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St. Martin’s Academy Singers: Friday Night Free Concert May 21
This Friday Night Free Concert at 7 p.m. will feature the St. Martin Academy Singers, according to event coordinator Ralph Carlson. “There will be a short open-mike time as well for walk-ons.”
“The St. Martin Academy group will have a mix of folk music, classic country, pop and gospel,” Carlson said. “The school year ending, the St. Martin youth will be returning to their homes in various states so we got them before they leave for the summer. In addition, there may be bagpipe music. They have been a really popular group and it is a pleasure to get these young men back.”
The venue, Heritage Pavilion, is located at Main and First Street in downtown Fort Scott.
“We expect good weather and a good turnout so bring your lawn chairs as seating is limited,” he said.
Obituary of Fred M. Helm
Fred Marvin Helm, 96, of Fort Scott, Kan., formerly of Paola and Kansas City, Kan., died Saturday, May 15, 2021 at Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott.
He was born Aug. 30, 1924 at Miles, Okla., the fifth of eight children of Isaac and Lillie Mae (Moulder) Helm.
He graduated in 1942 from White Oak High School at White Oak, Okla. He met Phyllis Ann Curtis at Parsons, Kan., and they were married on June 20, 1954 at her parents’ house.
They became the parents of two children, Anthony Scott and Tammy Lou.
He worked as a switchman for the Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad at Parsons, Kan., and in 1962, transferred to Kansas City, Kan., where he and Phyllis raised their children. In 1987, he and Phyllis moved to Osawatomie, Kan., where after 33 years, he retired from the Katy.
He enjoyed traveling and made sure the family took a vacation each summer
. After the kids were grown, he and Phyllis continued taking as many trips as possible, often with friends Frank and Juanita Folsom. Together, they traveled to Mexico, Canada, Alaska and many states in between. His favorite and most memorable trips was when he and Phyllis drove to Alaska in 1985.
He also enjoyed gardening and fishing, becoming a member of the Katy Rod and Gun Club at Moran, Kan., where the family spent several weekends during the summer.
He began dabbling with woodworking and in his retirement, spent hours in his shop making furniture he would give to his children and grandchildren for Christmas. He made smaller items, which he enjoyed giving to other family members and friends. Years later, those items are cherished.
His favorite time of the year was the annual Helm Reunion, held the first weekend in June.
He loved meeting new people, laughing and making people laugh, and was never short on words.
Phyllis preceded him in death on May 19, 2011. Her cremains will be buried with him.
He then married Mary Lou Debrick on June 16, 2012, and moved to Paola. They traveled while their health allowed, once taking a cruise to the Panama Canal. They divorced in 2020.
Fred moved to Fort Scott in June 2020 to be near his daughter. He moved to the Presbyterian Village in March.
He was a member of the First Methodist Church at Vinita, Okla., and more recently the First Lutheran Church at Paola.
Besides his parents and wife Phyllis, Fred was preceded in death by his siblings: brothers Arthur, Clarence, Francis, James, William Albert and Isaac “Bud”; and sister Thelma Jones.
He is survived by his two children, Scott Helm and Debbie Jones of Desoto, Kan., and Tammy Helm of Fort Scott; daughter-in-law Roberta Helm; two grandchildren Alicia (Helm) Hafley and her husband, Joe, of Kansas City, Kan., and Michael McHenry of Gladstone, Mo.; one great-grandson, Caden “Oscar” Hafley; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Cremation graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, May 21st, in the Fairview Cemetery, Vinita, OK. Memorials are suggested to the Presbyterian Village Good Samaritan Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
New Kansas Bipartisan Laws
Governor Laura Kelly Signs Several Pieces of Bipartisan Legislation into Law
TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly signed 7 pieces of bipartisan legislation into law.
“Today, I signed seven bipartisan bills that will enhance consumer protections and protect Kansas families from mistreatment and extortion,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This is the kind of success that can be achieved when we work together – not as Republicans or Democrats – but as Kansans. I want to thank my colleagues in the legislature, on both sides of the aisle, for their efforts.”
Extending the Kansas closed case task force, providing for staff assistance and renaming the task force the Alvin Sykes cold case DNA task force, extending the Kansas criminal justice reform commission, limiting the commission’s scope of study and adding a public defender, and authorizing the crime victims compensation board to waive application time restrictions for certain victims to receive compensation for mental health counseling and adding certain children to the definition of victim.
Increasing the criminal penalty for mistreatment of a dependent adult or elder person when the victim is a resident of an adult care home, adding definitions related to defendants who abscond from supervision in the criminal procedure code and for parole and clarifying that bond agents seeking discharge as a surety are required to return the person released on bond to the court in the county where the complaint subject to the bond was filed, requiring the department of corrections to develop guidance to be used by parole officers when responding to violations of parole and postrelease supervision and that incentivize compliant behavior, and authorizing court services officers and community corrections officers to provide a certification of identification to offenders for use to obtain a new driver’s license.
Enacting the first-time home buyer savings account act.
Senate Bill 39 changes Kansas department of agriculture division of animal health license, permit and registration renewal deadlines and allows the animal health commissioner to recover the actual cost of official calfhood vaccination tags.
Enacting the Kansas taxpayer protection act requiring the signature and tax identification number of paid tax return preparers on income tax returns and authorizing actions to enjoin paid tax return preparers from engaging in certain conduct, exempting compensation attributable as a result of identity fraud, extending the dates when corporate returns are required to be filed, providing conformity with the federal return due date for returns other than corporate returns, providing a temporary withholding option for certain teleworking employees, establishing the Eisenhower foundation contribution credit and the friends of cedar crest association contribution credit, extending the time period and expanding eligibility for the single city port authority credit, extending the time period for eligibility in the loan repayment program and income tax credit related to rural opportunity zones and defining rural opportunity zone on the basis of population.
Creating the crime of sexual extortion and requiring an offender to register under the Kansas offender registration act, prohibiting a court from requiring psychiatric or psychological examinations of an alleged victim of any crime, increasing criminal penalties for fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer when operating a stolen vehicle, committing certain driving violations or causing a collision involving another driver, defining proximate result for purposes of determining when a crime is committed partly within this state, removing the spousal exception from the crime of sexual battery and making fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer evidence of intent to commit theft of a vehicle.
Enacting the psychology interjurisdictional compact to provide for interjurisdictional authorization to practice telepsychology and temporary in-person, face-to-face psychology and enacting the physical therapy licensure compact and authorizing criminal history record checks in the physical therapy practice act.
USD 234 Extends School Year To Get Jump Start on Next Year
Selected Fort Scott students will be offered extra learning opportunities this summer. Transportation will be provided free of charge to students and additionally, food service will be provided free of charge to students, according to USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong.
“We will have Extended School Year (ESY) for special education students (Pre-K – 11), Extended Learning Opportunities for general education students (Pre-K-11), and JumpStart for preschool students,” Hessong said.
“ESY is a program we have offered in the summer for several years for special education students,” he said. “Special education staff work with students based on their individual learning needs.”
“This summer will be the first time in a few years, we have offered extended learning opportunities for general education students,” Hessong said. “With the use of ESSER II funds provided by the federal government, we will be providing summer learning opportunities to get a jump start to next school year.”
ESSER Funds were established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act,(CARES) the core purpose of the ESSER II Fund is to provide direct money to states and districts to address the areas most impacted by the disruption and closure of schools caused by COVID-19, according to the website https://www.nj.gov/education/ESSER
Students will focus on academic target areas based on academic data collected during the school year, Hessong said.
“This academic data comes from the MAP assessments our district utilizes as well as state assessment data from this current school year,” he said. “The ESSER II funds allow us to provide these learning opportunities to address academic gaps identified for individual students to help them be more prepared for promotion to their next grade level.”
” Each building will have general education staff provide the learning opportunities for identified students,” Hessong said. “This is not mandatory for identified students, but we hope parents and students understand our goal is to strengthen their child’s academic progress going into the next school year.”
“For several years USD 234 has provided a JumpStart summer program for preschool students going into Kindergarten,” he said. “The preschool receives a grant that provides funding for the JumpStart program. Identified preschool students are provided an opportunity to get a head start going into kindergarten, which will help them to be better prepared to be successful in kindergarten.”
Summer offering schedule:
Dates: July 20 – August 6
Location: Middle School (except for JumpStart)
Days: Monday – Friday
Time: 8 a.m. – noon.
Format:
Preschool – 8 – 11 a.m. at the preschool.
Jumpstart – at Winfield Scott Elementary from 8 to 11 a.m.
Primary (K-2) – 8 to 10 a.m.
Intermediate (3-5) – 10 a.m. to noon.
Middle School – 8 a.m. to noon.
High School – 8 a.m. to noon. (credit recovery)
Democrats Meet May 23
Bourbon County Democratic Party
meeting at 2 pm on Sunday, May 23rd, 2021
Shelter House #1, Gunn Park.
Discussion of Summer Events!
Contact [email protected]
Submitted by Carol MacArthur
Chair, Bourbon Co. Democrats
620 215 1505
“Kansans deserve better”
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports May 17
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports May 13-16
Two Winning Hands By Carolyn Tucker
Keys to the Kingdom by Carolyn Tucker
You can stick in the corner of my eye what I know about playing cards. Although I have three decks of cards in my possession, it’s only because each card has a different photo of Elvis on the back. Old Maid was the only card game in my childhood home! All I know about playing cards is what I’ve seen on Western movies and heard from Kenny Rogers’ hit song, “The Gambler.” I think you’re supposed to have a holstered Hogleg tied to your thigh just in case there‘s any cheatin’ goin’ on. I could never play Poker because I don’t have the essential “poker face,” plus I wouldn’t know a winning hand from a losing hand even if it slapped me in the face.
But on the other hand, if you’re gonna play the game of life, you gotta learn to play it right. That’s where Jesus comes onto the scene in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” I’m grateful for the word “whoever” because it’s all inclusive. No one can be cut out of eternal life except the player who refuses to believe in Jesus. Our choice determines our destiny, so choose wisely. “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 NKJV).
Righteousness is God’s gift to all the “whoevers” from the beginning to the end of time. As with any gift, we have the free will to take it or pass on it. Everyone has the responsibility to choose and the power to act without being forced. Righteousness is freely given to anyone who truly believes in what God did for him/her through Christ Jesus. [“Righteousness, standing acceptable to God] will be granted and credited to us also who believe in (trust in, adhere to, and rely on) God, Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Romans 4:24 AMP).
In 1982, The Hinsons released their hit song, “Two Winning Hands” written by Ronny Hinson. Partial lyrics from this “sermon set to music” speak for themselves: “Don’t gamble on life with all your luck and your skill. ’Cause you can’t play the cards that death’s gonna deal. The Bible has planned who the loser is gonna be. Ain’t but two winning hands and they were nailed to a tree. That same Jesus you’ve heard of can take a black heart without love, wash it in red blood and make it whiter than snow.”
The stakes are too high to gamble on your eternal destiny. Don’t place a bet with the devil thinking you can run your own life successfully. “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the devil, roams around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 GNT). The devil is the master deceiver who knows how to bluff his weak hand. He’s been tricking mankind into believing God’s Word isn’t true ever since the Garden of Eden. Don’t be a loser and fall for Satan‘s lies. Choose to be a winner with the King on your side.
The problem with unstable people is that they’re apt to fold. But grounded believers place their confidence in Christ to keep a victory hold.
The Key: Put your hand in the hand of the One who will never lose.
Successful Small Towns by Gregg Motley
James Fallows, a freelance writer, became curious about the demise of small towns; so, in 2016, he and his wife flew a small plane 54,000 miles around America to find out the common factors of cities that are succeeding despite the trends. They found 11 common characteristics; here is my summary of their findings:
- Politics
Divisive national politics don’t rule the atmosphere. Yes, people are aware of what is going on, and they are involved, but it does not saturate every relationship. The focus is on local initiatives to address practical problems.
- Local Patriots
Who makes this town go? When interviewed, the same names were on the lips of the citizens. It could have been a business owner, a politician, a radio personality, and/or a newspaper columnist, but everyone knew who they were, and understood the influence they have on the community.
- Effective Public/Private Partnerships
When the motivation for public good found in government efficiently bonds with the incentives for effective efforts found in the private sector, good things happen. In successful cities, citizens could identify and explain one or more effective public/private partnerships.
- Know the Civic Story
“Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.” People who live in the more successful towns know their history, which gives the community a sense of connection and commonality that is invaluable and a springboard into the future.
- Downtown
Many forces have driven economic activity away from these civic centers, but successful cities have launched revival projects to reclaim their past, creating a sense of vibrancy not found in communities with dilapidated historical districts.
- Research University Nearby
Another way to think about this is ANY kind of Federal government spending in the area. Also, a research university draws academics and young people.
- They Support a Community College
A community college is a wonderful and effective bridge to a better future for our young people. Great towns support them.
- They Have Above-average Schools
If the citizens feel good about the public/private schools in their community, it shows through. We have to invest in education, and stay involved after our children are grown.
- They are Open
The only growth that is occurring in small town America is through migration and immigration. Whether new people are born in a big city, a foreign country, or across the state line, successful communities welcome everyone. Don’t be offended by a regional accent or a foreign language; rather, use it as a conversational bridge.
- They Have Big Plans
Healthy growth in small towns is seldom an accident. Effective civic planning creates a vision that most people in the community can get excited about and embrace.
- Craft Breweries
This may be the most reliable marker of a successful town. Why? Maybe it indicates that the community incubates creative and gutsy entrepreneurs. It also gives people a place to gather.
The great news for Fort Scott is that we check most of these boxes. I am confident that we can make progress on most, if not all, of these fronts. Let’s create a vision of success together.
Bass Tournament and Beer Garden May 29
Butch Hall was a 2000 Uniontown High School graduate, who was killed in Afganistan in 2004.
His family and friends are hosting a pond hopping bass tournament in his honor that not only supports our small community, but will also raise money for a newly founded charity called the Bourbon County Angels.
In 2020, the Angels helped over 75 Bourbon County families put gifts under the Christmas tree.
Sponsors are listed on the flyer and the t-shirts.
T-shirts are available to purchase online until and including the day of the event.
The event will be located at Union Station, Uniontown’s convenience store, where they will be hosting a beer garden.
They have also purchased pork from Bronson Locker that will be smoked by Chuck Weyant and served on the day of the event.
All proceeds from the pulled pork sandwiches will go to the Bourbon County Angels along with 50% of the tournament registration fees.
Tournament participants must check-in at 6:00 am at Union Station and return for the weigh-in at 3:00 pm.
Limit of 3 people per team.
$20 per person to enter. All ages welcome.
Biggest bass and heaviest stringer per team. There will also be a $5 big bass pot.
Fish must be alive at weigh-in.
Butch’s family has donated individual trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams and one for the biggest bass.
Donated prize drawings will be held after the weigh-in. Find the latest information on the Facebook event page Butch Hall Memorial Fishing Tournament.
Submitted by Sara Roufs
FSCC Minutes of April 19
FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
April 19, 2021
PRESENT: John Bartelsmeyer, Dave Elliott, Kirk Hart, Bill Meyer, and Robert Nelson
ALSO PRESENT: Alysia Johnston, President, Juley McDaniel, Board Clerk, faculty, and staff
Chairman Bartelsmeyer called the meeting to order at 5:32 pm in Cleaver-Burris-Boileau Hall. The meeting was opened
with the Pledge of Allegiance.
CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Elliott, seconded by Hart, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the
consent agenda.
ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:
A. A motion was made by Nelson, seconded by Elliott, and carried by unanimous vote to approve Design Mechanical
as the HVAC and boiler system provider.
B. A motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Hart, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the intent to transfer
land on the Burke Street Campus to Mary Queen of Angels Church.
C. A motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Nelson, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the proposal from
AVI for the Fine Arts Center Theater audio/visual refresh.
ITEMS FOR REVIEW: The Board reviewed letters of correspondence.
REPORTS:
A. ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES: The Board reviewed and heard reports from the Gordon Parks Museum,
Student Services, Athletics, Instruction, Finance and Operations, and the President.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by Elliott, seconded by Hart, and carried by unanimous vote to adjourn to
executive session for 15 minutes beginning at 6:11 pm for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel in regards to
administrative contracts, emeritus status, and hazard pay with action expected to follow.
OPEN SESSION: A motion was made at 6:26 by Nelson, seconded by Elliott, and carried by unanimous vote to return to
open session.
A motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Elliott, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the administrative contracts
for Alysia Johnston, Adam Borth, Julie Eichenberger, Janet Fancher, and Tom Havron.
A motion was made by Nelson, seconded by Meyer, and carried by unanimous vote to approve emeritus staff status to
Harold Hicks.
Chairman Bartelsmeyer stated that hazard pay will be provided to current employees who were not remote during the fall
2020 and/or spring 2021 semesters for playing a critical role in allowing the college to remain face to face during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
More information about the payment will come from college administration via email.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Trustees, a motion to adjourn was made at 6:30
p.m. by Meyer, seconded by Hart, and carried by unanimous vote.
Chairman Clerk
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