All posts by Loretta George

Fort Scott, Schools

New USD 234 Teachers: Woellhof, Fugate-Cate, Setina

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This is part of a series featuring the 20 new teachers in the Fort Scott School District.

School starts August 18.

Beckie Woellhof. Sumitted photo.
Beckie Woellhof will be a new 4th Grade math teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary in Fort Scott.
She has taught for 13 years.
Woellhof graduated from Pittsburg State University in 2004.
“I grew up in and around Fort Scott and have lived in this area for most of my life,” she said. “I had some wonderful teachers when I was younger and they inspired me to be a teacher.”
For Woellhof,  getting to know her students is the best thing about being a teacher.
For her, challenges of teaching include “Finding a good work/life balance. As an educator, it is hard to turn off my teacher brain. I am always looking for new and engaging ideas for my classroom or creating things for my classroom at home. My kids often get drafted to help me.”
She and husband, Edwin, have four children.
In her spare time she loves to read and spend time with family and friends, she said.
Kassie Fugate-Cate. Submitted photo.
Kassie Fugate Cate, 33, will be a new special education teacher for Winfield Scott Elementary School.
“This will be a new adventure for me,” she said. “I have been a part of the district in different ways for about six years now. I’ve taught at the college level for about seven years and was a substitute teacher for the district last year.”
“I’ve been teaching at the collegiate for a while and never thought I would want to teach in K-12 until I started subbing for the district,” she said. “I really enjoyed being in the classroom and watching the light bulb go off when they understood what they were struggling with. Also, my son Kendrick was my inspiration to go into special education. He is autistic and I have learned so much from him.”
For her, the best thing about teaching is “Seeing the kids light up about learning and understanding the concepts. Also, being someone they can trust, support them, and push them to succeed. Being in education is all about student success and I look forward to making that happen for all my students.”
Instruction isn’t a challenge for her.
“It’s making sure that I teach them in a way they can understand and enjoy,” she said. “Then of course the paperwork that comes with special education is a little intimidating, but I’ve always enjoyed writing so it will be fun.”
Cate obtained a bachelor’s from Pittsburg State University in 2014 in communication. Then received a masters in strategic communication from Liberty University in 2018. She is currently working on another masters in education focusing on curriculum, instruction, and special education, with completion next summer.
She currently resides in Pittsburg, but is searching for a place in Fort Scott.
“I’ve been happily married to my husband Stephan  for 11 years and we have two beautiful children, Kendrick, in 5th grade at Eugene Ware and Katerina in 3rd grade at Eugene Ware,” she said.
“I enjoy helping out in the community and my church (Faith Church of Kansas),” she said. “I enjoy leading the elementary Parent Teacher Organization as president, it keeps me busy. I like going to the movies with my family and spending time with friends. Definitely a Netflix and chill type of person.”
Ashlee Setina. Submitted photo.
Ashlee Setina is the new Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher at Fort Scott High School.
This is her 4th year of teaching.
She went to college at Fort Scott Community College then Pittsburg State University.
Setina was motivated to become an educator by her Family and Consumer Science Teacher, who encouraged her to teach “because of my love and passion to help others achieve their goals.”
The best thing about teaching for her is “When a student finally learns the information and gets it 100%,” she said.
Her greatest challenge is “Being a young teacher because I do not have a lot of experience.”
Setina’s hometown is Arma.
“I enjoy fishing and hunting in my free time,” she said. “I love to cook and sew as well.”

 
 
Area News, K-State Extension

New K-State Agent and Newly Created Position: Amanda Clasen

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Amanda Clasen. Submitted photo.

Amanda Clasen, 35, is a new  K-State Research and Extension- Southwind District agent. She is serving Neosho, Woodson, Bourbon and Allen Counties. They have offices in Erie, Yates Center, Iola and Fort Scott.

Hers is a newly created position,  that started June 12, 2023.

“I am the Community Vitality Agent, helping local communities grow by helping identify local needs and highlight the bright spots within the community, as well as working with local collation groups to identify health, childcare and housing needs within our counties,” she said. “I can help local groups find grants for project funding as well as help in assisting with the writing of those grants. We are still expanding on programming for this position as it is a new position, so I am looking into possibly adding Youth Entrepreneurship similar to what Fort Scott currently offers to our other counties in the future.”

“I am housed out of the Erie Office, but travel to each office at least once a week,” she said.

Her contact info: email: [email protected]   or phone 620.244.3826

Clasen earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education- Pittsburg State University in 2011, and a Master’s Degree in Adaptive Special Education from P.S.U. in 2015.

“I was a special education preschool teacher for 11 years before taking this position,” she said.  “Along side of my teaching duties I served as a Family Engagement Coordinator for three years, helping write grants to provide events within the school to promote stronger parent/family relationships as well as including outside agencies opportunities  to share information with parents.”

She was born and raised in Linn, KS, a small rural town in north central Kansas, and currently lives in Erie with husband Mac and three sons, 10 years, 8 years and 3 years-old.

She has been involved in her community through  XI Delta PSI.

So far in this job, she is enjoying “Getting to network with local communities and members and see what fun and exciting projects that they have already completed and working towards,” she said. “There are so many hidden ‘gems’ in our small towns and I’m excited to continue to uncover them with getting to know community members.”

With any new job, the beginning can be challenging.

“With this being a new position, there is not currently not an established programming plan, so deciding what communities need or want for programming has been a struggle, but I’m excited to learn!” she said.

 

Health Care, Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center

Clinic Care Starting in Legacy Health Foundation Building

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Legacy Health Foundation, Fort Scott.

There is clinic health care beginning once again out of the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills.

Ascension Via Christi Emergency Room continues its needed services to the community in the south facing side of the building.

Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center and Legacy Health Foundation announced  an agreement to secure  office space in the former Mercy building in May 2023. The building was acquired by Legacy Health from the Bourbon County Commission in October 2022.

To view a prior press release:

Legacy Health partners with Southeast Kansas Mental Health to Expand Services

The SEKMHC is working towards a move to the building, with work being done on the site.

“We do not have a move date confirmed yet for SEKMHC employees as work continues on the suites B and C,” Dawne Burchett, SEKMHC Manager of Prevention and Promotion, said. “(The)Ashley Clinic currently sees patients in suite A.”

Suite B and C are being made into offices for the SEKMHC.

Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center (SEKMHC) and Ashley Clinic joined in a partnership in May 2023 at the former Mercy building.

Prior to this, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas leased the site for a clinic from 2019 until this year, when they moved to 2322 S. Main.

To view a prior press release on the new partnership:

Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center and Ashley Clinic Unite

The same services that are currently offered at the SEKMHC State Street location in Fort Scott will be offered at the new site, Burchett said.

SEKMHC is currently hiring in all its locations in this region, to see the list: (www.sekmhc.org/careers)

Urologist Dr. Jason Robinson is seeing patients from Suite
A.

“Dr. Robinson has been seeing patients in Fort Scott since 2016,” Burchett said. “Starting in August, he will see patients on the first Wednesday and the second Friday of each month.”

J. Jason Robinson, MD is a urologist, according to Ashley Clinic’s website.

Undergraduate Education

University of Kansas – 1991

Medical Education

University of Kansas School of Medicine – 1995

Residency

Surgery at St. Luke’s Hospital, Truman Medical Center – 1997; Urology at University of Kansas Medical Center – 2000

Board Certification

American Board of Urology – 2002

Practice Locations

Chanute, Burlington, Fort Scott, Iola, Neodesha, Eureka

 

“Dr. Yi Ying Law (www.ashleyclinic.com/our-physicians) will start seeing patients this month in Fort Scott,” Burchett said.  “She will be there in the afternoon on the second and fourth Monday of each month. Her contact information is the same, 620-431-2500.”

Yi Ying Law, MD is a general surgeon, according to the Ashley Clinic website.

Undergraduate Education

Imperial College, London, United Kingdom

Medical Education

Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota – 2018

Residency

Houston Methodist Hospital Program, Houston, Texas – 2022

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota – 2018

Board Certification

Board Certified

Practice Locations

Chanute and this month Fort Scott

 

Fort Scott, Schools

New U234 Educators: Comstock, Peterson, McKinsey

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This is a series featuring new teachers at Fort Scott School District USD234.

There are 21 new teachers in the district this year.

The first day of school is August 18.

Tracy Comstock is the new teacher at Fort Scott High School for English 1 and Dual Credit English.

She earned BSEd from Missouri State University and a
MA in English from Pittsburg State University.

“This will be my 16th year teaching. I have taught at several schools in both Missouri and Kansas, and also worked as an adjunct for Crowder, Cottey College, and PSU,” she said.

“The best thing about teaching is getting to know and work with so many amazing students,” she said.  “I love sharing my passion for reading and writing.”

“The challenging thing about my job is that English is definitely not everyone’s favorite subject!” she said.

She lives  in Pittsburg, and has been married to Jason for 26 years.
“Our oldest son Garrett will be a freshman at PSU this fall,” she said. “Our youngest son Trevyn will be starting as a freshman at FSHS.”

 

Emily Peterson. Submitted photo.
Emily Peterson, 22, is a special education preschool teacher at Fort Scott Preschool Center.
She worked as a special education paraprofessional for 4 years.
She earned an associates degree at Labette Community College and then transferred to Wichita State University and joined the TAP program to receive a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Unified and Elementary education K-6.
Her hometown is Columbus, Kansas.

In her spare time she enjoys being active in the gym and running with friends, she said.

“Throughout school I had some amazing teachers that positively impacted my life and still are some of my biggest supporters today,” she said. “They motivated me to want to be that positive role in someone’s life.”
“The best thing about teaching is getting to experience something new everyday,” she said. “Each day is full of adventures, challenges, and success. It’s such a rewarding job.”

“The greatest challenge for me is never really being done with work,” she said. “As teachers, we are always thinking of things to improve and work on for the kids.”

 

Rayanne McKinsey, 24, will be a new second grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.

She worked at Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center the past five years-three of those as coordinator of Erie Summer SEKA, a children’s program, she said. She student taught at Sheridan Elementary in Junction City, Kansas, in  2021-2022.
“This past school year, I finished my first year of teaching within preschool, 3rd grade Title, and elementary P.E.-as well as helping coach middle school girls’ basketball,” she said.
She graduated high school from Chanute Christian Academy in 2018 and then went to Neosho County Community College. She graduated from Kansas State University  with a bachelor’s  degree in Elementary Education, in May 2022. She is also currently working towards gaining a coaching certificate from Kansas State University and a Master’s of Biblical Ministry from Ozark Christian College.
“I grew up on my family farm outside of Chanute and Erie, Kansas,” she said. “While growing up I participated in church activities, sports, high school leadership; and I was highly active in 4-H for 12 years.”
“I enjoy exercising, spending time outside, playing with my dog, working with my livestock, baking, and spending time with my friends and family,” she said.
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher since I was little; and the passion to become one continued to grow while experiencing my own teachers and gaining employment through SEKMHC and various Kansas schools as an emergency substitute,” she said. “I’ve seen that children are wanting to know that they have people in their lives that care about them…Not only are we there for our students for academics; but we should also be there for them for whatever is going on in their lives. My past teachers made this impact on me; and I want to continue making this impact.”
“I love the connections that I make with my students and to see their excitement for learning,” she said. “I’m looking forward to meeting new students, their families, and faculty; all the new opportunities USD 234 is offering me; and becoming involved in this community.”
Business, Youth

Recommended Young Entrepreneurs Will Get a Grant

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Judah Whitson at the cash register at Fort Scott Farmers Market.
Judah Whitson mans the cash register at his family’s booth at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on June3, 2023. He sells homemade mini-donuts.

Following the first set of stories on young entrepreneurs in our community, an anonymous donor  wrote fortscott.biz that he wanted to grant each one of the featured youth with $50.

To view the prior story:

Young Entrepreneurs Series Spawns An Anonymous Benefactor

 

If you know of a child, under 18 years of age, that is creating products or providing services to sell to the public, please send their name and phone number to [email protected]

Fortscott.biz wants to encourage the youth who are learning business by doing it.

Bourbon County, Schools

New Uniontown Teachers: Walker, Rucker, Ostrander, Onelio

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This is part of a series on new teachers in Uniontown School District.

Enrollment for the district ends today from noon to 7 p.m.

Open House is August 15, from 4-6 p.m.

The first day of class is August 16.

There are 10 new teachers, one new junior/senior high school principal, Robert Onelio and a new School Resource Officer, Nick Trim.
Jacy Walker. Submitted photo..
Jacy Walker is a new sixth grade teacher at West Bourbon Elementary School.

She earned a  Bachelor’s Degree at Fort Hays State University and was a para educator for four years while taking classes.

This is her first year as a teacher.

“The best thing about teaching for me is being able to build long lasting relationships with all my students and watching them all become better versions of themselves everyday! ” she said.
“I think as a first year teacher there will probably be lots of challenges I face throughout the year,” she said. “But some that I anticipate and really want to work on ahead of time will be my pre-planning and time management in the classroom.”

Walker is the assistant Uniontown High School Girls Basketball coach, and also coaches in the youth basketball program.

Her family includes:  husband Tyler Walker and five daughters: Maya, Kennedy, Blayke, Berkley, and Jymma.
Laykn Rucker. Submitted photo.
Lakyn Rucker, will be a new first grade teacher at West Bourbon Elementary School.
She graduated from Ottawa University, with a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Elementary Education.
Rucker was a preschool teacher in Nevada for a year and then came to St. Mary’s Catholic School where she I taught kindergarten the last two years, she said.
For Rucker, the best part about teaching is seeing a student’s growth throughout a years time. “It is so rewarding,” she said.
She and husband, Riley,  have three children – Chate, Huxley, and Korbyn.
“When we aren’t working or chasing our kids around from one event to another, we enjoy being outside and spending time with our
family and friends,” she said.
Amanda Ostrander. Submitted photo.
Amanda Ostrander is a new preschool teacher at West Bourbon Elementary.

She received her education from  Fort Hays State University and has taught five years, with experience in special education and second grade.

“Forming relationships with my students and their families is the best thing about teaching,” she said . “(and)Finding ways to make learning fun!”

A challenge for her is “finding time for myself and finishing up all the additional courses I want to take.”
Her family includes her husband, five kids, and three dogs.
Abby Onelio. Submitted photo.

Abby Onelio will be teaching junior high and high school Spanish.

She earned a bachelors degree from Pittsburg State University in 2002; a Masters from Fort Hays State University in 2021 and has
five years teaching Spanish and English as a Second Language at Arkansas City High School.

“The best part of teaching for me is helping students to grow, improve and overcome obstacles,” she said.

For her, the biggest challenge for the upcoming school year will be so many big changes all at once, she said.

“My family and I are looking forward to becoming involved in the Uniontown and southeast Kansas community,” Onelio said.

She is married to Robert Onelio, the new 7-12 principal at Uniontown. They have four kids–Mia, 19; Gabe, 18; Natalia, 16; and Eva, 11.

Bourbon County, Schools

Nick Trim: New SRO at Uniontown School District

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Submitted photo. Nick Trim.
 Nicholas (Nick) Trim, is the new School Resource Officer at Uniontown School District 235.
Uniontown Jr/Sr High School and USD 235 Board of Education office.
He will wear many hats at U235 in addition to  SRO, which include: transportation director, and environmental and school safety coordinator.
“My duties as an SRO include being the Law Enforcement presence at the school and act as a liaison between school staff and Law Enforcement entities to determine if the issue at hand is a crime or violation of policy,” Trim said.  “Most importantly my job is to help influence students to make good choices in life and be a mentor for them should they need it.   My job is to investigate and send for prosecution any violation or crime that arises on school grounds.”
“This is my first year as transportation director in the civilian sector,” Trim said.  “I’m learning as I go.  But the most important aspect of this job is student safety.   My job is to ensure all district vehicles are with in compliance of state and federal law and road worthy and ensure the transportation staff remains current in their training and state mandated requirements.”
“My duties as environmental and physical safety coordinator include ensuring fire extinguishers are serviceable and ready to use,” he said. “Physical locks, security measures, and surveillance systems for the school system are in place and serviceable.   Provide national disaster safety measures and drills.”
Trim earned his associates degree from The Community College of the Air Force in Tactical Aircraft Maintenance. He was a
U.S. Air Force Technical Sargent (E-6), Retired Active Duty Air Force  May 1996-June 2016
He is a U.S. veteran of operations – Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom as An F-15 C/D/E Crew Chief serving based out of Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Kadena AFB, Okinawa; Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, NM.
He has 12 years Law Enforcement experience:
  • 6  years Reserve Deputy, Otero County, New Mexico
  • 2 Years Full Time Fort Scott Police Department
  • 5  plus years Full time Patrol Deputy Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office
“The best part of my job is being able to meet new people, help those in their most dire time of need, and navigate negative circumstance to a positive outcome,” Trim said.
“The biggest challenge in this job is doing the right thing to the right person at right time,” he said. “I have learned to live by this motto:  Clear your mind and purify your heart as to means of overcoming fear and uneasy circumstances.”
He has been married to  Melissa for over 24 years and has two boys. Nathan, 18,  a 2023 graduate of Christian Learning Center (CLC) in Fort Scott. Nathan  leaves for the Marine Corps in August 2023.  Zachary is 7 years-old and entering the 1st grade in the fall of 2023.
He has a German Shepard, Thor, and a black lab mix, Dixie.
In his spare time he enjoys hunting, teaching people self-defense with firearms and firearms safety.
Fort Scott, Jobs, Schools

Newly Created Position in USD 234: Haley Jones

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Submitted photo.

Haley Jones, 28, is the new USD 234 Board of Education Administrative Assistant/Communications Coordinator, as of July 5.

The position is a  combination of administrative assistant and communications coordinator, which is a new feature to the board.

“As administrative assistant, I perform various clerical tasks, take phone calls, filing, organizing calendars, and greeting those who visit the board,” Jones said. “With the communications coordinator position, I create/send out any important information or updates for our school district- via email, social media, texts, and our website. As well as reaching out to those in our community who are able to be of assistance in helping spread the word for us. I will continue to grow in this position and learn/take on new responsibilities.”

Jones was a para-educator at Fort Scott High School  in early 2020, and then in late 2020  worked as an insurance customer service rep for Cobalt MedPlans  until July of 2023.

Jones graduated from FSHS in 2013 and then graduated from Fort Scott Community College with an Associates Degree in 2017.

Her family is boyfriend, Derek Houdashelt  and children nine-year -old Aiden Houdshelt and 8-month-old Kash Houdashelt.

 

Fort Scott, Schools

Ready For School Year 2023-24: USD 234

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Destry Brown. Submitted photo.

“We are SO excited  for another successful school year and all the great things it will bring,” Destry Brown, USD 234 Superintendent said.

The  Fort Scott School District  2023-2024 first day of school is Friday, August 18.

Highlights of new things to the district this school year:

Tonya Barnes was employed as the school district’s full-time Special Education Director, Brown said.

To view a prior story on Barnes:

Tonya Barnes Begins as U234 Special Education Director on July 1

  • “We are able to use ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds) for more special education personnel and intervention assistance,” Brown said.
  • “The JAG program at Fort Scott HIgh School- a school to career program. This is evidence based and done with a career specialist.”

“JAG-K will help prepare students for successful futures,”according to its website https://jagkansas.org/ “We will partner with students to help them identify a career path compatible to their interests and skills and overcome the various challenges they face that put them at risk of not attaining educational and career success.”

  • “Enrolled students can eat free for the 2023-2024 school year,” he said.
  • “A new FSHS heating/air conditioning/venting system, with further energy improvements being performed at each of our district’s buildings,” Brown said.

Those who retired from the district this year:

Chris Sather, Amy Lybarger, Kelly Cox, Cristin Stark,  Kristi Hartman, Carol Bingesser, Michelle Martin, Jane Hill, Becky Howard, Susan Carnes, Ramona Wilson,  Debbie Endicott, Connie Billionis,  and Stewart Guss.

New teachers to the district:

Xoe Altic , Hunter Casey, Tracy Comstock, Annyssa Davenport, Erin Deatsch, Brennen Feeback, Kassie Fugate-Cate,  Caleb Hendricks, Jane Magathan-Krone, Rayanne McKinsey, Emily Peterson, Jacquelyn Rivera, Ashlee Setina, Torrie Singmaster, Billie Stanley, Candy Turner, Mark Weaver, Beckie Woellhof, Nicholas Woods, Darcy Workman, Julie Forkner and Frances Furry.

These new teachers will be featured in a series of profiles in the coming weeks on fortscott.biz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Jobs, Schools, Youth

U235 Is Gearing Up for New School Year

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Vance Eden. From the school’s website.
This week marks the beginning of enrollment for the school year in U.S.D. 235.
Enrollment for Uniontown’s school district is two days:
  • Thursday, July 27th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Friday, July 28th from noon to 7 p.m.
The district’s open house is August 15 from 4 to 6 p.m.
The first day of class for students is August 16.
New teachers in the district are Amanda Ostrander-preschool, Lakyn Rucker-first grade, Tyler Ericson-fourth grade, Jacy Walker-six grade, Alex Chesney-West Bourbon Elementary School Music, Ian Ballinger, high school social studies, Christal Martin-high school science student teacher, Abby Onelio, high school Spanish/,Multi-Tiered Systems of Support(  she will work to support students struggling academically)and Carrie Sutcliffe-high school science.
Rebecca Sutterby is the new high school digital media contact and Nick Trim is the new School Resource Officer.
A series featuring new teachers for U235 started with new junior high/senior high principal Robert Onelio on July 17. Watch for profiles of the new teachers in the coming weeks.
To view Onelio’s feature:
Improving the District
“The district continues to consider bringing a bond to the voters for consideration,” said Superintendent Vance Eden. “We will start the strategic planning with the community this fall to try to establish some short and long-term, up to five year, goals. We’ll continue to work to improve ourselves as a district and support new hires as they join our team this fall.”
In May, the following retired from the district:
Rhonda Allen-elementary music, Jeanne Camac- jr/sr high counselor, Jean Cook-jr. high English and Language Arts, Betty Dennis-nurse, Amber Ericson-fourth grade, and Bonnie Rathbun-sixth grade.
Art, Entertainment, Fort Scott Community College, History

Tradition, Adaptation, Tragedy, Triumph, Survival: Experience the Wahzhazhe Story In Fort Scott This Weekend

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One can order tickets online for the Osage ballet being  performing at the Ellis Arts Center, Fort Scott Community College this weekend or at the door. The first performance is tonight at 7:30 p.m.

 

This scene in the ballet depicts the encounters with Europeans by the Osage, a tribe of Native Americans.

Wahzhazhe is the Native American name for the  tribal people we know as the Osage.

A dance academy in Pawhuska, OK has created a ballet telling the 400 year-old story of the Wahzhazhe.

The performers are mostly from the Dance Maker Academy in Pawhuska, in Osage County, which is home to the Osage tribe.

There are about 24,000 Osage people throughout the world, Randy Tinker-Smith, the ballet producer said.

Tinker-Smith said the 20 children dancers in this ballet are from different tribes, not all Osage.

The ballet is “an artistic expression of who we are,”Tinker- Smith, who is Osage, said. “We are not history, we are still here.”

They performed the Osage story at the Smithsonian Institution in 2012, she said.

The scene that resonated with viewers there, was the last one, where the performers demonstrate walking in two worlds, the Osage world and the other white people world, she said.

The ballet is the story of tradition, adaptation, tragedy, triumph, survival, and the enduring spirit of the Osage people, told by the Osage Nation, according to a press release from the FSNHS.

“This is not our story to tell, but it is our responsibility to provide a platform for these stories to be told,” said Carl Brenner, FSNHS Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management.

“This area was their native homeland,” Brenner said. “This (ballet) is part of a Native American series (at the Fort). We will continue to talk about this.”

“We jump started our relationship with the Osages,” Jill Jaworski, FSNHS Superintendent said. “There are a lot of doors being opened for having conversations with the Osage. We are looking to update our exhibits and are asking ‘What would you like shared?'”

Ballet: an Osage Tradition

The first  five prima ballerinas in the United State were Native Americans, two of them Osage, Tinker-Smith said.

Lavender Sarroll, a mom accompanying the ballet troupe,  said her daughter, Lilliana Guillen, 17, has been dancing since she was six years old at the Dance Maker Academy.

The ballet still is emotional for her, Sarroll said.

“To this day, when they get to the place in the ballet, where they rise from defeat, I cry every time,” she said.

Sarroll said the Wahzhazhe have their own government and language.

Doors are opened to a college education for some through the ballet.

Several of the ballet performers are offered dance scholarships to colleges, including her daughter, Sarroll said.

Logistics

Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site, Inc. offered special access for the media to the Wahshazhe ballet producer, Randy Tinker-Smith, and for viewing  rehearsals on Wednesday, July 19.

The rehearsal was a prelude to the three performances, today, Friday, through Saturday at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus, 2108 Horton St.

There are 50 people involved in the production of the ballet, but some parents accompany the group, with a total of 70 people. Most arrived on Wednesday and are staying in the FSCC Residential Halls.

Thursday was the dress rehearsal, then the performances are today,  Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 3 p.m.

Youth tickets are just $15, adults are $35. Go to Friends of the Fort Facebook page or at OsageBallet.com.

Or one can take a chance, wait, and hope it’s not sold-out and purchase tickets at the door.

There is a question and answer session following the ballet.

Learning More

The performance is for those who are interested in Kansas and American history, Native American culture, the arts and dance, and those wanting to experience something spectacular and different from anything they have seen before, according to the press release.

Killers of the Flower Moon-The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, a story on a tragic part of the Osage tribe is a book that has been made into a movie and will be open in theaters this years, Tinker-Smith said.

“Mollie Burkhart is in the book,” she said. “Her grand-daughter is in the ballet. This movie, we can let people know, we are still here.”

For a synopsis of the book:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/28/books/review/killers-of-the-flower-moon-david-grann.html

 

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Sales Tax Holiday: Aug. 4-5 in Fort Scott

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Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, 321 E. Wall

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce an opportunity for shoppers to save money August 4th through the 5th. Select retailers will be offering a Sales Tax Holiday by volunteering to pay the sales tax for shoppers.  Enjoy a 9.4% discount at these participating merchants: 110 South Main, Angie Dawn’s Boutique, Bids & Dibs, Hedgehog.INK, Laree + Co, Papa Don’s Pizza, Ruddick’s Furniture & Flooring (up to $500 of sales),  Shirt Shack and Sunshine Boutique. These stores offer a variety of merchandise including apparel, home furnishings and décor – both new and repurposed, school supplies and much more. There is no need to cross the border during this No Sales Tax Holiday Weekend. Save money, shop local, shop Fort Scott.

This shop local promotion is organized by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. Please contact (620) 223-3566 with questions.

Lindsay Madison. Submitted photo.