Leo and Arla (Ater) Hartman were married on May 7, 1950 at the farm home of Roy and Bessie Ater, her parents.
They are celebrating 74 years of marriage.
They raised their children on a farm near Hiatville and Leo just retired from farming a few years ago. Their sons are Dennis, deceased; Mark and Sherri Hartman, Uniontown; and Jerry Hartman, Claremore, OK.
They have six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
There is a possibility of severe weather this evening and the community should be aware and planning in case of emergency.
“Everyone needs to keep informed about the possible severe weather either by TV, phone, or internet,” Bourbon County Emergency Management Director Brian Allen said. “There are storm shelters in Bronson, Uniontown, Mapleton, and Garland. They are opened by someone in their community. If a town has storm sirens, they are also responsible for activating them.”
” Fort Scott Dispatch only has control of the sirens in Fort Scott,” he said.
In Fort Scott there are few public options for getting in a basement during severe weather, but Grace Baptist Church, the former Mercy Hospital building and the Presbyterian Church will be opening a door to the public, if the tornado sirens sound.
Grace Baptist Church is at the corner of Margrave and 6th Street. The front doors will be open should the tornado sirens sound.
Brandi Rhoades, at the Grace Baptist Church on 502 S. Margrave Street, said the front door of the church will be unlocked if the sirens go off in the city.
Matthew Wells, Legacy Healthcare Foundation Director of Plant Operations, said the northwest door of the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd. will be open in case the siren goes off in Fort Scott. This was the employee entrance.
The Presbyterian Church basement at 308 S. Crawford will be open should the sirens sound, said Cindy Goebel, church secretary.
The Sisters are fostering lambs while they need bottle-feeding, then they will be returned to their owners. Submitted photos.
Sixteen Catholic Sisters have arrived at their new convent in rural Bourbon County from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The name of the compound is the St. Joseph Convent.
“Our convent (the house in which Sisters live) was too small and we were unable to find either an available building or land in the area,” said Mother Maria Regina. ” We desired to live in a more rural setting, and the opportunity to settle (near) Redfield, Kansas, was an answer to our prayers for a good location for a larger convent.”
“Our service to the community will include service to Saint Martin’s Academy and its families, but it will also include the wider Fort Scott community,” she said.
St. Martins is a Catholic boarding school for boys a few miles east of the convent.
Submitted photo of the Sisters in a procession around the buildings on the convent property located on Hackberry Road, southwest of Fort Scott.
The Sister’s way of life is semi-comtemplative.
“That means that we have a strong contemplative element, which includes ample time of prayer every day,” she said. “In addition to Holy Mass, we also pray every day what is called the Divine Office. The Divine Office is composed primarily of the Psalms which we pray for all the needs of people everywhere. We also spend time in silent prayer every day. If anyone would like to send us prayer intentions, we are happy to receive them because it is part of our mission to pray for the needs of people. If someone wishes to send a prayer request, it can be sent to us by regular mail at 1250 Hackberry Road; Redfield, KS 66769 or by e-mail ([email protected]).”
The Sisters in procession. Submitted photo.
“Besides prayer, we also do work, which we call ‘apostolate’ (because, like the Apostles, the intention of our work is to bring Jesus to people),” she said. “Our apostolate includes outreach to the people in the area around us. We are visiting the elderly, we are setting up a “Girl’s Guild” with activities for girls of various ages, and we hope and intend to include other ways of serving the people of the area, as well.”
She said the first meeting of the Girl’s Guide is May 10 and it will be for young ladies ages 10-18. “It is three hours of time spent with some conversation, games, meal, prayer, and some catechesis. If someone is interested in coming, the present email is the best way to contact us. “
Submitted photo of the Sisters during a procession in honor of Saint Joseph, walking around the perimeter of the buildings of the compound.
Even though they are on former farmland, they don’t intend to produce their own food.
“Our apostolic work is more directly with the people,” she said. “We intend to have a garden, probably not this year, though, and we will have a few animals, but they will not be the main thrust of our work.”
The rhythm of the day at the cloister is prayer, work, recreation and for some, classes.
“The typical day begins and ends with prayer in the chapel, and the other parts of the day are also punctuated with times that we return to the chapel for common prayer and also for private prayer,” she said. “Aside from that, we have time in the morning for work (some of the work described above, plus the usual tasks of preparing meals, laundry, housekeeping, etc.). In the afternoon, we have a set time for recreation, during which we enjoy one another’s company and do some handwork or go for a walk together outside or engage in some other enjoyable activity.”
The Sisters praying in their new Chapel. Submitted photo.
In the convent, there are stages of formation and the younger Sisters have some classes for their formation as religious Sisters in the afternoon, as well. “
The Fort Scott Pavilion Ribbon Cutting on May 4 from the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
The rain clouds kept away for the Gathering Square Pavilion Fort Scott Farmers Market Ribbon Cutting on North National Avenue today.
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison thanked the T-Mobile communication business, who, a few years ago gave a $50,000 grant to start the pavilion.
The City of Fort Scott, Regional Economic Development Inc., Healthy Bourbon County Team, the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, and others helped make this vision a reality, Matthew Wells, FS City Councilman and one who spearheaded the project, said.
Wells said the new pavilion’s land sits where the original Fort Scott Farmer’s Market was 100 years ago.
City Manager Brad Matkin said the pavilion is a wonderful asset to the community….and more are coming.
REDI Director Rob Herrington said it was a collaborative effort and “Together we can make things happen.”
The ribbon cutting was celebrated on the opening day of the Fort Scott Farmers Market (FSFM), May 4.
FSFM President Terri Hamilton said the vendors are “thankful for the covered space.” She noted that there are 24 slots in the Pavillion and 32 vendors, and they are “working hard to coordinate with the new vendors.”
The activities for the day: live music, face painting, children’s games, cotton candy, Bourbon County Garden Club Plant Sale, Breakfast on the Bricks by Scout Troop 114, and of course the vendors with local produce and crafts.
The farmer’s market is open 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays and 4-6 p.m. on Tuesdays from May to October.
The Starlite FCE held its May meeting at the Presbyterian Village Meeting Room. Vice President Joyce Allen called the meeting to order. Letha Johnson led the club in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Club Collect. Seven members and one guest were in attendance. The members reported that they had 26 volunteer hours and had recycled 265 pounds.
Terri Williams read the minutes of the previous meeting. Letha Johnson moved that the minutes be approved as read, Doris Ericson seconded the motion, motion carried. It was announced that Earth Day is April 22nd this year. Doris Ericson presented the Treasurer’s report and announced that there was no council report this month. Deb Lust moved that we accept the Treasurer’s report, Letha Johnson seconded, motion carried. Joyce Allen recognized the April birthday which was Glenda Miller.
Deb Lust announced the Cassidy Lutz, an agent with Southwind Extension District had accepted another passion.
Old Business consisted of a reminder that the area Recognition Day will be May 2nd in Erie.
Joyce Allen reminded the members that they needed to return their insurance card.
Betty Johnson moved that the meeting be adjourned, Le Anna Taylor second the motion, meeting adjourned. After the meeting Deb Lust presented the lesson on “The Silent Killer” facts about ovarian cancer.
Refreshments of Strawberry Fluff, nuts, mints and water were provided by Doris Ericson and Deb Lust and enjoyed by all.
The Uniontown FFA Livestock Judging Team was named the Reserve State Champion team at the Kansas FFA State Livestock Judging contest on Tuesday, April 30th in Manhattan, Kansas. With the win the team has qualified to represent Kansas at the American Royal Livestock Judging contest in Kansas City, Missouri in the fall. Team members include sophomores Klara Stock and Jaci Marlow and freshman Kole Harris and Jace Harvey. The team is coached by Uniontown FFA Advisor Scott Sutton.
Individually the team was led by freshman Kole Harris. Harris finished 8th overall individually and 3rd overall in reasons. Klara Stock was 11th overall and 14th in reasons. Jace Harvey was the 30th ranked individual. There were 88 total teams and 360 individuals in total.
Advisor Scott Sutton commented, “This young team exceeded expectations by earning the title of Reserve State Champion. For a young team to handle a competitive contest with such a high level of maturity is really impressive. Obviously with this finish they have set the bar very high for the next few years of their high school judging career. I look forward to seeing what they can accomplish!”
Bree Spurgeon started her cottage industry of specialty cookies in 2017.
A cottage industry is a small business in which people work in their own homes, according to Cambridge Dictionary.
The first business was named The Cookie MOMster, from a suggestion by her daughter.
“I started The Cookie MOMster in 2017 after taking Financial Peace University at the Nazarene church,” Spurgeon said.
She said she is domestic and crafty and thought she’d make some cookies for Valentine’s Day and advertise on Facebook.
“Next thing I know, I’m taking orders, making sheet cakes, cupcakes, and cookies,” she said.
Spurgeon is disabled with Cystic Fibrosis, which was diagnosed at three months of age.
“I wasn’t able to hold down a full-time job, with my lungs, at that time, because of the previous infections that have damaged my lungs,” she said. “Medication came out in 2019 that changed my health for the better. Now I have a second chance at life without a lung transplant. I can pretty much live a normal life, without gasping for air. I got my life back.”
But carpal tunnel syndrome began in her hands.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually start gradually and include tingling, numbness and weakness in her hands.
“It was excruciating enough to make me think of quitting, and I was experiencing burnout,” Spurgeon said.
She shifted gears and began to work at Bids and Dibs consignment store in the downtown area of Fort Scott.
“So I went to work at Bids and Dibs and eventually got over my burnout,” she said.
She began massage therapy for the carpal tunnel and started to get excited about making cookies again.
Submitted photos of B-Licious creations.
She started thinking about getting licensure for her cookie-making business.
“My daughter originally named me The Cookie MOMster, but since someone in Kansas has that name already, I’m not able to have it,” she said.
A month of agonizing over a name began.
Then one of her best friends sent the name B-Licious Cookies, for her to consider.
It combines the word delicious, which helped describe her cookies.
“My name starts with a B, I thought, that’s it, that’s my business name!” she said.
Spurgeon self-taught herself cookie baking.
“As I watched countless videos on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, I discovered royal icing and I fell in love,” she said. Royal icing is a type of icing composed of sugar, egg whites, and sometimes flavoring or coloring that dries to a hard glaze and is used for decorating baked goods, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
She began to focus on royal icing,
“I stopped doing buttercream, cakes, and cupcakes and focused on royal icing,” she said. “I look back on those days when I first started royal icing and they were so terrible, but everyone was so encouraging and you have to start somewhere. Plus, it was so much easier with carpal tunnel.”
“Fast forward to 2024, I fully own my own business and Healthy Bourbon County Action Team helped me gain my LLC wings,” she said. “The process was super easy and fast and they gave me all the information I needed to continue moving forward at the beginning of April.”
“I do not need a license because I do not use cream cheese and my final product doesn’t need refrigerated. I operate under the cottage law. I do everything at home and only make sugar cookies with royal icing.”
She has been honing her cookie decorating skills and now uses a cookie projector to download clipart about a particular theme onto a flash drive, put it into the projector and the image projects onto the cookie, then she traces it with icing.
The cookies before decorating. Submitted photo.
“I also use an airbrush and sometimes and I use cookie stencils as a background before I put the image on the cookie,” she said.
She advertises through Facebook only.
Cookies are priced $25 – $35 per dozen “depending on the difficulty of the theme.”
Jakeob Stewart, son of Brian and Megan Stewart, is competing for Colby Community College on May 3 at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, in Mill Spring, North Carolina.
He will be showing in the beginner horsemanship division.
Stewart is a 2022 graduate of Uniontown High School.
