With temperatures in the 50s and a sunny day after several cloudy November days, today was a great day to take advantage of the trails in the city’s park systems.
Happy Trails
All posts by Loretta George
Body-Worn Cameras For Police Department
A few weeks ago the Fort Scott Police Department began wearing body-worn cameras.
“We upgraded to a system that has both body cameras and car cameras,” FSPD Chief Travis Shelton said. “We always had car cameras.”
“We budgeted for them, approximately $65,000, and received them about three weeks ago,” he said.
Each of the five FSPD officers will additionally have a spare camera for charging purposes, Shelton said.
The cameras were purchased to give several benefits to the police department, Shelton said.
“We can better document calls for service, there is officer accountability, better evidence collection, we can document crime scenes,” he said.
Shelton said body-worn cameras also:
- enhance officer and public safety,
- enhance officer ability to document and review statements and actions for internal reporting requirements for courtroom preparation,
- preserve video and audio information for current and future investigations,
- are an impartial measurement for self-critic and field evaluation during duties conducted by an officer,
- enhance public trust by presenting factual representations in the form of video/audio recordings.
In an emergency situation, when the patrolman turns on the car’s emergency lights, the body-worn camera automatically comes on, Officer Derick Burke said.
“It’s linked to the car camera,” Burke said.
No-shave November
The public may notice that some FSPD officers have beards, Shelton said.
In an effort to boost department morale, officers can grow beards this month, Shelton said.
“It’s ‘no-shave’ November at the Fort Scott Police Department,” he said.
Election Results 2017
The following are the unofficial results of the November 7, 2017 elections.
FSCC BOARD OF TRUSTEES: John Bartlesmeyer, 1,141; Elizabeth Meyer, 680; Tina Rockhold, 904; Kevin Wagner, 656.
USD #234 SCHOOL BOARD POSITION 4: Geoff Southwell, 418; David Stewart, 704.
USD #234 School Board Position 5: Gary Billionis, 922
USD#234 School Board Position 6: Jamie Armstrong, 953
USD #235 School Board Position 4: Brian Stewart, 242
USD # 235 School Board Position 5: Mike Mason, 241
USD #235 School Board Position 6: Tyler Martin, 255
FOR MAYOR BRONSON: Alan Stewart, 57; Lee Roy Whitcomb, 20
FOR CITY COUNCIL BRONSON: Clearsia Botts, 64; Geraldine Reeder, 61; Charlotte Stewart, 43; Kathaleen Stewart,29; Michael Stewart. 50
CITY COMMISSION FT. SCOTT: Cheryl Adamson, 439; Carol MacArthur, 329; JoLynne Mitchell,544; Robert Nichols, 632.
FOR MAYOR FULTON: No Candidate Filed
FOR CITY COUNCIL FULTON: No Candidate Filed, 45 write-ins
FOR MAYOR MAPLETON: No Candidate Filed, 7 write-ins
FOR CITY COUNCIL MAPLETON: No Candidate Filed, 11 write-ins
FOR MAYOR UNIONTOWN: No Candidate Filed, 26 write-ins
FOR CITY COUNCIL UNIONTOWN: No Candidate Filed. 30 write-ins
FOR SOUTHWIND EXTENSION DISTRICT: Ethan Holly, 761; Terri Williams, 1037
FOR MAYOR REDFIELD: Clarence “Ed” Guss, 20
FOR CITY COUNCIL REDFIELD: Michael Beerbower,30; Wilma Graham,17; Clarence “Ed” Guss,20; Kirby Martin, 31; Richard A. Smith, 25.
Exercise Your Right, Vote Today
Library Teens November Events
Submitted by Valetta Cannon, Fort Scott Public Library Youth Librarian, and Assistant Director
Fort Scott Public LibraryTeen Advisory Group events for November:
November 8, 4-6 p.m., the teens will have their monthly games and snacks night in the library’s event room.
November 15, 4:15 – 5 p.m., the teens will create and share (if they want) creative writing short stories or poems. This will be the first teen creative writing night, in celebration of National Novel Writing Month.
November 29, 4:15 – 5 p.m. the teens will meet with at Common Ground Coffee for free treats while discussing this month’s Book Club story, “The Watsons go to Birmingham” by Christopher Paul Curtis.
Librarian To Read At Fort Scott Preschool
Restful Reading Adventure
What: Dinner & relaxed reading: tips and activities to help your child enjoy books
Featured Book: The Napping House
When: Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 6:00-7:00pm
Where: Fort Scott Preschool Center, 409 S. Judson, West entrance
Who: Special Guest, Youth Librarian & Assistant Director, Valetta Cannon
*We will be wearing our pajamas and invite and encourage you all to do the same! We are providing dinner and story time. If you take care of baths before this adventure, the only evening task remaining for you is to tuck them in when you get home! We look forward to a great adventure in reading with you and yours! Please RSVP by Friday, November 10th to let us know how many we need to prepare food for. Thanks & see you there!!
(PAT) Star McClellan: 620-215-6009
(FSECP) Michelle Stevenson: 417-684-0795
City of Fort Scott’s Agenda For Nov.7
The Fort Scott City Commission will meet at 6 p.m. Nov. 7 at City Hall, 123 S. Main.
On the agenda for the commission:
- A certificate of appropriateness will be reviewed for 9 N. Main, 11 N. Main and 13 N. Main on the Old Fort Blvd. side of the building.
- There will be public hearings on the unsafe and dangerous structures at 747 S. Wilson St., 1837 E. First St., 616 S. Horton St., 701 S. Barbee and 1311 S. National Ave.
- They will consider an ordinance to adopt a common consumption area.
- They will consider an amendment to a development agreement with Super Market Developers, Inc.
- There will be consideration of four-way stops at 2nd St. and National Ave. and 3rd St. and National Ave.
- They will approve a quit claim deed for 716 S. Crawford.
- Consideration will be given of closing Gunn Park for Christmas In The Park.
- They will discuss the Stout Building.
- Consideration will be given to annex La Roche Ball Complex.
- They will consider approval of Jeanie Parker as KCAMP voting delegate for the city.
- There will be an expansion of scope for river intake and dam improvement.
- There will be a time change for the Dec. 5 commission meeting to 4 p.m. because of the downtown Christmas parade.
- For more information see the 11-7-2017 agenda packet
Equipment Failure Causes Power Outage
A piece of equipment called a lightning arrester, failed Saturday about 3:30 p.m. in the southern part of Fort Scott and some rural areas south of town. Power was restored in stages between 5 and 6 p.m., according to Gina Penzig, media relations manager with Westar Energy.
“It was in a sub-station that serves Fort Scott,” Penzig said.
About 3,000 customers of Westar, were affected, she said.
Penzig encourages people while the power is on and the weather is fine to download the Westar app, mywestar and/or sign up for text alerts.
To register for text alerts on a mobile phone, text 97827 and send “reg”. Then if there is a power outage in the future, text to that same number and send “out” for the outage, she said.
Calling 1-800-544-4857 or 1-800-LIGHTKS is another way to tell of a power outage and a person can also go to westarenergy.com and report it there, Penzig said. Click “Outage Center” to see the map of the affected area and how to prepare for an outage.
“On the outage map, you can see if someone is on the way and an outline of the affected area and when electricity will be back on,” she said.
It is best to prepare ahead of time for power outages with a storm kit of bottled water, batteries, charging up a cell phone, and making sure flashlights are working, she said. For an extensive list of preparedness, see the website.
“For winter storms, we usually have advance notice of severe weather,” Penzig said.
If power lines are down, assume they are live and call 911, she said.
Check for damage to electric meter boxes and the power line that attaches to the house.
“If the damage is to those items, you may need an electrician before we can safely reconnect power,” she said.
Using the different messages received from Westar, “You will want to see if you should stay home or find shelter somewhere else she said. In addition, check on neighbors safety, she added.
Seminar For Caregivers
Mercy Hospice Hosts Seminar for Caregivers
Renowned expert Elaine K. Sanchez speaks on “Finding Hope, Humor and Heart in Caregiving”
FORT SCOTT, KAN. (Nov. 3, 2017) – Caring for a loved one or friend during a long-term illness may be one of the most rewarding and selfless things a person can experience. It may also be taxing on the caregiver’s physical and emotional health.
That’s why it’s important to learn more about the delicate balancing act in the role of caregiver.
Mercy Fort Scott Home Health and Hospice invites the public, as well as registered nurses, respiratory therapists, and other clinicians to attend “Finding Hope, Humor and Heart in Caregiving” by Elaine K. Sanchez on Thursday, November 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.
The presentation will cover many topics including anger, guilt, depression, grief, and self-care. There will also be time to visit with local professionals to collect helpful information and resources about being a caregiver.
Register online at www.mercy.net/FtScottCares by Nov. 24. Lunch is provided. Space is limited, so register today.
The general admission fee is $10 or $60 for six CEUs. CEUs can be provided to Registered Nurses and Respiratory Therapist. Certificates of Completion will be given for all other disciplines.
For more information, contact Chris Welch at (620) 223-8060.
Note: Partial funding was provided by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation. FSACF serves to fulfill the philanthropic goals that benefit the common good and improve quality of life by providing leadership and programming that is responsive to the interests and needs of the residents of the Fort Scott area.
Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2017 by Truven, an IBM Watson Health company, serves millions annually. Mercy includes 44 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, more than 700 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 40,000 co-workers and more than 2,000 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Mercy also has outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
A Taste Of Fort Scott
Advance Voting
Advance voting for the November 7 election for city and school boards has begun. Don’t forget to bring photo identification to the Bourbon County Courthouse if choosing to vote early.
To see who is running and for what position, reference here:
City/School 2017 Election Forum Oct. 26
Community Grants Awarded
Local helping agencies, businesses, and organizations were presented with grant awards Thursday morning as part of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee, at the Landmark Bank in downtown Fort Scott.
“From the interest of the general endowment fund, we are handing out $30,000 today,” Blake Hudson, chairman of the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF) board, said. “Last year $150,000 was raised for the general fund.”
Hudson said a new fundraising campaign is set to begin with FSACF.
This year, 29 entities submitted grant applications this year, with 18 funded, he said.
Grant committee members are Hudson, Stephanie Witt, Greg Mottley, Larry Seals, Patty LaRoche and adviser, Dave Martin.
LaRoche is committee chair of the granting committee.
The Beacon inadvertently did not receive a check at the coffee and will at a later date. The helping agency received a grant to add healthy food additions to the food pantry they facilitate.