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Obituary

Obituary: Merle F. Hart, Jr.

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Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Merle F. Hart, Jr., age 83, a resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Saturday, July 29, 2017, at his home.

He was born February 13, 1934, in Chetopa, Kan., the son of Merle F. Hart and Martha Lou Bradley Hart. Merle graduated from the Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1952. He later enlisted with the United States Air Force. He married Dolores Juanita Daum on June 5, 1955, in Fort Scott. Following his service with the Air Force, Merle returned to Fort Scott and began a 26 year career with the United States Post Office. Merle enjoyed hunting, reading and attending estate auctions.

Survivors include his wife, Dolores, of the home; three daughters, Candy Hart and husband, Craig Dunn, of St. Paul, Minn., Kim Hart-McBride and husband, Ron McBride, of Olathe, Kan. and Kelly Hart and husband, John Lane, also of Olathe; two grandchildren, Jacob Hart-Lane, of Augusta, Kan., and Aubrey McBride, of Emporia, Kan. Also surviving are a brother, Kenneth Hart and wife, Evangeline, of Garland, Kan., and a sister, June Christy and husband, Gene, of Girard, Kan. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 2, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery where military honors will be conducted by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the National Rifle Association or the Fort Scott Public Library and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook atcheneywitt.com.

 

Bourbon County

KState Extension: Reflections of County Fair

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Submitted by: Carla Nemecek, Southwind District Director & Agent

My 20th county fair is officially in the books. I spent the first seven years in Haskell County, Kan., and have been in Allen County since 2005. When the Southwind District formed in 2010, I was given the privilege of working with two more counties, Neosho and Bourbon. As one of your District Extension Agents, I can tell you that it is truly a relief to be on the backside of the county fair and it gives me an opportunity to reflect and think about those folks who help make our 4-H program successful.

I don’t want to bore you with the details of planning and getting ready for the county fair, but rather take an opportunity to thank those key individuals who take the time to volunteer and make our county fairs successful. Each of the counties in the Southwind District have specific key people who make sure our kids are getting an education in their projects and having fun at the same time. In Neosho County, the livestock leaders conducted project meetings that drew in youth to the fairgrounds, teaching them about livestock husbandry and showmanship to prepare them for the upcoming contests. I admire the time and dedication these leaders give to the kids and I know it takes away from an evening or a weekend at home with family, yet they give to our 4-H program time and again. In Bourbon County, members of the fair board built a new covered pavilion and dedicated it to a long-time Friend of 4-H. The pavilion was used for folks to gather during the fair and the 4-H dance was held there, too. This is an addition to the fairgrounds that will be a valuable resource for many years. In Allen County, not only did we try a completely new fair schedule, but we were also given financial support from County Commissioners to repair and rebuild structures on the fairgrounds that will be used for generations to come. Phase one of this five-year project saw a much needed new roof on the sheep and goat barn. I also have to say thank you to the Livestock Boosters who make sure that all of our 4-H youth who are members in good standing receive additional premiums for their livestock projects.

The Southwind District also had the good fortune to hire summer interns in each county. Dacey worked in Fort Scott and hosted a barn quilt workshop which resulted in many barn quilts being displayed in each county. Kendle worked in Erie and organized a much needed photography clinic to teach youth how to take better photos for personal and 4-H use. In Iola, we worked with Zoey who prepared a tie blanket workshop and then donated those blankets to Hope Unlimited.

On a personal note, I also want to thank my family and close friends who help me get through the fair season. Without their support through all hours of the day, there is no way to mark off every item on the daily “to do” list. I have an amazing job, but it is really a community of people who make it fun. Thank you all!!

Fort Scott

Scavenger Hunt and Selfie Contest to be held at Fort Scott NHS

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Submitted by the Fort Scott National Historic Site

Join in the fun at the Old Fort before it is time to go back to school. Fort Scott NHS announces its first-ever “Selfie” contest, going on now. You can win $50 just for snapping a picture of yourself at the Fort. Also coming up, the Fort is holding its second annual Scavenger Hunt; new and improved and twice as much fun as last year. The Scavenger Hunt takes place on Saturday, August 5 at 1 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the first and second place teams.

2016 Scavenger Hunt

The Fort Scott NHS Youth Engagement Team has created a brand new “Selfie Station” on the second floor of the Dragoon barracks, complete with frontier era costumes. Using Instagram, take your selfie there in costume for a chance to win the 1st Place prize of $50. If dressing up isn’t your thing, you can still take a selfie anywhere on the Old Fort grounds without the costumes. Non-costume selfies are eligible to win a $25 prize. Either way, be sure to submit your selfie to Instagram, tag @fortscottnhs in the caption, and include the hashtag #fortscottselfiecontest2017. The winner of the Selfie Contest will be announced at the conclusion of the Scavenger Hunt on August 5, although winners do not need to be present to win.

Be sure to join in the exciting and family friendly Old Fort Scavenger Hunt as a last hurrah of summer. The Hunt will begin at 1 p.m. and end at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017. All participants are encouraged to show up 10 minutes early with their cell phone or camera. Contestants will be given a list of clues directing them to certain items that tell a story about the rich history of the site. Participants will then take photos of the corresponding items. The winning team/individual will receive a $50 gift card, with $25 awarded to the second place finishers.

This fun event is being hosted by the Youth Engagement Team at Fort Scott National Historic Site in partnership with the Friends of the Fort. Thanks go to the Friends of the Fort for sponsoring the prizes. Call the Fort, 620-223- 0310, with questions or for more information.

Fort Scott

A Multi-Sensory Playground for Fort Scott

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“Build a new playground at the Mercy of Frank Halsey”

Presented by The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team

Underwritten by Janet Irby Braun and Family

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, as part of Fort Scott Community Visioning, is sponsoring a community event on Saturday, August 19, at Liberty Theatre to honor local community champion, Frank Halsey, for his grass roots initiative to build mountain biking and hiking trails.  While not alone in his efforts, his leadership demonstrates how one person can be an agent of change, engage community members, and increase awareness of healthy lifestyle. Environmental challenges tend to be strongest in low-income communities and community perception results show that Bourbon County is no different.

In addition, the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team has partnered with the Youth Activities Team to seek additional resources and construct a Multi-Sensory Playground that will be accessible by all youth, regardless of ability, and meet therapeutic needs for children with special needs. The children and families in our community could benefit from safe, inclusive, places to play. An inclusive recreation area is desperately needed in the Fort Scott area.

Currently we have families in our community who are forced to drive 45 miles to the nearest adaptive park. One of many families personally impacted is that of Matt and Cherie Witt, the parents of a 6-year-old son with autism spectrum disorder with significant sensory needs. They have shared their story:

We want to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves and explain why we believe an all-inclusive playground with adaptations for children with special needs would provide a much-needed asset to our community. Prior to the birth of our child and his subsequent diagnosis, we were not unsympathetic, but, nevertheless, highly uninformed of the vast number of children with special needs in our community and the lack of resources available to them. In the four years since our diagnosis, we have learned much and now realize to a far greater extent the struggles of parents of children with exceptionalities to find healthy and appropriate recreational activities for their children. Our children, much like their typically developing peers, want and need to simply have fun. There is no better environment for these children to thrive than playing alongside their typical peers. It is our understanding that this park would promote inclusion of all types of children with varying needs rather than separating them by ability or physical skill.  

Our home town of Fort Scott, Kan., is a small community with many children with special needs but few resources to engage them. As parents of a son with autism, we realize the financial burdens that come with the territory. Many times, parents feel pressure, and rightly so, to direct financial resources toward the many types of therapy our children require, leaving little for recreation. Furthermore, we have many low-income families dealing with these sorts of problems whose children do not have access to opportunities for fun activities. Moreover, Fort Scott has an exceptionally high rate of children with autism. For these young people, a means to meet sensory issues is essential for them to learn, develop and cope with life. An adaptive playground would serve children in each of these categories. We would love to see all these children laughing, playing and socializing the same as their typical peers.

Recent studies have shown that as a society, we tend to place disproportionate emphasis on academics over physical activity for very young children, much to their detriment. Many believe the result is a lack of social skills such as sharing and turn-taking and an increase in sensory issues. Active, free play is an invaluable learning experience. Maneuvering the environment with its variances in terrain and experiencing all the sights, sounds and feelings of the great outdoors fully engages the senses. These experiences may be even more important for children with special needs who, depending on their diagnosis, may already be at a social or physical disadvantage. A play area constructed with these children in mind, would give them a chance to spread their wings and strengthen their minds and bodies in ways otherwise impossible. 

There is no better investment than one in our youth. We believe that children with special needs can become active, responsible members of our community. We would love to see them benefit from a safe, friendly environment to promote the life skills they will need to live a productive life and have a little fun at the same time.

You can show your support and purchase your tax-deductible tickets online at fortscott.com or at the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce 231 E. Wall Street Fort Scott, KS 66701. Ticket are $50 each.

Bourbon County

Community Foundation to Accept Grand Applications in August

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The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation is thrilled to announce that the amount of grants available for the upcoming 2017/2018 cycle totals $30,000, exceeding last year’s total by $9,000.

2016 Grant Recipients

Thanks to the generosity of all who contributed to the FSACF general fund, the interest accrued will allow the grant committee more opportunities to benefit the 501(c)3 applicants who meet the qualifications.

Monies granted to the 12 beneficiaries from last year’s cycle were used for a variety of causes, including helping to purchase a 3D mammography machine for Mercy Hospital, providing benefits to cancer patients, assisting families in purchasing swimming pool passes, and funding classes for CASA volunteers.

The FSACF 2017 Grant Applications will be released on Tuesday, August 1, at which time they will appear on the FSACF website or may be picked up in person at the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall. Nonprofits such as churches, governmental entities, or organizations with a 501(c)3 status are encouraged to apply.

Applications are due by Tuesday, August 29. Acceptance and declination letters will be mailed on Tuesday, October 24. Grants will be awarded at the Foundation’s Chamber Coffee held in the Landmark Bank lobby at Third and Main at 8 A.M. on Thursday, November 2.

Business, Fort Scott

Hit the Bricks Tickets Still Available

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Submitted by Tina Rockhold, Mercy Hospital

Organizers of this Friday’s inaugural Hit the Bricks Wine Stroll, Art Walk and Blane Howard concert say tickets are still available. Add in a weather forecast that predict temperatures in the mid 80s and it’s a perfect combination for a night in downtown Fort Scott.

The Hit the Bricks event kicks off at 5 p.m. and has something for everyone to enjoy. Main Street will be blocked between 1st and 2nd streets for the event from early afternoon until about 8:30 p.m.

The regularly scheduled Friday night music at the pavilion will continue as usual.

The free art walk, coordinated by the Bourbon County Arts Council, is open to the public. Over 15 artists from near and far will fill the sidewalks of Main Street with their artwork and have items for sale. Food vendors will have items for sale as well.

The wine stroll check in begins at 5 p.m. at the Beaux Arts Centre located at 102 S. National.

During the stroll, pre-registered participants or those 21 years and older (valid ID required) who purchase a $25 wrist band at the Beaux Arts Centre that evening may have a maximum of 15 samples of wines from the six featured Kansas vineyards including Fort Scott’s very own Vinedo del Alamo. Other wineries and vineyards participating in the stroll include Aubrey Vineyards, Overland Park; Flustered Blonde Vineyard and Winery, Parsons; Fuga Winery, Waverly; Smoky Hill Vineyard and Winery, Topeka; and Vogel Family Vineyards, Galena.

Wineries will also have unopened bottles of wine available for purchase.

Cost for the wine stroll is $25 and includes a commemorative wine glass and tote bag for bottled wine purchases.

The Fort Scott trolley will be available in 30-minute intervals to transport participants from the check–in location to Main Street between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Beginning at 8:30, music lovers can dance the night away with a concert by Nashville-based country music sensation Blane Howard at Liberty Theatre. Concert tickets are $35 each. Tickets will also be available at the door that evening. Seating for the concert is general admission.

Advance tickets for the stroll and concert are strongly recommended. Patrons can save $10 if they purchase both the wine stroll and concert tickets for $50.

Tickets are available online at www.bit.ly/HitTheBricksTix.

Proceeds from the Hit the Bricks event will benefit the Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott, a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation which supports programming and equipment at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. For more details about the Hit the Bricks Wine Stroll, Art Walk and Blane Howard Concert, call the Mercy Health Foundation office at 620-223- 8094.

Obituary

Obituary: Raymond Dean O’Dell

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Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Raymond Dean O’Dell, age 87, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2017, at the Mercy Hospital Emergency Room in Fort Scott.

He was born November 13, 1929, in Bourbon County, Kan., the son of Albert Milton O’Dell and Anna Mabel Carpenter O’Dell. He married Ruby May Larson on August 30, 1948, at Fort Scott. Ray worked as the produce manager for Whiteside’s IGA for forty-five years. Following his retirement, he operated his own lawn care business. Ray enjoyed playing the guitar and singing. In earlier years, he played in a band that often performed at the Eagles Lodge and area communities. He was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Survivors include his four children, Rick O’Dell and wife, Amy, of Carthage, Mo., Deborah Graham and husband, David, of Orange Beach, Ala., Marquita Lamer and husband, Raymond, of Kansas City, Mo., and Dion O’Dell and wife, Holly, of Joplin, Mo.; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. His wife, Ruby, preceded him in death on September 26, 2013. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Merlin O’Dell and George Carpenter, and three sisters, Naomi Wise, Pearl Kellogg and Audrey Wise.

Pastor Larry Stevicks will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 29, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the White Cemetery near Richards, Mo. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Emmanuel Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary

Obituary: Thomas Marvin Heter

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Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Thomas Marvin Heter, of Garland, Kan., passed away peacefully on July 20, 2017. He was 79 years old.

Tom will be remembered for his passion, intelligence and his love of art, photography and music. An excellent musician who performed on guitar, keyboards and vocals, Tom’s record collection ran into the thousands. Since the 1960s, his and Jean’s home has been a hub for folk, jazz and blues musicians. Tom was also gifted as a visual artist, specializing in 35 millimeter black and white photography. Working as a professional photographer he took special pride in the printmaking process, which he mastered in his kitchen darkroom.

Tom is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jean Heter, and by his two children, Annette and Storm. Tom is survived by his siblings David, Charles, Gracie and Steve. He was a proud grandfather and great grandfather.

On Monday, July 23, at noon, a memorial service will be held at Cheney-Witt funeral chapel, Fort Scott, Kan. Services were under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kan.

Obituary

Obituary: Evalena McCracken Pate-Rash

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Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Evalena McCracken Pate-Rash, age 88, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kan.

She was born September 16, 1928, in Excelsior Springs, Mo., the daughter of Walter Ira Pate and Anna Irena Carmer Pate. She worked outside the home at various jobs, yet her biggest responsibility was that of homemaker for her family. She enjoyed the outdoors, traveling, camping and fishing. She loved spending holidays with family, especially Christmas. She liked to play cards with the family, and really hated to lose at any game. She liked cooking for her family, especially German chocolate cake and spaghetti red. She was a member of the Grace Baptist Tabernacle.

Survivors include four children; Cecil Rash, Topeka, Kan., Roy Rash, Independence, Mo., Donna Marie Hassan and husband Ahmad, Katy, Texas, and Glenn Rash and wife Vana, Fort Scott, Kan.; two sisters-in-law, Edna Pate, Mustang, Okla., and Ina Mae Rash, Vail, Colo.; 10 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, Henry Rash; a daughter, Sherry Palmer; a sister, Emma Anna Pate; a brother, Emmet Ira Pate; three half-brothers, Chester Atwood, Gailen Atwood, and Oray Pate; a half-sister, Sarah Mae Atwood; and her parents.

Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct funeral services at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 27, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time on Thursday. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share, and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary

Obituary: Laura Mae Benson Croan

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Submitted by the Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Laura Mae Benson Croan, age 94, a resident of Fort Scott, died Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at the Fort Scott Manor.

She was born August 11, 1922, in Gardendale, Ala., the daughter of Thomas Alexander Benson and Pearl Luvada Moncreif Benson. She married Dr.  Harold C. Croan on September 3, 1949, in Hernando, Miss., he preceded her in death on March 19, 2008.

She is survived by a son, Randall Scott Croan, and wife Sharon of Overland Park, Kan., a daughter-in-law, Gayla Croan, of Fort Scott; two granddaughters, Morgan Felt and husband Carson, of Fort Scott, and Blair Croan and husband Parikshit Singh, of Phoenix, Ariz.; as well as several nieces and nephews; she was preceded in death by her Husband Dr. Harold C. Croan; a son, Allan Benson Croan; four sisters, Marie Craddock, Pearl Melville, Christine Arnold-Hook and Carolyn Farmer; and her parents.

There was cremation. Rev. Steve Cole will conduct a memorial graveside service at 10 a.m. Monday, July 24, 2017, at the U. S. National Cemetery. Memorial are suggested to the Fort Scott Manor Activity Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Fort Scott

FSCC Welcomes Adam Borth as Vice President of Academic Affairs

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Fort Scott Community College is pleased to welcome Adam Borth as the FSCC Vice President of Academic Affairs.

“I am extremely excited to join the FSCC team and immerse myself into the Fort Scott community,” said Borth. “The opportunity to work with the faculty, staff and administration to continue providing a quality education to meet the needs of Fort Scott and the surrounding areas, while creating new and innovative opportunities, continues to build my passion and enthusiasm for FSCC.”

Before joining FSCC, Borth was the dean of humanities and social sciences at Seward County Community College (SCCC), where he also taught humanities and social science courses. He previously served as the director of research and assessment at SCCC. Before his time at SCCC, he was the communications director and humanities department instructor at Cowley County Community College for seven years. Borth also previously worked at Northwestern Oklahoma State University as an admissions representative.

Since November 2014, Borth has served as the president of the Kansas Association of AQIP Schools. In this role, he provides guidance and leadership for quality improvement for accreditation purposes, facilitates meetings and serves as a liaison for institutional communications.

Borth was a recipient of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award in 2012. He has participated in the Kansas Community College Leadership Institute and the Seward County Community College Emerging Leadership Experience. He served as a board member of the Baker Arts Center and as a member of the Winfield High School advisory committee, Arkansas City High School advisory committee and the Kansas Association of Broadcasters. Borth has also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.

Borth holds a bachelor of science degree in mass communications and a master of education degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He is currently completing his dissertation for a doctor of education degree in educational leadership from Baker University.

Fort Scott

Mercy Hospital: Awards, Grant, and a Teddy Bear Clinic

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Submitted by Tina Rockhold, Mercy Hospital

Dr. Larry Seals Earns Another Five-Star Excellence Award

For the third consecutive year, Dr. Larry Seals and the Mercy Clinic Fort Scott OB/GYN team, have earned the Professional Research Consultants, Inc. (PRC) Five-Star Excellence Award for Provider Services and Overall Care.

For the third consecutive year, Mercy Fort Scott OB/GYN Dr. Larry Seals and RNs Trina Arndt (left) and Crystal Roberts have earned the prestigious PRC Five-Star Excellence Award. Photo Credit and cutline: Mercy Hospital.

The recognition honors Seals for scoring in the top 10 percent nationally for “excellent”

responses in patient satisfaction surveys.

After 30 years in practice – and thousands of beautiful babies delivered into his hands – Seals gives credit for the award to teamwork.

“I’m happy because my nursing staff does a great job of treating patients with superb clinical skill and unmatched compassion,” he said.

Seals contributes his practice’s success to being grounded and down to earth.

“When precious life is in your hands, it’s important to remain humble and share genuine care for everyone.”

Mercy Kids Health Fair and Teddy Bear Clinic Scheduled for Saturday, August 12

Making healthy choices begins with good mentoring. Help steer your children down the right path by bringing them to the Mercy Kids Health and Safety Fair on Saturday, August 12, at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. From 9 a.m. to noon, the clinic will provide free health screenings, fitness fun, education and learning opportunities, a chance to see emergency vehicles and meet with community agency representatives.

All screenings and events are free and open to the public.

The Teddy Bear Clinic is a highlight of the event. Young children are encouraged to bring their teddy bear or doll for a check-up. Surgeons will be on hand to mend minor cuts or tears to your child’s favorite stuffed animal.

Just a few of the scheduled activities include: health screenings (eye, vision, blood pressure, height and weight, and dental checks), nutritional information, details about vaccines, hand-washing tips, healthy snacks, preventing colds and the flu, exercise stations, as well as a bounce house and photo booth. Also on site will be Mercy EMS staff, Fort Scott police and fire department personnel, the Bourbon County Sherriff, as well as Kansas Wildlife and Parks.

Kids may register to win a backpack stuffed with school supplies. Winner need not be present to win, but registration the day of the event is required.

For more information about the Mercy Clinic Kids Health and Safety Fair, call Amy Budy at 620-223-8093.

Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott Awarded $50,000 for Ultrasound Upgrade

Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott was recently awarded a $50,000 grant from The Timken Foundation of Canton, Ohio, to replace ultrasound equipment at the hospital.

On Monday, July 24, at 10 a.m., Jack and Joy Timken of the Timken Foundation of Canton, Ohio, will tour Mercy Hospital Fort Scott and view the imaging services area where the new equipment will be installed in fall 2017.

Media is invited to participate in the tour. After the tour, the media is encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the donation from The Timken Foundation and about ultrasound.