Category Archives: Area News

FSCC Will Offer Women’s Golf, Track And Field In Fall

Tom Havron, Fort Scott Community College Athletic Director and Dean of Students.

New opportunities for students to attend Fort Scott Community College on an athletic scholarship are here.

Woman’s golf and also men’s and women’s track and field programs will be offered in Fall 2018, according to Tom Havron, athletic director and dean of students, said.

“This is an opportunity for us to add to the student body and give students academic opportunities,” Havron said.

Ryan Pulsifer was hired as the new track and field coach.

“This is near and dear to my heart….I was a track and field coach for Neosho County Community College, Chanute,” Havron said.

“There is a possibility of using local talent on our team,” Havron said.
“Fort Scott High School has tremendous cross country and track teams. The local talent is  high.”

Track has potential to add 50 to 90 students to the student body, and up to 15 for golf, Havron said.

Jeff Tadtman, current head women’s basketball coach, is the new women’s golf coach.

“Tadtman has had some experience coaching golf in a previous position,” Havron said.

FSCC has already signed two high school students for this team and is aiming for eight, he said.

For college, women’s golf is played during  fall and spring semesters, Havron said.

“We were looking to add a woman’s sport,” Havron said. “Because of Title 9, it’s important to have things equal, to give opportunities to females.”

Havron said in addition to staff recruitment, people can apply for the athletic scholarships.

In addition to academics and sports, FSCC allows students opportunities to serve the community.

Havron said the athletic department prides itself on “producing a culture of community service.”

He cited such service as helping the middle school with several fundraisers, Beacon Adopt-A-Child, Angel Tree, reading programs at the elementary schools, line judges at the high school volleyball games, Upward Bound referees and shoe donations to a third-world country.

“We get multiple calls every month, people who need help,” Havron said. “The coaches are great to get this going.”

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County Commission Meets Jan. 9

Following is the agenda for the Bourbon County Commission, Tuesday, Jan.9, starting at 9 a.m. The commission is located on the second floor of the courthouse at 210 S. National.

9-9:45 a.m.     Jim Harris

9:30                    Disposal of wreaths at the national cemetery

9:45-10:15     Commissioners consider and take action on any and all questions regarding the law enforcement project

10:30-11         Ben Cole-Sheriffs Dept. Wages

11-12                Justin Meeks

Noon-1:30       Commissioners gone to lunch

2-2:30              Ed Guss-City of Redfield/Fire Department

2:30                    Employee handbook

 Justifications for an executive session:

          Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

          Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

          Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

          Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

          Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

          Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system

 

Job Openings From The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

The following jobs are taken from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce website.
PO Box 151
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Information Technology System Administrator
Category: Accounting
 TitleInformation Technology System Administrator  Open Date12/4/2017  Number of Openings1  Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time  Exempt/Non-ExemptNon-Exempt  ShiftDays  Category
Information Technology  Description SUMMARY Responsible for effective provisioning, installation/configuration, operation, and maintenance of systems hardware and software and related infrastructure in order to meet Citywide priorities. Formulates and executes plans and budgets that are consistent with and supportive of the City IT goals read more
Contact:
Phone:(620) 223-0550
2401 Cooper St.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Video Editor
Category: Graphic Arts
“WE HIRE THE PERSON NOT THE POSITION”Job Posting: Video EditorWard/Kraft, Inc, located in Fort Scott (KS), is currently looking for a Video Editor. Ward Kraft is an industry leader while being one of the most innovative print manufacturers in the Print Industry. Ward/Kraft is a family owned company that started over 40 years ago with customer service and good business values as a number one priority. Ward/Kraft offers a competitive salary and a substantial benefits package to their membersWard/Kraft want read more
Contact:
Phone:620-223-5500 x-4351
4505 Campbell Drive
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Production Scheduler
Category: Manufacturing
Date: Dec 12, 2017, Location: Fort Scott, KS, US, 66701 Company: Timken Production Scheduler: Wrap Molded – Fort Scott, KS Develop and manage the Value Stream production schedules.  Work with the planning group and Value Stream Manager to develop and execute the SIOP plan.  Work with the VSM and production supervisors to manage daily production to meet required metrics for Value Stream budget and SIOP.Execute Production Plan – Scheduling Manufacturing  in accordance with Firm and Forecasted Demand read more
Contact:
Phone:620-223-0080 ext. 2
2420 S. Main St., Suite 200
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Back-Up Assistant
Category: Retail/Wholesale
Title:Back-Up Assistant (Part-Time)  Location:KS – Fort Scott – 641  City:Fort Scott  Metro Area:Fort Scott  State:KS  Postal Code:66701  Functional Area:Store Operations  Description: Back-Up Assistant: Position Summary   Assists with the management of day-to-day operations, this position provides support to the Store Manager and Assistant Store Manager.  The Back-Up Assistant reports directly to the Store Manager.   Key Responsibilities:  Contributes to team effort by read more
Contact:
Phone:(620) 223-1622
PO Box 151
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Part-Time Communications Technician
Category: Telecommunications
 TitlePart-time Communications Technician Open Date10/3/2017  Number of Openings1  Full-Time/Part-TimePart-Time  Exempt/Non-ExemptNon-Exempt  ShiftRotating Days and Nights  CategoryCommunications  Description We are seeking applicants to fill this position on an as needed part-time basis to cover when regular full-time staff is on vacation or out on other leave.  As full-time positions in this department come open, we do fill them from our pool of part-time as needed staff.   SUMMARY Under the general read more
Contact:
Phone:(620) 223-0550

Opportunity To Choose For Mercy Patients With Blue Cross

“In the past, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott has been able to accept Blue Cross/Blue Shield, but Mercy Hospital Joplin and Springfield were excluded,” said Tina Rockhold media spokesperson for Mercy Hospital said.

Kansas residents with Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s plan which are part of the Blue Card network now have access to Mercy Joplin doctors, hospitals, labs, imaging facilities and other health care services, effective January 1, 2018.

 Mercy Joplin and Springfield are now in-network with a number of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas health insurance plans.

“This is a tremendous benefit to our patients,” Rockhold said. “Because if they are transferred or need specialty care not offered here, they can now receive care in Joplin or if need be in Springfield.”

“In Springfield, for example,  there is a highly specialized pediatric service,” she said. “If needed patients could be treated there.”

Click here for a list of Blue Cross Blue Shield plans accepting Mercy providers.

Patients with the following plans will receive in-network privileges at Mercy Joplin: Blue Choice, Preferred Care, Preferred Care Blue, Pathway/Pathway X and Medicare Advantage.

Because of its efficient, quality care, Mercy recently was named one of the top five large health systems for the second year in a row by IBM Watson Health’s Truven Health Analytics.

In addition to quality care across the board, patients in these Blue Cross Blue Shield plans will have access to a variety of Mercy health care specialties in Joplin that include:

  • Mercy hospitals located in Joplin, Carthage, and Springfield
  • Mercy Kids Pediatric Specialist Outreach Clinics in Joplin, and a Mercy Children’s Hospital in Springfield with dozens of physician subspecialists including pediatric critical care, orthopedic, endocrinology and neurosurgery
  • A neonatal intensive unit with private rooms that give families the space to participate in their child’s care
  • First Hybrid Operating Room in Joplin for open heart and brain surgeries
  • Advanced specialty services for cardiovascular, spine, bariatrics, neurology and many more

The full list of Blue Cross Blue Shield plans accepting Mercy providers follows:

Medical Networks

  • Blue Access – PPO

  • Blue Access Choice – PPO

  • Blue Traditional

  • Medicare Advantage HMO

  • Medicare Advantage PPO

  • Pathway

  • Pathway X

Medical (Individual & Families)

  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold Direct Access, a Multi-state Plan
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Silver Direct Access, a Multi-state Plan
  • Blue Access Choice – S

  • Bronze Pathway

  • Bronze Pathway X

  • Catastrophic Pathway

  • Catastrophic Pathway X

  • Gold Pathway

  • Gold Pathway X

  • Lumenos Plans (Blue Access Choice)

  • Lumenos Plans (Blue Access)

  • National PPO (Blue Card Basic)

  • National PPO (Blue Card PPO)

  • Silver Pathway

  • Silver Pathway X

Medicare

  • Anthem MediBlue (HMO)

  • Anthem MediBlue (PPO)

  • Anthem MediBlue Dual Advantage (HMO SNP)

  • Anthem MediBlue Plus (HMO)

  • Anthem MediBlue Preferred (PPO)

  • Blue Medicare Advantage (PPO)

  • Blue Medicare Rx (PDP) with Senior Rx Plus

  • Blue Medicare Rx Plus (PDP)

  • Blue Medicare Rx Premier (PDP)

  • Blue Medicare Rx Value (PDP)

Federal Employee Program

  • Federal Employee Program

International

  • Blue Card Worldwide

Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2017 by Truven, an IBM Watson Health company, serves millions annually. Mercy includes 44 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, more than 700 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 40,000 co-workers and more than 2,000 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

Sharing Ideas For Downtown Fort Scott

 

Lindsay Madison at the Christmas Parade 2017 which the Chamber of Commerce sponsors.

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison has been the executive director since October 2010.

On January 11, 2011, Madison initiated the Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet.

“I started it to provide a platform for downtown business owners and any interested party to network for ideas related to downtown,” Madison said.

The Meet & Greets are held the first Tuesday of each quarter from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise announced.

Usually, approximately 18 to 25 people attend, with the host business invited to tell about their business and any future events, she said.
” City representatives (Dave Martin or Rachel Pruitt) usually give a city update and a Fort (Scott National Historic Site) representative usually announces upcoming fort events,” Madison said.

Some of the projects and ideas that have come out of the meetings include:

  • A new downtown shopping brochure was completed in 2017.
  • The Toy Soldier Project was started Christmas 2017.
  • Businesses are encouraged to decorate windows for special events, i.e. patriotic for Symbols of Sacrifice, Naturalization Ceremony, etc.
  • There is a discussion about co-op advertising opportunities for retailers to go together on, i.e. TV ads, etc.
  • A new parking sign was installed on Wall Street in the city parking lot where the depot is located, to promote additional parking downtown.
  • A short-term parking sign was installed in front of Papa Don’s, following discussion of the group.
  • Ideas for downtown events and promotions are discussed, such as 10% off items on Kansas Day if shoppers wear a sunflower, the Halloween parade, the Christmas parade, and Downtown Open House events, Sales Tax Holiday (first weekend in August), 3rd Saturday Marketplace events, including when to hold the events.
  • Informing attendees of grants/incentives available to downtown businesses.
  • A scarecrow contest was held in the past to create fall decorating.
  • New downtown banners for the light poles were the result of discussion at the meetings.
  • Ideas for new murals, for instance, to replace Star Emporium mural at the north end of Main Street.
“We are always soliciting new ideas and volunteers to help organize any type of events or promotions,” Madison said.

On January 9 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. the meet and greet will gather at Papa Don’s Restaurant, 10 N. Main to share ideas once again for the downtown area.

The goal of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is to be a premier chamber of commerce in the region, acknowledged for leadership effectiveness, member-focused services and success, and being a go-to resource for business and community, according to its website.

For more information:

http://fortscott.com

 

New Catholic Boarding School To Open 2018

Daniel Kerr, president of St. Martin’s Academy shows the newly poured foundation to the first building in construction at the school.

Years in a Pennsylvania boarding school created a passion and vision for education for a local Fort Scottian.

Daniel Kerr’s experience altered him.

“It was a life-changing experience,” Kerr said.

Since that time Kerr has had an interest in developing a boarding school that would incorporate farming into the school curriculum and  has been working towards that vision and laying the groundwork.

“This is not a reform school,” Kerr said. ” This will be for kids of high character and goodwill. There is a fairly rigorous application process and an in-person interview with parents and prospective students.”

Thus plans were begun for constructing St. Martin’s Academy, a boys Catholic boarding school.

The Kerr Family Estate deeded to St. Martin’s Academy about five acres of land west of Fort Scott on Indian Road.

Daniel Kerr met with the bishop and vicar-general of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita to tell them of his vision.

“They are enthusiastic and have been supportive of our plans,” he said.

In October 2017 construction began of phase one, Theotokos Hall.

Kevin Klassen Construction, Kansas City, is the main contractor, Kerr said. The architect is Greg Madeen, Durango, CO, who does alternative energy construction and design.

This month the City of Fort Scott granted the school a land use permit.

Also this month, the footings for the first building were laid.

The footprint of the hall is 74 feet by 36 feet, with a full basement, first floor, and loft area, totaling over 6,000 square feet, Kerr said.

Theotokos Hall is the first and largest building and will be constructed of native oak timbers and stone.

“Overall, the school campus will be situated on five acres with access to 200 acres,” Kerr said. “We live on the property and built a house here. Kerr is married with children.

The school will be using passive solar and hope to have a windmill for electrical and also active solar, he said.

Theokotos Hall will serve the needs of the school for the first year before becoming the permanent dining hall and hearth. It is slated for completion in July 2018.

Eventually, there will be five separate buildings on the site.

St. Martin’s Academy Plan 2017

By 2022 there is a plan to complete construction on the crowning feature of the campus, a  chapel made of native stone.

Patrick Whelan, who will be the new headmaster, has moved to Fort Scott with his family and has been working on the school’s curriculum development and educational compliance, along with recruiting students, Kerr said.

“We are blessed to be able to work together for about 15 months of preparation leading into the first academic year,” Kerr said.

“We’ll be applying for grants, benefactors, and financial partners interested in investing in a bold new adventure in education,” Kerr said.

Some upcoming events for St. Martin’s Academy:

Feb. 9 -10 the academy staff will be hosting the Third Annual Prairie Troubadour Conference in Fort Scott. This year’s topic is “Field and Family: Reflections on a Healthy Human Ecology”, according to information provided. To learn more and to purchase tickets http://prairietroubadour.org/

F.O.R.T Leadership Camp will be offered April 16-22, 2018 and again June 11-17, 2018 for boys ages 12-14. Cost is $500 per session. The young men will learn to build a fire, make a shelter, forage for food, race kayaks, serve mass and butcher a hog, according to information provided. Visit: SaintMartinsAcademy.org/#camp.

For more information view the academy’s website at http://www.saintmartinsacademy.org

This photo shows the foundation wall of the first building being built at St. Martin’s Academy on December 20. The Fort Scott Lake overflow area can be seen from the school.

St. Martin’s Academy is located at 1994 Indian Road, Fort Scott, KS, 66701. The phone number is 620-223-2704.

Landmark Bank Expands

Workers from Hornbuckle Framing LLC, Ottawa, work at Landmark Bank Wednesday. From left, Dane Broddy, Nick Nicnew and James Montgomery, all of Ottawa.

Landmark Bank, located at the corner of Main and 23rd Streets is expanding space.

“This is to make it more inviting for the customer,” John Leek, South Branch Landmark manager said. “Our transaction volume is in the top three daily that Landmark has statewide.”

“I think there is a misconception that we are drive-through,” Leek said. “We open accounts. I do consumer loans as well.”

There are eight employees at the south branch location.

 

Leek said he is “excited” about the expansion and looks forward to the completion.

“We apologize for the mess,” he said.

The addition to the existing building measures 26 by 30 feet or 834 square feet.

Two offices, storage and enlarging the teller area and front lobby are part of the plan, according to Jim Daniels, Loyd Builders Inc. Daniels is the superintendent who was on site Wednesday.

Hornbuckle Framing LLC is a sub-contractor for Loyd Builders, Daniels said. The framing crew was working to frame the addition.

The expansion began about three weeks ago.

“We are hoping by the beginning of April, we will be done,” Daniels said.

Lobby hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon.

Drive-through hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 8  a.m. to 2 p.m.

The bank’s phone number is 620-768-2374.

The contractor’s plan for the expansion.

WBE Primary Students Christmas Program

The annual West Bourbon Elementary School primary students Christmas program provided an enjoyable evening for area residents Monday night.

“Ring and Sing the Holidays” was the title of the program directed by music teacher Rhonda Allen. She acknowledged she had help from many school personnel and parent assistants.

WBE Music Teacher Rhonda Allen welcomes the crowd that filled the gym to watch the Christmas program.
The Singing Eagles Chorus sings “There Has To Be A Song”, to begin the Christmas program.
First grade students sing “Chime In.”
Kindergarten and first-grade students sing together in the annual Christmas program.
The nativity is portrayed by Catherine Cox as Mary, Adam Perry as Joseph, Scout Eden, David Hall and Liam Leighty as the kings, Zane Barbour, Cord Crystal and Levi Ervin as the shepherds, Charlee Phillips and Ella Snyder as the angels. The donkey was portrayed by Kaiddan Hathaway, the cow by Ibryanne Robinson, the sheep by Karsyn Woods and the dove by Kennedy Ermel.
Parents throughout the auditorium were capturing the performance of their loved one. This scene is from the play “A Place In The Choir”.
The dogs sing “It’s A Doggone Shame”.
Abbigale Brown portrays Mrs. Claus, Jordi Wolf the Happy Hound Dog and Mathew Knight, Santa Clause in this scene in the musical “A Place In The Christmas Choir”.
The cats sing “Christmas Cats” in this scene from the musical play “A Place In The Christmas Choir”.