All posts by Loretta George

Art, Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

The Fort Scott Writing Festival and Author Fair: Pre-Register by Oct. 15

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Hedgehog.INK

The Fort Scott Writing Festival and Author Fair is October 19, 2019, pre-register by Oct. 15.

at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, Main and Wall Street.

The Program Schedule is listed below along with other information regarding the festival.

Registration: 8:30 and refreshments (inside front doors)

Opening Remarks: 8:50 Little Theater

Finding Your Writing Plan – 9:00 Little Theater

Presenter R.J. Thesman

Are you stuck between writer’s block and the fun of procrastination? Maybe you’re not blocked. You just don’t have a writing plan. Finding Your Writing Plan helps you develop a discipline for your writing craft and keeps you from avoiding that blank page. Especially for bi-vocational writers who work another job, Finding Your Writing Plan gives you a structure for each day’s work. You can still nurture your creative side by choosing more than one plan or by changing your plan, depending on your circumstances. RJ Thesman will present 12 different options for your writing plan with best practices to help you finish your Work in Progress and move toward your publishing dreams. 

RJ Thesman, CLC, BSE Author / Writing Coach / Editor / Speaker

* * * * * * * * *

“Writing FOR a Child Requires Thinking LIKE a Child” – 9:00 Conference Room

Presenter: Cathy Werling

Have you often thought you would like to write a children’s book? With the current self-publishing opportunities available, the goal of writing and publishing a children’s book has become much more attainable. Through this presentation, you will learn how to get started, some important steps you need to consider before you actually start writing, and some available resources to help your children’s book become a reality.

Cathy Werling is a retired elementary educator, who works part-time at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. The opportunity to provide positive role models for children led to the Center’s Unsung Heroes book series for children. Cathy is the author of the first four books in the series, with plans to continue sharing more of the amazing stories of Unsung Heroes through additional books. Her goal is to, not only provide inspirational role models for elementary students, but to encourage them to be people who can also make a positive difference in the world around them.

* * * * * * * * *

Self Publishing – 10:00 Little Theater

Presenter: Sally Freeman Jadlow

Come learn how to publish your own book, step-by-step, in paperback or ebook through Amazon.com. Handouts will accompany the class.

Sally Jadlow has published eleven books which have gone through the process Amazon offers authors. She writes award-winning historical fiction, inspirational short stories, non-fiction, devotionals and poetry. Sally has also been published in many magazine articles and anthologies. She teaches writing for the the Kansas City Writers Group in the spring and fall.

Know Your Sources – 10:00 Conference Room

Presenter: Ronda Hassig

Primary sources can be mysterious, exciting, and lead to creative writing at its finest.  If you want to write non-fiction or historical fiction you will need to know your sources!  When you leave this session, you will know what a source is, where to find it, how to use it and how to document it. 

Ronda Hassig is a retired Kansas Master Teacher and middle school librarian.  She is the author of two books including “The Abduction of Jacob Rote” and “The Greatest Test of Courage.”  Ronda loves reading, writing, and walking her three feral dogs!  

* * * * * * * * * *

Workshop Drawing – 10:55

Transformative Works & the Online Writing Experience – 11:00 Little Theater

Presenter: Qwen Salsbury

Discussion of the popularity and opportunities in online writing. How to build an online following, locate writing e-communities, and the bridge to publishing. Exploration of the importance of transformative works in society’s need to own its own stories. Presentation by author Qwen Salsbury, Amazon #1 Best-Selling author, whose online works have over 5 million unique hits. 

* * * * * * * * * *

Writing the Poetic Image – 11:00 Conference Room

Presenter: Laura Lee Washburn

Laura Lee Washburn will lead this workshop on imagery.  Poets will participate in a poetic game as well as write a short lyric or narrative free verse poem.  

Washburn is the author of two books of poetry, This Good Warm Place (March Street) and Watching the Contortionists (Palanquin Chapbook Prize).  Her poetry has appeared in numerous journals including Poet Lore and The Sun.  Harbor Review’s Washburn Chapbook prize is named in her honor.  She directs the Creative Writing Program at Pittsburg State.

12:00 – 1:30 Lunch Break

Authors set up for the Authors Fair

Afternoon Mini-Sessions – Conference

1:30 Thomas Yoke

2:15 Kate Emmett-Sweetser

3:00 Jan Hedges

“Why I Just Now Write” – 1:30 Conference Room

Presenter: Tom Yoke

It took me 60 years to fulfill the dream of becoming an author. The roadblocks and obstacles I had to overcome, are the motivation for telling my story. I want to encourage anyone of any age or circumstance to pursue that dream.

The main points of the talk are:

  • Listening to the right voices
  • Daring to believe in yourself
  • Dreaming big dreams
  • Following your heart’s hidden desire

* * * * * * * * * *

 

NaNoWriMo and Poem-a-Day: Write. Every. Day. – 2:15 Conference Room

Presenter: Kate Emmett-Sweetser

Though raised by a professor of British literature and a poet, Kate Emmett-Sweetser prefers to write non-fiction. She has worked as a free-lance journalist in both English and Spanish, as a translator, and as a Spanish adjunct at Pittsburg State University. She is currently working on a book about the Jewish families who lived in SE Kansas in the decades following the Civil War. Her biggest challenges are perfectionism and procrastination; she will share ways to adapt fiction- and poetry-writing prompts and goals to all genres of writing. 

* * * * * * * * * *

The Art of Journaling – 3:00 Conference Room

Presenter: Jan Hedges

We each have a great deal to write about already tucked in our own heads. Journaling is a way to keep track of and organize these thoughts, musings and ideas. This session will cover the many aspects of journaling, how-to’s, inspiration and motivation. A drawing for a journal will be held at the end of the session.

Jan Hedges is a retired teacher and school administrator. She and her husband Dick opened Hedgehog.INK! Gently Used Books and So Much More… in October 2018. She has dabbled in writing for over 50 years. I write because I must.

* * * * * * * * * *

Author Fair Participants: (Tentative List)

Ronda Hassig Young Adult Historical Fiction

Gerri Hilger Adult Historical Fiction

Sally Freeman Jadlow Adult Christian Living/Memoir/Poetry…

Scott KinKade Adult Science Fiction / Fantasy

Joyce Love Children/Young Adult Historical Fiction / Devotional

Eric Reynolds Adult Historical Fiction

Carol Russell Young Adult Historical Fiction

Sally Smith Adult Christian Living

R.J. Thesman Adult Christian Living / Fiction…

Laura Lee Washburn Poetry

Cathy Werling Children Children

Thomas Yoke Adult Fiction

Notes, Inspirations, To-Do’s

Writing Festival

October 19, 2019

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Activities:

8:30 – 8:50 Registration and Refreshments

8:50 – 9:00 Welcome

9:00 – 12:00 Writing Workshops with experienced published authors – 50 minute break-out sessions

12:00 – 1:30 Lunch Break and set-up for Authors’ Fair

1:30 – 3:30 Authors’ Fair and mini-workshops

(multiple authors will be set-up to market, sign and share with participants their writing journey.)

Pre-Registration due by October 15 –

$35 per Participant Late registration – $45

High School and College students free with current

student ID

Co-sponsored by Bourbon County Arts Council,

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce,

Books and Grannies & Hedgehog.INK!

Hosted by the Lowell Milken Center

Bourbon County, Business, Church news, Fort Scott

Fort Scott Community Closet Moving Forward

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Clothing is awaiting completion of the Fort Scott Community Closet shed. Pictured is clothing that has been donated, cleaned and stored in plastic bags.

The second organizational meeting of the Fort Scott Community Closet met on Oct. 1 and officers were elected.

Carol Oakleaf is the president and Lori Lovelace is the secretary/treasurer.

Carol Oakleaf, left, and Lori Lovelace show the donation can for clothing to the Fort Scott Community Closet which is located in the Fort Scott Washateria.

“It’s a good representation, representing a lot of churches,” Lovelace said. “It’s for the whole county.”

At the meeting, guidelines were set up to distribute clothing to those in most need, Lovelace said.

People will be referred by organizations in the county to receive a voucher to get the clothing.

“Vouchers will be distributed to anyone who deals with people in need and crisis, to get names,” Lovelace said. This includes churches and other organizations.

“Then we will know what they need and a volunteer will be available to work with them,” Lovelace said. “People can come one-on-one with a volunteer to the closet.”

The community closet is located in a shed on the property of Fort Scott Washateria, 501 S. National.

Donations of clothing are already being accepted at the laundromat and clothing has been cleaned in preparation for the distribution which Lovelace anticipates to be in this month into November.

The laundromat donates the cleaning  of the clothing.

Once the shed that will house the closet is finished, the clothing will be arranged for recipients to come in and choose what they need with a volunteer.

“The shed is not done yet,” Lovelace said. Flooring, painting, heat/air conditioning, and electricity are on the agenda to be completed.

Lori Lovelace shows the shed that is nearing completion for the Fort Scott Community Closet.

Once the initial batch of donated clothing is distributed to those who are in need, the public can get one outfit per person.

“After Thanksgiving, there will be a community day,” she said. “I will advertise the open number of hours and volunteers will man it.”

Fort Scott Washateria Celebrates One Month In Business

Fort Scott Washateria “is going great guns,” Lovelace of the first month of the laundromat.

Fort Scott Washateriais a state-of-the-art laundromat with networked Speed Queen machines, fully attended by responsible staff, according to its’ website. Oakleaf owns  the business and Lovelace manages.

They are offering a gift certificate purchase for those who want to give the gift of time to someone to have laundry service provided.

Services provided by the laundrymat:

  • Wash/dry/fold your laundry
  • Free pickup and delivery in the city limits and other routes outside the city limits
  • Starch/press
  • Alterations
  • Drop off for clothing donated to Fort Scott Community Closet Association
  • Commercial laundry services
  • Free WiFi
  • Children’s play area
  • Our machines take debit, credit, ipay, googlepay, samsungpay, loyalty cards along with coins.
  • Spyderwash app for loyalty customers that will let you know if machines are available before you come in.
  • W/D/F subscription services with monthly billing, pickup/delivery.

Contact Fort Scott Washateria at 620.644.9834.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opinion

Obituary of Roy Clifford Jackson

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Roy Clifford Jackson, 90, of Fort Scott, passed away, Thursday evening, October 3, 2019 at his home. He was born November 7, 1928 in Neodesha, Kansas the son of Roy Frank and Myrtle Mae (Combs) Jackson. He married Ruth I. Evans on June 12, 1949 in Fort Scott, Kansas, she survives of the home. Roy and Ruth recently celebrated 70 years of Marriage. He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. He was a loving father and devoted husband as well as a proud grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, quick wit and love of the outdoors.

Roy retired as a Printing Supervisor from Ennis Business Forms after more than 20 years. He also farmed during this time and ran a Dairy Farm, and also raised Cattle, and Hogs at different times. Roy loved hunting and the outdoor life, he was an avid Coon Hunter who raised and trained generations of Registered Treeing Walker Coon Hounds. He raised many quality Coon Hounds and was most proud of his Night Champion named “Queen” and her offspring “Josie” who was a Grand Night Champion. Roy and his dogs won acclaim and were featured in the magazine popular for Coon Hunters everywhere “Full Cry”

In addition to his wife, Ruth, he is survived by 6 children, Pamela Sue Russell of Fort Scott, Connie A. Jackson of Fort Scott, Gwendolyn K. (Danny) Norbury of Hume, Missouri, R. Mark Jackson (Lynette) of Fort Scott, Brenda Leigh Denby of Fort Scott, Jan Elaine Kierl of Mound City, Kansas, 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and 2 sisters, Bernice (Joe) Jump and Virginia (Jim) Herring.

Funeral Services were held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. The family received friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time Tuesday at the funeral home. He was laid to rest in the Oak Grove Cemetery North of Fort Scott. Condolences may be submitted to the online guest book at konantz-cheney.com.

Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Wrestlers Fundraiser For Program Needs: Taco Tico Meals

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Fort Scott High School Wrestling student-athlete representatives attended the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee on Oct. 3 to tell the community of the fundraiser. From left: Jenna Graham, Coby Burchett, Hannah Vann, and  Mersadie Roof listen as  Coach Alvin Metcalf tells about the fundraiser.

Fort Scott High School has a wrestling program for both boys and girls, with 50 students involved in the program.

Alvin Metcalf is the coach, assistant coaches are Alvin Metcalf Sr., Dakota Hall, and Kathi Hall.

Funds are needed for the program for equipment and gear,  and also for team expenses for the year while competing in other locations, for example, hotel stays, food, etc.

The students and coaches have chosen a Taco Tico Fundraiser.

“It allows the community to get a nostalgic meal that the town of Fort Scott loves,” Coach Metcalf said. “Taco Tico was a staple for anyone who lived in Fort Scott in the 1990s and 2000s especially if you were in high school at that time. It’s something different that people like.”

The wrestlers and their parents prepare the food.

The food orders will be picked up at the high school on October 19 in the Fort Scott High School Commons Area.

Orders are due by 5 p.m. Oct. 12.

Pre-orders can be placed with any wrestling athlete or order sheets picked up at the Butcher Block Shop on National Avenue or 5-Corners Convenience Store at 12th Street at 69 Hwy.

Orders can be dropped off at the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, 293 E. 20th Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To order online go to the Fort Scott High School Wrestling page on Facebook.

On the menu are tacos, burritos, sanchos and taco burgers. People may eat in the commons area if so desired.

There will be limited quantities available with pre-ordering.

For more information contact Metcalf at 620.224.8468 or

Lesley Harris at 620.215.5330.

Image may contain: 13 people, people smiling, people standing, basketball court and indoor
Girl Wrestlers from the Fort Scott High School Wrestling Facebook page.
Image may contain: 6 people, people smiling, people standing
Boy wrestlers from the Fort Scott High School Wrestling Facebook page.

 

 

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Learning To Write Successful Grant Proposals

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Strengthening communities: Grant writing workshop planned for November 8

Do you know how that playground equipment at the park down the street was purchased? Or the new sign leading visitors to a local landmark? How about initial money for a festival? In any community, chances are that someone, or a group of individuals, wrote a grant proposal and received funding to help with the project.

Individuals and community groups can learn more about writing successful grant proposals at a workshop planned in Fort Scott, KS in November. The workshop is presented by Nancy Daniels, a community vitality specialist with K-State Research and Extension and the author of many grant proposals.

The training will be held November 8, 2019 at the River Room Event Center, 3 West Oak Street in Fort Scott, KS from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and includes lunch. The cost to attend is $10.

Deadline to register is Nov. 1.

“This workshop is for everyone, whether they’ve never written a proposal before and have no idea where to start, to those who have experience but are looking for ways to improve their approach,” Daniels said. “The magic that happens in a local community when people find out they don’t have to wait to get something done, that they can do it themselves, is incredible.”

Participants also learn from each other, Daniels said, adding that even experienced grant writers pick up tips and are reenergized after coming together with peers in their communities.  Participants are encouraged to bring their grants or grant ideas to share.

Workshop topics include:

  • Sources of data for community needs (where do you find the numbers to back up your request?);
  • Where to find grants;
  • The five common elements of a great grant proposal;
  • Practicing the grant writing elements.More information and registration is available by contacting Carla Nemecek at the Southwind Extension District Iola Office, 620-365-2242 or email [email protected].

To view the event flier:

Grant workshop FlyerFS

Business, Exercise, Fort Scott

Watts Receive $40,000 Entrepreneur Loan

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From left: Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison,  Aaron Watts, and Lindsey Watts, Bourbon County E-Community loan recipients, Bill Michaud, Geoff Southwell and Darcy Smith, Chamber members.

Aaron and Lindsey Watts, who own Smallville Crossfit, are the recipients of the first Bourbon County E-Community loan in the amount of $40,000.

The loan is a locally controlled loan fund for business entrepreneurs.

“What’s good about the loan is it’s working capital,” Lindsey Watts said.  The Watts will be using the money for new equipment for the fitness business,  and new services, she said.

Workers work on the air-conditioned room and rentable office space, which are very close to being finished, Lindsey Watts aid. Submitted photos.

Additionally, they are doing some updates to the new facility they purchased, the former Fort Scott Lumber, 1905 S. Judson.

New air conditioning, flooring, and heating will be part of the remodel of the former warehouse space, which they hope to have complete in November, she said.

The second workday at the new facility, shelves are being torn down in the middle room. Photos submitted by Lindsey Watts.

One of the new services offered at the new facility will be dance fitness, Watts said.

In addition, the Watts are working with Kansas Works to hire an intern in the future, Watts said.

Smallville Crossfit is currently located at 15 S. National and can be reached at 620.644.5124.

To learn more about the loan program:

Small Businesses Encouraged With New Partnership Offer

Removing 400 meters of 1×2 wood from the walls and muddling holes. Photos submitted by Lindsey Watts.

 

Bourbon County, Schools

Past UHS Homecoming Queens, Kings and Band Members Invited Oct. 11

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Uniontown High School King Gavin Miller and Queen Lindsay Nietfeld, 2016. Courtesy photos, UHS English teacher,  Karen Massa.
The Uniontown High School Student Council is asking that all former UHS Fall Homecoming Kings and Queens join the school for Homecoming 2019 on October 11.
The band teacher is also asking all former band members to join them with instruments in hand that evening as well.
UHS Queen Shanda Shepard and  King Jeff Daly, 1988. Courtesy photo from UHS.
UHS Student Council has 14 members and Rebecca Sutterby is the advisor.
“It’s always the goal of homecoming to have many alumni and community members attend in support of the current generation of Eagles,” Sutterby said. ” StuCo voted as a group to make an effort to specifically invite all of our past football homecoming royalty this year. We were super excited to learn that our very first homecoming queen from 1957 is planning to attend.”
Megan Mann and Mitch Spainhoward 2003. Courtesy photo from UHS.

“Please gather at the football stadium by 6:00 p.m.,” she said.  “We will have a short ceremony to honor our past UHS Royalty right before we crown the new 2019 Homecoming King and Queen. The history of UHS Fall Royalty dates back to 1957 and we would like to have as many of the 124 previous winners as possible attend.”

Jeff Marlow and Lori George, 1990. Courtesy photo of UHS.

Former UHS Alumni Band Members Invited to Join As Well

UHS Band in 1987. Courtesy photo from UHS.
The high school band has also invited former members to play in the UHSPep Band that night.
Some UHS band alumni are guest musicians for ball games on a regular basis, but they are encouraging more to participate in homecoming activities.
UHS Band Alumni Crystal Johnson, 1992. Courtesy photo from UHS.
“A quick meet and greet, and brief warmup and rehearsal with current members of the UHS Band will begin at 4 p.m. in the band room,” UHS Band Director Neva Rowland said.
Kirk Camac, Gage McKennis, Jesse Johnston, UHS Band members in 2003. Courtesy photo.
“If you are unable to make it at 4:00 p.m., then join us whenever you can!” said Rowland. “I would love to have a large group of people come and play with us. If you are someone who hasn’t played in years, you can still come! It will come back to you, and the UHS Band students will be sitting alongside you, so you don’t need to worry about getting lost.”
Anna Jefferis and Amy Dillow, 2016. Courtesy photo.
Student Council is one of many organizations on the campus.
StuCo’s purposes: To develop positive attitudes and practice in good citizenship, promote harmonious relations throughout the school, improve school morale, assist in the management of the school, provide a forum for student expression, provide orderly direction of school activities, and promote the general welfare of the school.
 
For more info, call Sutterby at (620) 756-4335
Bourbon County, Fort Scott

American Legion Fort Scott Scuttlebutt

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Membership

American Legion Fort Scott Thompson-Harkey Post 25 now leads 2nd District in membership. Today’s numbers have Post at 60 members or 78.96%.

Our 2020 membership goal is 76. We are currently 16 members short of 100%. Help Post 25 reach 100% by renewing your membership or recruiting a  new member.

You can easily renew online at www.legion.org. It’s safe and secure and takes less than five minutes

You can also mail in your $40.00 renewal to the Post 25 Finance Officer.

Darrell Spencer

1183 185TH ST

Fort Scott, Ks, 66701.

I can also arrange to meet with you to pick up your renewal.  I’m retired so I can easily work around your schedule to meet you, but no 3 AM meetings please!

You can also pay your 2020 dues at our next general membership meeting on October 7th.

LEGION Act

Any Veteran who has served one day on active duty since December 7, 1941 and was honorably discharged can join the Legion. This is due to the LEGION Act recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump. If you know of a local Veteran who meets this new, expanded membership requirement, invite them to a Post 25 meeting or contact me about a membership form. There are probably several hundred Bourbon County Veterans who are not aware of the LEGION Act and are now eligible for American Legion membership.

If you know of one, invite them to join the American Legions. We are a community of Veterans “Still Serving.

Upcoming Events

October 5. Post 25 Community Awareness at the Fort Scott Wal-Mart from 9 am – 12 pm.  Stop by and visit other Post 25 Legionnaires or bring a new member to join Post 25.

October 7. American Legion Post 25 meet and greet at Memorial Hall starts at 6:30 pm.

October 7. American Legion Post 25 general membership meeting at Memorial Hall starts at 7:00 pm.

October 10. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 25 general membership meeting at Memorial Hall starts at 6:00 pm.

October 10. American Legion Post 25 Color Guard meets at Memorial Hall starts at 7:00 pm.

October 12, 2019.   EISENHOWER PILGRIMAGE in Abilene starts at 9:30 am. Department Vice Commanders Homecoming … immediately following the Eisenhower Pilgrimage.

 

November 2, 2019. Fort Scott American Legion Post 25 Vintage Toy/Comic Books/Sports Cards Show from 9 am – 3 pm.  See attached flyer for more information.

January 31 – February 2, 2020. Department of Kansas Midwinter Forum at Fort Scott.

 Informational Items

Additional shuttle drivers are needed. The VA-provided shuttle now transports dialysis patients to Pittsburg on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays plus area Veterans for VA hospital appointments on Mondays and Thursdays. Call or email me for more information on becoming a shuttle driver.

Auxiliary Unit 25’s first outreach program is to provide support to Veteran mothers of newborn babies at the Topeka VA Medical Center.  They are currently collecting needed items for newborns and all donations are greatly appreciated.  Diapers, body wash and shampoos, blankets and clothing are among the items requested. Call Unit 25 Vice President Marilyn Gilmore at 785.214.5618 for more information or to donate items. A copy of the flyer is attached.

Our Taurus G2C raffle is sold out. The drawing for the winning ticket will be at our October 7th membership meeting. The winner will be contacted, and information provided on picking up their new pistol.

The Post 25 fundraising collectibles show on November 2 is taking shape. We have 10 tables sold now.

If you know of someone with cases of Hot Wheels, storage totes of Barbies or sports cards or boxes of comic books, encourage them to rent a table at the toy show. All proceeds will go towards our scholarships for Boys and Girls State, Cadet Law and other Post sponsored programs.

Volunteers will be sought to contribute a few hours to make this 1st ever collectibles show a success.

 

For more AL news, click below:

SALute. October 2019

 

Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have.

Submitted by:

Carl Jowers. Post 25 Commander.

620-215-1688

Art, Bourbon County, Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College

Celebration of Gordon Parks Legacy

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The Gordon Parks Celebration began its annual event, Oct. 3 with the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee.

Winners of the Gordon Parks annual photo contest were given their awards during the coffee.

First, second, and third place winners received cash prizes of $100, $75, and $50 respectively and all finalists received a set of prints of Gordon Parks photos.

There were five honorable mention awards given: “In Death Lies The Erosion of Truth.” by Alexis Michalski (La Cygne, KS ); “Finding Joy in your Friends.” by Alexis Marchiano (Fort Scott); “The Master and the Apprentice.” by Jezeriah Simpson (Fort Scott); “Escape.” by Lawson Hall (Fort Scott); and “Lots of Trust.” by Julia Allen (Fort Scott).

The contest was open to any non-professional photographer and was inspired by a quote by the Gordon Parks-directed film The Learning Tree.

“We received a lot of great entries this year and the judges were very impressed by the skill level of the photographers. It was very difficult for the judges to determine the winner with all of the great entries,” said museum director Kirk Sharp.

The photo exhibit is on display in the Lunt Lobby of the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College through October 14. The building is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Ashton Nolan, a student at Fort Scott Community College won first place with a photo entitled: Always Choose Family
Ashton Nolan,  first place winning photo.
Elli Milburn, Fort Scott High School student won second place with a photo entitled: No Quit.
Elli Milburn’s second-place winning photograph.
Ashton Nolan also received third place with her photo entitled: Cherish Childhood
Ashton Nolan’s third-place winning photograph.

The Merle Humphrey Photography sponsored the photo contest.

There were 65 entries in the contest that was themed: “My Learning Tree, Life Lessons Learned.” Judges for the contest were Kassie Feugate-Cate, Tammy Helm and Merl Humphrey.

Also on display were some of Park’s photos and poems and in addition a section of behind-the-scenes photos of the film “The Learning Tree”, which was filmed in Fort Scott in 1969.

Artists recognized for their entries to the Gordon Parks Photography Contest, from left: Lexi Marchiano honorable mention; Elli Milburn, second place; Ashton Nolan, first place; Lawson Hall, honorable mention and Julia Allen, honorable mention. Nolan is a Fort Scott Community College student, the other artists were from area high schools. Not pictured: Alexis Michalski and Jezeriah Simpson.
From left: FSCC Development Administrative Assistant Tabitha Stultz and Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director Kirk Sharp,  look over donated photos of the film “The Learning Tree” with Chamber coffee attendees Thursday morning.

Below are scenes from the morning coffee:

To view the events of this weekend’s celebration events, click below:

https://files.constantcontact.com/599f8b4d001/45

c25fe4-471d-46b6-93ca-e18ffd9879a7.pdf

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Fesenius Closes Doors Sept. 30

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Fresenius Medical Care, 2526 S. Main, Fort Scott was the county’s only local dialysis center. It closed its doors on September 30, 2019.

Fresenius Medical Care, a  kidney dialysis center, closed the Fort Scott center on September 30, 2019.

Patients have made arrangements to either drive to Pittsburg, 30 miles away, or Chanute, 50 miles away, to get this specialized treatment or do home dialysis.

Fresenius was renting the building from Phoenix Realty Management, Southbury, CT. Plans are indefinite for the building at this time. The building was built in 2014 and is  over 7,000 square feet.

“We…own the property with Fresenius being our tenant,” said Mike Panek, President of Phoenix Realty Management. “We are just as disappointed as the community is to see this happen. As a commercial property owner, you never want to see a building go dark. At this time we will be working with Fresenius to see what their plans are for the site as there is a lease in place for that location. My ultimate hope is the building can be transformed into another viable community business in the near future.”

 

Fresenius spokespeople did not give a reason for closing the kidney health care facility.

To see a prior story:

Fort Scott Dialysis Center to Close Sept. 30

Click below  for a  KOAM News story on the subject:

https://www.koamnewsnow.com/news/home-dialysis-encouraged-in-trump-executive-order/1099450079

See President Trump’s July 10, 2019, executive order on kidney health:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-advancing-american-kidney-health/

 

 

Bourbon County, Schools

St. Martin’s Academy Begins Year in New Facility

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The staff of St. Martin’s Academy, front, from left: Patrick Whelan, headmaster; Joshua Gieger, housefather; Danielle Bauer, secretary; Ginger McElwee, teacher. Second row: Roger McAffrey, housefather; Ken Klassen, academic dean; Ryan Bauer, teacher; Michael Taylor, farming instructor.
Third row: Robert McElwee, chaplain; Sebastian Macik, chef; Giorgio Navarin, housefather. Not pictured are Joshua Mincio, housefather and Dan Kerr, president of St. Martin’s Academy.

Phase I of a multi-year building project, Theokotos Hall, is completed at St. Martin’s Academy school and opened in September 2019 to 29 students.

The  Catholic boys boarding school started in 2018 and was housed temporarily in a large Victorian home on National Avenue in Fort Scott.

The completed Theotokos Hall contains dormitories in the basement; an office, kitchen and dining hall on the first floor; and classrooms and the chapel in its loft, according to the school’s recent newsletter.

The dining room of Theokotos Hall also doubles as classroom space. The view is from the loft looking down. A student sweeps the floor after lunch was served on Monday afternoon.
The chapel at Theokotos Hall. The ornate furniture and altar came from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in downtown Fort Scott.

Click here to view the school’s newsletter: http://St. Martin’s

Freshman through junior class young men are enrolled this year, the school started last year with freshmen and sophomores.

Currently, 10 of those students are spending a trimester in Europe and the other 19 are receiving liberal arts lessons in literature, history, math, science, religion, Latin and also music-both folk and sacred, in Theokotos Hall on Indian Road, southwest of Fort Scott.

The 11th-grade students are now three weeks into their 10-week study abroad program in Europe.

“Highlights thus far include Le Louvre in Paris, venerating the bones of St. Martin in Tours, and crawling amongst the mortar scarred landscape above Pointe du Hoc at Normandy Beach,” according to the school newsletter.  The school was hosted by Chavagne International School who organized a  trip to  Puy du Fou, an authentically Catholic and medieval theme park in the Vendee.

The students and a housefather, Josh Mincio, are stationed at the Abbey of Fontgombault in central France, a  Benedictine monastery.  The next leg of the journey is a  future pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain and then to Rome.

The ninth-grade students spent several days in the Wind River Mountain Range, Wyoming.

“Operating at a base altitude of 10,000 ft, the boys logged over 20 miles of hiking through a rough and rugged backcountry, carrying their own provisions on their back and preparing their own meals,” according to the school newsletter.

The next phase of construction at the school is building three bunkhouses, housing 20 students each.

Currently, the students have bunk beds in the lower level of Theokotos Hall. Two adults, called house fathers, are housed at the building 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The academic building, including a formal library, is next, followed by the construction of the stone chapel which will be the final phase, Patrick Whelan, the headmaster at the school, said.

All are hoped to be completed in five years, Whelan said.

 

 

Business, Fort Scott

Key Industries Starts New Division

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Luke Halsey, left, and Bryan Pitts are account executives for Key for Business, a new embellishment division of Key Industries.

Luke Halsey and Bryan Pitts are the new account executives for Key for Business, a newly created division of Key Industries, Inc.

The division was started this summer and has the ability to embroider or screen print clothing and other items.

“Key for Business is focused on working directly with businesses to provide quality workwear for the company and their employees,” Halsey said. ” We can provide work uniforms with the company logo on it, which, we do here in-house in our new embellishment center.”

The new embellishment machine produces a Fort Scott logo.

The advantage of being produced locally is the turn-around-time, Halsey said.

“We can do a project in a few days and (for a business) to send it off it would take about two weeks,” he said.

Pictured is a shirt and caps that Key For Business has produced.

The division employees have the ability to embellish almost all of Key Industry garment items with either direct-to-garment printing or embroidery services, he said.

Key for Business employee Bud Moore begins an embroidery project on the machine.

“We are offering company discount programs with no contract necessary, as we believe enough in our quality and services we won’t need to lock customers in,” Halsey said.

The company believes this feature will keep customers coming back, he said.

Although Halsey has been working at Key Industries for only a short time, Key has been in business for over 110 years and is known for making “The Nations Finest” workwear for the American worker. Halsey said.

The following is a list of what Key produces:

Regular workwear: work shorts, jeans/dungarees, work pants, T-shirts, polo shirts, and button-down work shirts.

The foyer of Key Industries displays some of the workwear the company is known for.

 

Outerwear: premium work coats/jackets, vests, sweatshirts, overalls/coveralls.

 

Specialty: High visibility items and fire-resistant apparel

Luke Halsey holds a high visibility sweatshirt that can be embellished to suit a client.