In this 2011 photo, Margaret Humphrey is at the left with grandson, Elliott Norman; daughter, Kristen Humphrey Norman; husband, Merle, and grand-daughter, Violet. In front are grandchildren Leo and Meg Norman.
The 36th Annual Burke Street Parade is July 4th on the city’s west side, near Gunn Park.
The event is pretty disorganized, said Margaret Doherty Humphrey, but lots of fun. The Humphreys live at 1024 S. Burke.
The parade starts with patriotic singing led by Phil Hammonds, Jill Gorman, and Susan Foster.
“We started the singing after 9-11 (the terrorist bombings in New York), Humphrey said.
People wear patriotic attire, kids decorate their bikes, scooters or buggies and line up at 10th and Burke streets at 10 a.m.
There is no parking on Burke Street between 10th and 12th streets during the time of the event.
The public is invited to sit or stand on the curbs lining the street during the parade.
And people are invited to don a patriotic outfit and join in the fun.
“Frank Halsey will line them up at 10th and Burke,” Humphrey said.
Frank and his wife, Deb are hosting the cookie social following the short parade at 1222 Burke Street. People may donate cookies for the social the day before the parade, to the Halseys home.
“Every year someone (on Burke Street) hosts the cookies and drinks,” Humphrey said.
“Please no big vehicles and watch for children who are all over the place,” Humphrey said. “It’s very disorganized, they go up and down and back and forth.”
For more information call Margaret Humphrey 223-0388 or Theresa Bahr 223-1582.
“Or Barbara Albright, the official distributor of information,” Humphrey said.
“Severe storms or lightning cancels the parade…but we conquered the rain last year,” Humphrey said.
Fort Scott Manor on Heylman Street was recently closed down by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities.
A local nursing home was closed by the State of Kansas in May 2018 for deficient practices and conditions that placed its residents in immediate danger, according to court documents found in the Bourbon County Courthouse, District Court.
In April 2018 the Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities Services (KDADS) surveyed Fort Scott Manor at 736 Heylman and found that “multiple instances of verbal, mental and physical abuse at the hands of direct care staff” had been inflicted on residents, according to court documents.
“The one nurse that was physically abusive was immediately fired,” Connie Willis, a Fort Scott Manor employee at the time, said.
The facility received a “K” rating which indicated that a situation “where the providers have caused or are likely to cause serious injury, harm or impairment or death to more than a limited number of residents.”
A plan to end the practices and conditions was started by the administrator, Jan Kierl, but not completed, according to the court documents.
Employees of Fort Scott Manor contacted the state that payroll checks had not cleared to pay them, according to the documents.
KDADS was also notified by food service, durable medical equipment and rehab vendors that they had not received payment for services rendered as well.
According to court documents, KDADS stated that conditions at Fort Scott Manor were life-threatening to the residents and that Jan Kierl was unable to pay debts that were owed.
By May, all the residents were found homes in other facilities or homes.
A status conference with Judge Mark Ward and other parties in the case is scheduled for July 23 at 9 a.m. in the Bourbon County Courthouse.
Messages left with Kierl and her attorney were not answered.
An employee account of Fort Scott Manor closing
Connie Willis worked at Fort Scott Manor from January 2014 until May 2018 when they closed, she said.
Willis was a housekeeper and kitchen helper at the facility during that time.
Soon after she started in 2014, the owners, Jan and Dan Kierl, had a contentious divorce.
“It was a big public blow-up,” Willis said.
Soon after, the facility administrator and the director of nursing were fired, Willis said.
“We changed DON’s (Director of Nursing) and administrators so much you never knew who was in charge,” Willis said.
In this time period, Jan Kierl cut back hours of employees and purchases for the nursing home, Willis said.
“I was purchasing some of my own cleaning supplies,” Willis said. “I had to buy a vacuum cleaner to do my work. I got it back last month.”
When Willis left Fort Scott Manor on May 13, there were 18 residents left, she said. The facility was home, at one time, to 45 residents.
On May 14, the state started taking over administrator duties, Willis said.
“They were there to do their job, to make the residents safe,” she said. “I applaud them for that.”
“On my last paycheck, the state had taken over and THEIR checks bounced,” Willis said.
“We were there for the residents trying to keep things normal for the residents,” Willis said. “The residents were great, the people I worked with did their best for the residents. It was so sad to see it closed.”
“They were taking people out of their home, one for 20 years,” Willis said. “That was hard seeing them move out. They didn’t want to move.”
Betsy Reichard points to one of the varieties of lavender grown on her farm, The Lavender Patch, 22376 Locust Rd.
Lavender has been a sensory, culinary and decorative herb for thousands of years.
But for Betsy and Davin Reichard, an idea to grow it spawned approximatley ten years ago when they first visited a lavender farm.
They had purchased a property in 2008.
The Reichard’s talked the idea over with family members, and in 2009 did research on the subject and visited other lavender farms, Betsy said
In 2010 the Reichard’s planted their first plants in the ground, half of which died.
Experimenting they planted 800 plants in 2012, 300 of which were mounded, which is planting the lavender in hills.
“The 300 that were mounded, died,” she said.
In 2013 they planted 1000 plants in a different spot and “they all died,” Reichard said.
The Reichard’s enlisted the help of Kansas State University, who told them this loss was due to weather conditions.
The Tri-Valley Developmental Services Horticulture Therapy Program propagates the lavender for the Reichards.
In 2014 they moved to a different pasture.
“It’s been a heck-of-a-lot more work than we imagined,” she said.
But finally, success in 2014.
That year they started making lavender products: lotions, soaps, bath salts, sachets, and spritzes.
“It takes lavender three years to mature, and it’s very labor intensive,” she said. “It’s a Mediterranean plant.”
“People have said lavender is a natural antiseptic, some say it’s a natural flea and tick repellant,” Reichard said of the products made on the farm.
The Reichards children: Jacob, Andrew, Joseph and wife, Tori, Rebecah and Aaron Houser and Levi, have helped through the years with the farm, as have other family and friends, Betsy said.
“For so many years we’ve had many troubles, so it’s finally good to see results,” Betsy said.
In their other lives, Betsy is a teacher in Nevada, Missouri, and Davin is a comptroller at SEKAN Printing Company, she said.
The Lavender Patch Festival
This Saturday is the first lavender festival that the Reichard’s are hosting at their Lavender Patch Farm at 2376 Locust, just east of Fort Scott.
The Lavender Patch Festival is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and costs $5 admission. Children under five years old are free.
Parking will be at 2396 Locust, with signs to designate.
“Bring a lawn chair and comfortable walking shoes, this is a working farm,” Betsy said.
There will be tours, demonstrations, vendors, games, and live music by Bob (Pavey) Lovett and Red Letter Edition playing throughout the day.
You can pick your own bundle of lavender from several varieties for $5, or purchase a lavender plant for $7.
They have converted their garage into a gift shop and will be selling their lavender products.
Lunch will be sold with some lavender recipes featured.
Martha Scott will demonstrate how to make lavender wands and presentations will be by Reichard on lavender products, how to plant lavender, and how to make lavender wreaths.
Vendors will be Bobbie Kemna, featuring her pottery; Black Dog Farms featuring their honey; and Jean Strader spinning wool.
Bourbon County Conservation will give a presentation on wildlife pollinators at the festival.
“It will be a relaxing day so come out with family and friends, listen to some wonderful music, enjoy the craftsmanship of our vendors, smell and touch the lavender,” Betsy said.
The Reichard’s can be contacted at 620-223-1364, www.lavenderpatchfarm.com, [email protected] or on Facebook, The Lavender Patch.
Salette Schlee, 26, is bringing her massage therapy business, Knock Out Massage Therapy, LLC to Fort Scott.
Since graduating from Missouri College, St. Louis, MO in 2015 with a certification in massage therapy, Schlee has worked at Platinum Salon in Frontenac. Schlee graduated from Arma High School.
“I was wanting to serve another community,” Schlee said of her adding a therapy site in Presbyterian Village, 2401 S. Horton.
“I received my Associates of Science (2010-2012) from Fort Scott Community Collete and played volleyball for FSCC,” she said.
She started taking appointments last week at the facility.
Schlee can be reached at 620-249-7479 for appointments on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Schlee uses client specific therapy that includes a mixture of Swedish, sports massage, Trigger Point Release, deep tissue and myofascial release therapies.
A new Arby’s Restaurant will be located at 2101 S. Main Street, the site of the former Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant.
“I’m told by our construction and development team that we are on track to open our new restaurant there in September of this year,” said Fred Fleischner, Corporate Communications Vice President for United States Beef Corporation, doing business as Arby’s, Tulsa, Oklahoma. ” And we can’t wait.”
‘This restaurant will feature Arby’s Inspire design,” Fleischner said. “The Inspire design increases energy efficiency and delivers an upgraded guest experience. The design also includes authentic features such as wood tones, white brick, subway tiles, stainless steel finishes, and upgraded lighting and landscaping. We are converting our new restaurant from what was a former KFC/A&W combo restaurant.”
Fleischner said Arby’s can’t share the exact rendering of what the restaurant will look like but the Fort Scott site will be very similar to the Monett, Missouri site, which is featured at the top of the story.
For employment opportunities at US Beef and in Ft. Scott, go to www.work4arbys.com for more information.
About United States Beef Corporation
United States Beef Corporation, dba Arby’s, headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the largest franchisee of Atlanta-based Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc., now operating more than 365 restaurants serving Arby’s famous slow roasted beef sandwiches and unique menu items to hungry guests in nine states throughout the Midwest and the Western United States. It is a family-owned and operated business that opened its first Arby’s restaurant in 1969 and has now grown to over 8,000 employees. US Beef also owns six Taco Bueno restaurants in Northwest Arkansas. To learn more about United States Beef Corporation, visit www.usbeefcorp.com.
About Arby’s®
Arby’s, founded in 1964, is the second-largest sandwich restaurant brand in the world with more than 3,400 restaurants in seven countries. The brand is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. For more information, visit Arbys.com
Youth Ministries of Bourbon County Inc, known as the Keyhole, has a new director.
Bethany Hartford, 24, became the director in March 2018.
Hartford has lived in Fort Scott for 14 years and has worked with the youth group at her church, Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, for about three years, she said.
She formerly worked at the Common Grounds Coffee Shop and saw a flyer on the bulletin at the shop of the position and applied.
The Keyhole is located at 1002 S. Main, across from Fort Scott High School and targets middle school through high school youth.
“The Keyhole is a place to hang out with friends,” Hartford said.
The Keyhole offers gaming systems, board games, ping pong, pool and an outside basketball hoop, in addition to a concession stand.
But most of all, the ministry hopes to be an encouragement to the youth to be “good members of society and love Jesus,” Director Bethany Hartford said. “I want to lead by example and show you can be a positive person in working with others.”
Caring, adult volunteers are always needed at the Keyhole, Hartford said. The phone number is 620-223-4700.
This month through July 29 from noon to 1 p.m. free sack lunches are available at the site as well.
Thursday the Keyhole hosted the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee, with Keyhole board members present.
Board member Ben Workman said the goal of the ministry is to instill Godly principals in the lives of the youth.
The Keyhole Board of Directors listens as Ben Workman, member, shares about the ministry. From left, president Tim Harper, Judy Hood, Workman, Hartford and Dona Bauer. Not pictured are Marge Madison, Kenny Felt, and Ryan Goodbody.Summer hours of the Keyhole.The Keyhole is a youth activity center located across from Fort Scott High School.
The new Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center, 293 E 20th, Fort Scott.
The Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center has moved to 293 E. 20th Street, Fort Scott from its downtown location adjacent to the courthouse.
The move took place Friday, June 8, according to a press release from Sheriff Bill Martin.
As of Saturday evening, June 9, there were 46 inmates currently housed at the new center, according to Correctional Officer Wynn.
“Inmates that have been housed or assigned in other counties are in the process of being moved to the new facility,” according to the press release from Martin.
All business of the center is now handled at the new facility.
The phone numbers remain the same: for the Sheriff’s Office it is 620-223-1440, for the law enforcement center is it 620-223-2380.
Norm Conard, the director of the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, will receive an award in a special ceremony in honor of the 10th anniversary of Irena Sendler’s death.
The recognition is for Conard’s work with Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project, which brought Irena Sendler’s name onto the global stage, according to a press release.
The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in Poland along with Taube Philanthropies will present a special award to Conard at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland, on June 11.
The award is presented in the name of Irena Sendler to Polish citizens who ‘preserve Jewish heritage and help renew Jewish culture in Poland.’
Conard is the first non-Polish citizen to receive the award.
“This is about emphasizing the history of the Jewish people in Poland,” Conard said in an interview with fortscott.biz. “Before the war there were 3,000,000 Jews after the war there were 30,000.”
Conard said he would be attending a dinner Sunday evening with two former presidents of Poland, in addition to the award ceremony.
Following is excerpts from Conards intended speech:
“There are many people who have impacted history, in extraordinary ways. Irena Sendler stands out because of her incredible courage and undying love for children. ‘People caring about others’ was her mantra, understanding the need to ‘repair the world,’ was her motto.
“I salute the Taube Philanthropies and the Ministry of Culture for the Country of Poland, for their wonderful desire to ‘preserve Jewish heritage and to help renew Jewish culture in Poland.’
“Many years ago there was a thriving Jewish life in this country. May that again be the case, as awards like this bring out heritage and history. The two entities involved with this ceremony both believe in the future of the Jewish people in Poland.
“Almost 20 years ago, a project began in Kansas, which would change many lives. It would also lead to a close personal relationship for my students and myself, with Irena Sendler. It was our privilege to travel to Poland and be with Irena on five occasions.
“These times with her would be filled with laughter, with tears, and with a transparency from Irena that would transform everyone in the room. She also would share many, many rich thoughts and wishes. Until her death in 2008, she constantly spoke out for those people who were downtrodden and would say again and again, that we must respect all people, regardless of race, religion or creed.
“As stated many times by Irena, her one regret in life was not being able to rescue more children. She also would want me to say, that these rescues were done by her network of over 25 people, always being humble and giving credit to them. She would always give the names of those in this brave, powerful, and passionate network, who assisted her in the rescue, hiding, and care of these children and adults from the Warsaw Ghetto and the streets of Warsaw.
“… I also stand here representing three high school students in Kansas and many other students and adults who have shared her story with the world.
“For Megan, Liz and Sabrina, I say, ‘Job well done,’ but there is much more in the process of repairing the world. To Bieta, Renata and other child survivors, I say, ‘Your love of sharing Irena’s story has made a tremendous impact on Poland and the world.’ To those presenting this award, I say, ‘Your honoring of courage and valor is so appropriate in our day and time. Her story is needed as much today, as ever before.’
“In the performance of Life in a Jar, there is a line that says, “Irena Sendler was a light, a spiritual light in the darkness. She repaired the world, one child at a time, and made a difference.”
The Red Ram Motel on North National Avenue near U.S. Hwy. 54.
Fort Scott Community College closed on the purchase of the Red Ram Motel, 701 N. National Avenue, on May 30, 2018, for $90,000.
“The Patel’s (the former owners of the motel) donated $20,000 to the FSCC Endowment Fund,” FSCC President Alysia Johnston said.
The FSCC plan is to repurpose and clean up the property to be used for student housing for the college, according to Johnston. The property will become a part of the campus and therefore tax exempt.
When complete, the new student housing will be called the Greyhound Lodge.
“We are getting a code footprint on it by Ag Engineering (Uniontown), when that is done we will send it to the state and the city,” Johnston said.
Currently, the college is taking bids for cleaning the property of trees and other unwanted items, she said.
“We had at least three people interested in the Red Ram Motel sign,” Johnston said. “Rhonda Dunn (Fort Scott’s Community Development Director) suggested using it for a fundraiser.
There are 21 units at the lodge, with the possibility of 42 students.
Each room will have a small refrigerator and microwave oven.
Students can still purchase a modified meal plan if they will be eating on campus, which is across town to the south of the lodge property.
A two-bedroom apartment on the property will be remodeled for an assistant coach to live in for security and supervision duties, she said.
The current lobby area will be turned into a computer lab.
Behind the lab will be a student laundry facility and behind that will be a student lounge with adjacent student kitchen.
The old swimming pool area will be converted into an outdoor eating area complete with grills, a gazebo, and picnic tables, Johnston said.
“The cost to students will be $300 per month, which includes everything except food,” Johnston said.
The lodge is expected to be ready for students in mid-August, Johnston said.
“It’s been fun to start the transformation,” Johnston said. “We hope to have a ribbon cutting at some point.”
