All posts by Loretta George

Fort Scott, Schools

New Principal For FSHS: Amber Toth

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Amber Toth, 42, was hired as the new principal of Fort Scott High School at the June 2019 USD 234 Board of Education meeting.
She has been assistant principal for one year at FSHS and has 18 years experience in education.
“When the district opened the position for high school principal, I applied in hopes of moving to the principal position,” she said. “After interviews were conducted, I was offered the position. The board of education approved my hiring at the June board meeting. “
The following is from an interview with Toth:
What is your education background?
“I have my Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from Pittsburg State University and my Masters in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University.”
Hometown: Caney, KS.
Family:
“I have been married for 18 years to my husband, Travis Toth. We have four children. Darby Toth is entering her second year of college at Missouri Western State University. Madison will be a senior this year. Trent is entering 8th grade and Kennedy is a 4th grader.”
What is the best part of the job for you?
“I love our kids. We have the most amazing students I have ever had the pleasure to serve. The best part of my job is being a servant leader. We have a wonderfully giving, hardworking and dedicated staff. I get to walk through the doors of a building I love, help students that I wouldn’t have been able to help staying in my classroom and work with adults who truly love the students in our building. I am blessed to be a part of this district, work with the parents we have, and watch the growth of students based upon that partnership.”
Any new responsibilities?
“As I move into this new position the biggest change will be in instructional leadership. While I had some of these duties as the assistant principal in the form of evaluation, it will be the center of my new role.”
Any challenges?
“The challenges at Fort Scott are the same as most schools. Students must be prepared for some type of schooling beyond high school. Changing the perception that high school graduation is the end goal can be difficult. But we know that students are most successful when they attend a vocational school, community college or a 4-year university. We have to ensure our students are prepared to be successful, regardless of the path they choose.”
Entertainment, Fort Scott

Free Entertainment July 13 at Gunn Park

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Frank Halsey, the event organizer, hugs his grandson following a first place win in the 2018 kids’ race.

“The Marmaton Massacre Festival is rapidly approaching,” Frank Halsey event organizer said. “Once again I’d like to get the invitation out that Saturday evening entertainment is for our community.  We would love to see locals come to enjoy the evening. ”

 

The event is held at Gunn Park on the west side of Fort Scott at 1001 Gunn Park Drive.

 

“The race part is important because it draws a lot of visitors to Fort Scott, but our real goal continues to be providing an evening of entertainment for visitors, as well as locals,” he said.

The Kansas State Mountain Bike Championship will be held Saturday starting at 10 a.m.

 

There is a free kid’s bike race at 5:30 p.m. for children under 10 years old.

 

A participant jam session will be at  7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13, followed by a performance by Damaris Kunkler.

 

Sam and Louie’s Food Truck will be selling food.

 

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy Gunn Park as a backdrop of this entertainment.

The event is provided free by Gunn Park Trails.

The weekend activities:

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Meet and Greet: Lots of Activity in Fort Scott

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Community members interested in downtown Fort Scott meet  throughout the year to talk about downtown issues at the Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet.

On July 2, the meet and greet was hosted by La Hacienda Restaurant and sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, with the City of Fort personnel and attendees giving updates on happenings.

Mirna and Jose Santana, owners of La Hacienda, thanked the attendees for supporting the restaurant for the nine years they have been in Fort Scott.

“We try to do our best,” Mirna said.

Chamber Executive Director Lindsay Madison led the meeting.

Madison talked about the First Impressions program that Kansas State Research and Extension provides to improve a community’s image and quality of life for its’ citizens.

Fort Scott was visited this last winter by a K-State First Impressions visitation team and presented the public with a “snapshot of what they observed,” Madison said, which she had copies of and handed out to attendees.

She highlighted some of the findings.

“Go out and look at the front of your business,” Madison said. “Are the windows clean? What types of things are in the window? Make sure they are welcoming and inviting.”

“Offer something to make you stand out,” she encouraged the business owners.

The findings discouraged using detering signs such as “no public restroom'”  “don’t touch”, etc., she said.

Cross marketing each other was encouraged.
“When they ask if you have something, say ‘no, but so and so down the street has it,'” Madison said.

Another issue is vacant buildings noticed by the K-State group.

“We’ve made huge progress in the last few years, but we still have some vacant buildings,” Madison said and invited sharing of ideas for potential businesses be given to her.

Lindsay Madison leads the downtown meeting on July 2.

Market assistance is offered by the Chamber, one on one, Madison said. She encouraged a web presence, Google business listings ,a  free Google website, and a good business profile on fortscott.com.

Other happenings:

  • Marmaton Massacre Mountain Bike Championship is July 13-14 at Gunn Park and businesses are encourage to get their items  by July 9 to the Chamber of Commerce for the 100 swag bags that will be distributed to participants. Volunteers are needed with no race experience necessary. There will be a public concert in a “beautiful setting,” Madison said.
  • August 2-4 there will be a sales tax holiday by some of the local businesses.
  • July 17 a workshop “Get Productive with Google’s Digital Tools” from 11 a.m. to noon at the Lowell Milken Center. Sign up on fortscott.com.
  • Grants are available for painting facades of downtown businesses, for up to $500 from Steve Buerge.
  • July 19 will be a downtown movie night on Skubitz Plaza, featuring Sgt. Stubby, August 16 the movie featured will be Beauty and the Beast.
  • Hedgehog INK, a local bookstore, is hosting a writing festival on October 19.
  • The second Art in the Yard Festival will be Sept. 14 with more vendors and is free. Contact Bobbie Kemna at 224-7480.
  • Fort Scott Paws and Claws Animal Shelter sells pet food and pet supplies and is located downtown. There will be fundraiserfor Paws and Claws at the Boiler Room Brewhaus July 27 at 7 p.m. featuring the Wayward Bettys, with $10 tickets available at the Chamber office, the animal shelter and Kate Sweetser.
  • Bid and Dibs owner, Angie Simon, asked for ideas for increasing sales for retailers in June. “June is terrible for retailers,” Simon said.
  • The Union Block renovation is underway and will produce 25 market value apartments when complete.
  • The Stout Building demolition started on July 1.
  • Mid-Continental Restoration is restoring the storefront at Wall Street and National Avenue.
  • Lori Lovelace is opening a laundry mat business on National Avenue which will include clothes alterations and a clothing pantry.
  • Peerless Products is opening a warehouse space in Nevada, MO, “But it won’t impact Fort Scott at all,” Fort Scott Economic Director Rachel Pruitt,  told attendees.
  • Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas will build a health care facility on six acres on Horton, west of the present Mercy Building, Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin said.
  • Via Christi is looking at the land on the east side of the property of the former Mercy Hospital for a future emergency department option, Martin said.
  • The city and Bourbon County’s public works departments are beginning to “work with each other,” Martin said.
  • July 26 at Crooner’s Lounge, Flagship Romance will be performing.
  • July 4 at the Fort Scott National Historic Site there will be a full day of activities including an ice cream social by the Friends of the Fort at noon.
  • The annual naturalizaiton ceremony will be Sept. 20 at the Fort.
  • Riverfront Park Authority has purchased and will be installing lighting for the trail soon.
  • July 4, there will be a Burke Street Parade with refreshments following at Nate and Bailey Lyons home on Burke Street and Shane Walker providing hot dogs.
  • Fort Scott Street Department employee Chad Brown is working on a plan to repair brick streets in the city, Martin said.
  • The city has a group working on National Avenue renovation, Martin said.
  • Westar Energy is completing a merger with Kansas City Power and Light and will become Evergy in October 2019.
  • Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative will begin fiber optic installation on Fort Scott’s east side next year.
  • The tiny houses project north of Hwy. 54, has all the monthly rentals rented and are currently working on the Airbnb segment.
  • Mark Calvin, a new New York Life Insurance Company agent, introduced himself to attendees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government, Kansas

Been To Lyon State Fishing Lake Recently?

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ZEBRA MUSSELS FOUND IN LYON STATE FISHING LAKE

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has confirmed the presence of invasive zebra mussels in Lyon State Fishing Lake in Lyon County. Routine samples collected by KDWPT Aquatic Nuisance Species staff to detect zebra mussels were found to contain zebra mussel larvae (also called veligers). Upon finding the veligers, staff returned to the lake and located an established population of adult zebra mussels. Similar sampling is conducted by KDWPT at more than 100 waterbodies across the state.

 

The 135-acre lake is located 12 miles north and two miles east of Emporia on Rd 270. Lyon State Fishing Lake is owned and operated by KDWPT. The lake and surrounding wildlife area are popular destinations for fishing, hunting, hiking, and a variety of other outdoor-related activities.

 

While the zebra mussel population is currently small, there is no known method to completely rid a lake of this invasive species. The zebra mussels were likely introduced by “hitchhiking” with un-suspecting lake-goers. Adults are able to attach to boats or other equipment and the microscopic zebra mussel veligers may be present in any water originating from an infested lake or stream. Densities as high as 1,000 veligers per gallon have been recorded in Kansas waters.

 

“This is the first new population of zebra mussels found in the state in 18 months, which is the longest period of time between new lake infestations since 2006. While it is unfortunate that zebra mussels have been spread to a new lake, I remain hopeful that these occurrences will be less frequent as more people have become aware of zebra mussels, their impacts, and how to prevent moving them,” said Chris Steffen, aquatic nuisance species coordinator for KDWPT.

 

Lyon State Fishing Lake will be added to the list of ANS-designated waters in Kansas, and notices will be posted at various locations around the waterbody. Live fish may not be transported from ANS-designated waters. The sharp-shelled zebra mussels attach to solid objects, so lake-goers should be careful when handling mussel-encrusted objects and when grabbing an underwater object when they can’t see what their hands may be grasping. Visitors should protect their feet when walking on underwater or shoreline rocks.

 

Zebra mussels are just one of the non-native aquatic species that threaten our waters and native wildlife. After using any body of water, people must remember to follow regulations and precautions that will prevent their spread:

  • Clean, drain and dry boats and equipment between uses
  • Use wild-caught bait only in the lake or pool where it was caught
  • Do not move live fish from waters infested with zebra mussels or other aquatic nuisance species
  • Drain livewells and bilges and remove drain plugs from all vessels prior to transport from any Kansas water on a public highway.

For more information about aquatic nuisance species in Kansas, report a possible ANS, or see a list of ANS-designated waters, visit ProtectKSWaters.org.

ABOUT ZEBRA MUSSELS

Zebra mussels are dime-sized mollusks with striped, sharp-edged, two-part shells. They can produce huge populations in a short time and do not require a host fish to reproduce. A large female zebra mussel can produce 1 million eggs, and then fertilized eggs develop into microscopic veligers that are invisible to the naked eye. Veligers drift in the water for at least two weeks before they settle out as young mussels which quickly grow to adult size and reproduce within a few months.

After settling, zebra mussels develop byssal threads that attach their shells to submerged hard surfaces such as rocks, piers, and flooded timber. They also attach to pipes, water intake structures, boat hulls, propellers, and submerged parts of outboard motors. As populations increase, they can clog intake pipes and prevent water treatment and electrical generating plants from drawing water. In 2012, two Kansas communities, Council Grove and Osage City, experienced temporary water shortages from zebra mussel infestations before water intake structures could be cleaned up. Removing large numbers of zebra mussels to ensure adequate water flow can be labor-intensive and costly.

Zebra mussels are native to the Black and Caspian seas of western Asia and eastern Europe and   were spread around the world in the ballast water of cargo ships. They were discovered in Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River in 1988 and quickly spread throughout the Great Lakes and other rivers including the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas and Hudson. They were first discovered in Kansas in 2003 at El Dorado Reservoir. Despite public education efforts to alert boaters about the dangers of zebra mussels and how to prevent spreading them, the species continues to show up in new lakes every year. Moving water in boats and bait buckets has been identified as a likely vector.

For information about Lyon State Fishing Lake, visit KSOutdoors.com, click on Fishing, then Where to Fish and select the Northeast region.

–30—

 

Editors: the attached image depicts an adult zebra mussel collected from Lyon State Fishing Lake. Credit:

Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

 

 

 

 

 

Ron Kaufman

Director of Information Services

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

1020 S. Kansas Ave., 2nd Fl.

Topeka, KS 66612

 

Phone 785-296-2870

Fax     785-296-6953

Business, Fort Scott, Health Care

Minnis Buys Brown’s Dental Practice

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Dr. Daniel Minnis’s new location, 204 S. State Street.
Dr. Daniel Minnis is no stranger to Fort Scott.
Dr. Minnis managed Dr. Gary Brown’s dental practice for the last 14 years and when Brown wanted to retire, a buyer was sought.
” We diligently looked for a buyer without success and rather than close down the practice I decided to purchase … so patients would have access to care,” Minnis said.
Accent Dental LLC now has a new office at 204 State Street and is dedicated to providing high-quality dental care for the residents of Bourbon County, Minnis said.
The hours of operation are  Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and the office can be reached at 620-223-0130.
Dr. Daniel Minnis and Jennifer Doherty, dental assistant prepare for the next patient at Accent Dental LLC.
The following questions were part of an interview with Minnis:
Education: University of Missouri Kansas City School of Dentistry
Experience: 30 Years, since 1988
Community involvement:
“Founded the Community Health Center of SEK Dental Clinic and serves as Chairman of the Board of the Community Health Center of SEK.  I have worked as a volunteer for CHC/SEK for the last 14 years to help bring affordable Medical, Dental, and Mental Health Care to Southeast Kansas.”
 What services do you provide to our community?
“All aspects of General Dentistry.”
Why did you pursue your career?
“I have desired to be a healthcare professional since the age of 14.”
Minnis employees from left: Alison Leach, receptionist; Dr. Minnis, Jennifer Doherty, dental assistant; Ashley Doyle, hygenist; Baylea White, assistant; Destiny Allen, assistant; Angie Smith, assistant. Not pictured: Katy Kanes, hygenist; Roger Nolte, DDS, and Latasha Vick, DDS.
Art, Bourbon County, Fort Scott Community College

Exhibit Donated to Gordon Parks Museum by Mercy Foundation

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Gordon Parks Museum Director Kirk Sharp holds the donated copy of the book,  Half Past Autumn, that was donated by Mercy Hospital Foundation.

The Gordon Parks Museum Foundation received the Gordon Parks Exhibit from the Fort Scott Mercy Hospital Foundation Board on June 20, 2019.

The exhibit includes 67 of Parks’ photos and poems along with a church pew of the AME Church,  a bronze bust of Gordon Parks and the book featuring Parks’ works, Half Past Autumn.

The bust of Gordon Parks that was donated to the museum.

The donated Gordon Parks Exhibit was formerly located at Mercy Hospital-Fort Scott until the hospital closed in December 2018.

Fort Scott native and world-renowned photographer and artist Gordon Parks,  donated the collection of his work to Mercy Hospital-Fort Scott in 2002 to be displayed in honor of his parents, Sarah and Andrew Jackson Parks, according to Kirk Sharp, Gordon Parks Museum Director.

Prairie Land, a photograph by Gordon Parks taken in 1948,  was donated to the museum.

The exhibit pieces will be rotated out periodically for public view and when not in use, will be stored in the museum’s archives.

Blue Dawn, by Parks in 1995, was donated.

“On behalf of the Gordon Parks Museum Foundation Board along with myself, we are extremely beyond excited and greatly honored to receive the collections here at the museum from the Mercy-Fort Scott Foundation Board,” Sharp said.

The Frisco Railway Station, Fort Scott, KS by Parks in 1949 was donated.

“Our goal with some of the collections is to eventually create a community travel exhibit on a temporary loan-out basis for local schools, organizations and businesses for the community to view,” he said.

The pew donated from the Mercy Foundation Board to Gordon Parks Museum.
The plaque on the donated pew.

Work is beginning to create new space to display as much of the exhibit as possible, along with starting a Gordon Parks Travel Community Exhibit, he said.

“The Gordon Parks Museum Foundation would like to give thanks and gratitude to the Mercy-Fort Scott Foundation Board for its great gift to us and the community of Fort Scott,” Sharp said.

The Gordon Parks Museum is located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

The museum is located inside the Ellis Fine Arts Center at FSCC. The museum is funded through donations and through the support of FSCC, Sharp said.

The annual Gordon Parks Celebration is Oct. 3-5, 2019 and will be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Gordon Parks film, The Learning Tree.

A sign near the front of the Gordon Parks Museum at FSCC gives a synopsis of Park’s accomplishments.
Ascension Via Christi, Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Fort Scott, Health Care, Mercy Hospital

NPR: Cancer Patient Care Is Gone In Fort Scott

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Click below for the latest edition of National Public Radio’s features on rural health.

This story focuses on two local people who used the cancer center at Mercy Hospital: Karen Endicott-Coyan, Fort Scott and Art Terry, Prescott.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/06/29/735392646/have-cancer-must-travel-patients-left-in-lurch-after-towns-hospital-closes?utm_term=nprnews&utm_campaign=npr&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR3iJLU-Xz-l6aPtvi2VeJtN9d28a0EZ68RkEPagDYs4NuYsER4jOUPfoK8

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Fort Scott Fireworks July 3

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Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton, is the sight of the Independence Day Fireworks 2019 Event.

Fort Scott Elk’s Club has been organizing the Independence Day Celebration for several decades for the community.

It is held on July 3 at the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

“This really is a community event and it takes local governments, local businesses, and citizens that play in the fundraising golf tournament and donate, to make it all happen,” Bill Brittain, event chairperson said. “The Elk’s is really just the conduit that brings all of this together!”

“It started in the mid-1990s when another organization organized this and they stopped doing it,” Brittain said. ” I was on the city commission and possibly mayor at the time. The city manager at that time asked if the Elk’s would take this event over and we did.”

The Elks Lodge at 111 W. 19th. The Elks Club sponsors the fireworks display with help from the community.

The following is from an interview with Brittain.

Who organizes and facilitates the event?

“The Elk’s have been in charge of organizing and raising the funds for the community fireworks for around 25 years! I have been the chairperson all of that time. The Elk’s organize the fireworks with funding help from the City (of Fort Scott) and (Bourbon)County!

When will it start and end?

“It will start at around 9:15 to 9:30. We pick the time when it gets very close, to make sure it is dark! The show lasts a little over 20 minutes.”

“A couple of years ago the city asked us to move the event to July 3rd because of congestion and trash with everyone out there watching (and) shooting their own (fireworks) afterward. So it is on the 3rd.

Will personal fireworks be allowed during the event?

No.

“The city does not allow fireworks to be shot except on the 4th for
any other than this community fireworks display.”

Where is it held each year?

” They are shot off behind FSCC, back by the ball fields and people park along Horton and at the fairgrounds area. They have been shot there for as long as I can remember!”

Who will be lighting the fireworks?

“They are shot and come from J&M Fireworks which is a company that does this kind of displays.”

Tell about the Fort Scott Elks organization.

“We are very community minded and we try to do some things for Veteran’s,” Brittain said. “Some of the community events are of course the community fireworks, Christmas baskets
for deserving families, usually around 135, children’s Christmas party done by the Lady Elk’s which gives around 85 to 100 deserving children Christmas presents and a party, the children’s
fishing derby, the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner organized by Margie Schwalm and family. We host a variety of fundraisers for other groups…again we are very reliant on the community and citizens as well as our dedicated members!”

 

 

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the U.S.A. is a  fraternal organization with a mission as stated on its’ website https://www.elks.org/who/missionStatement.cfm

 

“To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share.”

 

 

 

 

Advertisements, Business

AD: Darlene’s Antiques Auction

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Darlene’s Antiques, 16 Scott Avenue, is having a complete online liquidation of the store. This is a large and extensive collection.
“Darlene has closed her antique and collectibles store a few years ago,” Jim Shoemaker, her husband said. “She has decided to sell her entire store inventory and the large personal collection of antiques.
This is the second of several online auctions that Crawford Auction Service will be doing for us. This auction starts to close at 7 PM Sunday, June 30th.”
There will be another auction in a few weeks, Shoemaker said.
“Darlene and I want to thank all the customers that have patronized her store since 2005,” Shoemaker said.
Jim Shoemaker is also selling his ham radio operations.
Jim Shoemaker has been a ham radio operator since 1953.
To view a video of the operation:
Jim’s cell phone is 620 223 5090 and PayPal address:
This auction ends June 30.
To see all the items, click below:
Below just a few of the featured items are pictured.

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Burke Street July 4th Americana: Parade and Food

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Burke Street Parade organizer Margaret Humphrey in the white, participates in a parade in years past. Submitted photo.

The community of Fort Scott is once again invited to the Burke Street Parade on July 4, to commemorate Independence Day in the U.S.

The parade is organized by people who live along the street on the city’s west side.

“We invite everyone,” Margaret Humphrey, one of the event’s organizers said. “This was started 37 years ago by myself, Susan Foster and Jill Gorman. Then Theresa Bahr helped with organizing after it became a bigger event. It was small and fun and we just continued every year. The crowd size varies depending on what day the 4th is on. We have walked in rain with small crowds–but if it is lightening we cancel.”

“It is always on the 4th of July at 10 a.m. unless it falls on a Sunday,” she said

“The little kids that were in the parade initially, have their children in it,” Humphrey said. “Phil Hammons and Jill Gorman lead with patriotic songs. We started singing after the  (Twin Towers during the terrorist strike in New York) fell–to promote patriotism.”

Frank Halsey is the traffic controller.

“This year Nate and Bailey Lyons will host the refreshments,” she said. “After the parade, we meet for cookies and drinks. We ask everyone to donate cookies.”

In 2018, Deb and Frank Halsey hosted the cookies and drinks under a tent on their lawn.
Burke Street residents offer food following the parade.

Humphrey finds someone to host with refreshments at their home each year and makes the informational fliers.

“Barb Albright now helps with distributing information,” Humphrey said.

“The best part of the event is seeing the children who have so much fun going up and down the street in their bikes, wagons, lawn mowers, with animals,” she said.

“People have asked about trucks, etc.(being in the parade) but our parade route is short and once the parade starts,  in seconds children are everywhere. It is a disorganized, organized parade.”

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Garden Club Adds Beauty to Fort Scott

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The Bourbon County Garden Club 2019. Front, from left: Leah Lewis, Barb McCord, Cheryl Bloomfield, Deb Lust, Sharon Campbell; back row: Priscilla Sellers, Ronda Hassig, Judy Wallis, Clara Scholfield, Karen Billiard, Jan Hedges and Rita Emmerson.

The Bourbon County Garden Club beautifies the town of Fort Scott.

“We do the flower baskets downtown,” Deb Lust, spokesperson for the group told the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee attendees on June 20. “The city pays for them and we provide the labor.”

“We also do the three flower beds at the swimming pool and the planter in front of the city office,” she said.

“Barb McCord is the landscape architect,” Lust said.

There are several Kansas Master Gardeners in the club who are available to answer gardening questions from the public, she said.

Also available for questions is Krista Harding with the K-State Southwind Horticulture Agent, she said.

In years past, the club has organized The Secret Garden, a showcase for area gardeners.

“We need gardens for that,” Lust said, noting that task has become increasingly difficult.

The club meets the fourth Thursday of each month, except in the winter months.

“We encourage men and women to join us,” she said.