The Beacon is a helping agency that during the Christmas season is the go-through agency for Adopt-A-Child.
This program helps provide Christmas presents to families with children up to fifth-grade age.
Currently, all families have been adopted, but “I have a few families that have older children that need presents,” Sue Emmons, executive director of the Beacon said. “Several grandparents on fixed incomes are raising grandchildren.”
For the Christmas Adopt-A-Child, sponsors are asked to choose only one clothing item and/or one gift item for each child, with a $30 per child limit.
Stated needs are asked to be purchased before toys.
The gifts are asked to be gift wrapped and tagged with the child’s first name and family member and delivered to Community Christian Church, 1919 Horton, not later than December 18, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
“We also handle the Elks Christmas Food Basket,” Emmons said. “It’s a generous Christmas basket they deliver.”
For more information contact Emmons at 620-223-6869 during office hours 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
As a helping agency, the Beacon follows these guidelines:
Story idea submitted by Jana Walker, who provided the photos.
Bob Lemons leads neighborhood children in painting candy canes that he created to display in yards. From left: Ella Walker, Olivia Walker, Grace Walker, Annabelle Gorman, Johnny Kerr, Owen Smith, Bob Lemons, Gianna Gorman, Audrey Walker.
Candy canes, bows, bells… these are all symbols that bring to mind the Christmas season.
The Burke Street neighborhood in Fort Scott created candy canes as yard decorations this month using these symbols of Christmas.
“We started talking about it at the annual 4th of July picnic,” Jana Walker, said. The Burke Street residents have an annual 4th of July parade, and with a picnic following.
It was at the picnic that the neighborhood decided to do Christmas decorations. Burke Street resident Sara Ellis recommended a candy cane lane, said Jana Walker.
“We are trying to build a community with each other,” Jana Walker said. “We wanted to include the children.”
Walker said she would like to encourage other neighborhoods do projects together because it helps people get to know each other.
“It’s fun getting to know the neighborhood,” Bob Lemons said of the project.
Lemons was the carpenter on the project and spearheaded the children painting the candy canes.
“Shane (Jana’s husband) knew that Bob had done carpentry work,” Jana said.
In October, the Walkers then went door-to-door in the neighborhood seeking input about the Christmas candy cane yard decorating project.
“They supplied the materials,” Lemons said. “I cut them out.”
“They needed a place to paint, so I offered my garage,” he said.
Just before Thanksgiving, when the neighborhood children were out of school, the painting portion of the candy cane project got started in the Lemons garage.
From left: Ella Walker, Olivia Walker, Grace Walker and Annabelle Gorman paint candy canes in Bob Lemons garage.From left: Owen Smith, Gianna Gorman and Audrey Walker paint candy canes during Thanksgiving break.
“He volunteered to cut them out and directed the children in painting them white,” Jana Walker noted. “He then finished painting the red stripes.”
Then bows and bells were attached along with the hardware to allow them to stay in the ground.
One of the candy canes that were a community project on Burke Street.
On Monday, Betty and Bob Lemons, went down the neighborhood street, putting the candy canes on display in the yards, after getting permission from each family.
Candy canes are posted in yards of residents on Burke Street. The decorations are a community project of the people who live on the street.
About 12-14 children off-and-on helped with the project, Lemons said.
“We’ve just lived here three years, it’s a great way to get to know the neighbors,” Lemons said.
Allen Schellack, Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries Outreach Center, shows the bell and bucket needed to volunteer for the Salvation Army fundraising campaign.
It’s that time of year again!
The Salvation Army needs volunteers to ring bells in their annual fundraising campaign.
Allen Schellack, Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries(FSCM), is seeking bell ringers in partnership with the Salvation Army.
The hours and days are flexible, he said.
Individuals, families, churches, and community service organizations are encouraged to call 620-223-2212 to set up a time to serve.
All donations stay in Bourbon County, he said.
This year $4,134.47 is assistance was provided to local families.
FSCM is the designated Salvation Army Disaster Relief and Services Extension Unit for Bourbon County. Through the partnership the following services are provided:
disaster relief,
rental and utility assistance,
prescriptions (no narcotics),
temporary lodging,
gasoline for work or doctor,
vision help(eyeglasses),
Salvation Army Kids Camp,
and other unspecified needs are on a case by case basis.
In addition, FSCM is a volunteer organization that provided these services in 2016-17:
fire disaster packs,
homeless/transition assist packs,
Christmas presents for teens,
school supplies for middle and high school students.
Fort Scott Compassionate Care Ministries is located on the second floor at 26 N. Main. Pass through the Senior Citizens Center to get there.
Anicia Robinson, activities director at Presbyterian Village shows one her favorite trees in the contest Thursday morning while waiting for the judges to arrive.
New to the Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County’s Homes for the Holidays Tour, December 2 and 3, is Presbyterian Village, an assisted living facility at 2401 S. Horton.
“At this location, we are showcasing the Christmas tree decorating contest in Fort Scott where over 15 trees were entered and are all uniquely decorated using creativity and class,” Ginger Nance, executive director of Presbyterian Village, said.
Christmas trees are displayed throughout the facility.
Dr. Grant Hartman, daughter, Zoey, and wife, Dr. Heather Davis, decorate a tree Thursday morning for the Presbyterian Village Christmas Tree Contest. They own Hartman Spine and Joint.
Businesses, organizations, and individuals could enter the tree decorating contest.
Since Presbyterian Village is in the Homes for the Holidays tour the Christmas trees will be on display the same hours on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
For more information contact the village at 620-644-4362.
Quilts are a new addition to the Homes for the Holidays Tour this weekend. They will be featured at the Beaux Arts Center at First Street and National Avenue.Grace Kramer looks at the quilts on display at the Beaux Art Center Thursday during the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee.
Quilts are an American form of art, Rhonda Dunn told attendees at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee Thursday morning.
Dunn said in her family a previous generation of sisters exchanged cloth handkerchiefs as presents. A few of the “hanky’s” are in quilts on display at the first-ever quilt show during the Homes for the Holiday Tour.
The quilts are part of an exhibit at the Beaux Arts Center, owned by Denise and Bobby Duncan, who live on the third floor of the center.
The center is just north of the Fort Scott Post Office on National Avenue.
People who purchase $15 Homes for the Holidays Tour tickets can view the quilts from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets will allow entry to three featured homes, the quilt show and Presbyterian Village’s Christmas Tree Contest, 2401 S. Horton.
Deb Martin stands near a “hanky” quilt she made with her Grandmother Carrie Carpenter in the late 1980s.Rhonda Dunn speaks during the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee amid the quilts that will be on display in the Homes for the Holidays Tour.
The theme of this year’s Fort Scott Christmas Parade is Christmas Vacation. The event starts at 6 p.m. at Third and Main Streets, heading north on Main to Skubitz Plaza.
“People can have fun with that,” Lindsay Madison, executive director of Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce said. “They can play off the movie by the same name or what they do on Christmas vacation.”
Prizes will be awarded for first place, $75; second place, $50 and third place, $25. Briggs Automall of Fort Scott is providing the prize money.
New this year is a theme decorated golf cart category, with a $25 prize for the winning entry.
Fort Scott Recreation Department will offer free hot chocolate before and during the parade.
The parade entries will exit the parade at Skubitz Plaza, past the Mayor’s Christmas Tree. The tree will be lit following the parade by Mayor JoLynne Mitchell.
Pre-register for children lucky-draw prizes at Papa Don’s Restaurant, 10. N. Main prior to the parade. Pre-registration is from Friday, Dec. 1 until Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. when the parade starts.
Names for lucky-draw prizes will be drawn following the parade for children. Categories are as follows: ages 3-8, both boys and girls; 9-14, both boys and girls and one prize for children 14-18 years old. The drawing will take place after the Christmas tree lighting.
Mayor Mitchell will give some brief comments, then Santa will go to Papa Don’s Restaurant Celebration Room for children to visit with him.
Each child that comes to visit Santa at Papa Don’s will receive a book, compliments of USD 234.
Fort Scott High School Pride Club students will have Christmas crafts for children to do while waiting in line for Santa in the big room of the restaurant.
Walgreen Drug Store will take a free 4 X6 inch photograph of children with Santa. The photo may be picked at the store, later.
Local author Cathy Werling will have an author reading and book signing of her book “Why Did Grandpa Cry” at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturday, December 9 at the Lowell Milken Center, Wall and Main Streets.
For more information contact the center at 620-223-1312
The La Roche Baseball Complex is located south of the city and parallel to U.S. Hwy. 69.
The City of Fort Scott recently annexed the LaRoche Baseball Complex into the city limits at a recent meeting.
The complex is located in the industrial park south of the city on U.S. 69 Hwy.
“The city maintains the complex,” Rhonda Dunn, Fort Scott Community Development Director, said. “They do the mowing, the maintenance, the painting, the lights, etc. It makes sense, that since the city owns the park, it should be within the city limits.”
A board oversees the park, which includes members from the city, Fort Scott’s school district, and the LaRoche family.
The Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Avenue.
The following information is the public record available at the Bourbon County Courthouse, third floor, district court office.
Joseph W. Banker, age 36, is a defendant whose case is pending in Bourbon County for the charges of sexual solicitation, sexual exploitation, and sexual battery.
In May 2017 the Bourbon County District Court filed a case against Banker in Oklahoma, for the charges and he was arrested.
A hearing was held on November 17, 2017, in which Banker pleaded No Contest to two of the charges. The preliminary hearing was waived.
Banker pleaded No Contest, thereby waiving his right to a trial. No Contest is an admission by Banker that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to prove his guilt and will not contest such evidence.
His plea of No Contest is the result of a plea agreement between the Bourbon County Attorney Justin Meeks and Bank’s attorney, Christopher Meek.
He is pleading No Contest in connection with Count II and Count III charges against him in the amended complaint/information.
Count II reads that between August 1, 2009, and September 21, 2009, Banker sexually exploited a child under 18 years of age. The charge is a severity level five, person felony with a minimum sentence of 31 months imprisonment, a maximum of 136 months and a fine up to $300,000.
Count III reads that between November 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, Banker sexually exploited another child under 18 years of age. The charge is a severity level five, person felony with a minimum sentence of 31 months imprisonment, a maximum of 136 months and a fine up to $300,000.
There will be a plea hearing on December 8, 2017, at 1:15 p.m. in series before the Honorable Judge Amy Harth.
Banker is a former youth pastor at Community Christian Church.
Looking northwest from the corner of Jayhawk Road and Liberty Bell Road. This land is being rezoned for future development by Peerless Products and Labconco Corporation on Dec. 5
Land south and east of El Charro Restaurant will be annexed into the city with Peerless Products and Labconco Corporation planning to develop the properties, according to a city official.
The City of Fort Scott will rezone the Emory Arnold Trust land, located on U.S. Highway 69 for redevelopment on Dec.5, Rhonda Dunn, Fort Scott Community Development Director said.
“Part of it is the Emory Arnold Trust, south of El Charro Restaurant, down to Jayhawk Road to Liberty Bell Road,” she said. “Peerless and Labconco are buying the properties for future development.”
The land will be annexed into the city.
Labconco Corporation is located at 2500 Liberty Bell Road, while Peerless Products, Inc. is located at 2403 S. Main Street, parallel to U.S. 69 Hwy.
Emery Arnold’s home in the photo, at right. The Emery Arnold Trust land is being rezoned Dec. 5.
Emory Arnold was a prominent Fort Scottian who died in 2015 at age 98. He served in positions at Fort Scott Community College as the registrar, assistant dean, athletic director and vice president until his retirement in 1981, according to his obituary. The arena at FSCC bears his name.
