Beach Museum of Art Specialist and Musician Nate McClendon will be at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center Theater on Thursday, March 21, 2024, to present his portrait of Gordon Parks in music and narration with a jazz band.
The performance starts at 7:30 p.m. and doors open at 7 p.m.
This performance was inspired by the exhibition Homeward to the Prairie I Come: Photographs by Gordon Parks from the Beach Museum of Art at Kansas State University organized by the Beach Museum with support from Art Bridges, a philanthropic organization dedicated to expanding access to American art.\
This music and narration event is free and open to the public of all ages courtesy of Art Bridges. It is part of the Gordon Parks
Convening at the Ellis Fine Arts Center, March 20 – 22, a collaboration with the Beach Museum of Art and the
Gordon Parks Museum funded by Art Bridges. The convening will have over twelve museum professionals from across the nation at Fort Scott learning more about Gordon Parks and his works.
For information on the Portrait of Gordon Parks: Interpretive Jazz event, contact Kirk Sharp, executive director,
620) 223-2700, ext. 5850, or at [email protected].
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A group of residents organized last summer to form a non-profit corporation that will be bringing education, community, and culture to Southeast Kansas through theatre productions, called Bourbon County Community Theatre.
“BCCT was formed in late June and has been working since then to get up and running so that the people of Bourbon County can soon have the opportunity to participate in and enjoy community theatre again,” said Delynn Abati, public relations person for the group.
The group’s first event is March 16 and is a prom for adults to fund future events and performances.
“We are hoping this prom for adults will become an annual night of fun, dancing, and community support,” she said.
This formal dance is for anyone age 21 and up and will be held in The Legacy Center on the lower level of the old Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
“We will have a promenade beginning at 7:45 pm and the dance will run from 8-11 pm,” she said in a press release. “In addition to dancing, we will have non-alcoholic drinks, a charcuterie board, and a chocolate fondue bar included in the ticket price, as well as alcoholic beverages available for purchase from the bar, provided by Sharky’s.”
“We’re hoping to add to the fun (and success) of the night with some lighthearted music dueling,” she said. “Attendees can pay $1 to request and/or dedicate a song, $5 to request a song NOT be played for an hour, or $10 for a song to be banned for the night.”
Tickets can be purchased at BCCT.ticketspice.com (QR code provided below) or at the door on March 16.
Online tickets are $50 per couple or $30 for a single ticket. Tickets purchased at the door will go up in price to $75 per couple or $40 for a single ticket.
“Our BCCT board is so excited to be offering this event to the people of Fort Scott and surrounding areas and hopes that it will be a success for years to come,” she said.
The BCCT is accepting members.
“If you’d like to be a part of bringing community theatre back to Bourbon County, visit our Facebook page; and fill out the Community Theatre Interest Form,” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552088270799he said.
Additionally, on the horizon is a Night of Living History performance.
“The Bourbon County Community Theatre is looking for people who would like to be involved in a committee for a Night of Living History performance,” said Abati. “This will be a play (or similar event) telling some of the history of Fort Scott and its surrounding areas.”
President Glenda Miller opened the meeting with a presentation on the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiances. Vice President Joyce Allen led the club in reciting the Pledge and the Club Collect. Twelve members were in attendance and reported that they had volunteered twenty-two hours and had recycled six hundred and eighty-five pounds of paper and cardboard.
Glenda recognized the January and February birthdays with a bag of puff corn treats. Glenda also read a piece “You know you are from Kansas if” in celebration of Kansas Day and presented a quiz on President Washington and Lincoln in honor of Presidents Day. Joyce Allen took first place with a perfect score.
Doris Ericson presented the Treasurer’s report. She announced that she turning in our Best Choice labels and reminded us to continue saving them. A Thank you card from the Veteran’s Hospital in Topeka was presented to the club.
Old Business consisted of a report that the Valentine cards had been delivered to the Nursing homes and to Tri-Valley. Terri Williams announced that she had contacted the American Legion to see if we could reproduce the coloring book on the Bill of Rights which is no long in print. We would have to fill out a form and get their permission first. They suggested we go to their website and see the available products. The club also discussed their plan to gather and send shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
The Club members are to bring a dozen plastic Easter Eggs and a bag of candy to the next meeting. The eggs will be presented to the Tri-Valley clients. Other new business was the Bourbon County Fair. Letha Johnson moved that we donate $50 to open class, Taylor Bailey seconded the motion, motion carried. The Club also moved to participate in the Hay Bale and Scarecrow contest.
Doris Ericson moved that the meeting be adjourned, Joyce Allen second the motion, motion carried, meeting adjourned.
After the meeting Taylor Bailey presented the lesson on “Senior Living,” which educated us on options available and when and where to seek assistance.
Refreshments of Cherry Cheesecake, chocolate kisses, nut and drinks were provided by Letha Johnson and Taylor Bailey and enjoyed by all. Glenda also had a Valentine’s game for the club after the meeting.
Help is available to warm your home during cold Kansas winter.
Apply in person at the upcoming community event for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) to restore or maintain electricity, natural gas, propane and other home heating fuels.
At the Fort Scott Public Library
201 S National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
on February 20, 2024
10 a.m. — 2 p.m.
Please bring the following:
Identification
Proof of income
Current Utility Bills
Left to right: Lindsey McNeil, Community Health Worker, and Lisa Robertson, Community Health Worker. Submitted photo.
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) contracted with Kansas University Medical Center to implement the Communities Organizing to Promote Equity, (COPE Grant) program and hired Community Health Workers.
One of the workers, Lindsey McNeil, was hired in partnership with KU Medical Center, and one, Lisa Robertson, in partnership with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. They are housed in the HBCAT office, on 104 North National Avenue in Fort Scott. They are also part of a coalition, Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT), that helps develop strategies to address health inequities in our area.
“Equity looks different for us all,” said Robertson. “We serve others without judgment and want better for them and for them to live their best life.”
“We have been able to help about 400 clients with their specific needs,” said McNeil. “We have helped house over 40 people, including nine of our chronically homeless individuals. Through our LHEAT we have been able to bring FREE public transportation to the county (BB-Go), we have partnered with two different local laundry mats to bring FREE laundry programs to the county, and we have helped fund multiple other things with partner organizations like CORE, First United Methodist Church, etc.
McNeil has been a Bourbon County Community Health Worker, serving residents, since October 2022.
She is paid by KU Medical Center, through the COPE Grant, which is a grant through the Center for Disease Control (U.S. Government) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Robertson has been a social worker for 29 years and employed through the grant, since March 2022.
“We link individuals to needed services in the community such as Kansas Works for a job, local housing resources, medical and mental health providers, transportation providers the Department of Children’s and Families for SNAP Benefit or application for Medicaid,” Robertson said. “We help them get access to clothing, blankets, utility resources, food pantries and hot meals through Feeding Families in HIS Name.”
“I truly have a passion for doing this work,” Robertson said. “It is not an 8-5 job that you just walk away from. You think of things in the middle of the night that may help someone so you make yourself a note or text your co-worker so you don’t forget to run an idea by them. It takes teamwork. I go to garage sales or thrift stores and buy something because I know someone can use it.”
“We have amazing Community Partners that without them we could not do our jobs,” Robertson said. “Our partners help us when we need help or resources. We are blessed to live in a community that works together for the benefit of others.”
The following are excerpts from two testimonials by people helped through this program:
“They helped me find a place to live when I was facing homelessness again and connected me with resources such as SNAP, the Beacon and HCBS services.
“They have walked alongside me and supported me in my sobriety journey and have helped connect me to other people who are fighting the same battles as me.” ~Kelly
” I suffered a brain aneurysm and was put into a coma for my safety. By the grace of God, I survived. I woke up to a divorce, no home, and I had to start over.
“I had to relearn to read, write and try to make it…. I had nowhere to go, no job and no means of transportation. I found a hotel that worked with me and my service dog… I was able to find a job at Walmart. I still had no transportation, so I walked everywhere.”
“God put those CHWs in my life…They helped me look for a place, took me to doctor appointments and gave me rides wherever needed, and they have been huge supports in my life. With their help, I am back on my feet with a place to live and I am currently working on getting a vehicle. I appreciate them for all they do!” ~ T.
“The COPE grant was established in 2021 and was meant to only be around for 2 years,” McNeil said. “It was originally supposed to end in June of 2023. However, the grant was able to be extended until May of this year. Our grant officially ends on May 31st, 2024, so we are desperately seeking ways to continue funding the CHW positions in Bourbon County.”
Left to right: Lindsey McNeil, Community Health Worker, Rachel Carpenter, Executive Director of Healthy Bourbon County Action Team and LHEAT Lead and Lisa Robertson, Community Health worker. Submitted photo.
A sign in front of the Bourbon County Courthouse in November 2021.
Two elections will take place this spring, a presidential preference one on March 19 and one on April 16, for a question on whether a one-quarter cent sales tax would be imposed locally to partially fund health care services, including emergency (ambulance) services.
The following is provided by Bourbon County Clerk Jennifer Hawkins.
March 2024 election
This is a Presidential Preference Primary.
“A presidential preference primary takes an act by the Kansas legislature to be conducted. The enactment takes the responsibility from the two-state parties (Republican and Democrat) in Kansas from conducting a caucus, and instead, having the state of Kansas conduct a primary election. It is a “preference” primary because it is an election where the vote totals are given to a political party to allocate delegates to candidates at the national convention. This is not a primary where the voters select the party candidate. This year, the state legislature decided to resurrect the state-run presidential preference primary, which had only been used in Kansas in 1980 and 1992,” according to the Kansas Secretary of State website.
Early voting will take place at the courthouse and begin on March 12 and run until Monday, March 18 at noon.
Residents will be able to vote at their normal polling place from 7:00 am-7:00 pm on March 19.
The list of candidates is located below.
The Democrat-filed candidates are:
Dean Phillips
Jason Michael Palmer
Joseph R Biden Jr.
Marianne Williamson
The Republican-filed candidates are:
Donald J. Trump
Nikki R. Haley
Ron DeSantis
Ryan L. Binkley
April 2024 election
The sales tax question will be the only thing on the ballot in April, Bourbon County Clerk Jennifer Hawkins said.
The one-quarter cent sales tax would be imposed to partially fund health care services, including emergency (ambulance) services.
“Right now, the question is still being drafted with the two attached questions being submitted by County Counselor Justin Meeks at the last commission meeting as possible options and are drafts that are subject to change,” she said.
The election will be held on April 16 with early voting beginning on April 9.
This is a draft of the tax question, subject to change:
