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 FamilyAshton 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 ChildhoodAshton 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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Employees of Diehl, Banwart and Bolton, CPA’s: front from left Donna Banwart CPA, Monica Mullins, Kelli Bryant, Karla Cox, Carol Hill CPA, Amanda Lancaster CPA, 2nd Row, Allison Ramsey, Grace Sweat, Tawny Pool, Kelly Burrows, Mark Bolton CPA, Jim Regan, 3rd Row, Randall Phillips CPA, Leon Chesnut, Vicky Mueller, Jamie Pollmeier, Matthew Keys, Daryl Eagon CPA, Jim Banwart Jr CPA, and Terry Sercer CPA. Submitted photo.
Not many businesses can claim to be still providing services in their community after 70 years.
But Diehl, Banwart, Bolton CPA’s PA has been serving southeast Kansas since 1949.
Through the years the certified public accountant firm has seen many changes in business, Jim Banwart Jr. said.
Banwart is a partner in the business.
John Diehl. Submitted photo.
When Jim, Sr. applied to work for John Diehl in 1963, “John was excited to show him their new copier—a dry paper copier, a great improvement over what had been available previously,” Banwart said.
Jim Banwart, Sr. Submitted photo.
“In 1966, the firm became the first accounting firm in Southeast Kansas to install what was in those days a room-sized, punch card computer to be able to offer computing services,” Banwart said.
“Larry Dixon was the first programmer at the firm, and in 1971, James Regan arrived to become the IT officer at the firm. He was joined by Don Casida, Allen Ward and numerous other programmers over the years,” he said.
“In 2000, the firm became one of the first accounting firms to post compilations to the web for client viewing. In 2017, we converted from our own inhouse general ledger software to a cloud-based software. The firm continues to stay on the cutting edge of technology,” Banwart said.
John Diehl Starts Is All
“In 1948, following his service as a United States Marine pilot in World War II, John E. Diehl came to Fort Scott to work for the Winchell Manufacturing Company, bringing with him his young wife, Ina Mae,” he said.
Diehl then opened an accounting office for Senderson, Little and LaChelle, a Kansas City firm.
In 1949, Diehl purchased the business and renamed it John E. Diehl and Company.
Maurice Fletcher joined the firm and it became Diehl and Fletcher.
“The company was located in several buildings in what is now the downtown historic district,” Banwart said. “In 1974, the shareholders purchased the Milrose Block at Wall and National where they continue today.”
In the fall of 1963, James L. Banwart joined Diehl and Fletcher. followed by Mark Bolton joining the firm in 1973. Jim Banwart Jr. joined in 1991, according to the firm’s website.
In 1976, the firm became Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA’s.
“Mr. Diehl died in 2017 at age 99, having retired some years earlier,” Banwart said. “He was a much-involved member of the community and a much loved and respected employer and partner.”
Currently, there are nine Certified Public Accountants at the firm- Jim Banwart Sr, Mark Bolton, Randall Phillips, Daryl Eagon, Donna Banwart, Jim Banwart Jr, Terry Sercer, Carol Hill and Amanda Lancaster.
There are two IT people, Jim Regan and Tawny Pool.
“James Regan, the long-time information technology officer, joined the firm in 1971,” Banwart said.
In addition, there are ten more experienced accountants and a number of support staff, he said.
The business started in Fort Scott, then branched out to Pittsburg and Girard.
Services offered at the business:
-Business design and development
– Municipal and commercial auditing
– Preparation of monthly compilation reports
– Payroll processing
– Estate planning and estate tax services
– Income tax planning and income tax services
-Retirement and succession planning
– Software training and support
Future
“The future is bright,” Banwart said. “As talented young people stay and return to Southeast Kansas, Diehl Banwart Bolton will continue to support entrepreneurs in their business endeavors.”
The firm currently has business clients in virtually every state in the country, he said.
“Technology has made it possible to communicate and advise people regardless of where they are located and our expertise continues to help them succeed in their businesses,” he said.
Diehl Banwart Bolton CPA, 7 1/2 East Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS
Minority and women-owned businesses are important to the Kansas economy, said David Toland, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Because of this, the department is recognizing businesses across the state, with two from Bourbon County being honored.
“We greatly value the contributions these businesses and advocates provide to our state, from the jobs they create to the way they enrich communities and lives,” Toland said. “On behalf of Governor Kelly, the Department of Commerce and citizens across the state, thank you for keeping our economy strong and vibrant.”
Lindsey Watts, submitted photo.
Lindsey Watts will be honored as Young Enrepreneur by the department.
Watts and her husband own Smallville Crossfit Center in Fort Scott.
To qualify for the Young Entrepreneur, nominees must:
Must be under the age of 30
Must be a minority- or woman-owned business
Must be a small business located in Kansas
Must be in business for at least six months
Thaddeus and Kelly Perry, submitted photos.
Thaddeus and Kelly Perry, owners of Perry’s Pork Rinds, Bronson are honored in the Supplier/Distributor Firm category.
Criteria for this award is they must be a small business located in Kansas, must be a minority or woman women owned business and must be in business for at least one year.
“In the judging process we have a committee that rates the nominations we receive,” said Rhonda Harris, Director of the Office of Minority and Women Business Development, at the Ks. Dept. of Commerce. “The ratings are based on the impact the businesses have made in the community i.e. revenues brought to the community and jobs created. We also look at their growth and development, as well obstacles they have overcome. Their community involvement is also important in the judging process.”
The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Minority and Women Business Development will host its 35th Annual Minority and Women Business Awards Luncheon at Capitol Plaza Hotel’s Emerald Ballroom in Topeka on October 10, 2019, with doors opening at 11:20 am.
The event will take place during Kansas Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week and will recognize 12 minority- and women-owned companies, three individuals and one corporation from across the state for their support and efforts to create new opportunities.
Registration for the luncheon is $45 per person or $360 for a table of eight.
This event is open to the public, but registration is required and must be submitted by October 1.
Please visit KansasCommerce.gov/MEDWeek to register or contact Rhonda Harris, Director of the Office of Minority and Women Business Development, at (785) 296-3425 or [email protected].
Companies being recognized include:
Women-Owned Businesses:
Construction Firm
CJ Industries, LLC
Kansas City, KS
Manufacturing Firm
Safely Delicious, LLC
Overland Park, KS
Professional Service Firm
Century Business Technologies, Inc.
Topeka, KS
Retail Firm
Monroe 816
Garnett, KS
Service Industry Firm
Rosewood Services
Great Bend, KS
Supplier Distributor Firm
Technology Group Solutions, LLC
Lenexa, KS
Minority-Owned Businesses:
Construction Firm
CJR Construction Group, LLC
Overland Park, KS
R2 Construction is building the water feature in the Unsung Heroes Park on Main Street.
A new park is in construction near Wall and Main Street.
The Unsung Heroes Park is located south of the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes at 1 S. Main.
The grassy area has been vacant since 2005 when the building sitting on it, burned down.
R2 Construction is currently is doing the excavation and concrete work on the grassy site, and the water-fall will be constructed by DreamScape Innovations, Inc from Mound City, Nuss said
A stage is being planned for the northside of the old Kress building on the south side of the park, and the Rotary Club is donating benches and trash receptacles.
A frontal view of the water feature in an artist’s rendition. This will be a part of the new Unsung Heroes Park. Elaine Buerge is the artist. Submitted photo.
The idea began in 2017 when a small group began planning a park for the green space on the vacant lot in historic Fort Scott.
The group is currently comprised of Elaine Buerge, Bernita Hill, Beth Nuss, and Carolyn Sinn.
After the original research and planning took place, bids were let.
“The bids were not financially feasible,” Nuss said. “So we needed to revisit the plan.”
“All the money we had was donated,” she said.
Then the Timken Company stepped in with a grant of $25,000, “which got us to the top,” Nuss said.
There will be a small fenced area for dogs in the park.
“The area for dogs will try to accommodate pets of people living downtown,” she said.
The Gordon Parks Museum is celebrating the production of the movie The Learning Tree, fifty years ago, during its annual Gordon Parks Celebration Oct. 3-5 in the museum located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2401 S. Horton.
The movie had Fort Scott residents as “extras” and featured scenes from the town, where Parks lived in his youth.
Some of the movie film’s characters will be highlighted at the annual celebration.
Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp were cast members in the movie produced by Gordon Parks 50 years ago and are the recipients of the “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” for 2019.
The “extras” are being asked to come to a reunion of cast members on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The annual event is in honor Parks- noted photographer, writer, musician, and filmmaker.
This year’s celebration will feature several events to include: presentations, special events, tours, reunions, music performances, picnic cookout and a celebration tribute dinner.
Ticket registration is at the bottom of this story.
All events open to the public.
Please reserve tickets early by Wed, Oct 2, 2019 for all the reserved events.
“We are very excited to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Learning Tree film during The 16th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration this year with a wide range of great events and activities for all to enjoy,” Sharp said. “The celebration is for everyone to attend. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the life and work of Gordon Parks.”
The Celebration kicks off on Thursday, Oct 3 with a Fort Scott Chamber Coffee at the Gordon Parks Museum and ends with a Tribute Celebration Dinner at The River Room, 3 West Oak, Fort Scott on Saturday, Oct 5, 2019.
2019 GORDON PARKS CELEBRATION
(50th Anniversary of the film The Learning Tree) Schedule of Events
Thursday, October 3
PHOTO EXHIBIT in the Lunt Lobby of the Fine Arts Center. The Merl Humphrey Photography-sponsored photo contest will be on display with the theme of “My Learning Tree, Life Lessons Learned.” Winners will be announced at the Chamber Coffee.
PHOTO EXHIBIT in the Gordon Parks Museum and Lobby of the Fine Arts Center. The Gordon Parks Mercy Foundation Collection with some of Gordon’s photos and poems will be on display.
PHOTO EXHIBIT in the Lobby of the Fine Arts Center. Some behind the scenes photographs of the film The Learning Tree will be on display.
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Registration open outside of Gordon Parks museum.
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. — Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee at the Gordon Parks Museum.
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. — Showing of the film The Learning Tree in the Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Guided Trolley Tour of Gordon Parks’ Fort Scott & The Learning Tree Film Scene Locations. Meet at the entrance of the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. See the places in Fort Scott that are part of Gordon Parks’ history. Fee: $7.
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. — Showing of the film The Learning Tree in the Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
7:30 p.m. – “Looking Through the Lens at the Historical Greenwood District in Tulsa”
Photographer, Painter, Author and Photo Journalist; Don Thompson will show through photographs and short stories the demise and rise of the Greenwood District during the 1960s and ’70s and the recovery that is now taking place in the 21st century through the faces and spaces he captured with over 50 years of photographic experience. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
Friday, October 4
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Registration open outside of the museum.
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. — Showing of the film The Learning Tree in the Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. — “Masters Class of Jazz and Blues” Queen Bey, Kansas City’s Ambassador of Jazz will make a presentation on music and the history of jazz and blues. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Auditorium. This presentation was supported in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. FREE.
10:05 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. — “A Conversation with Choice of Weapon Honorees.” The 2019 “Choice of Weapons Award” honorees Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Auditorium. FREE.
11:30 a.m. —“Remembrance Service of Gordon Parks.” Come and gather at the gravesite of Gordon Parks for a memorial service. Evergreen Cemetery. (If inclement weather, the location will be in the Ellis Fine Arts Center). Buses are not allowed in the cemetery.
12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. — Grab a sack lunch from the lobby ($8-purchase that day) and join us in the museum.
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. — “Gordon Parks Projects Presentation” Students from the Gordon Parks High School in St. Paul, MN will share some of their latest work and projects about Gordon Parks. FREE.
2:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. — “Sarah, Ella, and Bessie: The Mothers of Gordon Parks” John Mason, Associate Professor, Associate Chair, and University of Virginia Department of History. Three women, all of them mothers, played crucial roles in Gordon Parks’ life. His own mother, Sarah Parks, profoundly shaped his character. Ella Watson, who resembled Sarah in many ways, was the subject of his first great photograph. Bessie Fontanelle, like Sarah and Ella, was the glue which held her family together and was the center around which one of his finest photo-essays revolved. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — “From The Czar of Black Hollywood to the Oscars: Fiction and Filmmaking from Kansas”. Shayna Israel, Project on the History of Black Writing/Department of English, the University of Kansas and Danyelle M. Greene, Film and Media Studies, University of Kansas. The presentation will focus on three major Kansas filmmakers: Oscar Micheaux (Great Bend) Gordon Parks (Ft. Scott), and Kevin Wilmott (Junction City), comparing and contrasting the contributions of three groundbreaking authors and filmmakers in three different eras of American cultural history. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
5:30 p.m. – 6:30p.m. Guided Trolley Tour Gordon Parks’ Fort Scott & The Learning Tree Film Scene Locations. Meet at the entrance of the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. See the places in Fort Scott that are part of Gordon Parks’ history. Fee: $7.
7:00 p.m. – “A Night of Jazz” (Social Hour starts at 6:00 p.m.) Featuring, Queen Bey (Kansas City’s Ambassador of Jazz) along with heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar available. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. Fee: $25.00 which includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and tea or water. Reserve Tickets by Wed, Oct.2. This performance was supported in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Queen Bey
Saturday, October 5
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. — Showing of the film The Learning Tree in the Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Registration open outside of the museum.
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – “Behind The Learning Tree” Reunion with some of The Learning Tree cast members: Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp, along with David Parks, photographer, film director and author, film crew and extras along with panel discussion and presentations. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. FREE.
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.— “Picnic at the Park” Come and enjoy a cook-out lunch at Gunn Park, a scene location in the film The Learning Tree. Shelter House #1. (In case of inclement weather, the location will be in the Ellis Fine Arts Center). Please Reserve Tickets by Friday, Oct 4. Fee $8.
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Guided Trolley Tour of Gordon Parks’ Fort Scott and The Learning Tree movie scene locations. Meet at the entrance of the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. See the places in Fort Scott that are part of Gordon Parks’ history. Fee: $7
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Showing of the film The Learning Tree in the Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
7:00 p.m. – “Celebration Tribute Dinner.” (Social Hour starts at 6:00 p.m.) Dinner and evening of tribute; 50th-year anniversary retrospective of the release of the film The Learning Tree and presentation of the 2019 “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” to Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp, cast members of the film The Learning Tree. The River Room, 3 W. Oak. This tribute dinner is supported in part by Peerless Products, Inc. in Fort Scott, KS. All seats reserved. Fee: $30.00. (Reserve by Wed, Oct.2)
Sunday, October 6
10:00 a.m. — Breakfast at Nate’s Place. Enjoy breakfast at one of Fort Scott’s finest! Located on the corner of National & 8th Street, you’re sure to find something on the menu to please. Check it out at lyonstwinmansions.com/nates-place-restaurant. (No ticket required-everyone pays for their own)
TICKET PURCHASE FOR THE 2019 CELEBRATION:
Friday, October 4th Night of Jazz -Reservation Only (all other tickets may be purchased on-site). Please reserve by Wednesday, October 2, please!
Saturday, October 5th Picnic at the Park -Reservation Only (all other tickets may be purchased on-site).
Please reserve by Friday, October 4, please!
Saturday, October 5th Tribute Dinner-Reservation Only (all other tickets may be purchased on-site).
Please reserve by Wednesday, October 2, please!
A Night of Jazz: I would like to purchase _______ tickets at $25 each for a total of $ ________.
Picnic at the Park: I would like to purchase _______ tickets at $8 each for a total of $ ________.
Celebration Tribute Dinner: I would like to purchase _______ tickets at $30 each for a total of $ ________.
Total Registration Cost………………………………………………………………..$________.
Name, Address: __________________________________________________________________________
Phone # & Email: _________________________________________________________________________
__________CHECK ENCLOSED payable to the Gordon Parks Museum or
__________Bill to my _________VISA or ________ MasterCard. Card #______________________________
Exp. Date______________ 3-digit Security Code ______________
Questions? Call us at 620-223-2700, ext. 5850 or email: [email protected]
This 16th annual celebration was supported in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Thank you to Peerless Products, Inc. for their generous support to our Celebration Dinner at the River Room.
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Amy Bockerstette from Phoenix Arizona is a golfer and a Special Olympian, who will be the special guest this weekend of the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office. Submitted photo.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run to fundraise for Special Olympics of Kansas.
Special Olympics Of Kansas has a mission statement of providing individuals with intellectual disabilities opportunities to thrive in sports, health, and leadership, according to its’ Facebook page.
“Torch Run leaves it up to the agency as to what (that agency) wants to do to help,” Cole said. “It was my decision to put on a golf tournament with the help of Steve Anthony. With ALL funds going to Special Olympics Kansas.”
“The special guest for this year’s tournament is Amy Bockerstette, from Phoenix, Arizona,” Ben Cole, Bourbon County’s Undersheriff, said. “Amy is 20 years old with Downs Syndrome. She is the first special needs athlete to receive a full-ride scholarship to a junior college to play golf.”
The tournament is September 28, 2019, and
Sheriff Bill Martin, Cole and several of the other staff members volunteer their time for the event.
“We encourage the community to come out and meet Amy, enjoy the day with us, maybe eat lunch and participate in the raffle items,” Cole said.
The opening ceremony starts at 8 a.m. with Sheriff Martin deputizing Amy as an honorary BBSO deputy.
Tee off begins approximately 9 a.m.
“The event is open to the public we have several items up for raffle,” Cole said. “We are selling chances for a golf cart that will be given away, selling chances for a gun that will be given away, as well as we are having a live auction for approximately 6-10 items.”
From left: Blair Felt, Cathy Werling, and Megan Felt sign Mommy Who Was Irena Sendler? books Sept. 19.
Irena Sendler’s story is so inspiring and yet so very sad.
The Polish social worker smuggled Jewish children to safe places as the Jews were being annihilated by the Nazis in World War II.
The story was discovered by three Uniontown High School students 20 years ago and changed the lives of all involved.
Sept. 19 the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, one of the outshoots of that discovery of Sendler’s story, hosted a book signing.
The book is entitled Mommy Who Was Irena Sendler? by local children’s author Cathy Werling. It is a book that explains the story in a way children can understand.
The book depicts Megan Felt, who was one of the students who discovered Sendler, telling the heartbreaking story one woman’s courage, to her daughter Blair.
“I try to spark conversations,” Werling said. “My books are ones that parents read to their children and answer some of the questions.”
Mommy Who Was Irena Sendler? is the third children’s book in her series about humble heroes.
Werling believes that by sharing these stories, it helps children understand the power of one person to make a positive difference in the world around them.
A panel in the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes tells how Sendler smuggled out the children.A panel in the Lowell Milken Center tells how the center came about.To preserve Sendler’s legacy several books have been written, a Hallmark movie was made and her story is still being depicted in a short play performed around the world.Kellye Barrows and Becky Tourtillot wait in line Sept. 19 to purchase the book Mommy Who Was Irena Sendler? Once purchased, books were then signed by the author, Cathy Werling and the characters depicted in the book, Megan Felt and her daughter, Blair.
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is located in downtown Fort Scott, Kansas at the corner of Wall and Main Street.
For more information:
620-223-1312, or view its Facebook page or the website
Doug Guns, Woodland Hill Golf Course Superintendent started his job Sept. 16, 2019.
Woodland Hills Golf Course Superintendent Doug Guns is 42 years old and has been in the golf business since he was 19.
“So that’s 23 years,” Guns said. “I was going to college and needed a summer job. A local golf club needed help at the clubhouse. I learned all about the maintenance of the greens.”
He attended West Virginia University at Parkersburg and Pennsylvania State University.
“I started as an art major and when I got into golf, I switched majors to plant-soil sciences,” Guns said. “The last two courses have been business management classes online from Penn State.”
He started as Woodland Hills Golf Course Superintendent on Sept. 16, after being at Girard’s golf course for four seasons.
Doug Guns sits in one of the 30 golf carts available for rent to the public.
His duties include equipment maintenance, irrigation maintenance, supervising personnel, public relations and “Keeping the greens healthy,” he said.
“It’s like an ecosystem, each part of the course has different soil qualities,” Guns said.
Jon Kindlesparger, the current superintendent, is staying on until the end of the year to help the transition, he will then retire.
“It’s nice having his knowledge and experience here,” Guns said.
Guns lives in Girard.
The bulletin board at the Woodland Hills Club House lists the costs of playing golf at the club.
Golf carts that can be rented are lined up near the entrance to the Woodland Hills Golf Clubhouse.
Busy Season at Woodland Hills
The next few weeks are busy on the course:
The Kruger Golf Classic is Sept. 21, with registration at 7 a.m. It is a four-person scramble. Contact James Wood, 224-9687 or Les Russell, 215-3199.
The Special Olympics of Kansas Benefit Golf Scramble is Sept. 28. The cost is $50 person and is a four-person scramble, sponsored by the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office. Contact Steve Anthony at 215-2392 or Ben Cole at 223-1440.
The Elks Lodge Benefit Tournament is Oct. 5 with an 11 a.m. registration. This is to benefit the Christmas baskets the lodge distributes each year. Cost is $60 per person. Contact the lodge at 223-5821.
The Fort Scott High School, Uniontown High School, and Fort Scott Community College golf teams use the course daily, Shannon O’Neil, clubhouse manager said.
On Oct. 14-15, regional high school tournaments will be held at the course, with the outcome deciding who goes to state in golf, he said.
O’Neil offers lessons in an annual junior golf camp in June and July.
He also does private lessons for both adults and children.
There have been two major updates at Woodland Hills in the last few years: a new clubhouse was built in 2015-16, and a new golf cart barn built in 2018.
Fort Scott Public Library Youth Librarian Valetta Cannon interacts with storytime children as they help present an action poem about mermaids. The children pictured, left to right, are Blakely Graham, Amelia Chaplin, Marlie Seaver, and Deacon Davied. Photo by Jamie Graham.
Storytime at the Fort Scott Public Library is offered two times a week.
“Storytime offers families early literacy skill-building, group interaction, and more through identical, themed weekly story hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m,” Valetta Cannon, youth librarian, said.
During a typical storytime, Miss Val reads two to three stories, sings and shares fingerplays with the children, and guides them through creative play, a craft project, and a snack.
Children are able to request favorite themes for future storytimes as well.
