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Government, Kansas

Land Transfer to the Iowa Tribe of Kansas

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Governor Laura Kelly Ceremonially Signs Legislation, Authorizing Land Transfer to the Iowa Tribe of Kansas

TOPEKA – This week, Governor Laura Kelly ceremonially signed House Bill 2408, authorizing and directing the Executive Director of the Kansas Historical Society (KSHS), on behalf of the KSHS, to transfer 9.86 acres of land in Doniphan County to the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska.

“This legislation is long-overdue and returns land that belongs to the Iowa Tribe,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I want to thank the bipartisan group of legislators and the Executive Committee of the Iowa Tribe for making this bill possible – my administration will continue to be a partner in your efforts.”

Obituary

Obituary of Wayne Houston

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Wayne Jackson Houston

Wayne Jackson Houston, age 93, resident of Richards, MO, died Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at Medicalodge of Fort Scott, KS.

He was born on September 7, 1928, in Bagnall Dam, MO, the son of Andrew Jackson and Ida Mae Houston. He graduated from Richards, MO high school.

He served in the U. S. Army.

Wayne worked his entire life on the farm. He loved his tractors. In fact, he was still operating tractors up until a year ago.

Wayne worked for several years in groundskeeping for Fort Scott Community College until retirement.

He married Lois Darlene Cooper on July 20, 1981, in Fort Scott. She preceded him in death on May 20, 2017.

He enjoyed fishing and hunting through the years.

He was a member of the Unity Lodge #495 Richards, MO, and the Community of Christ Church in Fort Scott.

Survivors include two sons, Tim Ater and wife Pam, Nevada, MO, and Gregory D. Houston and wife Linda, Richards, MO; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two great great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his wife Lois, he was preceded in death by two sons, Gary Houston, and Ron Ater; a brother, Willard Houston; a sister, Lois Cooper; and his parents.

Services will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, October 12th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Monday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to either Care to Share or Community of Christ Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Government, Kansas

Photos and Student Posters Featured at  Kansas Virtual Water Conference

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Kansas Water Photo Contest & Student Poster Research Submissions Being Accepted

 

Kansas is blessed with an abundance of great natural resources and Kansans are encouraged to capture the most vital of these; water. The Kansas Water Office (KWO) is accepting water photos to be featured in conjunction with the 2021 Virtual Governor’s Water Conference in November. The photos need to pertain to water or water use in Kansas.  Examples include all bodies of water, irrigation, agriculture, recreation and fun, or other water infrastructure.

 

Worthy entries will be voted on during this year’s Virtual Governor’s Water Conference by conference attendees. The winning photo will earn feature photo at the 2022 Governor’s Water Conference. It will also, along with second and third place, be displayed in the Kansas State Capitol and KWO during the year. November 5 is the deadline to submit photos at [email protected].

 

Student Research will also continue to be a feature during the virtual conference. Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to submit abstracts on their water-related research to be presented as posters. Any research that involves water quantity, quality or water education is eligible and cash awards are available. The submission deadline is November 4.

 

For more information about both contests as well as tentative conference agenda and speakers, please select Governor’s Water Conference at kwo.ks.gov under the News & Events section. Conference registration will be free and available to those planning to attend any of the virtual conference.

Area News, Government, Kansas

KS State Treasurer Will Speak in Pittsburg Oct. 10

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STATE TREASURER TO CELEBRATE OKTOBERFEST IN PITTSBURG

Lynn Rogers, Kansas State Treasurer, will join local citizens in celebrating Oktoberfest on Sunday, October 10th. Rogers will be the guest speaker at a fundraiser hosted by the Crawford County Democrat Party being held at the Frisco Event Center, 210 E. Fourth, in Pittsburg starting at 12 noon.

Nancy Ingle, Party County Chair, said that the “local Democrats are excited to welcome the State Treasurer back to Crawford County. Lynn has served the people of Kansas well first as Lieutenant Governor and now Treasurer.” In a recent month (August) nearly 6,000 Kansans received checks for unclaimed property totaling 6.3 million dollars. “That’s the kind of common-sense hard work that Kansans expect from their government,” Ingle stated.

In addition to Rogers, other candidates, including Patrick Schmidt, candidate for Second District Congress, will be in attendance.

The celebration will offer a traditional Oktoberfest menu and live performances by local musicians. Tickets are $10 for adults, children age 5 to 12 $5, and children under the age of 5 are free.

Bourbon County, Food, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Gordon Parks Museum

Gordon Parks “Celebration Tribute Dinner” This Weekend

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Gordon Parks
“Celebration Tribute Dinner”
Make Reservations Now!
Call 620.223.2700 Ext 5850
or stop by
Gordon Parks Museum
2108 S. Horton St. (FSCC Campus)
The Tribute Dinner will be hosted at Liberty Theatre
Saturday, October 9th
7 pm
(social hour starts at 6:00 pm)
Tickets: $30 in advance
2021 Gordon Parks Celebration
Schedule of Events
Click Here!
Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Gordon Parks Museum

Dominique Hammons Performs This Weekend

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This Weekend! The event you have been waiting for is here!
A NIGHT OF SUPREME PERFORMANCE OF
“DOMINIQUE HAMMONS”
“I AM STRADIVARI”
Multi-Talented Contemporary
Jazz & R&B Violinist
PERFORMING AT
The River Room
3 W. OAK ST., FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
Doors open at 6:30 pm
Performance at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $30 in advance, or $35 at the door.
Tickets are available at the Gordon Parks Museum or over the phone (620) 223.2700, Ext. 5850
ClickHERE to visit the Gordon Parks Museum website.
Click HEREto view the Press release from The Gordon Parks Museum and learn more about his amazing and talented performer that is coming to Fort Scott!
COVID-19, Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum

Gordon Parks Museum Receives Humanities Kansas SHARP Recovery Grant

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The Gordon Parks Museum is located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

TOPEKA – Humanities Kansas recently awarded a SHARP Recovery Grant in the amount of $2,750 to the Gordon Parks Museum in Fort Scott, KS. Kirk Sharp serves as project director.

The mission of the Gordon Parks Museum is to celebrate the life and work of Gordon Parks, internationally known photographer, filmmaker, writer and musician; and to use his remarkable life story to teach about artistic creativity, cultural awareness and the role of diversity in our lives.

The museum’s valuable collection includes many of Gordon’s famous photographs, awards, medals and honorary degrees, as well as replica furnishings from his apartment in New York.

The SHARP Recovery Grants support Kansas cultural organizations that provide humanities programming and are facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus.

Grants are for general operating support, staff retention, and needed digital and/or operational transitions for cultural work in the post-pandemic era. Humanities Kansas awarded 121 SHARP grants statewide.

“Humanities Kansas is honored to be able to support Kansas cultural organizations as we recover from the impact of Covid,” said Julie Mulvihill, Humanities Kansas Executive Director. “This past year has demonstrated that Kansans lean into the humanities during challenging times. Kansas cultural organizations that do work in the humanities provide important social connections and contribute to the economic well-being and strength of our communities.”

Funds have been made available through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to assist cultural institutions affected by the coronavirus as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) approved by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden.

About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit spearheading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, HK’s pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with statewide partners and supporters, HK inspires all Kansans to draw on diverse histories, literatures, and cultures to enrich their lives and to serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
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Fort Scott

Grant Presentation at 5 p.m. Today for Skubitz Pavilion Project

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Everyone is welcome!
Community Presentation of
T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant awarded to the City of Fort Scott
for the proposed
Market Street Pavilion Project
TONIGHT!
Tuesday, October 5th
5 to 6pm
Remarks @ 5:15pm
The first 50 attendees will receive a
complimentary Luther’s BBQ boxed dinner
sponsored by T-Mobile!
West end of Skubitz Plaza,
(west of the Block House in front
of the Fort, 1 Old Fort Blvd.)
~
This project will return Market Street to a community place that was previously removed by Urban Renewal. It will improve underutilized green space and extend the use of the area for residents and visitors to enjoy numerous events and activities.
For the full proposal and graphics, click here.
For the press release on the grant award, click here.
Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Gordon Parks Museum

Chamber Coffee at Gunn Park on Oct. 7

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Chamber Coffee will feature a Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting celebration for the The Learning Tree Film and Sign Trail

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee event this Thursday, October 7th at 8 a.m. hosted by the Gordon Parks Museum at Gunn Park Shelter 1, 1010 Park Ave. The event will conclude with a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of The Learning Tree Film and Sign Trail with one of the trail signs in that location.

The Learning Tree motion picture was directed by Fort Scott’s native son Gordon Parks and Gunn Park was a primary scene location during the 1968 filming. The film was based on a semi-autobiographical novel that Gordon Parks wrote in 1963. Brochures and maps will be available at the Gordon Parks Museum and the Chamber of Commerce to identify all fourteen of the sign and scene locations included on the trail.

The Chamber Coffee will be the kick-off event of the combined 17th and 18th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration to be held this weekend and the full schedule of events may be found on gordonparkscenter.org.

Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served in addition to a door prize drawing. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.