All posts by Loretta George

Bourbon County, Schools, Youth

USD235 Vocational Agriculture Building Is Prepared For The Future

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Machines of various types are available to students at Uniontown VoAg. shop.

The Uniontown school district has an expanded classroom and shop, all new workspaces, heating, air conditioning, and ventilation, along with new security features to take the vocational agriculture program at the junior high and high school into the future.

Scott Sutton, from the USD 235 Staff Directory.

Vocational Agriculture Instructor Scott Sutton told attendees at the October 23 open house that there was a definite need for the renovation to the building constructed in 1967. The building is on the north side of the main campus building on Fifth Street in Uniontown.

Scott Sutton, center, discusses the newly made (by students) welding spaces with attendees.

The shop floor was uneven, there was no air conditioning, and the electrical, plumbing, and ventilation systems needed to be upgraded. The roof was replaced about nine years ago and was still under warranty, Sutton said.

The classroom space was extended in size, and additionally,  space was added to the shop by removing some stairs to a loft that was taken out. And now the teacher can see what is going on in the shop, while in the classroom, with a security camera.

“It’s ADA compliant, fire marshal approved,” he said.

The modernization of the 40-foot by 70-foot building began in February 2025. “It was gutted to the beams, the floor was torn out, and the new windows, electric, plumbing, ventilation system, air conditioning, and heating installed. We had heat, but no air conditioning,” Sutton said. “A new CNC Plasma Table to make metal parts will be here next week. It’s a common industry standard.”

An example of what can be made from a plasma table, Sutton said.

Sutton is the only vo.ag. teacher in the district with 187 students in the junior/senior high school, and 59 of those students are enrolled in the vo.ag. classes.

Freshmen students are offered an agriculture science class. Sophomores are offered plant and animal science, Juniors- agriculture mechanics (welding, electrical, engines), Seniors- agriculture leadership and communication.

Vance Eden, from the USD 235 Staff Directory.

USD 235 Superintendent Vance Eden said the program helps students with the teaching of “presentation of self and team effort.”

 

Sutton said students have been very successful with livestock judging, meat judging, parliamentary procedure,  and public speaking competitions in the program. “Several students have received scholarships for livestock and meat judging at the collegiate level. And there are a lot of other scholarship opportunities in the agriculture field and through FFA.

The renovation was sparked by an audit in 2021 that declared there was a need for a plan for the future of the building, USD235 Superintendent Vance Eden said.  There was poor insulation, leaks and exhaust fume problems, among others.

A bond issue that included a renovation of the building failed in November 2023. COVID-19 Pandemic era funds were able to be set aside along with some Capital Improvement State Aide, Eden said. “We knew something was going to have to be done, so we saved for 3-4 years.”

The building renovation was just under one million dollars. There was also a donation from the Timken Foundation for the project.

 

 

 

Bourbon County

Bourbon County Core Community: Giving A Helping Hand To Those Want It

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Submitted photo of Deana Betts.

 

Bourbon County Core Community is a local program that seeks to open the gates of poverty, give education and resources, and offer support to people in this community.
The organization is having its year-end funding campaign called Faces of Change,  which supports the program.
“The Core Community Faces of Change Campaign features three community members who are prominent leaders in Bourbon County but had humble beginnings in poverty,” said Deana Betts, liaison for the organization. “They had to navigate broken families, isolation in school and community, and nearly insurmountable odds to get to where they are today.”
To see the stories of local leaders, Greg Motley, Kelly Perry, and Josh Jones,  who had their lives begin in poverty: https://www.facebook.com/bbcocorecommunity/
Submitted photo.
“Many times, people have untapped potential trapped behind the bars of poverty. Core Community exists to open the gates of poverty, to give education, resources, support, and hope to people.”
“The results we are seeing are amazing! In our first two classes alone, we have seen eight people walk away from poverty!”
“As a group, our participants have increased their monthly income by $12,738, and they have paid off $36,786 worth of debt! This doesn’t just affect the families in our program; it has a lasting effect on our communities, our schools, dependency on the government, and so much more.”
“This work is needed in Bourbon County, but we cannot do it alone. We are a non-profit 501(c)3 and need the help of our community, churches, organizations, and individual donors to sustain this work.”
They currently have a $20,000 match on funds given during this campaign, which can double every dollar donated.
“This will be a great budget booster,” Betts said.
The match donors are Dean and Becky Mann, Carla Farmer
Steve Buerge, and two anonymous donors.
The website for giving, which also lists the “Faces of Change” stories in full:
“Every dollar donated between now and Christmas will double. If you donated $100 , it would be matched, and be $200,” Betts said.
Fort Scott, Youth

Local Girl Attends Ivy League School Seeking Research and Graduate Opportunities

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Caroline Barnes. Submitted photo.

Caroline Barnes, 18, a Fort Scott High School 2025 graduate, started at one of the nations Ivy League colleges in August.

Ivy League schools are considered the most sought-after institutions of higher learning in the country and around the world. Eight private Northeastern American schools are known for their highly selective admission process, academic excellence and promising career opportunities for those who attend, according to U.S. News and World Report online.

Princeton University, New Jersey; Harvard University, Massachusetts; Yale University, Connecticut; U. of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania; Cornell University, New York, Brown University, Rhode Island; Dartmouth College, New Hampshire and Columbia University, New York are the list of Ivy League Colleges.

Carolyn is the daughter of Penny Pollock-Barnes and Chris Barnes.

Why did you choose Cornell for college? And when did you start?

“I started this Fall (moved in August 18th, class started August 25th). I chose Cornell because it’s in a location I enjoy (upstate NY), it is strong in many fields (I have interdisciplinary interests, as you’ll see in my minors and majors), and has many opportunities for research and graduate study in plant biology. There’s also a very specified major to what I want to study.”

What is your major?

“I am majoring in Biological Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Cornell is divided into smaller colleges, like the College of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Art, Architecture, and Planning. Biological Sciences is within both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences). I’m wanting to concentrate in Plant Biology, and to minor in Business and in Fashion Studies.”

Was the process difficult applying at an Ivy League school?

“It was much more complicated than applying to a state school, but only slightly more involved than other out of state colleges I applied to. For many colleges you do a basic application through the Common App, which has a set of questions and essays of its own, and then complete essays specific to the university. For Cornell, the specific college your major is in also requires essays. This ended up being around 5 short essays, the longest having a word limit of 500 words and the smallest 150 words. Now the application requires submission of ACT scores, but they were not submitted at all when I applied.”

How many attend the college?

“3,861 in the class of 2029,

16,128 undergrads,

26,793 total students.”

What is the best part so far of your college experience?

“I would say getting all As in my first two preliminary exams (these are cumulative exams but over about half or a third of the course material interspersed through the year, and then a final fully cumulative exam at the end of the semester. We don’t do tests over each unit/idea). Coming into the semester I was really worried that I wouldn’t be able to handle the coursework. Doing well on the exams (they were curved to As) made me feel better at belonging at Cornell. The friends I’ve made are also a highlight, but there’s nothing specific enough to note.”

What has been a challenge?

“It has been a challenge balancing school work with social engagement. To stay on top of my work, especially my chemistry class, I could easily spend 6-9 hours a day working outside of class. It usually ends up being about 7. To try and make sure I’m still having social interaction on a typical day I always get dinner with a group of friends and form study groups with friends in the same classes. I also have to intently plan actual hangouts, which is harder to fit in, but necessary. Joining clubs was also helpful, so I’m part of a mental health club, a voting advocacy club, a dungeons and dragons club, and a leadership club. All of these things has made balancing school with social engagement easier.”

How can you encourage those at Fort Scott High School  to dream big for their future?

“Get involved in high school. Even if you don’t want to leave Fort Scott, or know what you want to do, you’ll be exposed to so many new people and you’ll learn the things you like. No one is going to judge you for being involved. Also, don’t be afraid to start a club and make a major impact. If you can show a demonstrated interest you could have a huge impact on the school and town. You just have to try it!!”

“We also have really great counselors. Reach out to them to talk about school things and future things. They want to help you and they’re good at it. Don’t go through things alone.”

Fort Scott, Fort Scott National Historic Site, Government

Pulling Together For The Common Good

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Fort Scott National Historic Site
The U.S. Federal Government shut down is affecting areas not thought of previously.
During a city supervisor’s meeting last week, it was brought up in conversation that the Fort Scott National Historic Site’s lawn had not been mowed as usual.
“With the government shutdown the FSNHS,  staff has not been allowed to work at the Fort, but the grass continues to grow,” said Brad Matkin, Fort Scott City Manager on the city’s Facebook page.  “So I reached out to the FSNHS superintendent to see what kind of hoops we needed to jump through to enable us to mow the property. After a few days of government work we were given the OK to proceed with mowing, Knowing the weekend is going to be nice and visitors will be wanting to see the Fort in it’s beauty, the Parks Department and Chief Bruner took time out of their regular daily duties to go mow and weedeat the grounds. Thank you guys for your dedication.”
Norman Mackley, Fort Scott Park Department Supervisor, said “At a supervisors weekly meeting, I think, (Fort Scott Fire Chief) Dave Bruner volunteered. Then Dave contacted me.”
Thursday afternoon, October 16, Mackley and Parks Maintenance employee Paul Ballou, each took a 72 inch city lawn mower and spent about three hours mowing the Fort Scott National Historic Site lawn.
“I found out, there is more to  mow than I thought,” Mackley said. “I estimate seven acres.”
On Friday, Bruner trimmed weeds and overgrown grass with a with a weed eater to keep the Fort lawn looking neat, and manicured, with trimming also from Mackley and Ballou.
Bourbon County, Elections, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Candidate Forum at Ellis Center on October 22

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Election Candidate Forum

Wednesday, October 22nd

@ Ellis Fine Arts Center

2108 S. Horton St.

5:30pm

Doors open for candidate Meet & Greet

6pm

Forum begins

_______________

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces an Election Candidate Forum that will be held on Wednesday, October 22nd in the meeting rooms of the Ellis Fine Arts Center, located at 2108 S. Horton St.

Doors will open at 5:30pm

with a Meet & Greet with the candidates

The forum will begin at 6pm.

The order of the forum will be as follows:

1.      USD234 School Board

2.     Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees

3.     City of Fort Scott Commission

4.     Bourbon County Commission

Candidate Questions:

Residents of the community are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates to the Chamber by 1pm on Monday, October 20th.

Questions may be emailed to [email protected], mailed to 231 E. Wall St., or dropped off in person at the Chamber office.

The forum will also be broadcast live on the Facebook page Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for those unable to attend in person.

Candidates in these races are asked to RSVP to the Chamber by October 20th to confirm attendance.

For more information, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
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Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet Learns of Fall Happenings in Fort Scott

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Stacy Racy, facing, left, Lindsay Madison, and Wayne Racy at the Downtown Quarterly Meet and Greet at Common Ground Coffee Shop on Oct. 17.

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Quarterly Meet and Greet is a meeting to share events and opportunities that are coming.

Stacy and Wayne Racy, owners of Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall, were introduced by Lindsey Madison, Chamber CEO.

The Racy’s took over ownership in May 2025, from the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, where they are members. Since then, they have been revamping the menu to some healthier options and featuring evening entertainment periodically. They are having a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the Honor Flights program for military veterans on Oct. 25 starting at 4 p.m. To learn more:

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=fort%20scott%20honor%20flights

Later than evening the coffee company will feature live music by Serenade at 7 p.m. on Oct. 25 Admission is free for this concert.

For updates on happenings at the coffee company: https://www.facebook.com/fscommonground/

Main Street Approach

The City of Fort Scott Housing and Community Development Coordinator Lisa Dillon spoke about work done on a possible Main Street Program designation. Main Street assists in developing strategies to revitalize or strengthen downtown areas.

The Main Street Program will give technical assistance, training,  access to design services, available state and national grant funds  and membership to the Main Street America Network, according to info provided by Dillon.

Dillon said it has proven to be successful for communities enhancing the downtown area, but  there must be community engagement in the process.

“After meeting four times over the past six months to plan and discuss this effort, we’re now at the point of collecting letters of support for our application,” Dillon said later.

To create a letter of support:

Letter of Support Main Street

 

For more information contact Dillon at
Phone: 620-223-0550 Ext. 250
[email protected]

 Other news from the meeting:

  • Fort Scott National Historic Site Superintendent Jill Jaworski told the group that the annual Christmas Candlelight Tour will proceed, but because of the government shut down during the planning season for the event, ” it may not be what it was in the past.” Tickets will go on sale on Nov. 1.
  • The City of Fort is sponsoring a live music concert by Almost Kiss on Oct. 25 at 9 p.m. at the pavilion on North National Avenue, with costumes encouraged, said Rachel Carpenter,  Special Project Coordinator.
  • Carpenter also told of a new app that she is using  that can tell how many visitors visited the city, for example: Fortfest 2025 had 2,500 visitors. Additionally, it can tell spots the visitors went to while here.
  • The city is sponsoring Haunted Trails at Riverside Park on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Actors are still needed, those “who like to scare people.”

Contact Carpenter at 620-223-0550 Ext. 205.

  • The annual children’s downtown Halloween Parade will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday Oct. 25, with preliminary fun activities and pizza and drink to end the event. Drink donations are appreciated. Call the Chamber of Commerce at 620.223.3566.
  • Small business Saturday is November 29.
  • The Christmas Parade is Thursday, December 4 with a theme of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.
  • During Christmas on the Bricks festival event,  stores will stay open late and entertainment will abound in the downtown. Diane Striler is the facilitator of this annual event. There will be a cookie making site, a wreath making site, a skating rink, carriage rides, a  new event at the splash pad area for children, various alcoholic tasting spots around the downtown, a scavenger hunt and tree decorating contest among many others. See their Facebook page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/fortscottchristmasonthebricks
  • The Chamber downtown map that has been in the making is nearing completion, Madison said.
  • The Chamber Guide and Directory deadline is Oct. 31 for reviewing all info.
  • There is a Chamber sponsored candidate forum on Oct. 22 at the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College, doors open at 5:30 p.m.
  • Upcoming Chamber Coffees: 10/23 is First United Methodist Church, 10/30 is Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Grant Awards at Landmark Bank.
  • There are E-community grants and Grow KS grants available: contact the Chamber for more details.
  • The Cohn’s Fall Murder Mystery Dinner is Oct. 30.
Buy Tickets by calling 620-418-6209
or order online at
  • The coffee bar at Hare and Crow Barber Shop opens soon.

 

 

Bourbon County, Food, Government

WIC Food Benefit Disruptions Are Possible Because of Federal Shut-Down

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The Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department is located between 6th and Lowman Streets and 6th and Horton Streets. It is the location of the local WIC program in our community.

The U.S. Congress failed to reach an agreement on funding the government beginning on October 1, 2025.

WIC is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and it is affected by the shutdown.  The local health agency is advising WIC users to stock up on food and other items to prepare for this lack of federal funding.

WIC is available for income-eligible pregnant and postpartum women, breastfeeding moms, and children under five (up to their fifth birthday). Dads, grandparents, foster parents, and anyone raising kids under five can apply for support for the kids in their care.

The local WIC Clinic is part of the SEK Multi-County Health Department,  and is located at 6th and Lowman Streets in Fort Scott.

From a press release from the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department:

WIC may operate short-term in Kansas by using limited prior-year federal funding.

There is a risk that WIC benefits will be paused, reduced, or ceased.

WIC Food benefits are estimated to last until the end of October, but that can’t be assured.

Users are encouraged to buy shelf-ready healthy food and/or items the family uses at this time, balancing food safety and storage areas available.

Local food banks, pantries, and non-profit groups may be of assistance if WIC benefits are temporarily disrupted.

WIC users are encouraged to continue using their benefits and attending appointments, but call 24 hours before, to verify the office is open, 620.223.4464.

If the WIC clinic closes due to lack of funding, contact the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment at 785-296-2683 for assistance.

The press release asks that users consider letting their elected U.S. Representative Derek Schmidt, and Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran know how important WIC is to their family and urge them to restore funding.

To reach elected representatives:

President Donald Trump has no phone number to leave comments on; however, the address is 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C.

Schmidt can be reached at 202.225.6601 or 1223 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D. C. 20515.

Marshal: 202.224.4774 or PO Box 1588, Great Bend, KS 67530

Moran: 620.232.2286 or PO Box 1372, Pittsburg, KS 66762

 

The maximum income to qualify for WIC:
Household Size Annual Monthly
Family of 2 $39,128 $3,261
Family of 3 $49,303 $4,109
Family of 4 $59,478 $4,957
Family of 5 $69,653 $5,805

5 more rows

•
May 5, 2025

WIC Eligibility Requirements – USDA Food and Nutrition Service

 

USDA Food and Nutrition Service (.gov)
https://www.fns.usda.gov › wic › applicant-participant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum

Dance Party Tonight at the Gordon Parks Museum

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Sending on behalf of Chamber member

The Gordon Parks Museum
The Gordon Parks Museum

invites you to take part in the

22nd Annual Celebration

This weekend ~ October 2nd-4th!

Friday highlight this year

The Celebration Dance Party featuring “The Full Flava Kings”

The Full Flava Kings, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, are one of the best party bands in the region. Celebrate and dance the night away at The River Room, 3 W. Oak St.

Doors open at 7:00 pm

Band starts at 8:00 pm

Tickets: $25/each or $30/each at the door

Click HERE to order tickets!

See the flyer below for additional details!

Click HERE for a full schedule of

The Gordon Parks Celebration events!

Sending on behalf of Chamber member

The Gordon Parks Museum
The Gordon Parks Museum

invites you to take part in the

22nd Annual Celebration

This weekend ~ October 2nd-4th!

Friday highlight this year

The Celebration Dance Party featuring “The Full Flava Kings”

The Full Flava Kings, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, are one of the best party bands in the region. Celebrate and dance the night away at The River Room, 3 W. Oak St.

Doors open at 7:00 pm

Band starts at 8:00 pm

Tickets: $25/each or $30/each at the door

Click HERE to order tickets!

See the flyer below for additional details!

Click HERE for a full schedule of

The Gordon Parks Celebration events!

A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members!
 

Click HERE for a full schedule of

The Gordon Parks Celebration events!

A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members!
 
 
 
 

\
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 
Fort Scott, Schools, Sports

Fort Scott Quarterback Club Begins At The High School

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Johnathon Stark, from the USD234 Website.

Johnathon Stark started as head football coach of the Fort Scott High School Tigers this year, and found there was good community support of the program.

“When I became the head football coach of FSHS, I had a lot of people reach out to me who wanted to support the program,” he said.  “A number of these people brought up the idea of starting a quarterback club.  Previously, I was an assistant coach at Pittsburg and they have one, so it was something I was familiar with, and I think it is a great thing for the community and the players on the team. I recruited Matt Harris and Jordan Witt to help me establish the QB Club, and they are the officers of the organization along with myself.”

“They are both alumni of the football program and the program means a lot to them. They want to see all players on the team have a great experience.”

“I just want to add clarification that the FS QB Club is not associated with USD 234,” Jordan Witt said. “Expenditure approval is done by the FS QB Club board members consisting of Matt Harris, Jordan Witt, and Johnathan Stark, not the school board. We are a separate organization, complementing the support the school district provides.”

“We applied a few months ago and were approved by the Internal Revenue Service on September 12, 2025 as a 501C3 (non-profit) organization. We are very excited about this because donors to the Fort Scott Quarterback Club can deduct the contribution as a charitable contribution.”

“ We want all Tiger football players to have the best experience playing football possible,” he said.  “Quarterback clubs are common in other local communities and help provide financial support and resources to the team.  School district budgets are already stretched thin and the Kansas State High School Activities Association does not allow school funds to be spent on certain things.  The big advantage for Quarterback Clubs is we have the freedom to do and spend where necessary in order to support our Tiger football players both now and in the future. This is an organization that we want to see support the program for years to come.”

Coach Stark. Submitted photo.

Currently there are 65 football players from freshman through senior years.

“I send out an email update throughout the season and we are in the process of organizing some meetings and events for all members. We also share information and photos on our Facebook page. If anyone would like more information, they can email us at [email protected].”

Memberships help purchase equipment, camp fees, team meals, and other team related expenses approved by the school board that are not covered by the school district.

It will also provide insight into the football program and season updates from Coach Stark.

An individual membership is $25 for the year, and a Corporate Membership is $100.  Corporate Memberships  are recognized on the organization’s Facebook Page.

To become a member send name, address, and email address, and send the payment in two ways:

  • Venmo to: @fsqbclub
  • Mail a check to: FS QB Club, 809 Meadow Lane, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Corporate Memberships please email your logo.

FS Quarterback Club Logo taken from the Chamber of Commerce website.

For more information: email at [email protected] and follow  on Facebook at Fort Scott Tiger QB Club.

 

Area News, Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, Health Care

Freeman’s Dr. Derek Miller Noted by Newsweek for Knee Surgery Excellence                                        

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Top Knee Doctor in Nation

 

JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Health System’s Dr. Derek Miller was named one of America’s most talented knee surgeons working in the field today by New York-based news magazine Newsweek and global data intelligence firm Statista.

The accolade, the board-certified surgeon admitted, caught him off guard.

“I first found out when my office notified me that I was ranked the number 19th knee surgeon in the United States,” Dr. Miller said. “For sure it’s quite an honor, given that there are more than 25,000 orthopedic surgeons practicing in the U.S.”

Dr. Miller said it’s always good to receive affirmation for the quality care he and his team provide daily to their patients at Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Joplin.

“Especially when you consider the metrics that they use; complication rates, ER visits, unplanned re-admissions and doctor performance data from Medicare claims,” the board-certified surgeon said. “I think these are the things that people really care about – optimizing patient outcomes.

“To be honest, it takes a team to get results like we have,” he said. “I’m blessed with an incredible office staff that is both thorough and detail-oriented, and OR (operating room) personnel who are really good at their jobs and just truly care about people.”

Dr. Miller specializes in primary and revision knee and hip replacements, performing 500-plus surgeries each year.

“Joint replacement is a rewarding surgery,” he said. “And often, it’s truly life-changing for so many of my patients. Their quality of life has suffered as they become so debilitated and disabled from arthritis, or maybe they’ve had a terrible injury in the past. I have the privilege of helping relieve their pain and ultimately improve quality of life.”

Dr. Miller, who has been at Freeman for 18 years, is a primary user of the CORI robotic-assisted total knee system, a technological wonder that allows greater precision than traditional knee instrumentation of the past, increasing both patient satisfaction and long-term outcomes. He also utilizes lovera injections, which freezes the nerves to a patient’s knees, providing immediate, non-opioid pain relief for up to 90 days.

“It’s technology like these combined with a competent, compassionate team that makes Freeman the leader in knee surgery and gets us this kind of national recognition,” he added.

Dr. Miller is currently accepting new patients at Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, 3105 McClelland Blvd. in Joplin. Call 417.347.5400 to make an appointment.

 

###

 

 

About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center, the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services, as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.

Bourbon County

Heirloom Corn Sheller Will Be Moving From PHF

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A 2008 photo of the sheller. Submitted photo.

An heirloom corn sheller that has been a part of the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta for many years, will not likely be there in the future.

The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta event showcases rural America in an earlier era. One can experience educational and historic exhibits, refreshments, and live musical entertainment all weekend this weekend.

The Kemmerer’s corn sheller been a part of the PHF since 2009 after it was taken back from the Illinois Agriculture Museum.

“It’s a 1-of-its-kind in the world.” said Jim Kemmerer Jr., grandson of one of the creators of the machine.

Jim and his dad, Jim Sr. thought that, eventually, neither of them would be demonstrating, and began a search of what to do next with it.

Jim Jr. and his dad, Jim Sr. in front of the corn sheller in 2014. Submitted photo.

“Shortly after starting the search for a new home for the sheller, we found a couple of possible homes.  One is the Iowa 80 of Walcott,Iowa, which is the world’s largest truck stop and has a fantastic truck museum! Or the Will County Thresherman’s Association (Will County, IL).  The Will County group is similar to PHF.  It’s also the county that the sheller was ‘born’ and used from, 1950 to 1995, and some of the members remember my grandfather and seeing the sheller in operation.”

“Due to the eagerness of the new home possibilities, the chance is very good that 2025 is the last year the sheller will participate in PHF,”Jim Jr. said.

For those who don’t know, a sheller was a farm machine that separates corn, grown on one’s farm, from the cob, husk, and dust.

“It does everything a combine does except pick the corn.  Combines came after pickers and shellers.  The name combine is short for combination, which a combine is a combination of a picker and sheller.”

Kemmerer is encouraging people to stop by to see the sheller at the event this weekend at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.

 

About the PHF

The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta (PHF) is an annual Bourbon County event that takes place this year from October 3-5 at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds on South Horton Street in Fort Scott.

The event showcases rural American culture in an earlier time period.

To learn more: https://pioneerharvestfiesta.com/

The event kicks off with a parade of antique and classic farm implements and more, through Fort Scott’s historic downtown on Thursday, October 2, at 6 p.m., according to the PHF website.

All three days showcase steam engines, blacksmiths, food and Flea Market vendors, drag saw demonstrations, Tractors and Gas Engines on display, Baker Fan demonstrations, arts and crafts, straw baling, wheat threshing, corn husking and shelling, sorghum making, rock crushing, saw mill operation, Car Show, Tractor Pull (Antique & Classic), Garden Tractor Pull,  and many more.

This year’s full weekend admission is only $5 per person and includes a collector button and the Friday Bean Feed at 5 PM. Children under age 12 are free.

Free admission does not include a collector button. Prior year’s collector buttons are available for purchase for $1.

History of the Corn Sheller Heirloom

The circa 1950 was built by Harold Kemmerer, Jim Sr.’s dad, and Lloyd Erickson from “junk and used parts.”

Harold Kemmerer was the owner and operator from Plainfield, Illinois.

Erickson was creator and patent holder of the first articulated four-wheel drive tractor.

“The sheller is a 1932 Le Moon truck lengthened four feet, with a 1944 Buda diesel from a Greyhound Bus from Chicago,” Jim Jr. said.

Farm Collector Magazine featured the sheller in an 2020 article

3-31-20 Farm Collector Homemade Corn Sheller Built to Work

View Jim Kemmerer’s YouTube channel to see videos from a corn shelling job in August 1985. This was a trial job after reclaiming it from the Illinois Agriculture Museum in 2008.

Other facts about the machine:

“Only four new items ever used on it,” he said. “New items and when installed were:

    • 1950, a Joliet Big 6 Corn Sheller and a transfer case.
    • 1952, a Reeves Variable Speed Industrial Transmission which uses a wooden belt.
    • 1965, a Frantz Oil Filter System. That was also the last time the oil was changed.

“It was used from 1950 to 1995, it has shelled between 14 and 16 million bushels. That can fill the world’s second-largest elevator which is located in Enid, OK,” Jim Jr. said.

Other facts about the sheller:

    • Motor has never been rebuilt, and it can be started with a flame.
    • Still street-legal, with a maximum speed of 32 MPH.
    • It can shell up to 1,800 bushels per hour.
    • It weighs 13,480 lbs. 5 feet tall, 30 feet long when folded up, up to over 100’ long when used in a linear set-up.
    • The only electric items are the lights and starter. No power steering or power brakes.
    • It can be demonstrated with or without running corn through it. We have a binder of information to help with demonstrations.  We also can hang signage from the sheller which explains history and components.”
    • Kemmerer corn sheller videos can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NroTC5J44s&list=PLL3NXNyTZRWOX3jhAOqI-fA0PPJAgrpJ9&pp=gAQBiAQB.

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Housing

Fort Scott Manor Is Turned Into Standard Market Apartments

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Workers are finishing up work at the former Fort Scott Manor to turn it into apartments for the community, which are named Charlotte Place.

Fort Scottians need more apartments, and a Kansas contractor is turning a former nursing home, which has been vacant for several years, into new rentals after a complete renovation of the property.

The former Fort Scott Manor nursing home property, 736 Heylman, was purchased by  Rural Asset Management (RAM) in January 2022, after being closed down by the state several years prior.

The new name for the Fort Scott property is Charlotte Place, RAM Owner Shane Lamb said, adding that his children pick the name of the business’s properties.

The first four units are slated for rental availability in late October, said  Lamb, if all goes as planned.

Work started on the property, then halted to finish a similar Iola project in March 2025.

“It’s coming together, it’s been an intensive and costly project, and it should be nice when done,” he said. “Our goal is to be the nicest apartments in the community we are in, and to keep it affordable.”

There will be 24 units:  one-bedroom, one-bath apartments are 550-626 square feet with a range of $650-695 per month,  two-bedroom apartments are between 700-1000 square feet with a range of $800 to 875, and there will be a 500 square foot studio apartment for short-term rentals, Lamb said.

“The short-term rental, a couple of local businesses want to lease for their staff,” Lamb said.

The apartments will feature new appliances, including a stove, above-stove microwave, and fridge, and will be equipped with fiber optic internet availability.

Tenants will pay rent and their electric bill; the landlord pays for the water, trash, and sewer service.

There will be a brand new on-site laundry provided for the tenants.

Additionally, “there will be a pet-friendly fenced-in area in the back of the apartments,” he said.

These apartments will not be low-income rentals, but instead will be available to the standard market, said Lamb.

“The standard market means that they are not subsidized by the government,” Lamb said.

About Rural Asset Management

RAM focuses on rural towns and rural housing, purchasing nursing homes, schools,  and hospitals that are converted to housing, according to a prior interview with Lamb.

“We currently have 13 projects under construction in rural communities,” he said. “We typically supply 300-600 apartments per year in rural communities.”