The meal was catered by Great Western Dining and Twigs and Berries.
The number of women attending the Fort Scott Community College Women’s Appreciation Luncheon was doubled from last year.
“Pre-pandemic, we had a women’s luncheon every year with between 150 and 200 women in attendance,” said Allie Birket, one of the organizers. “We didn’t have a luncheon in 2020 or 2021, but began again in 2022. Last year’s luncheon numbers were low ,around 70 women attended, but we saw a better turnout this year. We had 114 women attend!
“We plan on having one every year,” she said. ” And we hope attendance continues to rise.”
“This was the first women’s luncheon I’ve planned, so it was a completely new experience,” she said. “The very best part was seeing so many smiling faces! We’re getting a lot of great feedback from the food to the vendors to the décor. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it, and that makes it all worth it! A HUGE shoutout to: FSCC’s Community Relations Committee, who helped plan the event and who volunteered at the event; Great Western Dining who catered the wraps and drinks; Twigs & Berries who catered the sides and desserts; and all of our vendors who helped complete the event. The whole luncheon came together wonderfully, and it wouldn’t have been possible without each and every one of these amazing people.”
“The best part of the luncheon was being able to interact with the community, be that luncheon attendees or vendors,” said Susie Arvidson, one of the organizers. ” It’s wonderful to see women of our community visiting, enjoying a wonderful lunch, and shopping local businesses.”
There were 16 vendors who displayed their services and products at the luncheon:
FSCC Nursing
FSCC Cosmetology
Mary Kay
Jbloom Jewelry
Riggs Chiropractic Fort Scott
Red Aspen
BBCO Health Dept
CHC
Rite On
The Baby Stitch
Erika George Photography
The River Room
Flying P Ranch
Kimberly Demko
SEK Mental Health Center
Desert Blooms Boutique
Business women lined the entrance lobby of the Ellis Art Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College. Women could shop on their way to the serving table.Women visiting during the luncheon.Woman enjoying the meal and conversation at the FSCC Women’s Appreciation Luncheon on April 26.
The Fort Scott Hurricanes team, 2022. Submitted photo.
Fort Scott Hurricanes is a competitive summer swim team for youth who range in age from 5-18 years.
The group started around 1980, said Tara Holt, who is the Parent Board President of the swim team.
This year the team is part of the Tri-State Swim Conference.
The local club petitioned Tri-State at the fall conference meeting in 2022 to become a permanent member.
“Full, official membership gives our team the right to vote at conference meetings and to be on the rotation to pick invitational swim meet dates,” she said. “The conference approved our permanent membership… at the first of the month. Being a part of the Tri-State Swim Conference has given our swimmers more consistent competition.”
The head coach of the Hurricanes, in her fourth season, is Samantha Short.
Hurricane’s Assistant Coach Claire Holt, Eli Holt and Coach Samantha Short at the 2022 Tri-State A Championships. Submitted photo.
“We are fortunate to have her back coaching for us this season! The kids and parents love her!” Holt said “Our new assistant coach will be Claire Holt. Claire is joining us as a coach after having been a swimmer for the Hurricanes for 13 seasons. She graduated last year.”
One way to support the youth swim team is to order Papa Don’s Pizza on Wednesday, May 17 from 10:30 A.M. to 8 P.M.
“Papa Don’s will be giving the Hurricanes 10% of the proceeds that day!” Holt said. “The Hurricanes thank Papa Don’s for their generosity!”
“The Hurricanes will have a meeting for the parents of new swimmers on Wednesday, May 3 at 5:30 P.M. in the small gym at Buck Run Community Center,” Holt said.
Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.
Fort Scott Community College’s Women’s Appreciation Luncheon is April 26 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Ellis Fine Arts Center, 2108 S. Horton. Please RSVP today, April 25 by 3 p.m.
In addition to lunch, catered by Great Western Dining and Twigs & Berries, there will be door prizes and product displays.
The menu for the event:
Choose one wrap from two selections: Southwest or club (Great Western Dining)
Traditional salad (Twigs & Berries)
Caprese pasta salad (Twigs & Berries)
Sugar cookie fruit pizza (Twigs & Berries)
Rainbow fruit salad (Twigs & Berries)
Cost of the lunch is $5. One can also pay at the door.
“The purpose of the event is to provide a luncheon of good food, great company, and to support local businesses owned by women,” Allie Birket, a Community Relations Committee member said. Birket, who is the assistant to the college president and Susie Arvidson, director of library services, are on the committee.
Vendors are FSCC Nursing Dept., FSCC Cosmetology Dept., Better in Bourbon Clothing, Tupperware, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Jbloom Jewelry, Riggs Chiropractic Fort Scott, Red Aspen, Bourbon County Health Dept., The Baby Stitch, Erica George Photography, The River Room (event center), Flying P Ranch, Kimberly Demko, Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, Desert Blooms Boutique, Locust Hill Lamanches (goat milk products).
Locara Inc. is a new business partner with Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, HBCAT.
“Locara is a platform that supports small businesses by expanding their local customer base beyond word of mouth channels,” according to Tylor Hunn cofounder. “We offer a cost-effective and user-friendly e-commerce solution for these business owners to connect with local buyers.”
HBCAT has paid for up to 80 local businesses to have their products and services listed on the Locara platform for a year, which is a value of $60 per business, Hunn said.
Tylor Hunn. Submitted photo.
They launched their website on April 5, https://www.locara.us in partnership with HBCAT and their Dare to Dream event.
“Through our partnership with HBCAT, we are piloting our startup in the Fort Scott area, helping local businesses display their products and services and expand their reach,” Hunn said. “We believe that this partnership is a great opportunity to support the growth and success of small businesses in the community.”
Hunn is chief executive officer of the business and Ali Zia is his technical partner.
They are registered in a small town in upstate New York, Chittenango.
They have been in business for two months and have five employees.
“Locara provides a location-based platform for small businesses to list and showcase their products and services online,” he said. “This means that these businesses can create a digital storefront where they can display pictures, descriptions, and pricing of their products or services, just like in a physical store.”
“We realized that small, local businesses face a range of difficulties including limited resources, limited visibility, and challenges competing with larger corporations,” Hunn said. “We have also noticed a large movement towards people wanting to support local, but very few actually do because there is no easy way to discover all the businesses around them, but more specifically, discover what they are selling.”
Locara’s internet platform centralizes all the small businesses in a community into a single storefront where local buyers can more easily find and purchase what they need, Hunn said.
Locara search results graphic, submitted.
“For example, imagine a local mother who makes and sells crafts from home but, from her experience sewing her kid’s clothes back together, she also wants to offer clothing repair services,” he said. “This woman can list each of the crafts and services she wants to sell. The community is then able to visit our website and browse through this mother’s products and services like they would be browsing on Amazon or Walmart’s website with the exception that everything listed on the website is from a local business. Our goal is to create an easier experience not only for small, local businesses to showcase what they sell, but also for buyers to find and make purchases from local businesses.”
Fort Scott School District USD234 staff have been working on standards and best ways to teach them as they have met on Wednesdays this school year.
“Our early release days have provided our teachers to work to identify the essential standards that every student needs to be successful at the next level or the next course,” Superintendent Destry Brown said. “Our teachers have mostly finished this process and are now at the refinement stage. We will be working next year on identifying the resources that we will use to teach those standards and identifying the best practice in teaching those standards.”
Destry Brown. Submitted photo.
The district is changing the days the teachers gather to collaborate in response to staff and parents input.
Next year the days will be once per month.
“We decided to change to once per month in response to parent and staff input,” Brown said. “Staff believed they could have more concentrated and focused time to do the things we need to do next year while parents felt it would be easier for them to plan for a full day rather that an early release every week.”
“The time spent this year has been very successful and we are well ahead of where we were,” he said. “Teachers have seen the value in the time to collaborate and work together on curriculum, assessment and instruction.”
USD234 Preschool Update
The Fort Scott Preschool, at 409 S. Judson.
The preschool is going to remain at 409 S. Judson for the time being.
“We have six sections of preschool currently with enough for two more sections on the waiting list,” Brown said. “Our plan going forward will be to do some remodeling of the current space and reconfigure the space to better meet our needs.”
“We will also look at purchasing a mobile unit to place on the grounds at the preschool site,” Brown said. “This would allow us to bring all of our preschool students and classes to one location as well as expand our preschool to include more students.”
There are currently three teachers at the preschool.
“I believe that if we open more sections to the public, we will probably be able to expand to five teachers,” he said. “One thing we are considering is having a section for all-day students to help with some childcare needs in the community.”
The community needs quality childcare.
“Our community has a great need for childcare; especially for working families,” Brown said. “For our community to grow economically and to attract and expand business in Fort Scott, we need to be the kind of community that provides ways to make it possible for parents to work and trust that their children are being cared for safely.”
Fort Scott City Commissioner Josh Jones, right, and FS Water Distribution Supervisor Bill Lemke discuss the splash pad project on April 19 at the site on North National Ave. Jones is one of the initiators of the splash pad project, as well.
Fort Scott City Commissioner Josh Jones was on the site of the future splash pad and sensory park on April 19. Jones is also one of the organizers of the project.
Dirt work has begun on the Fort Scott Splash Pad and Sensory Park looking southwest towards National Avenue.The Fort Scott Splash Pad and Sensory Park Committee from it’s Facebook page. On the committee: Bailey Lyons, Kelly Barr, Katie Hueston, Meredith Tucker and Josh Jones.
“It has started,” Jones said. “You’ll start seeing water lines and concrete, the above ground (part) in three to five weeks.”
The crews will be working around the annual Good `Ol Days events, the first weekend in June, he said.
Looking south from the Lunette Blair Blockhouse on Skubitz Plaza. This is the proposed site of the sensory park.
The splash pad will be a 50 by 50 foot multiple feature water site and the sensory park will be two pads, roughly 24 by 24 foot for children’s equipment that is easily accessed, with no physical barriers.
Looking north from the Lunette Blair Blockhouse to the splash pad site.
The splash pad and sensory park will be located on Skubitz Plaza at the north end of downtown Fort Scott, on North National Avenue.
Fort Scott Splash Pad and Sensory Park rendition from their Facebook page.Poster explaining the sensory park from the Fort Scott Splash Pad and Sensory Park Facebook page.
For students who want a career in construction trades such as welding, masonry, carpentry or heating and air conditioning, which are high demand and high paying jobs, there is a short cut to do that.
Junior or senior year students in Fort Scott High School and Uniontown High School have the opportunity to get a head start on these jobs, said Kris Mengarelli, Fort Scott Community College’s Director of the Career and Technology Center, CTEC.
“CTE courses prepare students with the technical, academic, and employment skills needed for life after high school,” from CTEC’s Facebook page. “The courses hone critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills—all valuable tools needed to succeed in today’s workforce.”
“Starting in the fall of 2023, we are….offering carpentry basics, OSHA 10 (certification training) and introduction to craft skills for high school and college,” he said. “This is typically for juniors and seniors. It’s a two-year program to get a certificate.”
“The teacher will be Michael Casner, a Fort Scott High School teacher,” he said. “He’ll be teaching dual credit classes for those three classes at the high school. Uniontown will be able to send students over to attend those classes as well. The schools will coordinate what works best.”
The target student is any interested in the trades for a career.
The State of Kansas is offering an Excel in CTE Initiative, for high school juniors and seniors for free college tuition on approved technical courses offered at Kansas technical schools and community colleges.
“The state looks at where there is a lacking workforce,” he said.
“There are some small fees that fall back on the student, but not significant,” Mengarelli said.
Following the classes for dual high school and college credit, students will have a nationally recognized certificate,” he said. “Students who want to go into construction, this makes them employable just out of high school.”
CTEC is located in Crawford County.
Destry Brown, Fort Scott’s Superintendent of USD 234 was a “key player in getting CTEC started in Crawford County,” Mengarelli said.
Brown was formerly a superintendent of schools in Pittsburg, in Crawford County and is currently superintendent of schools for Fort Scott.
Fort Scott Community College President Alysia Johnston.
Alysia Johnston, Fort Scott Community College’s President submitted her retirement at last evenings Board of Trustees meeting.
“I have been reminded lately how fragile life can be and I am needing to spend more time with family,” Johnston said. “I will miss the people I have had the great pleasure to work with the most.”
“It has been my great privilege to serve FSCC as President for the last 8 years,” she said in a statement. “After a great deal of thought and consulting with my husband, I have decided it is time I retire and dedicate more time to family.”
“I believe we have a wonderful team of Trustees, faculty, staff, and community who have demonstrated their passion for student success and community support,” she said. “It is my sincere hope that many of the programs, projects, policies, and procedures we have begun or changed will continue to advance FSCC’s mission.”
“I know the college is in great hands to move forward and meet the needs of its many stakeholders,” she said. “I hope I have helped position the college to continue being a critical piece of not only economic development, but a beacon for vision and collaboration to advance all citizens of Bourbon County. I believe making sure our mission of providing for student and community needs should always be the North Star.”
The Kansas League of National Interscholastic Bike Race (NICA) is returning to Gunn Park on April 22 and 23.
“We will need volunteers for 2 – 4-hour shifts during the weekend, mostly on Sunday the 23rd,” Frank Halsey, event host said..
“If you missed this event last year, it is worth the effort to check it out,” he said. “These people do an amazing production for these kids and we at Gunn Park Trails are proud to be hosting their return.”
Halsey is founder of Gunn Park Trails, a volunteer organization that maintains the bike trails in the park.
Gunn Park will be closed for use during the event, but spectators are welcome.
“We still need volunteers for the upcoming NICA Race next weekend, April 22nd & 23rd,” Halsey said. “Please check out the following link for times and duties.”
“We get kids on bikes, “according to NICA’s website https://nationalmtb.org/about-us/. “We are outside going places. We are stoking a life-long passion for riding. Founded in 2009, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) develops interscholastic mountain biking programs for student-athletes across the United States.
The Kansas NICA was formed in 2019
NICA is having adventures with teammates while tackling both small and grand challenges, according to the website.
Its mission is to build strong minds, bodies, character, and communities through cycling. Its values are fun, ,inclusivity equity, respect, and community.
About Gunn Park
Gunn Park entrance.
Gunn Park is located on the west side of Fort Scott, KS and is a 155-acre park with beautiful landscape and stone features, with the Marmaton River flowing through.
There is camping, playgrounds, eight miles of trails for biking/hiking,18-hole frisbee/disc-golf course, two lakes for fishing, seven shelter houses, 14 camping slots with electric hookups and restrooms.
Jennifer Dugan and Barb Dunlap, diagnostic imaging staff bring items into the new building this morning.
Today is move day for Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Fort Scott, and the facility was buzzing with employees who are helping in the relocating of their new clinic.
The move will allow more space and services in one location, at 2322 S. Main.
More than 120 employees are helping this weekend, but staging for the move began earlier this week, according to a press release from CHC.
“It has been a massive effort and I would like for staff to get recognized for their hard work,” Krista Postai, CEO and president said.
On Friday, April 14, today, the Woodland Hills clinic will close at 1 p.m.
Apothecare Pharmacy at Woodland Hills will follow and be closed all day Saturday, April 15, as staff prepare to relocate.
Lisa Wells, CHC Vice President of Pharmacy at Fort Scott was helping with the move -in this morning.
On Sunday, April 16, CHC/SEK Walk-In Care on National Street will close at 1 p.m. as they relocate to the new facility.
The walk-in clinic and the pharmacy will both have separate entrances when the new facility opens on April 17. Traci Reed is the practice manager of the walk-in clinic.
The new clinic will be open to see patients on Monday, April 17,with all CHC/SEK services including Primary care, Walk-In Care, Behavioral Health Care, Pharmacy, and specialty services at the new location.
Baily Davis, CHC Practice Manager at Fort Scott is on-hand today with the transitioning.
“It’s finally happening!” said Baily Davis, CHC/SEK Fort Scott Practice Manager in the press release. “The new 43,000-square facility is beautiful and efficient and will provide more room to offer more services,” “And, for the first time, Walk-In Care, Primary Care, and our Pharmacy will all be in one easy-to-find location with more convenient parking. I think our new facility will benefit the community in ways we couldn’t imagine before,” she said.
The relocation realizes CHC/SEK’s plan to create a comprehensive health center with all of its services in one location, according to the press release. The building was purchased in 2021, and with remodeling and new equipment purchases, the health center expects its investment to be $9 million.
The new location offers 36 exam rooms and a larger Walk-In Care Clinic, expanding to eight exam rooms (there were only three at National St.) with services available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.
Patients will have access to the clinic’s advanced diagnostic imaging equipment now all under one roof, including digital X-ray, ultrasound, mammography, bone density, and a newly purchased 64-slice Computerized Tomography (CT) scanner. In an urgent situation, having CT locally allows patients to be scanned quickly to rapidly assess their condition, and having CT in-house makes these scans accessible and affordable.
Kimberley Wass, CHC Radiology Technology Lead, left, and Kaylynn Simpson, x-ray CT technician show the new scanner. The clinic will be able to do many more procedures with this addition.
Outpatients requiring laboratory services will find the new space more convenient with expanded 7a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday. “We want patients to be able to stop in for a quick lab draw and be on their way,” Davis says.
Apothecare Pharmacy, a subsidiary of CHC/SEK, is now open to everyone (non-CHC/SEK patients) providing a full range of prescriptions and open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. every day. It offers a drive-through pick-up window and “to-your-door” home delivery within 15 miles. The pharmacy accepts most insurance plans including Medicare, Medicaid and commercial plans.
The medical staff include Dr. Sarah Bradshaw, Dr. Holly Gault, Dr. Pankaj Gugnani, MD, and Dr. Maxwell Self. Advanced Nurse Practitioners include Amanda Stice, Kayla Tinsley and Whitney Dickerson.
The Apothecare staff include Kelsey Burford, PharmD, Cetra Horton, PharmD, Adam Malone, PharmD Blake Martin, PharmD, Julie Pellett, PharmD, and Darin Treiber, PharmD.
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Specialty Care offered within the clinic:
Diabetic Care: APRN Becky French is providing diabetic care and education.
Respiratory issues: Paden Shaffer APRN, sees patients for pulmonology & sleep disorders/CPAP management
Pain Management and Infectious Disease: Dr. Julie Stewart
Wound Care: Dr. Michael Nagle, Todd Carl, APRN
Freeman Orthopedic clinic: Greg King, FNP
Wellness Center: The new facility will allow CHC/SEK to continue to cultivate a culture of health and wellness for both patients and staff. The Wellness Center features cardio and strength equipment and is staffed by Physical Therapist & Pelvic Health Physical Therapist, Jessie McGown, DPT, Registered Dietitian, Patrick James, RD, and Chiropractor, Dr. Dave Miller, DC. The staff offer individualized treatment plans for each patient to best meet their health and wellness goals. Together, they teach and support healthy eating habits, improve overall strength and mobility, and better manage pain.
There will be plenty to keep a family interested in life at the Fort during the American Civil War era.
“Experience it Without Needing to Enlist!,” according to a press release from the Fort Scott National Historic Site.
The Fort is hosting its Annual Civil War Encampment, April 15 and 16, this Saturday and Sunday. One can experience artillery, cavalry, and infantry troops preparing for battle, smell bread baking, participate in discussions about troop and refugee support, and be serenaded by the Vogts Sisters, acoustic Americana-Folk act.
The Vogts sisters from their website.
“We are grateful to have the generous support and participation from the Holmes Brigade, Boy Scout Troop 0114, Friends of Fort Scott, Inc., Fort Smith National Historic Site’s Cavalry Troop, and plenty of new and old Fort Scott National Historic Site volunteers alike,” said Superintendent Jill Jaworski. in a press release. “We encourage everyone to step back in time and smell, hear, see, and experience life at the fort.”
Saturday: join the discussion with author and historian Isaias McCaffrey about the Indian Home Guard, find out about the lives of women during the Civil War period, sit on the Officer’s front porch and learn about sewing and crocheting, be serenaded by the Vogts Sisters, and baking bread in the bakery, according to the press release.
Sunday: play authentic lawn games and participate in a discussion about being a Civil War refugee. The weekend is full of fun and games for the whole family straight from the 1800’s!
Encampment Schedule:
SATURDAY, APRIL 15
Interpreters will be at the firing range with historic weapons and doing demonstrations around the site throughout the day.
9 a.m. Raising the Colors with the Boy Scout Troop 0114
9:30 a.m. Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
10m. Cavalry Program
10:30 a.m. Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
11 a.m. Isaias McCaffrey- Indian Home Guard Program
Noon Vogts Sisters Musical Performance
1 p.m. Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
1:30 p.m. Lunette Blair Discussion
2 p.m. Cavalry Program
2:30 p.m. Women in the Army Discussion
3 p.m. Vogts Sisters Musical Performance
4 p.m. Flag Retreat with Troop 0114
5 p.m. Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
8 p.m. Night Sky Program with the Kansas Astronomical Observers
SUNDAY, APRIL 16
Interpreters will be at the firing range with historic weapons and doing demonstrations around the site throughout the day.
9 a.m. Raising the Colors
10 a.m. Guided Tour of the Fort
10:30 a.m. Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
11 a.m. Infantry Dress Parade, Drill, and Weapons Demonstration
Noon Cavalry Program
1 p.m. Guided Tour of the Fort
1:30 p.m. Lunette Blair Discussion
2 p.m. Life as a Refugee Discussion
2:30 p.m. Cavalry Program
3 p.m. Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
3:30 p.m. Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
4 p.m. Flag Retreat
You are always welcome to wear a mask, and please remember to keep safe distances, wash your hands, and have fun, according to the press release.
Summer Hours of Operation
From April 1-October 31, Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open for its summer hours of operation: daily from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc
About The Fort and the National Parks System
Fort Scott National Historic Site is a fee free park that offers a glimpse into the growth of our nation. A walk through the fort reveals the significant role it played in the opening of the West, as well as, the Civil War and the strife in the State of Kansas that preceded it. For more information call the park at 620-223-0310, visit us at www.nps.gov/fosc, on Facebook www.facebook.com/FortScottNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/FortScottNPS, and Instagram www.instagram.com/fortscottnps
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s over 420 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
