Category Archives: Entertainment

FSCC Theatre to stage Sartre classic

Fort Scott Community College

Considered an “existential classic,” the play “No Exit,” written in 1944 by French author Jean-Paul Sartre, explores the burning question, “What is hell?”

“That query stays relevant as long as the afterlife remains ambiguous,” said Allen Twitchell, Fort Scott Community College’s theater instructor, who is directing a version of the play that opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. “In the end (or the beginning, if you will) hell might just turn out to be the eternal tortures we devise for ourselves.”

The play also runs at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is free (donations are always appreciated), but Twitchell cautions that some content might be a little intense for younger children.

Sartre’s tale involves an apparently unlikely trio of newly assigned residents of the netherworld who struggle to gain an understanding of the transgressions committed during their lives that resulted in eternal damnation and their relocation together.

“It is a powerful presentation, wrought with conflict and emotionality,” said Twitchell, “and the cast was eager to take on the challenge. I believe the results will speak for themselves.”

The cast features sophomore Isaiah Subbert as Garcin, and freshmen Jericho Jones as the Valet, Jaedyn (Ray) Lewis as Inez, and Regen Wells as Estelle.

The stage manager is freshman Jesse Dinneen, while Joshua Ramsey serves as technical director and Zachary Loper as audio engineer.

“No Exit,” however worthy, is not the show originally scheduled as the spring theater offering.

“Honestly, until fate determined otherwise, it was the plan to stage a musical, ‘The Fantasticks,’ which 30 years ago helped launch the career of film and television actor/writer/producer Jason Sudeikis, then a student-athlete at FSCC,” said Twitchell. “Unable to effectively match our talent pool with the vocal ranges required for the musical, we prudently decided to shuffle that show to the back burner and replace it on the schedule with a play that more adequately suited our resources.”

Theater scholarships are available for the 2025-26 school year. Contact Twitchell at allent@fortscott.edu for information.

The play opens next Thursday (March 27) and runs through Saturday (March 29.

 

 

 

 

Ladies Informational Golf League and Sign-up Meeting is March 8

Sending on behalf of Chamber member Diane Striler

Par Tee Girls Ladies League

Informational & Sign Up Meeting Saturday, March 8th

Woodland Hills Golf Course, 9-10am

At the meeting you can pay your $40 league fee, get a pic for our website, get paired up with a partner (if you don’t already have someone to play with) and meet the other women of the league.

The league will run on Wed. April 30th thru Wed. July 30th.

Morning tee times available or at 5:30pm for a shotgun start.

The season will end with a banquet with a best ball scramble, a catered dinner, and a lot of fun!

Click to contact Diane Striler with any questions!

Thank you to our Chamber Champions listed below!

Facebook  Twitter  Instagram
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US

New Event Center Opens: 19 South Gathering Place

19 South Gathering Place Event Venue will be open for family gatherings and more at the end of March, if all goes as planned.
The 2,200 sq. ft. is located at 19 S. Main, adjacent to Main Street Vintage and Co, at 23 S. Main. The owner of both the businesses is Rechelle McClellan.
Rechelle McClellan is the owner of 19 South Event Venue. Submitted photo.
Available with the space are tables, chairs, wifi, and a kitchen for private use that includes a fridge and sink.
Kitchen area. Submitted photos.
The restroom of 19 South. Submitted photo.
“This can be used for baby showers, photography, birthday parties, reunions, family gatherings, and bridal showers,” McClellan said.
We have lots of exciting things that are happening at both locations.
The 2.200 event venue will be ready to rent by the end of March. Submitted photo.
Rentals are available for 4 hours Monday through Thursday for $75 and on Friday-Sunday for $100. For an 8-hour rental Monday-Thursday: $150 and Friday-Sunday: $200.
The venue can also be rented for a minimum of 2 hours for $25 on Monday-Thursday and $35 Friday through Sunday.
For more information, contact Rechelle McClellan at (417) 391-6153
Rechelle McClellan stands in front of 19 South Gathering Place. Submitted photo.

The SEKnFind Newsletter February 2025

View Online
The SEKnFind Newsletter
February 2025

We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog.
This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold.
Need assistance? Your local librarian can show you how!
Happy Reading!

New Fiction

We all live here : a novel
by Jojo Moyes

Lila Kennedy juggles a broken marriage, rebellious daughters, a crumbling house, and an elderly stepfather when her estranged father unexpectedly shows up after thirty-five years, forcing her to confront unresolved feelings and discover unexpected lessons about love and family amidst her chaotic life.

Famous last words : a novel
by Gillian McAllister

Returning to work, new mom Camilla’s life is upended when she learns her husband is the gunman in a London hostage crisis, leaving her to decipher his cryptic goodbye note and make a critical choice. 150,000 first printing.

We are watching : a novel
by Alison Gaylin

After losing her husband in a tragic car accident, Meg Russo reopens her bookstore, only to face escalating threats from conspiracy theorists obsessed with an apocalyptic novel, forcing her to confront sinister secrets tied to her family and uncover the truth behind her husband’s death.

Every Tom, Dick & Harry : a novel
by Elinor Lipman

Emma Lewis reluctantly takes over her parents’ estate-sale business, facing her quirkiest job yet involving clearing a scandalous B&B, but as she navigates its colorful clients, she discovers unexpected paths to fulfillment and happiness. 50,000 first printing.

The strange case of Jane O. : a novel
by Karen Thompson Walker

After giving birth, Jane experiences amnesia, hallucinations, and premonitions, leading to her sudden disappearance and a subsequent episode of dissociative fugue; her psychiatrist investigates the links between her struggles and a traumatic past, he grapples with questions of memory and reality, while a ghostly figure warns of impending disaster.

I got abducted by aliens and now I’m trapped in a rom-com
by Kimberly Lemming

A PhD student, Dorothy Valentine, finds herself stranded on a dinosaur-filled alien planet with her new lion companion and two dangerously attractive aliens, Sol and Lok, as they navigate survival, romance and mystery together. Original.

The haunting of Velkwood
by Gwendolyn Kiste

Three childhood friends miraculously survive the night when everyone in their suburban hometown turns into ghosts.

Blood of Hercules
by Jasmine Mas

“I’m Hercules.I’m struggling to survive in a Titan infested world where Spartans, immortals from twelve royal families who have god-like powers and obscene wealth, rule over all. A shy-stammering foster child with nothing, I keep my head down, cover my scars, and focus on excelling in school…Then it happens. My blood test reveals I’m part of the powerful elite. I’m one of them. A Spartan.Forced to attend the Spartan War Academy, I undergo the most harrowing test of all time to see if I have what it takes to be an immortal. There’s just a few problems. Achilles and Patro are my scary mentors. Kharon, the ferryman of death, and Augustus, the son of war, are my terrifying professors”

The Black Orb
by Ewhan Kim

In downtown Seoul, Jeong-su witnesses a massive black orb that consumes his neighbor, then proceeds to multiply and wreak havoc on the city, inciting violence and panic; embarking on a desperate journey to find his elderly parents, Jeong-su must reassess his beliefs as he confronts the unfolding horror.

Midnight black
by Mark Greaney

The Gray Man, aka assassin Court Gentry, must face miles of frozen wasteland and the Russian police state to free his lover, ex-spy Zoya Zakharova, from Penal Colony IK22.

To save the man : a novel
by John Sayles

At the Carlisle Indian School in 1890, young Native students are forced to abandon their culture under the brutal hand of Captain Pratt, while whispers of the ghost dance spread across the Plains, offering a glimmer of hope and rebellion against the inevitable bloodshed looming on the horizon.

Beartooth
by Callan Wink

Set in the rugged Absaroka-Beartooth mountains, two brothers burdened by debt and grief face a life-altering decision after a dangerous offer in this gripping tale of survival, brotherhood and the stark beauty of the American West. 50,000 first printing.

New Audiobooks

Beautiful Ugly
by Alice Feeney

A year after his wife Abby mysteriously disappeared, author Grady Green, still consumed by grief, retreats to a remote Scottish island only to encounter a woman who looks exactly like the wife he lost. 150,000 first printing.

More or Less Maddy
by Lisa Genova

Maddy Banks, an NYU student recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder after experiencing a wild and terrifying mania, rejects the stability of a“normal” life for a career in stand-up comedy, in a novel from a Harvard-trained neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author.

Nemesis
by Gregg Hurwitz

Evan Smoak is dedicated to his assassin’s 10 Commandments, but when Tommy Stojack, gifted gunsmith and possibly his best friend, crosses a line while helping a dead friend’s son, Smoak is ambushed when trying to confront him, and the dispute explodes into open warfare.

New Nonfiction

Land rich, cash poor : my family’s hope and the untold history of the disappearing American farmer
by Brian Reisinger

“The hidden history of an economic and cultural catastrophe that is threatening our very food supply-the disappearance of the American farmer”

The grieving body : how the stress of loss can be an opportunity for healing
by Mary-Frances O’Connor

Discusses how grief and other major stressors impact physical health, combining scientific research and personal stories to reveal the effects on the cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems, while addressing common questions about grief’s cognitive impact and its relationship to overall well-being.

Unicorn Team : The Nine Leadership Types You Need to Launch Your Big Ideas With Speed and Success
by Jen Kem

Renowned brand strategist and entrepreneur Jen Kem will show you how to identify your Unicorn Leadership Type so that you can build and lead the most collaborative, harmonious, and motivated team of Unicorns to achieve extraordinary results. This values-driven approach to vision, strategy, and mobilization will revolutionize your company culture, enhance employee satisfaction, and drive organizational growth.

Filterworld : how algorithms flattened culture
by Kyle Chayka

“From trendy restaurants to city grids, to TikTok and Netflix feeds the world round, algorithmic recommendations dictate our experiences and choices. The algorithm is present in the familiar neon signs and exposed brick of Internet cafes, be it in Nairobi or Portland, and the skeletal, modern furniture of Airbnbs in cities big and small. Over the last decade, this network of mathematically determined decisions has taken over, almost unnoticed–informing the songs we listen to, the friends with whom we stay in touch–as we’ve grown increasingly accustomed to our insipid new normal. This ever-tightening web woven by algorithms is called “Filterworld.” Kyle Chayka shows us how online and offline spaces alike have been engineered for seamless consumption, becoming a source of pervasive anxiety in the process. Users of technology have been forced to contend with data-driven equations that try to anticipate their desires–and often get them wrong. What results is a state of docility that allows tech companies to curtail human experiences–human lives–for profit. But to have our tastes, behaviors, and emotions governed by computers, while convenient, does nothing short of call the very notion of free will into question”

Sisters in science : how four women physicists escaped Nazi Germany and made scientific history
by Olivia Campbell

“In the 1930s, Germany was a hotbed of scientific thought. But after the Nazis took power, Jewish and female citizens were forced out of their academic positions. Hedwig Kohn, Lise Meitner, Hertha Sponer and Hildegard Stèucklen were eminent in their fields, but they had no choice but to flee due to their Jewish ancestry or anti-Nazi sentiments. Their harrowing journey out of Germany became a life-and-death situation that required Herculean efforts of friends and other prominent scientists. Lise fled to Sweden, where she made a groundbreaking discovery in nuclear physics, and the others fled to the United States, where they brought advanced physics to American universities. No matter their destination, each woman revolutionized the field of physics when all odds were stacked against them, galvanizing young women to do the same”

Air-borne : the hidden history of the life we breathe
by Carl Zimmer

A columnist for the New York Times takes readers on a fascinating journey through the hidden world of airborne life, blending history and recent scientific discoveries to reveal the mysteries of the living atmosphere and its impact on global health.

We the pizza : slangin’ pies + savin’ lives
by Muhammad Abdul-Hadi

Showcases the mission-driven approach of Down North Pizza, with recipes for a variety of square-cut pizzas, including vegetarian options and popular meat varieties, as well as wings and shakes, all presented with colorful photography that highlights both the food and the journey of the team of formerly incarcerated staff members behind it.

The sewing book : a step-by-step guide to creating garments and projects for your home
by Alison Smith

A thorough guide covering over 300 techniques with illustrated instructions for everything from basic seams to complex details, while also teaching how to read patterns, select fabrics, and complete ten projects, making it an essential resource for creating clothing and home furnishings

Lorne : the man who invented Saturday Night Live
by Susan Morrison

Lorne Michaels has become a revered and inimitable presence over his 50 years at the helm of Saturday Night Live, and this volume provides unprecedented access to Michaels and SNL for the definitive story of how he created and maintained a comedy institution. Illustrations.

The Traitor of Arnhem : The Untold Story of WWII’s Greatest Betrayal and the Moment That Changed History Forever
by Robert Verkaik

Explores the role of the Cambridge Spies during Operation Market Garden, the failed airborne operation that sought a decisive Allied victory in the wake of D-Day, revealing how insiders working for the Soviet Union undermined the effort, resulting in a catastrophic defeat for the Allies and setting the stage for the Cold War.

Even more reading suggestions

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Southeast Kansas Library System
218 E. Madison Ave.
Iola, Kansas 66749
620-365-5136sekls.org

Local High School Play: Speaking Up For Oppressed People

FSHS Play Performance Opening Night Rescheduled
The Feb. 20 performance of Fort Scott High School’s play “And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank” is rescheduled for 7 p.m. on Feb. 23.
The rescheduling is due to the weather forecast for the week. Tickets previously sold for the Feb. 20 performance will be transferred or refunded, please contact Angie Bin, angela.bin@usd234.org or 620-719-9622. Other performances should run as scheduled at 7 p.m. on Feb. 21 and 22 in the FSHS Auditorium.
Left to right: Clark Uttinger, Sypher Cannon, Gianna Gorman, Tray Maloun.Submitted photo.

The production, by James Still, is a multi-media performance with live sound bytes and videos from the actual Holocaust survivors portrayed in the play as well as real video footage from the time period.

Left to right: Cooper George, Mykael Lewis, Gianna Gorman, Sypher Cannon. Submitted photos.

In addition to the performance, the lobby will feature many items of interest to the audience. A collection of Holocaust memorabilia from local historian Ronda Hassig will be on display in the Art Gallery.

Left to right: Gianna Gorman, Sypher Cannon

Students in the Advanced Drama class are displaying research on groups of oppressed peoples and plays that have been written to speak up for those groups, much like how “And Then They Came for Me” speaks for victims and survivors of the Holocaust.

Left to right: Kaiden Clary, Levi Fairchild. Submitted photos, all taken during dress rehearsal.

Students in Jon Barnes’ Government and Current Events classes, after reading and listening to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From a Birmingham Jail,” wrote “A Letter From a Fort Scott Classroom” about a time in their lives that they felt discriminated against.

Many of these letters will be available to read.

The Technical Theatre class also built white models of set designs for the play that are on display.

Cast and crew members of the play were educated about the real lives of their characters through research and a presentation by Hassig. Hassig has personally visited sixty concentration camps and she shared her knowledge and photos with the students to help them better understand their characters and the world of the play.

Senior Kaiden Clary plays one of the Holocaust survivors, “Performing Young Ed gave me a chance to look into how a Jewish person was treated during WWll, how this person had to hide from SS guards to even be with his grandparents, how he had to try to escape time and time again. After learning about and discussing him, it is hard to believe that people actually had to go through many of these things, especially not seeing his parents for almost four years.”

Tickets for “And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the Life of Anne Frank” are $5 for students and $7 for adults and available at fortscotthighschool.ludus.com or at the door. Doors open thirty minutes prior to showtime.

The play is directed by FSHS Theatre Director Angie Bin with Mesa Jones serving as Assistant Director. It is produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois.

Left to right: Sypher Cannon, Cooper George, Gianna Gorman, Mykael Lewis, Mary Racer, Kaiden Clary, Clark Uttinger, Junie Fisher.

# # #

Illusionist Reza To Perform Tomorrow at the Ellis Center in Fort Scott

Sending on behalf of Chamber member…

Core Community Bourbon County

hosts

REZA

Edge of Illusion

Hear what REZA himself has to say to Fort Scott Fans!

Click here to hear from Reza himself!

Click HERE to order tickets!

Saturday, February 8th

7pm

Ellis Fine Arts Center

2108 Horton St, Fort Scott, KS

Get your tickets now

323.929.7392 | rezalive.com

Reza is the World’s Top Touring Illusionist as seen by over 30,000,000 viewers worldwide on networks such as MTV, PBS, CBS, Hulu, Netflix, The CW and A&E to name a few.

To visit Reza’s official Facebook page click HERE!

Click HERE to visit the REZA at Ellis Fine Arts Center Facebook Event Page.

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar on fortscott.com for upcoming local events.

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members shown below…
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701

620-223-3566

fortscott.com

Facebook  X  Instagram
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 

Rembering the World of Anne Frank: Fort Scott High School Thespians on Feb. 20-22

Feb. 4, 2025

 
FSHS Thespians presents “And Then They Came for Me – Remembering the World of Anne Frank” 

 

Fort Scott High School Thespians presents the play “And Then They Came for Me – Remembering the World of Anne Frank” by James Still.

 

Performances are at 7 p.m. on Feb. 20-22 in the FSHS Auditorium.

 

The production is a multi-media performance with live sound bytes and videos from the actual Holocaust survivors portrayed in the play as well as real video footage from the time period.

 

In addition to the performance, the lobby will feature many items of interest to the audience. A collection of Holocaust memorabilia from local historians Ronda and Rob Hassig will be on display in the Art Gallery. Students in the Advanced Drama class are displaying research on groups of oppressed peoples and plays that have been written to speak up for those groups, much like how “And Then They Came for Me” speaks for victims and survivors of the Holocaust. Students in Jon Barnes’ Government and Current Events classes, after reading and listening to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From a Birmingham Jail,” wrote “A Letter From a Fort Scott Classroom” about a time in their lives that they felt discriminated against. Many of these letters will be available to read. The Technical Theatre class also built white models of set designs for the play that are on display.

 

Cast and crew members of the play were educated about the real lives of their characters through research and a presentation by Ronda Hassig. Hassig has personally visited sixty concentration camps and she shared her knowledge and photos with the students to help them better understand their characters and the world of the play.

 

Senior Kaiden Clary plays one of the Holocaust survivors, “Performing Young Ed gave me a chance to look into how a Jewish person was treated during WWll, how this person had to hide from SS guards to even be with his grandparents, how he had to try to escape time and time again. After learning about and discussing him, it is hard to believe that people actually had to go through many of these things, especially not seeing his parents for almost four years.”

 

Tickets for “And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the Life of Anne Frank” are $5 for students and $7 for adults and available at fortscotthighschool.ludus.com or at the door. Doors open thirty minutes prior to showtime.

 

The play is directed by FSHS Theatre Director Angie Bin with Mesa Jones serving as Assistant Director. It is produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois. Please contact Bin at angela.bin@usd234.org or at 620-719-9622 with questions.

 # # #

REZA Coming to Fort Scott This Saturday Feb. 8

Sending on behalf of Chamber member…

Core Community Bourbon County

hosts

REZA

Edge of Illusion

Hear what REZA himself has to say to Fort Scott Fans!

Click here to hear from Reza himself!

Click HERE to order tickets!

Saturday, February 8th

7pm

Ellis Fine Arts Center

2108 Horton St, Fort Scott, KS

Get your tickets now

323.929.7392 | rezalive.com

Reza is the World’s Top Touring Illusionist as seen by over 30,000,000 viewers worldwide on networks such as MTV, PBS, CBS, Hulu, Netflix, The CW and A&E to name a few.

To visit Reza’s official Facebook page click HERE!

Click HERE to visit the REZA at Ellis Fine Arts Center Facebook Event Page.

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar on fortscott.com for upcoming local events.

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members shown below…
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701

620-223-3566

fortscott.com

Southeast Kansas Library Newsletter January 2025

View Online
The SEKnFind Newsletter
January 2025

We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog.
This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold.
Need assistance? Your local librarian can show you how!
Happy Reading!

New Fiction

Midwestern Gothic : a collection of horror stories from the American heartland /
by Scott Thomas

“Close your eyes. Picture open plains, wheat stalks swaying gently in the wind. Picture the quaint Main Street of a one-stoplight town. Picture endless summers on sunny, tranquil lakes. With three provocative novellas, Kill Creek author and Kansas native Scott Thomas takes a hatchet to the idyllic tropes of the American heartland. With this collection, Thomas digs his hands into the soil of the American heartland and establishes himself as the master of Midwestern Gothic”

Knife skills for beginners
by Orlando Murrin

Covering for friend Christian Wagner at Chester Square Cookery School in London, Paul Delamare enjoys imparting wisdom to students until someone is found killed with Paul’s knife, and Paul must discover the killer before he gets butchered.

Hotel lucky seven : a novel
by Kåotaråo Isaka

In Bullet Train, underworld operative Ladybug was tasked by his handler Maria with retrieving a suitcase from a high-speed train in Japan. The job did not go according to plan, to the delight of millions of readers and movie fans around the world. Will the unluckiest assassin in the world will find things easier this time around? All he has to do is deliver a painting to a hotel guest, a portrait made by his daughter. Easy enough, except when Ladybug makes the delivery, he realizes that the guest is clearly not the guy in the painting. Then he attacks Ladybug, they fight, and the guest ends up dead. How can such simple jobs always go wrong?

Homeseeking
by Karissa Chen

Separated by war and reunited after 60 years, Haiwen and Suchi navigate decades of love, loss and survival across continents, as their shared past clashes with their hopes for a second chance at life.

All the water in the world : a novel
by Eiren Caffall

Follows a young girl, Nonie, and her family as they navigate a post-apocalyptic New York ravaged by melting glaciers, as they safeguard cultural history while surviving storms, scarcity and meeting diverse communities in their quest for a hopeful future.

Give me butterflies : a novel
by Jillian Meadows

Millie, an ambitious entomologist, and Finn, a grumpy astronomer dealing with personal loss, clash at work but can’t avoid each other when he joins the committee for her dream job. Original. 100,000 first printing.

Witchcraft for wayward girls
by Grady Hendrix

“Set in Florida in the 1970s, Grady Hendrix’s newest novel follows five young women in a home for unwed mothers who find a guide to witchcraft”

The Last One
by Rachel Howzell Hall

Waking up in a forest, Kai, who doesn’t remember anything of her life before today, is hunted by otherworldly creatures, unlocking new powers every time she fights them, but the moment she touches another, a piece of her dies, leading her on a desperate search for answers to who?—?and what?—?she is.

Exordia
by Seth Dickinson

“Anna Sinjari–refugee, survivor of genocide, disaffected office worker–has a close encounter that reveals universe-threatening stakes. Enter Ssrin, a many-headed serpent alien who is on the run from her own past. Ssrin and Anna are inexorably, dangerously drawn to each other…While humanity reels from disaster, Anna must join a small team of civilians, soldiers, and scientists to investigate a mysterious broadcast and unknowable horror. If they can manage to face their own demons, they just might save the world”

The bullet swallower : a novel
by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

“In 1964, when Jaime Sonoro, Mexico’s most renowned actor and singer, discovers a book telling of the multitude of horrific crimes committed by his ancestors, he must pay for their crimes unless he can uncover the truth about his grandfather, the legendary bandido El Tragabalas, The Bullet Swallower”

The resurrectionist / : A Twisty Gothic Mystery of Dark Scottish History
by A. Rae Dunlap

In 1828 Edinburgh, determined to study surgery, naïve James Willoughby abandons his privileged life for the bustling medical scene, only to become embroiled with the charming but dangerous body snatcher Aneurin MacKinnon, leading him into a dark world of rival gangs and deadly competition for cadavers.

Leaving Independence
by William W. Johnstone

“Independence, Missouri, 1865. Seasoned wagon master Virgil Grissom prepares to lead a new group of families westward across the Oregon Trail. Among them are struggling farmer Matt Moran, his wife Katie, and their three small children. In spite of the long, treacherous journey ahead, Grissom is confident that this solid, hard-working farmer and his family are tough enough to endure the harsh elements, the rugged terrain, and the occasional run-in with hostile tribes. But he’s not so sure about the farmer’s younger brother, Clay, who plans to catch up with them along the trail. Alone. Which has Grissom worried . . . On the Oregon Trail, a lone man is dead man. Clay Moran fought hard in the Civil War, serving as lieutenant in the US Calvary. Now that Robert E. Lee has surrendered, Clay is free to head west with his brother’s family. Problem is, the wagon train has left Independence already-and Clay has to go it alone. Luckily, the army let him keep his horse. But when a couple of bushwhackers steal that horse and all his money, he’s left high and dry. If Clay hopes to catch up with the wagon train, he’ll have to rely on his wits. His guts. And every skill he learned in the war. Along the way, he’ll have to do things a man should never have to do-just to survive . . . “

New Audiobooks

Defense protocol
by Brian Andrews

“Every word a president utters is weighed and examined, but none more so than when he is talking about Taiwan. That’s why it’s shocking that President Jack Ryan seems to imply that the US has no appetite for a war to protect Taiwan from the communist Chinese on the mainland. President Ryan is determined to protect the independence of the island nation, but he is determined that one slip of the tongue should not cost thousands of young soldiers, sailors and Marines their lives. Jack Ryan returns in a blockbuster novel of action, thrills and intrigue in the world created by master storyteller Tom Clancy.”

Stuart Woods’ Golden Hour
by Brett Battles

Teddy Fay is ready to embark on the European press tour of Peter Barrington’s latest film Storm’s Eye, when he receives an unexpected visit from Lance Cabot, director of the CIA. Several CIA agents have been turning up dead. The commonality? They were all part of a mission Teddy was involved in: Golden Hour. Lance wants Teddy to use his trip as a cover to investigate who is behind these killings. From Venice and Budapest to their last stop at a film festival in Berlin, Teddy must dodge excited fans, enamored women, and a few too many assassins who seem dead set on tracking down Golden Hour agents. And if Teddy doesn’t work fast enough, his identity–and life–might just be the next target in the killer’s ruthless plot for revenge.

The Mirror
by Nora Roberts

When Sonya MacTavish inherits the huge Victorian mansion on the coast of Maine, she has no idea that the house is haunted. The footsteps she hears at night, the doors slamming, the music playing, are not figments of her imagination. In her dreams she sees glimpses of the past. In the present she finds portraits of brides. And when she has visions of an antique mirror, she is drawn to it, sensing it holds dark family secrets. Then one night the mirror appears and Sonya glides through this looking glass, into the past, and sees a bride murdered on her wedding day, the circle of gold torn from her finger. It is a scene that will play out again and again, a centuries-old curse that must be broken, and a puzzle she must solve if there is any hope of breaking the curse.

New Nonfiction

The Let Them Theory : A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About
by Mel Robbins

A simple, transformative approach to improving personal and professional relationships by shifting focus from controlling others to accepting them, offering science-backed strategies to reduce stress, enhance happiness, foster healthier connections, and empower individuals to prioritize their well-being and achieve personal fulfillment.

Beyond anxiety : curiosity, creativity, and finding your life’s purpose
by Martha Nibley Beck

“From bestselling author Martha Beck, a new path to overcoming anxiety by awakening the creativity within We live in an epidemic of anxiety. Most of us assume that the key to overcoming it is to think our way out. And for a while it works. But there is always something that sends us back into the anxious spiral we’ve been trying to climb out of. In Beyond Anxiety, Dr. Martha Beck explains why anxiety is skyrocketing around you, and likely within you. She also tells you how to not only reduce your anxietybut use it to propel you into a life filled with peace, meaning, and joy. Using a combination of the latest neuroscience as well as her background in sociology and coaching, Beck explains how our brains tend to get stuck in an “anxiety spiral,” a feedback system that can increase anxiety indefinitely. To climb out, we must engage different parts of our nervous system–the parts involved in creativity. Beck provides instructions for engaging the “creativity spiral,” in a process that not only shuts down anxiety but leads to innovative problem solving, a sense of meaning and purpose, and joyful, intimate connection with others–and with the world. The opposite of anxiety, it turns out, is a wonderful new way of life–one that can calm and inspire us as individuals and help us become a source of healing for everything around us”

Breaking free from broke : the ultimate guide to more money and less stress
by George Kamel

“America has become the land of the free and the home of the broke. Household debt is at an all-time high, and every day people-just like you-are feeling more cynical and hopeless about their financial futures. It’s time to stop believing countless liesfrom a system designed to take your money-lies like student loans are the golden ticket to a good-paying job, car payments are just part of life, and that you need to have a credit card. Ramsey Personality and personal finance expert George Kamel shareshis story of going from a negative net worth to a millionaire in under 10 years by following Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps. George’s delivery, highlighted by his snarky sense of humor, will keep you laughing and engaged from cover to cover (no put-you-to-sleep financial advice here). Through a millennial point of view, George exposes the toxic money system designed to keep you average (and broke) and offers solutions to help you break free from: credit cards and credit scores, student and car loans, mortgage mistakes, investing traps, marketing and consumerism. No matter where you’re starting from, you’ll learn that you have the power to buck the toxic money system and build wealth if you follow the same principles George used to become a millionaire”

Fluent forever : how to learn any language fast and never forget it
by Gabriel Wyner

“Gabriel Wyner speaks seven languages fluently. He didn’t learn them in school-who does? Rather, he mastered each one on his own, drawing on free online resources, quick daily practice sessions, and his knowledge of neuroscience and linguistics. In Fluent Forever, Gabe shares his foolproof method for learning any language. It starts by hacking the way your brain naturally encodes information. You’ll begin by learning how to hear new sounds and training your tongue to produce them accurately. You’ll connect spellings and sounds to images rather than rely on translation exercises so that you start thinking in a new language. With the help of spaced-repetition systems, you’ll build a foundation for your language in one week and learn hundreds of words a month-with just a few minutes of practice each day. This revised edition also shares fresh strategies that Gabe has refined over years of study. You’ll learn how to: Use your interests to curate vocabulary that you’ll actually be excited to study; Pick up the subtleties of your target language by conversing with native speakers; Fast-track fluency with a new appendix devoted to conversation strategies with native speakers; Compile the best language-learning tool kit for your budget; Harness the science of motivation and habit building to turbocharge your progress; Find the perfect level of difficultly with reading and listening comprehension to stay engaged and avoid frustration”

Vanishing treasures : a bestiary of extraordinary endangered creatures
by Katherine Rundell

“A tour of the natural world’s most awe-inspiring animals currently facing extinction”

Instant loss quick and easy : 125 recipes that are big on flavor when you’re light on time
by Brittany Williams

“Bestselling author Brittany Williams is back with a new collection of 125 recipes that make it easier than ever to enjoy delicious, healthy meals every day! Brittany Williams, founder of the popular online platform Instant Loss, transformed her life bychanging the way she eats. Her motto is simple: just eat real food. Brittany understands the challenges of maintaining a healthy diet while juggling a busy life and feeding a family. In her highly anticipated cookbook, Brittany shares 125 brand-new recipes that come together in a hurry, so you can enjoy crowd-pleasing, wholesome meals without spending hours in the kitchen”

Making things : finding use, meaning & satisfaction in crafting everyday objects
by Erin Boyle

”Through easy-to-follow tutorials for over 100 projects that are both accessible and aspirational, Making Things invites readers to try their hands at a variety of crafts and celebrate the satisfaction that comes from slowly and carefully creating for oneself. Learn to fold magazine pages into Masu Boxes for organizing bits and bobs, make a cardboard loom for weaving potholders out of old linens, braid your own Kumihimo Dog Leash, or starch fabric scraps for decorative bunting. Makers Rose Pearlman and Erin Boyle met in 2018 and immediately struck up a friendship, united by a reverence for everyday objects. Their approach towards craft reflects a shared commitment to sustainability and accessibility–as they write in Making Things’ introduction, ”Craftcan be exquisite and exacting, the result of formal training and years of practice, but it can also be experimental and messy and not quite perfect.” Scouring sidewalks, stoops, and thrift stores, the authors repurpose materials to create projects that range from functional to fun and frivolous. Step-by-step guides make it simple to start and finish each project, while the book’s stunning photographs show how each craft can fit within an organized, thoughtfully curated home. As Making Things demonstrates, relying on a limited range of supplies and repurposing the same materials can spur our creativity, encouraging us to look at a pile of junk on a stoop and see endless possibilities”

Let’s move the needle : an activism handbook for artists, crafters, creatives, and makers
by Shannon Downey

With activities, exercises, prompts and stories about the work of other art activists across mediums and throughout history, a guide to social activism using art educates and empowers creatives to center their art around action in service of political, social or community issues. 12,000 first printing. Illustrations.

Red Dead’s history : a video game, an obsession, and America’s violent past
by Tore C. Olsson

Weaving the best-selling games’ plot and characters into an exploration of American violence between 1870-1920, an award-winning historian reveals the gritty and brutal world that inspired the Red Dead games, shedding light on dark corners of the American past for gamers and history buffs alike. Illustrations.

Four against the West : the true saga of a frontier family that reshaped the nation–and created a legend
by Joe Pappalardo

“A thrilling true saga of legendary Texas figure Judge Roy Bean and his brothers–and their violent adventures in Wild West America. Roy Bean was an American saloon-keeper and Justice of the Peace in Texas, who called himself “The Only Law West of the Pecos.” He and his three brothers set out from Kentucky in the mid 1840s, heading into the American frontier to find their fortunes. Their lifetimes of triumphs, tragedies, laurels and scandals will play out on the battlefields of Mexico, in shady dealings in California city halls, inside eccentric saloon courtrooms of Texas, and along the blood-soaked Santa Fe Trail from Missouri to New Mexico. They will kill men, and murder will likewise stalk them. The Beans chase their American dreams as the nation reinvents itself as a coast-to-coast powerhouse, only to be tested by the Civil War. During their saga, the brothers become soldiers, judges, husbands, guerillas, lawmen, entrepreneurs, refugees, fathers, politicians, pioneers and–in Judge Roy Bean’s case–one of the Old West’s best known but least understood scoundrels. Using new information gleaned from exhaustive research, Four Against the West is an unprecedented and vivid telling of the intertwined stories of all four Bean brothers, exploring for the first time how their relentless ambitions helped create a new America”

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Local Stock Car Racers, Bolin and Zimmerman, Are Honored

Randy Zimmerman, left, and Ron Bolin pose with trophies in a race competition. Submitted photos
Two Fort Scottians will be honored on Feb. 1 by the Ozarks Area Racers in Springfield, MO.
In the fall, the Ozarks Area Racers Foundation announced its 2025 Hall of Fame class, according to a press release.
The 37th annual Ozarks Area Racers Reunion and Hall of Fame Induction will be held Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds E-Plex in Springfield, MO.
Inductees are selected in two categories: Legends (for driving accomplishments) and Pioneers (off-track contributions such as car owners, mechanics, sponsors or media members).
The two honorees from Fort Scott are being inducted for stock-car racing accomplishments.
Ron Bolin
Ron Bolin. Submitted photo.
Ron Bolin died in 2021 and was the second generation in his family to race stock cars. His uncle by marriage, Rick Sharp of Fort Scott, was the first in their family that raced. X was on his vehicle. “It’s considered a number even though it’s a letter,” said Ron’s son, Brian, the third-generation stock car racer.
“I don’t know what got Rick into racing, but from then on, we went to races on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.”
“X JR became his number,” Brian said. “People see it on the side of the car.” The next generation of Bolins then put X in their number, as did the fourth generation.
Ron got his racing start in 1972 and compiled over 400 career victories while winning 20-plus track championships on Ozarks-area and regional speedways, according to a press release.
Randy Zimmerman
Submitted photo. Randy Zimmerman in  Amarillo, Texas at the Dirt Track Speedway. It was his biggest win ever, September 1994, winning $20,000 from left is Amanda Portwood, Billy Portwood, Rhonda Dunn, Leland Zimmerman, Maxine Zimmerman, Doug Potter, Ryan Forester, Donnie Marsh, Melba Marsh, Clara Dunn, Mike Dunn.
Kneeling in Front – Marnie Zimmerman & Randy Zimmerman
 Randy Zimmerman, 62, of Fort Scott,  said he always wanted to race.
“I had a (motorized) mini-bike when I was 9 or 10, then a couple of motorcycles, then got a Camaro and started hot-rodding around town. When I was 13 I started watching others  (at the race car track) and ended up helping Ronnie Bolin a little (with his race car) before I got mine.”
“My Dad had a lathe around and helped me build parts for the race car,” he said.
“We have been blessed to have support with our race program from family, friends, and sponsors,” said Marnie, his wife. “We could not have done any of this without them.”
Zimmerman works at Ward Kraft in research and development, building equipment.
Randy Zimmerman from the U.S. Racing Association website.
He has won championships in many area tracks, including Monett, Lucas Oil Speedway, Springfield Raceway, West Plains Motor Speedway, North Fork Speedway, and Joplin 66. Randy began racing in 1980 and remains active in the sport with feature wins at 31 different tracks in seven states, according to the press release.
Induction Ceremony
Zimmerman and Bolin will be honored at the induction ceremony on Feb. 1 at the fairgrounds in Springfield, MO.
In addition to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, racing memorabilia and race cars from different eras will be on display inside the E-Plex, according to a press release. Promoters from area speedways also will be invited to introduce their track champions from the 2024 season in a “Salute to Champions” prior to the Hall of Fame program.
Zimmerman and Bolin will have their names engraved on a monument in black marble at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
For more info, check out: facebook.com/ozarksarearacersfoundation