Category Archives: Bourbon County
Fort Scott’s Women Self Defense Class This Saturday
The Ali Kemp Education Foundation, T.A.K.E., will present a class on female self-defense, this Saturday, April 27 at Fort Scott Middle School.
The class is from 10 a.m. to noon.
“The first part of the class is a lecture on safety awareness,” said Kim Schwab, administrative assistant at the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center who is handling the registration for the event. “The second part is combat training, hands-on techniques done with a partner.”
Schwab has taken the class in another town and highly recommends women take personal responsibility for their own safety.
“We are offering the class because we live in dangerous times and every women’s personal safety is her personal responsibility,” Schwab said. “It is a survival skill that women of every age should know.”
A $12 donation is requested, but it is not required, she said.
“It actually costs more than $12 per person to bring the class to town,” Schwab said.
To register, contact Schwab at the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center at 620-223-1440, extension 270.
Local sponsors of the event are Kale Nelson State Farm Insurance, Stewart-Tucker Realty, The City of Fort Scott, Briggs Auto Dealership, City State Bank, McDonalds Restuarant, Kenny Felt Photography, Martin Rental Properties (Alisha Martin), Liberty Bank, Iron Star Antiques, Fort Scott Inn and Liberty Theater/Crooner’s.
“Seventy-nine have registered so far and you can register clear up until the class on Saturday,” Schwab said. “Just show up and you can register then. Women under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign for them.”
“Women should wear comfortable clothes and shoes (sneakers) so they can move easily,” Schwab said.
“Roger Kemp will be coming and speaking at the beginning of the class about his foundation, The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation, and the reason his family is doing this for women all across the country,” Schwab said.
Kemp’s daughter was raped and murdered in Leawood, a suburb of Kansas City. Following the tragedy, the Kemp family initiated the foundation to provide self-defense classes to females.
Dance To the Music of The 1800s April 27
THE ANNUAL CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT ON THE GROUNDS OF FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE WILL BE HELD SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, APRIL TWENTY-SEVENTH AND TWENTY EIGHTH.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS EVENT, THE FRIENDS OF FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE WILL BE HOSTING THE SECOND ANNUAL CIVIL WAR CAMP DANCE.
LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN FORT SCOTT, HISTORIC MEMORIAL HALL WILL BE FILLED WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC FROM THE EIGHTEEN HUNDREDS ALONG WITH WHOOPING AND HOLLERING AND DANCING FEET AT THE CIVIL WAR CAMP DANCE THE EVENING OF SATURDAY, APRIL TWENTY-SEVENTH.
PERIOD DANCES AND MUSIC ARE SURE TO ENTERTAIN PARTICIPANTS AS THEY BRING HISTORY TO LIFE.
THE CAMP DANCE IS HELD TO COINCIDE WITH THE CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT WEEKEND AT FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.
IT GIVES THE VOLUNTEERS ATTENDING THE ENCAMPMENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER, HAVE A GOOD TIME, AND BRING HISTORY ALIVE IN A SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE.
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO COME AND JOIN IN THE DANCING OR JUST TO WATCH.
WE ENCOURAGE, BUT DON’T REQUIRE, THOSE WHO ATTEND TO COME DRESSED IN 1860S CIVIL WAR ATTIRE, OR DRESSED AS1800S WESTERN PIONEERS. IT SETS THE TONE FOR THE EVENING.
ALL AGES ARE WELCOME. COME JOIN US AS WE LEARN 1800S DANCES TO 1800S MUSIC.
THE DOORS OPEN AT SIX-THIRTY AND DANCING BEGINS AT 7:00 PM.
THE COST OF FIVE DOLLARS PER PERSON COLLECTED AT THE DOOR GOES TO THE FRIENDS OF FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO FACEBOOK AT FORT SCOTT KANSAS EIGHTEEN HUNDREDS DANCING.
Submitted by Dee Young who can be contacted at 913.557.1632 or
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.
Older Worker, Disabilities/Discouraged, Ex Offenders Job Focus Groups April 24: Get $ To Attend
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Riverfront Park: Lighting Is Coming
The east side of the Belltown Walking Trail in Riverfront Park is a shady place to enjoy a walk, but at times it is too dark.
“We’ve had some ladies that said at dusk, it gets pretty dark,” Jerry Witt, president of the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority Board, said. “So we purchased 14 poles and downlights and bases.”
“The lighting will be installed in the next few weeks on the east side of the walking trail, where it is darker, it’s close to the lookout,” Witt said. “We would like for (the lighting) to go over to the Mercy Hospice Memorial part. We will add more lights later, this is what we can afford now.”
The lights will be LED downlights, he said, “that will shine on the trail.”
An electrician will install them, with the City of Fort Scott providing the concrete bases for the lights.
There was grant money left following the building of the pavilion and the overlook boardwalk which were completed last year, Witt said. This leftover grant money will fund the lighting segment.
2018 Was a Busy Year For Improvements in Riverfront Park
Two projects in the park were completed last year.
The pavilion was built near the park entrance and has electricity, with a parking lot nearby.
For more information, click below:
Riverfront Park Pavilion Nearly Ready For The Public
The wooden overlook boardwalk was built near the confluence of the Marmaton River and Mill Creek and has seating along the perimeter.
For more information, click below:
Overlook of the Marmaton River in Place at Riverfront Park
The long-range plan is a walking bridge across the river and trails south of the Marmaton River on River Road, he said.
Additionally, signage was installed in the park and other parts throughout Bourbon County. Click below for more information.
“When we can receive money to do it, we will do it,” Witt said.
The Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority Board meets whenever Witt calls a meeting, “Once a month or every six weeks.” he said.
On the board in addition to Witt are Betty Boyko, Penny Pollack Barnes, Bob Love, Danny McGee, Arnold Scholfield, Jeff Sweetser and Allen Warren.
Christian Heights Country Store May 4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
American Legion Post 25 Reminder of Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
April 23. Bloodmobile will be at Buck Run Community Center from 1 – 7 pm. Blood donation is a national Legion program. Call 620-223-5946 to schedule an appointment.
April 24. Bloodmobile will be at Buck Run Community Center from 9 am – 1 pm. Blood donation is a national Legion program. Call 620-223-5946 to schedule an appointment.
April 27. Women’s Self-Defense class from 10 am – 12 pm at Fort Scott Middle School. Signup online at takedefense.org or by calling 620-223-1440. Ages 12 – 90. No males allowed.
April 27 – April 28. Fort Scott Civil War Encampment. Starts at 9 am both days.
April 27. American Legion Baseball Information Session for players ages 16 to 19. Players must be a student or recent graduate of Fort Scott High School or Uniontown High School. Starts at 10 am. Fort Scott Memorial Hall (Corner of National Ave. and 3rd Street) 1 E 3rd St, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Bourbon County students who meet the age requirements but attend a private school or are homeschooled may be eligible to play.
Email Post 25 Baseball Chair Earl Adams at [email protected] with any questions or for more information.
DATE CHANGE.
May 2. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 25 rechartering has been changed to May 2, 2019 at 7 pm. This milestone event will take place in Fort Scott’s Memorial Hall.
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. Email [email protected] for more details on joining the Auxiliary.
Volunteers Needed
Ralph Carlson is seeking volunteers to help with minor home repairs for low income area residents. Volunteers with carpentry, plumbing and electrical skills. All projects are short term and can be accomplished based upon the volunteer’s availability. Some of Ralph’s most recent projects were wheelchair ramps for two disabled Veterans and repairing a kitchen floor for a senior citizen. Call Ralph at 620-644-8162 to volunteer or more for information about his program.
The Fort Scott Cancer Treatment Center relocated to Chanute. Drivers are needed to take Fort Scott patients to Chanute for chemotherapy. Drivers will use their own vehicle and there is a small stipend for gas, if requested. A driver will take the chemo patient to their appointment in Chanute and wait for treatment to be completed and bring the patient back to Fort Scott. The driver may have only a half hour wait for the patient or two – three hours. Call Donna Bauer at 620-224-7075 for more information or to volunteer.
You do not have to be a Veteran to step up for one of the volunteer opportunities. Just someone who will step up and offer a helping hand to our neighbors.
Applying Fertilizers to Transplants
District Extension Agent, Horticulture
Southwind Extension District
111 S. Butler
Erie, KS 66733
Office: 620-244-3826
Cell: 620-496-8786
Thank goodness spring has finally sprung!
Everyone I talk to seems to have been more than ready for winter to leave. I know many gardeners have been out working the soil and getting plants in the ground. If you have been or are getting ready to be in the garden, think about adding some transplant solutions (fertilizer) to give your plants a jump start.
Transplant solutions are mild fertilizer solutions that are applied to newly transplanted vegetables and flowers. Transplant solutions are also called starter solutions or root stimulators. Plants not given a transplant solution often develop a purplish tinge to the leaves caused by phosphorus deficiency.
The soil may actually have plenty of phosphorus in it, but plants have difficulty taking up nutrients in cool soils. A starter solution places soluble nutrients near the roots so the plants get off to a good, strong start.
Transplant solutions are available for sale but it is also possible to make your own. You will need to use a fertilizer that contains more phosphorus than nitrogen or potassium such as a 5-10-5 or 10-20-10. Mix 2 to 3 tablespoons of one of the previously mentioned fertilizers in a gallon of water several hours before use. The fertilizer won’t completely dissolve but enough will go into solution to get the plants off to a good start. Use about 1 cup of transplant solution for each transplant.
Sidedressing is the term used to describe fertilization done after the plants are established. A fertilizer containing primarily nitrogen is used to keep plants growing and productive.
Nitrate of soda (16-0-0) is often used at the rate of 2 pounds fertilizer per 100 feet of row. More commonly available lawn fertilizers such as 30-3-3, 29-5-4 or something similar can also be used but cut the rate in half. Caution – do not use any lawn fertilizer that contains weed preventers or weed killers.
The Extension office has a sidedressing sheet available that lists crops, rate of fertilizer application and time of application(s) for many common vegetables as well as annual flowers.
If you would like to visit with me in person, I am once again doing an office rotation through the growing season.
You can find me in the Erie office on Monday and Friday; the Iola office on Tuesday; Fort Scott on Thursday; Yates Center on Wednesday morning and the Chanute Recreation Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Friday night concert season begins
The Friday Night Concert in the Park series will kick off Friday, April 26 with piano students performing from the Tucker Music Studio.
Due to unpredictable spring weather, the concert will take place at 7:00 p.m. at Fort Scott’s First Southern Baptist Church, 1818 S. Main Street. The concerts normally take place at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main Streets.
“I am really pleased to present this fine group of young ladies and gentlemen and their teacher, Carolyn Tucker, to the good people of Bourbon County and the surrounding area,” Ralph Carlson, event coordinator said.
The students scheduled to perform are Benjamin, Josiah, and Noelle Banwart, Abbigail Collins, Abigail DeLoera, Hannah Peck, Austin Sinn, and Garren and Gregg Tucker.
In addition, former students Kelcie Bailey and Breisen Keller will perform as guest pianists.
Carlson said the students range from elementary to high school in USD 234, USD 235, Fort Scott Christian Heights, and those that are homeschooled.
The concert will consist of a variety of music including classical, pop, gospel, patriotic, and folk. The evening will conclude with an instrumental wrap-up featuring Carolyn Tucker on piano and Ralph Carlson on guitar.
The concerts, which are free and open to the public, are sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
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.
National Walk At Lunch Day April 24
Take a walk at lunch with us on Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Did you know that walking just 30 minutes most days of the week can be beneficial to your well-being? Walking is one of the simplest, safest and most effective forms of exercise. A regular walking routine can help control weight, reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure and have a positive influence on heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is hosting the 13th annual National Walk @ Lunch Day to encourage busy people like you to take a walk during your lunch break and start a healthy routine.
Join us in Fort Scott for a Poker Walk over your lunch at Heritage Park Pavilion on 1st and Main street from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. & Community Health Center (CHC) at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd from 12:15- 1:00 p.m. A limited number of free event T-shirts will be available at each location and the top poker hands will receive a prize.
Remember to bring your comfortable shoes to work on April 24. Then get out and walk with us!