Governor Colyer Orders Flags to be Flown at Half-staff in Honor of Civil Rights Icon, Linda Brown
In accordance with Executive Order 10-12, Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff from today until sundown, Friday, March 30, 2018, to honor the life of civil rights icon, Linda Brown, who as a young girl was the center of the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, in which the Supreme Court declared the segregationist doctrine of “separate but equal” to be unconstitutional.
“Linda Brown’s life reminds us that by standing up for our principles and serving our communities we can truly change the world. Linda’s legacy is a crucial part of the American story and continues to inspire the millions who have realized the American dream because of her.”
Angelyka and her dad, Daniel Simonds, pick up Easter eggs in the preschool section of the Kiwanis Easter Egg hunt March 24.Fort Scott Kiwanis members hide eggs in plain view at Gunn Park for the smallest egg hunters.
Fort Scott Kiwanis members annually hide candy and prize-filled plastic Easter eggs in Gunn Park for the enjoyment of area children.
The Easter egg hunt is planned for the weekend before Easter, according to Kiwanis President Scott Flater.
Gunn Park is divided into varying age groups of children and then the eggs are “hidden” in that area, which is marked by a sign.
Prior to the hunt, the Easter bunny makes rounds to see the children.
The Easter bunny, this year portrayed by Carmen Flater, gets a little help from her husband Scott before appearing to the children.The “calm before the storm”, when Kiwanis members hide the eggs in Gunn Park.
Following are the family members with preschool children around the perimeter of the area marked off. They are waiting for the 11 a.m. signal to begin the hunt.
Phil Gorman, Fort Scott Kiwanis Treasurer gives the crowd instructions before the egg hunt begins.Fort Scott Firemen Alex Schafer and Dale Bolinger wait for the 11 a.m. time for them to signal the beginning of the hunt by sounding the truck’s loud horn.In the preschool area of the Easter egg hunt, parents and children take off following the sounding of the horn by the Fort Scott Fire Department truck.
The hunt was over in approximately five minutes.
Fort Scott Kiwanis have several community outreaches, in addition to the Easter egg hunt.
The philanthropic group also serves a pancake feed on Shrove Tuesday, and a golf tournament in April, all to benefit the youth of the community, Flater said.
Kiwanis is a global organization dedicated to change the world, one child, one community at a time, he said.
With money raised, they help the Court Appointed Special Advocates, and help the local school district, USD 234 with the backpack initiative, the indigent fund, and scholarships for Fort Scott High School seniors, he said.
In addition, the organization has helped rebuild the “fairy house” and the entrance archway at Gunn Park and planted 1000s of trees in the city of Fort Scott throughout the years, he said.
Board members of Fort Scott Kiwanis are Flater, president; Dale Johnson, secretary; Phil Gorman, treasurer; Mike Cheney, vice-president of programs; Gerald Hart, Bob Eckles, Mark McCoy and John Townsend.
Beginning on Monday, April 2, 2018 (weather permitting) Heckert Asphalt Company, in conjunction with LaForge and Budd Construction Company, will resume work on South Main Street beginning just south of 23rd Street and ending just north of the South National exchange.
With this work, there will be lane closures and possible flaggers at certain intersections while crews perform grinding work to the asphalt surface. During this time you may experience delays in travel and limited access to certain locations along this route. This work is expected to take one week to complete. Avoid this route if at all possible.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
The Fort Scott Community College Kid’s Fair is from 9 a.m. to noon April 14 at Bailey Hall South Parking Lot.
“This event is sponsored by Fort Scott Community College Community Relations Committee, we do it twice a year for the community kids just for fun and use it as a chance to get to know the community members,” Kassie Fugate-Cate, Director of Strategic Communications and Student Activities said.
Popcorn, cookies, drinks, games, and prizes will be offered.
“And of course, our teddy bear clinic sponsored by Student Nursing Organization (SNO),” Cate said. ” The kids bring their stuffed animals or dolls and they get a check-up like on ‘Doc McStuffins’.”
The event will be held in the south parking lot of Bailey Hall.
“We plan to have John Deere, our first responders, FSCC Cosmetology, FSCC STEM club, FSCC Athletics, and FSCC President’s Ambassadors present during the event along with FSCC SNO,” Cate said.
Denise and Bobby Duncan are opening their residence located at 102 S. National Ave., to the public this evening at 6 p.m. to answer questions and concerns about their recent closure of the Beaux Art Center.
“We are hoping to have documents ready….there has been a lot of misinformation,” Denise Duncan said.
The event is “especially for people in the historic district,” Duncan said. “And people that rent historic buildings.”
Both she and husband, Bobby will be there, she said.
The Duncan’s have had several discussions about the building with city officials that have been unsatisfactory, she said.
Denise Duncan contends that because their residence is a historic building, a code footprint is not needed. Additionally, they contend that the code footprint provided to the city is incorrect, she said.
“The code footprint regulation, K.A.R. 22-1-7, defines minimum features… for an objective evaluation by uniform application of state law using minimum resources. It also makes the code footprint available to assist local fire and building officials (to) view new construction and changes in use,” according to http://firemarshal.ks.gov/division/prevention/plans-review-code-footprint.
“The State Fire Marshall verified that it (their building) is on the state historic register,” she said. “Since it is on the historic register they are giving the city power to make waivers, exceptions, and variances on such matters.”
The City of Fort Scott hired Zingre and Associates P.A. to make the code footprint.
“Zingre’s code footprint is full of errors,” Duncan said.
Among Zingre’s biggest concerns is lack of proper egress width for stairways and doors based on the calculated occupant load of the building and how this load would spread out among the building’s two exits, according to his letter to the city, which was provided by Duncan.
Egress is an exit, according to the dictionary.
The Duncan’s will explain these contentions and others this evening at the meeting they are hosting.
Denise Duncan shows how the Zingre calculation was incorrect in the measurement of the front door to the Beaux Arts Centre. Zingre did not measure the door, merely assumed it was the standard 32 inches, she said. This measurement error cuts the number of people allowed at one time in the building, which drastically affects their business, she said.The measurement of the front door is 42 inches, which would allow more people to be in the building at the same time. Duncan contends Zingre did not measure the door while at her residence to design the code footprint.Denise Duncan looks at the code footprint document designed by Zingre and Associates P.A. This stairway on the south side of the building is not listed as an exit in the footprint.This is the west staircase which leads down to the main level from the upper level and is not shown as an exit on the code footprint.This window is the exit that the code footprint shows as the only exit on this floor which has three staircases that lead down, Duncan said. It is a window on the main level of the building.This is the first page of a three-page letter that accompanied the code footprint design sent to the city in January 2018 by Zingre and Associates, P.A, provided by Duncan. The fourth paragraph states the biggest concern of the architects.The second page of the letter from Zingre and Associates P.A. to the City of Fort Scott. Listed are other points that need to be addressed by the Duncan’s in regard to their building.The third page from Zingre to the city.Following is the code footprint produced by Zingre and Associates P.A. for the city, dated Jan. 17, 2018.This is the lower level of the Beaux Art Center as shown in the code footprint.The main level of the Beaux Arts Centre.The upper level of the Beaux Arts Centre. This level has three stairway exits that are not designated as exits on the code footprint, a point of contention with the Duncans. The small triangle at the bottom of the design, notes the only exit listed on this floor, a window.The code footprint legend of the Beaux Arts Centres.A letter from Fort Scott Community Development Director Rhonda Dunn, which stated that a copy of the completed plan was sent to the state fire marshal. Denise Duncan said they should have had the report to look over and discuss with the city before it was sent.This is Duncan’s response to Dunn’s letter, saying there were many error and omissions in the code footprint. The letter tells the city of Duncan’s intent to close the business, the Beaux Arts Centre.Page 2 of the Duncan letter to the city.Denise Duncan highlighted the parts of this Kansas Municipality and Code Officials Brochure, which lists groups of buildings that must provide a code footprint. She contends that none of these apply to the Duncan building.
The Fort Scott Police Department daily reports can best be viewed on a computer. The FSPD is located at 1604 S. National and can be contacted at 620-223-1700.
Click on the link, then click on the image to enlarge.
The board of the Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site face the camera following the weekly Chamber Coffee Thursday. Front from left is Vonnie Rickerson, Marlene Braker, back from left is Martha Scott, Reed Hartford, and Kelley Collins. Not pictured is Joyce Gobl, Matt Wells, Katie Wells and Shaylynn Clements.
Members of Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site hosted the weekly Chamber Coffee Thursday to highlight their organization.
FFSNHS President Reed Hartford told the coffee attendees that they are a non-profit, separate from the historic site.
The organization can raise funds and spend money on advertising, two actions that the historic site cannot do, Hartford said.
In 2009 the group began to support activities of the site.
Some of their accomplishments are: promoting FSNHS as one of the wonders of Kansas, providing a community Fourth of July ice cream social, providing lunch for new citizens following the naturalization ceremony, and providing refreshments at the end of candlelight tours.
Since 2010 the FFSNHS group has sponsored a Friends Fest as a fundraiser.
This year it is this Saturday, March 31 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Liberty Theater, 113 S. Main.
Tickets are $35 and can be purchased the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall.
The group is bringing reenactor Randy Otto as Sir Winston Churchill.
Randy Otto as Sir Winston Churchill. Churchill was a primary character in many major events of British history in the 20th century.
For more information, contact Martha Scott, 620-224-9924.
The sponsors of the event are City State Bank, Union State Bank, Landmark Bank and Jim and Connie Banwart.
The following is a gallery of coffee attendees interacting prior to the announcement segment of the event.
At each coffee, members give a donation to the Chamber of $1 and tell about an event coming up in the community. The group that hosts the coffee gets extra time to tell about their business or organization.
Maria Whitson plays with her children Asher, Judah, and Malachi in Gunn Park last week.
The thought of a classroom without walls intrigued Maria Whitson.
Whitson, from Garland, first found out about an organization called Tinkergarten when a friend from Kansas City referred her saying she would be a good leader.
“When I went to their website, I lit up,” Whitson said. ” Being outdoors with a group of parents and children. Playing and educating, growing together, all of it caught my attention.”
Founded in 2012, Tinkergarten is a nationwide play-based, outdoor learning class designed for children ages 18 months to 8 years, and their parents.
According to recent statistics, children’s free play time is declining, and it’s diminishing the chances to develop critical life skills, she said.
Free spring trial classes will be offered at 10 a.m. March 29 and 31 at Gunn Park.
Then classes will be held each Thursday, April 12 through May 31
from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
In a 5-part class each week Whitson will facilitate an expert-designed play scenario, allowing children of various ages and needs to explore, problem solve, communicate, collaborate, and create together, according to the Tinkergarten.com website. Parents and caregivers learn, too, and share insights into a child’s development.
To register go to Tinkergarten.com.
The cost is $140 per studentfor 8 sessions. An installment plan is available. There is a 30% discount for each additional sibling.
Some benefits of Tinkergarten provided by Whitson are:
● Spending time outdoors provides children with a wide range of health benefits including social and emotional well-being. Research shows that time outdoors supports improved relationship skills, and reduces stress, anger, and aggression.
80 percent of brain development occurs before the age of five. Children build foundational skills in their first five years that will affect the rest of their learning and life.
In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, parents need to balance the screen time with outdoor time to raise healthy, well-adjusted kids.
“I’m bringing this incredible early-childhood education program to Fort Scott, to help children develop critical capabilities such as self-reliance, creativity, persistence and problem-solving skills, all proven benefits of play-based, outdoor learning, ” she said.
“I became a leader because I want to get my children outdoors more and be intentional about creating learning experiences with them. The opportunity for me to lead a Tinkergarten class was exactly the motivation and training that I was looking for. I am thrilled that I get to not only have that opportunity for my children and myself but also for other families. I am so excited to be in a classroom without walls.”
