The Kansas Department of Transportation expresses its appreciation for employees celebrating state years-of-service anniversaries in May. KDOT is proud to acknowledge them for the long-term dedication they have provided to the state of Kansas.
Those celebrating 40 years:
Charles Baker, Highway Maintenance Supervisor, Hepler
Thomas Weishapl, Highway Maintenance Supervisor, Oberlin
Those celebrating 30 years:
Deallon Wildeman, Right of Way Property Appraiser Supervisor, Topeka
Those celebrating 20 years:
Matthew Bleier, Engineering Technician Specialist, Topeka
James Fetters, Equipment Operator Senior, Council Grove
Martin Harrington, Highway Maintenance Supervisor, Norton
The 2nd Annual Confederate Memorial Service will be held at the National Cemetery at 10 am, Saturday, April 27.
Members of Sons of the Confederate Veterans (SCV) Major Thomas J. Key Camp #1920, will conduct the memorial service.
A joint Sons of Union Veterans (SUV) and SCV honor guard will present colors at the service
There are 14 Confederate Soldiers interred at the Fort Fort Scott National Cemetery. All were POW’s at Fort Scott and the majority were captured at the Battle of Mine Creek.
April has been recognized as Confederate History month throughout the South. While Kansas does not recognize Confederate History month, special permission was given by the National Cemetery Administration to conduct a memorial service for the Confederate dead in the Fort Scott National Cemetery.
This year’s memorial service was scheduled to coincide with Civil Wars Days at “The Fort.”
The memorial service is open to the public. Persons attending the memorial service can wear period clothing as desired.
There will be a rechartering of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 25 on May 3, 2019 at 7 pm. This milestone event will take place in Fort Scott’s Memorial Hall.
The American Legion Auxiliary is a standalone organization and offers programs to support Veterans and the community. For more information about the American Legion Auxiliary visit their national website at https://www.alaforveterans.org/
Any female who has an ancestor who served in the United States military is eligible for the American Legion Auxiliary. Additionally, female family members of Veterans and active duty military may also be eligible for the American Legion Auxiliary.
There is not an age requirement to join the Auxiliary Unit. Some Legion members have enrolled their daughters or granddaughters at birth to become an Auxiliary member.
Females interested in joining the American Legion Fort Scott Auxiliary Unit should call Myra Jowers at 620.215.1286 or email her at myrajowers#ymail.com about joining or to clarify their membership eligibility.
Veterans and Friends: Urge Congress to Pass the Retired Pay Restoration Act
Military retirees who have a service-connected disability rating below 50 percent have their retirement pay reduced, dollar for dollar, by the amount of disability compensation they receive. This demeaning tax, created by Congress to save money, forces those who have dedicated their careers to military service to make do without benefits they need to provide for their families.
Take Action: Contact your members of Congress and urge them to cosponsor the Retired Pay Restoration Act. Our nation is still at war. We must ensure that benefits earned through honorable service to this country are improved, not eroded.
Area students in elementary through middle school performed at Pittsburg State University’s Mid-America Music Festival on Saturday, April 13th.
Fifth- grade violinists Ashley Cannon and Grace Anderson received a II (Good) rating on their solos. Aubrey Yarick, 5th grade, received a II (Good) rating on her piano solo. Vocalists Auggie Allison (5th), Cassia Allison (7th), Emma Call (4th), and Elsie Hurd (5th) received a I (Excellent) rating. 5th grader Analiese Rupprecht earned a I+ (Excellent Plus) rating.
These young performers study under MJ Harper. For more information, contact MJ Harper 620-719-6633 [email protected] .
Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium & Convention Center’s Pittsburg Youth Chorale performed at Pittsburg State University’s Mid-America Music Festival on Saturday, April 13th and received a I (Excellent) Rating.
The ensemble is under the direction of MJ Harper and accompanied by Virginia Darling.
Members of the Pittsburg Youth Chorale are comprised of 4-6 grade vocalists from southeast Kansas, including Auggie Allison, Ben Bolinger, Gwen Crosetto, Eden Darling, Sydney Ewing, Lyric Jarvis, Chloe Riske, Andrea Wood, and Nia Imhoff.
Participants will receive their Blue Ribbons and Certificates at their finale performance Tuesday, May 7th, 6 PM, at Memorial Auditorium & Convention Center.
All are welcome to attend! For more information or to book this ensemble for performances, contact MJ Harper 620-719-6633 [email protected] .
Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s Founder’s Day
celebrates 70 years of service to seniors
Fort Scott — Employees of Fort Scott Presbyterian Village will observe the founding of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America this month as the company celebrates 70 years of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values in Kansas and Missouri.
Each Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America campus will have their own celebration with residents and employees during April acknowledging the importance each play in making life at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, the way you want to live.
“Many of our more than 2,000 employees view what they do as a calling, not just a job,” said Bruce Shogren, president and CEO. “Our dedicated employees make it possible for us to sustain PMMA’s mission, which directly impacts the wonderful care our 2,400 residents receive every day.”
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village will observe Founder’s Day on April 18, 2019 by having a cook out for the tenants and employees, along with live Music performed by Mr. Richard Mowen for all to enjoy will having lunch.
Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s roots go back to 1947. Alice Kalb, a widow from central Kansas, appealed to a Presbyterian Church organization to establish a home for seniors. Her vision laid the foundation for the first Presbyterian Manor community in Newton, Kan., and inspired others to do even more. Today PMMA remains true to the spirit of Alice’s vision, providing quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Alice’s dream has turned into a network of 17 senior living communities across Kansas and Missouri, with Fort Scott Presbyterian Village joining the system in 1994. PMMA, with its more than 2,400 residents, remains true to its core and mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
For more information about Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, contact Becky Kellum, marketing director, at 620-223-5550 or [email protected].
At the Topeka Veterans Administration Luncheon recently are from left to right: Michael Leachner, Darrell Spencer, Roger “Skipper” Brown, Myra Jowers and Carl Jowers. All are veterans although non-veterans have volunteered to be shuttle drivers as well.
Local citizens have signed on to take veterans to doctors appointments for free at two Veterans Administration Medical Centers in Kansas. And plans are in place to pick up any veteran along the Hwy. 69 corridor from Fort Scott northward.
To register for a shuttle seat, the veteran must
· Have an appointment at a VA Medical Center between 9 am and 1 p.m. for the day they schedule their shuttle seat.
· Call 785-925-0261 or email [email protected] to schedule their seat. All seat reservations must be scheduled by 5 p.m., the day prior to their appointment.
The Fort Scott VA Shuttle service is coordinated by Carl Jowers, who commander of the local American Legion Post 25.
Shuttles are provided on Mondays and Tuesdays from Fort Scott to Topeka VA Medical Center; and Wednesdays from Fort Scott to Kansas City VA Medical Center.
Veterans must have an appointment scheduled between 9 am and 1 pm on the day they ride the shuttle.
“The vet should mention that they are a shuttle rider, when calling for a VA medical appointment,” Jowers said.
The shuttle will depart from the designated spot in Fort Scott, Pete’s 66 Convenience Store, across from Briggs Automall on Hwy. 69 and will return to Fort Scott after the last veteran has completed their appointment. The departure time is based upon the time of the first appointment of the day at the VA Medical Center day. Riders will be notified of the shuttle departure time the evening before their ride.
“The departure time depends upon the time of the appointment of the riders,” Jowers said.” If there is a 9 a.m. appointment, then the shuttle departs at 6:15 a.m. for Topeka or 6:45 a.m. for KC. If the earliest appointment isn’t until 10:45 a.m., then the departure time is adjusted accordingly. It didn’t make sense to me for a driver to pickup a rider at 6:15 a.m. to arrive in Topeka at 9 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. appointment.”
“As the shuttle coordinator, after the reserved seating has closed out at 5 p.m. for the next day’s schedule, I decide on the shuttle’s departure time and convey this information to both the driver and the rider. It’s extra work on my part, but I think it’s a better use of time for both driver and rider.”
The shuttle does not accommodate wheelchairs or pets. Only certified service dogs are permitted on the shuttle. Oxygen tanks are not permitted on the shuttle. Oxygen concentrators are allowed.
Veterans living along Highway 69 may be picked up at the Casey’s Convenience Store in Pleasanton.
“We are going to make a pick up spot at McDonald’s in Louisburg at the intersection of Hwy. 68 and Hwy. 69 for either the Topeka VA or the Kansas City VA,” Jowers said.
“The Ottawa pickup location will be at Love’s Truck Stop at Highway 68 and I35, going to Topeka,” Jowers said.
” Veterans scheduling rides must be at one of our predetermined stops to ride the shuttle,” he said. “This is a shuttle service, not a taxi service. We have to plan for a group. If a person calls and is at a specific spot, they can ride the shuttle. They have to have a seat reserved.”
The VA shuttle holds five passengers and riders must preregister for a seat by calling 785-925-0261. Seats on the shuttle are open to any area veteran on a first come, first served basis.
Family members may not ride with the Veteran on the shuttle. Those veterans who need a caregiver to accompany them must have a signed note from their doctor attesting that the veteran requires a caregiver to accompany them to and from their appointment.
“Drivers have to pass a comprehensive VA medical and background investigation,” Jowers said. “It’s the same process as if you were being hired by the VA. We’ve had quite a few people step up and two more are awaiting background clearance.”
The list of shuttle drivers is: Roger and Faye Brown, Darrell Spencer, Steve Dean, Michael Martin, Michael Leachner, and Danny Graham. Jowers and his wife, Myra are back-up drivers.
Currently, one veteran a week is using the shuttle to get to their medical appointments, Jowers said.
“While at this time, there are not a lot of riders, I think that this will change as vets become aware of the service and begin making use of it,” Jowers said.
Bugles Across America, NFP was founded in 2000 by Tom Day, when Congress passed legislation stating that Veterans have a right to at least two uniformed military people to fold the flag and play Taps on a CD player. Bugles Across America was founded to take this a step further. In recognition of the service these Veterans have provided to their country, we felt that they each deserve a live rendition of Taps by a real bugler.
The motto, “SOUND THE HONOR – HONOR THE SOUND” is meant to express the desire that each volunteer bugler be available as much as possible to honor veterans with the ‘live’ sounding of TAPS.
Robert Solomonson lives in Fort Scott and is a local member of Bugles Across America. He is available as a Bugler for military graveside services and other memorial services in the Southeast Kansas area.
His service is strictly voluntary; no compensation is required. Robert can be contacted at telephone number (620)704-7373 or by email at [email protected].
Area musicians who play the Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn or a Bugle can contact https://www.buglesacrossamerica.org/ for more information on becoming a volunteer bugler at Veterans funerals or other memorial services.
Submitted By Carl Jowers. Commander.
Fort Scott American Legion Thompson-Harkey Post 25
April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Safehouse Crisis Center is hosting several awareness, educational, and support programs throughout the month for the southeast Kansas community. Safehouse provides free and confidential advocacy, shelter, and therapy services to victims and survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and human trafficking in seven counties in southeast Kansas. Safehouse will be honoring the national awareness month with free programming for area survivors and community members.
The awareness month will begin with the “What Were You Wearing?” Survivor Art Installation on Wednesday April 3rd, at the Pittsburg Public Library from 3:00pm – 7:00pm. The Art Installation originated at the University of Arkansas in 2013 and was inspired by Dr. Mary Simmerling’s poem, What I Was Wearing. The Installation asks participants to understand that it was never about the clothing and the act of shedding those clothes is never enough to bring peace or comfort to survivors. The violation is not simply woven in to the fabric of the material, it is a part of the survivor’s new narrative. If only ending sexual violence was as easy as changing our clothes. Instead it requires all of us to evaluate what enabled us as individuals and as a society to ask, “what were you wearing?” in the first place. Attendees can walk through the display anytime between 3:00pm and 7:00pm. The display will also be traveling to Fort Scott and be on display for community members at the Fort Scott Public Library Friday April 12th from 1:00pm – 5:00pm and Saturday April 13th from 9:00am – 12:00pm.
Throughout the month, local southeast Kansas libraries will have sexual assault awareness book displays. Check out the library closest to you that is participating: the Pittsburg Public Library, the PSU Axe Library, the Girard Public Library, the Weir Public Library, the Fort Scott Public Library, the La Cygne Library, the Pleasanton Lincoln Library, and the Coffeyville Public Library.
On Thursday April 18th, Safehouse will be hosting a Rara Rocks Painting Party at 6:00pm at the Pittsburg Public Library. Rara’s Rocks was started by Tamara Suguitan (nickname Rara), a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence. She shared her story with Rara Rocks, a platform to provide healing and comfort to sexual assault and domestic violence survivors. The mission of Rara’s Rocks is to spread awareness for sexual and domestic violence, the free support the community provides, and to let survivors know they are not alone. Rara’s motto is, “Heal when you reveal your ‘rocks’.” Each rock resembles a person because we are all works of art.
An important part of healing from sexual violence is learning to regain a sense of calm and safety in our lives and in our bodies. In the past decade, research has shown that yoga can also have a strong impact on the healing processes of many survivors of trauma. On Saturday April 20th Safehouse is partnering with Balanced Life Yoga to provide a free trauma-informed yoga class from 2:00pm – 3:00pm at the Eclectic Soul Studio in Pittsburg.
Safehouse will also be hosting a survivor writing workshop series called Write to Empower facilitated by advocates and local community writing professionals. The first workshop on Monday April 15th will focus on Safety, the second on Monday April 22nd will focus on empowerment, and the final workshop on Monday April 29th will focus on healing. All workshops take place at the Pittsburg Public Library from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. Attendees do not have to attend all workshops, but area encouraged to do so.
Community members may attend a free Lunch & Learn about the Dynamics of Sexual Violence on Wednesday April 24th from 12:00pm – 1:00pm at the Pittsburg Fire Department Training Room at 911 W. 4th Street. Attendees bring their own lunch and Safehouse brings the education.
For more information about Safehouse awareness and educational programs, contact Ali Smith, Prevention Education Specialist at 620-231-8692. Safehouse also encourages you to reach out to community and campus groups also providing free programming for Sexual Assault Awareness Month such as Ascension Via Christi (620-231-6100), the Children’s Advocacy Center (620-235-0067), PSU’s Students for Violence Prevention (620-235-4831), PSU’s Student Alliance for Gender Equality (620-235-4512), and the Southeast Kansas National Organization for Women (SEK NOW) [email protected]
The Fort Scott VA Shuttle service is now providing weekly service to Veterans in the Southeast Kansas area on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays as follows:
Mondays and Tuesdays: Fort Scott to Topeka VA Medical Center.
Wednesdays: Fort Scott to Kansas City VA Medical Center.
Veterans must have an appointment scheduled between 9 am and 1 pm on the day they ride the shuttle.
Veterans living along Highway 69 or near Louisburg and Ottawa can also schedule a ride to the VA by following the below process. Veterans scheduling rides must be at one of our predetermined stops to ride the shuttle. This is a shuttle service, not a taxi service.
The VA shuttle holds five passengers and riders must preregister for a seat. Seats on the shuttle are open to any area Veteran on a first come, first served basis.
The shuttle service is free to any Veteran who needs transportation to the VA for their medical appointments.
The shuttle will depart from the Fort Scott’s Pete’s 66 service station on Main Street and will return to Fort Scott after the last Veteran has completed their appointment. The departure time is based upon the time of the first appointment of the day at the VA Medical Center day. Riders will be notified of the shuttle departure time the evening before their ride.
The shuttle does not accommodate wheelchairs or pets. Only certified service dogs are permitted on the shuttle. Oxygen tanks are not permitted on the shuttle. Oxygen concentrators are allowed.
Family members may not ride with the Veteran on the shuttle. Those Veterans who need a caregiver to accompany them must have a signed note from their doctor attesting that the Veteran requires a caregiver to accompany them to and from their appointment.
To register for a shuttle seat, the Veteran must
·Have an appointment at a VA Medical Center between 9 am and 1 pm for the day they schedule their shuttle seat.
·Call 785-925-0261 or email [email protected] to schedule their seat. All seat reservations must be scheduled by 5 pm, the day prior to their appointment.
Please don’t hesitate to call or email me with any questions you might have.
Submitted by Carl Jowers, Fort Scott Shuttle Coordinator.
