Colt Lipe is attending a youth leadership forum this week in North Carolina. Submitted photo.
Colt Lipe, 11, was nominated by his Eugene Ware Elementary School Fifth-grade Teacher Abby Steppes to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum in Colorado this week.
“They are nominated for being a good role model and having leadership skills,” Steppes said of the nomination.
The forum is the Pathways to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Program by Envision LLC.
Envision is a for-profit, tuition-based education company that creates, markets, and runs career exploration and leadership development programs for students in elementary school through college, according to its website.
“What an opportunity for him,” said his mother Tina Lipe.
Colt’s father is David Lipe. The Lipe’s own both Sharkey’s Pub and Luther’s BBQ Restaurants in Fort Scott.
At the forum, Colt will learn the leadership skills of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and goal setting.
In addition, he will explore crime-solving skills, face a design challenge in engineering, and as a prospective medical student explore the anatomy of the heart and lungs and examine the medical needs of a patient then present a plan of care.
“Kids this age are figuring out who they are and what their passions are,” Steppes said.
A letter his parents Tina and Dave Lipe received to explain the forum. Submitted photo.
Steppes said flyers are sent out to teachers nationwide for teachers to nominate students.
“The hard part is it costs money,” Steppes said. “There are grants for money you can apply for or do fund-raising.”
The front side of the Eagle Block Building on North National Avenue on July 21, 2021. Submitted photos.
A part of the Eagle Block Building on North National Avenue has collapsed, and demolition will happen soon.
“It was approved to demo Eagle Block,” Fort Scott Mayor Josh Jones said. “Work could begin as early as today.”
Fort Scott City Manager Jeremy Frazier was told that it would take two days to mobilize all equipment and to begin the demolition, he said. “By my understanding that would mean that the demolition would start either on Saturday or Sunday.”
American Wrecking Services LLC was approved to demolish the Eagle Block building for a cost to the city of $148,500, following the special Fort Scott City Commission Meeting last evening, July 21.
A nearby building owned by CDL Electric, 14 North National Avenue will need to be removed according to a letter sent to the City of Fort Scott by Earles Engineering and Inspection.
Sharkey’s Pub and Grubb, 16 N. National, can be saved by supporting the south wall and removing a low protective wall along the edge of the roof, according to the letter.
“After review, it was concluded that the bar (Sharkey’s) could be saved by supporting its south wall and removing the upper parapet,” Earles said in the letter to the city. “The CDL building would need to be removed.”
“The saved wall would need to be repaired, tuck pointed, sealed and a cap put over it as part of the reworked roof of the bar,” he said.
“The south wall of the structure could be saved below the upper windows,” Earles said. “The building on the south is built between the failed structure and the current radio station. Its roof needs attention but can be saved if the adjoining wall to its north can be salvaged. This wall will need to be supported as repairs are made to it, including brick repair, tuckpointing, and sealing.”
This photo from behind the Eagle Block Building, facing west, was taken on July 21, 2021. Submitted photos.
On Friday, July 16, Earles, a civil and structural engineer and CEO for Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc., went to the site of what is known as the Eagle Block Building, at 10-12 N. National Avenue and reviewed the condition of the building with Fort Scott City Staff.
“There are four separate yet combined buildings,” Earles said in a letter to the city. “It appears that all the walls are partly or shared walls,” Earles said. “The roof and partial wall collapse happened on the three-story middle building. This roof collapse caused both sidewalls to move and partially collapse. Additionally, it caused the front of the structure to move, creating a bowed front of the building and numerous cracks in the bricks. Additionally, I was informed that what appears as white stone… was covering for previous wire strands stretched through the building and anchored in the front and rear walls to stabilize the building. These are now broken or under the piles of debris, causing additional destabilization of the structure.”
The collapsed roof of the Eagle Block Building on July 21, 2021. The pile of bricks is around the hole on the roof that isn’t collapsed is on the roof of CDL. It appears that bricks fell from the collapsing building and landed on CDLs roof and put a hole through it. Submitted photos.
“The north wall partially collapsed onto and through the roof of the CDL building to the north collapsing its roof,” Earles said. “The next north building is a bar. It suffered no damage. We were able to get onto the bar roof and look south over the CDL building and the collapsed structure further south.”
“The portion of the roof of the three-story structure is unstable and could finish the collapse at any time,” Earles said. “The upper story from the bottom of the top windows to the roof is all leaning in and could collapse at any time. The building appears to be a total loss as well as the CDL building.”
“There is a basement under all three buildings,” Earles said. “The hope of the city is to save as much of the structures as possible.”
On Saturday, July 17, 2021, Earles and city staff met with Carl Britz, American Wrecking Services, LLC, and went through the structures.
“We were able to go into the basement of the CDL building and
the (Sharkey’s Pub)bar,” said Earles in the letter to the city. “The CDL basement showed stone and brick that had lost most of its mortar and was in very poor condition both north and south walls. The bar basement showed the mortar had mostly all been repaired and the wall looked in good condition.”
To view a 2019 engineers report on the Eagle Block Building:
The Fort Scott City Commission will have a Special Meeting today, Wednesday, July 21st, 2021 at 5:30PM at the City Hall Commission Room, 123 S. Main St. The Commission will be discussing the contract for the Eagle Block demolition.
“It is my understanding that we will have two this year, one is supposed to be in August and another in December,” said Bourbon County Treasurer Patty Love. “( Bourbon County Counselor)Justin (Meeks) has filed around 80 properties with the District Court, these are the ones that will be on the first sale.”
“For this tax sale we will be selling properties with delinquent taxes 2016 and prior,” she said. “As soon as Justin gets me a list of the properties on the tax sale and a date set for the tax sale, they will be published in the Fort Scott Tribune and posted on the Bourbon County website @bourboncountyks.org. “
“The tax sale will be at 10:00 a.m. on the designated date,” she said. “Property owners can redeem their properties up until 4 p.m. the day prior to the tax sale by paying all delinquent taxes and the $200. court filing fee. The tax sale will start with a minimum bid (yet to be determined) and will be sold to the highest bidder. “
“In order to bid on the properties, you will need to complete a form in the Treasurer’s office stating that you are not related to or buying the property for the current owner,” Love said. “We will also check to make sure that the bidder has no unpaid Bourbon County property tax in order to get the bid number.”
“The benefit of the tax sale is that it allows us to take properties that are over three years delinquent and sell them. getting them back on the tax roll and bringing in money,” she said.
Dalaina Smith, USD 234’s Director of Academics. Submitted photo.
The pandemic and the loss of class time in 2020, spurred the decision of the USD 234 school administration to provide a summer session this year.
“Following the loss of classroom time in the Spring of 2020, USD 234 recognized the need for additional support to be given to our students as they prepare to return to school this fall,” Dalaina Smith, director of academics for the district said.
“Teachers and students worked incredibly hard to overcome the gaps that occurred when schools were shut down in March 2020, however, this push has left some students needing a bit more support to prepare for their next academic year,” she said.
“We want students to come into school in August feeling confident and ready to learn,” Smith said. ” For some students, ‘Summer Camp’ …. is just what they need to jump-start this upcoming year.”
“Summer school and ESY opportunities will allow students to work towards mastery in areas they may not have achieved during the previous school year,” she said.
“At the elementary level, this looks like additional opportunities for exploration and practice, while at the high school students have an opportunity to recover credits not earned during the school year,” Smith said.
Smith said more than 20 teachers and numerous paras and teacher’s aids are available to help the students invited to Summer Camp 2021.
The school district has a Focus on Learning theme for the 2021-22 school year.
“It made sense to provide an additional opportunity for students to do just that,” she said.
“We cannot wait to have our Tigers back in the buildings,” she said.
Students will be provided a FREE breakfast and lunch.
“This is an opportunity available to all area youth 1-18, with no registration or identification required, students will need to be present to pick up the meals,” Smith said.
Extended School Year and Summer School:
ESY and Summer School starts today, Tuesday, July 20, and runs through August 6.
Below is the schedule for these learning opportunities:
Preschool – 8:00 – 11:00 @ Preschool
Jumpstart at Winfield Scott – 8:00 to 11:00
Primary (K-2) at Middle School – 8:00 – 10:00
Intermediate (3-5) at Middle School – 10:00 – 12:00
Middle School at Middle School – 8:00 – 12:00
High School at Middle School – 8:00 – 12:00 (credit recovery)
Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) has received a $10,000 grant from the NJCAA Foundation, NFL FLAG, and RCX Sports to grow a women’s flag football program, starting in spring 2023.
“The NJCAA Foundation is passionate about the value women’s flag football brings to institutions’ overall growth, the student-athlete experience, and equality across playing fields,” stated Brian Luckett, NJCAA Foundation Executive Director. “This is an opportunity for women of the association to compete at the highest level and we are fortunate to work hand in hand with NFL FLAG and RCX Sports during this exciting time.”
In March, the NJCAA announced the $150,000 grant, provided by the NFL, to support the initiative of expanding women’s flag football. Since then, 11 grants have been awarded to NJCAA member colleges to grow the sport and encourage other two-year colleges to consider adding the program.
“RCX is dedicated to creating opportunities for all athletes to play and so that every child can gain important life skills only learned through sports,” said RCX Sports CEO and NFL FLAG Executive Director Izell Reese. “Through NJCAA women’s flag football, young women will not only be able to compete, they’ll earn a valuable education that will set them up for success after college.”
Women’s Flag Football has been a growing commodity across the nation and FSCC intends to provide an opportunity for these student-athletes to continue their passion for the sport while pursuing their education at the collegiate level.
“Fort Scott Community College strives to be a leader in the emerging sport world. Bringing women’s flag football to campus will provide a stellar opportunity for student-athletes to pursue their education. We are excited to pave the path for the future of flag football within the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference,” says Tom Havron, Vice President of Student Affairs. “Within the next five years, we hope to see numerous Jayhawk schools add this emerging sport”.
Recruiting is underway for the inaugural class lead by head coach Aprell Williams. Students who have interest in being a part of the first flag football class at FSCC are encouraged to contact Coach Williams at [email protected].
“The NJCAA expanding NFL Flag opportunities for female student athletes at member institutions demonstrates clearly that football is for all,” said Executive Vice President of NFL Football Operations Troy Vincent, Sr. “The values, fun and competitive environment of football can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone who wishes to participate. It is exciting to see junior colleges offer NFL FLAG as a varsity sport to female athletes.”
For more information regarding the FSCC Women’s Flag Football program, please contact Tom Havron at [email protected]. Stay up-to-date by following us on all social media platforms.
ABOUT NJCAA FOUNDATION
The mission of the NJCAA Foundation is to enhance the NJCAA national organization, student-athletes, member colleges and local communities through financial support, scholarships, program initiatives and community service.
ABOUT RCX SPORTS
RCX Sports is the premier youth-sports experiences business, running and operating leagues, camps, combines, tournaments and events.
RCX works with professional leagues, national governing bodies, sports-centric businesses and brands to reimagine youth sports experiences. RCX produces events with world-class partners including the NFL, Jr. NBA, NAIA, Rivals.com and the 2022 World Games.
RCX is committed to improving the accessibility and inclusivity of sports by enhancing the youth sports experience and creating opportunities for all athletes to play. We believe sports have the power to transform lives and that every athlete should have the opportunity to experience the value of sports. For more information, visit www.rcxsports.com.
ABOUT NFL FLAG
NFL FLAG is an NFL-licensed property of more than 1,600 locally operated leagues and over 500,000 youth athletes across all 50 states. NFL FLAG is a fun and accessible non-contact program available for girls and boys ages 5-17. Players benefit by being physically active through non-contact, continuous action while learning the fundamentals of football as well as lessons in teamwork and sportsmanship. RCX Sports is the official operator of NFL FLAG.
From left: Chasi Pickert, Kenna Smith, John Alley and Christy Montogo man the Beech Street Eats food trailer at the Bourbon County Fair.
A new restaurant on wheels started on Memorial Day 2021 by Wesley and Kenna Smith, called Beech Street Eats.
“My parents, Kenneth and Calen Alley, owned the Riverside Cafe in Belltown for 15 years,” Kenna Smith said. “We kids worked there.”
“I managed the Best Western OFF Club and restaurant from 1986 to ’89,” Smith said.
Her brother John Alley works as the cook in the new food trailer venture.
“John was grill cook at Mercy Hospital for 20 years,” she said. “My dad was a cook in the navy. We’ve always done food. We are a family of cooks.”
“We decided on a 30-foot food trailer, so we can travel,” she said.
The 30-foot food trailer is a restaurant on wheels.
When they first started at the end of May, they were asked to do weddings and graduation parties, and even the Good ‘Ol Days Festival, but wanted to get a little experience in the food trailer business first, she said
They park their food trailer on the east side of Lockwoods Motor Supply, located at 1523 S. National Avenue, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“But we might switch that up in the future,” Smith said.
The employees are herself, her brother, John, her daughter Chasi Pickert and Cristy Montogo.
Mark Brillhart, a Bourbon County Fair Board member, asked the Smiths to provide food during the fair last week.
They had a steady stream of customers.
On the horizon for the business is providing food for special events and festivals, she said.
Beech Street Eats Food Trailer menu.
Some of their crowd favorite offerings are street burritos, Philly sandwiches, and quesadillas, she said.
“The street burrito is a 14-inch shell filled with steak, chicken, cheese, guac, homemade pico, salsa with steak fries,” Smith said. “It’s one of our best sellers.”
“For the quesadilla, we make our own pico, fresh every day,” she said. “We try to get our tomatoes and onions from the Fort Scott Farmer’s Market.”
For those craving a sweet dessert, they include homemade cherry cheesecake and homemade peanut butter pie to finish out a meal.
For more information or to phone an order: 620-224-8005.
Chasi Pickert and her mother Kenna Smith wait on customers, Lisa and Dale Griffiths, at the Bourbon County Fair on Wednesday. Griffiths is a member of the fair board.
Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.
This week’s Friday Night Concert will be presented by Faith Church Worship, Garland. The four-piece band and vocalists will feature songs of today’s worship.
“These folks have a united desire to honor God with their musical talent,” concert series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “Come out and join us for a special opportunity to see friends and enjoy some inspirational music. We are pleased to welcome Faith Church to the park pavilion.“
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, are free and open to the public. We are grateful to have Dave Oas, Parsons, serve as sound technician each week. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.
On Saturday, Alicia Watkins will be selling Snow Cones in front of Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore and Offshore Tropix Boujee Softserve will be selling tropical fruit flavors of Pineapple & Strawberry and we located in the parking lot of
Bids & Dibs at
108 S. Scott St. Ste. C
UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS
________________
TROLLEY TOURS!
Every Friday & Saturday!
50-minute Narrated Trolley Tour
of Historic Fort Scott. Every hour on the hour. Depart from the Fort Scott
Chamber at 231 E. Wall St.
Friday hours: 11 am until 3 pm
Saturday hours: 10 am until 3 pm.
$6 Adults & $4 for 12 yrs & under.
THE FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OFFERS DAILY GUIDED TOURS AT 10AM & 1PM, 7 DAYS/WEEK.
FREE – See more details below.
7/16 & 7/17 – “BEAT THE HEAT” Downtown & around shopping event. Vendors will be selling snow cones, popcorn, dole whip tropical fruit soft-serve. Click here for more details.
7/16 – First Presbyterian Church Summer Youth Night! Bring a bathing suit, towel & dry clothes. 6 pm. 308 S. Crawford St. Click here for more details.
7/16 – Junior Livestock Sale at the Bourbon County Fair, 7pm, great way to support youth, and great advertising for your business/organization!
7/16 – Friday Night Concert at Heritage Park Pavilion ~ Church of Christ, 7 pm. Click here for more details.
7/16, 7/19 & 7/20 – Museum of Creativity – OPEN PLAY SESSIONS. Admission – $3/person (free-4-1 yr old) Mon., Thurs. & Fri. 10 am/2 pm
7/16 – 7/22 – Fort Scott Cinema. Now showing: Space Jam, A New Legacy , F9: The Fast Saga, Black Widow. Click here for more info.
7/17, 7/19 & 7/20 – Museum of Creativity – Puppet Show & Open House “Beat The Heat”. Click here for info.
7/16 – Boiler Room Brewhaus presents Wade D. Brownback Live, 7-11 pm, click here for more info.
7/16 – CORNHOLE FUN AT HOLMTOWN PUB, EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6 PM. Click here for more information.
7/17 – Farmers’ Market, 8 am to noon, Skubitz Plaza in front of the Fort. Bourbon County Democrats serving Breakfast on the Bricks this Saturday, click here for more info.
7/16 -7/18 – The Lavender Patch Farm To learn more about events & hours open,click here.
July Hours open daily. Thurs. thru Mon.
7/16 & 7/17 (last days) – Creative Crafts through Buck Run, youth ages 8-12 yrs., 1-1:45pm or 2-2:45pm, $10 per person, register through Buck Run.
7/16 – Livestock Judging Contest, 9am, Bourbon County Fairgrounds.
7/16 – Bourbon County Fair Buyers Appreciation Supper & Junior Livestock Sale., Supper 5:30pm, Sale 7pm, Bourbon County Fairgrounds.
7/17 – Fair Finale Concert by Bourbon County Revival, 6:30 pm, $5, Bourbon County Fairgrounds, see flyer below for more details.
7/17 – Puppet Show & Open House @ Museum of Creativity9:30 am – 1:30 pm. Shows at 10 am & 12 pm”The Noer Puppets ~ Eclectic Cabaret”
Click here for all the events during the Beat the Heat Event at the Museum of Creativity.
7/16 & 7/17 – Bourbon County Comedy Night Open Mic, click here for more info. 9-11 pm, new amateur comedian every 5 minutes, age 18+over.
7/19 to 7/22 – FSHS Boys Basketball Camp @ FSHS, 2nd-5th grade 1pm, 6th-8th grade 2:30pm, sign up at Buck Run, $40/kid.
SAVE THE DATE:
7/22 – Chamber Coffee, Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting hosted by The Hound Nutrition at 8 am at 116 S. Main St.
Matt Quick – Resolution to Appoint an Interim Appraiser
Lynne Oharah – KCAMP
Michael Braim – Lynne Oharah’s outburst at Anne Dare in the last meeting
Jim Harris – Executive Session – KSA 75-4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships (10 minutes)
Mary Pemberton – Budget Comments
Tiana McElroy – Personnel
Elected Officials Comment
County Counselor Comment
Susan Bancroft, Finance Director Comment
Public Comment
Commission Comment
Justifications for Executive Session:
KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy
KSA 75-4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
KSA 75-4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
KSA 75-4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships
KSA 75-4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property
KSA 75-4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.
Yasmina Summer Query, 36, is the new Eugene Ware Elementary School Principal, replacing Stephanie Witt, who resigned.
Query has taught five years in fourth grade at Eugene Ware Elementary and prior to that nine years at Truman Elementary School in Nevada, MO.
She earned a Bachelors’s in Elementary Education and a Masters’s in Educational Leadership.
Her hometown is Fort Scott.
She is married to Joshua Query owner of JDQ Construction, and who also with his father, Ronald Query, owns a nutritional store in Kansas City, called the Ultimate Sports Nutrition.
They have two boys, Mason,9 years old and will be in 4th grade, and Myron, 6 years old and who will be in 1st grade.
Outside of school, she loves to read and bake.
And “I volunteer with the children’s ministry at the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene. I help with Sunday School, and I am always a teacher for VBS.”
How did you become an educator?
“I knew in elementary school that I wanted to be a teacher. I attended Eugene Ware as a child and graduated from Fort Scott High School. My experience in school was such a positive one, that I knew I wanted to work with kids and create that positive school experience for them as well.”
Is there someone who inspired you?
“I don’t think I could bring it down to just one person. I had amazing teachers growing up. There wasn’t a building or grade level that I didn’t connect to at least one teacher. As an educator, I have worked for dedicated and supportive administers. I have also learned under such experienced and loving teachers. Each person who invested in me brought me to this moment, and my life is forever changed by them.”
What is the best part of teaching?
“The thing I love most about being a teacher is watching the successes of my students. My goal every year is that all of my students learn to believe in themselves. There isn’t a child out there who isn’t capable of greatness, and I want every student who has been in my class to know that they can do anything.”
What are the greatest challenges in teaching for you?
“The greatest challenges are when you feel like you haven’t done enough for your kids. Anyone who has been a teacher has had a tough kid. You want so much to help them fix everything in the nine months you have them, but sometimes you don’t see the work you have put in until years later. Teaching is full of joys but also heartaches because you care so much about your students.”
She starts her new position on July 19.
Justin Robinson and family. Submitted photo.
Justin Robinson, 41, is the new Fort Scott Middle and High School Band Director.
His hometown is Auburn, KS.
He has 18 years of experience at Southern Coffey County as a K-12 Music Teacher.
Robinson earned a BME from Pittsburg State in 2003, and a master’s degree from Emporia State in 2007,
He has been married to Angela for 18 years and has a daughter, Zoi, who will be attending her first year at Neosho County Community College this fall.
In his spare time, he likes to fish and play music.
” My family plays in a country/rock band based out of Iola,” he said. “We also like to travel!”
How did you become an educator?
“I got a call that Pitt (Pittsburg State University) needed a bassoon player and away I went! ” he said. ” I fell in love with music through marching and concert band in high school and it continued to grow during my education at Pitt.”
Is there someone who inspired you?
“My middle and high school band directors for sure, to get into education!”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“When the light bulb clicks with a child and the instrument in their hands! Then getting to watch them develop into their potential and become the best musician they can.”
What are the greatest challenges in teaching?
“Keeping the kids motivated to strive for their best with all the distractions in the world.”
