lettuce salad, and roll furnished by C & S Traveling Kitchen.  Dessert was mini-bundt cakes in three flavors, provided by Brenda Harrison, TVDS Director of Programming.  Neosho County Community College students helped serve the meal.  Door prizes were courtesy of the TVDS greenhouse in Fort Scott. 

 

As in year’s past, the live auction was the highlight of the evening.  Dave Petersen served as auctioneer and did a fantastic job.  For 2025, we added two new trips courtesy of Monarch Cement; a trip for two to Nashville and a trip for two to Las Vegas.  Other items auctioned off include:  a Breckenridge CO vacation package courtesy of Home Savings Bank; a Branson MO vacation package courtesy of Community National Bank; a full-size recliner courtesy of Ruddick’s Furniture in Fort Scott; and Dinner for 10 courtesy of Brenda Harrison.  Thank you to the local merchants that provided gift baskets for both the silent and stretch auctions.  Thank you to Larry Holman for serving as the evening’s photographer.  The pictures are amazing. 

 

All money raised from the evening will go towards the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation projects.  Since 2001, the Foundation has built six homes and acquired nine additional homes and a duplex.  The houses are located in our communities of Buffalo, Chanute, Fort Scott, Humboldt, Iola, Moline, and Neodesha.  These houses are home to 81 of our neighbors with intellectual and developmental disabilities served by Tri-Valley Developmental Services. 

 

“The evening was fantastic”, said Bill Fiscus, CEO. “The food, drawings and conversation were phenomenal.  Thank you to everyone who attended.  We hope you had an enjoyable evening and look forward to seeing you all in 2026.” 

 

A big thank you goes to the evening’s sponsors.  Promenade Level:  Monarch Cement Company and David & Beth Toland

Colonnade Level: Community National Bank – Chanute, Hofer & Hofer & Associates, Larry Holman, Home Savings Bank, IMA, Dave Peterson Auction Services, Steve Faulkner Ford, and SEK Impact Center.

Esplandae Level: Ash Grove, Cardinal Drug, Community National Bank – Eureka, Hitch & Hoedown, Jarred, Gilmore & Phillips, CPA, and Wellness Journey.

Arcade Level: Cheney Witt Chapel

 

 

 

Bourbon County Community Theatre Brings Melodrama Tradition Back to Fort Scott

Carl, played by Matthew Wells, and Opal, played by Alissa Cook. Submitted photo

A long-standing theatre tradition in Fort Scott, the Melodrama, is returning to Good Ol’ Days this year.

Bourbon County Community Theatre presents the world premiere of “Beauty and the Bull OR Chaos in Fort Scott’’ written by BCCT Vice President Mark Bergmann.

Bergmann says, “It was a challenge offered by other members of the BCCT board to write an original show about Fort Scott. I hope people find it highly entertaining. The whole goal is for people to laugh and have fun with it.”

Jason Silvers returns to the stage as Barnard Cleaner, 18 years after the last Fort Scott melodrama that Silvers starred in, “It feels really good to be back on the stage after so many years. Melodramas are about fun, they’re interactive shows, and I hope the audience has a great experience cheering the hero and booing the villain.”

This is Silvers’ first show with the newly formed BCCT, “You feel camaraderie working together with everybody with different levels of ability and talent. I’ve enjoyed watching everything come together.”

The show is directed by Bergmann with Regen Wells serving as Assistant Director. Featured roles include Alissa Cook as the heroine Opal Openheart, Levi Fairchild as the hero Bull Driver, and Matthew Wells as the villain, Carl Connor.

Performances are at 8 p.m. on June 6 and at 10:30 a.m., and 12:30, 4:30, 6:30 and 8 p.m. on June 7 at 123 S. National (former St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church). Tickets for the show are $5 at bcct.ludus.com or at the door, but seating is limited. Concessions will be available. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.

Carl, played by Matthew Wells,  and Horse played by Theodore Bowman. Submitted photo.

# # #

Obituary of Alvin Glen “JR” Lattimer, Jr

 

 

 

Alvin Glen “JR” Lattimer, Jr., age 67, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, May 26, 2025, at the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.  He was born May 15, 1958, in Olathe, Kansas, the son of Alvin Glen Lattimer, Sr. and Reva Joy Beasley Lattimer.  JR graduated from the Ft. Scott High School.  He began working for Mid-Continental Restoration in 1977.  He stayed with the company for forty-two years and retired as the corporate safety manager.  JR married Monica Jackson Ingle on February 14, 1981.  JR was an avid collector of all sorts of things.  He especially liked Rock & Roll memorabilia, old coins and antique toys.

 

Survivors include three sons, Jessie Ingle (Laura) of Ft. Worth, Texas and Eric Ingle (Jennifer) and Dail Ingle all of North Richland Hills, Texas, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  Also surviving are his mother, Joy Lattimer Renner of Boliver, Missouri, two brothers, Joe Lattimer and John Lattimer and two sisters, Patricia Noble and Kelly Ash.

JR was preceded in death by his wife, Monica, on August 1, 2009.  He was also preceded in death by his father, Alvin Glen Lattimer, Sr and a sister, Glena Thomas.

 

A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, June 9th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Private family burial will take place at a later date at the Chapel Grove Cemetery northeast of Ft. Scott.

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.