Severe thunderstorms yesterday have caused flooding in some areas.
Gunn Park was closed because of the flooding.
Gunn Park is Closed Because of Flooding
Category Archives: Area News
Area Job Openings by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce
Uniontown Spruces Up
Spring cleaning is the time to clean up your yards, attics, garage and closets.
Next weekend, a small town in the area will be renting huge trash hauling bins to helps its citizens to do just that.
Uniontown City Council helps provide the town’s citizens a way to get rid of unwanted, unsightly items.
The city council rents huge trash hauling bins twice a year, once before Uniontown High School graduation in May and again before Old Settlers Picnic weekend, in August, this year May 3-5 and August 23-25.
The bins are located on city property near the corner of First and Clay Streets.
“This assists our residents with the clean up of their property and to keep our town clean and appealing to visitors,” Sally Johnson, Uniontown City Clerk, said.
Absolutely no tires, batteries, or freon are allowed in the city’s trash hauling bins.
The city will recycle metal.
“There will be an area to the side (of the bins) for metal objects that are then taken for recycling,” Johnson said.
The town-wide clean up is for Uniontown residents only.
Come To The Fort For Living History April 27-28
History re-enactors and volunteers will be portraying life during the Civil War era at Fort Scott National Historic Site this weekend, April 27-28
The Holmes Brigade, 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry, Western Bluecoats Field Hospital, Friends of Fort Scott NHS, Inc., and Fort Scott National Historic Site volunteers will be demonstrating cooking, sewing, period games, and other activities about life at the fort during this time period.
The times for the events:
SATURDAY, APRIL 27
- 9:00 a.m. Raising the Colors
- 10:00 a.m. Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
- 10:30 a.m. Lunette Blair Block House Program
- 10:45 a.m. Cooking Demonstrations: (All day)
- 11:00 a.m. Cavalry Drill
- 11:30 a.m. An Arm and a Leg: The Cost of Surgery
- 12:00 noon Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
- 1:00 p.m. Ordered To Be Shot: Civil War Courts Martial
- 2:00 p.m. Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
- 2:30 p.m. An Arm and a Leg: The Cost of Surgery
- 3:00 p.m. Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
- 4:00 p.m. Flag Retreat
SUNDAY, APRIL 28
- 9:00 a.m. Raising the Colors
- 10:00 a.m. Church Service
- 11:00 a.m. Cooking Demonstration
- 11:30 a.m. Infantry Dress Parade and Inspection
- 12:00 noon Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
- 1:00 p.m. Cavalry Drill
- 1:30 p.m. An Arm and a Leg: The Cost of Surgery
- 2:00 p.m. Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
- 2:30 p.m. Conceived in Liberty: An Interpretive Dialog
- 3:00 p.m. Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
The address of the fort is 1 Old Fort Blvd, Fort Scott, at the north end of Main Street.
For more information: www.nps.gov/fosc/planyourvisit/civil-war-encampment.htm
Submitted by:
Carl Brenner
Carl Brenner
Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management
Fort Scott National Historic Site (www.nps.gov/fosc)
Fort Scott National Historic Site (www.nps.gov/fosc)
Cell – 785-521-5371
Office – 620-223-0310
Aging With Attitude April 26
Inspiration and education are the themes of an event aimed at older adults this Friday.
The Aging With Attitude Expo is a one-day event for aging adults and their family members, according to Barbara Stockebrand, chairperson of the event.
There is a resource fair, breakout sessions, and a keynote speaker with lunch for those who attend.
K-State Research and Extension along with area community partners are bringing the Aging With Attitude Regional Expo to the venue of Community Christian Church in Fort Scott, on April 26 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The church is located at 1919 S. Horton, across from Fort Scott Community College.
Registration fee is $25.
Current registrations of 134 are nearing the capacity set for the expo, Stockebrand said.
Registration information can be found on the Facebook page below.
Click below for the Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1662924420474738/
Click here to register online:
https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6Ltvajv5Wc5qiPz
Community partners for the event include the Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, Medicalodges Inc., Southeast Kansas Library System, Angels Care Home Health, Integrity Home Care + Hospice, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and Fort Scott Convention and Visitors’ Bureau.
The goal of the expo is to empower older adults to make more confident and proactive decisions that influence how they age by sharing information and education throughout the day.
Educational topics promote positive attitudes about aging and educate participants on issues supporting physical, mental, and financial health.
Key note presenter, Patty LaRoche will speak on “What Matters Most – Learning Contentment in Life.”
Participants will also have the opportunity to choose from a variety of breakout session topics that address issues facing older adults.
A grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas has provided support for this expo.
Minority/Women Business Workshop May 15
New Minority/Women Business Development Workshop Aims to Help Businesses Grow
Topeka, Kan. – The Minority and Women Business Development Office of the Kansas Department of Commerce will host a Workshop for Minority, Woman and/or Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification Programs on May 15. Those interested in DBE/MBE/WBE Certification will be able to hear more about the application process and potential benefits of certification at the workshop.
DBE/MBE/WBE Certification Workshop
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
10:00am – 12:00pm
Kansas Department of Commerce
1000 SW Jackson, Ste. 100
Topeka, KS 66605
(Curtis State Office Building)
Attendance is FREE, but registration is REQUIRED. Space is limited so sign up early!
Click on the following link to register.
(Deadline is Friday, Monday May 10, 2019)
Ryan Brinker
Public Information Officer
Kansas Department of Commerce
1000 SW Jackson St. Ste. 100
Topeka, KS 66612-1354
Phone: 785-296-4931
Cell: 785-276-9723
Charles Baker celebrates 40-year milestone at KDOT
Charles Baker has worked on the state highways in all kinds of adverse weather events, including tornadoes and snowstorms. He and his crew at the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Erie subarea shop have also dealt with heavy rains and major flooding – including a flood that destroyed the office, which was subsequently rebuilt – during Baker’s years with the agency.
Baker, who is supervisor at the Erie office, has achieved a career milestone and is celebrating 40 years of service to KDOT in May 2019. Beginning work as an equipment operator at Erie in May 1979, he was promoted to supervisor in 2006. The seven-member Erie shop performs operations such as fixing potholes, repairing signs and guardrail, mowing right-of-way, and blading shoulders on the state highway system in the area.
During winter months the removal of snow and ice from the highways is a high priority. “After a snowstorm there is the joy and gratitude you feel that no one got hurt,” said Baker. “We got the job done and there were no accidents.”
Baker lives in Hepler with his wife Janice. On April 28 the couple will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. They have two children and four grandchildren.
New SEKCAP CEO: Jess Ervin
Jess Ervin, Uniontown, transitioned to the role of Chief Executive Officer at Southeast Kansas Community Action Program on January 1, 2019.
“I replaced Steve Lohr, who was with SEK-CAP for nearly 40 years,” Ervin said. “He had served as CEO since 1999.”
Ervin’s office is located in Girard, at the SEK-CAP Central Office facility on North Sinnet Street.
“This location houses the Agency’s administrative offices, as well as office space for our Early Childhood Services staff,” Ervin said. “Also located here is an annex facility, in which our housing services and transportation departments are located.”
Ervin is a Bourbon County resident.
“I graduated from Uniontown High School in 2002, Fort Scott Community College in 2004 and Pittsburg State University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration,” he said.
“From 2006 to 2014, I worked at Mercy Health Center Fort Scott, first as a staff accountant, then as a senior accountant,” he said. “Following that time I transitioned into the role of a senior financial analyst for Mercy of Southwest Missouri and Kansas, where I worked until January of 2017. In January of 2017, I was hired as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for SEK-CAP. I served in that capacity until the end of 2018.”
What does the future look like with Ervin as CEO?
“We will continue to serve the children, families and communities in the twelve counties in southeast Kansas,” Ervin said. “Our current services include Community Engagement, Early Childhood Services, Housing and Transportation.”
“We are currently engaged in completing a Community Needs Assessment for our service area that will combine both qualitative and quantitative data factors to determine areas of need, and to identify opportunities for change.”
SEK-CAP is active in Bourbon County.
“Right now in Bourbon County, we are active through Community Engagement, Housing Services and Early Childhood Services. Community Engagement encompasses community planning, involvement and needs assessment,” he said.
“Our housing services in Bourbon County include the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) which can be utilized for homelessness assistance. Our wait list for TBRA is currently open and is set to close April 30th for the current grant cycle.”
“Early Childhood services include both a center-based (Head Start, ages 3-5) model that is housed in a classroom of the Fort Scott Preschool building, and Home-Based Services (Early Head Start and Head Start, prenatal through age 5), which are services delivered by staff who conduct weekly visits to children in their home, and work directly with the parents to promote healthy development. SEK-CAP’s Early Childhood programs promote school readiness for children prenatally to age five for low-income families by supporting the development of the whole child. Each Early Childhood program supports families in fulfilling their roles as parents and movement towards self-sufficiency by offering comprehensive services such as education, nutrition, medical, dental, mental health, employment services, leadership development and community engagement.”
“Each program our agency offers is vitally important to the success of the families and communities we serve, and we can proudly say that the skill and passion that our over 200 staff has for helping people is a cornerstone to all programs.”
Ervin encourages people to visit the agency website at www.sek-cap.com to learn more, and also on facebook and twitter – Southeast Kansas Community Action Program/@SEKCAPINC.
The mission of SEK CAP addresses the causes and effects of poverty by uniting staff, individuals, families and community partners to provide quality comprehensive services through compassionate, respectful relationships.
New Bus Service From Joplin to Wichita Stops at Fort Scott
Since August 2018, Fort Scottians can take a bus to Wichita and Joplin and points in between on Beeline Express, seven days a week.
“This is a community service for rural Kansans,” said Jim Lynch, the manager of Beeline Express. “It’s subsidized by the Kansas Department of Transportation.”
The pickup point is Pump N Pete’s, 1920 S. Main on 69 Hwy.
Riders can purchase a one-way ticket for $40 for the destination of Wichita, with stops at Iola, Eureka, and El Dorado, Lynch said.
The 48 passenger bus has a restroom and electric chargers for phones, Lynch said.
“You can put the seats back and take a nap,” he said. “We do have wheelchair accessibility.”
“A lot of people use it for Fort Scott to Joplin,” Lynch said. The cost of a ticket from Fort Scott to Joplin is $19, with a stop in Pittsburg.
The bus arrives at 8:55 a.m. at Pump N Petes on 69 Hwy. and arrives at noon in Wichita. It leaves Wichita at 2:45 p.m. on its way back to Joplin.
It arrives at 5:55 p.m. in Fort Scott to pick up riders and arrives in Joplin at 7:15 p.m.
“A person can just show up, pay $40 and get on the bus to Wichita,” Lynch said. To pre-arrange phone 1-855-201-6700. The Beeline office number is 316-249-6774 with office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“You can look up the schedule online,” Lynch said. http://www.Beeline-Express.com
For more destinations past both Wichita and Joplin, go to http://www.greyhound.com to secure a ticket to all points in the U.S., he said.
Tickets are non-refundable but may be transferable at the discretion of the ticket agent, according to information provided.
Long Term KDOT Employees Acknowledged
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
- Jonathan Houpt Equipment Operator, Olathe
- David Rush, Equipment Operator Specialist, Ottawa
- Steven Schmidt, Equipment Mechanic Senior, Salina
Confederate Memorial Service April 27
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.
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 25
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.